Captain America: Brave New World Fails to Establish the Young Avengers Team

Overview

MCU hints at the impending introduction of the Young Avengers through the emergence of various teenage superheroes.
The omission of Eli Bradley, also known as Patriot, in Captain America: Brave New World disrupts the continuity of the Young Avengers narrative in the MCU.
Questions arise regarding Eli Bradley’s role and future importance in upcoming MCU storylines.

The question “Did you think you were the only kid superhero in the world?”posed by Kamala Khan to Kate Bishop at the end of The Marvels, signifies more than just a nod to Nick Fury’s inquiry from Iron Man’s post-credit scene. It serves as an official declaration of the Young Avengers coming to the MCU, following a series of teen heroes that Marvel has slowly integrated into its cinematic landscape, making a team formation highly likely.

However, despite the strategic buildup towards a youthful superhero team, Marvel notably sidestepped this theme in its latest release, Captain America: Brave New World. While one might expect that a Captain America film—especially one that ties up various storylines from both The Incredible Hulk and Eternals—would naturally lack room for new character setups, there exists a pivotal character whose backstory is deeply connected to the Young Avengers.

Understanding the Young Avengers

Created by writers Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung, the Young Avengers made their first appearance in 2005 amid a landscape where the iconic Avengers had disbanded. Their disintegration followed an attack from scarlet-haired former member, the Scarlet Witch, leaving Earth defenseless. In response, a young prodigy known as Iron Lad formed a new team of youthful heroes resembling the original Avengers, including the patriotic Patriot, the green-skinned Hulkling, and the Asgardian hero known as Thor’s successor, known as Asgardian.

After their formation, the team quickly evolved. Iron Lad was revealed to be a youthful version of Kang the Conqueror, a time-traveling villain who aimed to prevent a future dominated by his older self. Among the team members, the identity of Asgardian transformed to Wiccan, who discovered his heritage as the child of Scarlet Witch, while also recruiting his twin brother Tommy, famously known as Speed. Additional characters like Kate Bishop, taking on the mantle of Hawkeye, Stature, who is Ant-Man’s daughter, and a youthful Vision rounded out this dynamic group.

Patriot, whose real name is Eli Bradley, holds a rich legacy as the grandson of the original Captain America, Isaiah Bradley. To emulate the heroic feats of his grandfather, Eli resorted to illegal means by using Mutant Growth Hormone to replicate the powers granted by the Super Soldier Serum to Isaiah. Driven by a desire to honor his heritage, Eli Bradley embodied the ideals set forth by his grandfather—though his journey ultimately led him away from active superhero duties, passing the Patriot title to Rayshaun Lucas while still maintaining strong ties with his former allies.

Patriot’s Role in the MCU

Eli Bradley in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

While fans have yet to see Patriot in action, they did encounter Eli Bradley in the 2021 Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. During this series, Bucky Barnes leads Sam Wilson to meet Isaiah Bradley. At this meeting, Eli, portrayed by Elijah Richardson, demonstrates his protective nature, ensuring the safety of his grandfather against potential threats.

Though Eli only appears in a handful of scenes, his character is painted as fiercely devoted and principled, standing firm in his beliefs even when confronted by notable superheroes like Sam and Bucky. Rather than resorting to conflict, Eli advocates for understanding, seeking a peaceful resolution to tensions. These early glimpses establish him as a character ripe for development into the role of Patriot. Yet with his absence in Brave New World, fans are left wanting more.

In the story arc of Brave New World, tension unfolds around Isaiah Bradley and his complicated history with the U. S.government. An olive branch offered by President Ross to Isaiah is upended when mind manipulation nearly drives Isaiah to harm Ross, confronting him with a haunting fate of imprisonment again.

While Sam and his ally Joaquin Torres work together to confront the orchestrators of Isaiah’s predicament, Eli’s storyline is conspicuously absent, leaving viewers wondering about his fate. For those unfamiliar with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Eli’s existence in the MCU might remain an unrecognized footnote, highlighting a disconnect within the larger narrative structure.

Young Avengers Currently in the MCU

Collage of America Chavez, Stinger, Ms. Marvel, Hawkeye, and Wiccan from the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The notable absence of Eli Bradley in Brave New World contrasts sharply with the young heroes already integrated into the MCU. Characters like Kate Bishop, introduced in the Disney+ series Hawkeye, and Cassie Lang, who showcased her powers as Stature in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, have laid a solid foundation for the Young Avengers. Moreover, America Chavez made her impressive entrance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Kid Loki was introduced in Loki.

Recently, Wiccan has emerged as a central figure in Agatha All Along, where Billy Kaplan came into his magic-filled destiny and even referenced his twin brother Tommy, who will eventually adopt the persona of Speed, alongside hints about a romantic interest named Eddy, possibly the future Hulkling.

As for Kamala Khan in The Marvels, although traditionally affiliated with teams like the X-Men, her characterization clearly aligns her as a prospective Young Avenger.

In summary, while Marvel has progressively introduced the Young Avengers through various narratives, the choice to overlook the character of Eli in Captain America: Brave New World may raise essential questions about the film’s relevance to the upcoming chronological advancements in the MCU. Will Eli finally don the Patriot suit in future endeavors? Only time will answer.

Captain America: Brave New World is currently showing in theaters.

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