West Coast Avengers
Template:Short description Template:Redirect Template:Infobox comics organization The West Coast Avengers is a fictional group of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team first appeared in The West Coast Avengers #1 (Sept. 1984), created by Roger Stern and Bob Hall. It was the first spin-off publication for the Avengers.
Following the 1984 limited series, the West Coast Avengers were the focus of an ongoing series published from October 1985 to January 1994. Volume 3 began publication in September 2018 as part of the Fresh Start relaunch but was cancelled after 10 issues. A fourth volume launched in November 2024.
Publication history
Template:Expand-section The West Coast Avengers first appeared in a four-issue limited series published from September to December 1984.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The series was written by Roger Stern and drawn by Bob Hall and Brett Breeding.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This was followed by a 102-issue series of the same name that ran from October 1985 to January 1994.<ref>Template:Gcdb series and Template:Gcdb series</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The series was initially written by Steve Englehart and drawn by Al Milgrom and Joe Sinnott. It was the first spin-off series for the Avengers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The series was renamed Avengers West Coast on the cover of issue #47 (Aug. 1989).
In 2018, a new incarnation of the West Coast Avengers appeared in the "Fresh Start" that consists of Hawkeye, Kate Bishop, Gwenpool, America Chavez, Quentin Quire, and Kate's boyfriend Johnny Watts<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref> who takes the codename Fuse.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jeff the Land Shark had his first appearance in issue #7 (January 2019).<ref name="substack">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Screen Rant">Template:Cite web</ref> The ongoing series was written by Kelly Thompson and initially drawn by Stefano Caselli.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> It was cancelled as of issue #10 cover dated June 2019.<ref>Template:Gcdb series</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In November 2024, Volume 4 began publication with writer Gerry Duggan and artist Danny Kim. In this series, Iron Man and War Machine assemble a new West Coast Avengers roster which includes Spider-Woman, Firestar, Ultron and Blue Bolt.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Fictional team biography
Original run (1984–1994)
The team is founded by the Avenger Hawkeye in response to a suggestion by fellow Avenger, the Vision, who at the time (as team chairman) wished to expand the Avengers' influence. Hawkeye recruits Mockingbird,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Wonder Man, Tigra, and Iron Man, with the last actually being Jim Rhodes as opposed to Tony Stark, a fact initially unknown to the team. Together, the team defeat a petty criminal called the Blank<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref> and later the Avengers foe Graviton.<ref>Template:Cite comic
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The team would later take on Hank Pym as a scientific advisor and compound manager<ref name="WCA1">Template:Cite comic</ref> and battle a range of both old foes – including the Grim Reaper,<ref name="WCA1" /><ref name="WCA2">Template:Cite comic</ref> Ultron,<ref name="WCA1" /><ref name="WCA2" /><ref>Template:Cite comic</ref> Graviton,<ref>Template:Cite comic
Template:Cite comic</ref> and Zodiac<ref>Template:Cite comic
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Template:Cite comic</ref> – and new opponents such as Master Pandemonium.<ref name="WCA4">Template:Cite comic</ref> Former Fantastic Four member Thing<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref> and the heroine Firebird<ref name="WCA4" /> briefly allied themselves with the team. Henry Pym, who is saved by Firebird from a suicide attempt,<ref name="WCA17" /><ref>Template:Cite comic</ref> and the adventurer Moon Knight formally join,<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref> while Iron Man is expelled for his actions during the Armor Wars.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref> The "Lost in Space-Time" storyline began in issue #17 (February 1987) when Dominus sent the team back in time.<ref name="WCA17">Template:Cite comic</ref><ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 230: "This issue began a seven-part storyline called 'Lost in Space-Time' that sent the super heroes Hawkeye, Iron Man, Tigra, Wonder Man, and Mockingbird into the past."</ref> The marriage of Hawkeye and Mockingbird is placed in jeopardy when, during this arc, she allows the Old West hero the Phantom Rider to die in a fall for deceiving and raping her.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref>
