Avengers Academy #1-7

Avengers Academy #1-7

Originally released in 2010

Written by Christos Gage

Art by Michael McKone

After Norman Osborn was arrested (long story short, he became openly crazy and decided to attack Asgard), the Marvel line entered what they called "The Heroic Age", which seemed like an attempt at stepping back from the moral ambiguity of Civil War and the darker tone of when Osborn was running things.  However, Osborn's shadow still loomed large over what came after.

A group of kids were discovered to have powers independently from one another - it's unclear where they came from, though they aren't mutants, and since they didn't get coated in a cocoon upon receiving them, they aren't Inhumans either. Reptil is the only established hero of the six of them, and for the others, Norman claimed that he could cure them, only to actively make their situation worse.

Two of them went along with Norman willingly - Finesse wanted to learn more (she has a photographic memory and a high intellect, but no social skills), and Striker was easily bribed with money and women. Hank Pym claims that they're future Avengers, but Finesse discovers the truth - out of the teens that Norman got his hands on, these six are the most at-risk of becoming super-villains.

For some of them, it's out of their control - Hazmat is a walking disaster area, Veil can turn into any kind of gas, and Mettle is like a mix of Colossus and the Thing (steel skin that he can't turn off) while looking like the Red Skull. Reptil apparently went into a dark place recently, while Finesse is concerned that she's a sociopath. As for Striker, he's a self-centered fame-seeker.

The Young Avengers weren't approved at first, so it's interesting to see a book where the Avengers are mentoring the next generation, even if the teachers all have chips on their shoulders.  Hank Pym is trying to make up for the actions that he did during his mental breakdown every day, Tigra was attacked and traumatized by the Hood, and Speedball was (until recently) going by Penance and cutting himself after the incident that kicked off Civil War.

Then there's Quicksilver, who switches sides regularly and is easily blackmailed. After Secret Invasion, he claimed that all of his misdeeds in recent years were the result of a Skrull who replaced him.  No such Skrull exists, though only a handful of people know that - it was Quicksilver alone who did whatever deeds he was talking about.

In addition to struggling with their powers, the team also struggles with relationship drama and hormones.  Veil has a crush on one of their teachers, Justice, despite the other students knowing that it's doomed to failure.  Finesse says in front of everyone that Reptil has never kissed a girl, and when it's pointed out that she publicly embarrassed him, she offers to kiss him in front of everyone else to make up for it.

They also struggle with morality. Despite quickly learning the truth about why they're at Avengers Academy, a field trip to the Raft still leads to half of the team secretly trying to kill Norman Osborn.  They can't bring themselves to go through with it, and while the teachers have mixed feelings about this, they recognize progress and a sign of hope when they see it.

I have mixed feelings about the characters here - while I know she improves later on, Hazmat is a jerk to everyone, and Striker is pretty awful despite a sympathetic backstory. (I have no idea if he gets better or worse as time goes on) Mettle's an entertaining character, and Veil makes for a sympathetic viewpoint character.

Each issue focuses on a different student, so they all get a day in the limelight. Reptil's issue focuses on him being made the team leader and his uncertainty about that. Not helping matters is that his parents died, and he's been bottling up a lot of his problems and avoiding therapy despite the adults' best efforts to get him there.

Meanwhile, the teachers have their own problems - Tigra had a kid with someone who she believed to be Hank Pym, though it was actually a Skrull imitating Hank.  As for Hank himself, he switches identities within the first few issues of the series, going from the Wasp (in Janet's honour) to Giant-Man. This usually isn't a good sign, though at least he's not going by Yellowjacket.

The series is off to a good start, and the relative obscurity of the characters leaves me unsure if they're going to become heroes, reject the Avengers' teachings and become villainous, or a mix of the two. (I know Hazmat, at least, becomes firmly heroic, though I don't know about the rest)

As for the Avengers themselves, it's nice to see Hank Pym and Speedball trying to atone for their past mistakes. (Justice and Tigra don't seem to have much, if anything, to atone for, and Quicksilver isn't trying very hard) Despite the Heroic Age being more optimistic in tone (even bringing back Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man onto one Avengers team after all of their differences), this series shows that the situation in the Marvel universe isn't necessarily so optimistic, particularly where the next generation is concerned.