February 19th 2025.
In a groundbreaking moment for the Marvel universe, Anthony Mackie has officially made his film debut as the first Black Captain America in the highly anticipated film, Captain America: Brave New World. The movie hit theaters on Valentine's Day and made a whopping $100 million in the U.S. and $192 million globally, solidifying its place as a blockbuster hit.
For Mark Waid, the 62-year-old comic book writer who first introduced the concept of a Black Captain America in his 1998 comic book, Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty, this achievement is a major milestone. However, Waid recalls facing some resistance from Marvel when he first pitched the idea back in the '90s. He explains, "Not because anyone doubted the message, or because anyone at Marvel was on the wrong side of history, but simply because when you're dealing with a corporate character like Captain America, it goes through many creators' hands over the course of 80 years."
Originally created in 1941, Captain America was depicted as a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, white male with a chiseled jawline and a muscular build, representing the idealized image of America at the time. However, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the iconic character passed the mantle to Anthony Mackie's Falcon in the 2019 film Avengers: Endgame, setting the stage for a new era of diversity and representation.
Within the Marvel community, Waid's story of Falcon taking on the role of Captain America was met with great enthusiasm. However, outside of the company, Waid faced some pushback from fans and readers who questioned the decision, saying, "This is not Captain America. I don't know what you're trying to say." But Waid remains unfazed by these criticisms, stating, "There's been a lot more trolling and blowback, especially from organized fandoms full of angry white men who are not happy about being 'eclipsed' by people of color, which is complete nonsense."
Despite the negative backlash, Waid and Mackie both believe that Captain America's fight for inclusion and representation is worth it. "Captain America can be an Asian man, a woman, or anyone who stands for the ideals that Captain America represents," explains Waid. "As long as they are American at heart and fight for the American way, the way we wish it truly was, rather than the way racism and bigotry have polluted it."
Mackie, who takes on the role of Captain America with grace and strength, leads with two important qualities: compassion and empathy. "I feel like in today's world, we could all use a little more of those things," he remarks. Both Waid and Mackie hope that this new version of Captain America will inspire a new generation to stand up for what is right and strive for a more inclusive society.
In the end, it's not about the color of one's skin or their gender, but rather the values and ideals they represent. As Waid puts it, "Captain America is not just a person, but an idea. An idea that embodies the best part of all of us." And with Mackie at the helm, this idea is more powerful and relevant than ever before.
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