As “Captain America: Brave New World” begins, it quickly reinforces that Sam Wilson is the new Captain America. Within the first few minutes, I noted at least seven instances where Sam Wilson was referred to as either "Captain America” or “Cap,” the familiar nickname given to the original Captain America, Steve Rogers.
The constant need to remind the audience that Sam Wilson is Captain America highlights one of the issues with him holding the title.
Let’s address something right away. This isn’t about Captain America being race-swapped. That issue stands on its own, as race swaps are seldom well-received. So, anyone who wants to dismiss this critique as “RACISM!!!” or accuse me of selling out or tap dancing for the white man can take a hike, because this is a family-friendly article, and I’m not going to resort to cursing or name-calling.
The biggest problem with Sam Wilson is that he is an ordinary human being, not a super soldier. When we are first introduced to Sam Wilson in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier," we see him as an active-duty soldier jogging slowly in the courtyard of the Washington Monument. Meanwhile, the super soldier Steve Rogers runs laps around Sam, constantly reminding him that he is “on his left.” (Steve Rogers was the first to say that line; Sam Wilson repeats it when he reappears in Endgame.)
This comparison highlights the disparity between a human and a super soldier. While Sam Wilson may represent the pinnacle of human athleticism, he is like a child racing against an adult when set beside a super soldier. This contrast illustrates the difference that enables Steve Rogers to achieve remarkable feats, which Sam Wilson cannot replicate. Aside from acquiring wings to become the Falcon, we don’t witness Sam engaging in actions demonstrating he can perform at Steve Rogers' level. Although he undergoes some training in the series “Falcon and the Winter Soldier” and practices with the super soldier Isaiah Bradley in the recent film, these instances still depict him at a high, yet distinctly human, athletic level.
It becomes hard to believe when we see Sam Wilson fighting several opponents or throwing the shield with the same speed, precision, and force, catching it just as effectively and facing the Red Hulk as if he were a super soldier. The film repeatedly states that Sam chooses not to take the super serum that would make him a super soldier. Yet, Disney Marvel expects viewers to believe that a regular human could wield a twelve-pound circular object and throw it with such impact and strength without any prior training or the enhanced abilities that Steve Rogers has when he throws the shield.
This raises another issue regarding Sam Wilson's role as Captain America—specifically, how he uses the shield. How can an ordinary human throw the shield just like Steve Rogers did, especially given that Steve never trained him? The truth is, he can't, even if Steve had attempted to train him. Setting aside previous points, let’s consider this from another angle. Steve Rogers developed a distinct fighting style centered around the shield. Furthermore, thanks to the super soldier serum, he possesses the mental acuity to calculate the correct angles and trajectories when throwing it. With these unique qualities, Steve Rogers' combat with the shield feels authentic and credible.
Steve’s talent for throwing the shield reflects his personal skill, but let’s remember the shield is just a tool! Everyone has their own way of using it that really suits them. It would have been wonderful to see Sam Wilson showcase the shield in his unique style instead of throwing it like Steve Rogers. It feels disappointing that the writers relied on the shield’s abilities without giving Sam the chance to shine with his own approach, as it misses out on some exciting possibilities!
Also, let’s not forget in the movie, Sam Wilson’s Captain America takes on the Red Hulk! While in the comics, Steve Rogers’ Captain America went toe-to-toe with Hulk, the Huk almost always defeated him rather easily (there was one time Captain America beat up Hulk, but he needed the help of Spider-Man. See Captain America Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America #4). However, Steve Rogers’ is a super soldier so he could take on the Hulk if needed. Sam Wilson, however, is not. In the movie, we see Red Hulk push him through the White House, throw things at him, and pound on his wings for several seconds. Even with the vibranium wings, there is no way Sam Wilson could withstand the onslaught of a Hulk. Even Steve Rogers would not withstand the Hulk assault.
This brings us to the final aspect of Sam Wilson as Captain America: many feel he doesn’t fully capture the essence of what it means to be Captain America! Let’s set aside the race-swapping for now, as it’s not the focus of our discussion. When we look at Sam Wilson, he doesn’t quite project the same command, gravitas, and diligence that Steve Rogers embodies. For instance, when Steve Rogers boldly states, “I can do this all day” while facing a challenging opponent, it really showcases his unwavering determination. In comparison, Sam Wilson occasionally appears doubtful and unsure of his leadership abilities, tending to hold back. However, it’s important to recognize that having the traits of a follower isn't a flaw at all! The world truly benefits from followers and leaders, and as Falcon, Sam Wilson was a fantastic ally of Steve Rogers’ Captain America.
Another reason he isn’t Captain America is his overreliance on technology from others. Sam Wilson carries Captain America’s shield, wears Ant-Man’s helmet, and dons specially crafted vibranium wings from Wakanda. He flies around like the Falcon – the mantle was transferred to another man – embodying a blend of various characters that all vie for his attention. This technology offsets the fact that Sam Wilson is an ordinary human, allowing him to confront superior threats only by utilizing this technology.
How much technology does Steve Rogers’ Captain America wear at any one time?
What Disney did to Sam Wilson is disgraceful. Sam Wilson is a fantastic side character who, as Falcon, becomes a sidekick to Captain America. He always fought by Captain America’s side and never wavered in his loyalty to his friend. It would have been really cool if Disney Marvel had made a film about Falcon and built him up as the future leader of the Avengers. He could have had his own lineup of villains to contend with, and they could have showcased how he became even more adept at using his wings. They could have told a story of how Falcon sought to step out from under Captain America’s shadow and become a hero in his own right.
Instead, they chose to impose the “mantle” of Captain America on Sam Wilson. In doing so, they ensured that Sam Wilson will always be criticized as a character unworthy of the title because he can’t perform the actions that would validate his worthiness. At the end of “Avengers: Endgame,” it would have been better to see Sam Wilson decline Captain America’s offer to take the shield. “No, I think I’ll become my own man and build my reputation so that it one day eclipses yours, Cap,” Sam Wilson could have said, if there had been more competent writers at Disney Marvel. Instead, they diminished the great character and hero Falcon to present the audience with a false equivalent, who serves as a reminder of one crucial aspect of Captain America.
There is only one Captain America, and his name is Steve Rogers.
