SHADOW SOLDIER

Real Name: Josiah-al-hajj Saddiq (legally changed from Josiah Bradley)

Identity/Class: Human mutate  (post-World War II era to modern era)

Occupation: Community activist, mission minister;
    former mercenary, test subject, US Army soldier

Group Membership: The congregation of the Shabazz Mission (Malik, Rashid, Shahid, others);
    formerly the Crew (Junta/Danny Vincent, Jim Rhodes, White Tiger/Kevin Cole), the Black Panther Party (Tammy, others), David Company ("Colonel," "Sarge," others)

Affiliations: Isaiah Bradley, Sarah Gail Bradley, Captain America (Sam Wilson), the Crew, David Company, the Falcon (Joaquin Torres), Irenia, Malik, Gen. Robert Maverick, Patriot (Elijah Bradley), Rashid, Faith Shabazz, Star (Jeanette Rhodes), Tammy, Billie Wilson

Enemies: The 66 Bridges (Triage/Nigel Blacque, others), Eaglestar International (Dennis Harmon, others), Hydra, Joop, Marcus, the War Angels, Zay

Known Relatives: Isaiah Bradley (father), Faith Shabazz (genetic mother), Sarah Gail Bradley (sister), Elijah Bradley (Patriot, nephew), Litigious Bradley (nephew), Stephanie Bradley (niece), unidentified other nieces and nephews, unidentified surrogate mother, several unidentified genetic siblings (deceased)

Aliases: A-39,  "Brother Minister," "Captain 125th Street," "Jo-Jo," Josiah X, "Malcolm," "Minister," "Minister X," "Mister X," "Reverend," Josiah Smith, "Unc"

Base of Operations: The Shabazz Mission, Little Mogadishu, Brooklyn, New York, USA;
    formerly Harlem, New York, USA; Berkeley, California, USA; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, USA; David Company Base Camp, Vietnam; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Mt. Vernon, New York, USA

First Appearance: The Crew I#1 (July, 2003)

Powers/Abilities: Due to the Super-Soldier Serum in his blood, Josiah X has peak human (though not quite superhuman) speed, stamina, reflexes, endurance, durability and strength enough to bend iron bars with his bare hands. He also ages very slowly, appearing at roughly half his actual age.

    In addition to his physical attributes, Josiah has the ability to briefly tap into energy from the Darkforce dimension, a power he uses to teleport short distances. He only uses this ability on rare occasions and while it is unclear what would happen if he used this power for a long period, he has mentioned that "bad things" would occur if he utilized the Darkforce energy for too long.

   As Josiah X, Josiah wore a chain mail vest beneath his everyday clothes that acted as a bulletproof vest and, in battle, he carried a large shield composed of an unidentified bulletproof metal that had originally belonged to his father.

    As Shadow Soldier, Josiah carried a different metallic shield into battle and utilized explosives that he could detonate using a device worn on his forearm like a gauntlet.

Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 240 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black (with graying beard)

History:
(The Crew I#5 (fb) - BTS) - Utilizing cells taken from the Super Soldier Isaiah Bradley during his time being tested by the government and his wife Faith during an appendix surgery, the US Army genetically engineered a child that was brought to term with a surrogate circa 1953. Left alone in the doctor's office after giving birth to a boy, the surrogate mother found files on Isaiah Bradley and the program to recreate the Super Soldier Serum. Feeling as if she had been unknowingly helping the government to continue their experiments and learning that the Army had tried to create other children, only for none to make it to term, the surrogate escaped with the infant.

(The Crew I#5 (fb)) - Traveling to the Bradley home, the surrogate mother presented Faith Bradley with her child, explaining the entire situation of the Army experiments and her role as the as-yet-unnamed boy's surrogate mother. Upon hearing the surrogate's story, Faith informed her that there could have been hundreds of children created by the Army and that the government would stop at nothing to retrieve the child. She then explained that her home was kept on twenty-four hour surveillance and that she had a daughter to think of before ordering the surrogate mother to leave with the child and never come back. Aware of the constant surveillance, Faith secretly arranged for the surrogate mother to run from her home with her daughter Sarah Gail's doll rather than the actual infant boy. Naming the boy Josiah, Faith later brought the infant to a Bronx train yard and placed Josiah aboard a departing training, explaining to her daughter Sarah Gail that Josiah had to be somewhere Faith would be unaware of in case she were ever tortured for the information of Josiah's whereabouts. Josiah was eventually found by strangers on the train.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#3 (fb)) - The infant Josiah was then dropped off in a basket at a nunnery with a card giving his name. He was then placed into the foster care system though he never found a foster home.

(The Crew I#5 (fb)) - Raised by the Catholic nun Sister Irenia alongside several other boys in Boston, Massachusetts, Josiah grew up not knowing his true last name or even his birthday.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#3 (fb) - BTS) - Josiah never knew where he came from or who his people were.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#3 (fb)) - Growing up angry alongside other boys who did not find foster homes, Josiah was known to fight the other children and his fights were often broken up by the nuns.

