Now that the next wave of Marvel movies featuring the superheroes from The Avengers are gearing up, America’s most loyal citizen, Captain America, has an August 4, 2014 opening date for his sequel, Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Accompanying him will be Marvel Comic’s first African-American superhero. His name is Sam Wilson, but he’s also known as The Falcon. Sam Wilson/The Falcon was introduced by Stan Lee and Gene Colan in Captain America issue #117 in 1969.
The actor slated to play the role of Marvel Comics’ first African-American superhero is Anthony Mackie. In a statement released by Mackie, he views his new role with a great deal of respect and responsibility.
I’m playing the Falcon. He’s this guy in Harlem who moved to California and became a drug dealer. His plane crashed, and he was genetically altered, and he can fly, has telepathic powers. He’s the first African-American superhero. It makes me feel all the work I’ve done has been paying off. I have a son, nephews and nieces, and I love the idea that they can dress up as the Falcon on Halloween. They now have someone they can idolize. That’s a huge honor for me,” Mackie said.
