The Falcon and the Winter Soldier didn t do right by Isaiah Bradley
What is he supposed to do with a statue again?
Image: Courtesy of Marvel Studios
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With just two complete series aired, the Disney+ Marvel Cinematic Universe s foray into serialized TV has already expanded the Marvel universe in ways the movies couldn t.
WandaVision elevated Wanda and Vision from only in the team-up movie players to two of the most anticipated (and most romantic) leads in the MCU, and
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier introduced a slew of fascinating new characters who will impact the franchise for years to come. One of those characters was Isaiah Bradley, the kind of complex comic book deep cut who could only appear in a medium that gives his very existence enough screen time to really sink in.Â
There will be spoilers for the whole series below.
When Steve Rogers’ Captain America passed the shield to Sam Wilson’s Falcon at the end of “Avengers: Endgame,” it marked the start of a new era for the star-spangled symbol.
“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” follows Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) struggling to take up the mantle of Captain America. Along for the ride is Bucky (Sebastian Stan), who is going through his own issues from his past life as the brainwashed assassin known as the Winter Soldier.
Together, the two battle a radicalized group of super soldiers known as the Flag Smashers, the new-faux Captain America John Walker (Wyatt Russell) and Zemo (Daniel Bruhl), the methodical villain who tore the Avengers apart in “Captain America: Civil War.” Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp) returns as the former S.H.I.E.L.D. and CIA agent hiding in exile as the mysterious Power Broker. Oh, and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss makes an appearance here.
‘Falcon and Winter Soldier’ Boss Malcolm Spellman on Making the MCU’s Heaviest Story: “Marvel Never Blinked” Brian Davids
[This story contains spoilers for
To turn Sam Wilson into Captain America, Malcolm Spellman knew that he had to take the Marvel Cinematic Universe into uncharted territory. What resulted was
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Marvel Studios’ heaviest and most violent story to date. Whether it was the inhumane treatment of Black super soldier test subjects such as Isaiah Bradley or the lingering effects of PTSD in Bucky Barnes and John Walker, Spellman didn’t pull any punches as head writer, and he’s still amazed by the lack of resistance along the way.
Diversity and inclusion have been a long issue of the comic and cinematic industry, and especially so when it comes to superhero films. Historically, all the lead superheroes like Iron Man, Superman, Spider-Man were predominantly white males. Only in recent years have marginalized people been getting representation on big screens. But is it enough?
While the comics are a reflection of the changing political climate, the recent inclusion of a more diverse cast on-screen portrays a cultural shift in those conversations surrounding inclusion and diversity from the real world to the fictional world. The good news is that the inclusion feels authentic, rather than simply having a diverse cast to get higher viewership.