(The Crew I#5 (fb)) - During one day in 1965 which Josiah was sleeping in class, Sister Irenia smacked Josiah's hand to wake him up and remarked that Josiah should be grateful that he had been sent there by God. Questioning what he was being led to believe about religion, a tearful Josiah claimed that neither Jesus nor even Zorro had ever come to save him. Sister Irenia punished Josiah by refusing him supper but making him clean up after the others had their supper, sarcastically suggesting Josiah should perhaps pray to Zorro. That night, Josiah read a newspaper article about the death of Islamic activist Malcolm X and he became determined to leave the Catholic orphanage. As he struggled at the bars on his window, Josiah was surprised when he bent the bars with his bare hands. Before he could react, Sister Irenia appeared and prepared to punish him, only to be punched by a reactive Josiah.

(The Crew I#5 (fb) / Sam Wilson: Captain America I#3 (fb)) - When Sister Irenia was knocked into the hallway by Josiah's punch, some of the other children rushed to check on Irenia and one of them claimed she was dead.

(The Crew I#5 (fb)) - Fearful of what he might have accidentally done and what was happening to him, Josiah looked at Irenia's blood on his fist and escaped into the night via the window. Taking the alias of Josiah Smith, Josiah lied about his age to join the military.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#3 (fb)) - After joining the military, Josiah Smith went through basic training and hoped he could prove he was worth something by serving his country and getting something back.

(The Crew I#5 (fb)) - Three years later, circa 1968, Pvt. Josiah Smith was serving in Vietnam when his platoon was surrounded. His sergeant ordered Josiah to radio for air assistance but when Josiah turned on the radio, he heard orders of air bombing support on their location. Josiah frantically tried to radio back to announce friendlies in the area but his sergeant took the receiver away, remarking that they knew they were there and didn't care.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#3 (fb)) - When napalm was dropped on the area, Josiah used his strength to lift up a large chunk of rubble and use it to block the airstrike, saving his platoon.

(The Crew I#5 (fb)) - Josiah and the entirety of his injured platoon returned to the David Company Base Camp alive and when a colonel responsible for the air drop joked that perhaps they shouldn't go towards the fire, Josiah grimly reminded the colonel that the air strike was supposed to help them not cook them.

(The Crew I#5 (fb) / Sam Wilson: Captain America I#3 (fb)) - Uncaringly shrugging off the injuries with a racial slur, the colonel remarked that the bombing was a minor incident, to which Josiah responded by punching his superior office, claiming it too was a minor incident.

(The Crew I#5 (fb)) - He was quickly apprehended and imprisoned in Kansas' Fort Leavenworth for attacking an officer. While in prison, his blood work was taken.

    In 1973, Josiah, plagued with regrets at having seemingly killed Sister Irenia years earlier, was still serving time at Fort Leavenworth when a pair of federal agents visited him, confirming from his blood work that he was faster, stronger and more tireless than anyone else. The agents proposed Josiah allowing them to perform a few tests of him in exchange for a commuted sentence. Reluctantly agreeing, Josiah was taken to Berkeley, California.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#3 (fb)) - After arriving in California, Josiah was periodically led into a medical laboratory in handcuffs, where tests were run on him to determine why he appeared physically superior to most in hopes of creating more like him.

(The Crew I#5 (fb)) - A year later, Josiah was sitting in a room reading a Fantastic Four comic book as the federal agents discussed the results of their tests, with one of them certain Josiah was the genetically-engineered child that had went missing twenty years earlier. That night, Josiah was awoken from a nightmare involving the death of Sister Irenia by his surrogate mother, who had taken a job performing genetic tests and had learned of the agents' plan to kill Josiah by morning, having learned all they could from him without cutting him open. Demanding answers from his surrogate mother, Josiah was told the names of his true parents, Isaiah and Faith Bradley, by the surrogate, who insisted that he had to leave before it was too late.

(The Crew I#5 (fb) / Sam Wilson: Captain America I#3 (fb)) - Josiah then fought his way out of the lab and escaped into the night.

(The Crew I#5 (fb)) - He eventually came to join the activist Black Panther Party in its waning days.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#3 (fb)) - As part of the Black Panther Party, Josiah fought against the system that he felt had failed him, at least at one point battling police.

