The following contains major spoilers for Avengers #1, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
With the previous, sprawling roster of Avengers having disassembled in the wake of Mephisto’s defeat, the time has come for Carol Danvers to bring together her own lineup of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. As such, Captain Marvel has set her sights on bringing a fellow Captain into the fold. Surprisingly, instead of calling on Steve Rogers, Carol turns to Sam Wilson instead.
Aside from being locked in vicious combat with a towering new threat, Avengers #1 (by Jed MacKay, C.F. Villa, Federico Blee, and VC’s Cory Petit) finds Carol Danvers looking back on her efforts to recruit the next iteration of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Figures such as Scarlet Witch and the God of Thunder alongside the likes of Captain Marvel and Vision provide the team with some obvious powerhouses. And, this is precisely why Carol went looking for a Captain America, specifically, one who isn’t a Super-Soldier. Sam Wilson’s humanity is a far better fit for her team than any amount of extra muscle could ever be.
Sam Wilson is Different From Marvel’s Original Captain America
Carol’s desire to bring Sam onto the team over Steve isn’t an indication that one Captain America is more capable or valuable than the other. However, it does provide a clear picture of what exactly she is looking for in one. Both are more than capable in the field. But Steve Rogers is someone who stands above the rest thanks to both his powers and status, whereas Sam is the grounded person who the Avengers are in desperate need of.
There is certainly something to be said about Sam’s superhuman ability to communicate with birds, yet that hardly elevates him to the level of someone like Thor. Even Iron Man, who has no innate abilities of his own, has tasted literal godhood and soars as though he is one thanks to his impossible intellect. Every single member of the team has something going for them that gives them a wider yet frequently less nuanced view of the world around them, and if Carol’s Avengers want any hope of lasting, they are going to need a very human Captain America to help bring their skewed vision back into focus.
Captain Marvel’s Avengers Need Relatable Human Heroes
As Carol openly admits during her conversation with Sam and Steve, the Avengers are not gods. Without someone to keep them grounded, it would only be a matter of time before a lack of foresight and focus led them to utter disaster. Sam is not only someone who can do just that but also someone who can draw every possible ounce of respect from his teammates in the process.
With any luck, having Sam around will be every bit of the boon that Carol is hoping for. Although there is no reason to assume that Sam would ever falter in his duties, there is the question of whether he might lose sight of what is important after so much time spent walking in the shadows of living legends. Then again, he has successfully done precisely that for decades, meaning there is little reason to assume that would change anytime soon.