Another day, another announcement that Marvel is diversifying its heroes.
Just one day after announcing that its new Thor would be a woman, Marvel’s Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada appeared on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report to announce that the new Captain America would be a black man.
Quesada told Colbert on Wednesday night that the character Sam Wilson, who comic book fans might already know as The Falcon, would be taking over the role of Captain America in a new series launching in October.
Wilson first debuted in 1969’s Captain America #117 and was the first African-American super hero and has been a major player in Marvel comics ever since. The character will now take on the role of Captain America in Captain America #25.
The new series will mark Wilson as the seventh character to take up Captain America’s famous shield — though, it should be noted, not the first African-American character. According to Vulture, that honor went to Isaiah Bradley, in 2003’s Truth: Red, White, and Black.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Jane Fonda Champions Climate Action for Every Generation
- Biden’s Campaign Is In Trouble. Will the Turnaround Plan Work?
- Why We're Spending So Much Money Now
- The Financial Influencers Women Actually Want to Listen To
- Breaker Sunny Choi Is Heading to Paris
- Why TV Can’t Stop Making Silly Shows About Lady Journalists
- The Case for Wearing Shoes in the House
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com