(The Crew I#5 (fb)) - By 1978, Josiah was with the Black Panther Party as fellow member Tammy read over a newspaper article about 1940s Tuskegee experiments to recreate the Super-Soldier Serum. Tammy soon lost interest, remarking that the Party's revolution was nearly over, but Josiah asked if the article mentioned any names of those experimented on at Tuskegee. When she replied in the affirmative, Josiah asked if one of the names on the list was Isaiah Bradley. Tracking down the Bradleys to Mt. Vernon, New York, Josiah visited the Bradley home and was greeted by Sarah Gail, who invited him inside, where he met his mother Faith, now using the name of Faith Shabazz. Faith informed him that they did not have time for all of his questions due to the home being under constant surveillance but she did introduce Josiah to his father Isaiah. Shocked to see Isaiah in such as mentally degraded state, Josiah asked what had happened and Faith explained how the test version of the Super-Soldier Serum had affected Isaiah's mind over the years. Josiah then prepared to leave and asked Faith when he could return for answers to his questions but Faith only remarked that Josiah could return when the time was right, further commenting that Josiah would know when the time was right. After leaving, Josiah became a mercenary abroad, struggling to find meaning and truth in his life.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#3 (fb)) - At some point, Josiah returned to pay his family a quick visit, enjoying getting to spend enough time to truly meet with them and beginning the first step towards peace and purpose in his life.

(The Crew I#5 (fb) / Sam Wilson: Captain America I#3 (fb)) - He eventually turned to the Islamic faith, finding the meaning he sought after renouncing Satan, making a Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca and changing his name to Josiah-al-hajj Saddiq.

(The Crew I#5 (fb)) - Returning to Boston in 1995, Josiah visited the old Catholic church he once been a part of and confessed his thirty years of sins, revealing the peace he had found and his remaining struggle with the supposed death of Sister Irenia during his teenage years. When Josiah admitted that he had killed Irenia in that very church, the very much alive Sister Irenia revealed herself in the confessional. Overjoyed to see Irenia had lived, Josiah hugged her and Irenia claimed the kids that had told Josiah she was dead had no idea what they were talking about. She then questioned whether Josiah was truly the child who had hit her some thirty years ago, remarking that the child would be nearly 50 by that point yet Josiah looked not much older than 25. She then forgave him of his sins and suggested he get on with his life.

(The Crew I#2 (fb) - BTS) - At some point, Josiah became a Muslim activist.

(The Crew I#1 (fb) - BTS) - By the modern era, Josiah had become a Muslim minister and took to running the Shabazz Mission in the Little Mogadishu area of New York, working to help get people off the streets.

(All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z I#8 - Patriot entry - BTS) - Josiah became an uncle when Sarah Gail Bradley had children Elijah, Stephanie, Litigious and others.

(The Crew I#5 (fb)) - Josiah was raising an American flag outside the Shabazz Mission when his congregation's Brother Rashid presented Josiah with a package that had arrived with no return address. As Rashid half-joked that he didn't hear the package ticking, Josiah opened the package and Rashid asked if the package meant trouble. Replying with "...in spades," Josiah found a notecard that read "You'll know." and he went back inside the Mission, where he tried on the outfit in the package: a Captain America costume.

(Young Avengers I#8 (fb) - BTS) - At some point, Josiah took a photo that was ultimately framed and hung on the wall of the Bradleys' home.

(The Crew I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Josiah worked to get the prostitute Star off the streets.

(The Crew I#1) - Some months later, when Star's brother Jim Rhodes ventured into Little Mogadishu seeking information on his sister's death, he was attacked by the territorial thug Zay and his goons and after Rhodes took down the thugs, Josiah approached Rhodes in an effort to help him. The two regrouped at the Shabazz Mission, where Josiah introduced himself and expressed his condolences for Star's death, revealing that he had been trying to help get her off the streets. Josiah then informed Rhodes how he ran the mission but Rhodes dismissed him as a "street corner preacher," prompting Josiah to insist he was not trying to hustle Rhodes for money for the mission. Josiah then asked if Rhodes had found what he was looking for by gathering Star's leftover belongings and Rhodes replied that he had not yet but would learn what he sought soon. A short time later, after noticing some sort of law enforcement cars outside, Josiah returned to Rhodes with coffee to inform him of the police presence. Looking up government information surrounding Star's death, Rhodes replied by explaining to Josiah that the police were likely government agents investigating Rhodes' hacking of NSA systems. Josiah remained sitting at Rhodes' side as he located video footage of Star's death that showed Zay and his thugs at the scene of the death. He then accompanied Rhodes to the police station and waited outside as Rhodes showed Officer Marcy Howard a photo showing Zay at the scene. When Officer Howard refused to use the photo as evidence to apprehend Zay and his goons, as procedure would not allow the usage of a photo that was not properly tracked and sourced, an angry Rhodes departed the precinct and Josiah started to remark about having warned Rhodes of the outcome of turning the information over to the police.

    Two days later, after Rhodes apprehended two of Zay's thugs, who were subsequently arrested, Josiah X attended Star's funeral and confronted Rhodes about him rounding up people for the police. When Josiah sarcastically asked why he had not thought of that, Rhodes seriously asked Josiah the same question and accused Josiah of being a great preacher but failing to inspire and lead. Rhodes then asked Josiah to pray for him, as he was going to be in the neighborhood awhile.

