The MCU is well-known for its surprises, and one of the best surprises to occur in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was the appearance of Isaiah Bradley. In the show, Isaiah was portrayed by Carl Lumby and provided a brief but important look into the history of Captain America after Steve Rogers went into the ice.
But the character of Isaiah Bradley has a rich history in the Marvel Comics 616 universe. This article will explore all of the aspects of the Isaiah Bradley character that you might not know.
10 In The Comics, Isaiah's Wife Played A Huge Role In Securing His Freedom
The MCU version of Isaiah Bradley was freed from his unjust imprisonment due to the sympathy of a kind nurse. By the time that he escaped prison, his beloved wife had passed away.
But in the comics, Isaiah's wife, Faith, played a much bigger role in Isaiah's release from prison. After Isaiah was imprisoned, Faith was well aware that her husband was stuck in solitary confinement. She continued to write letters to the President of the United States begging for her husband's release. She wrote President Eisenhower every month for three years, and her efforts were directly responsible for Isaiah getting released.
9 President Eisenhower Offered Isaiah A Secret Pardon In The Comics
Falcon and the Winter Soldier make the specifics of Isaiah Bradley's release vague on purpose. The audience knows that the release happened sometime during the 1980s, and Bradley fled to Baltimore after his death was faked.
But in the original comics, Isaiah Bradley was pardoned by President Eisenhower. He was offered a pardon on the very last day that Eisenhower was in office, on the day of President Kennedy's inauguration.
8 Isaiah And Faith Bradley Had Two Children
The history of Isaiah Bradley's children can be found in multiple Marvel comics, including Truth: Red, White and Black, and Young Avengers. Their firstborn child was a daughter named Sarah Gail Bradley, who went on to give birth to many grandchildren for the couple.
While Isaiah was still imprisoned, he was subjected to tests in order to try to recreate the super-soldier serum. During these tests, the military gained a semen sample and combined it with an egg sample they obtained during Faith's appendectomy. The result of the military experimentation was a son named Josiah X.
7 Young Avenger Hero Patriot Is Isaiah's Grandson
During Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Elijah Richardson portrayed Isaiah's basketball-loving grandson who had no time to deal with Falcon and Bucky's questions. That grandson was confirmed to be Sarah Gail Bradley's son, Eli Bradley. Marvel Comic's Young Avengers featured Eli Bradley in a starring role as the hero Patriot.
Throughout Young Avengers, Eli struggled with the legacy of his grandfather. His struggle mirrored that of Sam Wilson in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, as he tried to come to terms with what it meant to be both Black and part of the Captain America legacy.
6 Isaiah Is Responsible For Eli's Powers, But Not Due To Heredity
As the son of a child conceived before Isaiah received the super-soldier serum, Eli did not inherit Isaiah's super-soldier strength. Wanting to make a difference, Eli still struck out on his own and attempted to be a hero. When he was injured in battle, he required a blood transfusion. Steve Rogers offered to donate, but Isaiah beat him to it.
After receiving a blood transfusion from his grandfather, Eli gained the standard increased abilities that come with the super-soldier serum, such as improved stamina and increased strength.
5 Isaiah Was Locked In Prison For Stealing Steve Roger's Uniform
In Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Isaiah states that he was put in prison for defying an order. This provides a great parallel to MCU Steve Rogers, who also became Captain America after he defied orders and saved Bucky. It serves as a way to illustrate the very different way that Steve and Isaiah were treated, though both performed heroic acts.
However, in the comics, Isaiah was sent on a mission by the military. Before he left, he stole Captain America's costume and shield. When he returned home, he was promptly court-martialed and sentenced to life in prison for the crime of stealing Captain America's costume.
4 Within The Marvel Comics Continuity, Isaiah Remained A Well-Known Civil Rights Hero
Although Sam Wilson did not know about Isaiah Bradley in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, in the Marvel 616 continuity, knowledge of Isaiah Bradley was commonplace among several famous civil rights activists. People who came to see Bradley at his home over the years included Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Alex Haley, Colin Powell, and Nelson Mandela. He was invited as an honored guest to the wedding between T'Challa and Storm, during which other Black superheroes were shown to be extremely respectful of him and his history.
3 Isaiah Suffered From A Lack of Medical Treatment In Solitary Confinement
In the comics, Isaiah served 17 years in solitary confinement after being found guilty at his court-martial. While in solitary confinement, he received poor medical care. Combined with a super-soldier serum that was not perfected, Isaiah ended up with severe cognitive and physical deterioration.
2 Steve Rogers Gave His Uniform To Isaiah
In the 616 continuity, Steve Rogers was horrified to learn of the treatment that Isaiah suffered. Upon finding out about Isaiah, Steve immediately sought him out and met with both Isaiah and Faith. When Steve met with Isaiah, Steve presented Isaiah with his old Captain America uniform as a way of trying to recognize the hero.
1 Due To Comic Retcons, Isaiah Bradley Is The First Captain America In The 616
When Isaiah Bradley made his comic book debut, he received the super-soldier serum in an effort to recreate the serum that had given Steve Rogers his powers. However, additional retcons in the 616 have made it clear that in the comics, Isaiah Bradley was the first Captain America and Steve Rogers came afterward.
The first retcon came in the short-lived comic series, The Crew, which co-starred Isaiah's son, Josiah X. In that series, Isaiah is constantly referred to as "The First Captain America." When Young Avengers was published, they continued with that story, and all of Eli and Isaiah's future storylines revolved around Isaiah being the first Captain America.
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