Reviews for The Falcon and The Winter Soldier land tomorrow (check back here at 9am PT), while the first episode will arrive on Disney+ on Friday. There's a lot of intrigue surrounding the debut of the new Captain America... and we're not talking about Sam Wilson. Instead, John Walker is set to wield the shield.
We don't know much about the Marvel Cinematic Universe's take on the character - better known as U.S. Agent in the comics - and he's only appeared in the trailers for the show from a distance!
Talking to Polygon, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier showrunner Malcolm Spellman was asked if he feels grief will be a major theme in the MCU following the events of Avengers: Endgame. We saw that play a huge role in WandaVision, of course, but this series will head in a slightly different direction.
"The global theme for this thing is identity," Spellman explains. "We have five main characters who all have their own individual journeys underneath that. You have Zemo, who is dealing with what he sees in his mind as supremacy in the form of heroes. Whether you call it vigilantism or whatever, Zemo sees himself as a hero, and that’s his target."
"Sharon Carter is dealing with being betrayed or abandoned, because she’s been gone since Civil War, and she’s had to survive on her own. Bucky Barnes is dealing with grief. Same with John Walker [played by Wyatt Russell] — they both have different incarnations of a veteran story, in that you do everything for a country, and then who’s there to pick up the pieces for you?"
That mention of Walker dealing with grief and being a veteran is very interesting, and it sounds like this iteration of the character went through a lot before ultimately becoming Captain America.
"Sam is dealing with the symbolism of being Captain America, and whether it’s appropriate," Spellman adds. "Each one of them has an identity that starts them off in a very fraught state of being, because it’s urgent and immediate, what they’re dealing with. And by the end of this series, each one of these characters is going to look at themselves completely differently, and almost be reborn."
If that means we might get to see everything from Sam becoming Captain America to Zemo transforming into Baron Zemo, and even Walker's new role as U.S. Agent, then bring it on. There are bound to be some surprises in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, so expect it to defy expectations.
Click on the "Next" button below to see a ranking of the
main heroes to have held the Captain America mantle!
10. Frank Castle
Civil War established that Frank Castle had great respect for Steve Rogers, even after the most patriotic Avenger beat him up for gunning down a couple of criminals in front of him.
After Cap's apparent assassination, Frank decided to reinvent the mantle for himself, becoming a twisted cross between Captain America and The Punisher. He continued to kill those who broke the law, but ultimately agreed to relinquish the mask when he was confronted by Bucky (who was understandably furious that he was killing in Cap's name).
His time as "Captain America" was brief, and outside of the psychotic William Burnside, Frank is easily the worst "hero" to have taken on this role in the Marvel Universe.
It's not that Captain America doesn't kill; he just doesn't kill like this.
9. Samantha Wilson
On the world that Spider-Gwen calls home, Captain America is a young black woman called, wait for it, Samantha Wilson.
However, she was no former sidekick. Instead, she was convinced by Peggy Carter to take part in Project: Rebirth, and her story played out not all that differently to Steve's. Taking on the likes of the Red Skull and Baron Zemo, she too ended up in the ice, but became an icon in the process.
In the present, she worked for S.H.I.E.L.D., and continued to fight the good fight.
This was a special Captain America, but one who hasn't had quite enough time on the page for us to rank any higher than this.
8. John Walker
John Walker will become the MCU's new Captain America in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, but fans of the comics will know him better as U.S. Agent.
The military veteran was enlisted by the U.S. Government to fill the void left by Steve Rogers when he became Nomad, and while his stint as Captain America was short-lived, he made quite an impact as a far more violent, darker Cap who was a little less forgiving while protecting his countries.
Walker later overcame his mental health issues to be portrayed in a heroic light, but his time as Captain America wasn't quite so positive.
It should be interesting seeing how his MCU counterpart differs.
7. Sharon Rogers
A character in Marvel's Future Fight rather than the comics, Sharon Rogers is the daughter of Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter.
In that world, Steve never ended up taking a plunge into the ice. Instead, he got his happy ending with Peggy, and Sharon started working for S.H.I.E.L.D. after her parents retired. This led to her becoming Captain America, and that new, formidable looking shield was created for her by Iron Man.
