Champions

• Core Identity: In both of its major incarnations, the Champions are a team of heroes who define themselves in opposition to the established superhero community, striving to forge a more idealistic, grassroots, and proactive path to justice.
• Key Takeaways:
• A Generational Divide: The Champions, particularly the modern team, represent the voice of the next generation of superheroes in the Marvel Universe. They are defined by their youthful idealism and their disillusionment with the methods and frequent infighting of their predecessors like the Avengers.
• From Misfits to Movement: The team has evolved from its initial 1970s concept as an eclectic, California-based group of established heroes into a global movement of young activists who use modern tools like social media to “change the world” and fight battles that larger teams often overlook.
• Two Distinct Teams: It is critically important to distinguish between the two primary Earth-616 teams. The original 1970s team was a short-lived group of mismatched heroes (Hercules, Black Widow, Ghost Rider, Iceman, and Angel). The modern (2016-present) team is a much more famous and influential group founded by former young Avengers (Ms. Marvel, Spider-Man, and Nova). There is currently no official “Champions” team in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The “Champions” name has a storied and somewhat complex history at Marvel Comics, representing two vastly different teams from two different eras. The first team debuted in The Champions #1 (October 1975). The series was created by writer Tony Isabella and artist Don Heck. The concept was born from a desire to create a new “buddy book” featuring former X-Men members Angel and Iceman, who had recently enjoyed a popular run in The Defenders. Editor-in-chief Marv Wolfman suggested adding more prominent heroes to the roster to boost sales, leading to the inclusion of Hercules, Black Widow, and Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze). The team was deliberately eclectic, a collection of “heroes' heroes” who didn't quite fit anywhere else. Based in Los Angeles, they were meant to provide a West Coast alternative to the New York-centric teams. Despite its unique roster, the series struggled to find a consistent creative direction and was canceled with issue #17 in 1978. For decades, the name lay dormant, partly due to a trademark issue. In the interim, Heroic Publishing created and trademarked a role-playing game and subsequent comic book line called Champions. When Marvel wished to revive the name, a legal agreement was reached allowing them to use it for a specific team, but not as the sole title of a comic book.¹⁾ The modern and most popular incarnation of the team was launched in Champions (Vol. 2) #1 (October 2016). Created by writer Mark Waid and artist Humberto Ramos, this version was a direct thematic and narrative sequel to the fallout of the crossover event Civil War II. The series was born from the idea of the youngest generation of heroes becoming utterly disillusioned with their mentors. The conflict between Iron Man and Captain Marvel left a deep scar, prompting Ms. Marvel, Miles Morales, and Nova to quit the Avengers in protest. This new team was designed from the ground up to reflect a modern, activist-driven youth culture, utilizing social media and focusing on real-world problems alongside super-villainy, which resonated strongly with a contemporary audience.

The in-universe origins of the two Champions teams are completely unrelated, separated by years and vastly different circumstances.

The Champions of Los Angeles (1975-1978) The original Champions were never meant to be a team. Their formation was a complete accident. The story began when the Olympian god Pluto attempted to force Zeus to grant him rule of Olympus by marrying Venus and threatening to conquer Earth. To do so, he tricked Hercules and the Russian spy-turned-hero Black Widow into signing a contract that bound them to his will. Meanwhile, former X-Men Warren Worthington III (Angel) and Bobby Drake (Iceman) were attending UCLA. When they witnessed the rampaging Hercules and Black Widow, they intervened. They were soon joined by the demonic Spirit of Vengeance, Johnny Blaze (Ghost Rider). This unlikely quintet managed to fight off Pluto's forces and eventually freed Hercules and Black Widow from their mystical contract. Having worked surprisingly well together and with no other immediate commitments, the group decided to make their partnership official. Funded by Angel's vast fortune, they established a headquarters in the “Champions Building” in Los Angeles and became a government-sanctioned superhero team. Their brief career was marked by a bizarre assortment of threats, from disgruntled Russian super-agents to rogue Sentinels, but the team was always plagued by internal friction and a lack of a clear, unifying purpose. They disbanded after less than two years of operation. The Modern Champions (2016-Present) The formation of the second, more enduring Champions team was a deliberate act of rebellion. Following the devastating ideological and physical conflict of Civil War II, the three youngest members of the Avengers—Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel), Miles Morales (Spider-Man), and Sam Alexander (Nova)—became profoundly disillusioned. They had witnessed their mentors and idols nearly destroy each other over a philosophical disagreement, leading to the death of Bruce Banner and the coma of Tony Stark. In a secret meeting, the trio expressed their shared frustration. They felt the Avengers had lost their way, focusing on fighting each other rather than helping people. They were tired of the cynicism, the property damage, and the endless cycle of conflict. They decided to quit the Avengers and forge their own path. Their mission statement was simple but revolutionary: they would be a different kind of superhero team. They would focus on helping people directly, tackling smaller-scale problems, and inspiring hope rather than fear. They wanted to “reclaim” the word “superhero.” Their first mission saw them rescuing miners from a collapsed shaft and confronting the human trafficker who had sabotaged it. During the fight, they were joined by Amadeus Cho, the new Hulk, and Viv Vision, the synthezoid daughter of the Vision. Inspired by their ideals, both immediately joined the team. Soon after, they were joined by a time-displaced teenage version of Scott Summers (Cyclops), who was eager to escape the dark legacy of his adult self. Together, these six founders became the new Champions, a name they chose to signify that they were champions of the common person. They launched a social media blitz with the hashtag #champions to spread their message and became an instant global phenomenon.

