Warning: Contains spoilers forSam Wilson: Captain America #1!
A founding member of theYoung Avengersis finally making a grand return after years on the sidelines, and his connections toCaptain Americaand another surprising MCU hero are fueling his exciting comeback. Elijah Bradley akaPatriothas shown up here and there since his superhero retirement, but he could finally have his time to shine asWar Machinetakes the young hero under his armored wing in 2025.
Sam Wilson: Captain America #1- written by Greg Pak and Evan Narcisse with art by Eder Messias with Valentine De Landro - sees Cap and various iconic Marvel characters, as well as underrated favorites, attending a superhero cookout in honor of Isaiah Bradley’s birthday. As they come together to celebratethe first Black Captain America, his grandson gets a big update on his current status as a hero.
In a conversation with Sam and his cousin Billie,Rhodey reveals that he’s helping ease Patriot back into life as a superheroafter he retired at the end ofAvengers: The Children’s Crusade.
Patriot is Finally Making His Big Marvel Comics Comeback With Rhodey’s Help
Sam Wilson: Captain America #1- Written by Greg Pak and Evan Narcisse; Art by Eder Messias with Valentine De Landro; Colors by Fer Sifuentes-Sujo; Lettering by VC’s Joe Caramagna
Twenty years after his first appearance inYoung Avengers #1by Allan Heinberg, Jim Cheung, and John Dell, Eli Bradley is stepping back into the spotlight once again.Though he’s shown up in occasional appearances since leaving the Young Avengers in 2012, Patriot has been absent from major Marvel stories.Eli finally makes a return to superhero action in 2024’sMarvel’s Voices: Legendsspecial in a story by David F. Walker and Messias, this time with some guidance from Black Panther, and Sam Wilson’snew solo series ahead of his MCU filmsees War Machine as Patriot’s new superhero mentor.
Marvel Fixes a Cut MCU Hero, as Patriot Gets the Black Panther Link Ryan Coogler Originally Intended
Eli Bradley didn’t get his originally-planned MCU debut, but comics have given the Young Avengers' leader a new Black Panther connection.
Patriot only has a brief role inSam Wilson: Captain America#1, but he’ll surely return as it’s already been revealed that the series will continue to explore Isaiah Bradley’s legacy.Josiah X, Elijah’s uncle, is set to returnin an upcoming issue, and it seems almost certain that the two characters will finally unite. Though it’s now established that Patriot’s superhero comeback is being overseen by War Machine as this series kicks off, Eli finally getting to reconnect with Josiah could make things more complicated, especially as Rhodey and Josiah have their own history together in Marvel’sThe Crew.
Eli Bradley Still Has Serious Untapped Potential in the Marvel Universe
The Founding Young Avenger Deserves His Time to Shine in the Stars and Stripes
It seems that Marvel may finally be fully realizing Patriot’s potential in 2025, withEli’s appearance inSam Wilson: Captain Americabeing just the first chapter of what is hopefully a new renaissance for the character. He’s set to appear in the upcomingFree Comic Book Day 2025: Ironheart/Marvel’s Voices #1, and the publisher has also teaseda reunion for the original Young Avengerson the way. After spending years in glorified cameo appearances, one of the heroes that originally made theYoung Avengersseries great has more than earned his place in the Marvel Universe’s future stories.
Even though this is Sam Wilson’s story, the Bradley family are deservedly sharing the spotlight in his series and furthering their development as part of Captain America lore. Since Patriot was the only founding Young Avenger not made an official Avenger at the end ofThe Children’s Crusade, it’s about time for him to finally make a big comeback in the comics. A bold new era for Marvel’s originalYoung Avengerscould be here, as the grandson of Isaiah Bradley’sCaptain Americaofficially makes his return from superhero retirement withWar Machineand other iconic heroes by his side.
