| West Coast Avengers | |
|---|---|
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The West Coast Avengers #1 (September 1984) |
| Created by | Roger Stern Bob Hall |
| In-story information | |
| Base(s) | Avengers Compound,Palos Verdes,California |
| Member(s) | List of West Coast Avengers members |
TheWest Coast Avengers is a fictional group of superheroes appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The team first appeared inThe West Coast Avengers #1 (Sept. 1984), created byRoger Stern andBob Hall. It was the first spin-off publication for theAvengers.
Following the 1984 limited series, the West Coast Avengers were the focus of anongoing series published from October 1985 to January 1994. Volume 3 began publication in September 2018 as part of theFresh Start relaunch but was cancelled after 10 issues. A fourth volume launched in November 2024.
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The West Coast Avengers first appeared in a four-issuelimited series published from September to December 1984.[1] The series was written by Roger Stern and drawn byBob Hall andBrett Breeding.[2] This was followed by a 102-issue series of the same name that ran from October 1985 to January 1994.[3][4] The series was initially written bySteve Englehart and drawn byAl Milgrom andJoe Sinnott. It was the firstspin-off series for the Avengers.[5] The series was renamedAvengers 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 ofHawkeye,Kate Bishop,Gwenpool,America Chavez,Quentin Quire, and Kate's boyfriend Johnny Watts[6] who takes the codename Fuse.[7]Jeff the Land Shark had hisfirst appearance in issue #7 (January 2019).[8][9][10] The ongoing series was written byKelly Thompson and initially drawn by Stefano Caselli.[6][11] It was cancelled as of issue #10cover dated June 2019.[12][13]
In November 2024, Volume 4 began publication with writerGerry Duggan and artist Danny Kim. In this series,Iron Man andWar Machine assemble a new West Coast Avengers roster which includesSpider-Woman,Firestar,Ultron and Blue Bolt.[14][15][16]
The team is founded by the AvengerHawkeye in response to a suggestion by fellow Avenger, theVision, who at the time (as team chairman) wished to expand the Avengers' influence. Hawkeye recruitsMockingbird,[17]Wonder Man,Tigra, andIron Man, with the last actually beingJim Rhodes as opposed toTony Stark, a fact initially unknown to the team. Together, the team defeat a petty criminal called the Blank[18] and later the Avengers foeGraviton.[19]
The team would later take onHank Pym as a scientific advisor and compound manager[20] and battle a range of both old foes – including theGrim Reaper,[20][21]Ultron,[20][21][22] Graviton,[23] andZodiac[24] – and new opponents such asMaster Pandemonium.[25] FormerFantastic Four memberThing[26] and the heroineFirebird[25] briefly allied themselves with the team. Henry Pym, who is saved by Firebird from a suicide attempt,[27][28] and the adventurerMoon Knight formally join,[29] while Iron Man is expelled for his actions during theArmor Wars.[30] The "Lost in Space-Time" storyline began in issue #17 (February 1987) whenDominus sent the team back in time.[27][31] The marriage of Hawkeye and Mockingbird is placed in jeopardy when, during this arc, she allows theOld West hero thePhantom Rider to die in a fall for deceiving and raping her.[32]
After a trip toHungary to investigate a report on Pym's second wife, theWasp, theScarlet Witch, and theVision 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.[33] Former Avenger allyMantis 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.[34][35] The unstableU.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 theGreat Lakes Avengers,[36] while theoriginal 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[37][38] are then revealed to be fragments of the soul of thedemonMephisto, who had been broken apart byFranklin Richards shortly before the birth of the twins. The twins were absorbed back into Mephisto, which temporarily drives the Scarlet Witch insane.[39] Although she eventually recovers, the Scarlet Witch and the Vision separate, each operating on a different Avengers team.
Iron Man rejoins, and the mutantQuicksilver assists the team when the Scarlet Witch aligns herself with their fatherMagneto 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, withMachine Man becoming reservists andSpider-Woman and theLiving Lightning joining as full-time members.Spider-Man guest-stars in issues #84–86.[40]
The team battle Ultron and his new creationAlkhema several times, and Hawkeye assumes his old identity ofGoliath, during theAvengers crossover Operation: Galactic Storm, and reconciles with Mockingbird. Iron Man and Wonder Man leave the team, and are replaced byWar Machine (Jim Rhodes, one of the founding West Coast Avengers) andDarkhawk, with the latter acting as a reservist. During a battle with the demons Mephisto andSatannish, Mockingbird is killed.[41] 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, calledForce Works.[42] 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 theAvengers Academy following the destruction of the Infinite Avengers Mansion as seen in theFear Itself storyline.[43]
During theFresh Start relaunch, both Hawkeyes – team founder Clint Barton and his successorKate Bishop – decided to revive the West Coast Avengers following an attack by land sharks inSanta Monica. Clint and Kate recruited America Chavez and Kate's boyfriend Johnny "Fuse" Watts, who helped in the mission, and were eventually joined byGwenpool andQuentin Quire. Given their lack of funds, the newly formed team tried to get financiers by starring in areality show following their exploits.[44]
The West Coast Avengers later went up againstMadame Masque and her West Coast incarnation of theMasters of Evil which consists ofEel, Graviton,Lady Bullseye,MODOK Superior,Satana, and Kate's parentsDerek Bishop andEleanor Bishop.[45] Gwen adopts a baby land shark which she namesJeff – Barton allowing Jeff to stay as long as he does not bite anyone besides supervillains.[8][9][10]
