Marvel
is set to introduce a black Captain America by replacing Steve Rogers
with Sam Wilson, better known as the Falcon. The announcement comes
shortly after the US publisher's plans to make Thor a woman were
revealed. Marvel is aiming for greater diversity in its big titles.
Comic book fans had long-rumoured the shift from Rogers to his old
ally Wilson, with the latter set to take up the founding Avenger's
patriotic shield this October. Wilson is set to star in Rick
Remender's Captain America. His upgrading will follow Rogers'
devastating fight against the Iron Nail, in which the villain drains
him of the super serum keeping him physically perfect and depowers him
into an old man.
Series editor Tom
Brevoort told Marvel, "He didn't grow up in the 1930s; he's a
modern-day man in touch with the problems of the 21st century."
Created by Stan Lee and Gene Colan, Wilson first featured in 1969's Captain
America #117 as the first African-American superhero in mainstream
comics. In 1971, Wilson was promoted to join Captain America in the
title, Captain America and the Falcon, but Steve Rogers went
solo again from 1978. Before him came The Black Panther, who
was African and debuted in Fantastic Four years earlier. The
first black Captain America was Isaiah Bradley who appeared in 2003's
limited series Truth: Red, White and Black.
Marvel
Series editor Tom
Brevoort told Marvel, "He didn't grow up in the 1930s; he's a
modern-day man in touch with the problems of the 21st century."
Created by Stan Lee and Gene Colan, Wilson first featured in 1969's Captain
America #117 as the first African-American superhero in mainstream
comics. In 1971, Wilson was promoted to join Captain America in the
title, Captain America and the Falcon, but Steve Rogers went
solo again from 1978. Before him came The Black Panther, who
was African and debuted in Fantastic Four years earlier. The
first black Captain America was Isaiah Bradley who appeared in 2003's
limited series Truth: Red, White and Black.