The Patriot

Marvel’s ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ continues running Season 4’s ‘LMD’ program with “The Patriot,” but does a not-so-surprising reveal about Jeffrey Mace mean even less super-powered hijinks going forward? And what’s this about a ‘Luke Cage’ connection? Find out in our full review of ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s latest!

Since the dawn of the Silver Age, legacy characters have been a staple of superhero fiction, and having a new character step into a well-loved role can open up new opportunities for writers and artists to tell different kinds of stories. In this new feature, I’ll be looking back at some of the notable and not-so-notable heroes and villains that have assumed some of the most iconic mantles in the superhero genre. For our first installment, we’re looking at the legacy of Captain America, and the men who have carried the flag in Steve Rogers’ stead. From America’s wartime shame to Steve’s very best friend, there have perhaps been more people to wield the shield than you may have realized, and not all of them have been as virtuous and upstanding as the man himself.