mikeymagee

[mikeymagee]

with the ongoing ICE raids and anti-ICE protests in LA, please consider donating to bail funds for protesters through Jail Support LA. JSLA is a grassroots collective dedicated to helping people who face arrests at protests in los angeles.

as of today, june 9th, a US official has confirmed that 500+ marines will arrive in LA in the next 24 hours, arrests will only ramp up. please donate and reblog!

[mikeymagee]

I hope its alright if I add to this.

Steve Rogers represents a nostalgia for a time when America believed its own hype. The United Sates loves to use WWII as justification for everything it does, right or wrong. Whether it be forcing its will on other countries or exporting its media to everyone else, trying to force the concept that America is "The Best Country" in the world. Steve Rogers, a blonde haired and blue eyed man, represents America's belief that every thing it does is the right move. It's interesting that, Steve Rogers is often seen as above reproach within the general population in the MCU. I think people (Americans, mostly) respect him because he allows them to believe the hype of the country, without the need for further introspection or thought. And the narrative of WWII allows Americans to solidify their belief in this county's "greatness."

WWII allows Americans to think, "America can't be sooo bad if it saved the world from facism back in the 40's" all the while ignoring the fact that Nazi Germany and America have a lot of similarities.

John Walker is that same nostalgic ideal, but placed in a time where America is facing its own reckoning. John Walker was meant to be Steve's heir apparent (after all, they're both two blue eyed, squared jawed American men). But John has control problems. He has anger problems. He has difficulties putting himself in the shoes of others and really leaning into their points of view. Much like America is a country that doesn't think about the consequences of its actions, John is the same. And much like how America tends to feel "guilty" about its actions after the fact, it still demands forgiveness without really doing any soul searching to attone for its actions. John Walker did a lot of horrible things and as a consequence he felt really REALLY bad for it. But what exactly has he done to make amends for it? How did he grow and change and become better? America has always had a strange relationship with its own citizens. When it comes to Black people (and other POC) America refuses to acknowledge the intergenerational harm that it has done, refuses to extend empathy to the people harmed, yet still demands forgiveness. John Walker has the same entitlement that America has. And American still uses WWII as an excuse for its lack of accountability. After all, America beat the Nazi's and saved Europe, so its alright if the country is extra cruel to its citizens. It's not as though America is putting its citizens in gas chambers, right? And John Walker wears the Captain America moniker in the same way that America wears its WWII victory: As an excuse to never reflect and become better.

Isaiah Bradley. Isaiah Bradley, to me at least, has always represented America's strange relationship with its own history. America would rather forget its past and hide it, than learn from it. Isaiah Bradley also represents the folly of white supremacy and American exceptionalism. How exactly can America claim to be any different than Nazi Germany if it is also caught experimenting on Black soldiers for militaristic gain? How exactly can white supremacy exist if there is a Black man who does the exact same things as Steve Rogers. In TFATWS Isaiah says something interesting:

"They've been chasing that great white hope for so long..."

The Great White Hope is a loaded term. It comes from a time in the 1900's when a Black boxer, Jack Jefferson was World champ and white people were constantly searching for a white boxer to take Jefferson down. Isaiah Bradley existing as a Black man with super soldier serum was an affront to the idea of Steve Rogers and the "natural" superiority of whiteness. Which is why he had to be hidden away, and even when his legacy was brought out into the light, America still had to deal with the weight of its own actions. Isaiah Bradley is both a stain on the idea of white superiority AND he's a stain on the idea of American morality. And they can't simply use WWII as a way of smoothing the misdeed over. America acted unethically and it has to carry that.

As for Sam Wilson, I've already written about his role with the mantel

I've always seen Sam as someone that exists to guide America towards its better angels. Because Sam is the last of the men to take the mantel of Captain America, he has a full view of the country's victories (Steve), its failures (John) and its shames (Isaiah) and because Sam has this perspective he can help position the country towards the path it needs to go better help ALL Americans.

But that's just my two cents. I hope I didn't hijack your post.

Had this thought.

Steve Rogers = What America pretends/wants to be

John Walker = What America is

Isaiah Bradley = What America did

Sam Wilson = What America should be

This seems right in my head but I don't have an idea of how to word it better. I would love some thoughts.

Any racism will be blocked!

[mikeymagee]

Just saw the Ironheart trailer.

Looks like Riri is going to be the hood superhero that everyone wanted Luke Cage to be.

I'm sat.

[mikeymagee]

Yeah, just FYI I plan on stanning Riri when here shows comes to Disney+

Like, I've been in and out of the MCU fandom since Avengers 2012, and I still remember how so many of us were waiting for positive BIPOC representation within this fandom.

We went from "No one wants a Black Panther movie" to Black Panther being one of Marvel's top franchises.

We went from people erasing Sam Wilson to Sam Wilson having his own TV Show and movie

We went from #NickFuryLies to Nick Fury having his own Disney+ show (granted the results weren't great but it exists)

We went from people calling James Rhodes "Rhodney" to potentially getting an Armor Wars film.

