Where is Bucky in the MC2?

 

I know, I know! I said I was taking a break, but this is a quick one and I won’t find a better time. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is out on Disney + and I know someone out there is just asking: Where is Bucky in the MC2? So, let’s take a little trip down comic history to find out.

 

James Buchanan ‘Bucky’ Barnes first appeared alongside Captain America in Captain America Comics #1 way back in 1941. When Captain America made his big return in the Avengers #4 it was without his loyal sidekick and friend Bucky. We learn in this issue and later issues such as Avengers #6 and #56 that Bucky died in their final battle with Baron Zemo when an experimental drone plane exploded.

 

As I’m sure you know by now, for the most part the MC2 diverges from the Main Marvel Universe around 1998. Which means the death of Bucky depicted in the 60’s remains his canonical fate unless otherwise indicated. So, the events of Ed Brubaker’s Captain America run, which started in 2004 likely did not occur.

 

Here’s the only reference to Bucky in the MC2 I could find, from the pages of Last Hero Standing #1. I think this aligns more closely with the character’s classic demise, but of course, if anyone wanted to revisit the MC2 and utilize the Winter Soldier retcons, the door remains open.

 

Until I find a way to lose a limb and keep going, I remain

 

frogoat

 

The Falcon in the MC2

 

When I think I’m out, they keep pulling me back in! Consider this a temporary reprieve. With The Falcon and the Winter Solider show now streaming on Disney + I think it’s the appropriate time to cover Sam Wilson aka The Falcon in the MC2.

 

 

 

Unlike many past Avenger entries, the Falcon is not seen or mentioned in the A-Next #7 flashback to the last days of the original Avengers. While not seen or even mentioned, we actually get our first hint of Sam Wilson’s alter ego in Spider-Girl #6. It’s here we have the debut of the Ladyhawks, aka Rosetta and Regina Morgan the twin daughters of crime lord Boss Morgan. The Ladyhawks costume is clearly an homage to the Falcon’s original green costume first seen with his first appearance in Captain America #117.

 

 

 

Additionally, we also got a mention in the letters page of Spider-Girl #11 when a fan asked if the Ladyhawks would have to pay royalties to Sam Wilson for using his motif

 

We don’t learn of the Ladyhawk twin’s origins until Spider-Girl #60, and it’s there that we discover their father was responsible for the death of The Falcon. Following this, Rosetta and Regina decided to use their (apparently) deceased father’s estate to make amends and wage a war on crime.

 

This is further reiterated in Amazing Spider-Girl #7 where we learn that Boss Morgan remains alive and criminally active. When Rosetta confronts her father, her costume’s resemblance to The Falcon’s is brought up along with the hero’s death which, according to Boss Morgan, was ‘quite some time ago’.

 

Meanwhile, over in the Avengers Next #1 we saw the team battle the magically created ‘zombies’ of various Avengers throughout the team’s history. Among these Sylene-created duplicates was a green-garbed fake Falcon who soon crumbles to dust alongside the others when Sylene loses focus. It’s worth pointing out that Sylene used stolen stored samples from the Avengers Compound, suggesting Sam provided these prior to his death.

 

While it’s not actually the MC2’s Falcon, I wanted to mention American Dream’s first encounter with the Sam Wilson of an altered reality in Captain America Corp #2. Shannon clearly recognizes and admires the hero from her world and also refers to Sam -and Luke Cage and Peter Parker- saying they ‘were heroes--Avengers’.

 

Finally, in the Secret Wars MC2 story featured in the Spider-Island mini-series, we see a glimpse of Ladyhawk (presumably Rosetta Morgan) in a new costume, this time inspired by the Falcon’s later red and white costume. Ironically, despite this Falcon costume being far more prominent and iconic, this is the only time the red and white colouring is seen in the MC2 (Spider-Island #4-#5).

 

Initially I thought the Falcon got a raw deal in the MC2 but looking at the overall impact the winged Avenger has had on this universe, I think it’s fair to say he’s well served. Yes, Sam Wilson is dead, but his legacy lives on through the Ladyhawks and their dedication to fighting crime. Furthermore, while it’s not explicitly stated, I think the Falcon is well-regarded among the next generation of Avengers, particularly American Dream who is herself upholding the legacy of Captain America. There remains a lot of untold stories in the MC2, and the Ladyhawks origins are the perfect place to detail the events surrounding Sam Wilson’s demise. Once again, I ask: can we please have a Ladyhawk mini-series?

 

Until I figure out what happened to Redwing, I remain

 

frogoat