Every week, a secret cabal of Marvel staffers gathers to discuss the best of the best when it comes to the House of Ideas.
At the moment in the Marvel Universe, we've got plain ol' Avengers, New Avengers and Secret Avengers, but no West Coast Avengers-at least not right now.
But once upon a time, the Avengers headed west, and the West Coast Avengers were born. It's a group with its own unique legacy that will be revisited in the pages of HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD by writer Jim McCann and artist David Lopez.
This week, the Secret Cabal assembles the coolest of the West Coast crew, and as a bonus, McCann shares his thoughts.
For each character you get the quick rundown as well as a special spotlight comic courtesy of Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited.
As always, these picks reflect the personal choices of the Secret Cabal, not the official opinion of Marvel or Marvel.com, and can be considered subjective at best. Enjoy!
10. MOON KNIGHT
First Appearance: WEREWOLF BY NIGHT #32
Joined the West Coast Avengers: WEST COAST AVENGERS #21
Learn More About Him...here
Jim McCann's Take: "Moonie put the 'Wacky' in the Wackos! He wasn't a member for long, but his run was memorable in that he followed his own rules and usually led the team into the depths of his insane past. Good luck Secret Avengers, you'll have your hands full!"
Spotlight Comic: MOON KNIGHT #13 (2007)-Marc Spector's latest attempt to go legit gets a bit out of control!
9. TIGRA
First Appearance: THE CAT #1
Joined the West Coast Avengers: WEST COAST AVENGERS #1 (1984)
Learn More About Her...here
Jim McCann's Take: "I loved that Tigra, this seemingly tough cat-chick, was actually the most insecure of the team when she first joined. Poor thing suffered a lot due to her feline nature, but I've always been a cat lover, so she was always one of my favorites."
Spotlight Comic: AVENGERS #35 (2000)-Tigra accompanies the Avengers on an intergalactic adventure!
8. THE VISION
First Appearance: AVENGERS #57 (1968)
Joined the West Coast Avengers: WEST COAST AVENGERS #37
Learn More About Him...here
Jim McCann's Take: "The synthezoid who ordered the formation of the team eventually became the center of one of their most memorable adventures: VisonQuest. Having become near-human, he was dismantled and forced to learn once more what it meant to be a man rather than a robot. And he was bleached in the process-a literal blank slate."
Spotlight Comic: WEST COAST AVENGERS #45-The West Coast Avengers encounter a different kind of Vision!
7. SPIDER-WOMAN II
First Appearance: SECRET WARS #6
Joined the West Coast Avengers: AVENGERS WEST COAST #74
Learn More About Her...here
Jim McCann's Take: "Believe it or not, when Julia Carpenter joined the West Coast team, she quickly became the team's most popular member according to a fan poll in the letters page! Of course, I loved this character simply due to her Secret Wars connection."
Spotlight Comic: SECRET WARS #6-The new Spider-Woman makes her debut!
6. IRON MAN II/WAR MACHINE
First Appearance: IRON MAN #118
Joined the West Coast Avengers: WEST COAST AVENGERS #1 (1984)
Learn More About Him...here
Jim McCann's Take: "The secret that Rhodey was in the armor instead of Tony Stark was a fascinating one to me. It was a staple of the old Avengers-not knowing each others' secret identities-but he was the only one to reluctantly reveal it, and only after he felt worthy of being an Avenger."
Spotlight Comic: WAR MACHINE #6 (2009)-James Rhodes' controversial actions make him a target upon his return to the United States!
5. U.S.AGENT
First Appearance: CAPTAIN AMERICA #323
Joined the West Coast Avengers: WEST COAST AVENGERS #44
Learn More About Him...here
Jim McCann's Take: "This hot-head made Hawkeye look like the Dali Lama. Always clashing with teammates and carrying a gigantic chip on his shoulder, he showed why he wasn't Captain America, and these weren't Cap's Avengers!"
Spotlight Comic: MIGHTY AVENGERS #27-U.S.Agent teams with Quicksilver against an Inhuman threat!
4. THE SCARLET WITCH
First Appearance: X-MEN #4 (1964)
Joined the West Coast Avengers: WEST COAST AVENGERS #37
Learn More About Her...here
Jim McCann's Take: "Quite possibly the most complex and controversial member of the West Coast Avengers. I still remember the insane trip John Byrne took the team on during his run with Scarlet Witch at the center being driven mad. It was probably one of the most frightening and strange stories I've ever read."
Spotlight Comic: AVENGERS WEST COAST #56-The Scarlet Witch reunites with her father, Magneto!
3. WONDER MAN
First Appearance: AVENGERS #9 (1964)
Joined the West Coast Avengers: WEST COAST AVENGERS #1 (1984)
Learn More About Him...here
Jim McCann's Take: "More than just brute strength, this one-time villains got a sense of direction from the West Coast Avengers-and the only other direction he was receiving at the time was from D-List filmmakers!"
Spotlight Comic: WONDER MAN #7-It's outer space action for Wonder Man during Operation: Galactic
2. MOCKINGBIRD
First Appearance: ASTONISHING TALES #6 (1975)
Joined the West Coast Avengers: WEST COAST AVENGERS #1 (1984)
Learn More About Her...here
Jim McCann's Take: "From super-spy to Avenger in no time flat, Mockingbird brought an edge to the team, doing things her way, regardless of the cost, which often meant paying a high price! She was the fighting spirit of the team."
Spotlight Comic: WEST COAST-Mockingbird in action alongside the original WCA!
1. HAWKEYE
First Appearance: TALS OF SUSPENSE #57
Joined the West Coast Avengers: WEST COAST AVENGERS #1 (1984)
Learn More About Him...here
Jim McCann's Take: "The ultimate success story, but it came as a struggle. Whether a carnival act, a criminal or an Avenger, Hawkeye always thought he was out of place or underappreciated-until he was asked to found his own team! Easily the heart of the West Coast Avengers. Way to go, Clint!"
Spotlight Comic: AVENGERS #189-Hawkeye gets a dangerous new job!
To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook or visit www.comicshoplocator.com
Not a subscriber to Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited yet? Join now!
Download SPIDER-WOMAN and ASTONISHING X-MEN Motion Comics now on iTunes! For more information on motion comics, visit the Marvel Motion Comics hub!"
Download episodes of "X-Men: Evolution", "Wolverine and the X-Men", "Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes", and "The Super Hero Squad Show"
now on iTunes!
Check out the official Marvel Shop for your favorite Marvel Heroes!
Rhodey was Iron Man for most of the WACO run.But where is Pym? Pym was at his best as a plain clothes adventurer in the West Coast Avengers.
This is so stupid. Where's Tony Stark/Iron Man, you know the one who pretty much ran the team?