Alright, let's talk about something that's been simmering in the back of my brain for a while now. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been playing the world's longest game of "keep away" with its next generation of heroes. We've met them! Kate Bishop with her snarky arrows, Kamala Khan with her fangirl energy and stretchy powers, America Chavez punching holes in reality, and even Cassie Lang with her Giant-Man/Woman potential. They've been introduced, waved at us charmingly, and then… what? Stashed in a narrative closet somewhere? The closest we got was seeing some of them team up in an animated What If…? scenario, which was cool, but felt like a teaser for a concert that never starts. Meanwhile, the MCU train has roared right past them towards the giant, universe-ending spectacle of Avengers: Doomsday. Don't get me wrong, I love a good spectacle, but it's high time these kids get their own stage. And you know what? I think I've found the perfect, slightly terrifying, story to launch them with.
Remember that super intriguing post-credits scene in The Marvels? Kamala Khan, in full Nick Fury cosplay mode, approaches Kate Bishop with a mysterious offer. It was a direct callback to the scene that started it all in Iron Man. My fellow fans and I collectively lost our minds! "This is it!" we yelled. "The Young Avengers are assembling!" …And then, crickets. Years of crickets. It's time to cash that check, Marvel. The perfect place to do it? Right after the reality-warping chaos of Avengers: Secret Wars. The world will be new, shaken, and ripe for new rules. Enter the "Outlawed" storyline from the comics.
Here’s the brutal, brilliant premise: after a tragic event like a school bombing (chillingly relevant, I know), public and political opinion turns against young, unsupervised superheroes. A law is passed—they even have the audacity to name it after Kamala Khan, not knowing she's Ms. Marvel herself—banning anyone under 18 from superheroics without an adult sponsor. What follows is a dystopian hunt. The government rounds up these powered teens, snatching them from their families, locking them away in secret facilities for "their own good" (and some not-so-good experimentation), all hidden from the public eye. 😟
Think about it. This isn't just a cool superhero plot; it's a story with real teeth. It tackles themes of:
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Government overreach and fear
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The persecution of the "other"
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Teenagers fighting for their right to choose their own path
It fits like a glove into a post-Secret Wars MCU. The world will be wary of powerful beings, especially after the Skrull infiltration of Secret Invasion. And with the X-Men finally arriving as the new cornerstone of the franchise, this "Outlawed" pressure could initially focus on the non-mutant young heroes, creating a fascinating divide before they inevitably unite. It gives our new generation impossible odds to overcome, forcing them to go underground, rely on each other, and ultimately prove why the world needs heroes of all ages.
Now, here's my controversial hot take: they shouldn't be called the "Young Avengers." I know, I know. The name has history. But hear me out. Sticking "Young" in front of "Avengers" immediately shackles them to a legacy. Every review, every fan conversation, will be about how they measure up to Steve, Tony, and Natasha. That's a shadow too big for anyone to escape. These characters deserve to carve out their own reputation, their own legacy, under a name that's wholly theirs. My vote? They should become The Champions. 🏆
Let's break down the roster potential, because this is the fun part:
| Potential Team Member | MCU Status | Why They Fit |
|---|---|---|
| Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel | Established, fan-favorite | The heart of the team, already started the recruitment drive. |
| Kate Bishop / Hawkeye | Established, fan-favorite | The strategist and seasoned (relatively) leader. |
| Riri Williams / Ironheart | Established via Disney+ series | The tech genius and powerhouse. |
| America Chavez | Established, training with sorcerers | The multiversal muscle and portal creator. |
| Billy Kaplan / Wiccan | Introduced, major part of Agatha All Along | Reality-warping magic on tap. |
| Cassie Lang / Stature | Established in Quantumania | Can go giant-sized for big problems. |
| Miles Morales / Spider-Man | Not yet introduced (but please!) | The ultimate wish-list addition for star power and fresh perspective. |
The comic book Champions included awesome characters like Ms. Marvel, Nova (Sam Alexander), a younger Cyclops, and Viv Vision. The MCU could beautifully merge the best of the "Young Avengers" concept (Kate, Wiccan, Cassie) with the Champions spirit led by Kamala. It's a perfect synthesis.
The pieces are literally all on the board. We have:
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A charismatic leader-in-waiting (Kamala).
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A seasoned fighter and archer (Kate).
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A magician in training (Wiccan).
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A tech prodigy (Riri).
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A multiversal powerhouse (America).
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A size-changer (Cassie).
All they need is a mission. The "Outlawed" storyline provides that mission: survive, resist, and prove your worth in a world that fears you. It’s a coming-of-age story on a superheroic scale.
I get it. The MCU's immediate future is building the new pillars with the X-Men and the Fantastic Four. That's exciting! But a thriving universe needs more than just pillars; it needs a vibrant new generation growing in their shadow. These young heroes are the key to showing the franchise is looking forward, not just nostalgically backward. Even if their debut is as a Disney+ series (which could be amazing for character development), running parallel to the street-level stories of Daredevil and Spider-Man, it's a bet Marvel needs to take. With the combined appeal of Kamala Khan and the potential inclusion of someone like Miles Morales, this isn't just a good idea—it could be the MCU's next massive, heartfelt hit. The trigger has been pulled on introducing them. Now, for the love of Stan Lee, let's see them fly. ✨