After a trip to Hungary to investigate a report on Pym's second wife, the Wasp, the Scarlet Witch, and the Vision assist the team. Mockingbird, Tigra and Moon Knight leave the team together as a new short lived team called the Ex-WACOs over the Avengers rule of not killing in regards to Mockingbird's encounter with Phantom Rider. The Vision and the Scarlet Witch join the team as to not leave it short handed.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref> Former Avenger ally Mantis makes a brief appearance. Agents from multiple governments then abduct the Vision and dismantle him due to his return to the team. The Avengers recover the parts and Dr. Pym rebuilds the Vision but with a chalk-white complexion. Wonder Man, however, does not allow his brain patterns to be used again to provide a matrix for the Vision's emotions, explaining that the original process, done without his consent, had "ripped out his soul". Although Wonder Man's own love for the Scarlet Witch leads him to feel guilt, he justifies his actions by claiming the Vision was never anything but a copy of him, a claim that a number of other Avengers, including the Wasp, accept. This, along with damage to the Vision's synthetic skin when he was dismantled, results in the synthezoid's resurrection as a colorless and emotionless artificial human.<ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 240: "Writer/artist John Byrne produced the story arc that came to be known as 'Vision Quest' that ran through The West Coast Avengers #42–45."</ref><ref>Template:Cite comic
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Template:Cite comic</ref> The unstable U.S. Agent is assigned to the team as a watchdog by the US government to monitor the team's activities.
A group of odd super-humans decide to mimic the Avengers and become the Great Lakes Avengers,<ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 241: "Writer/artist John Byrne took a tongue-in-cheek approach to superheroics"</ref> while the original Human Torch returns from his own apparent demise. This casts doubt on the Vision's identity, who was previously believed to have been created from the Torch's body. The Vision and the Scarlet Witch's children conceived via the Scarlet Witch's hex powers<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref><ref>Template:Cite comic</ref> are then revealed to be fragments of the soul of the demon Mephisto, who had been broken apart by Franklin Richards shortly before the birth of the twins. The twins were absorbed back into Mephisto, which temporarily drives the Scarlet Witch insane.<ref>Template:Cite comic
Template:Cite comic</ref> Although she eventually recovers, the Scarlet Witch and the Vision separate, each operating on a different Avengers team.
Iron Man rejoins, and the mutant Quicksilver assists the team when the Scarlet Witch aligns herself with their father Magneto during a period in which she suffers from a mental breakdown. Immortus is finally confronted and revealed to be the cause of much of the team's misfortune, and is finally defeated. Hank Pym, the Wasp and Quicksilver then leave the team, with Machine Man becoming reservists and Spider-Woman and the Living Lightning joining as full-time members. Spider-Man guest-stars in issues #84–86.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The team battle Ultron and his new creation Alkhema several times, and Hawkeye assumes his old identity of Goliath, during the Avengers crossover Operation: Galactic Storm, and reconciles with Mockingbird. Iron Man and Wonder Man leave the team, and are replaced by War Machine (Jim Rhodes, one of the founding West Coast Avengers) and Darkhawk, with the latter acting as a reservist. During a battle with the demons Mephisto and Satannish, Mockingbird is killed.<ref>Manning, Matthew K. "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 265: "In a story by writer Roy Thomas and artist David Ross...a stray fireball struck Hawkeye's wife, Mockingbird, killing her in Hawkeye's arms."</ref> Due to constant in-fighting and a general lack of organization, Captain America intervenes and disbands the team. Several members of the West Coast team—including a returned Iron Man—are unhappy about the decision and leave to form another team, called Force Works.<ref>Manning "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 269: "When the West Coast Avengers disbanded, some of its members. led by Iron Man, went on to form a new team, Force Works."</ref> This team, however, has several setbacks and quickly disbands, with the members returning to the main Avengers team.