We went from #DonaldForSpiderman and "Donald Glover doesn't deserve to play Spiderman" to "Miles Morales leading one of the best animated film franchises in the history of comics.

We went from Daredevil beating up nameless POC to Luke Cage breaking Netflix.

We went from "Where are the Black women?" to Valkyrie, Shuri, Okoye, Nakia, Monica Rambeau, Claire Temple, Evita, Hunter B-15, and a whole host of others can't name right now.

If you had told me back in 2012 that Iron Man's heir apparent would be a young Black girl who proudly calls herself "Young Gifted and Black" I wouldn't have believed you.

If you had told me back in 2012 that Sam Wilson would be the leader of the Avengers I wouldn't have believed you.

If you had told me back in 2012 that Luke Cage would break Netflix, I wouldn't have believed you.

If you had told me that Black Panther would have a spin-off show (The Eyes of Wakanda), let alone a super successful film, I wouldn't have believed you.

We went from "No one wants to see Black/Nonwhite superheroes" to a Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur cartoon.

And that's not even counting all of the LGBT heroes we have, and the other characters of color who are centered in their own narratives (Echo, Shang Chi, Ms. Marvel, hell even Blue Beetle from DC)

Hell, we went from "The Ancient one is going to be Celtic, so chill" to Shang Chi

Listen, I know the MCU is pulling back on its diversity and inclusion and it's really disappointing to see but let's not forget how far we have come as a fandom. From what I understand, there are people who entered this fandom with its diversity in full display and that makes me happy.

So yeah, when Iron Heart comes out, I'm gonna watch it hard. When Wonderman come out, I'm gonna watch it HARD. When these shows/movies come out, you can trust and believe I will be there.

We've been through much nonsene not to support and celebrate the diversity that we have now.

[mikeymagee]

The 2025 Met Gala centered Black Dandyism and raised a record number of money!

So, just to recap the year so far...

Sam Wilson as Captain America

Beyonce winning Album of the Year with Cowboy Carter

Kendrick Lamar's Superbowl performance

and Ryan Coogler's Sinners making bank and starting conversations.

[mikeymagee]

Sam Wilson: The American Redeemer

Why Sam Wilson is the only choice for the mantel

"No super serum, no blond hair, or blue eyes. The only power I have is that I believe we can do better" --Sam Wilson,

I think one of the main things that separates Sam Wilson's tenure as Captain America from Steve Rogers's is how they functioned within the role and what they were expected to do.

During World War II, Steve Rogers was expected to protect the country from foreign dangers. He was the American protector. Keeping citizens safe from international (and interdimensional) threats. Steve protected American against "The Other" (Nazis, foreign terrorists, aliens, etc).

But Sam Wilson is someone who is tasked with protecting the country from itself. Sam stands firm against America's worst impulses (its inability to emphasize, its lust for power and status, its refusal to deal with its own history, etc,) and guides this country towards its better angels.

Sam Wilson origins in Marvel Comics

Sam Wilson was created as a result of the Civil Rights Movement back in the 1960's. It's no accident that he was created to be the partner for a superhero that represented America, and its values. The first African American superhero paired with a man who represented everything this country believed about itself. Sam Wilson was created as a kind of redemption for America, or at least, the beginnings of redemption. African Americans in this country have fought side by side with white Americans in every war and every conflict. From the American Revolution to World War II and beyond. And yet Black Americans were never allowed to take part in the American dream, whether through unjust laws, or the denial of economic growth, Black people have always been shunned from the country they helped defend. Sam Wilson's creation and inclusion was a (small) way to make up for that lack justice. And even through his friendship with Sam, Steve Rogers gained a new perspective on the American identity. Sam brought America's failings into light and gave it the opportunity to correct itself.

From the very creation of the character, Sam was an opportunity for America to rid herself of her sins.

Sam Wilson in the Winter Soldier

Its notable that the first interaction we get with Sam in the MCU is as a counselor for veterans. America is notorious for touting to "Love its soldiers" but always ignoring its veterans. Many men and women who go off to fight in wars often times come back home to a country that is less willing to put the time and effort into understanding and helping the heal. You can see this with the lack of funding for Veterans Affairs offices, the housing crises that a lot of returning veterans face, the lack of adequate mental and physical healthcare that veterans are afforded. Veterans are an underserved community in a country that claims to love its military. There is a hypocrisy in this.

Yet, Sam took on the work of helping veterans heal.

The History of Isaiah Bradley.

It's no secret that America is a country that was built off of antiblack racism. I could cite multiple books, articles, documentaries, and studies that prove this. However, the narrative of Isaiah Bradley not only showcases America's antiblack racism, but the removal of Bradley's story showcases America's refusal to acknowledge its own faults. There have always been efforts in this country to remove Black history (and the histories of other marginalized groups of people). Sam Wilson, when he found out about Isaiah, not only had to reconcile with this country's racism, but he also had to reevaluate how he viewed the country as a whole. Bradley was not only court martialed and jailed, but he was experimented on and his story was scrubbed away.

