Samuel Wilson (Earth-616)

From Marvel Database

History

Sam grew up in a tough Harlem neighborhood. His father, a minister, had been killed trying to stop a fight. Sam did his best to try and do the right thing, but his grief and anger eventually led him down a criminal path. He took on the name of "Snap" Wilson while working for the mob.

After an assignment, on the way to Rio de Janeiro, Sam's plane crashed on a remote Caribbean island named Exile where the Red Skull and his henchmen were hiding out. The Red Skull sought to use Wilson as a pawn to attack Captain America (who was currently on the island) with. He used the Cosmic Cube to revert 'Snap' into Sam, and give him the ability to telepathically communicate with birds, especially a bird that Wilson had bought named Redwing. After their initial skirmish, Cap was able to shake Wilson of the Skull's programming. Together they defeated the Skull, and the Falcon became Cap's partner for a long time, later being helped when the Black Panther created a harness for him which allowed him to fly. The Falcon ultimately left as Cap's partner when he was named the leader of the SHIELD Super-Agents.

Contents 1 History 2 Powers and Abilities 2.1 Powers 2.2 Abilities 2.3 Strength level 2.4 Weaknesses 3 Paraphernalia 3.1 Equipment 3.2 Transportation 3.3 Weapons 4 Notes 5 Recommended Readings 6 Links 6.1 Discover and Discuss 7 Alternate reality versions 7.1 U.S. War Machine

Later, as one of the few black superheroes active, he was drafted to join The Avengers by Henry Peter Gyrich to fill a quota. Resenting being a "token," he quit at the first opportunity.

Later, again as the Falcon, Wilson received help from the Black Panther, who created a harness for Wilson, allowing him to fly.^[1] When Rogers briefly abandoned his Captain America identity, others attempted to take up the mantle, including a young man named Roscoe whom the Falcon mentored. When the Red Skull eventually killed Roscoe, Rogers again became Captain America.^[2]

Then at another point, a Sentinel chased him believing him to be a mutant, but this was later debunked and the Sentinel is presumed to have been malfunctioning. Shortly following this incident he came across, fought and defeated the super villain named Electro.

The insane Scarlet Witch accidentally destabilized the Falcon's mind, pushing him back towards his "Snap" persona, and while he continued to work with Captain America, their relationship became strained, until, finally, Cap felt that he had no choice but to stop working with him. While Falcon argued, a man who the "new" Falcon had forced from his home to use as a safehouse shot Cap in the back (while aiming at Falcon). Thinking Cap dead, Falcon cleaned himself up and went after the so-called "Anti-Cap," who had been causing problems for them both.

He helped Cap track down the Winter Soldier. He was the first to join with Captain America against the Superhuman Registration Act, and played a leadership role in the Secret Avengers.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Telepathy: Sam was given the ability to telepathically link with birds endowed by the Red Skull using the Cosmic Cube. This link is strongest with his companion, Redwing.

He is also able to extend his empathic link to other birds making it possible for him see through their eyes. He seems able to use this power with any bird within a one mile radius.

Abilities

Master Martial Artist: Sam has been trained by Captain America in multiple forms of combat and martial arts making him a dangerous combatant.

Master Acrobat

Master Aerialist

Aerial Combat Master: Due to his abilities and experience, he is one of the best aerial fighters in the world. Other flyers such as Iron Man have stated that Sam is even better than he is.

Strength level

Peak human range . Falcon possesses the strength of a normal human of his age,build who enages in regular intensive excercise. Falcon strong enough to lift about twice his bodyweight and can press lift upto approximately 480 lbs.

Weaknesses

None known.

Paraphernalia

Equipment

Hard light harness: the Black Panther has supplied Wilson with a new harness that utilizes hard light constructs. Usually as wings enabling him to fly at high speeds and can be configured into several different modes.

• Formerly Avengers Identicard.

Also, for a long time The Falcon flew using a specially-built harness that resembled wings, also designed by the Black Panther. The costume's visors come equipped with various capabilities, including infrared lenses, giving him the ability to see objects by their infrared signature at night, magnification capabilities, and remote imaging sensors that allow a full 360 degree of vision when activated. The cowl also has a wide band receiver and transmitter with an unspecified range. Although not specified it can be assumed that his newest "hard light wings" costume has the same or similar abilities built into the cowl and visors. He used this harness until its destruction. Wilson's previous costumes allowed him to glide. In the past he also used a "Hawk Hook" as a grapple.

Transportation

Formerly Avengers Quinjet

Weapons

formerly Cable claw in his right gauntlet

Notes

• The Falcon (Sam "Snap" Wilson) was created in 1969 and frequently teamed up with Captain America and later joined the Avengers.As the protector of Harlem, the Falcon has come into conflict with Harlem crime-bosses Stone-Face and Morgan.
• The Falcon initially started out as a non-flying superhero with a trained falcon, Redwing, but eventually he had wings made of Wakandan design, which he has retained over the years.
• The Falcon has been a frequent partner of Captain America, and has intermittently been a member of the Avengers, having first been brought in by Henry Peter Gyrich in an attempt to make the group more racially integrated.
• The Falcon is one of the first African American superheroes. His nephew was the Hulk's sometime sidekick Jim Wilson, one of the first openly HIV-positive Marvel characters (now deceased).
• Wilson is the to date only publically known black successor Captain America (as established in Captain America Sentinel of Liberty 6-8.) Bradley was never officially recognized in the role of Captain America, though some list Bradley as the "black" Captain America.

