Marvel confirms rumors of a black Captain America after announcing the next Thor is a woman.
Marvel Comics is taking unprecedented steps to diversify its universe. After revealing its next Thor would be a woman, Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada confirms rumors the Super Soldier's shield will be inherited by a black man.
Fans need not speculate much on Captain America's replacement, though. Previous candidates involved the usual and odd suspects, including Red Skull and Bucky Barnes, The Winter Soldier. Quesada announces it's going to be co-Avenger Falcon, also known as Sam Wilson.
The new series launches in October, pegging Sam Wilson as the seventh person to inherit the Captain America shield. It's worth noting he's not the first African-American character to do so, though. Isaiah Bradley briefly took over the Captain's duties in 2003's "Truth: Red, White, and Black" storyline (time.com).
Sam Wilson's first appearance was in Captain America #117; he is the first African-American superhero and has been a major character in the Avengers, also in the Marvel universe. He takes on new responsibility as a black Captain America in issue #25.
Marvel Studios have adapted storylines from the graphic novels into films, although the similarities are sometimes loose, often reinvented. If "The Avengers" plot follows through in the film installments, then it's likely Anthony Mackie will take over Chris Evans' role as the next Super Soldier, on Avengers 3 or in succeeding spin-offs.
Mackie has confirmed he's signed up for multiple film deals with Marvel Studios, and his presence has earned him the favor of fans as Falcon. It's up to the studios how to transition the Captain America character, if it ever comes to that point.
Rick Remender, author of the series, reveals a different Captain America in Sam Wilson. "He's a modern day man in touch with the problems of the 21st century. For most of his professional life, Sam has worked as a social worker, so he's seen the worst of urban society up close, and how crime, poverty, lack of social structure and opportunity can affect the community. So he's got perhaps a greater focus on the plight of the common man, and perhaps a greater empathy for the underprivileged than maybe even Steve himself." (marvel.com)
Fans anticipate the film franchise to follow suit with the graphic novels, with a black Captain America groomed for The Avengers.
