Isaiah Bradley in Media
The journey of America’s hidden super-soldier from comic pages to the big screen.
Origins in Comics: Truth: Red, White & Black (2003)
Isaiah Bradley first appeared in the seven-issue Marvel Comics limited series Truth: Red, White & Black, published from January to July 2003.
Creative Credits
Writer: Robert Morales
Artist: Kyle Baker
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
Editor: Axel Alonso
The series reimagines the origins of the Super Soldier Serum by directly referencing historical atrocities like the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. Morales’ bold narrative exposes the fictional U.S. government's unethical experimentation on Black soldiers in a secret effort to recreate the serum that made Captain America.
Isaiah Bradley—one of 300 unwitting Black servicemen—becomes the lone survivor and is transformed into a super-soldier. Clad in a converted Captain America uniform, he undertakes a covert mission that saves lives but ultimately leads to his imprisonment and erasure from history.
Originally controversial, the series later earned praise for its unflinching confrontation of racial injustice, its moral depth, and recontextualization of superhero mythology. Issue #7 shows a powerful moment where Steve Rogers himself finally meets an aging Bradley and acknowledges the injustice he suffered.
“You’re not a footnote. You’re a chapter.”— Steve Rogers
Onscreen Adaptation
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
Isaiah Bradley made his live-action debut in Disney+’s limited series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, released in March–April 2021 as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
• Portrayed by: Carl Lumbly
A veteran actor known for roles in Alias and Supergirl, Carl Lumbly brings raw emotional gravity to Isaiah's portrayal. His performance earned critical acclaim for its restraint, dignity, and powerfulk emotional depth.
• Character Introduction (Episode 2)
In Episode 2, Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes visit a house in Baltimore, where they find an elderly Isaiah Bradley. Revealing he fought the Winter Soldier decades ago and was later imprisoned and forgotten, Bradley bitterly recounts his story.
“They put my ass in jail... for 30 years. People running tests, taking my blood, coming into my cell. Even your people weren’t done with me.”— Isaiah Bradley
The scene sharply contrasts the superhero ideal with a legacy of oppression and abandonment. Sam, stunned and furious, is forced to confront the reality of a Black super-soldier denied recognition.
• Recognition (Episode 6)
In the series finale, Sam returns to Isaiah’s home—this time not in secrecy, but to honor him. He brings Isaiah and his grandson Eli to the Smithsonian, where a new exhibit now features a statue and profile of Isaiah Bradley, publicly restoring his legacy.
"Now they’ll never forget what you did for this country. Never.” — Sam Wilson
This emotionally powerful moment serves as a symbolic healing, aligning with themes from the original comic while expanding Isaiah’s influence for a broader audience.
Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
Isaiah Bradley made his return in Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World, which released in February of 2025. Carl Lumbly reprised his role in the film which also showcased the strength of the trust and loyal bond between his character and Sam Wilson, thus further solidifying Isaiah’s place in the MCU and its future storytelling.
Legacies Remembered
Isaiah Bradley’s arc—from the obscurity of early 2000s comics to a prime role in Marvel’s current cinematic continuity—is a powerful testament to representation, remembrance, and historical justice. Whether drawn in ink or portrayed on screen, Isaiah’s story invites audiences to recognize and reconsider the hidden tribulations of heroes seemingly forgotten in the stream of history, both in fiction and non-fiction.