The United States has always had a habit of rewriting its own history to maintain a certain image. Whether it be one of liberty and equality, or one of militaristic might and pride. America loves the image of the strong soldier, going off into the world but hates the image of the war torn veteran who still hears gun shots at night. Sam, during his conversation with Bucky in Maryland, had to reconcile America's image of itself (a bright beautiful country that welcomes all) with the reality he had just been exposed to (a Black man who did the exact same thing that Steve Rogers had done back in the 40's and was punished for it).

America's treatment of Isaiah was a sin against veterans and a sin against Black Americans, and Sam bringing Isaiah's story into the light was a reckoning that helped to redeem the country's past actions. Actions that America has no one to blame for but itself.

Karli and the Flag Smashers.

Sam's handling of Flag Smashers in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was controversial, but the one thing he was correct about was the usage of simple labels to justify inhumane treatment of others. The United States has always been a country that others its enemies to justify violence of disenfranchisement. Black slaves in the US were called animals. Post 9/11 Muslims (and really, anyone from the middle east) were called "terrorists", Latino immigrants were/are dehumanized and called criminals to justify ICE raids and the breaking of families. During the 90's, America created the "Super Predator" narrative that painted a target on Black men and accelerated the militarization of police officers.

The government's reactions to Karli and the Flag Smashers represents the same line of thinking. Take a group of people and label them as something that is easy to hate/vilify and then take them out. We can argue that Karli's actions were extreme, and we can argue that Karli's actions were violent but we also have to understand were these feelings came from. Empathy and understanding has always been something America has refused to engage with. It's easy to say that Black people don't work hard and are poor when you refuse to acknowledge how America has burned Black neighborhoods and undermined Black education. America has always worked to eliminate the symptom rather than treating the disease.

And Sam, through his speech about Karli and the Flag Smashers, reminds America of its own failings. And again, this isn't some conspiracy that was created by HYDRA or a Nazi organization. This wasn't some evil plan, it was simply The United States turning its back on its own ideals. The blame falls squarely on the shoulders of the country.

But Sam's handling of Karli is a reminder to the country as a whole that we must choose to be better. And note how his speech isn't just for the senators, it's for the American people too. Notice how Isaiah Bradley and his grandson are watching, notice how the crowd of people are listening, notice how Torres is watching from his computer feed.

Sam is offering every American a shot at redemption.

Ross and the War with Japan

"Diplomacy must be hard for you, a man in a country to used to taking what he wants by force."

-Prime Minister Ozaki

In Captain America Brave New World, President Ross is facing an international crises with Japan over the adamantium that is found in the middle of the ocean. Originally, the world leaders, lead by President Ross, wanted to share the new resource evenly, however as negotiations breakdown between America and Japan, Ross's first instinct is to lead the country to war over the adamantium.

American Imperialism is no secret, in fact, everyone in the world is aware of America's dedication to consuming resources. In many instances (ones highlighted by Sam himself) America has a lack of understanding of how the world works, and how to decenter itself for the good of its allies. President Ross even says as the international conflict reaches a head,

"If any country is going to control adamantium, it's going to be us." --President Ross

Ross leans right back into American imperialism, and its perceived entitlement to resources. You can even draw parallels with Erik Killmonger's usage of Wakanda's vibranium and how Erik (an American man) uses American imperialism in the same way. To take whatever he wants by force. Damn the consequences.

Ross was not thinking about how the impending conflict could harm American citizens, or harm other people in the world. Ross's only concern was with the securing of international power.

But Ross's actions speak to a broader pattern of behavior that Sam has seen throughout his tenure in the MCU. The tendency for Americans to fall into simple definitions that justify a lack of empathy. When diplomacy with Japan fell through, Ross pivoted to conflict without further introspection. When Isaiah Bradley's existence threatened the ideals of American equality, America hid their shame away without needing to reflect on its own mistakes. When Karli and the Flag Smashers became a threat, America became incentivized to neutralize that threat without understanding reasons behind the Flag Smashers in the first place.

America is a country that prioritizes action over introspection, and violence over understanding. If not for the intervention of Sam Wilson, America would have fallen to its worst impulse and dove into a war that didn't need to be had.

"The fight you're taking on ain't going to be easy, Sam." --Isaiah Bradley

Perhaps this is where Steve's fight and Sam's fight differ. Steve was a warrior when America needed one. He was a man who fought whatever threat came to our shores. It was easy to root for Steve because Americans could understand that the "bad guy" was some foreigner.

But Sam's fight is with America's soul itself.

Sam isn't fighting to "save the country", he's fighting to redeem it. He's fighting to make this country live up to its ideals. And how exactly do you redeem a country that sends it soldiers off to war, but shuns them when they return? How do you redeem a country who's first instincts are to dehumanize and disregard anyone who doesn't fit the idea of America? How do you redeem a country that refuses to learn from its own mistakes, and instead works to shift the blame to someone/something else?

