Captain America: The Shield of Sam Wilson

The Last Stand of the Black Captain America asks a compelling question: the new Captain America has a big shield to carry—but is he up to the task? This collection of subversive, exciting, and uplifting short stories, inspired by the Marvel comic book universe, brings together celebrated Black authors to explore the challenges and triumphs of Sam Wilson as Captain America.

As a Black man in America, Sam Wilson understands that he often has to be twice as good to receive half the credit. Bearing the mantle of Captain America means becoming a symbol for a nation that does not always fully embrace him. Across thirteen original stories, Sam must thwart insurrectionist plots, travel through time, expose racist conspiracies, and save the world again and again—all while navigating the weight of what the shield represents.

Before becoming Captain America, Sam Wilson was the Falcon, the first African American superhero in mainstream comic books. His experiences continue to reflect many of the realities faced by Black Americans today, balancing extraordinary heroism with the pressures of public scrutiny, identity, and expectation. Along the way, Sam teams up with familiar allies including Steve Rogers, Redwing, and Nomad, while facing legendary foes such as Hydra, Sabretooth, Kingpin, and other notorious villains.

Filled with action, heart, Black love, and self-discovery, these stories examine what it truly means to become a symbol. More than tales of superheroics, they are explorations of courage, responsibility, and identity through the lens of one of Marvel’s most important heroes.

Featuring original stories by Maurice Broaddus, Jesse J. Holland, Gar Anthony Haywood, Nicole Givens Kurtz, Kyoko M., Sheree Renée Thomas, Gary Phillips, Danian Jerry, Gloria J. Browne Marshall, Glenn Parris, Christopher Chambers, and Alex Simmons.