While Sam Wilson aka Falcon may have been Steve Rogers’ choice to be the next Captain America, the MCU is expected to allow multiple heroes to use the name.
While Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), aka Falcon, may have been Steve Rogers’ choice to be the next Captain America, Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is expected to see multiple heroes using the name. Admittedly, this idea may meet with strong resistance from MCU fans, as in the universe of film and television created by Marvel Studios, only one character tends to be considered the “real” Captain America. That, of course, being Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), who wore the suit exclusively for the MCU’s first decade.
Sam’s transition into the new Captain America at the end of Falcon and the Winter Soldier was received especially warmly. However, he hasn’t really had a chance to fully make the identity his own yet. It will probably come Captain America 4, a new film already in preparation. There are fans who wish Steve had never left, and others who think Bucky should have been given Cap’s legendary shield. Government rookie John Walker also took on the Captain America identity, but only briefly, and it ended with him killing a guy in public, so most would consider it a failed experiment.
As Sam earned his right to become the first black man to officially call himself Captain America during the MCU’s Phase 4, Marvel introduced the idea in its comics of multiple Captain Americas operating at the same time, helping to make United States a better place in their own ways. The reasons given for why this change is necessary suggest that a similar setup within the MCU could be a great move.
Marvel Comics introduced the concept of multiple Captain Americas
In early June 2021, to coincide with Pride Month, Marvel Comics released its new Captain America, a gay teenager named Aaron Fischer. Aaron stars in a limited series titled Captain America’s United States, which also sees Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, Sam Wilson, and John Walker team up to retrieve Cap’s stolen shield. The four men have, of course, held the title of Captain America in the comics, and on their journey through the land they call home, they discover that many otherwise ordinary people have taken up the mantle of Captain America. to try to do good. in their own way within their specific communities.
Although Aaron doesn’t have any superpowers, and it seems like the other neighborhood captains don’t either, the message the comic is trying to get across is that while not everyone is not a super soldier, anyone can tell the difference. Some may call this message too cheesy or hokey, but at a time when the United States is more divided than it has been in decades, especially racially, politically and economically, it is arguably a very relevant message for today. Also, this type of message played a big role in the MCU. Falcon and the Winter Soldier, where it was clear that Sam didn’t need powers to be worthy of the shield or even expensive technology. What’s special about Sam is the same thing that was already special about Steve before he took the Super Soldier serum: empathy, compassion, ethics, bravery and the will to do good. .
A person can no longer represent America
Much of Sam’s journey throughout The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was his acceptance that not only was he worthy of stepping into Steve’s shoes, but that it was a long overdue honor for a black man to reprise the role, especially after the mistreatment of Isaiah Bradley. While Sam is definitely a worthy Captain America, there’s no reason other Captain Americas can’t appear within the MCU to offer representation to other groups who have never held the shield. America has long been referred to as a melting pot, but the country has long passed the point where it makes sense to have it represented solely by a white cisgender male superhero.
With that in mind, why not have a gay Captain America onscreen, or a transgender Captain America, or an Asian Captain America, or a Hispanic Captain America? That’s not to say that these are the only other groups of Americans worth representing, as the United States is a rich mosaic of people from different walks of life and backgrounds. Still, a more varied lineup of Captain Americas would paint a much more accurate picture of why America is a nation worthy of protection. Of course, Sam may still be the main operating Captain America in the MCU, but a large network of Caps springing up to help in their own way would be a fitting addition and would make Steve’s legacy proud.
The MCU should do the same with several Captain Americas
In Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Baron Zemo makes a good point about the dangers of one particular man being elevated to national symbol status, putting him on a pedestal, and how that concept is outdated. It worked for Steve Rogers, but he became America’s hero in a much different time and with a much different set of problems and enemies to fight. This danger was exemplified by the government’s attempt to simply replace Steve with another soldier in John Walker, which proved that it takes a very particular type of person to fill this role.
Contrast that with Spider-Man, where one of the main ideas in developing the character was to create a superhero with more of the average person’s issues, based on the premise that theoretically anyone could be at inside the suit. Captain America has always been directly linked to Steve in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and for the concept of the character to fit into modern times, it must show that the ideals and virtues established by Steve can be properly maintained in the future. by those with similar belief systems. Having one person take over won’t achieve that goal, but spreading the identity wherever it’s needed in America, and by anyone who wields it with dignity and pride, certainly could. America has problems outside of apocalyptic villain invasions, and there’s no reason Captain America(s) can’t help solve them too.
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