(The Crew I#2) - Having secretly been at Star's funeral while investigating Jim Rhodes, police officer Kevin "Kasper" Cole visited Josiah X to question him about Rhodes. When Cole revealed his knowledge that Josiah had been at Star's funeral and how the thugs at the scene of Star's death had been apprehended before the police could get to them, Josiah admitted that Rhodes had went after the guys that had killed his sister and suggested Rhodes had gotten the payback he wanted, further suggesting Cole drop his investigation. Noticing that Josiah had referred to Rhodes as "Rhodey," Cole departed, feeling as if there was more to Josiah's relationship with Rhodes than met the eye.

(The Crew I#4) - Josiah X was present at the Shabazz Mission as an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting was held there. When the power went out and Jim Rhodes and Kevin Cole, both of whom were in the Mission to track down the escaped Junta, Junta took Cole hostage but Josiah intervened, knocking out Junta and accidentally getting shot by one of Cole's paralytic enzyme gel bullets. Rhodes then worked on preventing Junta's black hole abilities from killing him and anyone within 100 yards, asking Josiah to get Cole and everyone else as far away as he could from the Mission. Getting outside, Josiah asked some of the Mission workers to get Cole off the street and move everyone back away from the Mission. When one of the workers noticed that Josiah had been shot, Josiah looked down to discover a green gel on his shirt and he assured the worker than the shot was nothing to worry about. Once Danny was saved, he and Rhodes exited the Mission, only to be angrily confronted by Cole. As they discussed their secrets, Josiah interrupted, asking if the secrets they were referencing were either the secret of what he had been shot with or why Rhodes had chose to apprehend Junta in his Mission at the risk of innocent lives. Josiah then commented on how he had done all he could to help Rhodes and ordered Rhodes to keep his investigation into his sister's death out of his Mission.

    Later that night, Josiah was approached by one of his congregation, Malik, who remarked on the eventful evening Josiah had at the Mission. Commenting that such events were all part of a day's work, Josiah accepted an envelope from Malik and discussed how certain street gangs would be using the Mission's basketball court later. As Josiah asked Malik to make sure the gangs checked their weapons before entering the court, he opened the envelope to see a few stacks of money. Unaware that Rhodes was watching him from a distance, having used the gel bullet that hit Josiah as a means of tracking both Josiah and whatever he touched, Josiah X got into his car and drove to the Princeton Walk community project. Greeting Irenia inside, Josiah assured he was okay as Irenia brought up the rumor that Josiah had been shot. As they discussed the earlier situation at the Mission, Josiah admitted his suspicions that Rhodes had deliberately chosen the Mission as the location to attack Junta to see how Josiah would react. When Irenia asked how Josiah had reacted, Josiah revealed how he had punched Junta and Irenia then took Josiah's gel-covered shirt for cleaning, revealing an armored Captain America vest beneath Josiah's shirt.

(The Crew I#6 (fb) - BTS) - Having put traceable chemicals into the gel Josiah had been hit with during the earlier fight at the Mission, Jim Rhodes traced Josiah to gang drug money he had been tracking during the investigation into Star's death. Rhodes then secretly followed Josiah and Junta followed Rhodes, who, in turn, was followed by Kevin Cole.

(The Crew I#5) - Unaware Rhodes was following him, Josiah paid a visit to Isaiah Bradley and played a board game with him, claiming he never could get the hang of the game as Isaiah won. Faith soon reminded Josiah that it was time to leave and Josiah said his goodbyes to Isaiah, reminding Isaiah that Faith always timed his visits to keep the "bad guys" from getting too suspicious. Josiah then said his goodbyes to Faith, asking why she would not let him pay to move them somewhere where they would not be under constant surveillance.

(The Crew I#6 (fb) - BTS) - While Josiah was at the Bradley home, Jim Rhodes and his "Crew" arrived there, having tracked Josiah via the gel.

(The Crew I#5) - Faith assured Josiah that they had everything they needed there in their home but the goodbyes were interrupted by the appearance of Jim Rhodes, Junta and Kevin Cole.

(The Crew I#6) - Wishing to keep the Bradleys safe, Josiah had the Crew accompany him back to his home at Princeton Walk, where they were stopped by security agents. After assuring the agents that he would be informing their supervisor of their treatment entering Princeton Walk, Josiah then brought the Crew into home and Junta revealed how Rhodes had tracked Josiah using the gel and the drug money Josiah had earlier touched. Upon hearing that, Cole nearly left the Crew, refusing to believe Josiah was dirty, and Josiah expressed annoyance at Rhodes for potentially endangering the Bradleys and their grandchildren. Ignoring Josiah's annoyance, Junta walked over to look at a framed newspaper article regarding the 1940s African-American Captain America and Josiah quickly took the article from Junta. Remarking on the decades of rumors and urban legends about human experimentation regarding the Super-Soldier Serum, Junta returned the article but opted to explain his thoughts on the rumors. He then used his gravity powers to pick Josiah off the ground and Kevin Cole ripped open Josiah's shirt to reveal his Captain America uniform beneath it. Josiah attempted to change the subject by remarking on Junta's ways but Rhodes quickly turned the conversation back on Josiah.