During "The War of the Realms" storyline, the West Coast Avengers worked withSuperior Spider-Man (Doctor Octopus' mind in a Proto-Clone body) and theFantastic Four against the Frost Giants.[46]
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.[47]Firestar later joined the West Coast Avengers when it comes to fighting the Sovereign Sons.[48] 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.[49]
In theUltimate Marvel reality, a secret team ofUltimates was formed in theUltimate Comics: Ultimates.[50] The team members includeQuake as the leader,Wonder Man, theVision, theBlack Knight, andTigra. The team was assigned to kill a wanted terrorist until Wonder Man went unstable. This forced the abandonment of the mission andNick Fury put the team into stasis until needed. Fury andS.H.I.E.L.D. had planned to use them against the villainousReed Richards and his Children of Tomorrow. Thanks to the civil war, California Governor Ford discovered the newly christenedWest Coast Ultimates and set them against the Ultimates.[51]
| Years | Name | Role | Issues | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vol. 1 (1984) | ||||||||||||
| 1984 | Roger Stern | Writer | #1–4 | |||||||||
| Bob Hall | Penciler | |||||||||||
| Vol. 2 (1985–1994) | ||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||
| Vol. 3 (2018–2019) | ||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | Kelly Thompson | Writer | #1–10[52][9] | |||||||||
| Stefano Caselli | Penciler | #1–4[11] | ||||||||||
| 2019 | Daniele Di Nicuolo | Penciler | #5–7[11] | |||||||||
| Gang Hyuk Lim | Penciler | #8–9[11] | ||||||||||
| Moy Rodriguez | Penciler | #10[9] | ||||||||||
| Vol. 4 (2024–present) | ||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | Gerry Duggan | Writer | #1–10[53] | |||||||||
| Danny Kim | Penciler | #1–5, 7–10[53] | ||||||||||
| 2025 | Ton Lima | Penciler | #6[54] | |||||||||
| # | Title | Material collected | Publication date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assemble | West Coast Avengers #1–4,Iron Man Annual #7, andThe Avengers #250, plus material fromThe Avengers #239, 243–244, and 246 andAvengers West Coast #100. | June 2010 | 978-0785143215 | |
| Family Ties | West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #1–9 andVision and the Scarlet Witch (vol. 2) #1–2. | June 2011 | 978-0785155003 | |
| Sins of the Past | West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #10–16,West Coast Avengers Annual #1 andThe Avengers Annual #15. | December 2011 | 978-0785159001 | |
| Avengers: West Coast Avengers - Lost in Space-Time | West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #17–24,Fantastic Four #19, andDoctor Strange (vol. 2) #53 | April 2012 | 978-0785162216 | |
| Zodiac Attack | West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #25–30,West Coast Avengers Annual #2 andAvengers Annual #16 | July 2012 | 978-0785162537 | |
| Avengers West Coast Visionaries – John Byrne Vol. 1: Vision Quest | West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #42–47 andAvengers West Coast #48–50. | August 2005 | 978-0785117742 | |
| Avengers West Coast: Vision Quest | West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #42–46 andAvengers West Coast #47–50. | May 2015 | 978-0785197409 | |
| Avengers West Coast Visionaries – John Byrne Vol. 2: Darker than Scarlet | Avengers West Coast #51–57 and #60–62. | January 2008 | 978-0785130277 | |
| Avengers West Coast: Along Came A Spider-Woman | Avengers West Coast #58–59 and #63–75. | June 2012 | 978-0785162322 | |
| 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, andThor #445. | March 2006 | 978-0785120445 | |
| 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, andWhat If? #55–56. | December 2006 | 978-0785120452 | |
| Avengers: Ultron Unbound | Avengers West Coast #89–91,Annual #8 andVision #1–4. | May 2015 | 978-0785192695 | |
| Avengers: The Death of Mockingbird | Avengers West Coast #92–100, 102;Spider-Woman (vol. 2) #1–4; plus material fromMarvel Comics Presents #143–144. | February 2016 | 978-0785196891 | |
| 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 fromThe Avengers #239, 243–244, 246; material fromAvengers West Coast #100 | April 2013 | 978-0785167457 |
| 2 | West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #17–41;West Coast Avengers Annual #2–3;Avengers Annual #16;Fantastic Four #19; andDoctor Strange (vol. 2) #53 | November 2013 | 978-0785167471 | |
| 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 fromAvengers Spotlight #23 andWhat the--?! #6 | July 2016 | 978-1302900571 | |
| Volume 3 | ||||
| 1 | Best Coast | West Coast Avengers (vol. 3) #1–4,Young Avengers Presents #6, andThe Unbelievable Gwenpool #1 | February 19, 2019 | 978-1302913458 |
| 2 | City of Evils | West Coast Avengers (vol. 3) #5–10 | June 1, 2019 | 978-1302913465 |
| — | Hawkeye: Go West | Hawkeye (vol. 5) #13–16,Generations: Hawkeye & Hawkeye #1,West Coast Avengers (vol. 3) #1–4 | March 30, 2021 | 978-1302923433 |
| — | Hawkeye: Team Spirit | West Coast Avengers (vol. 3) #5–10,War of the Realms: Journey Into Mystery #1–5 | March 15, 2022 | 978-1302934781 |
| — | 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 | December 20, 2022 | 978-1302948207 |
| # | 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 andWonder 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 fromAvengers Spotlight #23 | 2021 | |
| 5 | Darker than Scarlet | Avengers West Coast #53-64,Annual #5;Avengers #311-313; material fromAvengers 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 fromDarkhawk Annual #1 andIron Man Annual #13 | March 2024 |
Hawkeye and his new wife, Mockingbird, were given the job of running the West Coast branch...The initial four-issue limited series proved so popular that it became a regular monthly book that ran for 102 issues.
{{cite book}}:|first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)The three-part story pitted the West Coast Avengers and Spider-Man against Death Web, a team of mutated assassins.
{{cite book}}:|first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)| Affiliated teams | |||||||||||
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