Falcon

This one's for the birds. Alongside his companion Redwing, the Falcon flies wherever he's needed! He does. So so why doesn't this set include Redwing? Like, there have been times when Falcon didn't actively use him as his partner (captive falcons, protected from predators and disease and given a regular supply of healthy food, can live for up to 25 years; so, given the sliding timescale of Marvel comics, it's entirely possible that the Redwing who's around today is the same one it's always been), but if you're going to name-check the bird on the card, you have the responsibility to include that bird as an accessory. The absense is especially egregious, because like all the Retro Collection figures, this was an exercise in reusing as many existing molds as possible. This figure was released only a year after the previous Falcon, and every single piece of plastic in this tray is identical to those, form the thick-soled boots to the beak crest he wears on his forehead. In 2007's Captain America #29 (that'd be the period after Steve died but before Bucky officially became the new Cap, if you're trying to place the specific era), Falcon and Agent 13 were fighting some AIM scientists, one of whom had a flamethrower. With the costume he'd been wearing destroyed, Sam needed a new one, which he got in the next issue. He claims it's "the old outfit," implying it's supposed to be the one he wore originally, but that's clearly not right. It does have the stylized "wings" painted on the stomach, and red pants, but it doesn't have white boots, and it doesn't have a deep V-neck to show off his chest. Technically he should have a grappling hook on his left glove (the "Hawk-Hook"), but that would have required new tooling. Since the entire body is reused from the previous figure, you already know what the articulation is going to be like: swivel/hinge ankles, swivel shins, double-hinged knees, swivel thighs, balljointed hips, swivel waist, hinged chest, swivel/hinge wrists, double-hinged elbows, swivel biceps, swivel/hinge shoulders, a hinged neck, and a balljointed head. He can be given either balled fists or flat chopping hands, meaning he's ready to choose between fight or flight. Though obviously for him those two options are pretty much the same thing. We may not get Redwing, but we do get red wings. Falcon's original, physical wings were made by Black Panther, and T'Challa is also the one who gave him these upgraded "hard light" versions. As before, they're molded from translucent red plastic, so suggest their semi-holographic nature, and fit into slots in his arms so he can still be poseable even while wearing them. I didn't bother trying to get this figure when it came out - like we said, it had only been a year since the previous Falcon, and this one is fundamentally identical. But when he showed up in great numbers at Ollie's Bargain Outlet, I figured I might as well give him a shot; it's amazing what you can forgive for a $7.99 pricetag. The figure's fine, but it is exactly as expected, and I was right not to worry about it the first time around. Now, if they'd included his bird, like the new Secret Wars relase does? That would have been something to help boost sales! -- 07/20/26 Where's his effing bird, Hasbro? Tell us on our message board, the Loafing Lounge.