Years later, the West Coast Avengers compound would be reopened as the new campus for the Avengers Academy following the destruction of the Infinite Avengers Mansion as seen in the Fear Itself storyline.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref>
Volume 3 (2018 series)
During the Fresh Start relaunch, both Hawkeyes – team founder Clint Barton and his successor Kate Bishop – decided to revive the West Coast Avengers following an attack by land sharks in Santa Monica. Clint and Kate recruited America Chavez and Kate's boyfriend Johnny "Fuse" Watts, who helped in the mission, and were eventually joined by Gwenpool and Quentin Quire. Given their lack of funds, the newly formed team tried to get financiers by starring in a reality show following their exploits.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref>
The West Coast Avengers later went up against Madame Masque and her West Coast incarnation of the Masters of Evil which consists of Eel, Graviton, Lady Bullseye, MODOK Superior, Satana, and Kate's parents Derek Bishop and Eleanor Bishop.<ref>West Coast Avengers Vol. #5-7. Marvel Comics.</ref> Gwen adopts a baby land shark which she names Jeff – Barton allowing Jeff to stay as long as he does not bite anyone besides supervillains.<ref name="substack" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name="Screen Rant" />
During "The War of the Realms" storyline, the West Coast Avengers worked with Superior Spider-Man (Doctor Octopus' mind in a Proto-Clone body) and the Fantastic Four against the Frost Giants.<ref>Superior Spider-Man Vol. 2 #7-8. Marvel Comics.</ref>
Volume 4 (2024 series)
Iron Man and War Machine later reform the West Coast Avengers as part of a plot to rehabilitate some supervillains. With Spider-Woman and ex-criminal Blue Bolt joining the group, they start with Ultron.<ref>West Coast Avengers Vol. 4 #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> Firestar later joined the West Coast Avengers when it comes to fighting the Sovereign Sons.<ref>West Coast Avengers Vol. 4 #2. Marvel Comics.</ref> The West Coast Avengers go up against the Gospel of Ultrons that is led by an Ultron called The One as they are the results of Ultron continuing to split himself after separating from Hank Pym.<ref>West Coast Avengers Vol. 4 #3. Marvel Comics.</ref>
Other versions
Template:AnchorIn the Ultimate Marvel reality, a secret team of Ultimates was formed in the Ultimate Comics: Ultimates.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref> The team members include Quake as the leader, Wonder Man, the Vision, the Black Knight, and Tigra. The team was assigned to kill a wanted terrorist until Wonder Man went unstable. This forced the abandonment of the mission and Nick Fury put the team into stasis until needed. Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. had planned to use them against the villainous Reed Richards and his Children of Tomorrow. Thanks to the civil war, California Governor Ford discovered the newly christened West Coast Ultimates and set them against the Ultimates.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref>
List of creators
| Years | Name | Role | Issues |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Roger Stern | Writer | #1–4 |
| Bob Hall | Penciler | ||
| 1985–1988 | Steve Englehart | Writer | #1–29, #31–37, #39, Annual #1–3 |
| 1985–1989 | Al Milgrom | Penciler | #1–37, #39–40, Annual #2–3 |
| 1986 | Mark Bright | Writer, penciler | Annual #1 |
| 1988 | Al Milgrom | Writer | #30 |
| D. G. Chichester | Writer | #38 | |
| Margaret Clark | Writer | ||
| 1989 | Mark Gruenwald | Writer | #40 |
| Tom DeFalco | Writer | #41 | |
| Ralph Macchio | Writer | ||
| 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993 | Tom Morgan | Penciler | #38, #41, #58, #71, #100 |
| 1989–1990 | John Byrne | Writer | #42–57, Annual #4 |
| Penciler | #42–57 | ||
| 1990 | Fabian Nicieza | Writer | #58 |
| Danny Fingeroth | Writer | #59 | |
| Gary Hartle | Penciler | ||
| Brad Vancata | Penciler | ||
