On This Day 36 Years Ago, Marvel Introduced the New Warriors (and We Want Them Back)

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Marvel is famous for creating iconic superheroes, and 36 years ago today, they introduced a new team meant to be their next big stars: the New Warriors. In *The Mighty Thor* #411, published in 1989, Thor encountered these young heroes – Night Thrasher, Marvel Boy, Firestar, Nova, Namorita, and Speedball – while fighting Juggernaut as part of the “Acts of Vengeance” storyline. This event saw villains targeting heroes they wouldn’t normally face (though Thor and Juggernaut had clashed before). “Acts of Vengeance” is remembered for other moments, like the Mandarin and the Hand switching Psylocke’s body, and Magneto and Red Skull reminiscing about World War II. The New Warriors were unique because they were the first team of teen superheroes at Marvel who weren’t mutants, and while their history might be a little obscure, it’s a significant one.

Teen superheroes have been a part of comics since the beginning, but Marvel didn’t initially find the same success as DC. While characters like Bucky and Toro led the Young Allies in early stories, it wasn’t until Spider-Man debuted in *Amazing Fantasy* #15 and the X-Men in *X-Men* #1 that Marvel started to gain traction. However, the X-Men didn’t become truly popular until *Giant-Size X-Men* #1, which featured an adult team. This meant they never quite reached the same level of readership as DC’s Legion of Superheroes or Teen Titans. In the early 1980s, Marvel introduced the New Mutants, who became their most successful teen team and spawned other groups like the Fallen Angels and X-Terminators. Despite DC dominating the teen superteam scene for a while, the New Warriors represented Marvel’s attempt to reclaim it. While they may not be as iconic as some other teams, the New Warriors still hold a unique place in comic book history.

The New Warriors Were Teen Superheroes in the Mighty Marvel Manner

The New Warriors quickly gained attention when they assisted Thor in his battle against the Juggernaut. Marvel strategically populated the team with heroes that were already familiar to readers. Nova starred in his own comic series, *The Man Called Nova*, which ran for 25 issues between 1976 and 1979. Firestar originally appeared in the *Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends* animated series before making her comic book debut and joining other mutant heroes. Marvel Boy was the current incarnation of Vance Astro, who would later lead the Guardians of the Galaxy in the 30th century – his backstory is quite complex and interesting. Rounding out the team was Namorita, cousin of Namor, and Speedball, who had previously teamed up with Spider-Man.

The New Mutants quickly became popular, and in 1990, they launched their own comic book series. This series marked a significant start for future X-Men writer Fabian Nicieza and acclaimed Spider-Man artist Mark Bagley, giving them both their first big opportunities at Marvel. While the book initially followed typical superhero tropes, its second year featured a compelling storyline involving the character Marvel Boy. The story explored a difficult family dynamic – his father despised mutants and mistreated him – culminating in Vance accidentally killing his father with a burst of telekinetic energy. This led to Vance’s arrest and a dramatic trial, a kind of complex and emotional storytelling that was a hallmark of Marvel comics.

While *New Warriors* didn’t sell as well as *X-Men*, it was a consistently good-selling title, largely thanks to the work of creators Nicieza and Bagley, who both benefited from its success. The series lasted for 75 issues over six years and introduced characters like Silhouette and Rage (a teenage character Marvel introduced as an angry Black youth). The initial years were the most popular in the *New Warriors’* run. Marvel has since launched five different *New Warriors* series, and famously killed off the team during the *Civil War* storyline, but they never achieved lasting mainstream popularity.

Most people today probably know the New Warriors because of a controversial attempt to revive the comic in 2020. Writers Daniel Kibblesmith and Luciano Vecchio tried to modernize the team with new characters like Screentime, Snowflake, and Safespace, but the update received widespread criticism from fans on both sides of the political spectrum, and Marvel cancelled the project. A TV series also stalled after just one pilot episode. While the 2020 reboot damaged the team’s reputation, those who grew up reading comics in the 1990s still remember the New Warriors as a beloved superhero group.

The New Warriors May Have Failed in the Long Run but They’re Still an Important Part of Marvel History

The New Warriors proved their strength by assisting Thor in a fight with Juggernaut, which launched them into their own series in the 1990s. While not as widely remembered as some other teen superhero teams, they were a significant part of Marvel during that decade. I fondly recall reading those first issues of *New Warriors*, and they were genuinely enjoyable. It all started with their appearance in *The Mighty Thor* #411.

The New Warriors didn’t quite become the next big team of heroes, but they did introduce some memorable characters. Interestingly, Marvel Boy (who later became Justice) and Firestar went on to achieve the most success, both eventually joining the Avengers. Firestar even became an X-Man during the Krakoa era, proving that being a mutant often leads to bigger opportunities. Nova got another shot at popularity in the mid-2000s, and Marvel is currently trying to rebuild the character. Though the New Warriors didn’t fully succeed, they were a fun concept and gave us some great characters, so maybe Marvel will revisit them someday.

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2025-09-23 14:12