MCU Phase 4 Should Have Multiple Captain Americas (Not Just Sam Wilson)

While Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), aka Falcon, may have been Steve Rogers' choice to be the next Captain America, Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe should allow multiple heroes to use the name. Granted, that idea may be met by heavy resistance from MCU fans, as within the movie and TV universe created by Marvel Studios, only one figure tends to be considered the "true" Captain America. That, of course, being Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), who wore the suit exclusively for the MCU's first decade.

The transition of Sam into the new Captain America at the end of Falcon and the Winter Soldier has been received mostly warmly. However, he hasn't really been given a chance yet to fully make the identity his. That will presumably come in Captain America 4, a new movie already in the works. There are some fans who wish Steve had never left, and others who think Bucky should've been given Cap's storied shield. Government recruit John Walker also donned the Captain America identity, but only briefly, and it ended with him murdering a guy in public, so most would consider it a failed experiment.

While Sam has earned his right to become the first Black man to officially be called Captain America during the MCU's Phase 4, Marvel has introduced the idea within its comics of multiple Captain Americas operating at once, helping to make the U.S. a better place in their own ways. The reasons given as to why this change is necessary suggests a similar setup within the MCU could be a great move.

Marvel Comics Introduced The Concept Of Multiple Captain Americas

In early June 2021, to coincide with Pride Month, Marvel Comics debuted its newest Captain America, a gay teenager named Aaron Fischer. Aaron stars in a limited series titled The United States of Captain America, which also sees Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, Sam Wilson, and John Walker team up to recover Cap's stolen shield. All four men have, of course, held the title of Captain America in the comics, and on their journey across the country they call home, they find that lots of otherwise ordinary people have taken up the mantle of Captain America to try and do good in their own ways within their own specific communities.

While Aaron doesn't have superpowers, and it appears the other neighborhood Captains don't either, the message the comic is trying to get across is that while everyone isn't a Super Soldier, anyone can make a difference. Some may call that message too corny or hokey, but in an age where the U.S. is more divided than its been in decades, especially along racial, political, and economic lines, it's arguably one that's very relevant to the current times. Plus, this type of message played a big role in the MCU's Falcon and the Winter Soldier, where it was made clear that Sam didn't need powers to be worthy of the shield or even expensive technology. What's special about Sam is the same thing that was already special about Steve before he took the Super Soldier serum: empathy, compassion, ethics, bravery, and the drive to do good.

One Person Can No Longer Represent America

Sam Wilson wearing his Captain America Uniform

A lot of Sam's journey throughout The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was his coming to terms with the idea that not only was he worthy of stepping into Steve's shoes but that it was an honor long overdue for a Black person to take over the role, especially after the mistreatment of Isaiah Bradley. While Sam is definitely a worthy Captain America, there's no reason that other Captain Americas can't pop up within the MCU to offer representation to other groups who've never held the shield. America has long been called a melting pot, but the country is long past the point where it makes sense to have it represented solely by a cisgender, white male superhero.

In that spirit, why not have a gay Captain America onscreen, or a transgender Captain America, or an Asian Captain America, or a Hispanic Captain America? That's not to say those are the only other groups of Americans worth representing, as the U.S. is a rich tapestry of people from different backgrounds and walks of life. Still, a more varied line-up of Captain Americas would provide a much more accurate picture of why America is a nation worthy of protecting. Of course, Sam can still be the main Captain America operating in the MCU, but a vast network of Caps springing up to help out in their own ways would be a fitting addition and do Steve's legacy proud.

The MCU Should Do The Same With Multiple Captain Americas

Falcon Winter Soldier Captain America Spider-Man SR

In Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Baron Zemo makes a good point about the dangers of one particular man being elevated to the status of national symbol, putting them on a pedestal, and how that concept is outdated. It worked for Steve Rogers, but he became America's hero in a far different time and with a far different set of problems and enemies to fight. This danger was illustrated by the government attempting to simply replace Steve with another soldier in John Walker, which proved that it takes a very particular kind of person to take up that role.

Contrast that with Spider-Man, where one of the main ideas in the development of the character was creating a superhero with problems more relatable to the average person, based on the principle that anyone could theoretically be inside the suit. Captain America has always been directly tied to Steve in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and for the character's concept to fit modern times, it needs to show that the ideals and virtues Steve established can be properly upheld into the future by those with similar belief systems. Having one person take up the mantle won't accomplish that goal, but spreading the identity around to wherever it's needed in America, and by whoever will wield it with dignity and pride, could definitely do so. America has problems aside from apocalyptic supervillain invasions, and there's no reason Captain America(s) can't help solve those too.

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