West Coast Avengers
Encyclopedia
The West Coast Avengers is a fictional group of superheroes that appear in publications published by Marvel Comics
. The team first appear in The West Coast Avengers #1 (Oct. 1984
) and was created by Roger Stern
and Bob Hall
.
published from October to January 1985. The series was written by Roger Stern, and drawn by Bob Hall and Brett Breeding. This was followed by a 102-issue series of the same name that ran from October 1985 to January 1994. The series was written by Steve Engelhart (with some fill-in issues covered by writers such as Mark Gruenwald
) with art by Al Milgrom
and Joe Sinnott
. This creative team left as of issue #41, and from issue #42 to 57 the title was written and illustrated by John Byrne. The title was also renamed Avengers West Coast as of issue #47, dated August 1989.
From issue #58 the creative team varied, although writers Roy Thomas
and Dann Thomas
and artist Paul Ryan
completed the majority of the run, with artist Dave Ross
penciling the last several issues.
The second series was accompanied by eight annuals, the first being published in 1986, the last in 1993.
in response to a suggestion by android fellow Avenger the Vision
, who at the time wished to expand Avengers influence. Hawkeye recruits Mockingbird
, 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
and later Avengers foe Graviton
.
The team would later take on Henry Pym
as a scientific advisor and compound manager and battle a range of both old foes—including the Grim Reaper
, Ultron
, Graviton, and Zodiac
—and new opponents such as Master Pandemonium
and Dominus
. Fantastic Four
member the Thing
and heroine Firebird briefly accompany the team during this period; Henry Pym (later saved by Firebird from a suicide attempt), and the adventurer Moon Knight
formally join, while Iron Man is expelled for his actions during the Armor Wars
. The marriage of Hawkeye and Mockingbird is also placed in jeopardy when during a time travel adventure she allows the Old West hero Phantom Rider
to die in a fall for deceiving and raping her.
After a trip to Hungary
to investigate a report on Pym's first wife, the Wasp
; 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. Vision and Scarlet Witch join the team as to not leave it short handed. 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 Vision's emotions, explaining that the original process, done without his consent, had "ripped out his soul". Although Wonder Man's own love for 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. 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
, 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 Scarlet Witch's children (conceived via Scarlet Witch's hex powers) 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 Scarlet Witch insane. Although she eventually recovers, Scarlet Witch and the Vision separate, each operating on a different Avengers team.
Iron Man rejoins, and the mutant Quicksilver
aids the team when Scarlet Witch aids their father Magneto during a period in which she suffers from a mental breakdown. Immortus is also finally confronted and revealed to be the cause of much of the team's misfortune, and is finally defeated. Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver then leave the team, with Machine Man
becoming a reservist and Spider-Woman and the Living Lightning
and joining as full-time members.
The team battle Ultron and his new creation Alkhema
several times, and Hawkeye assumes his old identity of Goliath
, also managing to reconcile 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. 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
. 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
.
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. The team first appear in The West Coast Avengers #1 (Oct. 1984
1984 in comics
-Year overall:* The independent publishing boom continues, as Antarctic Press, Continuity Comics, Deluxe Comics, Matrix Graphic Series, and Renegade Press all enter the arena...
) and was created by Roger Stern
Roger Stern
Roger Stern is an American comic book author and novelist.-Early career:In the early 1970s, Stern and Bob Layton published the fanzine CPL , one of the first platforms for the work of John Byrne...
and Bob Hall
Bob Hall (comics)
Bob Hall is an American comic book creator and theater director. He is the co-creator of the West Coast Avengers for Marvel Comics and has worked on such series as Armed and Dangerous and Shadowman, which he both drew and wrote for Valiant Comics.-DC Comics:*Batman #559 *Batman: DOA #1 *Batman:...
.
Publication history
The West Coast Avengers first appear in 1984 in a four-issue limited seriesLimited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
published from October to January 1985. The series was written by Roger Stern, and drawn by Bob Hall and Brett Breeding. This was followed by a 102-issue series of the same name that ran from October 1985 to January 1994. The series was written by Steve Engelhart (with some fill-in issues covered by writers such as Mark Gruenwald
Mark Gruenwald
Mark E. Gruenwald was an American comic book writer, editor, and occasional penciler. Gruenwald got his start in comics fandom, publishing his own fanzine, Omniverse, which explored the concept of continuity...
