Sam Wilson vs Red Hulk Is Here, And It Features a Power the MCU Will Never Show
Warning! This post contains a preview for Sam Wilson: Captain America #2
Captain America vs Red Hulk is happening in the comics too, though the comics' Sam Wilson will always have a power the MCU's version will likely never have. Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson is about to take on Harrison Ford's Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World. However, the comics are showcasing what will undoubtedly be a very different fight compared to what will soon be seen on screen.
In Sam Wilson: Captain America #1, the titular hero was invited to take a look at the Eaglestar Corporation's flying Skydream facility where it had been employing disenfranchised groups to to grow crops on its floating sky city. However, when the company stages an attack in a bid to get Wilson to join the company, Sam discovers their deception which puts him face to face with Eaglestar's head of security, General Robert Maverick aka the second Red Hulk (not the original who will soon make his MCU debut), a battle that continues in the preview for the series' second issue:
As seen in this new preview for Sam Wilson: Captain America #2 by Greg Pak, Narcisse, and Edar Messais, Sam Wilson uses a signature superpower to keep Red Hulk distracted, one that more than likely won't ever be shown with the MCU's Captain America played by Anthony Mackie.
In The Comics, Sam Wilson Has Avian Telepathy
(And It Comes In Handy Against Maverick's Red Hulk)
In the comics, Sam Wilson possesses the ability to telepathically communicate not only to his falcon Redwing, but also to any living bird in his nearby vicinity. This means that Captain America has access to billions of allies and eyes in the sky, as its estimated that there are around 50 billion living birds across the globe (and 6 billion in the United States alone). Despite being a power that Wilson has had for decades thanks to the Red Skull's manipulation of reality using a Cosmic Cube, Captain America's avian telepathy is something Marvel Comics has only recently been leaning into in recent years.
Sam Wilson's Captain America is basically the Aquaman of the sky. When needed, Sam Wilson's Captain America can easily summon an army of birds at his command, just as he does to keep Maverick occupied long enough so he can try and remove the control implant on the Red Hulk's arm. While the ultimate victor remains to be seen until the full issue releases, it's pretty cool to see Captain America using his signature power to his advantage.
In The MCU, Sam Wilson's Captain America Doesn't Even Have A Real Redwing
He'll Have To Rely On Other Methods
Conversely, there was never a Red Skull in the modern era to give the MCU's Sam Wilson avian telepathy using a Cosmic Cube. Even if there had been, the Cosmic Cube was revealed to be The Space Stone. Furthermore, the live-action Sam Wilson is more grounded, relying on a deployable drone named Redwing rather than a living falcon. While still quite impressive, the likelihood of the MCU's Captain America ever getting the powers of his comic counterpart is very low. That said, his new vibranium wing suit should help him withstand President Ross' Red Hulk when Captain America: Brave New World releases in theaters February 14th.
Sam Wilson: Captain America #2 is on sale February 12th from Marvel Comics.
Captain America: Brave New World
- Release Date
- February 14, 2025
- Runtime
- 118 minutes
- Director
- Julius Onah
- Writers
- Dalan Musson, Malcolm Spellman
Cast
Sam Wilson / Captain America
Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross / Red Hulk
- Franchise(s)
- Captain America, Marvel Cinematic Universe
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