Sam Wilson: The Next Captain America
Josh B.
It’s been years since Avengers: Endgame, when Steve Rogers handed off his shield to Sam Wilson, and named him as the next Captain America. Things haven’t been easy for Sam since then. The American government tried to replace him with their own man, John Walker, and Sam had to fight to prove he was worthy of the name Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Years have passed, and we finally have Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson starring in his first solo movie as Captain America – so, does he measure up to the man that came before? Let’s talk about it.
From the minute Sam picked up the shield, he said “It feels like it belongs to someone else,” and that feeling has persisted throughout Sam’s tenure as Captain America. Every outing involving Sam has had him question exactly what makes him worthy of holding the shield, and the title. After watching both The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Captain America: Brave New World, I think I have an answer – the answer is Sam Wilson himself.
From the minute we were introduced to Sam in the MCU back in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson has been the everyman; someone just trying to do his best in a world of people who outclass him, just like we saw when he would race Steve Rogers in DC. Much like Hawkeye, Sam Wilson is a character without superpowers, relying on his own skill and technology in combat. However, Sam is not Hawkeye, simply for how he deals with things. Every conflict he comes across, Sam’s first tactic is negotiation and de-escalation. We saw him attempt this in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier with the Flag Smashers, but in Captain America: Brave New World is where this skill really comes into focus. When fighting the Red Hulk, the thing that ultimately wins the day is Sam’s ability to connect with President Ross, and see him for more than the monster he’s become. Sam has always had that ability, that skill to see into people’s hearts, and that’s what makes him worthy of the shield.
Red Hulk aka Thaddeus Ross
As I’ve said, Sam Wilson doesn’t have any powers, something he ruminates on a lot in Captain America: Brave New World. Yet, without super strength, he’s able to defend the American and Japanese Navy from starting a war with each other over the new, rarified resource known as Adamantium. In doing so, Sam Wilson does what so many superheroes haven’t done on a direct level in the MCU for years – save people. Yes, the Avengers saved all of humanity in Endgame, and there have been dozens of TV shows and movies in the MCU since then, but think about it. Really think about it. When was the last time you remember a hero in the MCU directly saving innocent people? I honestly can’t remember. The MCU has gotten so concerned with raising the stakes over and over with the Multiverse that the core bread and butter of superheroes seems to have been lost somewhere along the line – that’s part of what makes Sam Wilson’s Captain America so endearing to me. He does what a hero is supposed to do – he saves people.
Pic From TFATWS
Finally, I’d like to touch on something Bucky Barnes says to Sam in Captain America: Brave New World. When Sam is at his lowest, Bucky arrives and tells Sam that while Steve gave people hope, Sam gives people something to aspire to. Now, I actually disagree. I believe Sam Wilson gives people something to relate to. In a world full of superpowered people, Sam is the underdog. His only powers come from his mind and his heart – the will to carry on and the strength to fight for what you believe in. In these increasingly worrying times, that’s all any of us have. In my opinion, Sam Wilson’s heart makes him one of the most relatable superheroes in the MCU. After all, if we were thrust into the MCU, the best any of us could hope for is to be able to talk down our villains, convince others to make better choices, because it’s not like any of us have access to a super soldier serum either.
Overall, it hasn’t been an easy road to get here. COVID and reshoots made both The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Captain America: Brave New World stumble in terms of story and development, but it’s clear that the people running the show never lost sight of what was most important in that time – characterizing Sam Wilson as the next Captain America. Sam Wilson’s empathy, his willingness to choose peace and his relatability all make him a great pick to inherit Steve Rogers’ shield. That’s why Sam Wilson earns his wings – and shield – as the new Captain America.
