Falcon Vol. 1 #1

Miguel Martinez, drunk, along with two of his “friends”, corners Lucia Calderon, in a darkened alley. The Falcon intervenes before the three boys can rape Calderon. The Falcon quickly subdues Martinez’s “friends”, then confronts Martinez. Martinez releases Calderon, dropping to his knees, sobbing in anger, frustration, and despair. Meanwhile, NYPD Sergeant Tork, tired of waiting for the Falcon, closes in on drug dealers. After taking out the sole sentry, Tork discovers that the drug dealers, tipped off to the bust, have vacated the premises

The Falcon turns Martinez, and his “friends”, over to Tork, before taking Calderon home. The Falcon makes a plea to Calderon’s father for leniency towards Martinez. The Falcon, as Samuel Wilson, a social worker, confronts Mister Kane, outside the construction site of a government housing project. As would-be residents apply for housing, Kane asks Wilson to quell the rumors that Kane is a slumlord. Wilson refuses, offering proof of Kane’s corner cutting in construction materials. Wilson also reveals that he started the rumors. Tork quells a minor disturbance, when the housing applications run out.

At Martinez’s court hearing, Wilson pleads with the judge for leniency. Wilson’s pleas fall on deaf ears. Calderon’s father, trusting in the Falcon, drops the charges against Martinez. Wilson advises Martinez. The armored villain, Nemesis, attacks Kane’s construction site. Tork confronts Nemesis, striking him with a shotgun blast, to no effect. Before Nemesis can retaliate, the Falcon knocks him off the building. Nemesis survives the fall, recovering quickly enough to fend off the Falcon’s second attack. After a quick scuffle, Nemesis subdues the Falcon, then flees the scene.

The Falcon is confronted by Kane, who dresses the Falcon down for failing to protect his housing project. When word reaches the street, of Martinez’s actions, Martinez is fired from his job. Martinez’s girlfriend, Yna, angrily breaks up with him. The Falcon, and Tork, stake out the Kane construction site. A drunken Martinez stumbles upon Nemesis. Redwing alerts the Falcon to Nemesis’ attack. The Falcon savagely assaults Nemesis. The Falcon is seconds away from subduing Nemesis, when his attention is drawn away to Martinez.

Nemesis has chained Martinez to the building, and strapped dynamite to the boy. The Falcon wrenches the dynamite from Martinez, and hurls it at Nemesis. While the Falcon releases Martinez, Nemesis, badly injured, flees. Nemesis commandeers a train, taking all of it’s passengers hostage. The Falcon catches up with Nemesis, and quickly subdues him. Nemesis is revealed to be Kane. Tork looks on the Falcon’s victory with cynicism. Martinez, however, has regained his job, which is the only victory that matters to the Falcon.