Joaquin Torres first appeared in Captain America: Sam Wilson #1, published in November 2015. He was co-created by writer Nick Spencer and artist Daniel Acuña. His introduction was a key part of Sam Wilson's tenure as Captain America, providing the new Cap with a new partner who reflected a younger, more diverse generation of heroes.
Spencer and Acuña designed Joaquin to be more than just a sidekick; he was a character whose origin directly addressed contemporary social and political issues, particularly immigration and border politics, a central theme in that comic series. His transformation into a literal human-bird hybrid was a dramatic, almost body-horror take on a superhero origin, contrasting sharply with the tech-based abilities of his predecessor. This creative choice immediately set him apart and provided a rich, if tragic, backstory that has defined his comic book journey. The decision to make him the new Falcon in issue #6 of the same series solidified the legacy aspect of Sam Wilson's role, showing that just as Steve Rogers passed the shield to him, he could pass the wings to another deserving hero.
The origin of Joaquin Torres is a prime example of significant divergence between the comic book source material and its cinematic adaptation. While the core elements of his relationship with Sam Wilson and his assumption of the Falcon mantle remain, the circumstances leading to that point are vastly different.
In the prime Marvel Universe, Joaquin Torres was a compassionate and determined young man from Sonoita, Arizona. Driven by a sense of justice, he dedicated himself to providing humanitarian aid—including food, water, and medical supplies—to migrants crossing the dangerous Sonoran Desert from Mexico into the United States. He was a modern-day Good Samaritan, operating under the radar to help those in desperate need. His life took a horrific turn when he was kidnapped by the Sons of the Serpent, a white supremacist hate group. They were abducting migrants for the geneticist Dr. Karl Malus, who was working under the direction of the Serpent Solutions corporation. Malus, a long-time foe of both Captain America and Falcon, was conducting heinous experiments to create animal-human hybrids. Malus's most recent subject was Redwing, Sam Wilson's long-time avian partner. Unbeknownst to Sam, Redwing was not an ordinary falcon but possessed a unique vampiric healing factor acquired during an encounter with a Baron Blood imposter. Malus sought to splice Redwing's DNA with that of a human. Joaquin became his chosen test subject. The experiment was a twisted success: Joaquin's DNA was permanently fused with Redwing's, transforming him into a flying, avian-human hybrid. He grew large, feathered wings, his eyes became raptor-like, his fingers and toes sharpened into talons, and he developed a regenerative healing factor. Sam Wilson, as Captain America, investigated the disappearances and tracked the Sons of the Serpent to Malus's lab. He arrived just as the experiment concluded, battling Malus's other monstrous creations to rescue the traumatized Joaquin. A crucial side effect of the genetic splicing was the creation of a permanent, two-way telepathic and empathic link between Joaquin and Redwing, similar to the one Sam had with the bird. Through this link, Sam was able to calm Joaquin and help him begin to understand his new form. After his rescue and a period of difficult adjustment, Joaquin was determined to use his new abilities for good. Inspired by the hero who saved him, he embraced his transformation. Sam, seeing the same heroic spark in Joaquin that Steve Rogers saw in him, officially took him under his wing. He provided Joaquin with a costume and flight gear, training him to control his flight and harness his new powers. In a symbolic passing of the torch, Sam Wilson formally named Joaquin Torres the new Falcon, ensuring the legacy would continue while he carried the shield.
In the MCU (designated as Earth-199999), Joaquin Torres is introduced in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. This version is portrayed by actor Danny Ramirez. Instead of being a civilian aid worker, he is a First Lieutenant in the United States Air Force, serving as Sam Wilson's intelligence and mission support. He is a skilled analyst and drone pilot, deeply admiring Sam both as a fellow airman and as the Avenger known as the Falcon.
His origin as a hero is far more grounded and technological. He is first seen working with Sam on a mission in Tunisia to stop Georges Batroc and the LAF criminal organization. On the ground, Joaquin provides reconnaissance and tactical support, piloting the Redwing drone remotely and feeding information to Sam. This establishes his technical proficiency and his role as Sam's trusted “guy in the chair.”
Throughout the series, Joaquin becomes instrumental in investigating the Flag Smashers, a group of super-soldiers led by Karli Morgenthau. He is the one who first identifies their global presence and anarchist goals, acting as an independent intelligence source for Sam when official channels become compromised by the politics surrounding the new Captain America, John Walker. His investigation puts him in direct danger when he confronts a Flag Smasher sympathizer and is severely beaten by one of the super-soldiers, leaving him with significant injuries.
His heroic moment and the setup for his future as the Falcon occur in the series finale, “One World, One People.” During the Flag Smashers' climactic attack on the GRC council in New York City, Sam Wilson makes his public debut as the new Captain America, wearing a new Wakandan-made suit. His original EXO-7 Falcon flight suit was heavily damaged in a prior battle with John Walker.
After the crisis is averted, Sam meets with Joaquin. In a pivotal scene, Sam brings a large military case containing the now-battered and broken wings of his old Falcon suit. He tells Joaquin that the wings are “yours,” officially passing the mantle to his friend and colleague. Joaquin, aware of the immense legacy and responsibility, looks at the wings with a mix of awe and determination, accepting the role. This moment solidifies his future, establishing that the MCU's new Falcon will be a tech-based hero, relying on his training and the advanced EXO-7 suit, rather than any superhuman abilities. His journey is set to continue in the film Brave New World.