Bucky has said that Sam gives people something to aspire towards. But aspiring towards something takes work. It takes introspection. It takes being brave enough to look at one's own mistakes and being humble enough to do admit wrong doing, and then being strong enough to make it right.

In every instance in the MCU Sam Wilson gives this country a chance to be its better self. Most critics of Sam in TFATWS and BNW is his tendency for political messaging over character. Critics say that Sam is more interested in giving lectures over being a 3-dimensional character and to that I disagree. Even in isolated narratives (such as BNW), Sam is still faced with the conundrum of holding this country accountable to itself. And the narrative seems repetitive because each time America refuses to live up to itself. If Sam Wilson's story arc seems repetitive it is because the country he represents refuses to grow. It is not Sam's failing as a character, but America's failing as a nation. Sam Wilson lives James Baldwin's words:

"I love America more than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually"

Patriotism without introspection is simply stagnation. Love without growth is simply indulgence, and Sam Wilson reminds us of that everyday.

Sam Wilson may not be the Captain that this country wants, but it is certainly the captain this country needs.

But whether or not America deserves a redeemer like Sam Wilson, is a question that many are too afraid to ask.

[mikeymagee]

Spoilers for Thunderbolts under the cut

So, when Sam Wilson (a Black man) saves the day by reminding the villain of their humanity, it's stupid and unrealistic

But when a group of white people do the same thing, it's revolutionary and important.

Is...is that what ya'll are trying to tell me?

[mikeymagee]

So, just to recap the year so far...

Sam Wilson as Captain America

Beyonce winning Album of the Year with Cowboy Carter

Kendrick Lamar's Superbowl performance

and Ryan Coogler's Sinners making bank and starting conversations.

[mikeymagee]

It's my 12 year anniversary on Tumblr 🥳

[mikeymagee]

Does anyone else think it's kind of cute that they made Danny's Joaquin Torres come from Miami because Anthony's Sam Wilson comes from Louisiana?

The director was very direct about this, he wanted to Danny Ramirez's character to have the same roots that the actor had, so they made it MCU canon for Joaquin to come from Miami, and this was done because during Captain America: Winter Soldier, the director decided to made Sam's Louisiana origins a nod to Anthony Mackie's origins.

It's kind of cute that Danny Ramirez is not only Anthony's heir apparent for the Falcon mantel, he's also Anthony's heir apparent as an MCU performer, and Ramirez even said he took many cues from Mackie when it came to taking on a mantel.

I've loved the Joaquin Torres character since his first appearance and its really cool to see Danny Ramirez bring him to life right along side Anthony Mackie.

I dunno, I just think that's kind of a neat detail.

[mikeymagee]

Captain America as an aspirational figure (Cap 4 spoilers)

Don't believe the anti-hype, this is an enjoyable film that has something to say. If you want my no spoilers review, click here.

Spoilers after the jump.

As I say in the no spoilers view, it became clearer to me after watching the film why Disney chose to rename Cap 4 from New World Order to Brave New World. It wasn't a craven sensitivity to conspiracy theorists. Maybe it started that way, I don't pretend to know, but this is a title that better fits the film that was made because despite the dystopian allusion, this film ends on a hopeful note. The dystopian reference is subverted because unlike Secret Invasion, the Marvel world ends just a teensy bit more just than it started.

Which I think is appropriate for a Captain America film. There are ahem quite a few reasons that people might be down on America, the country, institutions, and people at this moment in time and there will be new, different reasons by the time I wake up tomorrow and there probably will be in ten years, twenty. Countries tend to be deeply flawed places, some are just better at keeping their messiness out of the international eye and flawed is a thing that exists on a spectrum of course.

But the United States is a place that has also very intentionally centered a narrative of continual improvement. Long arcs of history bending towards justice are in our mythological DNA. The US is a place that believes or believed at least that the future will always be better, fairer, more prosperous etc. but there is a certain irony in that we celebrate our successes at overcoming our worse natures: the Civil War, the end of Jim Crow etc. but struggle to recognize when the work is only half done.

Isaiah Bradley is a great symbol of this. He fought for his country and was rewarded for it by being unpersoned, imprisoned, experimented on, tortured, but ultimately released and eventually Sam Wilson is able to persuade him that change has come and the country that did these things to Bradley is no more. We can quibble with the accuracy of this in the broader sense: the secretive forces in play in Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Secret Invasion are manifestations of a system still riddled with people who believe virtue is a luxury and blow back is a thing to be managed rather than anticipated and avoided through prudence.

But thanks to Sam's intervention, Isaiah comes out of the shadows and is embraced as the forgotten Captain America. A missing link in the chain of succession and someone who embodied not just the supersoldier serum but embodied the virtues of Captain America in his willingness to defy orders to save his team in Korea.

