(http://www.neontommy.com/sites/default/files/users/user835/Bsv6Jr6IUAEiX7f.jpg-large.jpeg)
Captain America
Alter Ego: Sam Wilson, AKA The Falcon
Rank: 96
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Main Book: Captain America
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 240 lbs.
Powers, Abilities, Weapons & Gadgets
- Telepathic link with any and all birds, including ability to see through their eyes
- Excellent bird trainer
- Highly trained in gymnastics and hand-to-hand combat by Steve Rogers himself
- Wears a pair of "hard light" wings that give him the ability to fly with increased speed and maneuverability
- Utilizes the Captain America Shield; a 2.5-foot diameter, 12-pound concave disk created from a unique Vibranium-metal alloy that has never been duplicated
- The shield has great aerodynamics properties, outstanding overall resilience, ability to rebound off substances with minimal loss to momentum, virtually indestructible and is resistant to penetration, temperature extremes and the entire electromagnetic spectrum of radiation
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/26/Nova1adigranov.jpg)
Nova
Alter Ego: Richard Rider
Rank: 98
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Main Book: Nova
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 190 lbs.
Powers, Abilities, Weapons & Gadgets
- Enhanced strength, speed and durability as well as flight
- As his knowledge of the Nova-Force increases, his control of the Nova-Force increases
- Wears a standard Xandarian StarCorps uniform, which provides life support in the most extreme environmental conditions and temperatures, including space
- The helmet also has the ability to pick up radio transmissions and act as a heads-up display for tracking energy signatures
How was this close? Nova is basically Marvel's Green Lantern. Sam Wilson used to be Falcon, now he's Captain America, but he isn't Steve Rogers. Even if he were, Steve Rogers would only be in this contest due to the old deus ex machina effect that he, Batman, Spider-Man, etc. rely on. Sam Wilson might have a slight edge in terms of physical combat ability/knowledge but even that's debatable due to the knowledge of the Nova Force. Nova is so much more powerful though, and would move so fast Sam Wilson couldn't even hit him. What the summary below doesn't mention is that the Nova Force gives him control over gravity, which he can fire as beams or he can cause Sam Wilson and his birds to not be able to fly.