As of the current phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there is no official team named the Champions. The concept of a young superhero team-up has been heavily foreshadowed but has not yet come to fruition under that specific banner. However, the thematic groundwork for a Champions-style or Young Avengers team is clearly being laid across multiple projects. The MCU is systematically introducing a new generation of young heroes who could potentially form such a group:

• Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel): A young, idealistic hero who idolizes the older generation (specifically Captain Marvel) but is fundamentally driven by a desire to protect her local community in Jersey City. Her origin story in her Disney+ series is a perfect setup for a Champions-style narrative.
• Kate Bishop (Hawkeye): Now officially a successor to Clint Barton, she possesses the skills and determination but lacks the cynical baggage of the original Avengers.
• America Chavez: Introduced in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, she is a powerful, young individual learning to control her abilities at Kamar-Taj.
• Eli Bradley (Patriot): Briefly seen in The Falcon and the The Winter Soldier, he is the grandson of super-soldier Isaiah Bradley. In the comics, he is a key member of the Young Avengers.
• Cassie Lang (Stature): Recast and aged up in Avengers: Endgame and featured prominently in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, she has now become a hero in her own right.

Should a young hero team form in the MCU, it is likely their origin would mirror the 2016 comic team's philosophy. It would probably stem from a disillusionment with the post-Blip world and the perceived failures of the remaining Avengers, or a simple recognition that the world needs new heroes to tackle problems on a more human scale. The formation could be a direct response to a specific threat that the senior heroes are too busy or ill-equipped to handle.

The operational philosophy and membership of the two Champions teams could not be more different, reflecting the eras in which they were conceived.

Mandate and Structure The original Champions (1975) operated like a traditional superhero team. Their mandate was broad: to fight evil and protect the innocent, but without a specific focus. They were officially sanctioned by the U.S. government and had a formal headquarters in Los Angeles. Their structure was loose, with no official leader, which often led to internal conflicts as the strong personalities of Hercules, Black Widow, and Ghost Rider clashed. Their funding came entirely from Angel's immense wealth. The modern Champions (2016) are structured more like a social movement or an activist organization than a traditional superhero team.

• Mandate: Their core mission is to “fight the battles that nobody else will.” This includes not only supervillains but also social injustices like human trafficking, racism, corporate malfeasance, and environmental disasters. They prioritize minimizing collateral damage and de-escalating conflicts whenever possible. A key part of their mandate is inspiration—using their platform to empower other young people to make a difference in their own communities.
• Structure: Initially, the team was completely decentralized with a flat hierarchy, making decisions by consensus. Ms. Marvel gradually and naturally evolved into the team's field leader due to her passion and strategic mind. They have no single headquarters, often operating nomadically or out of mobile bases, such as a customized van or, later, a submarine.
• Funding and Technology: Their initial funding was a mix of crowdfunding and resources from Amadeus Cho's company. They heavily utilize social media and custom apps to receive distress calls from around the world, allowing them to respond to crises that SHIELD or the Avengers might deem too small.

Key Members

If a Champions team were to form in the MCU, its structure would likely be heavily influenced by the 2016 comic book team.

• Potential Mandate: Their mandate would almost certainly be to act as a more grounded, community-focused superhero team. In a world that has seen alien invasions (New York), cities falling from the sky ( Age of Ultron), and a universal genocide ( Infinity War), a team dedicated to helping people with more immediate, relatable problems would fill a significant narrative void. They would be the heroes who stop a mugging, help after a natural disaster, or expose a local corrupt politician—things the cosmic-level Avengers no longer handle.
• Potential Structure: The team would likely be a grassroots effort, perhaps organized by Kamala Khan or Kate Bishop. They would lack the formal structure, funding, and high-tech headquarters of the Avengers. Their “headquarters” might be a garage or a basement, and their communication would be via encrypted text messages. This would emphasize their underdog status and make them more relatable to a younger audience. Leadership would be fluid, but Kamala Khan's earnest and inspiring personality makes her the most likely candidate to unite such a disparate group.

• Avengers: The relationship is complex and often fraught with tension. For the modern Champions, the Avengers are simultaneously mentors, inspirations, and cautionary tales. Founders like Ms. Marvel, Miles, and Nova quit the team out of principle, but they still respect figures like Captain America (Steve Rogers) and, to a lesser extent, Tony Stark. The Avengers often see the Champions as reckless and naive, while the Champions see the Avengers as jaded and out of touch. Despite this, they will always unite against a world-ending threat.
• X-Men: The original team's inclusion of Angel and Iceman created a natural link. For the modern team, the presence of the time-displaced teen Cyclops was a major point of connection and conflict. He was trying to escape the legacy of his radicalized adult self, and the Champions gave him a chance to be a hero on his own terms. This often put the team in the orbit of X-Men affairs.
• Individual Mentors: Several older heroes have acted as mentors. Steve Rogers, in particular, has shown great respect for the Champions' ideals, seeing in them the pure spirit of heroism he has always fought for. Tony Stark, despite his role in Civil War II, has provided tech and resources on occasion. For Miles Morales, Peter Parker remains a key, if sometimes distant, mentor.

