All the Young Avengers Introduced in Marvel Phase Four

Phase four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been setting up more than just the multiverse. Subtly in various films and Disney+ shows, Marvel has introduced characters a part of the Young Avengers superhero team.

Consisting of teenage heroes, this team came together following a failsafe protocol. If the Avengers ever were to disassemble, this program would find other heroes to rise up. 

Their first comic book appearance was in “Young Avengers #1” in April 2005. The initial roster consisted of Wiccan, Patriot, Hulkling, and Iron Lad, with other members joining shorty after. 

Whenever Marvel introduces a new character or storyline, there is always a future payoff. Here is every member of the Young Avengers that has or will appear in Marvel phase four. 

Billy and Tommy Maximoff (WandaVision)

Introduced in “WandaVision,” Billy and Tommy are the children of Wanda Maximoff and The Vision. Billy is played by Julian Hilliard. Tommy is played by Jett Klyne. 

In the comics, Billy goes by the codename Wiccan but has also gone by the name Asgardian. Billy has magical powers similar to the Scarlet Witch. He joined the Young Avengers in “Young Avengers #1.” He would not go by Wiccan until issue six of the series. 

Tommy goes by the codename Speed and has speedster abilities similar to Quicksilver. He joined the Young Avengers in “Young Avengers #10.” 

Both characters have a muddled comic book history. In previous stories, they have been tethered to the demon Mephisto and went through reincarnation after being wiped from existence. 

Following the finale of “WandaVision,” the fates of these characters are currently unknown. Hopefully, Wanda will reunite with her children in the “Doctor Strange” sequel. 

Eli Bradley (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier)

Introduced in “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” Eli Bradley is the grandson of former supersoldier Isaiah Bradley. He is played by Elijah Richardson. 

Eli Bradley made his first appearance in “Young Avengers #1,” going by the codename Patriot. Iron Lad recruited him as a part of the failsafe protocol to find other heroes. Since the program intended to locate his uncle instead, Bradley lied about having superpowers to join the team. 

To make up for his lack of powers, Bradley started taking mutant growth hormones. After being critically injured, he received a blood transfusion from his grandfather, granting him similar supersoldier powers to Captain America. 

Since he currently doesn’t have any powers in the MCU, perhaps an event similar to the comics could give Bradley a supersoldier upgrade. 

Kid Loki (Loki)

Introduced in “Loki,” Kid Loki is a young variant of Tom Hiddleston’s Loki who killed Thor when he was a child. 

In the Young Avengers comics, Kid Loki was a later addition to the team. He joined as a part of the Marvel NOW relaunch of the comic. In that storyline, he taught Wiccan to master his magical powers but stole them in the process. He later felt remorse for his actions against the team and helped them stop the multiversal parasite known as Mother. 

In a recent interview, Kid Loki actor Jack Veal expressed interest in returning to the role as a part of a potential MCU Young Avengers project. 

“It has already been such an amazing journey, and I never expected to get this far. To make a step like that would be so surreal. I would love to do something as great as that, but as of now, I haven’t heard anything of The Young Avengers from Marvel,” Veal told Comicbookmovie.com. 

Wherever Kid Loki goes next, let’s hope Alligator Loki isn’t too far behind. 

Kate Bishop (Hawkeye)

Played by Hailee Steinfeld, Kate Bishop will make her MCU debut in the “Hawkeye” Disney+ series on Nov. 24. Clint Barton will train Bishop to become the next Hawkeye in the series. 

Bishop made her first appearance in “Young Avengers #1,” helping the Young Avengers stop an attack on her sister’s wedding. She took up the mantle of Hawkeye in “Young Avengers #12.” 

Unlike the upcoming Disney+ series, Barton did not train Bishop because he was dead in the comics at the time. However, Bishop referred to Hawkeye as a role model, impressed that an average human was fighting alongside the superpowered Avengers. 

America Chavez (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness)

Played by Xochitl Gomez, America Chavez will enter the MCU in the upcoming “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness” film. She joined the team during the Marvel NOW relaunch of the comic, intervening in Kid Loki’s schemes against Wiccan. 

Chavez goes by the codename Miss America. Her powers include flight, super-strength, and the ability to rip open star-shaped portals in the multiverse, allowing her to travel to different worlds at will. 

Since Doctor Strange will need all the help he can get, Chavez will definitely have a chance to put her multiversal powers to the test. 

Cassie Lang (The Ant-Man films)

While she was introduced in phase two instead of phase four, Lang is a part of the Young Avengers in the comics. She goes by the codename Stature with the same abilities as her father Scott Lang. She first appeared as Stature in “Young Avengers #6.” 

In the MCU, Cassic Lang has been portrayed by three different actresses. Abby Ryder Fortson played Lang as a child in the first two “Ant-Man” films. Emma Fuhrmann played Lang as a teenager in “Avengers: Endgame.” Kathryn Newton will take over the role for “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.” 

Given that a new actress has taken over the role, Marvel seems to have long-term plans for Cassie Lang. Scott Lang is already a legacy character in the MCU, taking over as Ant-Man from Hank Pym. She will likely follow in her father’s footsteps. 

Honorable Mentions

Characters like Ms. Marvel and Iron Heart are possible candidates for an MCU Young Avengers team. Despite never having joined the team in the comics, them being young and each getting a Disney+ series proves that they are likely contenders for a crossover. 

Ms. Marvel, also known as Kamala Khan, is a superhero fangirl from Jersey City with the power to shapeshift. She is also set to appear in the Captain Marvel sequel “The Marvels.” Iman Vellani will portray the character. 

Iron Heart, also known as Riri Williams, is a child prodigy who created her own Iron Man suit. Dominique Thorne will play the armored hero. 

Who is Missing? 

Two notable characters from the Young Avengers missing in the MCU are Iron Lad and Hulkling. 

Iron Lad is the catalyst for the Young Avengers coming together. Also known as Nathaniel Richards or Kang, he came from the future to get the help of the Avengers to stop his future self Kang the Conqueror. Since the Avengers were disassembled at the time, he found other heroes through a failsafe program.  Iron Lad utilizes a futuristic suit of armor similar to an Iron Man suit. 

Since He Who Remains recently appeared in “Loki” and teased other versions of himself, perhaps Iron Lad could be introduced as a variant. Iron Lad coming to help stop Kang the Conquerer could also be the incident that assembles the Young Avengers in the MCU. 

Hulkling, also known as Theodore Altman, is a Kree and Skrull hybrid. He reaps the benefits from both sides of his alien heritage, having super-strength and the ability to shapeshift. He appears similar to the Hulk in the Young Avengers comics, but he is not related to the Hulk. 

The romantic relationship between Hulkling and Wiccan is a prominent part of the Young Avengers comics. 

Given his alien nature, Hulkling could appear in the upcoming “Secret Invasion” Disney+ series or “The Marvels” film. Both projects will involve extraterrestrial beings like the Skrulls and Kree.

With so many new and young heroes on the horizon, phase four and the future of the MCU seems bright and exciting. Which Young Avenger are you excited to see in a future film or series? For more Marvel content, check out “Loki” season finale: five unanswered questions and Tom Holland’s best interview moments.