    Questioning whether the Crew were accusing him of being affiliated with the 66 Bridges gang led by Triage, Josiah expressed sympathy for the loss of Rhodes' sister and suggested Rhodes drop his vendetta against the gangs responsible. Explaining how old corruption worked through Little Mogadishu and how Rhodes' vendetta had caused a blockage of daily activity in the area, Josiah questioned what would happen if Rhodes succeeded in bringing down the heads of the local gangs, suggesting that Triage's downfall would leave nothing but grief in Little Mogadishu. He then questioned whether the world was truly prepared to win a war on crime and Rhodes promised that he was prepared, with, without or even though Josiah, if necessary. Cole then asked if he should arrest Josiah for being tied to the drug money but Rhodes revealed his suspicions that Josiah was merely accepting donation money for his Mission without questioning where it came from and that he was utilizing the Captain America costume as a bulletproof vest, uncaring of any shame that came from hiding such a legacy. The Crew then left a silent Josiah as they departed his home.

    At midnight, Josiah decided to take down the flag outside the Shabazz Mission, noting that perhaps he had offended some of the African-American Muslims at the mission, who might have felt like strangers in the United States. Weighing whether the flag offended or inspired, Josiah commented that he belonged somewhere in between those two extremes and his congregation's Brother Shahid questioned whether Josiah was okay. Explaining how his sense of self had been put into question earlier that day, Josiah admitted that the only real thing he knew about himself was that he was placed on a train as an infant, while everything else in his life had been his own doing. When Josiah questioned the reality of his life, Shahid commented how his own family was his life and suggested Josiah get married. Claiming he hadn't found the right person, Josiah then revealed his Captain America costume beneath his shirt and questioned what it was meant to represent. When Shahid responded that the costume would bring resentment as a symbol of a white icon, Josiah reminded Shahid of the African-American Captain America. Shahid shrugged that off as nothing more than a rumor and Josiah commented that he knew the truth, suggesting that the costume might inspire the truth to come to light. Ultimately deciding to go into action in the costume, Josiah X arrived at the scene of the Crew's attack on the 66 Bridges just in time to catch the falling Junta.

(The Crew I#7 (fb) - BTS) - Josiah X joined the Crew in forcibly coercing corrupt officials to agree to testify against gang leader Triage.

(The Crew I#7) - Josiah X and the rest of the Crew stormed Grace and Tumbalt, a front company owned by the 66 Bridges gang. Aware that Triage was watching events from afar, the Crew faked a video feed to Triage showing them making their way to his penthouse and, having arranged a trap for the Crew, Triage detonated a bomb in his penthouse in an effort to destroy the Crew. Jim Rhodes then tracked Triage down to a train yard and when Rhodes pointed a gun at Triage, Josiah saw the end of Rhodes' vendetta against the 66 Bridges as the end of his time with the Crew. As he started to walk away, however, a helicopter fired on the Crew. Surviving the missile blast, Josiah rushed to save a train damaged in the blast while Junta jumped into battle against the helicopter. As Josiah saved several children aboard the train, Rhodes was slashed by Triage's knife and Triage escaped into the night. After returning the children to their parents, Josiah X aided the rest of the Crew in apprehending Triage and one of the helicopter pilots. Rhodes was then loaded into an ambulance and when Officer Howard informed him of Triage's capture, Rhodes looked over to see the White Tiger (Kevin Cole), Josiah and Junta.

    The following Sunday morning, Josiah hung his Captain America costume in his closet and Sister Irenia asked if he had "fun" with the Crew. Admitting that he enjoyed the time even if it wasn't so much "fun," Josiah pondered what might come next for him.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#3 (fb)) - Josiah got to meet his young and idealistic nephew Elijah and the two shared a game of chess in the park.

(Young Avengers I#8 (fb)) - Some months later, Josiah X disappeared.

(Young Avengers I#8 (fb) - BTS) - At some point, Josiah was documented into the Avengers Fail-Safe Program of potential Avengers legacy heroes. The time-traveling Iron Lad of Earth-6311, aware that Josiah had inherited the Super-Soldier powers of Isaiah Bradley, later visited the Bradley home, hoping to recruit Josiah X against his own future self, Kang the Conqueror. Upon meeting Iron Lad and learning that he needed aid, Isaiah Bradley's grandson Elijah informed Iron Lad that Josiah had disappeared then lied, claiming he was also a Super-Soldier and agreeing to help Iron Lad.

