Today I read the first issues of Young Avengers by Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung. This series introduces new characters like Patriot, Iron Lad, Asgardian (later called Wiccan), Hulkling, Stature, Kate Bishop (the new Hawkeye), and Speed. This arc was filled with teen drama, explosive action, and time travel! If you’re interested in this series, check out my review below.
Background
In the aftermath of Avengers: Disassembled, the Avengers have disbanded, leaving Earth without its mightiest heroes. A hero from the future, calling himself Iron Lad, arrives at the present, warning of the arrival of Kang the Conqueror. Without the Avengers to stop Kang, Iron Lad sets out to find new heroes to bring together. These heroes are teenagers Patriot, Asgardian, and Hulkling. All heroes seem to have some connection to their Avenger counterparts: Patriot is the grandson of Isaiah Bradley, the first Captain America. Asgardian (later called Wiccan) appears to have the powers of Thor. And Hulkling looks like a teenage version of the Hulk. Through chance encounters, more teenagers join their group: Stature (the daughter of Scott Land, the former Ant-Man), Kate Bishop (who has incredible archery skills, and becomes the new Hawkeye), and a new Vision (born out of Iron Lad’s brainwaves and technology).
Time-bending, Explosive Action
The first time we see the Young Avengers, they are jumping off a burning building, saving five tenants while Iron Lad puts out the fire. This first panel is indicative of the first six issues of the story. This arc, called “Sidekicks” has time travel, explosions, and incredible action. I started reading Young Avengers without knowing much about the characters, except for the ones that had appearances in the MCU.
The Young Avengers starts in medias res, and the readers are introduced to the background slowly as the plot unfolds. While I generally don’t like this narrative style, the first arc had me wondering about the background and identities of the heroes, and kept me interested through the entire story. The plot itself is fast paced, as Iron Lad races to train a group of heroes, before the arrival of a future threat.
When Kang the Conqueror arrives in the present, the stakes are high. The heroes battle Kang in the ruins of Avengers Mansion. The panels are darker, contrasting with Kang’s purple and green suit, making him look even more menacing. What’s worse, is that as the Young Avengers gain an advantage, the world around them begins to change. Ultimately, the Young Avengers are forced to make a hard decision to save the world, at the expense of one of their teammates.
Identity Crises and the Meaning of Family
Despite their initial victories, the Young Avengers face several trials that test their allegiance to each other. Some of these can get intense, like Patriot’s substance abuse and Stature’s grief after losing her father. The biggest of these trials is the revelation that Hulkling is both the heir to the Skrull empire, and also the son of Kree warrior Captain Marvel.
Kate Bishop is the Heart of the Young Avengers
Perhaps the most interesting character in the Young Avengers is Kate Bishop (a.k.a. Hawkeye). Through the pages of “Young Avengers”, our heroes learn to cope and work with each other, eventually growing into a family. This is best shown through the unconditional loyalty that Kate Bishop has toward her team.
From her first appearance, Kate is strong, brave, and decisive. In fact, Kate practically forces herself into the team, despite having no powers. Her martial arts and archery skills make her a tough fighter, but it’s actually her heart that gives the biggest contribution to the team.
Throughout the series, the Young Avengers reach boiling points and end up in danger of disbanding more than once. Several of its members decide to leave the team on occasion, and it’s Kate Bishop who helps hold the team together.
Despite her reluctance to take on a superhero name, Kate eventually accepts the Hawkeye mantle, paying tribute to the fallen hero. From her first appearance to the last panel in Issue #12, we get to see Kate develop from a young girl wanting to do good in the world, to a supporting teammate helping the team stay together, to a full-fledged member of the Young Avengers. I know that this is an ensemble book, but Kate Bishop steals the show in all her appearances.
Strong First Arc, but Later Stories Leave Much to be Desired
The first arc of the Young Avengers (“Sidekicks” in Issues 1-6) is fantastic. The non-stop action and progressive revealing of the team’s background kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
The second arc started strong, with the Young Avengers once again being heroes, and then pivots to a tough subject of substance abuse. At this point, the story interweaves this topic with that of identity and legacy. The book gives the impression that we are about to embark on a character study that deals with tough subjects. But instead, the story seemingly ignores these issues, makes light of them, and rolls back on any consequences within an issue. That was probably the most disappointing part of the Young Avengers.
Unfortunately, this type of lead up with a disappointing resolution does not end there. Other topics that the book begins to explore are Stature’s grief for her late father. Unfortunately, this is mostly shown in her dialogue, but it does not extend into her actions nor the team’s response. It almost felt like the writer wanted to let the reader know that Stature is grieving but did not want the team to share in her grief.
I could go on with these, but the reality is that the series is fun. Despite the missed opportunities, the action in this book almost makes up for it, keeping me entertained from start to finish.
Score: 8/10
Explosive action makes for a fun read. But the missed opportunities on complex topics keep it from having a perfect score.
How to Read Young Avengers
The book I read (pictured above) is called Young Avengers by Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung: The Complete Collection. It collects Young Avengers #1-12 and Young Avengers Special #1. You can also find these issues in the more recent Young Avengers by Heinberg and Cheung Omnibus, which includes all of these issues plus more!
If you want to read your comics online, you can also subscribe to Marvel Unlimited. This is a subscription that lets you stream thousands of Marvel Comics on your computer, tablet, or phone!
Reading Order
The reading order for Young Avengers is straightforward. Start with Young Avengers #1-8, then read the Young Avengers Special, and then continue with Young Avengers #9-12.
- Sidekicks: Young Avengers #1-6
- Secret Identities: Young Avengers #7-8
- Young Avengers Special #1
- Family Matters: Young Avengers #9-12
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