Anthony Mackie Is Set To Play The Role Of Sam Wilson (also known as The Falcon), Marvel Comic’s First African American Superhero

Now that the next wave of Marvel movies featuring the superheroes from The Avengers are gearing up, America’s most loyal citizen, Captain America, has an August 4, 2014 opening date for his sequel, Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Accompanying him will be Marvel Comic’s first African-American superhero. His name is Sam Wilson, but he’s also known as The Falcon. Sam Wilson/The Falcon was introduced by Stan Lee and Gene Colan in Captain America issue #117 in 1969.

The actor slated to play the role of Marvel Comics’ first African-American superhero is Anthony Mackie. In a statement released by Mackie, he views his new role with a great deal of respect and responsibility.

I’m playing the Falcon. He’s this guy in Harlem who moved to California and became a drug dealer. His plane crashed, and he was genetically altered, and he can fly, has telepathic powers. He’s the first African-American superhero. It makes me feel all the work I’ve done has been paying off. I have a son, nephews and nieces, and I love the idea that they can dress up as the Falcon on Halloween. They now have someone they can idolize. That’s a huge honor for me,” Mackie said.

Anthony Mackie

In comics, The Falcon/Sam Wilson witnessed his parents’ murders as a teenager, so he moves to Los Angeles andbecomes a criminal and gang member. On his way to a big score, his plane crashes on an island, where he befriends a bird and gets some powers — including power over birds, telepathic abilities, and the ability to fly. He eventually becomes a member of The Avengers, so it’s very likely that he will be in The Avengers 2.

Very historic role...Congrats to Mackie a cool dude who is an actors actor.Not in it for the fame or fortune...

[Edited 9/21/12 6:51am]

finally!!!! like

Still no Black Panther movie - damn. He was an Avenger long before the Falcon joined.

Way past overdue.

uPtoWnNY said:

Still no Black Panther movie - damn. He was an Avenger long before the Falcon joined.

Yeah but the Falcon can FLY.

uPtoWnNY said:

Still no Black Panther movie - damn. He was an Avenger long before the Falcon joined.

with all the racial un-rest in this country

the last thing they want on the BIG SCREEN is an empowered BLACK PANTHER

with real african roots... and it's not us blacks who aren'y restin. lol

could you imagine the fallout when some whiteboy goes into a theatre

filled with blacks and gets to shootin up the joint? even if he gets dropped

by three blacks with guns (illegal of course) it's still gonna cause hella trouble

rround here...

I used to LOVE The Falcon, and I especially loved him and Cap working together in those '70s comics.

I hate the freak-show-on-steroids way that he is often drawn now, such as in the picture at the top of this thread. But that's pretty much every male in comics...

^ Loved those 70s Cap/Falc stories - the fake Cap/Bucky, the Cowled Commander, Dr. Faustus, the Secret Empire, Serpent Squad, the Yellow Claw, etc. They were written by Steve Englehart & drawn by the legendary Sal Buscema.

uPtoWnNY said:

^ Loved those 70s Cap/Falc stories - the fake Cap/Bucky, the Cowled Commander, Dr. Faustus, the Secret Empire, Serpent Squad, the Yellow Claw, etc. They were written by Steve Englehart & drawn by the legendary Sal Buscema.

Steve Englehart also created Jokerfish and Silver St. Cloud in his really cool '70s Batman stories. He's awesome.

Efan said:

I used to LOVE The Falcon, and I especially loved him and Cap working together in those '70s comics.

I hate the freak-show-on-steroids way that he is often drawn now, such as in the picture at the top of this thread. But that's pretty much every male in comics...

That illustration in the first post is by Bart Sears, he exaggerates physiques more than anyone. The Falcon isn't usually drawn that badly.

[Edited 9/22/12 19:52pm]

uPtoWnNY said:

^ Loved those 70s Cap/Falc stories - the fake Cap/Bucky, the Cowled Commander, Dr. Faustus, the Secret Empire, Serpent Squad, the Yellow Claw, etc. They were written by Steve Englehart & drawn by the legendary Sal Buscema.

It's just "The Claw" now. You can't call him the "Yellow Claw" anymore. That isn't PC.

How did The Falcon look in the '70s?

Timmy84 said:

How did The Falcon look in the '70s?

This is his first appearance in 1969 (before he had wings):

His more familiar red and white look:

sexton said:

Timmy84 said:

How did The Falcon look in the '70s?

This is his first appearance in 1969 (before he had wings):

His more familiar red and white look:

Ah I see...

KingBAD said:

uPtoWnNY said:

Still no Black Panther movie - damn. He was an Avenger long before the Falcon joined.

with all the racial un-rest in this country

the last thing they want on the BIG SCREEN is an empowered BLACK PANTHER

with real african roots... and it's not us blacks who aren'y restin. lol

could you imagine the fallout when some whiteboy goes into a theatre

filled with blacks and gets to shootin up the joint? even if he gets dropped

by three blacks with guns (illegal of course) it's still gonna cause hella trouble

rround here...

Nothing more scary than a fine ass hetero brotha with gang ties who develops super powers including flight and telepathy. That's why he have to die soon. Maybe by Avengers 3.

HotGritz said:

KingBAD said:

with all the racial un-rest in this country

the last thing they want on the BIG SCREEN is an empowered BLACK PANTHER

with real african roots... and it's not us blacks who aren'y restin. lol

could you imagine the fallout when some whiteboy goes into a theatre

filled with blacks and gets to shootin up the joint? even if he gets dropped

by three blacks with guns (illegal of course) it's still gonna cause hella trouble

rround here...

Nothing more scary than a fine ass hetero brotha with gang ties who develops super powers including flight and telepathy. That's why he have to die soon. Maybe by Avengers 3.

ooooooooooo gurl, you needs to hursh fo somebody start to thankin you homo-insensative