Joaquin Torres's capabilities are a direct result of his unique origins in each universe, leading to two vastly different but equally capable versions of the Falcon.
The comic book version of Joaquin is a true biological hybrid, possessing a unique set of superhuman powers derived from his genetic fusion with Redwing.
Joaquin is defined by his idealism, empathy, and resilience. Despite the immense trauma of his transformation, he refuses to see himself as a monster. He is driven by a powerful desire to protect the vulnerable, a trait that existed long before he gained powers. He looks up to Sam Wilson with immense respect and strives to live up to the heroic legacy of the Falcon mantle. He is brave, occasionally impulsive, but always good-hearted.
The MCU's Joaquin Torres is entirely human, with his abilities as Falcon stemming from his elite military training and advanced technology.
The MCU's Joaquin is loyal, intelligent, and possessed of a dry wit. He has a deep and unwavering respect for Sam Wilson, viewing him as a mentor and a friend. He demonstrates immense courage by investigating the Flag Smashers alone and is not afraid to put himself in harm's way for the mission. He is less of an idealist than his comic counterpart and more of a pragmatist, grounded in his military experience. His defining trait is his reliability and his eagerness to support his allies, no matter the personal cost.
The relationship with Sam Wilson is the cornerstone of Joaquin's character in both universes.
While Joaquin is still a relatively new hero, he has faced significant threats that have helped define his journey.
Dr. Karl Malus is Joaquin's personal arch-nemesis. He is the man responsible for Joaquin's monstrous transformation, a constant and painful reminder of the trauma he endured. The Sons of the Serpent represent the ideological evil that Joaquin fought against even as a civilian—a bigoted, violent force that preys on the vulnerable. His conflict with them is deeply personal, representing a fight not just for justice, but against the very hatred that led to his creation.
While primarily enemies of Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes, the Flag Smashers were the first major threat Joaquin investigated. He was one of the first to understand the danger they posed and became a direct victim of their violence when he was attacked and beaten by a super-soldier. This encounter gave him a personal stake in their defeat and demonstrated the high stakes of the world he was entering, solidifying his resolve to help Sam stop them.
His primary affiliation in the MCU is with the USAF. This background provides his training, his moral compass, and his initial connection to Sam Wilson. It grounds him in a world of structure, service, and duty, which will undoubtedly inform his approach as a superhero.
For a brief period following the events of Civil War II, Joaquin joined the Champions, a team of young heroes—including Ms. Marvel, Miles Morales, and Nova—who broke away from the Avengers to pursue a more grassroots, socially-conscious brand of heroism. His time with the team was short-lived, but it connected him with his generation of heroes and reinforced his commitment to helping people directly.
This is Joaquin's foundational story arc. The narrative follows Sam Wilson, newly appointed as Captain America, as he investigates the Sons of the Serpent's human trafficking operation at the U.S.-Mexico border. It is here that the reader is introduced to Joaquin as a civilian activist. The storyline details his abduction, the horrifying experiments conducted by Karl Malus, and his ultimate transformation into the avian-human hybrid. His rescue by Captain America and his subsequent acceptance of his new form are the central emotional beats. The arc culminates with Sam officially bestowing the Falcon title and a new costume upon him, launching his heroic career. This story is crucial as it defines his powers, his core trauma, and his heroic motivation.
During the Secret Empire event, where a Hydra-aligned Steve Rogers took over the United States, Joaquin played a vital role in the resistance. As Falcon, he worked closely with the Underground, a network of heroes led by Tony Stark A.I. and Hawkeye. He served as a key scout and aerial combatant, using his abilities to ferry supplies, rescue civilians, and fight against Hydra's forces. His most significant moment came when he helped transport the fragments of the Cosmic Cube. This event tested his resolve as a young hero, forcing him to operate in a world where the ultimate symbol of hope, Captain America, had become the ultimate tyrant. It solidified his place among Marvel's heroes and proved his courage under immense pressure.
This Disney+ series serves as Joaquin's complete origin story within the MCU. He is introduced as Sam Wilson's competent and likable USAF support. His arc is one of escalating involvement, moving from a background analyst to an active field agent investigating the Flag Smashers. He provides crucial intel that Sam and Bucky use to track the group, and his dedication is proven when he is injured in the line of duty. The series carefully builds the professional and personal respect between him and Sam, making the final scene feel earned. When Sam, now Captain America, gives him the damaged EXO-7 wings, it is not just a gift but the passing of a responsibility. This storyline perfectly sets the stage for his emergence as the new Falcon in Captain America: Brave New World, establishing his character, motivation, and the technological basis for his future heroics.
As a character created in the 2010s, Joaquin Torres has not had the long history required to generate a large number of official alternate-reality variants like older characters. However, the most significant “variant” of his character is arguably his own MCU counterpart.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the case containing the broken EXO-7 wings has the name “TORRES, J.” stenciled on it, a clear visual confirmation of Sam's intent to pass the mantle to him.Captain America: Sam Wilson #1-6 (2015-2016), written by Nick Spencer.The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021), created by Malcolm Spellman.