New Captain America: An African-American Superhero
The all-new Captain America, expected to come out this November with Marvel Comics replacing Steve Rogers with Sam Wilson, will be an African-American, also known as the Falcon, according to an announcement made on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report."
The announcement comes shortly after Marvel revealed plans for a new female avatar of Thor. These major changes are all part of Marvel Comics' plan to bring in greater diversity to its range of Superheroes. Created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, Captain America first appeared in a comic book in March 1941 and featured Rogers who was born in the 1920s and fought the forces of evil until his devastating showdown with the Iron Nail, where the villain robs Rogers of his super powers by draining him of the super serum, turning him into an old man.
With a weakened Rogers, and the terrorist organization Hydra growing in power, the Captain's enemies rally to attack a vulnerable America. Who will stand guard with the shield? Who will don the stars and stripes and fly where eagles dare?
Enter Sam Wilson, previously known as the Falcon. Created in 1969, Sam Wilson a.k.a The Falcon was one of Marvel's first African-American superheroes. The Falcon has also been one of Cap's oldest allies, leading Rogers to hand-pick Wilson as his successor.
Sam will now lead the fight against the villains of the Marvel Universe. Steve, his mentor, although weak and old, is mentally sharp as ever and will now serve as the new Captain’s strategic adviser, running missions from his headquarters in the Avengers Mansion, and providing Sam with technical support and field information from afar.
In an interview with Marvel, series editor Tom Brevoort says: "While Sam shares many of Steve’s beliefs in a general sense, he’s also a very different person with a very different background. He didn’t grow up in the 1930s; he’s a modern-day man in touch with the problems of the 21st Century."
Marvel also has changed the line-up for its band of superheroes called the Avengers. Tony Stark's Iron Man will get a new outfit and move to San Francisco with a new name -- "Superior Iron Man," and he will be "a character that's hard to root for," Axel Alonso, Marvel's editor-in-chief, told The Independent.
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