The Champions

• Core Identity: The Champions are a legacy superhero team name, most famously representing a group of young, idealistic heroes who broke away from the avengers to forge their own path, dedicated to “changing the world” through proactive, community-focused heroism.
• Key Takeaways:
• Role in the Universe: The Champions represent the next generation of superheroes, often acting as the moral and social conscience of the superhuman community. They tackle grounded, real-world issues like corporate malfeasance, social injustice, and environmental disasters, contrasting with the cosmic-level threats often faced by the avengers.
• Primary Impact: Their most significant impact was challenging the established superhero status quo after the devastating events of Civil War II. They proved that a younger generation could operate effectively and ethically without the baggage and infighting of their elders, inspiring a global movement of young heroes.
• Key Incarnations: There are two primary, vastly different Earth-616 incarnations. The first was the Champions of Los Angeles (1975), a short-lived and eclectic group of established heroes. The second and far more prominent version is the modern Champions (2016), founded by former teen Avengers Ms. Marvel, Spider-Man, and Nova, who were disillusioned with adult superheroics. The team does not currently exist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The name “Champions” has a storied and somewhat complex history at Marvel Comics. The original team debuted in The Champions #1 in October 1975. The series was created by writer Tony Isabella and artist Don Heck, although writer Len Wein and Heck had developed the initial concept. The team's lineup was famously eclectic, born from Marvel's desire to give several popular but unaffiliated characters their own book. The lineup—consisting of two former x-men (Angel and Iceman), a Greek demigod (Hercules), a supernatural anti-hero (Ghost Rider), and a Russian superspy (Black Widow)—had little intrinsic chemistry, a fact that both critics and creators have noted over the years. The initial run lasted for 17 issues, ending in 1978. For decades, the name lay dormant, partly due to a trademark issue. In the interim, Heroic Publishing created a role-playing game and subsequent comic book series also titled Champions. When Marvel sought to revive the name in 2016, it led to a legal agreement between the two companies allowing Marvel to use the name for their comic series, with specific trademark acknowledgments. The modern incarnation, which has become the definitive version for contemporary readers, was launched in October 2016 by writer Mark Waid and artist Humberto Ramos. This new Champions series was a direct fallout from the divisive Civil War II crossover event. It capitalized on the popularity of Marvel's new wave of teenage legacy heroes—Kamala Khan, Miles Morales, and Sam Alexander—and tapped into a zeitgeist of youth activism and disillusionment with established institutions, creating a team with a clear, powerful mission statement that resonated strongly with audiences.

The in-universe origins of the Champions are split between two completely separate and unrelated teams, decades apart. The Champions of Los Angeles (1975-1978) The formation of the original Champions was largely a matter of circumstance. After the an attempted takeover of Olympus by Pluto and Ares, the demigod Hercules found himself exiled to Earth and residing in Los Angeles. At the same time, the former X-Men members Warren Worthington III (Angel) and Bobby Drake (Iceman) were attending UCLA. When Pluto attempted to force Venus and Hippolyta to marry himself and Ares, a battle erupted on the UCLA campus. Angel, Iceman, and Hercules intervened, and were soon joined by Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow) and the demonic Ghost Rider. After successfully repelling the Olympian threat, this disparate group of individuals decided to formalize their partnership. With funding from Angel's Worthington Industries fortune, they established a headquarters in the “Champions Building” in Los Angeles. Their stated goal was to serve the common person, acting as heroes for the public good, unburdened by the government oversight of the avengers or the mutant-specific mission of the x-men. However, their time together was marked by internal friction. Ghost Rider's demonic nature clashed with the team's heroic ideals, and Black Widow's pragmatic spy background often put her at odds with the more idealistic members. The team eventually disbanded due to this lack of cohesion and financial difficulties after their headquarters was destroyed. The Modern Champions (2016-Present) The genesis of the modern Champions was an act of profound disillusionment. During the second superhuman civil war, known as Civil War II, the younger members of the Avengers—Ms. Marvel, Spider-Man, and Nova—were horrified by the escalating conflict between Captain Marvel's and Iron Man's factions. They witnessed their mentors and idols engage in brutal, destructive infighting that led to the death of Bruce Banner and put She-Hulk in a coma. The final straw was the collateral damage caused by one of their own battles, which they managed to contain but for which they received no recognition from their elders, who were too busy fighting each other. Fed up with the destruction and moral compromises of the adult superhero community, the trio quit the Avengers. They believed the title had been tarnished and that the world needed heroes who focused on helping people and inspiring hope, not just fighting endless battles. In a viral social media post, Ms. Marvel declared their mission to “change the world.” They were soon joined by Amadeus Cho, the new Hulk; Viv Vision, the synthezoid daughter of the Vision; and a time-displaced teenage version of Cyclops, who was eager to escape the dark legacy of his adult self. Together, they founded the new Champions, a team built on idealism, activism, and a promise to do better. Their hashtag, #Champions, became a global symbol of this new, hopeful movement.

