The Falcon is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was introduced by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Gene Colan in Captain America #117 (Sept. 1969).
Falcon is the superhero persona of Samuel Thomas "Sam" Wilson, who uses mechanical wings to fly, defend, and attack. He also has limited telepathic and empathic control over birds. After Steve Rogers retired, Wilson became Captain America in All-New Captain America #1 (Jan. 2015) and the leader of the Avengers.
In a significant move for representation in American comics, the Falcon became the first African American superhero and the second Black superhero to debut in a mainstream monthly publication, following Marvel's Black Panther. The character's prominence grew significantly in February 1971 with the release of Captain America #134. For the first time, the comic’s cover title was officially changed to Captain America and The Falcon. This issue marked a historic moment as an African American hero received co-billing on a major comic book, signaling a direct marketing effort to an even wider mainstream American audience.
Sam Wilson as Falcon and Captain America has made several media appearances, including in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where the character is portrayed by Anthony Mackie in the films Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014); Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015); Ant-Man (2015); Captain America: Civil War (2016); Avengers: Infinity War (2018); Avengers: Endgame (2019); the television miniseries The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) as Falcon; and in Captain America: Brave New World (2025) as Captain America.
Publication history Creation and development Samuel Thomas Wilson, known as Falcon, was the first Black American superhero in mainstream comic books. The character first appeared in Captain America #117 (Sept. 1969).
Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Gene Colan, he came about, Colan recalled in 2008,
In mainstream American superhero comics, the only Black characters who preceded Falcon were Gabe Jones (debuted in 1963), Black Panther (1966), Bill Foster (1966), Spider-Man supporting characters Joe Robertson (1967) and his son Randy (1968); the villain Man-Ape was created the same year (1969).
He was introduced as an unnamed former resident of New York City's Harlem neighborhood, who had adopted a wild falcon he trained and named Redwing. His own name, Sam Wilson, was not given until the following issue. When a group of men on an island "in the tropics" wanted a hunting falcon, Wilson answered the ad, only to discover that the self-dubbed "Exiles" were former Nazis in league with the supervillain the Red Skull. He escaped, but remained on the island to organize the natives to confront the Exiles, who had turned them into serfs. At the urging of Steve Rogers, whom he later learned was Captain America, Wilson took on the costumed identity of the Falcon and underwent training with Rogers to better inspire the villagers and lead the fight.Captain America #117–118 (Sept.–Oct. 1969). Writer: Stan Lee. Penciler: Gene Colan. Publisher: Magazine Management Company. Brand: Marvel Comics.
1970s and 1980s Through most of the 1970s, the Falcon and Captain America were a team in New York City. The series was cover-billed Captain America and the Falcon for several years, from issues #134–192 and 194–222 (Feb. 1971–June 1978),Captain America cover scans, page 1 to page 4, at the Grand Comics Database though still copyrighted as Captain America. In issue #186 (June 1975), writer Steve Englehart retconned aspects of the Falcon's past. Originally depicted as a former social worker, motivated by a desire to better the lives of inner-city youth, the Falcon was revealed as a mob-connected thug named "Snap Wilson" whose memories were altered by the Red Skull. The Falcon resisted the Red Skull's mind control and maintained his heroism; however, the story was very controversial, and Englehart himself later decided that the Red Skull had fabricated the backstory.
The Falcon briefly joined the superhero team the Defenders, appearing in issues #62–64 (August–October 1978). He was also a member of the Avengers from issues #183–194 (May 1979 – April 1980), although he was recruited to fill a racial quota; he left because he perceived himself to be included as a token. During this time he also starred in a solo adventure in issue #49 of the try-out series Marvel Premiere (August 1979); however, the story was not a try-out for a Falcon series, but an intended fill-in issue of Captain America which was shuffled into Marvel Premiere when the editors objected to having an issue of Captain America with someone other than the title character as the star. He starred in his own four-issue miniseries in 1983, written by Jim Owsley (later known as Christopher Priest). Its first issue was illustrated by Paul Smith with the final three issues by Mark Bright. The series revealed that the Falcon was a mutant, although this development was later retconned in The Avengers 2001 Annual.
1990s and after After regularly appearing in Captain America vol. 2 (Nov. 1996–Nov. 1997), the Falcon rejoined the Avengers in The Avengers vol. 3, #1 (Feb. 1998). This time, he remained with the team, becoming one of its most prominent members by issue #57 (Oct. 2002). Concurrently, he was also a supporting character in Captain America vols. 3–4 (Jan. 1998–Feb. 2002 and June 2002–Dec. 2004). The Falcon next appeared in the short-lived Captain America and the Falcon series, in 2004 and 2005. After the events of the storyline "Avengers Disassembled", when the Scarlet Witch temporarily restored his criminal personality, the Falcon became a supporting character in Captain America vol. 5 (Jan. 2005–July 2009). The Falcon continued to play a significant role in the series after it returned to its original numbering, beginning with Captain America #600 (Aug. 2009).
