The Marvel Cinematic Universe has shattered a decade-long precedent with the confirmed roster for Avengers: Doomsday, introducing Joaquin Torres as the franchise's first Earth-based hero to join the Avengers team before appearing in the comics. This groundbreaking development emerged from a Disney showcase event in Italy, where Sam Wilson's Falcon was prominently featured alongside Thor, Loki, Shang-Chi, and Ant-Man as the core "Heroic Avengers" team. Danny Ramirez's character breaks a fundamental MCU tradition where every previous Earth-based Avenger debuted in comics first, marking a seismic shift in Marvel Studios' adaptation philosophy.

π₯ The Unprecedented Roster Reveal
At the Disney Italy event (reported by Avengers Updates), the Avengers: Doomsday lineup presented these key members:
| Character | Actor | Comic Avengers History |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Wilson | Anthony Mackie | Established comic Avenger |
| Joaquin Torres | Danny Ramirez | Never joined comic Avengers |
| Thor | Chris Hemsworth | Founding comic member |
| Loki | Tom Hiddleston | Occasional comic ally |
| Shang-Chi | Simu Liu | Recent comic recruit |
| Ant-Man | Paul Rudd | Longtime comic member |
This confirmation makes Torres the first MCU-original Earth-based Avenger, defying the franchise's historical pattern of strictly adapting comic team compositions.

π¦ Who Is Joaquin Torres?
Introduced as Sam Wilson's protΓ©gΓ©, Torres carries significant narrative weight:
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Debuted in MCU's Falcon and Winter Soldier series
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Took up the Falcon mantle in Captain America: Brave New World
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Comic counterpart only joined teenage Champions team (2015 debut)
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Represents next-generation superhero legacy
Captain America: Brave New World explicitly positioned Torres as Wilson's first official recruit for a new Avengers roster, making his Doomsday inclusion inevitable. Why would Marvel backtrack on such deliberate character development?
β‘ Breaking the Sacred MCU Rule
For 17 years, the MCU maintained an unbroken tradition:
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Every Earth-based Avenger existed in comics first
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Adaptations followed established comic lore
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Torres shatters this precedent completely
But hasn't Marvel bent rules before? Technically yes - Rocket Raccoon and Nebula briefly joined during the five-year Infinity War gap. However, these exceptions prove the rule:

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π« Non-Earth-based characters
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β±οΈ Membership occurred offscreen
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π½οΈ Served as narrative bridge to Endgame
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π Never felt like true Avengers
By contrast, Torres represents a deliberate, on-screen induction with long-term franchise implications.
π₯ Why This Changes Everything
Torres' inclusion signals a bold new direction:
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MCU gains creative autonomy from comics
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New heroes can originate on-screen first
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Comic adaptations may now follow MCU continuity
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Establishes precedent for future original characters
With Avengers: Doomsday not premiering until December 18, 2026, could comics still introduce Torres first? The upcoming Avengers #800 (December 2025) by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley provides a final opportunity - but the character's MCU destiny appears sealed regardless.

π The Future of MCU Storytelling
This paradigm shift raises fascinating questions about Marvel's evolving strategy:
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Will comics now adapt MCU-originated characters more frequently?
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Does this empower filmmakers with greater creative freedom?
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Could we see entirely new superheroes debut in Phase 6?
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How will audiences respond to non-comic-sourced Avengers?
Torres' journey symbolizes the MCU's maturation from comic adaptation to pop-culture innovator. As Sam Wilson's handpicked successor, his Avengers membership validates the franchise's confidence in original character development.
β People Also Ask: MCU's Historic Shift
Q: Has any MCU character joined the Avengers before appearing in comics?
A: Only non-Earth-based characters Rocket and Nebula briefly joined offscreen during the Infinity War time jump, but their membership was circumstantial rather than intentional.
Q: When did Joaquin Torres first appear?
A: Torres debuted in Marvel comics in 2015 as part of the All-New, All-Different Avengers initiative, but only joined the teen Champions team, never the main Avengers roster.
Q: Could comics still make Torres an Avenger before the movie?
A: With Avengers #800 releasing in December 2025 - over a year before Doomsday's premiere - it's theoretically possible, but unlikely to change the MCU's groundbreaking move.
Q: What does this mean for MCU's future?
A: This establishes that Marvel Studios can now originate major superheroes rather than solely adapt existing ones, potentially leading to more screen-first characters in Phase 6 and beyond.
Q: Why is Torres' inclusion so significant?
A: Unlike previous members, he's both Earth-based and joining during a main Avengers film with full narrative weight - not as a temporary or offworld exception.

The era where comics exclusively dictated MCU storytelling has ended. As Torres suits up alongside Earth's Mightiest Heroes in 2026, he carries not just Sam Wilson's legacy, but Marvel Studios' declaration of creative independence. What unprecedented innovations might follow this historic breakthrough?