Inspired by his grandfather Isaiah Bradley’s time as Captain America, teenage Elijah takes a growth hormone to become the superpowered Patriot! He eventually gets caught when his teammates the Young Avengers discover the truth, but then promptly saves Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America, from a fatal blow. Receiving a life-saving transfusion from his grandpa, he’s granted real superpowers!
Family Legacy
Elijah “Eli” Bradley is the grandson of Isaiah Bradley, the “Black Captain America” and last known survivor of immoral United States Army attempts to recreate the Super-Soldier formula, which had previously empowered Rogers, by experimenting on large numbers of African-American soldiers. In February 1942, following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Isaiah enlisted in the Army and was sent to Camp Cathcart, Mississippi for basic training, leaving behind his wife Faith, pregnant with their daughter, Sarah Gail. Alongside hundreds of other black soldiers, Isaiah was chosen to undergo inhuman and mostly lethal chemical trials; meanwhile Faith was informed that her husband had been slain in an explosion that left his remains unidentifiable. A few months later, Isaiah was sent behind enemy lines on a suicide mission to disrupt the Nazis’ own super-soldier experiments; he stole a spare Captain America costume, and though he successfully completed his mission, when he finally made it back to Allied territory, he was rapidly court-martialed and placed in solitary confinement at Leavenworth. Denied proper medical treatment, the still imperfect formula ultimately left him both sterile and brain damaged, with the mind of a child. Faith was eventually informed he was alive, but only allowed to visit three times a year.
During the early 1950s, the Army tried to create new super-soldiers, using surrogate mothers to carry children created from sperm harvested from Isaiah before he became sterile, mixed with genes secretly taken from Faith; there was only one success, subject A-39, a boy named Josiah. The surrogate learned the military’s true intentions and escaped with the child, bringing him to Faith. Aware the military would be hunting for the child, and fearing for her daughter’s safety, Faith abandoned Josiah where he would soon be discovered, and hopefully adopted. He grew up to inherit his father’s powers and become a minister, Josiah X, later working alongside James Rhodes’ vigilante “crew.” Meanwhile, Faith wrote President Eisenhower a letter a month for three years, until finally, on the day of Kennedy’s inauguration, Eisenhower pardoned Isaiah. The family was sworn to secrecy, and Isaiah was released. Though his mind is damaged, his body remains in peak condition to this day, a legacy of the formula within him.
Sarah Gail Bradley went on to have several children of her own. She recently remarried and moved to Scottsdale. Not wishing to interrupt her 16-year-old son Elijah’s junior year at Bronx Science, Sarah left “Eli” behind with his grandparents. After being assaulted by local hoodlums who had taunted his grandfather, Eli was approached by drug dealers who offered him a steroid known as MGH (Mutant Growth Hormone) to gain powers to defend himself. When the thugs later ambushed Eli to finish the job, Isaiah stepped in to defend his grandson, making short work of them. Impressed, Eli wanted to be like Isaiah and carry on his legacy.
Soon afterward, the teen hero Nathaniel Richards, AKA Iron Lad, came to their house, seeking to recruit Josiah as an ally against Kang the Conqueror, Iron Lad’s future self. Eli informed Iron Lad that Josiah had vanished more than a year earlier, but then claimed to have powers of his own, supposedly as a result of an emergency blood transfusion from Isaiah; he joins Iron Lad’s team as Patriot alongside Billy Kaplan, AKA Asgardian (later Wiccan) and Teddy Altman, AKA Hulkling (a Kree/Skrull hybrid). In truth, Eli was taking MGH, raiding drug houses and apprehending suppliers to steal fresh supplies when needed. Iron Lad’s team made their public debut rescuing people from an apartment fire, and the press dubbed them the Young Avengers.
Enhanced Physiology
Born human without any powers, Eli uses a growth hormone to gain superhuman abilities. After receiving a blood transfusion from his grandfather Isaiah, Elijah’s physiology mutates from the effects of Isaiah’s Super Solider Serum. Afterward, he possesses nearly peak human strength (lifting 700 lbs.), stamina and speed, superhuman hearing and bulletproof skin. Elijah is a skilled fighter and natural tactician, uses throwing stars in combat, carries a triangular shield, and wears a bullet-resistant uniform.
Family, Friends, and Foes
Elijah spends a lot of time with his grandparents Faith Shabazz and Isaiah Bradley, and eventually comes to learn that his grandfather was Captain America! He honors him by wearing a uniform inspired by his time fighting for justice.
After joining the Young Avengers, Eli’s natural leadership skills made him de facto team leader, but resentment over his grandfather’s mistreatment and lack of recognition, exacerbated by the MGH drugs, often made him brash, reckless and short-tempered. The team was soon joined by Kate Bishop, AKA Hawkeye, and Cassie Lang, AKA Stature, and an argumentative attraction developed between Eli and Kate. The pair dates for a few months and then make their relationship more clear.
Alongside the Young Avengers, Eli fights Hydra agents, Norman Osborn, AKA Green Goblin’s team of Young Avengers—who he tries to work alongside by having them try out for his original team—and Victor von Doom, AKA Doctor Doom!