(Luke Cage I#5 - BTS) - As Luke Cage explained to the young Kevlar about the various Super-Soldiers, he thought about Josiah X, Captain America and many other past Super-Soldiers.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#3 (fb)) - Josiah learned of Elijah Bradley's superheroic life as the Young Avenger Patriot while watching the Young Avengers battle the Earth-6311 conqueror Kang on television. Realizing that Patriot wore a costume of red, white and blue to carry on the legacy of Josiah's father Isaiah, Josiah began to feel the American flag was for him.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#4 (fb) - BTS) - Josiah ultimately began meeting with his nephew Elijah on a weekly basis to play chess in the park.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#2 (fb) - BTS) - Growing tired of the compromises he had to make to keep those closest to him protected and still feeling as if the red, white and blue colors had never done right by him or his people, Josiah abandoned the red, white and blue costumed color scheme and took on a new alias of the Shadow Soldier to protect those living in the shadows.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#4 (fb) - BTS) - Josiah was given Darkforce-manipulating powers under unrevealed circumstances.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#3 (fb)) - Despite having no official support, government sanction or corporate sponsorship, the Shadow Soldier began his work to protect those in the shadows by going on a mission against the terrorist Hydra organization.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#2 (fb) - BTS) - When some of the people close to him became mixed up in the Eaglestar International corporation's free land giveaway on their recently-created floating city Skydream, the suspicious Josiah, curious how the giveaway might affect not only his people but other black Americans, went undercover to quietly investigate Skydream.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#4 (fb) - BTS) - While away, Josiah missed a chess game with Elijah Bradley in the park. A suspicious Elijah texted Josiah and asked if he missed the game because he was scared of losing. A week later, Elijah showed up the park again but Josiah was again nowhere to be found, prompting Elijah to again text Josiah, this time asking if they were still on for their chess game. Elijah also called his grandmother Faith and asked if she had heard from Josiah recently.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#1 - BTS) - A photo of Josiah was still hanging on the wall of the Bradley home during a heroic get-together to celebrate Isaiah Bradley's birthday. During the party, Isaiah held a photo of Josiah and himself and muttered Josiah's name, prompting his wife Faith to comment that they hadn't seen Josiah in some time and weren't sure if he was coming to the party. Watching a solemn Isaiah eat a piece of  cake, Captain America (Steve Rogers) discussed with Captain America (Sam Wilson) how lucky he had been in life, noting how Isaiah was wrecked following the Super-Soldier experimentation done on him and how his son Josiah had been imprisoned after serving overseas.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#2) - After Captain America (Sam Wilson) and the Falcon (Joaquin Torres) got involved with Eaglestar's Skydream floating city and were captured, the still-undercover Shadow Soldier noticed the city's high alert status and fought his way into Captain America's cell block to rescue the captured heroes. Recognizing Shadow Soldier as Josiah, son of Isaiah Bradley, Captain America greeted him but Shadow Soldier grumbled about his investigation being ruined by the arrival of Captain America and the Falcon, noting that he didn't need his people getting hurt by the added danger of Captain America and the Falcon's presence. Despite Captain America's insistence that he also had family being affected by Eaglestar, Shadow Soldier suggested they leave the cell block before Eaglestar sent more troop transports to stop them. Carried to another part of the city by Captain America, the still-grumbling Shadow Soldier noticed large cages housing mutates and remarked on how Eaglestar first caged prisoners then transformed them into something they could use. In an effort to escape more arriving Eaglestar troops, the trio of heroes opted to utilize a flying whale mutated by Eaglestar and, to create a distraction for them to board the whale, Shadow Soldier detonated explosives that freed some of the other Eaglestar mutates. Relating his heroic history to Captain America and the Falcon as the whale flew them back to the city's farming area, Shadow Soldier accompanied Captain America and the Falcon as Cap checked on his cousin Billie Wilson, who had accompanied him to the city and been present during Captain America's capture. When Billie acted strangely and refused to leave Skydream, Cap realized she had been mind-controlled by Eaglestar head Dennis Harmon but before Cap could talk sense into Billie, mind-controlling Wakandan Jufiero herb gas erupted from the crops that downed Shadow Soldier, Cap and the Falcon. The trio later woke up under the control of Harmon and they began aiding in the farming of Skydream like most other controlled residents.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#3) - The mind-controlled Shadow Soldier assisted the Skydream farmers by lifting up their farming equipment so others could repair it from beneath. While later carrying heavy bags of farming supplies, Shadow Soldier was again gassed but began to partially overcome his mind control, confused as to what he was doing there and last recalling meeting with some of the Skydream farmers then waking up working in the fields. Regrouping with a similarly reawakened Falcon, Shadow Soldier met with Captain America and Billie Wilson, who had also broke free of the Jufiero herb gas. Shadow Soldier reiterated his suspicions about Skydream but Captain America warned that they were being watched and Billie suggested they act happy until they could regroup later that evening. Later that evening at dinner, the foursome discussed how to free those lured to Skydream by Harmon and during the discussion, Josiah related his origins to the group to explain why they needed a smart plan.

