It’s that time of year where the federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence of the United States, (on July 4, 1776) is celebrated. To all my American fans I hope you have an awesome day! To celebrate I’m listing my favorite superheroes to rock the “Red, White and Blue”.
Happy Independence Day (Fourth of July)!
Updated April 2021
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Robert Morales, Kyle Baker and Axel Alonso
1st appearance: Truth: Red, White & Black #1 (January 2003)
Isaiah was a model soldier who was drafted into a secret project to remake the super soldier formula during WWII after Captain America/Steve Rogers was presumed dead and the Super Soldier formula with him. As the only viable option and only successful test subject he fought valiantly for his country. Bradley became an underground legend among the Black community, their Captain America. During his later years he met many famous people including Malcolm X, Richard Pryor, Gen. Colin Powell and many others. His legacy continues through son Josiah X and grandson Patriot.
~DIG DEEPER INTO ISIAH BRADLEY HERE~
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Mark Gruenwald and Paul Neary
1st appearance: Captain America #323, November 1986
Lamar was a northern African-American who as a child was a big fan of “Isiah Bradley” though he thought he was an urban myth. As a young man he joined the United States army where he met John Walker. At first Lamar thought that John would be racist but instead they hit it off quickly and became best friends. After serving their term with the military they signed up for the power brokers experimental strength augmentation process. It worked on both of them but instead of going into “Unlimited class wrestling” Walker convinced Lamar to become of his buckies while he would become the Patriot. After learning that the term Buck was a derogatory name used by slave owners to describe their male slaves he changed his costume and name to “Battlestar”. Over the course of his career he has served as a member of Wild Pack, Bold Urban Commandos and the Guardsmen.
~DIG DEEPER INTO BATTLESTAR HERE~
Publisher: DC Comics
Created by: Grant Morisson
1st appearance: Final Crisis #7(March, 2009)
On a parallel world (Earth 23) the last survivor of Krypton came from Vathlo Island on which dark-skinned kyptonians dwell. His parents were scientists named Jorel and Lara. After arriving on earth he was taken in by a kindly black couple who instilled the morals of peace love and the American way into him; his father also taught him the art of boxing. As Calvin Ellis he eventually ascended to the presidency of the United States. After the events of Flashpoint he not only is the leader of the free world but a;so the leader of the Justice League which is comprised of far more black members than normal. Calvin also has quite the Machiavellian streak as well.
~DIG DEEPER INTO PRESIDENT SUPERMAN HERE~
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Christopher Priest and Joe Bennett
1st appearance: The Crew #1, July 2003
Josiah was born from the altered genetic material of Isiah Bradley and his wife Faith but grown in a surrogate mother. The government planned to grow the perfect soldier to be used as a personal unthinking weapon, essentially a controlled Captain America or Isiah Bradley. During his conception a more stable peak human gene was developed within him making him more powerful than previous super soldiers. He served many tours during the Vietnam war. When his unit was almost bombed along with a village he almost beat his commanding officer to death which got him a court martial and jail time in a military prison. Returning to the united states he opened a Muslim mission and changed his last name to X symbolizing his allegiance to the Lost Tribe of Shabazz. It was here he met up with Kasper Cole and War Machine and made the super team “The Crew”. After their adventures, he appears to have gone missing once more.
~DIG DEEPER INTO JOSIAH X HERE~
RELATED: Freedom! 40 African-American Superheroes for Juneteenth
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Al Ewing and Alan Davis
1st appearance: Avengers- Age of Ultron #1, 2015
Born to former Avengers Luke Cage and Jewel this made her the very first child for both superheroes. In the year 20XX she rose to the rank of Captain America and battled the Golden Skull. While in the midst of her latest fight she is pulled through time by Dr. Doom alongside Vision, Wasp, Hulk, Thor/female, Jim Rhodes/Iron Man and Thor/Odinson.
~DIG DEEPER INTO CAPTAIN AMERICA 20XX HERE~
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Stan Lee and artist Gene Colan
1st appearance: Captain America #117 (Sept. 1969)
Empowered by evil, inspired by good, Sam Wilson‘s bleak outlook on life was wiped away the day he met Captain America. He uses his winged costume, combat prowess, and avian telepathy as the Falcon, defender of Harlem. The Falcon is set to make his big screen debut in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” portrayed by Anthony Mackie and is the very first African-American superhero in the history of mainstream comics. Samuel is also currently a member of the Mighty Avengers and the global Avengers unit which fought during Infinity and has been a major player in AXIS while also taking up the mantle of All New Captain America!
