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Robert Greenberger
by Robert Greenberger
Comic fans knew nothing about Allan Heinberg and were curious to see what this newcomer could finish with a new title called young Avengers. no one knew he was a veteran television writer and producer, honing his skills in Shondaland, turning Grey’s Anatomy and scandal into compelling viewing. He continued to develop his dialogue skills with a stint on the final season of Gilmore girls and then concerned marvel with a teen version of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
Young Avengers by Allan Heinberg & Jim Cheung: The complete Collection
Heinberg was in such demand that the monthly grind shown much more than he could manage and he relinquished the team to the marvel universe and its members continue to populate the line today from Hawkeye to the forthcoming Champions. It’s an outstanding time, then, for marvel to offer us young Avengers by Allan Heinberg & Jim Cheung: The complete Collection. The thick volume includes all twelve issues and the young Avengers Special, spanning 2005-2006.
When the series arrived, these teens were from different times and realities – Iron Lad (Nathaniel Richards, who grows up to become Kang the Conqueror), Hulkling (son of Mar-Vell and Skrull Princess Anelle), Patriot (grandson of one-time Captain America Isaiah Bradley), Wiccan (the child of the Vision and Scarlet Witch), Hawkeye (rich girl Kate Bishop), and Stature (Cassie Lang, daughter of Scott Lang, Ant-Man) – but had the same hopes, dreams, fears, and issues that made their adult counterparts so unique. More, they were contemporary as several represented the LGBT community, something fresh for the company, previously branded as homophobic.
Young Avengers #4
The mainstream world discovered the outstanding series and the Gay Times’ Joe Glass interviewed Heinberg at the time. The writer explained, “I don’t think I’ve seen enough gay and lesbian characters in mainstream superhero comics to be able to describe a general pattern or trend. I will say that my method to Wiccan and Hulkling in young Avengers and in Avengers: The Children’s Crusade was to make their sexuality beside the point. While they are open about their sexuality and their relationship, they’re by no implies defined by it. In my opinion, any very hero who’s mainly defined by his or her sexuality doesn’t make for a very interesting or multi-dimensional very hero. Or human being, for that matter.”
While that may be true, his series did win the 2006 GLAAD Media award for exceptional Comic book and the 2006 Harvey award for best new Series.
But it was also a kickass superhero series, arriving as the Avengers disassembled themselves. These teens were gathered by the Iron Lad in the hopes it would help him not become the time travelling warrior. The first serial, “Sidekicks” (issues #1-6), introduced us to the team through daily Bugle reporters Jessica Jones (before returning to action) and Kat Farrell. Additionally, founders Captain American and Iron man checked these kids out and, despite their besting Kang, insist they will not train them until they hand in parental consent forms.
That occurs in “Secret Identities” (#7-8), although the young Avengers also have to deal with Mister Hyde. However, when it’s discovered Patriot has been using Mutant growth Hormone, he quits the teams.
During the Special, Jones and Farrell interview the team as we learn much more about their lives with some interesting revelations.
Young Avengers #12
“Family Matters” (#9-12) concluded their spectacular run when K’Lrt the Super-Skrull attempts to retrieve Hulking on behalf of the Skrull homeworld. A new incarnation of the Vision, using Iron Lad technology, and speed (the other child of the Vision and Scarlet Witch) also join the team here. Patriot returns to help his team and gets gravely wounded until a blood transfusion from grandpa gives him permanent super-soldier skills. The Avengers arrive and blame the kids for the mess they’ve made until Kate speaks up and says the older team is at fault for refusing to train them. Cap realizes the truth in her words and agrees, starting with giving Kate Clint Barton’s bow and quiver (at the time, he was believed dead).
Strong, character-based storytelling was supplemented with graceful artwork from Cheung. Heinberg told Midtown Comics, “Working with Jim Cheung has been one of the chief pleasure of my creative life. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to create and develop the young Avengers with Jim and [editor] Tom [Brevoort]. and I’m still astonished — and grateful — that we were able to present the Billy/Teddy relationship with so much candor and freedom.”
Cheung received help from Andrea DeVito & Drew Hennessey on issues #7-8 and was inked throughout the series by John Dell, mark Morales, Drew Geraci, Dave Meikis, Rob Stull, Dexter Vines, Livesay, Jay Leisten, Matt Ryan, and Jamie Mendoza.
Young Avengers Special
The special was produced by Heinberg with artists Michael Gaydos, Neal Adams, gene Ha, Jae Lee, bill Sienkiewicz, and Pasqual Ferry.
“When Jim Cheung and I began work on young Avengers, I assumed marvel would never let us have two gay lead characters out of the gate, so I initially conceived Hulkling as a female shapeshifter called Chimera, who would (in the Kree-Skrull war arc) discover that her true form was male,” Heinberg told Gay Times. “Which would then force her boyfriend, Wiccan, to have to decide whether he was still in love with Hulkling now that she was a he. It was a very long, convoluted way to sneak a gay love story into a mainstream marvel Comic. but then, after YA #1 came out, our fantastic editor, Tom Brevoort, said, ‘Wouldn’t it just be simpler to make them both gay?’ and that was that.”
Cheung has remained with Marvel, many recently drawing for Civil war II: choosing Sides, but Heinberg has left comics entirely for television. but he hasn’t left superheroes beyond, receiving a writing credit report on next summer’s wonder woman film.
Purchase
Young Avengers by Allan Heinberg & Jim Cheung: The complete Collection
Young Avengers #4 cover from the Grand Comics Database.