We love the idea of this Captain America, and it's something Marvel Studios could now choose to explore on screen.
After all, if Steve rewrote the timeline when he went back in time, this Sharon could be out there somewhere, but would likely be his grandaughter rather than daughter.
6. Peggy Carter
Talking of Peggy Carter, it's not just in the upcoming What If? animated series that she wields the shield.
On Earth-86315, Peggy is convinced by Howard Stark to take the Super Soldier Serum after both Dr. Abraham Erskine and Steve Rogers are gunned down by the Nazis.
This Cap first appeared in the Marvel Puzzle Quest mobile game, and while she doesn't have much history (she was only introduced in 2018), Peggy made her mark. That's despite having an origin story which is very much rooted in tragedy after the shocking demise of Steve.
We just hope What If? is able to do her justice when she becomes Captain Britain!
5. Isaiah Bradley
Retconned into the Marvel Universe's history, Isaiah Bradley was among the 300 Black soldiers the U.S. Government tested the Super Soldier Serum on after Steve Rogers was successfully transformed into Captain America.
His story is a dark and upsetting one, but it's well worth tracking down (especially given how relevant it is to what's happening in the world today). He didn't end up in ice, but left quite the legacy after his World War II adventures, with his grandson, Eli Bradley, the one-time leader of the Young Avengers as Patriot.
Isaiah is often overlooked, but an important, relevant, part of the Captain America legacy.
It's believed we'll see this character in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier as Sam Wilson ponders whether to take the Super Soldier Serum like Steve did before him.
4. Danielle Cage
Before leaving Marvel for DC, Brian Michael Bendis teased the possibility that Luke Cage and Jessica Jones' daughter, Danielle, might be a Skrull imposter.
That's yet to be addressed, but in one possible future, she becomes the new Captain America.
Her powers developed from her superhero parents rather than a Super Soldier Serum, and she was both incredibly strong and bulletproof. That made her a force to be reckoned with as she battled the Golden Skull and his minions. Despite a limited amount of time on the page, this Cap resonated with readers in a big way.
We just hope we get to see more of her soon.
3. Sam Wilson
When the Super Soldier Serum was removed from Steve Rogers, he reverted to his normal self, and became an old man in the process (it was pretty wacky).
Steve took control of S.H.I.E.L.D. alongside Sharon Carter, but the Marvel Universe needed a Captain America. That was where Sam Wilson came in, and while the former Falcon wielding the shield was initially met with a mixed response, he soon proved that he had what it took to hold this mantle.
With Redwing by his side, and those wings still part of his arsenal, Sam led the Avengers, took center stage in a number of big event stories, and even romanced the Mighty Thor (Jane Foster).
He back to being the Falcon these days, but we'll soon see him on screen in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
2. Bucky Barnes
This might come down to personal preference more than anything else, but Bucky Barnes was a great Captain America.
Despite being a wanted criminal for the time he spent as The Winter Soldier, Bucky realized he needed to pick up where his best friend, Steve Rogers, left off, and it didn't take long for him to prove himself.
In Ed Brubaker's stellar Captain America run, Bucky took on all manner of threats. He also became a pivotal member of the New Avengers, the underground team who worked to protect the world in the shadows alongside Iron Man's "official" Mighty Avengers. He even gave his life in battle during Fear Itself!
Thankfully, he was brought back from the dead, and has mostly been used as The Winter Soldier since.
1. Steve Rogers
The blue eyed, blonde haired Steve Rogers was deemed unfit for military service, but wanted to do whatever it took to protect his country from the threat the Nazis posed.
That eventually led to him taking the Super Soldier Serum, and becoming World War II hero, Captain America. Plunging into the ice saving the world from Baron Zemo, he spent decades frozen, only to be pulled from the depths by the Avengers. In an America unfamiliar to him, Steve continued serving not just his country, but the entire world, against all manner of threats.
He's without a doubt the best Captain America, and not just because he's the original.
Despite a villainous blip thanks to Secret Empire, it's hard to fault Steve Rogers, and even harder to argue with him being the best Captain America in Marvel Comics history!