And this is ultimately what it comes back to: Captain America works with the state but he isn't a representation of the state. Captain America represents who we aspire to be.

In Bucky's own words, this is why Steve passed the mantle to Sam. Superhumans like Steve and Bucky can fight for people, but Sam puts his life on the line in a much more fundamental way every time he suits up. He is an embodiment of courage and conviction in a way that Steve and Bucky aspire to be, but ultimately they are gods among men. When everyday people face hard choices, it is easy to tell yourself that you don't have to be the best version of yourself if the avatars of courage and conviction are "enhanced" but if Sam can and will dedicate himself to doing his best despite the personal risks and consequences, where are your excuses now?

So what values does Sam represent as Captain America, as expressed in this film?

People over Things

In a subtle nod to the sort of principled rebelliousness that got Bradley thrown into a black site, Sam refuses to prioritize chasing the Macguffin over saving hostages. Sam also doesn't simply slaughter every bad guy he comes across. At various points he uses nonlethal force such as when his drones flank and disable hostage takers. This scene might be worth rewatching because it may be that some of the mercenaries presumed dead might have merely sustained grievous but not immediately lethal wounds.

Redemption is Possible

While telegraphed as a startling and authoritarian turn, the election of "Thunderbolt" Ross, the Hulk Hunter, to the Presidency is not what it seems. This is a much older Ross, chastened by a near death experience and the fallout of his authoritarian instincts. This Ross is introspective and genuinely trying to find a way to reconcile what I would assume is a reflexive fear and suspicion of enhanced humans with the recognition over a long career that these are people, many of them are good, and you should have them on your side if you can. He appears genuinely troubled by having thrown Sam et al. in the Raft.

Not apologetic, I think Ross understands his motives and what he knew about the situation in the "Civil War" era and sees it as a mistake to be remedied rather than something that no decent person would have done. As I've discussed a few times in the past, the way you organize a society that contains superhumans and how you regulate the use of powers in a fair and equitable way quickly leads to a lot of troubling places once you take these exercises out of the sterility of the Platonic realm and apply them to a chaotic world where impulsive decisions need to be made in conditions of limited knowledge.

What matters here is that Ross IS reflective and wants to use the powers of the Presidency to try to approach world affairs in a less might makes right fashion. Ultimately, whether he really believes it or not, Sam - lacking any better options - uses Ross' desire to reconcile with his daughter and become more humane to de-Hulk him.

Later when Sam visits Ross on The Raft, you'd probably forgive him for being extra petty. After all, the irony is thick: Ross is in the prison he built, the prison he tried to lock Sam away in. Yet Sam chooses to let Ross acknowledge the poetic justice and praises Ross for his honorable approach to the aftermath of his rampage: namely resigning the Presidency and allowing himself to be incarcerated.

Sam Wilson might have wanted to rub salt in Ross' wounds, but it wouldn't be becoming of a Captain America.

Captain America represents the self discipline of living virtuously. Indulging the instinct for pettiness is a luxury for other people with lighter responsibilities, and ideally his example challenges even them to reconsider whether a tongue lashing is restorative justice or if its just punitive.

Restorative Justice

Sam's relationship with Isaiah Bradley is in many ways a metaphor for justice. Bradley is someone who specifically was wrongfully imprisoned and more broadly can stand in for the legacy of prejudice. Sam can't go back in time and undo the injustices and cruelties that happened to Isaiah but he can use his influence to change Isaiah's contemporary life: bringing him out of the shadows and ensuring both his achievements and struggles are known.

We have to know about and acknowledge acts of immorality in order to prevent them. Sam does not ask anyone to forget about or look upon Steve Rogers differently, Sam does not view glory and respect in zero sum terms. Adding another name to the legacy of Captain America adds to the mythos and strengthens it by challenging it rather than undermining it by adding a tragic chapter to the story.

Sam ensuring Bradley is invited to the White House does not erase the dishonorable stain of what the US government did to him and Bradley is content to be a self made man when it comes to dignity: he's lived a long time in anonymity and has only suffered from attention. What Sam wants is for other people to see Isaiah as he does and to be afforded to be seen as worthy of recognition and dignity. This is also a coy reference to the tendency to find precedents for our modern "firsts" in history. Sam may be the first official Black Captain America but Bradley was Captain America in all but name and embodied not just the power but the ideals.

Power, Presentation, Accountability

We see Sam working with the US government in this film. He continues to seem to be a sort of independent security contractor rather than firmly embedded in the chain of command. So he is simultaneously acknowledging that there is a blurry grey zone between being a fully autonomous actor and placing oneself fully under someone else's control.

There was a lot of what I think was unfair flak thrown at the X-Men Animated Series Steve for seeming to stand in Rogue's way and approaching justice for Genosha in a more methodical and legalistic way. Working within institutions is a choice with tradeoffs, not the only legitimate way to be a person of conscience acting in the world, but it is important to understand what Cap gains and what Cap loses by working inside the state and what Rogue gains and loses by going rogue. Ba dum tiss.

