Beware! Major plot revelations coming up for Captain America: Brave New World! As an avid Marvel fan, I can’t help but feel disappointed that the significant shift in the MCU’s revamped Falcon has somewhat overshadowed Joaquín Torres. Having made his debut in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the new Falcon is now gracing our skies. Regrettably, a key aspect of the fresh hero’s past seems to have been overlooked during this transition.
As a dedicated Marvel fan, I’ve noticed an intriguing shift in the narrative when Falcon was brought to life for “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” and later in “Captain America: Brave New World.” Unlike his comic book counterpart Joaquín Torres, the MCU version of Falcon doesn’t have the backstory of being an immigrant who aided other migrants trying to enter the United States. Instead, he is portrayed as a member of the Air Force, idolizing Sam Wilson and eventually stepping into the shoes of Captain America when Sam officially took on the role. This adaptation, while compelling, overlooks a significant aspect of Joaquín’s comic book background.
The Comics’ Falcon Cared For His Fellow Migrants
Joaquín’s Backstory Led to a Captivating New Falcon
In 2014, Marvel stunned everyone when Captain America Steve Rogers’ Super Soldier serum was deactivated, allowing his real age to finally match his recorded age. Unable to continue his duties, Steve handed over the shield to his long-time friend Sam Wilson, effectively promoting him from Falcon to Captain America. It wasn’t long before a new character emerged to become Wilson’s most well-known partner. The comic book series Captain America: Sam Wilson #1, penned by Nick Spencer and Daniel Acuña, chronicles the title character as he sets out to find a young refugee named Joaquín Torres.
Torres is a Mexican-American who deeply cares for his fellow people and community. To help others in similar situations as himself, he would often leave water, food, and other essentials for those attempting to cross the border. Unfortunately, his kindness drew the attention of the Sons of the Serpent, a group known for kidnapping undocumented individuals. They were handing these people over to mad scientist Karlin Malus for experiments. By the time Captain America located Joaquín, he had undergone genetic modification using the DNA of Sam’s avian partner, Redwing.
Joaquin acquired hawk-like wings and claws, a result of vampirism modifying Redwing’s genetic structure, making these transformations permanent. Despite the drastic alterations to his physical form, Torres didn’t express any despair. Instead, he exploited these changes to assist Sam in combating adversaries such as Malus and the Serpent Society. With Captain America offering guidance, Torres was formally adopted as the new Falcon, working alongside Sam Wilson on numerous assignments. Remarkably, this new Falcon surpassed his mentor and momentarily teamed up with the Champions.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe Played It Safer with Falcon’s Big Screen Debut
No Humanitarian Aid and No Body Horror Transformation
Joaquín Torres made brief appearances in comic books before being introduced in the 2021 television series, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” Unlike his comics counterpart who was a teenager, this version of Torres is a first lieutenant in the Air Force. He worked closely with Sam as part of his team. Known for his kind nature and being a reliable confidante to Sam, Torres’ actions were always aligned with the United States government. However, he does assist Sam in fighting the Flag Smashers and even receives Sam’s old wings as a recognition for his valor.
2025 marked the year I soared as Falcon, partnering with Captain America on-screen. Though I’m still serving in the Air Force, my role has transitioned to be Cap’s official sidekick, a role that keeps the playful mentorship from the comics intact. In Captain America: Brave New World, we witness our partnership unfold, with Sam choosing to aid Captain America when he uncovers a conspiracy, despite it making him an adversary of the government. Although the bond between Captain America and Falcon remains strong, the MCU fails to capture what made the latest Falcon such an intriguing character in its early portrayal.
The introduction of Joaquín’s character in the comics was timely and pertinent, given the ongoing debate about migrants over the past few years. From the outset, it was clear that Captain America: Sam Wilson portrayed Torres as a caring young man deeply committed to his community. His subsequent development served as a biting satire of the harsh treatment of migrants in America, a theme that has unfortunately grown more relevant with time. Regrettably, the Marvel Cinematic Universe opted to tone down these aspects for a more acceptable and generic character instead.
The MCU’s Should Embrace All Aspects of Its Characters
Surface-Level Adaptations Don’t Do Characters like Falcon Well
In essence, it’s important to understand that the Marvel Cinematic Universe doesn’t strictly follow the comics when creating films and series. Modifications are often made for relevance and storyline coherence, but not all changes are negative and can sometimes enhance the overall product. Unfortunately, the alterations made to Falcon don’t seem to elevate his character; instead of using him as a platform to address significant social issues in America, he primarily functions as Captain America’s sidekick with a jetpack.
In simpler terms, the Marvel Cinematic Universe must cater to a broad spectrum of viewers, and the topic of migration can be touchy for certain individuals. However, the comics have achieved their success by taking risks and addressing social matters. Omiting Joaquín Torres’ backstory as a migrant who serves his community is regrettable, similar to not depicting how he rose to become Falcon despite obstacles in his path of helping those in distress.
In simpler terms, the portrayal of Joaquín (or Falcon) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe isn’t poorly done, but there’s room for improvement if they want to fully leverage his character within the larger Marvel narrative. If they don’t consider what made this on-screen Falcon distinctive compared to his comic book counterpart, he might not live up to the high expectations set by the original Falcon from a decade ago.
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2025-06-03 17:38