The Upcoming ‘Captain America’ Story Will See the Return of Isaiah Bradley’s Son, Josiah X

Next month, Sam Wilson is back in the spotlight in a fresh solo comic series, Sam Wilson: Captain America. This new story comes from writers Evan Narcisse and Greg Pak, with artwork by Eder Messias. The series kicks off with Sam going head-to-head against the secretive group Eaglestar and its security head, Red Hulk. But things get even more complicated when Josiah X enters the scene in issue #2.

Josiah X first appeared in 2003’s The Crew, created by Christopher Priest and Joe Bennett. He’s the son of Isaiah Bradley, the man who once served as Captain America in secret government experiments.

Josiah X inherited his father’s super-soldier abilities and has spent his life fighting for justice. As a hero, he’s always tried to protect the people in his community while shining a light on America’s darker truths.

In the new series, Josiah X comes with a fresh look, designed by cover artist Taurin Clarke. But, what’s his role in the upcoming storyline? He’s on a mission, but it’s unclear whether he’s there to help Sam or if he has his own agenda.

Narcisse, who has a deep appreciation for the character, says he’s excited to bring Josiah X back. The character has had a complicated history, shaped by his father’s legacy, and it’s a big part of what makes him an interesting and complex hero:

I’ve loved the character of Josiah X ever since he first appeared in The Crew back in 2003. As the son of Isaiah Bradley—cloned in secret experiments – he’s had a complicated legacy thrust upon him. His previous stories showed him struggling to figure out how to find purpose and protect the vulnerable in a world that’s all too ready to exploit him and others on society’s margins.

When we meet him as the Shadow Soldier in Sam Wilson: Captain America, he’s a hero at the next stage of his evolution, someone who’s answered those existential questions with a new codename, new uniform, and specific outlook.

Source: ComicBookMovie.com

The series will show Josiah X as he’s grown and evolved into a new version of himself. Gone is the young man trying to figure out his place in the world. Now, he’s more sure of who he is and what he stands for.

He’s adopted a new codename, a new uniform, and a clearer mission. Narcisse points out that Josiah X is an important counterpart to Sam Wilson: “He’s a great counterpoint to Sam, in that they’re trying to do the right thing with very different attitudes. We’re really excited to bring him back in a way that honors the past and hopefully opens up a promising future.”

Narcisse also mentions that Josiah’s past struggles make him a powerful foil for Sam, as they both try to protect the vulnerable in a world that often seems stacked against them. The writer hopes to honor the character’s past while opening up new possibilities for his future.

Taurin Clarke’s redesign of Josiah X’s costume is a key part of the new series. Clarke worked alongside Christopher Priest, Josiah X’s original creator, to make sure the new look fits with the character’s evolution. Clarke is also handling the covers for the Sam Wilson: Captain America series, which will feature the updated designs of the characters. Here’s what he said:

I knew we had a huge task ahead of us, so I went in with notes from our co-writer Evan Narcisse, who also provided some great insights from the legendary Christopher Priest, and set out to create a design that reflects where Josiah is at mentally right now while staying true to his history.

He’s currently operating in the shadows, but he’s still a byproduct of his time as America’s forgotten super soldier, so there’s elements of his old costume from The Crew integrated into what’s essentially a covert-ops suit.

Pieces of his old chainmail are underneath his vest as additional bulletproof armor, and his old bandana is under his Kevlar mask as a reminder of who he is. Evan noted that Josiah should also wear the colors of Red, Gold, Black and Green just as proudly as he wore the Red, White and Blue, so we made sure to integrate that into his costume as well. I really hope what we’ve done resonates with fans.

As the story unfolds, Sam will face tough challenges, especially as the dangerous Eaglestar organization’s true goals come to light. Whether Josiah X is an ally or a rival remains to be seen, but his return promises to add some serious tension and intrigue to Sam’s latest adventure.

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