Personally I think Sam's relationship with institutional power makes sense here. Working with the US government but not in the chain of command means that he gains access to the resources of the government, legally he is not a vigilante, but at the same time he does not have to allow them to make him violate his conscience. This is best reflected in his choice to save the hostages in the opening sequence rather than chase after the Macguffin.

In the context of a world with superheroes, working with the state can be viewed in transactional terms. It solves a lot of problems but of course it also creates new ones. Critically, it is a performance of accountability. In a world where people wield godlike power, working with the state at least creates the pretense that people without powers are not fully and completely living in a might makes right world.

On the other hand, supers who work outside the institutions like the X-Men or Cap's faction of the Avengers post Civil War, invite confusion between who is a superhero and who is a supervillain. The people of Harlem might be forgiven if they hadn't been entirely sure who they were supposed to be rooting for when Hulk and Abomination came to blows.

Sabra, Real World Grief, and Changing the Subject

There's probably a lot to say about rewriting Sabra. It was a safe choice and its one I sympathize with. At this point the Marvel Cinematic Universe is probably not creatively fit enough to tackle the character with any amount of nuance and there would be an incredible amount of pressure to present her as an uncomplicated hero or an unsympathetic villain.

Its probably for the best that Captain America focuses on America because that's where the audience at least is familiar enough with the history and symbolism that maybe, just maybe the film can avoid being accused of excessively flattening the American history and symbolism it plays with.

The rumored cuts and rewrites have resulted in a relatively coherent movie with a fairly uncomplicated moral message without feeling too shallow or naive, whereas a more comic accurate Sabra would inevitably wind up being a bumper sticker representing either Disney's craven selling out to avoid courting controversy or Disney's craven selling out to avoid courting controversy.

The result was also a forgettable character who probably could have just been cut and have her parts re-assigned to Xosha Roquemore's Leila Taylor who winds up not having a whole lot to do in this cut of the film. Which is unfortunate, I do wonder if there was a longer runtime cut with a meatier part for Tayor but I wouldn't necessarily want a longer film, I just think Disney needs to learn to work better within the constraints of a shorter run time and realizing when one character is better than two is part of that: to the gnashing teeth and consternation of every book fan who has seen their beloved novel(s) adapted for TV and film....

Action!

The one place where the film stumbles is that I find the action sequences where Mackie is fully suited up to be kind of tedious. The way he manhandles non-enhanced humans establishes just how skilled he is but the physics of the shield - as it was with Steve - are pretty chaotic and nonsensical. The suit itself also seems to cross over into Ironman territory with how much abuse it allows Sam to handle. The kinetic energy absorbing wings help handwave away some of the obvious problems with what Sam's body is experiencing in the film but it also feels like a copout in a film that otherwise emphasizes that he doesn't have superpowers. Ironman didn't have superpowers either, but he did have power suits and at that point, it feels like splitting a hair.

The most interesting sequence for me was Mackie and Esposito going to hand to hand to axe. That felt like it had real stakes, although the kevlar t-shirt reveal later on again seemed to slightly undermine the idea that Sam is way more vulnerable than Steve ever was while admittedly being necessary for him to be ready to fight later in the film without a long hospital stay and physical therapy. Those sorts of consequences are for Joaquin, playing the role of Sam's robin. The character who can be credibly threatened because the audience knows he doesn't have a multi-picture deal.

I kid, I kid. I know better than to expect real stakes from Marvel and I was surprised that this film did at times feel like it had real stakes. So kudos to that.

All in all, it makes me feel more intrigued and confident about whatever comes next for the MCU. I think its finding its footing and rumors of reshoots and uninspired test audience responses should be celebrated not fretted over, because it seems like the powers that be have lost some of their hubris and are retooling for the better.

[mikeymagee]

Sam Wilson: Double Consciousness

One thing I love about Black superheroes is that they all (in their own ways) celebrate different aspects of the Black experience.

T'challa, in the first Black Panther film represented Afro-futurism and Pan-Africanism.

Shuri, in Wakanda Forever, represented Black grief and the pain of loss.

Luke Cage represented African American pride and resilience

Tyrone from Cloak and Dagger represented the fear of living as a Black person in a white dominated space.

Miles Morales in Into the Spider-Verse, represented the creation of an individual identity (he even uses his graffiti skills to paint his own Spiderman suit). Each hero represented a specific aspect of the Black experience.

But Sam Wilson has always occupied a specific space that (until this moment) had yet to be filled. Sam Wilson, as an African American man, and as an African American Captain America, represents double consciousness.