    Still feigning to be under mind control, Shadow Soldier and his allies later infiltrated the heart of Skydream by claiming to be delivering supplies for a power infrastructure upgrade. When a guard questioned their arrival, Falcon took down the guard and they entered an area housing dozens of experimental test subjects called the War Angels. Annoyed that someone was again experimenting to create Super-Soldiers, Shadow Soldier helped protect Billie Wilson as Captain America and Falcon tried to fly to the top floor control center. Battling the War Angels, Shadow Soldier and Billie soon found an elevator to regroup with Cap and Falcon and from the control center, they felt Skydream's platforms repositioning themselves to move elsewhere. Learning from the computer screens in the control center that the platforms were heading for cities with high African-American populations, Shadow Soldier and his allies readied themselves to take down Skydream.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#4) - When Josiah missed yet another chess game with Elijah, Elijah texted Josiah and asked if he needed help with any deep trouble Josiah might have gotten into. Elijah then contacted the heroic War Machine and asked if War Machine was able to find anything on the missing Josiah using surveillance but War Machine found nothing. That night, the worried Elijah donned his Patriot costume and requested a magical teleportation spell from his former Young Avengers teammate Wiccan in hopes that Wiccan could transport him directly to Josiah's location using a piece of Josiah's clothing. Wiccan agreed from afar and magically teleported Patriot directly into the middle of the battle between the War Angels and Shadow Soldier, Captain America, Falcon and Billie Wilson. Promising to fill the Patriot in on the whole story of Skydream, Shadow Soldier and his allies suggested Patriot pick a target and Shadow Soldier warned Patriot to go easy on the mind-controlled War Angels as he smashed one's face into the ground. Defeating the War Angels, Shadow Soldier regrouped with his allies and Captain America reiterated his plan to completely destroy Skydream before it could attack historically black cities. When Cap announced his refusal to allow Skydream to take advantage of the African-Americans lured to it, Shadow Soldier questioned why Cap got to make the decision to destroy Skydream for those that had been lured there.

    Captain America reminded Shadow Soldier that they had been duped to Skydream by lies and the Wakandan Jufiero herb and how the regal gifts of Wakanda should belong to them all. A solemn Shadow Soldier replied by reminding Cap that those lured there were not Wakandan and that they had inherited a different history. When Patriot sided with Cap on the topic of destroying Skydream, feeling as if Dennis Harmon had taking advantage of people's hopes and dreams, Shadow Soldier blamed Cap for putting those sort of thoughts in his nephew's head. Patriot argued that Harmon likely would take away everything given to the people of Skydream, suggesting Shadow Soldier, of all people, should know about that likelihood. Shadow Soldier angrily questioned Patriot's statements but Cap told Shadow Soldier to let Patriot be, as he was just learning about the struggles of life. As Shadow Soldier remarked on how Cap talked about caring but seemed to be moving straight to punishment, Cap argued that Eaglestar's Dennis Harmon deserved punishment. Shadow Soldier explained how it appeared to be those lured there would be punished by the destruction of Skydream and Billie Wilson quickly interjected, suggesting they steal Skydream to help those lured there instead of destroying it.

    The group then decided to rewrite Skydream's programming to stop the attacking platforms and Shadow Soldier, Cap, Falcon and Patriot headed for Skydream's main platform, which acted a sort of brain for the entire city. Once inside, the heroes sought to destroy the city's servers to stop the impending attacks and, after Captain America, Patriot and Falcon created a diversion for the guards, Shadow Soldier revealed his Darkforce energy-manipulating powers and used them to teleport into the server room. Defeating the guards inside, Shadow Soldier blew a hole in the wall and regrouped with Captain America, who remarked that it appeared Shadow Soldier was more than just a codename. Admitting he couldn't stay covered in Darkforce energy for very long without something bad happening, Shadow Soldier returned himself to normal and announced that they had done their part with the rest up to Billie Wilson.

    Shadow Soldier, Falcon, Captain America and Patriot then regrouped with Billie Wilson, who had freed Gen. Robert Maverick from his mind control. Shadow Soldier then had Patriot take notice as Captain America used her bird-communicating powers to convince one of the War Angels to give up Dennis Harmon's location, reminding Patriot to use care over punishment. Upon being given the information that Harmon was in Moria, the center of Skydream, the six heroes used a flying platform to take them back to the floating city proper to confront Harmon. Trapping the heroes behind a force field, Harmon gloated about his plan to incinerate the predominantly black cities to set in motion a societal collapse in which Skydream would thrive.

