Marvel Teases New Captain America On Fourth of July

That’s according to a Fourth of July-tagged tweet from the official Marvel Comics account, which you can see embedded below.

Most fans are speculating that October’s solicitations will feature the first African-American Captain America to headline the monthly title, as Sam Wilson (The Falcon) is the top contender to step into Cap’s blue chainmail while Steve Rogers gets things sorted out.

A number of other Marvel characters have stepped in to briefly act as Captain America during absences or crises for Steve Rogers, including Bucky Barnes (The Winter Soldier) and US Agent. Following Rogers’ apparent death during World War II, the government created additional super soldiers — none as effective as Rogers — to fill the role as well.

One former Captain America, Isaiah Bradley, was African-American. His story, told in a stand-alone miniseries, paralleled the Tuskegee syphillis study.

Sam Wilson was one of a number of characters to step in as Captain America’s sidekick or partner following the apparent death of Bucky. He is the only such character to have his name on the cover (“Captain America and Falcon“) for a significant stretch of time. A miniseries by Christopher Priest and a number of high-profile artists bearing the same title was published years later.