) with art by Al Milgrom
Al Milgrom
Allen "Al" Milgrom is an American comic book writer, penciller, inker and editor, primarily for Marvel Comics. He is known for his 10-year run as editor of Marvel Fanfare; his long involvement as writer, penciler, and inker on Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man; his four-year tenure as West...
and Joe Sinnott
Joe Sinnott
Joe Sinnott is an American comic book artist. Working primarily as an inker, Sinnott is best-known for his long stint on Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, from 1965 to 1981 , initially over the pencils of industry legend Jack Kirby...
. This creative team left as of issue #41, and from issue #42 to 57 the title was written and illustrated by John Byrne. The title was also renamed Avengers West Coast as of issue #47, dated August 1989.
From issue #58 the creative team varied, although writers Roy Thomas
Roy Thomas
Roy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
and Dann Thomas
Dann Thomas
Danette "Dann" Thomas is a comic book writer, the wife of comic book writer and editor Roy Thomas. She has at times collaborated with Thomas on All-Star Squadron, Arak, Son of Thunder, the Crimson Avenger miniseries and Avengers West Coast.She married Roy Thomas in May 1981 and legally changed her...
and artist Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan (comics)
Paul Ryan Paul Ryan Paul Ryan ((born 23 September 1949 in Massachusetts) is an American comic book and comic strip artist. Ryan has worked extensively for Marvel Comics and DC Comics on a number of super-hero comics. He currently pencils and inks the daily and Sunday comic strip The Phantom for...
completed the majority of the run, with artist Dave Ross
Dave Ross
Dave Ross is a talk show host on Seattle's KIRO-FM radio station, with whom he had been a news anchor from 1978 until his talk show started nine years later in 1987. He has sometimes broadcast his show while on assignment in other locations, including overseas, such as Baghdad, Iraq in April...
penciling the last several issues.
The second series was accompanied by eight annuals, the first being published in 1986, the last in 1993.
Fictional team biography
The team is founded by the Avenger HawkeyeHawkeye (comics)
Hawkeye , also known as Goliath and Ronin, is a fictional character that appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Tales of Suspense #57 and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Don Heck. Hawkeye joined the Avengers in Avengers Vol. 1 #16 Hawkeye...
in response to a suggestion by android fellow Avenger the Vision
Vision (Marvel Comics)
The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:The first Vision was created by the writer-artist team of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in Marvel Mystery Comics #13 The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that...
, who at the time wished to expand Avengers influence. Hawkeye recruits Mockingbird
Mockingbird (Marvel Comics)
Mockingbird is a fictional character, a superhero in the who first appears in the Ka-Zar story in Astonishing Tales #6 written by Gerry Conway and pencilled by Barry Smith...
, Wonder Man
Wonder Man
Wonder Man is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, he first appeared in The Avengers #9 .-Publication history:Wonder Man debuted in the superhero-team title The Avengers #9 Wonder...
, Tigra
Tigra
Tigra is a fictional American comic book superheroine in the Marvel Comics universe. Introduced as the non-superpowered crime fighter The Cat in Claws of the Cat #1 , she was co-created by writer-editor Roy Thomas, writer Linda Fite, and penciller Marie Severin...
, and Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
, with the last actually being Jim Rhodes
War Machine
War Machine is a fictional character, a comic book superhero appearing in comic books set in the Marvel Comics universe. The character of James Rhodes first appeared in Iron Man #118 by David Michelinie, John Byrne and Bob Layton...
as opposed to Tony Stark
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
, a fact initially unknown to the team. Together the team defeat a petty criminal called the Blank
Blank (comics)
The Blank is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in West Coast Avengers #2 and was created by Roger Stern and Bob Hall.-Fictional character biography:...
and later Avengers foe Graviton
Graviton (comics)
Graviton is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Avengers #158 and was created by Jim Shooter and Sal Buscema....
.
The team would later take on Henry Pym
Henry Pym
Dr. Henry "Hank" Pym is a fictional character that appears in publications by Marvel Comics. Created by editor and plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber and penciler Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Tales to Astonish #27...
as a scientific advisor and compound manager and battle a range of both old foes—including the Grim Reaper
Grim Reaper (comics)
Grim Reaper is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in The Avengers #52 May , by Roy Thomas and John Buscema.-Fictional character biography:...
, Ultron
Ultron
Ultron is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Avengers #54 , and was created by writer Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema...