As of the current timeline, the Champions as an organized team do not exist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The name has not been used, and no formal group analogous to either the 1975 or 2016 comic book versions has been established. However, the MCU has laid significant groundwork for a future team of young heroes that embodies the spirit of the modern Champions. The most direct evidence came at the conclusion of the film The Marvels (2023). In the final scenes, Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel), inspired by Nick Fury's recruitment of the original Avengers, takes it upon herself to assemble a new team of young, powered individuals. Her first recruit is Kate Bishop (Hawkeye), and she mentions seeking out Cassie Lang (Stature), the daughter of Ant-Man. This initiative is thematically identical to the formation of the modern Champions in the comics: a young, charismatic leader disillusioned with the lack of cohesion among older heroes and determined to build something new from the ground up. While the MCU project is widely speculated by fans to be a version of the young_avengers, the central role of Kamala Khan and the focus on a new generation of heroes strongly mirror the Champions' core concept. Therefore, while the Champions are not yet part of the MCU canon, their core ideals and foundational story beats are actively being introduced through characters like Kamala Khan. Any future MCU incarnation would likely merge elements of both the Champions and the Young Avengers, centering on the new wave of heroes introduced in Phase Four and beyond.

The mandate, structure, and membership of the two Champions teams are fundamentally different, reflecting the eras in which they were conceived.

• Mandate: The original Champions' mission was ill-defined beyond being a generic “super-team for the common man.” Based in Los Angeles, they sought to provide superhero protection on the West Coast, an area often neglected by New York-centric teams like the avengers and the fantastic_four. They had no overarching political or social agenda, responding to threats as they appeared.
• Structure: The team was loosely structured with no official leader for much of its existence. While Black Widow often took on a tactical leadership role due to her experience, decisions were typically made by group consensus. The team was funded by Angel's vast fortune, which provided their high-tech headquarters and transportation. This informal structure, however, contributed to their eventual collapse, as there was no strong central figure to resolve the frequent personality clashes.
• Key Members:
• Angel (Warren Worthington III): The team's financier and a founding member. He sought a new purpose after leaving the X-Men.
• Iceman (Bobby Drake): Joined with Angel, also looking for a post-X-Men identity. His powers often provided large-scale defensive capabilities.
• Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff): The most experienced hero on the team, she often served as the de facto field leader, bringing a level of espionage and tactical skill the others lacked.
• Hercules: The team's powerhouse. His bravado and alien cultural perspective were a frequent source of both conflict and comedy.
• Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze): The team's wild card. His demonic nature and brutal methods were a constant point of contention, and he often operated independently of the team's decisions.
• Darkstar (Laynia Petrovna): A Russian mutant who later joined the team after initially being an antagonist, adding another international element.

