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Captain America (1968 series) #117

Sep 1969 on-sale: Jun 3, 1969

Stan Lee
writer
 |  Gene Colan
penciler

Captain America (1968 series) #117 cover

Story Name:

The Coming of…the Falcon!


Synopsis

Captain America (1968 series) #117 synopsis by reviewer Peter Silvestro
Rating: 5 stars

Image from Captain America (1968 series) #117

Captain America, trapped in the Red Skull’s body, is miraculously teleported to the isle of the Exiles by the power of the Cosmic Cube. From a hiding place in the woods, Cap overhears the Exiles plotting vengeance against their former leader for betraying them and realizes the Skull’s purpose in sending him there. The Red Skull causes Cap to fall from his hiding place in full view of the enemy. The Exiles attack the “Red Skull” but in the nick of time a falcon flies into the faces of his foes, allowing Cap the chance to get away. In the forest, Cap remembers that the Skull face is just a mask and he removes it, using clay to disguise his features in case the Exiles have seen the Red Skull’s real face….

Back in New York, the Red Skull in Captain America’s body swaggers into a hotel, allowing the public to fawn over him, as part of a scheme to ruin Cap’s reputation as well….

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Elsewhere, MODOK has learned that the Red Skull has recovered the Cosmic Cube and sets his A.I.M. minions to finding a means of destroying it….

Back on the island, Cap meets the falcon’s owner, Sam Wilson, a Harlem bird trainer, who was hired by the Exiles to teach them falconry, and only then discovered the true nature of his employers and has since been in hiding with Redwing, attempting to organize the natives into a resistance. He and Cap make common cause against the enemy and Cap suggests that Sam adopt a costumed identity to serve as a symbol to the natives…the Falcon!


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Characters
Good (or All)
CAP  
Captain America
(Steve Rogers)
FALCON  
Falcon
(Sam Wilson)

Enemies
AIM  
A.I.M.
(AIM)
MODOK  
MODOK
(George Tarleton)
REDSKULL  
Red Skull
(Johann Shmidt)
Plus: Exiles.

> Captain America (1968 series) comic book info and issue index



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Previews

Click pages to see them in the Comic Viewer.

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Main/1st Story Full Credits

Gene Colan
Joe Sinnott
Unknown
Gene Colan (Cover Penciler)
Joe Sinnott (Cover Inker)
Unknown (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Sam Rosen.



Review / Commentaries


reviewer
Captain America (1968 series) #117 Review by (January 27, 2026)

Review: Ta-daaah! The first appearance of a character who, despite his odd beginnings (and ugly green and orange costume), would become a major part of the Captain America series, even starring in a Cap film over half-a-century later!

But first there’s Cap/Skull fighting the Exiles. Cap whupped this gang of clods each with a single, sometimes silly, power back in issue #104. (Really, Stan seems especially fond of the Italian guy with the murder scarf.) And this fight is also a lot of fun, thanks to some kinetic Colan artwork, and he is rescued by Sam and Redwing by way of their introduction. Then the disguised Cap meets a misplaced bird trainer and talks him into becoming a costumed hero to lead a revolution!

And there’s also Red Skull’s plot to destroy Cap’s reputation, largely by swaggering, and the return of MODOK, one of Marvel’s most visually striking villains, though he doesn’t do much here. But that’s okay as the Falcon provides enough excitement for the issue by himself!

Comments: Part four of a six-part story. First appearance of Sam Wilson/the Falcon (though his real name isn’t given until the next issue). Also the first appearance of Redwing. MODOK was introduced in TALES OF SUSPENSE #93-94; this is his second appearance and he shows up next in #119.  






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