Falcon was a member of the Avengers in the 2012 Marvel NOW! relaunch.
On July 16, 2014, Marvel Comics announced that Sam Wilson would relinquish the mantle of Falcon and would become the new Captain America, succeeding Steve Rogers in the role. During this run, it is established that Sam Wilsons's "Snap" backstory as a drug-dealing pimp was fake memories implanted by the Red Skull to discredit Sam through racism.All-New Captain America #3 He first appeared as Captain America in Captain America vol. 7 #25 (December 2014).
An ongoing series starring Sam Wilson as Captain America launched in October 2015, as part of Marvel's post-Secret Wars relaunch, written by Nick Spencer and Daniel Acuña.
Wilson temporarily returns to the role of Captain America in the 2017 miniseries Marvel's Generations.
Wilson resumed the identity of Falcon in a series written by Rodney Barnes that debuted in late 2017, the character's first solo series since 1983.Couto, Anthony (June 23, 2017). "Marvel Legacy: Sam Wilson Returns as The Falcon". CBR.com.Lovett, Jamie (July 5, 2017). "Marvel Legacy: Rodney Barnes To Have Falcon Wrestle With Demons In New Series". ComicBook.com.
Fictional character biography Early life Samuel Thomas Wilson was born in Harlem, New York City, to Paul Wilson, a prominent minister, and Darlene Wilson. Wilson had a happy childhood and finds he has a natural affinity for birds. He takes up training pigeons, and has the largest pigeon coop in Harlem.Lee, Stan Captain America #117–119 (Sept.–Nov. 1969) In his teens, however, encounters with racism leave him jaded.Englehart, Steve. Captain America #186 When he is 16, Wilson refuses to join the church, believing his deeply religious parents to be ignorant for their faith. To his surprise, rather than put up a fight, his parents provide him with books on different religions and comparative theology. The next night, however, Sam's father is killed trying to break up a neighborhood fight (originally Paul was said to have been killed when Sam was 9 years old).Captain America #277 Two years later, his mother is shot and killed by a mugger one block from their apartment.Johns, Geoff. The Avengers vol. 3 #64Priest, Christopher J. Captain America and the Falcon #7 The tragic death of his parents does not stop Sam from being a respected community volunteer.
As a grown adult, Sam continued doing social work and meets Captain America on Exile Island (years later, he would say "I actually loved this place quite a bit. It's where I met my two best friends," referring to Captain America and Redwing).Priest, Christopher J. Captain America and the Falcon, #11 The once-peaceful island had been taken over by the Exiles, a group of would-be world conquerors who had collaborated with the Nazi supervillain the Red Skull during World War II. They had been betrayed by the Red Skull and were forced to remain in hiding on the island, enslaving the natives. Wilson finds and befriends Redwing, a falcon with which he feels a remarkably strong bond.Captain America #186
Becoming the Falcon Wilson is an upright and cheerful social worker who is eventually lured to the Exiles' island and organizes the natives to fight for their freedom. Steve Rogers (Captain America) befriends him there and convinces Wilson to adopt a persona to inspire the natives in their rebellion. The two create the costumed persona the Falcon and train together extensively before attacking and defeating the Exiles and the Red Skull. The Falcon becomes Captain America's regular partner in crime-fighting,Captain America #133 and briefly even takes on the Captain America costume and identity when Rogers is believed to have been killed.Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #8–9 (April–May 1999)
Later, again as the Falcon, Wilson receives help from Black Panther, who creates a harness for him, allowing him to fly.Englehart, Steve, and Mike Friedrich. Captain America #170 (Feb. 1974) When Rogers briefly abandons his Captain America identity, others attempt to take up the mantle, including a young man named Roscoe whom the Falcon mentors. When the Red Skull eventually kills Roscoe, Rogers again becomes Captain America.Englehart, Steve. Captain America #181–183 (Jan.–March 1975)
Soon afterwards, the Red Skull tricks Sam into believing that he had a secret past as Snap Wilson, a professional Los Angeles criminal and gang member persona created out of grief and "angry at the world" following the death of Sam's parents. Red Skull makes the untruthful claim that the Cosmic Cube was used to erase the memories of this Snap Wilson past so that Sam could be used as a mole for Red Skull. Red Skull then unsuccessfully attempts to use the Cosmic Cube to make the Falcon kill Captain America.Englehart, Steve, and John Warner. Captain America #186 (June 1975) Believing in the existence of this fake criminal past but deciding to continue as a hero, the Falcon is eventually named head of the Super Agents at the espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D.Glut, Donald F. Captain America #218 (Feb. 1978)
US government superhero liaison Henry Peter Gyrich then recruits Wilson, one of the few active black superheroes, to fill a mandated racial quota for the venerable team the Avengers.The Avengers #184 (June 1979) Resentful of being a "token", the Falcon quits at the first opportunity. He debuts a new costume when he fights the supervillain Taskmaster.Captain America Annual #11
2000s