Fandom in Color - Sam Wilson
The Marvel universe, both in the comics and in the cinematic universe, has gone through multiple story arcs over its lifespan bringing in many heroes with many fantastic backstories. Today we are shouting out Samuel “Sam” Thomas Wilson for this Fandom In Color feature.
Sam started in the comics in 1969 as just a man who worked to train birds, who joined forces with Captain America to take on Red Skull, eventually evolving into the first iteration of the Falcon with his powers being his connection to the birds he is featured with like Redwing in the comics and his mechanical wings to fly. He was one of the first mainstream Black heroes, partnering with Captain America in many different iterations over the years and, eventually, in both the comics and the cinematic universe, taking up the historic mantle. Sam Wilson is one of the most popular and public faces of Captain America’s successors.
In Fandom spaces, Sam is featured often as the group therapist. Sam served in the United States Air Force as a pararescue team members and was a highly respected veteran working at the Washington D.C. V.A. hospital with other veterans to help their transition leaving the military. It was his invitation and companionship that he offered to Steve Rogers that created a bond over the men being in and surviving their military service. Due to this introduction, and his natural compassion brought out in his MCU appearances, lead many fans to headcannoning and writing these tropes with tags such as Sam is Everyone's Therapist, Up All Night To Get Bucky where Sam is featured alongside other Avengers to save Bucky, and even being placed as a matchmaker to fix up his friends found often in the tag Sam Wilson is a Good Bro. Continually, fans and writers alike have relied on Sam Wilson’s character as one to support and carry the team both with his abilities with advance strategies and levelheaded approach but also his emotional capacity with his continued empathy despite all that has happened to him. With his newest MCU feature, “Captain America: Brave New World” finally bringing Sam to stand as his own hero and getting his flowers to be the main protagonist.
Cheers for our newest Captain America and all he has done to earn the title, as his story progresses both in the comics and the MCU we will see more of our beloved Sam carrying the star-spangled shield with the dignity and hope that started with Steve Rogers for our future generations.
Are you looking to read more on the newest Avenger? Come on over to Fanlore to see his full history and some featured fanworks!
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