• The Freelancers: This group serves as a dark mirror to the Champions. They are a team of super-powered youths who work for a corporation, effectively monetizing their abilities for corporate espionage and sabotage. Their leader, Haze, has powers similar to Ms. Marvel, and they represent a cynical, for-profit version of superheroics that is antithetical to everything the Champions stand for.
• C.R.A.D.L.E. and Kamala's Law: The “Child-Hero Reconnaissance and Disruption Law Enforcement” (C.R.A.D.L.E.) was a government task force created to enforce “Kamala's Law,” legislation that outlawed superhero activity by anyone under the age of 21. This wasn't a single supervillain but an ideological enemy. The law turned the Champions into outlaws in the very society they swore to protect, forcing them underground and creating a profound conflict between their duty and the law. This storyline, Outlawed, is perhaps their most defining struggle.
• Pluto: The primary antagonist for the original 1970s team. The Olympian God of the Underworld's machinations were the sole reason for the team's formation, and he remained a recurring threat during their short tenure.

The Champions' primary affiliation is to each other and their shared cause. However, their members have extensive connections throughout the Marvel Universe:

• Former Avengers: The team was founded by three former members of the All-New, All-Different Avengers roster, and this history heavily informs their worldview.
• Nova Corps: Sam Alexander's membership gives the team a cosmic connection, though he is often estranged from the main Corps.
• The “Underground”: During the Secret Empire event, when Hydra took over the United States, the Champions formed the core of the youth resistance movement, known as the Underground, working alongside other heroes to fight back against Captain America's fascist regime.

While the Champions were not a team during Civil War II, the event is their crucible. The premise of the war—profiling and arresting people for crimes they might commit in the future based on the predictions of an Inhuman named Ulysses—created a deep rift. Ms. Marvel initially sided with her mentor, Captain Marvel, while Miles Morales found himself targeted by Ulysses' visions. The destructive, personal, and ultimately pointless nature of the conflict horrified the young heroes. Their decision to abandon the Avengers in the final pages of Civil War II and form their own team in Champions (Vol. 2) #1 is a direct consequence of this event. It permanently altered their trajectory from sidekicks-in-training to independent leaders.

During Hydra's takeover of the United States, led by a cosmically-altered, evil Captain America, the Champions refused to surrender. While many adult heroes were trapped or defeated, the Champions went underground, forming a resistance network. They operated out of a secret base in the Nevada desert, rescuing Inhumans from Hydra's concentration camps and fighting against Hydra's brainwashed Young Avengers. This storyline was a crucial test of their resolve. Stripped of public support and facing their greatest idol as their greatest enemy, they proved that their idealism was not naive, but a powerful weapon of defiance. Their defining moment came when they stood with the very few other heroes left to make a final stand against Hydra Supreme.

This is arguably the most important storyline for the modern team's identity. The event kicks off when a public battle involving the Champions and a dragon-like villain goes horribly wrong, resulting in the destruction of a school and the apparent death of Viv Vision (though she survived). In the ensuing public outcry, the government passes “Kamala's Law,” making it illegal for underage individuals to act as superheroes. This law fundamentally attacks the Champions' right to exist. The story arc sees the team fractured, on the run, and fighting for their very identity. Some members are arrested, while others form underground cells to continue their work. The event forces them to question the nature of heroism, law, and responsibility, solidifying their status as true rebels fighting for a cause.

• Champions of Los Angeles (Earth-616, 1975): While existing in the same reality, the original team is so different in tone, purpose, and roster that it serves as an “alternate version” of the Champions concept. They were a random assortment of powerful individuals, whereas the modern team is a purpose-driven group of like-minded young heroes. The original team has been referenced occasionally as a historical curiosity, with Hercules once being confused by the new team using his old name.
• Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610): No team named the Champions existed in this reality. However, the spirit of the team was embodied by the young heroes who rose to prominence after the death of Peter Parker. Miles Morales, Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew), Cloak, Dagger, and Bombshell formed a loose-knit group of “Young Ultimates.” Like the Champions, they were young heroes trying to do right in a world where the adult heroes (the Ultimates) were often morally compromised and dangerous.
• Marvel's Avengers (Video Game, Earth-TRN814): The 2020 video game's main protagonist is Kamala Khan. The story's narrative arc is very much a Champions-style story. It begins with the Avengers disgraced and disbanded after a catastrophe (A-Day). It is Kamala, a young, idealistic fan, who uncovers the conspiracy behind the event and takes it upon herself to reassemble the team. Her unwavering belief in heroism in the face of widespread cynicism perfectly captures the spirit of the Champions, even though the team itself is not named in the game.

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