, Graviton, and Zodiac
Zodiac (comics)
Zodiac is the name of four groups of fictional characters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics. The first version appears in Avengers #72 and was created by Roy Thomas and Sal Buscema. The second version first appear in Defenders #49 and were created by David Kraft and Keith Giffen...
—and new opponents such as Master Pandemonium
Master Pandemonium
Master Pandemonium is a supervillain in the Marvel Universe.-Fictional character biography:Martin Preston was born in Rutland, Vermont. He was originally an actor who lost an arm in a car crash, and made a pact with Mephisto to regain his limb. Mephisto instead took the man's other three limbs,...
and Dominus
Dominus (Marvel Comics)
Dominus is a fictional character, a villain appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. It is a sentient super-computer, created by the alien Quists and sometimes controlled by Lucifer.-Publication history:...
. Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
member the Thing
Thing (comics)
The Thing is a fictional character, a founding member of the superhero team known as the Fantastic Four in the Marvel Comics universe. He was created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee in The Fantastic Four #1...
and heroine Firebird briefly accompany the team during this period; Henry Pym (later saved by Firebird from a suicide attempt), and the adventurer Moon Knight
Moon Knight
Moon Knight is a fictional character, a mercenary-turned-superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character exists in the Marvel Universe and was created by Doug Moench and Don Perlin...
formally join, while Iron Man is expelled for his actions during the Armor Wars
Armor Wars
"Armor Wars" is a seven-issue Iron Man story arc written by David Michelinie and Bob Layton with art by Mark D. Bright and Barry Windsor-Smith and published by Marvel Comics...
. The marriage of Hawkeye and Mockingbird is also placed in jeopardy when during a time travel adventure she allows the Old West hero Phantom Rider
Phantom Rider
The Phantom Rider is the name of several fictional characters, Old West heroic gunfighters appearing in comic books in the Marvel Comics universe...
to die in a fall for deceiving and raping her.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
to investigate a report on Pym's first wife, the Wasp
Wasp (comics)
The Wasp is a fictional character, a superheroine in the Marvel Comics universe and founding member of The Avengers. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Tales to Astonish #44 ....
; Scarlet Witch
Scarlet Witch
The Scarlet Witch is a fictional comic book character that appears in books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...
and the Vision
Vision (Marvel Comics)
The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:The first Vision was created by the writer-artist team of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in Marvel Mystery Comics #13 The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that...
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. Vision and Scarlet Witch join the team as to not leave it short handed. Former Avenger ally Mantis
Mantis (Marvel Comics)
Mantis is a fictional character, a superhero in the Marvel Universe, and former member of the Avengers.-Publication history:Mantis first appeared in Avengers #112 , drawn by Don Heck...
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 Vision's emotions, explaining that the original process, done without his consent, had "ripped out his soul". Although Wonder Man's own love for 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. The unstable U.S. Agent
U.S. Agent
U.S. Agent is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, usually those starring Captain America and the Avengers. He was created by Mark Gruenwald and Paul Neary in Captain America vol...
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
Great Lakes Avengers
The Great Lakes Initiative, originally known as The Great Lakes Avengers , are a fictional superhero team that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The characters were first introduced in West Coast Avengers vol. 2, #46 , and were created by John Byrne.-Publication history:The team...
, 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 Scarlet Witch's children (conceived via Scarlet Witch's hex powers) are then revealed to be fragments of the soul of the demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
Mephisto
Mephisto (comics)
Mephisto is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Silver Surfer #3 and was created by Stan Lee and John Buscema, loosely modeled on Mephistopheles - a character from the Faust legend.Debuting in the Silver Age of comic books,...
, who had been broken apart by Franklin Richards
Franklin Richards
Franklin Richards is a fictional comic book character appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, usually as a supporting character in Fantastic Four.Franklin is an Omega-Level mutant with vast psionic and reality-manipulating powers...
shortly before the birth of the twins. The twins were absorbed back into Mephisto, which temporarily drives Scarlet Witch insane. Although she eventually recovers, Scarlet Witch and the Vision separate, each operating on a different Avengers team.
