Eager for vengeance against Red Skull, the Exiles attack Captain America. With the help of a falcon, Cap escapes from the Exiles. While in hiding he remembers that the skull he’s wearing is just a mask and removes it. Unsure if the Exiles will still recognize him, he uses clay to disguise his facial features. Meanwhile in New York City, the Skull checks into a luxury hotel, reveling in the idol worship that New Yorkers pay to Captain America. At AIM HQ, MODOK is plotting to render the Cosmic Cube powerless. Back on Exile Isle, the bird that helped Cap returns to its master, Sam Wilson, who is enjoying any opportunity to thwart the Exiles’ plans. Cap stumbles across Sam in the jungle, who introduces his bird, Redwing. Sam takes Cap to the local village, reveals he’s from Harlem, and came to the island when the Exiles hired him and Redwing. When he realized that the Exiles were seeking prisoners rather than employees he quit, and began leading the villagers in fighting back. Cap convinces Sam that he needs a costume and identity, and dubs him...the Falcon!
As a teenager, Sam has the biggest rooftop pigeon coop in Harlem (1). While vacationing in Rio, he is fascinated by falcons and buys Redwing. Sam comes to believe that Redwing is more than just a falcon, and is almost a part of him (see NOTE).
Cap #186, ’75 fb reveals Falcon’s middle initial, and that his identity as a social worker, his vacation in Rio and reason for being on the Isle of Exiles are fabrications of Red Skull, and the super-normal mental link he shares with Redwing was created by the Cosmic Cube. By Cap #134, ’71 Sam does indeed become a social worker. Cap #277/2, ’83 reveals Falcon’s middle name and that he suffers from multiple personality disorder; the criminal “Snap” is a defense mechanism, but Sam is his true personality. Sam refers to Cap as the “joker in the red jumpsuit,” but Cap’s jumpsuit is green. Romita redrew Cap’s head for this cover. AIM HQ revealed to be on AIM Island in Cap #119, ’69. MODOK stands for Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing.