(Sam Wilson: Captain America I#5) - Captain America soon sensed the birds outside and learned from them that the Skydream platforms were beginning to burn things. When Cap mentioned one of the platforms over the Bronx, where Isaiah Bradley was, Shadow Soldier fell to his knees. Patriot helped him back up before Harmon unleashed some of his monstrous bird mutates against the heroes. During the battle against the mutates, Cap knocked one of the mutates into Gen. Maverick, piercing his skin and facilitating his transformation into his Red Hulk form. Maverick then took the fight directly to Harmon, eventually breaking through his force field and causing an explosion that destroyed the Skydream control center and launched the heroes and Harmon into the air. Maverick, having been previously experimented on by Harmon himself, then sprouted wings to rescue the falling Shadow Soldier and the two regrouped with Billie Wilson aboard Harmon's flying escape platform. Shadow Soldier then watched as Maverick confronted Harmon, who accidentally tripped and fell off the platform into the maw of one of his own flying shark mutates. The heroes then turned their focus towards stopping the destructive Skydream platforms. Cap ordered Patriot and Falcon to take out Eaglestar's signal-jamming towers and Gen. Maverick to smash the Bronx platform's laser cannon while he, Shadow Soldier and Billie Wilson evacuated those lured to Skydream from the platforms. When some surviving War Angels attacked the heroes even without Harmon's mind control affecting them, Shadow Soldier covered his shield in Darkforce energy and expanded it outward to generate a larger shield to protect the evacuating farmers. Shadow Soldier continued to aid in the evacuation of farmers as Captain America called all active and reserve Avengers to help stop the other Skydream platforms across the United States.

    Later, after the other platforms were destroyed, Billie Wilson opted to restart the farm on the main Skydream platform and Shadow Soldier and the other heroes helped disperse supplies to the surviving farmers.

Comments: Created by Christopher Priest, Joe Bennett and Crime Lab Studios.

    While not directly stated in the Crew mini-series, it seemed to be heavily implied that Josiah's costume and shield are the same ones that had originally belonged to his father, Isaiah Bradley.

   This profile was completed on 08/20/2025, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 25^th anniversary's celebratory event

Profile by Proto-Man.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Josiah X should be distinguished from:

• JOSIAH - Disciples of Doom, releases sonic force--Daredevil I#97
• other "Shadow" or "Soldier" characters, groups, items, races or events
  

Appearances:
The Crew I#1 (July, 2003) - Priest (writer), Joe Bennett (pencils), Crime Lab Studios (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
The Crew I#2 (August, 2003) - Priest (writer), Joe Bennett (pencils), Crime Lab Studios (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
The Crew I#4 (October, 2003) - Priest (writer), Joe Bennett (pencils), Crime Lab Studios (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
The Crew I#5 (November, 2003) - Priest (writer), Joe Bennett (pencils), Crime Lab Studios (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
The Crew I#6 (December, 2003) - Priest (writer), Joe Bennett (pencils), Crime Lab Studios (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
The Crew I#7 (January, 2004) - Priest (writer), Joe Bennett (pencils), Crime Lab Studios, Rich Perrotta (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Young Avengers I#8 (November, 2005) - Allan Heinberg (writer), Andrea DiVito (pencils), Drew Hennessy (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z I#8 (2006) - Jeff Christiansen (head writer, coordinator), Sean McQuaid, Stuart Vandal, Ronald Byrd, Michael Hoskin, Mark O'English, Chris Biggs, Eric J. Moreels, Mike Fichera, Al Sjoerdsma, Barry Reese, Chad Anderson, Madison Carter, Anthony Flamini, Rich Green (writers), Jim Cheung (Patriot entry art), Pond Scum (art reconstruction), Jeff Youngquist, Jennifer Grunwald (editors)
Luke Cage I#5 (November, 2017) - David F. Walker (writer), Nelson Blake II (art), Jake Thomas (editor)
Sam Wilson: Captain America I#1 (March, 2025) - Greg Pak, Evan Narcisse (writers), Eder Messias, Valentine de Landro (art), Alanna Smith (editor)
Sam Wilson: Captain America I#2 (April, 2025) - Greg Pak, Evan Narcisse (writers), Eder Messias (art), Alanna Smith (editor)
Sam Wilson: Captain America I#3 (May, 2025) - Greg Pak, Evan Narcisse (writers), Eder Messias, Valentine de Landro (art), Alanna Smith (editor)
Sam Wilson: Captain America I#4 (June, 2025) - Greg Pak, Evan Narcisse (writers), Chris Campana (pencils), Jonas Trindade (inks), Alanna Smith (editor)
Sam Wilson: Captain America I#5 (July, 2025) - Greg Pak, Evan Narcisse (writers), Eder Messias (art), Alanna Smith (editor)

First posted: 09/15/2026
Last updated: 08/20/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!

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