While the public of the Marvel Universe knows that there was a black successor Cap while Rogers was injured, none know that it was Wilson who succeeded Rogers in the role. While Rogers even told Wilson to continue on in the role with his blessings, Wilson returned the role to Rogers feeling inadequate in the role. This would explain why Wilson continues to avoid returning to the role whenever the opportunity to succeed Rogers comes up, Wilson continues to avoid it and allow others to assume the role.

Recommended Readings

• Captain America v1 #117 (September 1969) - First appearance of the Falcon, and his first encounter with Captain America
• Captain America v1 #126 (June 1970) - "The Fate of the Falcon"
• Captain America v1 #133 (January 1971) - Captain American and the Falcon become partners
• Captain America v1 #170 (February 1974) - The Black Panther and Wakandan scientists create artificial wings for the Falcon, providing him with the power of flight
• Avengers v1 #181 (March 1979) - The Falcon is drafted into the Avengers under orders from Henry Peter Gyrich, in order to satifsy a racial quota
• Falcon #1-4 (November 1983-February 1984) - four issue miniseries by Jim Owsley (a.k.a. Christopher Priest); falsely implied that Sam Wilson is a mutant
• Onslaught: Marvel Universe (October 1996) - Bruce Banner (minus his Hulk persona), Dr. Doom, the Fantastic Four and the Avengers (including the Falcon) are presumed to have been killed by Onslaught. In reality, they begin a year-long sojourn on an alternate "Counter-Earth" subconsciously created by Franklin Richards
• Captain America v2 #1-12 (November 1996-October 1997) - On Counter-Earth, Sam Wilson is shot and gravely wounded, but Captain America saves his life by giving him a transfusion of the Super-Soldier's own blood. Conseqently, Wilson gains superhuman abilities comparable to those of Captain America. His military nickname, "The Falcon", becomes his superhero code name ("Heroes Reborn" series)
• Avengers v3 #1-3 (February-April 1998) - The Falcon and every other living Avenger (past or present) are part of a medieval reality ruled by Morgan le Fay (his Super-Soldier powers from "Heroes Reborn" are gone)
• Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #9 (May 1999) - In a flashback tale that predates his receipt of the artificial wings from the Black Panther, the Falcon temporarily replaces a seriously wounded Steve Rogers as Captain America
• Avengers v3 #64 (April 2003) - Spotlight on the Falcon, who confronts Henry Peter Gyrich after years of resentment; power to see through the eyes of avian lifeforms is revealed
• Avengers v3 #65-70 (May-September 2003) - "Red Zone" - The Falcon and the Avengers foil the Red Skull's plot to frame the nation of Wakanda for a biological terrorist attack upon the United States
• Captain America and the Falcon #1-14 (May 2004-June 2005) - ongoing series by Christopher Priest; marks the first time that the Falcon shares equal billing with Captain America in both name and importance to the plot
• Ultimate Nightmare #1 (October 2004) - first appearance of the Ultimate Universe version of Sam Wilson, a brilliant scientist who has served in the intelligence community with Nick Fury
• Ultimate Vision (January-February 2006) - In the Ultimate Universe, the sentient extraterrestrial robot known as "The Vision" explains the history of Gah Lak Tus to Sam Wilson, and warns of its approach toward Earth (presented as a six-part back-up story in Ultimate Spider-Man #86-88, Ultimate X-Men #65, and Ultimate Fantastic Four #25-26)
• New Avengers #21 (August 2006) - The Falcon becomes Captain America's first ally against the Superhuman Registration Act

Links

• Appearances of Samuel Wilson (Earth-616)
• Character Gallery: Samuel Wilson (Earth-616)
• Images that feature Samuel Wilson (Earth-616)
• Fan-Art Gallery: Samuel Wilson (Earth-616)
• Quotations by Samuel Wilson (Earth-616) 
• The Falcon page at Wikipedia

Discover and Discuss

• Search News for: Falcon · Samuel Thomas Wilson · Samuel Wilson (Earth-616)
• Search Forums for: Falcon · Samuel Thomas Wilson · Samuel Wilson (Earth-616)
• Discuss this and other characters on the forums

Alternate reality versions

U.S. War Machine

In the Marvel MAX series U.S. War Machine, Falcon appeared alongside Captain America and Hawkeye; he and Hawkeye served as Captain America's backup and wore no costumes, only being addressed by their real names. In this reality, Captain America was actually Bucky wearing the Captain's uniform as here the Captain had died in World War II in his stead.