Young Avenger Makes a Comeback from Retirement with Support from a Beloved MCU Character

Warning: Contains spoilers for Sam Wilson: Captain America #1!

Elijah Bradley, better known as Patriot, a founding member of the Young Avengers, is poised for an exciting resurgence in the Marvel Universe. After years of limited appearances, his connections to Captain America and an unexpected MCU hero are igniting a new chapter in his storyline. As part of a pivotal collaboration in 2025, War Machine is set to mentor this young hero, marking a significant moment for his character.

The context of his return celebrates the legacy of the first Black Captain America, highlighting a new phase in Elijah’s journey as a hero. Patriot’s brief appearance in Sam Wilson: Captain America #1 signals a promising revival for this character.

Rhodey tells the Wilsons he’s helping Patriot

Patriot Makes His Comeback with Rhodey’s Guidance

Elijah Bradley is stepping back into the spotlight twenty years after his debut in Young Avengers #1, illustrated by Allan Heinberg, Jim Cheung, and John Dell. Despite sporadic appearances following his departure from the Young Avengers in 2012, Patriot has largely been absent from major story arcs. His significant return came in 2024’s Marvel’s Voices: Legends, where he received guidance from Black Panther. This lead-in to Sam Wilson’s new series further establishes War Machine as his mentor.

Although Elijah’s role in Sam Wilson: Captain America #1 is limited, the series promises further developments as it explores Isaiah Bradley’s legacy. An upcoming issue will also reintroduce Josiah X, Elijah’s uncle, suggesting that their reunion could complicate the dynamics established between Patriot and War Machine, considering the historical ties that Rhodey and Josiah have shared in Marvel’s The Crew.

Eli Bradley: Untapped Potential in the Marvel Universe

The Young Avenger Finally Shines in the Spotlight

Marvel seems poised to truly capitalize on Patriot’s potential in 2025, with his appearance in Sam Wilson: Captain America signaling the dawn of a new era for the character. He is also slated to feature in the Free Comic Book Day 2025: Ironheart/Marvel’s Voices #1, and there are rumors of a reunion for the original Young Avengers on the horizon.

For far too long, Patriot has played a peripheral role in the Marvel comics, consistently appearing in minor capacities. However, as one of the core characters that shaped the Young Avengers series, he deserves a prominent role in future Marvel narratives. The Bradley family’s involvement not only enhances Sam Wilson’s story but also enriches the broader Captain America mythology. Given that Patriot was the only founding Young Avenger not formally recognized as an Avenger by the conclusion of The Children’s Crusade, this revival is long overdue.

Sam Wilson: Captain America #1 is currently available from Marvel Comics.

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