Character Highlight: Sam Wilson a.k.a. Falcon (The Avengers)

Sam is still a fairly new presence in the MCU, but he’s definitely a welcome one.  I like seeing nonpowered people fighting in the big leagues, and paratrooper-turned-Avenger Sam fights with style.  I’m looking forward to seeing more of him in future films (a few Civil War spoilers.)

First, we’ve gotta talk about the wings, because they’re so cool.  Yes, the Iron Man/War Machine suits are better equipped with weaponry and protect their wearers better, but those wings are awesome.  Seeing Sam in flight is so badass and visually-impressive.  I like how he extends and retracts them as need be, how he can use them to shield himself, and how he twists and flips through the air.  What’s more, I like that they’re not one of Tony’s inventions or something to come out of SHIELD.  Sam was already using them for pararescue  in his military days, and when he first shows proof of them to Cap and Black Widow, both are taken aback.  That’s nice, having a tech-based hero whose tech isn’t made to be “super” but who uses it in “super” ways.  (Tony, it seems, has since given Sam more toys to play with – much love for Red Wing!)

Not having powers or a bona fide super-suit means Sam has to have a huge amount of fortitude and be very good at what he does to face the enormous foes he does with the Avengers.  He’s a loyal, incredibly brave soldier who throws himself into the fight with dedication, not just to the cause, but to the people he fights alongside.  I like that Cap turns to Sam in The Winter Soldier when everything is insane and he needs somewhere to hide out, and I like that Sam then goes way above and beyond providing a safe haven, stepping up as a volunteer to help Cap and Natasha confront Hydra.  At this point, he’s met Cap maybe twice, and yeah, there’s at least a little hero worship at play here, but it also says a lot about Sam that he would so immediately sign up to risk so much.

We haven’t really seen it post-The Winter Soldier, but I also like Sam’s history working with the VA and helping soldiers with their transition back to civilian life.  This makes another strong statement about Sam, I think.  He’s a tough, capable fighter, but he’s also an empathetic person who uses his own painful experiences to connect with others who are struggling and wants to fight the good fight on and off the battlefield.  Like I said, this aspect of Sam is really only on display in The Winter Soldier, and I wish we’d see it again.  It seems like it would have made a lot of sense for him to be compassionate about Bucky’s circumstances and try to offer support for him.  (I get that Bucky’s programming means he still poses a threat, Sam worries that Steve’s devotion to Bucky might be getting the way of his judgment, and Sam isn’t thrilled about risking his life for this guy, but still.)  That said, I do find it cool that, even though Sam has his doubts about the save-Bucky mission and clearly doesn’t like him, he still throws his own life into a lot of havoc on Bucky’s behalf; even if he’s mainly doing it for Steve, I like that he can fight to keep Team Iron Man from getting Bucky despite his less-than-fuzzy feelings for the guy.

So, I’d like to see more of that side of Sam in future films (maybe in helping Tony address his (many) traumas whenever the Avengers finally get back together?  Or maybe Wanda?)  What else?  I’m not sure.  I know he’s nto a very prominent character, and unlike Rhodey, Civil War didn’t really set up anything major for him going forward.  I suppose I’d like to see more of his dynamic with characters other than Cap because, while Civil War starts incorporating him more into the team, he’s still “Steve’s guy” and as a result can feel a bit sidekicky.