The funny papers have been causing quite the uproar on the interwebs lately.  Namely, Marvel and their big announcement that come October, Thor Odinson will be dropping the hammer and a WOMAN will take up Mjolnir.

Tonight, the Chief Creative Officer of Marvel Entertainment Joe Quesada appeared on Comedy Central’s Emmy winning The Colbert Report to to talk about the future of Captain America.  It’s no secret Marvel plans to kill Steve Rodgers, and Joe just said Sam Wilson (The Falcon) will be taking on the role  in the comics.

 

It appears that in an upcoming issue, there is a drastic attack, and while sacrificing himself in typical Steve fashion, the Stark made super soldier serum reverts, and Steve ages 65 years in a matter of seconds.

Addressing how Sam Wilson will follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, Steve Rogers, Remender says, “Sam wants to lead by example. To help people see their own selfishness and to turn it around. To build better communities, to never forget the little guy.”  Remender continues, “Sam follows his heart and his belief in what the American dream means and how it belongs to everyone.”

 The question remains: what happens with the original Captain America, Steve Rogers? Executive Editor Tom Brevoort says, “Steve’s spirit is as willing as ever, but his body is no longer up to the task of being Captain America. So he’ll employ his skills as the new Cap’s remote strategic advisor, running Cap’s missions from his headquarters in Avengers Mansion and providing Sam with technical support and field information from a distance. He’ll also tutor Sam in how to throw the shield, a skill that’s deceptively difficult for the new Cap to master. So Steve will continue to be a vital part of the series moving ahead.”

“Historically, Falcon would often act as air support, flying Steve into the battle. Why not merge the two? He pops the wings, and as he flies, he keeps the shield latched onto his back. He dives down onto the scene, hurls the shield, wings retract, and rolls into a kick or jump, catches the shield on the way back. He doesn’t have the super soldier serum, but he has the added zing-zang-zoom of flight.”

Despite the edge provided by Captain America’s newfound aptitude for altitude, he faces a daunting challenge from a deeply entrenched opposition. The terrorist organization Hydra grows in power and influence, infiltrating the Marvel Universe completely. With Steve Rogers seemingly down for the count, his enemies rally to seize upon a vulnerable America.

Fortunately, Wilson doesn’t face these threats alone. Ian, Steve’s adopted ward from Dimension Z and the artificial son of Arnim Zola, takes up the storied mantle of Nomad. Meanwhile, Steve himself, physically aged but sharp as ever, serves as tactician back at the base.

“Steve’s spirit is as willing as ever,” explains Brevoort, “But his body is no longer up to the task of being Captain America. So he’ll instead employ his skills as the new Cap’s remote strategic advisor, running missions from his headquarters in Avengers Mansion and providing Sam with technical support and field information from a distance. He’ll also tutor Sam in how to throw the shield, a skill that’s deceptively difficult for the new Cap to master. So Steve will continue to be a vital part of the series moving ahead. And Steve is completely supportive of Sam as his hand-picked successor—the only replacement Captain America ever to be chosen by Steve himself. Steve and Sam are effectively brothers-in-arms, and there’s a level of trust and camaraderie between them that’s matched only by that of soldiers who’ve fought shoulder-to-shoulder in foxholes on the battlefield.

“I think that different characters across the Marvel Universe are going to respond to Sam’s appointment in different ways. But he’s not a novice—in his long history as the Falcon, he’s earned a reputation for integrity and honesty and backbone that most of the super hero community have a respect for. On the villain side, there may be those who feel that their jobs will be easier now that a different man is carrying the shield, so it will be Sam’s mission to disabuse them from that notion.”

Of course, Sam assumes this responsibility just as a female Thor comes to prominence. But will that the end of the changes to the very face of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes?

“We’re not anywhere near finished,” says Brevoort. “Change is one of the watchwords of the Marvel Universe, so there are even more startling surprises to come!”

More on Marvel.com: http://marvel.com/news/comics/2014/7/16/22895/its_time_for_an_all-new_captain_america#ixzz37kHojaDi

And here is the official press release from Marvel.