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The first 3 phases of the MCU centered the Infinity Stones, slowly building up to a clash between the Avengers and Thanos. A year into phase 4, some similar long-running threads are becoming apparent, such as the Multiverse. Looking through the Disney+ Marvel shows, it looks like the MCU is building up to a formation of a new team – the Young Avengers.
Marvel’s equivalent of the Teen Titans and Young Justice, the Young Avengers (created by Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung) are teen heroes, each with a connection to one of the Avengers. It’s interesting to see the ways the Disney+ shows have been laying the groundwork for the Young Avengers to assemble.
8 WandaVision Introduced Tommy & Billy Maximoff – AKA Speed & Wiccan
The first Disney+ MCU series was WandaVision. WandaVision was mostly based on the 1980’s Vision And Scarlet Witch series, with some House Of M sprinkled in. However, WandaVision introduced the twin boys – Billy and Tommy. Billy has the same reality-warping powers as his mom, while Tommy inherited super speed from his uncle Pietro.
In the comics, these two are members of the Young Avengers as Wiccan and Speed – episode 6 has the twins wear Halloween costumes modeled on their superhero personas. Billy was introduced first as Asgardian but changed to Wiccan in Young Avengers #6. After Speed was introduced in issue #10, Billy realized the two must be the reincarnations of William & Thomas Maximoff.
7 WandaVision Saw Vision Resurrected
Another amalgamation of Vision And The Scarlet Witch with Young Avengers may be present in WandaVision. Vision was killed in Infinity War by Thanos, but is resurrected twice over. First, as an illusion of Wanda’s making, then again as the White Vision. The latter’s inclusion is, on the surface, an adaptation of Vision Quest from John Byrne’s West Coast Avengers.
However, a similar chain of events played out in Avengers Disassembled and Young Avengers; the Vision was killed but resurrected, devoid of his original memories, then joined the Young Avengers. Since White Vision is still around, it’s possible he could mentor the MCU Young Avengers.
6 Falcon And The Winter Soldier Introduced Eli Bradley
The leader of the Young Avengers was a masked vigilante named Patriot. He turned out to be Elijah “Eli” Bradley, grandson of super soldier Isaiah Bradley. Eli claimed he got his powers from a blood transfusion with his grandfather, but this was to mask their true origin. Eli was actually a user of the Mutant Growth Hormone, a narcotic which gave normal people superpowers. Injured in a battle with the Kree, a real blood transfusion from Isaiah gives Eli real powers.
Falcon & The Winter Soldier introduced both Isaiah and Eli Bradley to the MCU. With his grandfather having accepted his place in the Captain America legacy, Eli has the motive to become Patriot.
5 Loki Introduced Kang, The Young Avengers’ First Villain
Nathaniel Richards, aka Kang The Conqueror, is the greatest foe the Avengers have ever faced. It’s appropriate that he was also the first major villain faced by the Young Avengers. Loki finally saw Kang introduced to the MCU. Kang will be the villain in Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania, with Majors reprising the role. 2021’s Ant-Man And The Wasp will also feature Kathryn Newton as Cassie Lang, aka Stature – an important Young Avenger in the comics.
4 Kang Also Has An Important Connection To Iron Lad
Loki‘s introduction of Kang has two-fold implications for the Young Avengers. In the comics, the team was brought together by Iron Lad. In a twist, this character had no connection to Tony Stark, but was a teenage version of Nathaniel Richards. Horrified by what he done, Iron Lad assembled the Young Avengers to ensure he would never become Kang.
The Conqueror didn’t take kindly to this attempt at erasing him from existence, and eventually forced Iron Lad to return to his own time (the 31st Century). While Nathaniel was back on track to becoming Kang, he still left a positive impact on the past by forming the Young Avengers. Loki introducing Kang and the concept of alternate timeline “variants” could have promising implications for Iron Lad’s future in the MCU.
3 Kid Loki Is A More Recent Part Of The Young Avengers
Aside from Kang, Loki introduced another member of the Young Avengers – the God of Mischief himself. Or rather, his child self. Kid Loki wasn’t part of the team during the Heinberg/Cheung Young Avengers run, but was introduced during Matt Fraction’s run on Thor. This reincarnated Loki was a star in Kieron Gillen’s Journey Into Mystery. When Gillen wrote the second volume of Young Avengers, he added Kid Loki to the line-up.
In the MCU, Kid Loki (played by Jack Veal) is not a reincarnation of the original, but a variant who killed his brother Thor. He’s still breathing by Loki season 1’s end, so Young Avengers would be a natural place for his reappearance.
2 Hawkeye Introduced Kate Bishop
The most recently-released Disney+ show is Hawkeye. The title refers not just to Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton, but also Kate Bishop. Kate (played by the always-excellent Hailee Steinfeld) is Hawkeye’s co-lead, and it won’t be a surprise if she takes over the Hawkeye mantle by the end.
Kate’s comic counterpart was introduced in Young Avengers #1 as a hostage rescued by the Young Avengers. Following the team to Avengers’ mansion, she fashioned a costume from the suits and equipment of Hawkeye, Mockingbird, and Swordsman. Reluctant to take on the Hawkeye mantle at first, she eventually adopts it and earns Clint’s blessing. Since then, Kate has been the most recognizable and popular member of the Young Avengers – it’s surely no coincidence that Marvel chose a star like Steinfeld to play her.
1 Secret Invasion’s Focus On The Skrulls Could Lead To Hulking
Teddy Altman is the Hulking. His name belies his true origin – he has no connection to Bruce Banner, but is the son of Captain Mar-Vell and Skrull princess Anelle. His shape-shifting abilities enable him to mimic the Hulk’s appearance and strength. The Skrull and Kree’s competing attempts to claim Hulkling were the main focus in the 2nd half of Heinberg & Cheug’s Young Avengers.
With Secret Invasion on the horizon, the MCU has a prime opportunity to introduce some Skrull characters. Teddy, or at least his mother Anelle, could easily be one. Plus, Teddy’s relationship with Wiccan would give the MCU some sorely needed LGBTQ+ representation.
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