| Terry Kavanagh | Writer | #64 | |
| Chris Wozniak | Penciler | ||
| 1990–1991 | Paul Ryan | Penciler | #60–63, #65–69 |
| 1990–1993 | Roy Thomas | Writer | #60–63, #65–101, Annual #5–8 |
| Dann Thomas | Writer | #60–63, #65–83, #85–94, #96, Annual #5–7 | |
| 1991 | Steve Butler | Penciler | #70 |
| George Freeman | Penciler | #73 | |
| 1991, 1992 | Herb Trimpe | Penciler | #75, #83 |
| 1991–1994 | David Ross | Penciler | #71–74, #76–82, #84–95, #98–102 |
| 1993 | Writer | #93, #95 | |
| 1993 | Andrew Currie | Penciler | #96–97 |
| 1994 | Dan Abnett | Writer | #102 |
| Andy Lanning | Writer | ||
| 2018–2019 | Kelly Thompson | Writer | #1–10<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0" /> |
| Stefano Caselli | Penciler | #1–4<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| 2019 | Daniele Di Nicuolo | Penciler | #5–7<ref name=":1" /> |
| Gang Hyuk Lim | Penciler | #8–9<ref name=":1" /> | |
| Moy Rodriguez | Penciler | #10<ref name=":0" /> | |
| 2024–2025 | Gerry Duggan | Writer | #1–10<ref name="WCA 2024 issues">Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Danny Kim | Penciler | #1–5, 7–10<ref name="WCA 2024 issues"/> | |
| 2025 | Ton Lima | Penciler | #6<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
Collected editions
| # | Title | Material collected | Publication date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assemble | West Coast Avengers #1–4, Iron Man Annual #7, and The Avengers #250, plus material from The Avengers #239, 243–244, and 246 and Avengers West Coast #100. | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT | |
| Family Ties | West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #1–9 and Vision and the Scarlet Witch (vol. 2) #1–2. | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT | |
| Sins of the Past | West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #10–16, West Coast Avengers Annual #1 and The Avengers Annual #15. | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT | |
| Avengers: West Coast Avengers - Lost in Space-Time | West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #17–24, Fantastic Four #19, and Doctor Strange (vol. 2) #53 | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT | |
| Zodiac Attack | West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #25–30, West Coast Avengers Annual #2 and Avengers Annual #16 | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT | |
| Avengers West Coast Visionaries – John Byrne Vol. 1: Vision Quest | West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #42–47 and Avengers West Coast #48–50. | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT | |
| Avengers West Coast: Vision Quest | West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #42–46 and Avengers West Coast #47–50. | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT | |
| Avengers West Coast Visionaries – John Byrne Vol. 2: Darker than Scarlet | Avengers West Coast #51–57 and #60–62. | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT | |
| Avengers West Coast: Along Came A Spider-Woman | Avengers West Coast #58–59 and #63–75. | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT | |
| Avengers: Galactic Storm Volume 1 | Avengers West Coast #80–81, Captain America #398–399, Quasar #32–33, Wonder Man #7–8, The Avengers #345–346, Iron Man #278, and Thor #445. | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT | |
| Avengers: Galactic Storm Volume 2 | Avengers West Coast #82, Iron Man #279, Thor #446, Captain America #400–401, Quasar #34–35, Wonder Man #9, The Avengers #347, and What If? #55–56. | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT | |
| Avengers: Ultron Unbound | Avengers West Coast #89–91, Annual #8 and Vision #1–4. | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT | |
| Avengers: The Death of Mockingbird | Avengers West Coast #92–100, 102; Spider-Woman (vol. 2) #1–4; plus material from Marvel Comics Presents #143–144. | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT | |
| 1 | Omnibus | West Coast Avengers #1–4; Iron Man Annual #7; The Avengers #250; West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #1–16; Vision and the Scarlet Witch (vol. 2) #1–2; The Avengers Annual #15; West Coast Avengers Annual #1; material from The Avengers #239, 243–244, 246; material from Avengers West Coast #100 | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT |
| 2 | West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #17–41; West Coast Avengers Annual #2–3; Avengers Annual #16; Fantastic Four #19; and Doctor Strange (vol. 2) #53 | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT | |
| Avengers by John Byrne Omnibus | West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #42–46; Avengers West Coast #47–62; Avengers West Coast Annual #4; Avengers #305–318; Avengers Annual #18; and material from Avengers Spotlight #23 and What the--?! #6 | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT | |
| Volume 3 | ||||
| 1 | Best Coast | West Coast Avengers (vol. 3) #1–4, Young Avengers Presents #6, and The Unbelievable Gwenpool #1 | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT |
| 2 | City of Evils | West Coast Avengers (vol. 3) #5–10 | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT |
| Template:N/a | Hawkeye: Go West | Hawkeye (vol. 5) #13–16, Generations: Hawkeye & Hawkeye #1, West Coast Avengers (vol. 3) #1–4 | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT |
| Template:N/a | Hawkeye: Team Spirit | West Coast Avengers (vol. 3) #5–10, War of the Realms: Journey Into Mystery #1–5 | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT |
| Template:N/a | GwenPool Omnibus | The Unbelievable GwenPool #0–25, West Coast Avengers (vol. 3) #1–10, Superior Spider-Man (vol. 2) #7–8, Gwenpool Strikes Back #1–5, plus extras | Template:Dts | Template:ISBNT |
Epic Collections
| # | Title | Material collected | Publication date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | How the West Was Won | West Coast Avengers (1984) #1-4, Iron Man Annual #7, Avengers #250, West Coast Avengers (1985) #1-7, Vision And The Scarlet Witch (1985) #1-2 and Wonder Man (1986) #1 | 2018 | |
| 2 | Lost in Space-Time | West Coast Avengers #8-24, Annual #1; Avengers Annual #15 | 2019 | |
| 3 | Tales to Astonish | West Coast Avengers #25-37, Annual #2, Avengers Annual #16, Marvel Graphic Novel #27: Emperor Doom | 2020 | |
| 4 | Vision Quest | West Coast Avengers #38-46, Annual #3; Avengers West Coast #47-52, Annual #4; material from Avengers Spotlight #23 | 2021 | |
| 5 | Darker than Scarlet | Avengers West Coast #53-64, Annual #5; Avengers #311-313; material from Avengers Annual #19, What The--?! #6 | 2022 | |
| 6 | California Screaming | Avengers West Coast #65-82, Annual #6 | 2023 | |
| 7 | Ultron Unbound | Avengers West Coast #83-95, Annual #7-8; material from Darkhawk Annual #1 and Iron Man Annual #13 | March 2024 |
In other media
- The West Coast Avengers appear in Hawkeye's ending in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, consisting of himself, Mockingbird, War Machine, Tigra, Wonder Man, and Moon Knight, as well as Capcom characters Jin Saotome, June Lin Milliam, Rikuo, Leo and Rei.
- Rapper Del the Funky Homosapien released a trilogy of mixtapes called West Coast Avengers, though the track listings are unrelated to the comics' group.Template:Citation needed
References
External links
- Template:Comicbookdb
- Template:Comicbookdb
- Template:Comicbookdb
- West Coast Avengers limited series and West Coast Avengers ongoing series/Avengers West Coast at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
Template:Avengers Template:Avengers publications Template:Moon Knight
- 1984 comics debuts
- 1984 comics endings
- 1985 comics debuts
- 1994 comics endings
- 2018 comics debuts
- 2019 comics endings
- Avengers (comics)
- Avengers (comics) titles
- Comics by Andy Lanning
- Comics by Dan Abnett
- Comics by John Byrne (comics)
- Comics by Kelly Thompson
- Comics by Roger Stern
- Comics by Roy Thomas
- Comics by Steve Englehart
- Marvel Comics titles
- Marvel Comics superhero teams