Grab your sunglasses. Today Marvel announced plans to relaunch the West Coast Avengers title with writer Kelly Thompson (Rogue & Gambit, Hawkeye) and artist Stefano Caselli.
The book will feature an all-new team with Hawkeye Clint Barton, Hawkeye Kate Bishop, Gwenpool, America Chavez, Fuse and Kid Omega. That’s right, both Hawkeyes! Kate Bishop will lead the team in protecting Los Angeles.
After solo titles featuring Kate Bishop, Gwenpool and America were all canceled within the past year, fans are sure to be excited to see the characters return in this book.
Kelly Thompson wrote the Kate Bishop Hawkeye title before its cancellation in March 2018 and this book will build off of that run. Kate Bishop also recently teamed up with America Chavez in America #5 (2017).
Reviving old titles seems to be a trend at Marvel, which most recently relaunched Exiles and did a short run of Tales of Suspense earlier in the year. It appears Marvel’s “Fresh Start” wants to focus more on fresh starts for existing characters than adding new ones, but with this fun team, it’s hard to complain.
Writer Kelly Thompson shared some insight as to why Kate joins the team.
“They all need and want something from being on that team together. Kate needs to help save LA, and she needs help to do that because villains have taken notice that there are no Super Heroes out there,” said Thompson in a release. “I think there’s part of her that misses [being on a team] too.”
Originally launched in 1984, West Coast Avengers featured a team of Clint Barton Hawkeye, Mockingbird, Wonder Man, Tigra, and Iron Man. That team all lived in a house together and so will this one, but with a twist. Apparently, they will be on a Real World-style reality show in order to fund their team.
Marvel released the following description for the first issue:
HAWKEYE (KATE BISHOP). HAWKEYE (CLINT BARTON). A guy named FUSE. Never have they ever been called “the big three” of…anything. And now here they are, reunited for, okay, well, it’s only the second time ever. Thank god they also brought AMERICA CHAVEZ, GWENPOOL and KID OMEGA. Wait. What? That’s right, it’s the new West Coast Avengers, son. And you better hope they can figure out how to save the world because BIG things are headed for the West Coast.
West Coast Avengers #1 hits stores on Wednesday, August 22.