The Marvel Universe is filled to the brim with heroes and teams such as iconic Avengers and the lesser known Eternals. There is a collection of heroes for every theater of combat super combat. A new iteration of the Champions recently emerged as a place for teenage superheroes. But there was another teen focused group that hailed from the late 1980s — the New Warriors. Since its debut, many of its original team members have grown up to make impacts of their own, and the name has since lost the luster it used to have. While it isn’t as common of a group to find in New York City, the group deserves the same amount of respect as teams like the Avengers.
When the New Warriors appeared, the team consisted of a younger Nova (Richard Rider), Justice, Night Thrasher, Namorita, Firestar and Speedball. They were an unlikely collection of young heroes that took on enemies like Terrax, the Juggernaut and the White Queen. They more than earned their name as these villains have been known to give the galaxy’s most formidable heroes a run for their money. But for every physical threat they faced, the team also tackled more personal issues such as abuse, gang violence and sexual assault. The series pulled no punches as it showed that adult problems can still affect the younger generation.
During the Heroes Reborn event, the Avengers and Fantastic Four were trapped in a pocket dimension, which left the 616-universe without its strongest heroes. That said, the New Warriors were there to pick up the slack, and upon the team’s return, Justice and Firestar helped take down Morgan La Fey and became Avengers as well. This played a part in the New Warriors’ eventual disbandment. Over the years, the team would disband and reform up until the events in Stamford, Connecticut, where they hunted the villain, Nuke, who then blew up a school, leading to the Superhuman Registration Act and the superhero Civil War.
Although the name was tainted from the event for some time, the New Warriors have returned, and those who were a part of the original team have also thrived as heroes. A great example of this is Nova, who not only stopped the Annihilation Wave but was also a Guardian of the Galaxy. While he had grown from his days as a teen hero, the group he represented has as well, which is why they’ve continued to endure with different and classic team members.
The New Warriors have gone through just as much glory and pain as the Avengers, and, at this point, its original team is seasoned enough to be comparable to other heroes like Dick Grayson and Wally West. In the DC Comics pantheon, these two heroes and their initial team of Teen Titans have shown that mid-generation heroes are still just as beloved even if they aren’t as big as their predecessors. Because of what groups like the Titans have shown, it’s clear that even the Marvel Universe needs a team of heroes young enough to relate to multiple generations but seasoned enough as heroes to mentor the younger ones.
While the New Warriors started as a team of teen heroes, their feats as a team and individuals have proven that they are so much more than they were presented. They are more like a full-fledged team than many have realized and deserve the respect that comes with it. They may not be exactly like the Avengers, but the names that make them up have proven time and again that they can stand with the best. When the world is in jeopardy, the New Warriors will be there side by side with the Avengers, fighting for what’s right and earning the respect they deserve.
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