Anna Daniels
Teens in capes have long been part of the superheroic landscape. Initially, they were bright counterpoints to their mentors’ adult stoicism — Robin, clad in four-color motley beside the black-on-grey Batman, being the clearest example — and points of identification for young readers. But as the genre grew, it became clear that cape-clad kids could be the focus of serious storytelling. Enter the Young Avengers, a group old enough to teleport but young enough to not be taken seriously by the grown-ups of the Marvel Universe.
The team’s 2013 lineup is particularly well-suited to the MCU’s big, bright battlefields. For one thing, Loki’s a member, albeit in the form of a child, looking to atone for his darker misdeeds. And alongside the trickster god is an incredibly colorful cast. We’ve got Hulkling and Wiccan, a couple dealing with their powers and their relationship. There’s America Chavez, who can literally punch her way through time and space. Plus, there’s Marvel Boy, a Kree warrior with a passion for close harmony girl groups of the 1960s, and Kate Bishop, who’s as good with a bow and arrow as she is with cutting a quip. Other members come and go, providing the MCU with plenty of wiggle room if they’d rather not explain why Loki is playing the good guy or how Kate Bishop can be part of the Hawkeye crew and the Young Avengers. What remains, regardless, is the team’s verve, style, and unique perspective on the MCU.
Written by: Looper