• Mandate: The modern Champions have a very clear and powerful mandate: “Change the World.” This is not simply about stopping supervillains. Their mission is a form of superhero activism. They tackle problems often ignored by larger teams, such as human trafficking, environmental destruction by corporations like Roxxon, and radicalized hate groups. They utilize social media to organize, inspire, and connect with a global community, aiming to create a movement that empowers ordinary people. Their philosophy is to solve the root cause of problems, not just punch the symptoms.
• Structure: Initially, the team operated as a collective with a fluid, non-hierarchical structure. Ms. Marvel often acts as the team's heart and moral compass, while others like Amadeus Cho or Viv Vision provide strategic and analytical leadership. They originally operated out of a mobile command center, a customized van, and later established a base called the “Champions Mobile Bunker.” After the “Outlawed” event, which made underage vigilantism illegal, the team was forced to operate underground, with a more clandestine and cell-based structure, relying on a network of allies and safe houses.
• Key Members (Roster): The modern Champions have had a large and diverse roster, reflecting their goal of being a global movement.

^ Founding Members ^ Role ^ Key Contributions ^

Since the team does not exist in the MCU, there is no established mandate or structure. However, based on the setup in The Marvels, a potential MCU “Champions” or “Young Avengers” team would likely adopt the mandate of the modern comic team.

• Potential Mandate: To create a new, proactive generation of heroes to fill the void left by the original Avengers' dissolution after Endgame. Kamala Khan's motivation seems to be to build a team that can work together without the infighting she witnessed among Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and to a lesser extent, Nick Fury. The focus would be on mutual support and facing threats relevant to their generation.
• Potential Structure: The structure would likely be spearheaded by Kamala Khan, making her the de facto founder and recruiter, similar to Nick Fury's role in Phase One. It would likely be a more informal, peer-led group than the Stark-funded, quasi-military Avengers.
• Potential Members:
• Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan): Founder.
• Hawkeye (Kate Bishop): First recruit.
• Stature (Cassie Lang): Potential recruit.
• America Chavez: Interdimensional powerhouse.
• Eli Bradley: Super-soldier grandson of Isaiah Bradley.
• Kid Loki: As seen in the Loki series.
• Skaar: Hulk's son.
• Ironheart (Riri Williams): Already established with her own series.

• The Avengers: The relationship is complex and foundational. The modern Champions were born from their disappointment in the Avengers. Initially, there was significant tension, with the Avengers viewing the Champions as naive and reckless children. However, the Champions repeatedly proved their competence and moral fortitude, earning the grudging respect and eventually the full support of their former mentors, particularly Captain America (Sam Wilson) and Iron Man. They are now seen as a vital and independent part of the hero community, often collaborating with the Avengers on larger-scale threats.
• The X-Men: Both incarnations of the Champions have had strong ties to the X-Men. The original team was co-founded by Angel and Iceman, and their mutant status was a recurring theme. The modern team included the time-displaced Cyclops, which often brought them into the orbit of mutant affairs. Later, the mutant hero Dust also joined their ranks. The Champions share the X-Men's goal of protecting a world that often fears and hates them, especially after “Kamala's Law” targeted young heroes in a way that mirrored anti-mutant legislation.
• The Young Avengers & Other Teen Teams: The Champions have a natural kinship with other young hero teams like the Young Avengers and the Runaways. While they haven't had extensive crossovers, they operate in the same sphere and share many of the same challenges. They represent a collective generational shift in the Marvel Universe, often finding themselves on the same side of ideological divides against older, more established heroes.

The Champions, particularly the modern team, are defined more by ideological opponents than by a single, recurring supervillain.

