The Champions have one of the more unique publication histories in Marvel Comics, marked by two distinct and largely unrelated eras. The original team first appeared in The Champions #1, published in October 1975. Created by writer Tony Isabella and artist Don Heck, the team was an eclectic mix of pre-existing heroes who didn't fit neatly elsewhere. The initial concept was to create a team called “The Rangers” featuring a roster of western-themed heroes, but the lineup was changed to include more popular characters. The resulting roster—Hercules, Black Widow, Angel, Iceman, and Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze)—was famously disparate, a factor that both defined its quirky charm and contributed to its narrative challenges. The series ran for 17 issues before its cancellation in 1978, becoming a cult favorite over the ensuing decades. For nearly forty years, the “Champions” name lay dormant at Marvel, partly due to a trademark dispute. In the 1980s, the publisher Heroic Publishing created a successful role-playing game and subsequent comic book series also titled Champions. Due to Marvel's lapsed trademark, this created a legal obstacle that prevented Marvel from relaunching the title. This changed in 2016. Following the universe-altering events of Secret Wars (2015), Marvel successfully reacquired the trademark. Writer Mark Waid and artist Humberto Ramos were tasked with launching a brand-new Champions series. This new team had no connection to the original, instead spinning directly out of the fallout from the Civil War II crossover event. It featured a trio of Marvel's most popular teenage heroes—Ms. Marvel, Spider-Man, and Nova—who quit the Avengers to forge their own heroic path. This modern incarnation proved far more successful and resonant with contemporary audiences, anchoring multiple ongoing series and becoming a cornerstone of Marvel's “next generation” of heroes.
The in-universe formation of the Champions happened twice, under completely different circumstances, decades apart.
The formation of the original Champions was largely accidental. The story began when the Olympian god Pluto attempted to force Zeus's son, Hercules, and the former KGB agent, Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff), into marriage to consolidate his power in the underworld. This conflict drew the attention of two members of the x-men, Warren Worthington III (Angel) and Bobby Drake (Iceman), who had recently left their original team and were seeking a new purpose on the West Coast. The demonic Ghost Rider was also drawn into the supernatural fray. After successfully defeating Pluto, this unlikely quintet found they worked surprisingly well together. Encouraged by Angel, who offered to bankroll the team with his family's fortune, they decided to formalize their partnership. They established a headquarters in a Los Angeles skyscraper and dubbed themselves the Champions. Their stated goal was to be heroes for the common person, operating outside the East Coast-centric bubble of the avengers and the fantastic_four. Their tenure was marked by a bizarre assortment of threats, ranging from Russian super-soldiers to rogue Atlanteans and mythological beasts. The team's internal dynamics were often fraught with tension, given their clashing personalities and backgrounds. Despite their brief run, they established a unique legacy as Marvel's premier West Coast team of that era, a role later filled by the West Coast Avengers. The team eventually disbanded due to a combination of bankruptcy and personal conflicts, with the members going their separate ways.
The modern Champions were born from disillusionment and tragedy. During the superhero conflict known as civil_war_ii, the hero community was fractured over the use of the Inhuman Ulysses Cain, who could predict future crimes. The faction led by Captain Marvel advocated for “predictive justice,” stopping disasters before they happened, while Iron Man's faction argued it was a dangerous violation of free will. Three of the newest and youngest Avengers—Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel), Miles Morales (Spider-Man), and Sam Alexander (Nova)—found themselves caught in the middle. They witnessed firsthand the devastating consequences of the adults' war: public trust in heroes plummeted, property was destroyed, and their friends and mentors, like Bruce Banner and James Rhodes, were killed or grievously injured. The final straw for the trio came when they were forced to battle their friends in a conflict they didn't believe in. After the war concluded, the three met in secret. They shared a profound sense of disappointment in their role models, who they felt were more interested in fighting each other than in actually helping people. They quit the Avengers, determined to create a new movement. Their mission wasn't to react to disasters, but to proactively make the world better. They wanted to tackle smaller, more personal problems—bullying, social injustice, human trafficking—and inspire hope rather than fear. They posted a viral video declaring their intentions and officially formed the Champions. Their message resonated with other young heroes. Their first recruits were Viv Vision, the synthezoid daughter of the Vision, and Amadeus Cho, the Totally Awesome Hulk. Shortly after, a time-displaced teenage version of Cyclops also joined, seeking to redeem his future self's dark legacy. Together, this founding roster began a grassroots superhero movement, using social media and direct community outreach to “change the world” on their own terms.
As of the current timeline, the Champions team does not exist within the continuity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The name has never been used, and no formal team of young heroes has been established. However, the MCU is clearly and methodically laying the groundwork for such a team. Phase Four and beyond has been defined by the introduction of a new generation of legacy heroes, many of whom are core members of either the Champions or the Young Avengers in the comics. A future project assembling these characters is one of the most widely anticipated developments among fans. Potential members for a future MCU “Young Super-Team,” whether they are called the Champions, the Young Avengers, or something new, include:
The adaptation, if it occurs, will likely differ significantly from the comics. The MCU's version would be formed in a world still recovering from the Blip and grappling with the legacy of the original Avengers. The impetus for their formation would likely be a new, large-scale threat that the remaining adult heroes are unable or unavailable to handle, forcing this new generation to step up.