(Potential Spoilers after the cut)

Double Consciousness, in this context, is a term that was coined by WEB Du Bois in his book The Souls of Black Folk in which he states that:

"It is a peculiar sensation, this double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others, of measuring one's soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity. One ever feels his two-ness,—an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder. The history of the American Negro is the history of this strife – this longing to attain self-conscious manhood, to merge his double self into a better and truer self. In this merging he wishes neither of the older selves to be lost. He does not wish to Africanize America, for America has too much to teach the world and Africa. He wouldn't bleach his Negro blood in a flood of white Americanism, for he knows that Negro blood has a message for the world. He simply wishes to make it possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, without having the doors of opportunity closed roughly in his face"

In essence, to be a Black American is to be a creature of two warring worlds, and it also means that the Black American must be ever aware at the fact that every move we make is not only going to be used to judge our character, but also the character of every other Black American. And Sam Wilson is aware of that fact.

In both The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam brings up the fact that he knows the world is watching him and hating him simply for being a Black man who represents the United States. When Sam is juxtaposed against Isaiah Bradley, another Black Captain America who the country abandoned, Sam is reminded of how this country has always treated Black men and women.

And, sadly enough, Sam could also be looking at his own future. During Brave New World, Sam is ever honorable, ever compassionate and ever empathetic to everyone around him (even when their actions do not warrant Sam's kindness). Because, once again, Sam is aware that his actions (whether negative or positive) will have a greater impact on more than just himself. And that kind of pressure can lead to bitterness. It can wear a body down.

Sam states:

"Because if I’m not on point, I feel like I’ve let down everyone who is fighting for a seat at that table.”

Isaiah Bradley has always had a rocky relationship with the US, just like all African Americans have, So it makes sense to me that Sam Wilson may also be thinking about Isaiah each time he picks up the shield. When African Americans create something (be it a movie, or a tv show, or a play) that centers on the Black experience, there is an added pressure to overperform to prove the validity of the project and the validity of Black narratives. When The Wiz, a film that was originally going to be seen as "The First Black Classic" bombed in 1978, many Hollywood producers and film historians credited that film's failure as the reason why Black-led franchises are/were seen as box office poison for so long. Even with the success of 2018's Black Panther film, there are still people who're gun shy about centering Black narratives in the mainstream. So, if Sam Wilson were to fail as being Captain America, or if Sam Wilson were to represent himself in a way that is less admirable, it would have an effect on Isaiah's legacy, it would have an effect on Joaquin, it would have an effect on (potentially) Isaiah's grandson.

And even still, during the prison scenes in BNW, when Isaiah is locked away and Sam comes to visit him, Isaiah states:

"The last thing I want is for any of this ugliness to touch you."

Within the MCU Isaiah and Sam's stories are linked. Not just through the fact that Sam brought Isaiah's story out into the light, but also because they are both Black men who have held the mantel of Captain America, and whether they like it or not, their destinies with that legacy are intertwined. One will affect the other. They are each other's keeper.

Sam Wilson, rather through happenstance or fate, is the embodiment of Double Consciousness. Luke Cage, in both his comic book series and his Netflix show, was free to exist as a person outside of the white gaze. He could be angry, sad, fearful, etc, and not have to worry about how his actions would affect the larger community outside of Harlem. Sam Wilson does not have the luxury. So, when Sam is faced with a microaggression (such as being called "Son" by Ross), he is forced to hold his tongue. Sam Wilson is expected to react with kindness and decorum in the midst danger or disrespect, not because he can't fight back, but because he knows how the weight of his actions will affect those who look like him.

And Sam Wilson, a Black man without the soldier serum, is still expected to do everything that Steve Rogers (and to a lesser extent John Walker) do. Sam Wilson must do twice as much work with half as many resources. And if that's not the embodiment of the African American experience, I'm not sure what is. Many African American genres of music were created out of necessity and transferring what knowledge we could salvage onto new instruments. In short, African Americans had to improvise with the tools they were already given and create something new. Jazz and Blues was created because Black slaves were not allowed to use drums, so those rhythmic patterns were transposed onto guitars and horns.

Sam is expected to carry a large amount of physical labor (simply fighting as a human being without the serum clearly takes a toll). But he's also expected to do a lot of emotional labor as well. Through BNW Sam acts more as an ambassador for the US than a soldier. It is canon that in the MCU Sam speaks English, Spanish, Arabic and Japanese and he uses those skills to extend diplomacy to other nations and other people. In BNW, it was Sam who was responsible for deescalating international tensions with Japan, and it was Sam who managed to avoid a war through peaceful negotiation rather than war mongering (as Ross wanted to do). Even during the fight with Red Hulk, Sam had to resort to other means to achieve results (something that Steve or John Walker would've just brute forced their way through). Even while Sam was being shot at in the air, he never lost his cool because (like many African Americans) he is not afforded that privilege. John Walker, in TFATWS is allowed to murder and stain the shield with blood, but no one would ever say that white men like Walker are the problem with America. Yet Sam (and Isaiah) are far too familiar with the fact that a Black man screwing up will result in the judgement of everything that is associated with Blackness and Black people. So, they must find solutions without the use of violence. Sam must be diplomatic when the easier solution would be violence. Sam must be able to communicate with others on their own turf or in their own language during tense situations (like when he spoke Japanese to the fighter pilots).