• Roxxon Energy Corporation: One of the most persistent thorns in the Champions' side. Roxxon is a morally bankrupt multinational corporation that prioritizes profit over human life and the environment. The Champions have frequently battled Roxxon's environmentally destructive projects, its private super-powered security forces, and its manipulative CEO, Dario Agger (the Minotaur). Roxxon represents the systemic, corporate evil that the Champions are dedicated to fighting.
• C.R.A.D.L.E. (Child-Hero Reconnaissance and Disruption Law Enforcement): Following the “Outlawed” storyline, C.R.A.D.L.E. became the Champions' primary antagonist. This government agency was formed to enforce “Kamala's Law” and apprehend underage superheroes. Its formation forced the Champions to go underground, turning them into fugitives. C.R.A.D.L.E. symbolizes the governmental overreach and adult mistrust that the young heroes constantly struggle against.
• Mephisto: During the Secret Empire event, the demon lord Mephisto saw the Champions' unwavering hope as a unique and tantalizing prize. He made a deal with the team's “impostor” members (the “Freakshow”) and later attempted to corrupt the core team by exploiting their despair during Hydra's takeover of America. He represents the ultimate cynical force seeking to extinguish the very hope that defines the Champions.

The Champions' primary affiliation is, paradoxically, their disaffiliation. Their entire identity is built on being independent from the Avengers and other established power structures. They are a self-governing, self-motivated entity. However, they are firmly part of the mainstream superhero community and will readily ally with other teams when the threat requires it, such as during major crossover events like War of the Realms and Secret Empire. Their most important affiliation is with the global network of young heroes they've inspired, turning their team name into a worldwide movement.

This event is the crucible in which the modern Champions were forged. While not a “Champions story” in itself, its impact is their origin story. Ms. Marvel, Spider-Man, and Nova, as members of the Avengers, were caught in the middle of the ideological conflict between Captain Marvel's predictive justice and Iron Man's opposition. They fought bravely but grew increasingly horrified as the conflict turned personal and deadly. The war's conclusion left them utterly disillusioned with their idols. They saw the adult heroes as flawed, destructive, and more interested in being right than in doing good. Their joint decision to quit the Avengers and “be better” was a direct repudiation of the events of Civil War II and became the foundational pillar of the new team.

When a Cosmic Cube-altered Steve Rogers revealed himself as a Hydra Supreme Leader and conquered the United States, the Champions were one of the few hero teams not immediately neutralized. They became key figures in the underground resistance. This storyline tested the team to its limits. They were hunted, betrayed, and forced to make impossible choices. A critical moment came when they allied with a splinter version of Black Widow's Red Room to fight Hydra. The climax saw the team seemingly sacrifice themselves to destroy a Hydra super-weapon, a moment that cemented their status as major heroes. Their internal conflict over using lethal force and the psychological toll of fighting a tyrannical Captain America profoundly matured the team.

This event was a direct attack on the Champions' very existence. After a disastrous mission resulted in massive collateral damage (later revealed to be sabotage by Roxxon), the U.S. government passed the Underage Superhuman Welfare Act, dubbed “Kamala's Law,” which outlawed non-sanctioned vigilantism by anyone under the age of 21. The law turned the Champions and all their young allies into criminals overnight. Viv Vision, in an attempt to protect her friends, seemingly betrayed them to the authorities, while the rest of the team was forced to go on the run. The storyline explored themes of civil liberties, generational divides, and personal responsibility. The Champions became leaders of an underground railroad for young heroes, fighting to protect their peers while trying to clear their own names and repeal a law made in their founder's name.

• Earth-1610 (Ultimate Universe): While a direct counterpart team did not exist for long, a group called the Champions of Europe was briefly mentioned. More significantly, Miles Morales himself originated from this universe before the events of Secret Wars (2015) integrated him into the prime Earth-616 reality.
• Marvel's Spider-Man (2017 TV series): The Champions appear in the animated series' third season, subtitled Maximum Venom. The roster is slightly different, consisting of Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Ms. Marvel, Miles Morales (as Spy-D), Ironheart, and Ghost-Spider (Gwen Stacy). They act as a young, tech-savvy team operating under the mentorship of Spider-Man.
• Marvel Strike Force (Mobile Game): The Champions are a playable team faction within the popular mobile game. The roster includes Ms. Marvel, Miles Morales, America Chavez, Nova, and Ironheart, making them a formidable and synergistic team for players to collect and utilize.

• avengers
• young_avengers
• kamala_khan
• miles_morales
• civil_war_ii
• outlawed

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