Marvel Editor Admits No One Wants Young Avengers Spin-Off (But How It Does Could Inform Their MCU Debut)

The Young Avengers today they are the stars of many fan-favorite runs, but when the concept was originally floated, the reception was less than enthusiastic. With a potential MCU incarnation of the team on the horizon, both are worth exploring Young Avengers series and their legacy, in more detail, as well as exploring what each of them might inform about possible adaptations.

In its latest newsletter, original Young Avengers editor Tom Brevoort explained the lack of belief behind the series in its name alone, which seems absurd in retrospect.

Back in the early 2000s, when Marvel was really hitting the wall, the idea of ​​doing a Young Avengers movie might have seemed gimmicky. After going bankrupt in the late 90s, the company began to regain its position under editor-in-chief Joe Quesada, who proved successful with projects such as Marvel Knights and Ultimate Universe, but not every idea worked, and Young Avengers could be seen as a movie. tricky gambling.

Marvel editor-in-chief explains doubts about Young Avengers ahead of debut

Young Avengers (Volume 1) #1 – Written by Allan Heinberg; art by Jim Cheung; Ink by John Dell; color by Justin Ponsor; Letter written by Corey Petit

Released after 2004 Avengers: Endgameoriginal volume Young Avengers tied directly into the Marvel landscape of the era. In short order, the young heroes formed the Avengers team, where even the main Avengers themselves were skeptical of the idea after the original team was destroyed by the mental breakdown of the Red Witch. The team is recruited by Iron Lad, a secretly heroic young version of Kang the Conqueror, who brings them together to try to stop the aged Kang and prevent the young hero's inevitable descent into darkness.

In response to a fan's question, “skepticism“of Young Avengers Marvel editor-in-chief Tom Brevoort had this to say ahead of the debut:

Yeah, no one liked the idea of ​​YOUNG AVENGERS before the book came out, least of all me. I thought this was another disgusting idea that Joe Quesada came up with. But once Allan Heinberg was on board to create it, we found ways to make it work and not become what everyone feared. That's exactly why the first house ad we created for the series, which aired at Avengers #500, focused on the idea, “They're not who you think they are.”

It's fascinating for a number of reasons, but if nothing else, because of how “obvious” the book initially seems. Each member of this team originally represented a member of the classic Avengers. Iron Lad reflected Iron Man. Isaiah Bradley's grandson, The Patriot, featured Captain America. Cassie Lang portrayed her father, Ant-Man. Kate Bishop reflected that Hawkeye was her namesake.

Meanwhile. The shape-shifting Hulkling featured the Hulk and also his secret father, Captain Marvel. It featured Wiccan Thor and his mother the Scarlet Witch, which reminded Speed ​​of his uncle Quicksilver. Their adventures have proven that they have what it takes to be true heroes to the adult Marvel Universe, while also discovering and revealing what connects them to their generation. Ultimately, it proved to be a successful concept that led to a memorable seriesits influence can be traced to this day.

Marvel's Young Avengers reached new heights with the second volume of the series

Young Avengers (Volume 2) #1 – Written by Kieron Gillen; Art by Jamie McKelvie & Mike Norton; color by Matt Wilson; Letter written by Clayton Cowles

The Young Avengers got the second main roster Young Avengers (vol. 2). While this book retained much of the original roster, it added other young Marvel heroes, including the recently introduced America Chavez, Marvel Boy, Prodigy, and a version of Loki that incorporated Gillen's earlier youth. Journey into the mysteries run away and kill this younger version of my old evil self (it's complicated) This version of the team leaned heavily on romance, maturity, and related concerns for a one-dimensional story told across fifteen issues.

Unlike the first incarnation of the team, this version didn't exactly fight supervillains. Instead, they struggled with mind-controlled versions of their parents, evil versions of their pasts, evil versions of themselves, and literal sin. Themes and subtexts that have always been a part of coming-of-age stories are transformed into literal text in this series thanks to magic and reality adjusters. The characters' outward battles reflected and were influenced by their inner battles, and the solution to their problems, however difficult, was to acknowledge and speak with their feelings.

Both Volumes of The Young Avengers Share the Same Stranger

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

One of the main features that the two books share is their different groups. In particular, Young Avengers (Volume 2) often revolved around a realistic mix of queer romances that Marvel hadn't dealt with up to that point, with the romance between Wiccan and Hulkling literally saving the universe at the series' climax. Both series also introduced or highlighted major POC characters, from Patriot to America Chavez to Prodigy. Tthese books helped represent modern audiences realistically and especially in the case of queer charactersin a way that these viewers have never seen themselves in a Marvel book before.

A new version of the team soon appeared in an arc of Marvel Unlimited
Marvel's Voices: Young Avengers
still focusing on the Iron Lad question, it shows that the series still has a fan base out there.

Since this second series, the Young Avengers have not had their own ongoing book, but their success has certainly influenced a number of subsequent books. The most obvious successors were contemporaries Championswhich took the same general idea of ​​a younger team, but filled it with mid-2010s follow-up heroes like Miles Morales, Kamala Khan, and Nadia Van Dyne's Wasp. A new version of the team appeared not long after, in an arc of Marvel Unlimited Marvel's Voices: Young Avengerswhich again focuses on the Iron Lad question, showing that the series still has a fan base out there.

MCU Adaptation of 'Young Avengers' May Showcase Core Strengths of Series

Title's Legacy To Continue

In some ways, the MCU has found itself in a period of confusion, with members of the original core cast departing after many years as the studio tries to build new teams of newer characters. The introduction of various young legacy heroes in the MCU, such as Kamala Khan and Scarlet Witch's children, suggests that some form of the Young Avengers (and/or Champions) will soon make their way to the big screen and the success of their original comics. colleagues offer a number of lessons for potential adaptation.

If a potential Young Avengers adaptation were to happen, then the series itself would return to print with a new team.

One important thing the adaptation needs to do is lean into the series' Young Adult drama. It's easy to imagine Marvel Studios balking at the idea of ​​making a potential movie too “teen-oriented,” but the strength of “Young Avengers” comes from its excitement. They need to feel like real teenagers, and that makes them confused and overdramatic. Likewise, team diversity should be front and center. However, what would be important would be to keep the core Young Avengers commitment to diversity and inclusion.

If a potential Young Avengers adaptation were to happen, then the series itself would return to publication with a new team. In the years since the original series, the idea of ​​making books aimed at young adults has become more prevalent, both at Marvel and in the wider comics landscape. Marvel saw Champions, Avengers: Arena, New X-Men: Academy X and many other titles succeed and a reboot Young Avengersa book that paves the way for all It would be a perfect gig with an MCU adaptation.

Source: The Man in the Hat (Tom Brevoort)