I really enjoyed the fact that Marvel didn’t ignore the “Truth: Red, White and Black” mini-series. If was orginally created as a What If type story but was later retconned into continuity. For those of you who don’t know the story. The US government in an attempt to make more Super Soliders along the lines of Captain America began performing experments on unknowing Black soldiers during WWII. This treatment of the soliders is similar to the treatment of black sharecropper during the Tuskegee experiment. During which the sharecroppers were deceived and told they had “bad blood” instead of Syphillis. They could been cured with a penicillin shot. The government wanted to see the long term effects of the disease. Ok, thats todays history lesson. The “Truth: Red, White and Black” story has had a lasting impact in the Marvel universe. The character Isiah Bradley has created a legacy that has been upheld by his descendants. The whole concept of passing the mantle from one generation to another tends to be more of a DC type thing so I’m glad to see it happen at Marvel.
Christopher Priest kept Isiah’s legacy going in “The Crew” with his character Josiah X who is the biological son of Isaiah (I said biological because his is not technically his son in the tradtional sense, its complicated look it up). The series only lasted seven issues but it kept the ball rolling. I wish somebody would save Josiah from comic book limbo. The last time he was mention was in Young Avenger when Iron Lad was recruiting replacements for the Avengers he came looking for Josiah but instead he found Elijah Bradley.
Which brings us to Patriot Isiah’s grandson whose carrying on his grandfathers legacy as Patriot, the leader of the Young Avengers. Elijah claimed to have gained superpowers through an blood transfusion from his grandfather, but this was untrue. He actually got his power from illegal street drug called MGH. Ironically Elijah eventually did become a super-soldier via blood transfusion from his grandfather. Patriot has become a favorite character of mine despite his limited number of apperances. Hopefully this book will raise his profile and eventually result in more stories. I do have one request can we get a new shield, I know its a tribute to his grandfather but can somebody hook the brother up with some new gear. Newsarama has an interview with the writer Ed Brubaker about the issue.
THE STORY:
They’re back at last! Patriot, Hulkling, Wiccan, Vision, Stature and Hawkeye! Where have they been and what is their place in this new post-CIVIL WAR Marvel Universe? It will take six issues by six top creative teams to tell the tale! In this first installment, featuring PATRIOT, the grandson of the black Captain America struggles with his unresolved feelings about the death of Steve Rogers, and seeks out the Winter Soldier hoping to find some guidance. But who he’s looking for and who he finds may be two different things! By Eisner and Harvey Award-Winning Best Writer Ed Brubaker and rising star Paco Medina.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
Posted under Comics
This post was written by Lobo on December 11, 2007
