SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for this week's "Captain America: Sam Wilson" #4, as well as last month's issue #3.


While Marvel Comics is promoting January's "Captain America: Sam Wilson" #5 by Nick Spencer and Paul Renaud as featuring "the birth of the All-New, All-Different Falcon," that character has actually already debuted. Specifically, the new Falcon's first appearance appears to have been November's "Captain America: Sam Wilson" #3.

As readers of the series know, Sam Wilson is currently in full-on Cap-Wolf mode, having been transformed into a lycanthropic superhero during a confrontation with mad scientist Karl Malus. Sam wasn't the only victim of Maul's experiments, however: Joaquin Torres found himself in a similar situation, though he's been transformed into a bird-like hybrid, apparently using Sam's avian partner Redwing's DNA.

In a scene that not only re-introduces Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson's character from Netflix's "Daredevil" and "Jessica Jones") to the Marvel Universe, we learn that Joaquin, who was previously despondent due to his transformation, is now a little more at ease with his new life. Specifically, the discovery that his wings are fully functional and allow him to fly has made him a pretty happy lad.

The final page of this month's issue reminds readers that next month is the new Falcon's debut, and between the scene with Joaquin and the issue's recap page sharing a tweet from the young man wondering if the Avengers are looking for new members, it's safe to bet Joaquin is the new hero. Of course, with Sam's condition already wearing off, it's anyone's guess as to how long the new Falcon will fly.

Sam Wilson, of course, was the original Falcon, Captain America's longstanding superheroic partner. In 2014, the character took the mantle of Captain America after Steve Rogers was depleted of the Super-Soldier Serum, resulting in him rapidly aging and taking a more behind-the-scenes role, and leaving the Marvel Universe without a Falcon.