Early Black Superhero "The Falcon" Complete Four Issue Run, 1983-84

Early Black Superhero "The Falcon"

Archive

[Comics][African American] Four issues of Black superhero The Falcon. Archive of four issues from the groundbreaking 1983–1984 Marvel Comics limited series The Falcon, starring Sam Wilson, one of the earliest Black superheroes in mainstream American comics. This limited run was the first solo comic focused on the Falcon and, notably, marks the debut of writer James Owsley (Christopher Priest) the first African-American writer-editor at Marvel Comics. Each issue contains approximately 32 pages and is printed in full color on newsprint, with staple-bound illustrated wrappers.

[1] Owsley, Jim. The Falcon Vol. 1, No. 1. New York: Marvel Comics Group, November 1983. The series opens with a powerful introduction to Sam Wilson in Harlem, where he confronts systemic crime and corruption while navigating his dual role as a street-level community advocate and a superhero. This issue explores themes of social justice, loyalty, and Black empowerment within an urban setting, with Falcon taking a stand against slumlords and gang influence.

[2] Owsley, Jim. The Falcon Vol. 1, No. 2. New York: Marvel Comics Group, December 1983. Falcon continues to confront the complexity of inner-city despair and the manipulation of young men by criminal enterprises. The issue highlights Wilson’s attempts to intervene in clashes between protesters in a local gang and police.

[3] Owsley, Jim. The Falcon Vol. 1, No. 3. New York: Marvel Comics Group, January 1984. In a story titled “Faith,” the issue depicts Falcon saving residents from an apartment fire and continuing to navigate tensions with a local gang This installment foregrounds racial inequity and systemic failure, with Falcon portrayed as a figure of persistence and hope.

[4] Owsley, Jim. The Falcon Vol. 1, No. 4. New York: Marvel Comics Group, February 1984. In “Resurrection,” Falcon must prevent the assassination of the U.S. president by a Harlem-based gang. The climax pits him against institutional indifference and media misrepresentation. The narrative critiques political manipulation and racial scapegoating, presenting Falcon as a uniquely positioned Black hero navigating both civic loyalty and cultural alienation.

Moderate toning to newsprint pages throughout, light handling wear to wrappers. Overall very good condition. This archive represents a vital moment in comic book history when Black representation was being earnestly explored in mainstream superhero narratives, positioning Falcon not merely as a sidekick, but as a politically engaged, morally complex protagonist put forth by a groundbreaking Black comic writer.

Item #21712

Price: $225.00