Sam Wilson does not have the serum, but he does have wings. So, he adapted. Sam Wilson does not have the super strength needed to work the shield the same way Steve does, so Sam adapted and improvised. Just like Jazz music, Sam Wilson turned a perceived fault into a creative strength. He had to use his linguistic skills, his counseling skills, his flight capabilities, psychology and his boundless optimism to do the impossible.

A very hurting thing for Black Americans - to feel that we can't love our enemies. People forget what a great tradition we have as African-Americans in the practice of forgiveness and compassion. And if we neglect that tradition, we suffer.

-Bell Hooks

The fact of the matter remains, Sam Wilson embodies so many aspects of the African American experience, even when he doesn't mean to. Compassion. Improvisation. And the constant idea that this country can choose its better angels. In a way, Sam Wilson occupies a space that Luke Cage, T'challa, Shuri, and even Erik Killmonger cannot. It is a piece of the African American experience that takes a slug in the face and still gets right back up. The Black American tradition of making the impossible a reality through nothing but sheer force of will. Steve Rogers might have been the one to say the words "I can do this all day," but Sam Wilson lives them.

And he comes from a centuries old tradition of people who have been living them.

[mikeymagee]

Legacy of The Falcon

Here's the thing about the Falcon mantel that a lot of people might be overlooking. Sam Wilson, The Falcon, was created out of solidarity for the Civil Rights movement. It's not by accident that the first African American superhero (and note, I said "African American", not Black) was created to be partners with Captain America.

The creators of Sam Wilson wanted to fight back against the idea that African Americans, who at the time were fighting for Civil Rights, were just as much a part of the fabric of the United States as white people.

During the Civil Rights Movement, so many critics of pushed the rhetoric that Black Americans were ungrateful and did not belong in this country. Sam Wilson was created to prove them wrong.

And now, we have another Falcon who is of Mexican descent. He is an undocumented immigrant that exists in a time when all immigrants (whether documented or not) have a target on their backs. He exists during a time when Mexicans/Latino communities are under threat.

And he soars with Captain America. And just like his predecessor, Joaquin exists to show that immigrants belong in this country.

The Falcon isn't simply a mantel, it's a symbol of the fight against American bigotry and hatred. The Falcon, when he's partnered with his Captain, shows Americans of all backgrounds what our country is made up of. And I've loved seeing Joaquin and Sam fight together since their first comic appearance. And I loved seeing their relationship in BNW.

Sam Wilson fights for an America that extends humanity to everyone, and to see a Black man fight for that ideal while also having a Mexican man stand by his side is the perfect continuation of the message that Marvel created back in the 60's.

This country is for everyone.

[mikeymagee]

Finally got a chance to watch this! And, does anyone here think Anthony set Danny up? Like, Anthony's a big jokester and he knows a lot about his co-stars and he loves to screw with them!

Anthony's been on the show before, and he knows how the game is played/what the rules are, etc and he probably watches his co-stars interviews (because he's supportive like that!)

Anyway, Danny had an interview with Men's health where he said he has a sensitive palate and can't really handle spicy food. And every question Anthony gave Danny just seemed tailormade to put the screws to his costar (I mean, that Hurricanes vs Seminoles question was just plain evil).

And then there was the fishing segment at the end where they have a nice boat/set-up and Anthony using Danny's instagram post to get him to crack. I love Anthony but you can't tell me this wasn't some pre-planned trap on Danny!

Hell, maybe the Anthony meme's are true. Maybe he does know shit about people.

[mikeymagee]

Captain America Brave New World potential spoilers

possible spoilers under the cut

Isaiah, when he first was introduced in TFATWS was very much a loner and the only person he had in his life was his grandson. But pos Brave New World, Isaiah is training Sam Wilson, he's visiting Joaquin in the hospital. He pretty much has two new boys to watch after, along with his grandson, Eli.

It's. So. Cute.

He's got an entire family that he can watch over, and that can watch over him. He's got Sam to help him with his PTSD, he's got Eli Bradley to look after him while he's at home, and he's got Joaquin to help brighten his day when things get too hectic. And he even has Bucky to pop in from time to time too!

Isaiah's got an entire support system. And since Isaiah's pretty much got an entire group of sons/grandsons, can we call them The Sons of Liberty? Because that would be awesome!

[mikeymagee]

I'm old enough to remember when people used to say that Sam Wilson was a secret HYDRA agent...and now look where we are.

[mikeymagee]

We Gonna Be Alright - Chapter 1 - mikeymagee - Multifandom [Archive of Our Own]

Here's a fanfic that I haven't thought about in years. But I think it's pretty on theme.

Black Fanfiction Writers, post your Masterlists for Black History Month! Give the community good stuff to read!

Add your Masterlist of stories centering Black Characters! Please share with your writing mutuals! I'll start with mine!