Iron Man rejoins, and the mutant Quicksilver
Quicksilver (comics)
Quicksilver is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...
aids the team when Scarlet Witch aids their father Magneto during a period in which she suffers from a mental breakdown. Immortus is also finally confronted and revealed to be the cause of much of the team's misfortune, and is finally defeated. Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver then leave the team, with Machine Man
Machine Man
Machine Man is a fictional character, an android superhero in the Marvel Comics Universe. The character was created by Jack Kirby for 2001: A Space Odyssey #8 , a comic written and drawn by Kirby featuring concepts based on the eponymous Stanley Kubrick film and Arthur C. Clarke novel...
becoming a reservist and Spider-Woman and the Living Lightning
Living Lightning
Living Lightning is a fictional character, a superhero from the Marvel Universe. He is a former member of the Avengers West Coast, and is current a member of Texas' super-team, The Rangers.- Publication history :...
and joining as full-time members.
The team battle Ultron and his new creation Alkhema
Alkhema
Alkhema is a fictional robot supervillain in the Marvel Universe. Also known as War Toy, she first appeared in Avengers West Coast #90 in January 1993.-Fictional character biography:...
several times, and Hawkeye assumes his old identity of Goliath
Goliath (comics)
Goliath, in comics, may refer to:* Marvel Comics characters:** Henry Pym, was the first to adopt the name Goliath and has also gone by Giant-Man, Ant-Man, and Yellowjacket....
, also managing to reconcile with Mockingbird. Iron Man and Wonder Man leave the team, and are replaced by War Machine
War Machine
War Machine is a fictional character, a comic book superhero appearing in comic books set in the Marvel Comics universe. The character of James Rhodes first appeared in Iron Man #118 by David Michelinie, John Byrne and Bob Layton...
(Jim Rhodes, one of the founding West Coast Avengers) and Darkhawk
Darkhawk
Darkhawk is a fictional comic book superhero who first appeared in his own self-titled series, Darkhawk #1...
, with the latter acting as a reservist. During a battle with the demons Mephisto and Satannish
Satannish
Satannish is a fictional character appearing in the Marvel Comics universe.-Fictional character biography:Satannish is a very powerful extra-dimensional demon who has clashed with Doctor Strange. Satannish is known for granting mortals mystical power in exchange for their souls...
, Mockingbird is killed. Due to constant in-fighting and a general lack of organization, Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
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
Force Works
Force Works was a Marvel Comics superhero team. It first appeared in the comic book series Force Works #1 . The title was written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning and initially drawn by Tom Tenney....
. 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
Avengers Academy
Avengers Academy is a Marvel Comics comic book series that debuted in June 2010 as part of the "Heroic Age". The series is written by Christos Gage, with artwork by Mike McKone and tells the story of a group of young super-powered persons who were selected to join a training academy for the...
.
Trade paperbacks
| Title | Material Collected | Publication Date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Coast Avengers: Assemble | Collects West Coast Avengers (1984) #1-4, Iron Man Annual #7, & Avengers #250, plus material from Avengers #239, #243-244, & #246, and Avengers West Coast #100. | June 2010 | ISBN 0-7851-4321-5 |
| Avengers: West Coast Avengers: Family Ties | Collects West Coast Avengers (1985) #1-9 and Vision & the Scarlet Witch (1985) #1-2. | June 2011 | ISBN 0-7851-5500-7 |
| Avengers: West Coast Avengers: Sins of the Past | Collects West Coast Avengers (1985) #10-16, Annual #1 & Avengers Annual #15. | December 2011 | ISBN 0-7851-5900-2 |
| Avengers West Coast: Visionaries - John Byrne, Vol. 1: Vision Quest | Collects Avengers West Coast #42-50. | August 2005 | ISBN 0-7851-1774-1 |
| Avengers West Coast: Visionaries - John Byrne, Vol. 2: Darker than Scarlet | Collects Avengers West Coast #51-57 and #60-62. | January 2008 | ISBN 0-7851-3027-7 |
| Avengers: Galactic Storm: Volume 1 | Collects Avengers West Coast #80-81, Captain America #398-399, Quasar #32-33, Wonder Man #7-8, Avengers #345-346, Iron Man #278 and Thor #445. | March 2006 | ISBN 0-7851-2044-0 |
| Avengers: Galactic Storm: Volume 2 | Collects Avengers West Coast #82, Iron Man #279, Thor #446, Captain America #400-401, Quasar #34-35, Wonder Man #9, Avengers #347 and What If? #55-56. | December 2006 | ISBN 0-7851-2045-9 |