The modern Champions are defined by their activist ideology. Their mission, often verbalized by Ms. Marvel, is to “change the world.” This is more than a simple platitude; it represents a fundamental break from the traditional superhero modus operandi. Where the Avengers are often a reactive force, responding to global-level threats like alien invasions or supervillain takeovers, the Champions are intentionally proactive and grassroots. Their focus is on ground-level problems that larger teams often overlook. This includes:
This philosophy is a direct critique of the previous generation. They reject the infighting and destructive tendencies they saw in Civil War II and strive for a more hopeful and constructive form of heroism. They use the hashtag `#Champions` to create a brand and a movement, inspiring ordinary people to become champions in their own communities.
Reflecting their ideology, the Champions' structure is decentralized and non-hierarchical.
The team's roster has been fluid, but certain members define its different eras.
| The Champions of Los Angeles (Founding Roster) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Member | Codename | Role on the Team |
| Hercules Panhellenios | Hercules | The team's powerhouse and connection to the mythological world. |
| Natalia "Natasha" Romanova | Black Widow | The espionage expert, tactician, and often the reluctant leader. |
| Warren Worthington III | Angel | The team's financier, aerial support, and public face. |
| Robert “Bobby” Drake | Iceman | An Omega-level mutant providing elemental power and comic relief. |
| Johnathon "Johnny" Blaze | Ghost Rider | The supernatural wildcard, bound to the demon Zarathos. |
| All-New, All-Different Champions (Founding Roster) | ||
| Member | Codename | Role on the Team |
| Kamala Khan | Ms. Marvel | The heart and soul of the team. A co-founder and its moral center. |
| Miles Morales | Spider-Man | A co-founder, bringing experience, agility, and a strong moral compass. |
| Sam Alexander | Nova | A co-founder and the team's cosmic powerhouse and impulsive heavy-hitter. |
| Amadeus Cho | Hulk | The team's genius intellect and primary physical powerhouse. |
| Viv Vision | Viv Vision | The team's logical analyst, tech expert, and connection to the android community. |
| Scott Summers (Time-displaced) | Cyclops | A strategic mind seeking redemption for his future self's actions. |
| Later Key Members (Post-Founding) | ||
| Member | Codename | Significance |
| Riri Williams | Ironheart | A super-genius inventor who provides advanced technological support. |
| Nadia van Dyne | Wasp | A brilliant scientist and leader of G.I.R.L., adding another genius to the roster. |
| Joaquin Torres | Falcon | Sam Wilson's successor, providing aerial reconnaissance and support. |
| Amka Aliyak | Snowguard | A young Inhuman from the Arctic with powerful shapeshifting abilities. |
| Rayshaun Lucas | Patriot | A young activist inspired by Sam Wilson's Captain America. |
Without a formal team, there is no mandate or structure to analyze. However, if a team were to form based on the introduced characters, one could speculate on its nature. A potential MCU Champions or Young Avengers would almost certainly adopt the grassroots, social-media-savvy approach of the modern comics team. It would likely be spearheaded by Kamala Khan, whose earnest desire to help people was the core of her debut series. The team would operate outside of official government sanction, likely in opposition to the Sokovia Accords or similar future legislation. Their structure would be informal, a group of like-minded kids trying to do the right thing, contrasting sharply with the formal, military-adjacent structure of the original Avengers.
Unlike teams with a clear arch-nemesis like the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom, the Champions often fight against systemic or ideological foes.
The Champions' primary “affiliation” is, paradoxically, their disaffiliation from the Avengers. This act of rebellion is their defining characteristic. However, their members maintain ties to numerous other groups, creating a wide network:
This event is the direct catalyst for the team's creation. While not a “Champions story” itself, its impact is the team's foundational text. Ms. Marvel, Spider-Man, and Nova joined Captain Marvel's faction, believing in the potential of predictive justice to save lives. However, they were horrified as the conflict escalated. They watched as the Hulk was killed based on a prediction, as Iron Man's forces clashed violently with Captain Marvel's, and as Carol Danvers' methods grew increasingly authoritarian. The final battle, which left Tony Stark in a coma, shattered their faith in their idols. The event forced them to question the very nature of superheroism and conclude that the adults' way was broken, directly leading them to forge their own path.
During Hydra's takeover of the United States, led by an evil, cosmically-altered Captain America, the Champions proved their mettle. With most of the adult heroes captured, neutralized, or co-opted, the Champions became a vital part of the underground resistance. They operated out of a secret bunker in the Nevada desert, conducting guerilla raids, rescuing civilians, and offering a beacon of hope against Hydra's fascist regime. This storyline was critical in cementing their identity. They weren't just kid sidekicks; they were front-line heroes capable of standing against the world's greatest threats when no one else could. Their actions during Secret Empire earned them the respect of the entire superhero community.
This was the Champions' own Civil War. The event kicked off with a public disaster during a Champions mission, resulting in civilian casualties and the apparent death of Viv Vision. The public and political backlash was swift and severe, leading to the passage of the Underage Superhuman Welfare Act, colloquially known as “Kamala's Law.” This law made it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to engage in superhero activities without an official adult mentor. The Champions refused to comply, believing the law was unjust and that they had a right and responsibility to use their powers for good. They were declared fugitives and hunted by the government agency C.R.A.D.L.E. The team was fractured, with some members retiring, some being captured, and a core group going underground to fight the law. The storyline explored themes of civil rights, generational authority, and the meaning of responsibility, forcing the team to grow up faster than ever before.