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unnamed diner patron
 

Religion: indeterminate

Name: unnamed diner patron

Classification: supporting character supporting character  

Publisher(s): Marvel

First Appearance: Captain America (vol. 1) #152 (Aug. 1972): "Terror in the Night!"

Creators: Gerry Conway, Sal Buscema, Frank Giacoia

Number of Appearances: 3

Ally: Little Bob
Ally: Jack

Location: Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Race: black

Gender: male

Note: admired Falcon for coming down on crimeboss Morgan

An unnamed diner patron was a witness to the Falcon confronting Boss Morgan in Captain America #152, and then in Captain America #153, this same diner patron was overheard by the Falcon (as Sam Wilson) talking about the event. This unnamed diner patron was eating with Little Bob in #152 and he was eating with Jack in #153. This unnamed dine patron is recognizable not only because of his dialog, but also due to of the distinctive sunglasses he wears. He recognizably has the same face and haircut in both issues.

This unnamed diner patron previously had a negative view of the new hero Falcon. But after seeing him action, he admired how the Harlem-based super-hero was helping out in the community, despite the fact that some people (such as Rafe and Leila Taylor) criticized Falcon as an "Uncle Tom" and a "sellout."

In Captain America (vol. 1) #152, the unnamed diner patron was eating in a Harlem diner with his friend, Little Bob, when the two of them saw the super-hero Falcon confront local crime boss Morgan.

The unnamed diner patron appeared with a fellow black Harlem resident known only as "Little Bob" appeared in one panel in Captain America (vol. 1) #152.

Little Bob and this friend were eating in a diner on a small side-street just off Amsterdam Avenue. Their meal was interrupted when the Harlem-based super-hero known as the Falcon entered the establishment and demanded information from Boss Morgan. Morgan's henchmen Billie and Reno tried to beat up Falcon, but he made short work of them. Then the Falcon forcefully demanded information from Boss Morgan. (Falcon was following leads to try to track down the whereabouts of his abducted friend, SHIELD agent Sharon Carter.)

All of the other patrons in the crowded diner watched these events, including Little Bob.

When it was over, Little Bob said approvingly to his friend: "Y'know, that Falcon ain't at all like they say he is--"

Little Bob's friend replied: "You got it, Little Bob. Tha's one heavy Tom."

What is meant by this exchange is that word on the street in Harlem was that the Falcon was an "Uncle Tom," a sell-out to the White Establishment. What Little Bob saw in the diner made him believe that the Falcon was a "real black man," and maybe not just an "Uncle Tom" like he had heard.

In panel 3 on page 15 in Captain America (vol. 1) #153, Sam Wilson (secretly the Falcon) overheard Jack and Jack's friend talking about the Falcon. Sam heard Jack say: "--Falcon came down on Morgan like the big man was nothin'. Put some hurt like you wouldn't believe on that fat dude and his boys!"

Jack's friend agreed, saying: "Shoot, Jack-- I saw him cleanin' up that pusher-man a couple a' weeks back! He's outta-sight!"

Sam Wilson felt better about things after overhearing that exchange. He left the diner thinking, "Well, all right! That'll brighten up any superhero's morning!"

In Captain America (vol. 1) #154, his same unnamed diner patron, wearing his sunglasses, can be seen among a crowd of Harlem residents who accompany Jack and Rafe and go to Tyler's Warehouse to rescue Falcon from William Burnside and Jack Monroe (the now-mentally unstable 1940s Captain America and Bucky).


This character is in the following 3 stories which have been indexed by this website:
Captain America