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung
1st appearance: Young Avengers #1, April 2005
Born into the Bradley Family and descended from Isaiah Bradley the first black Captain America, Eli grew up on stories about his grandfather’s heroic exploits during the war. His mother Sarah Gail Bradley was born before his grandfather had been made a super soldier and as a result he and his siblings were born normal humans. Eli was very dissimilar to his grandfather though he was weak and small. He was a founding member and leader of the Young Avengers. Elijah now possesses the physical abilities of a Super Soldier thanks to a blood transfusion from his grandfather. After the events of Children’s crusade he retired from heroics and returned to his family.
~DIG DEEPER INTO PATRIOT HERE~
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: David Michelinie and John Byrne
1st appearance: Iron Man #118, 1979
James Rhodes was a soldier in the United States Army who has served as a stand in replacement for Tony Stark as Iron Man thus making him one of marvel’s first legacy heroes. Rhodey grew into his own character over the years though becoming “War Machine” whose armor dwarfs Iron Man’s in sheer destructive force. Appearances in the Iron Man movie franchise later gave him mass appeal. Recently he has taken on the mantle of “Iron Patriot” and been a member of the “Secret Avengers”.
~DIG DEEPER INTO WAR MACHINE HERE~
- Marcus Johnson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Christopher Yost, Matt Fraction and Cullen Bunn
1st appearance: Battle Scars #1, 2012
Marcus Johnson grew up with a single mother who was a social worker. In College he played Football after which he joined the us military and did two terms in Afghanistan. After Fear itself he returned to America to attend his mother’s funeral where he was almost assassinated by a Russian assassin and later taskmaster. He was saved by Captain America and secured by SHEILD. Marcus had to save his dad and escape though he was tortured first and lost his left eye (the same as his father). Back at SHEILD he was given Steve Rogers old costume; the one he wore as head of SHEILD and an eye patch. As a SHEILD agent he was teamed with Coulson after his birth name was revealed as NICK FURY JR. During Marvel Now he heads SHEID and leads the Secret Avengers.
~DIG DEEPER INTO NICK FURY JR HERE~
Publisher: 133art
Created by: Jason Reeves & John-Reuben Milton
1st appearance: OneNation #1
Brief Biography
Deacon’s descent from the heavens was nothing short of miraculous, if one could call it that. Literally exploding onto the scene one dark and ominous night, Deacon saves the lives of his adoptive parents (Cornell and Glenda) from the pursuit of angry rednecks in Eunice, Louisiana. From that day forth the Taylor’s lives were never the same. As time passed, Deacon’s powers began to manifest themselves in the form of superhuman strength, speed, & (what he perceives as) sight. Fearing that the world was not ready for Deacon’s abilities, his parents swore him to secrecy as they did their best to assimilate him into their small town society.
Life was good for the Taylors and their All-American life, but when a Tornado touches down in a neighboring county, Deacon has no choice but to use his powers to save his neighbors and reveal to them that his true nature. Thus ‘Eunice’s guardian angel” is born as the small town and its inhabitants embrace the young Deacon as their very own secret. Years later, Deacon is stationed in Iraq as a Marine during the first Desert Storm when his platoon comes under fire. In a desperate but selfless act, Deacon once again rises to the occasion by donning the American flag (to hide his identity) as he unleashes the full potential of his powers in an attempt to save the lives of his comrades.
~DIG DEEPER INTO PARAGON HERE~
- Samantha Wilson
Publisher: Marvel comics
Created by: Jason Latour, Robbi Rodriguez
1st appearance: Spider-Gwen Vol 2 #1 (December, 2015)
Biography
Samantha T. Wilson was born to Paul and Darlene Wilson in Jasper, Alabama. Sam’s unwillingness to join their parents’ church prompted them to provide her with books on different religions and comparative theology. She would go on to study the latter at North Carolina A&T State University. However, her studies were short-lived as the United States of America entered World War II soon after. Desperate to do her part in the war, and inspired by African-American aviators, Samantha dropped out of school to enlist in the war effort and subsequently became the first African-American woman to receive a commission as a pilot in the U.S. Sam’s chance to make a difference came in the form of Peggy Carter, an agent of the newly-formed SSR, who offered Sam to partake in Project: Rebirth. She joined a group of other three misfits, the U.S. Army Privates Steve Rogers, Isaiah Bradley, and Bucky Barnes.
- Captain Assyria
Created by: Fabian Nicieza and Mark Bagley
1st appearance: New Warriors #11, (August 1991)
Assyria is the alternate timeline counterpart of Captain America/Steve Rogers in a world where the Sphinx is supreme ruler of the world. In this world time diverged when Cleopatra and her army conquered Rome. Thus Egypt and Africa became a worldwide super power and spread their influence over the world. Cap was the leader of his world’s version of the Avengers who fought Night Thrasher and his New Warriors. When Sphinx was defeated he and his world ceased to exist.
