Get to Know Your West Coast Avengers

A quick primer on the West Coast’s Mightiest Heroes!

Back in 1984, the Avengers opened up a second branch and formed a team exclusively to defend the west coast of the United States. Hawkeye, Mockingbird, Tigra, Wonder Man, and Iron Man had a legendary run together, and they were eventually joined by Avengers mainstays, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Wasp, Hank Pym, and several other heroes.

The new West Coast Avengers aren’t quite as recognizable as their predecessors. They may not even technically be Avengers. In fact, the Great Lakes Avengers might even have a stronger claim on the name. They may not be the heroes we wanted, but they are the heroes we have. In this week’s WEST COAST AVENGERS #7, writer Kelly Thompson and artist Daniele Di Nicuolo are adding a potential complication to this volatile and hilarious mix of heroes. Before you read the new issue, it’s time to get caught up on every member of the current West Coast Avengers.

Former heiress turned Super Heroine, Kate Bishop has already established herself as a team player on the Young Avengers. She’s even held her own as a P.I. and a solo heroine. However, Kate’s stint as the leader of the new West Coast Avengers is testing her resolve like never before. Since she started the team, Kate has unwillingly locked lips with B.R.O.D.O.K. and she’s also been transformed into a giant humanoid hawk. But even the apparent return of Kate’s Super Villain mother hasn’t diminished her commitment to making this team work.

Clint may be an O.G. West Coast Avenger founder, but he’s simply playing a secondary role in the new incarnation. Clint was Kate’s mentor and partner, and they have a deep bond even if their personalities occasionally clash. Unfortunately, the two Hawkeyes haven’t been able to recruit top tier talent for their new team. When they asked Tigra to rejoin the group, she laughed in their faces.

Johnny is very new to the hero scene and not much is known about him. He probably wouldn’t be on the team if he wasn’t Kate’s boyfriend. That said, Fuse is far from useless. His powers are similar to the Absorbing Man’s, in that they can both transform their bodies into any substance that they touch. Additionally, Johnny has added Vibranium piercings to his body in order to ensure that he always has a strong material at hand. However, Johnny has refused to say how he obtained the Vibranium, which may eventually come back to haunt him.

America is the powerhouse of the team, but that would be true of almost any team that she joined. In her career, America has already been a Young Avenger and one of the Ultimates as well as the leader of Teen Brigade. She seems destined for even greater things, and her abilities include superhuman strength and speed, teleportation, flight, and very impressive durability. America is also one of Kate’s best friends, which may be the biggest reason she’s on the new team.

Gwenpool may be the most off-the-wall member of the team. Although she claims to have no superpowers, Gwen has previously displayed fourth wall awareness and the ability to reshape her personal reality on the fly. It’s unclear if Gwen still has these abilities, but her reckless streak is intact.

Kid Omega (Quentin Quire)

Quentin Quire was once one of the most powerful mutant telepaths in the world and a future host for the Phoenix. Unfortunately for him, Quentin’s powers appear to be greatly diminished. Still, Quentin’s telepathic skills are quite formidable, plus he set up the team with his reality show producers to fund the group. He may even have feelings for Gwenpool.

Technically, Noh-Varr is not a member of the team. But aside from Clint Barton, Noh-Varr is the only one present who was actually on the real Avengers at one point. He betrayed the team during the Avengers vs. X-Men war, and he quickly became persona non grata on Earth. That didn’t stop him from joining the Young Avengers and dating Kate. His enhanced physiology makes him a formidable ally, but Noh-Varr is also a bit of a jerk. That’s why Kate doesn’t want him around.

WEST COAST AVENGERS #7, written by Kelly Thompson with art by Daniele Di Nicuolo, is available now online and at your local comic shop!