Captain America: Brave New World Stole Joaquín Torres’ Best Superpower

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Captain America: Brave New World introduced an all-new Falcon, Joaquín Torres, to Marvel Cinematic Universe fans, but comic book readers know that the live-action version of the character was actually robbed of his most cinematic superpower: a classic Marvel healing factor, courtesy of a biological bond with Redwing, Sam Wilson’s trusted falcon.

One of Joaquín first appearances, Captain America: Sam Wilson #5, written by Nick Spencer with art by Paul Renaud, revealed the details of his bird-like powers. This new Falcon not only gained real wings, but a fascinating healing factor.

Though Joaquín is a great addition to the MCU’s Captain America franchise, this version is unfortunately pretty watered down, and his story is almost unrecognizable from his character’s more intriguing Marvel Comics lore, and the amazing abilities his Falcon unlocks. In his comic origin, Joaquín’s connection with Redwing is essential to his character.

The MCU’s New Falcon Is Missing His Best Superpower

Captain America: Brave New World’s More Grounded Approach

Joaquín Torres’ MCU counterpart may be a charming and loyal ally for Captain America, but he’s missing crucial elements to his character that make him stand out among the universe’s powerful heroes. Created by Nick Spencer and Daniel Acuña ten years ago, back in 2015’s Captain America: Sam Wilson series, Joaquín Torres’ avian mutation gave him incredible superpowers that the MCU has yet to utilize across two projects. The experiment that combined him with an iconic figure in Captain America lore, the real falcon sidekick named Redwing, gave Joaquín a psychic connection with the bird and unlocked more surprising abilities.

The new version of the Falcon takes Sam Wilson’s avian superpowers to another level, as Joaquín received mutated bird-like eyes, arms, and legs to become a full human-falcon hybrid. However, because Redwing was used as the basis for his mutation, and Redwing was also a vampire at the time of the experiment, Joaquín’s avian transformation both couldn’t be reversed, and gave him a healing factor that could rival other Marvel Comics heavy-hitters like Deadpool and Wolverine. Shortly after his debut, in Captain America: Sam Wilson #6, Joaquín even grew his head back after it got eaten by the villain Cottonmouth.

Joaquín Torres’ Story In “Brave New World” Is One Of The MCU’s Many Missed Opportunities

Does Marvel Really Think Audiences Want To See Less Superpowers?

Despite the many incredible powers of Joaquín’s Falcon in the comics, the MCU has taken a much more grounded approach to his story, and it makes sense considering his origin is tied to another character whose more fantastical elements aren’t featured in the cinematic adaptations. Redwing is a major part of Joaquín’s origin and how the character becomes Falcon, so the MCU turning the beloved bird into a drone already complicates the ability to adapt Falcon’s story and superpowers from the comics. Joaquín isn’t the only character experiencing this; Sam Wilson himself is missing his avian telepathy in the MCU.

There are a few things in Captain America: Brave New World which seemed to indicate that Joaquín could have eventually gained his amazing powers, but the MCU ultimately went another way and just solidified him as another Air Force officer with a set of tech-powered wings. With Harrison Ford turning into a Red Hulk and running around the movie, maybe the Leader could have invented some sort of super Falcon serum to help Joaquín level up and get his superpowers. Unfortunately, much of Joaquín’s comics backstory was also sanitized for the MCU, making his character a very loose adaptation overall.

Following the Comics’ Blueprint, Joaquín’s Falcon Can Still Level Up In The Way He Deserves

Joaquín Also Deserves More Attention From Marvel Comics

Despite Falcon’s best superpowers being missing in the MCU, there’s always room for that to change, since the upcoming Avengers films are sure to shake up a few corners of the Marvel Multiverse. By the end of Captain America: Brave New World, Joaquín is officially on Sam Wilson’s Avengers team, and Marvel Comics should also be putting a renewed focus on the character given this status shift. Joaquín Torres in the comics has an incredibly underrated power-set, and with his healing factor and avian mutations, the Falcon would certainly be capable of taking on Avengers-level threats if given the chance.

Danny Ramirez’ charisma in the role of Joaquín Torres makes him a worthy addition to the Captain America franchise, but it’s clear that the MCU’s depiction of the character is lacking many qualities that make his Falcon special. Beyond Captain America: Brave New World, it seems that Marvel Comics doesn’t really know what to do with Joaquín at the moment either, and giving more attention to his unique abilities is a great first step. The new Falcon’s high-flying powers and backstory make him a great legacy hero in Marvel Comics, and the Captain America franchise needs to stop ignoring them.

“}]] The MCU did the new Falcon dirty.  Read More