DIG DEEPER INTO CAPTAIN ASSYRIA HERE
Publisher: DC Comics
Created by: Grant Morrison based on the original created by Robert Kanigher and Don Heck
1st appearance: Final Crisis #7 (March, 2009)
Nubia was created from black clay by the queen of the Amazons Hippolyta as a sister for Dianna who was created from white clay. This version of Nubia went beyond being a princess of the amazons and rose to the rank of Queen. Partnered with President Superman she was present during Final Crisis and in a later appearance seems to be a huge moral guide for President Superman whose ideas of keeping the world safe blur the line between hero and villain.
~DIG DEEPER INTO THE BLACK WONDERWOMAN HERE~
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Roger Stern and Phil Briones
1st appearance: Captain America Corps #1, 2011
Hailing from the 25th century in the United Americas this descendant of Luke Cage, idolized the legacy of Captain America and wanted to continue its long-standing tradition. Traveling with Captain American Corps he saved time then served ten years as his time’s Captain America.
~DIG DEEPER INTO COMMANDER A HERE~
Publisher: DC Comics
Created by: Jeff Lemire, Dan Jurgens, and Brian Azzarello
First Appearance: The New 52 Future’s End #2, 2014
Stormguard is a wartime veteran but everything else in his past is a mystery. He first appears as a member of the Justice League during the Future’s end storyline after Green Arrow’s death. He was also present for the dissolution of the Firestorm due to Jason Rusch and Ronnie Raymond. When Rampage almost killed a disguised Billy Batson, Stormguard was the one who saved his life. He later aided the Justice League when they battled Martian Manhunter on Mars.
~DIG DEEPER INTO STORMGUARD HERE~
- Nichelle Wright
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Mohale Mashigo and Natacha Bustos
1st appearance: The United States of Captain America #2, 2021
Biography
“The thing I can say about Nichelle is that she is working day and night to bring change into a world where she feels defeated,” Mashigo said. “Nichelle is a light in a dark time and she wants to take ownership of her community and space in America.”
~DIG DEEPER INTO NICHELLE HERE~
- Rayshaun Lucas
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Nick Spencer and Daniel Acuña
1st appearance: Captain America: Sam Wilson #18, (March, 2017)
Biography
Brooklyn-born Rayshaun Lucas was home with his mom when Samuel Wilson the All-New Captain America released footage that showed former New Warrior and Avengers Initiative member, Rage had not only been wrongfully accused but savagely beaten by the Americops . Filled with righteous conviction Shaun took to the streets after painting his face like Rage’s mask and proceeded to firebomb a local bank while also participating in the riots that broke out. When Sam Wilson resigned as Captain America he also resigned as an unnamed vigilante and instead started putting together the designs for a costume he called ‘The Patriot”.
~LEARN ABOUT THE NEW PATRIOT HERE~
- Free Agent
Publisher: Image Comics
Created by: Rob Liefeld
1st appearance: (Unmasked as Free Agent) Youngblood #9, 2004
Biography
He first appears as the golden age Die Hard fighting alongside Glory, Superpatriot and Supreme. He fought during WWII and never removed his mask due to the tense racially charged climate of the time. Alongside Glory and Superpatriot, they comprised “The Allies”. The tale of how he battled Nazis was told to the modern-day Die Hard. After serving his time he retired when a replacement Diehard was made. Years later Calvin Raines is re-activated this time as the Free Agent by president Barack Obama.
- Sam 13
Publisher: Marvel comics
Created by: Jason Latour, Robbi Rodriguez
1st appearance: Spider-Gwen Vol 2 #2 (January, 2016)
Biography
After the disappearance of Captain America, S.H.I.E.L.D. tried to recreate the process that gave birth to the first and only Super-Soldier. Over the 75 years of Cap’s disappearance, there had been thirteen generations of clones, and the latest being code-named “Sam 13”, a younger male version of Sam Wilson.
When Captain America returned, she became Sam 13’s mentor, hoping to balance out some of his more inhumane programmings. The young clone became known as “Falcon,” with his robotic bird companion Redwing.
There you have it!
The TOP Patriotic Superheroes
What did you think of our list, did we miss anyone?
Be sure to leave a comment below!
If you enjoyed this list be sure to check out
the Top 30 Black Superheroes- Traffic Edition,
the Top 30 Black Superheroes-Fan Edition,
the Top 20 Black Superheroes-Milestone Comics editions.
and
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