Why 'Young Avengers' Should Be Marvel's Next Television Series

In season one of Marvel's television series Runaways, viewers managed to see what was the first on-screen kiss between two female superheroes, Karolina Dean and Nico Minoru. The teen superhero drama was recently renewed for a second season, giving the series the potential to develop Karolina and Nico's attraction to each other further. In the meantime, Marvel could also be developing another teen superhero drama with queer superheroes by adapting Kieron Gillen and Jamie Mckelvie's Young Avengers.

In the comics, The Young Avengers are teenaged superheroes with ties to the adult superhero team The Avengers. There are two versions of this team, with the most popular being the line-up written by Kieron Gillen and Jamie Mckelvie featuring the characters America Chavez, Prodigy, Wiccan, Hulking, Noh-Varr, Kate Bishop, and Kid Loki. The series is notable in that almost all of its team members are confirmed to be queer.

Although the book series does feature mostly queer characters, the storyline is not about being queer. Instead, the story is about the Young Avengers battling versions of their parents that have been corrupted by an inter-dimensional parasite called Mother. During the adventure, the characters also come to terms with their various personal histories and decide where they want to go from there. Together, the queerness of the characters, the lively superhero antics, and the introspective coming-of-age storyline combine to make an epic, fun superhero adventure.

Despite being only 15 issues long, Hulu could easily draw it out like they did with Runaways and create a similar, live-action series. Instead of just being a gritty teen drama, the show could be a mix of teen drama and comedy( in the same vein of the DC Comics show The Flash). Not only would Marvel be able to capitalize on the success of Runaways, but the show could also further establish queer characters the Marvel Cinematic Universe has yet to explore.

While Runaways set up a potential romantic relationship between two of its female lead characters, a Young Avengers television series could do that and then some. Many fans of America Chavez have romantically paired her with Kate Bishop (aka Hawkeye), which is understandable given their romantic subtext in the comics. Although it is hinted at by America Chavez that Kate Bishop "is not that straight," Kate Bishop's bisexuality has never really been confirmed. Having a Young Avengers television series would be a fantastic way to introduce a bisexual Kate Bishop by having her fall for and date America Chavez.

Besides making Amerikate happen, Young Avengers would also be a great way to establish Loki as queer in the MCU. If the current Loki were to get killed off in the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War, this would pave the way for a new version of Loki. Having Kid Loki would set the stage for a younger, teen version of Loki who is not only bisexual, but also gender-fluid. This would allow a new generation to be reintroduced to Loki as a character, but it would also transform them into an anti-hero that will resonate with viewers.

If a Young Avengers series ends up as successful as Runaways, then viewers could also get the best of both and have them crossover and meet each other (like they did in the comics). In the books, the Young Avengers met during the Civil War comic book event and met again during the Secret Invasion comic book event. Having the Young Avengers and the Runaways meet on screen would be incredible for not only LGBTQ+ viewers, but fans of teen superheroes in general. Their adventures could rival crossovers seen on the CW television network and give representation to those who usually don't see themselves.

Not only would having a Young Avengers television series establish more queer characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the show could also provide a more lighthearted superhero show and provide an epic crossover with the Runaways. With the Young Avengers, Marvel has the potential to make history with an all LGBTQ+ superhero team and pave a more inclusive future for comic book television shows!