10 Best Teen Marvel Heroes

The longevity of Marvel Comics has led to their extensive catalogue of series, and with that comes an even more extensive cast of characters. Although a lot of Marvel’s most well-known heroes are adults, there are just as many incredible heroes who are also dealing with the complexities that come with being a teenager.

For the purposes of this list, “teen heroes” is used to mean that a character is a teen, rather than that the comic’s target audience is teenagers. Additionally, while not all of these characters are currently depicted as being a teenager, they have spent a considerable part of their on-page history as one.

10 Spider-Man (Peter Parker)

Hailed as one of the best heroes who debuted in the Silver Age of comics, Peter Parker is undoubtedly Marvel’s most recognizable former teen hero, with his success proving that other characters in that age category could be more than just sidekicks, and that as heroes in their own right they could be well received.

Though he’s now depicted as an adult, Spider-Man’s teenaged adventures are still some of his most iconic, from the origins of learning to balance his heroics with school life to early fights against Doctor Octopus and The Green Goblin, Peter Parker changed the early blueprint for what it meant to be a comic book hero.

9 Hawkeye (Kate Bishop)

Since her debut in 2005 as a member of the Young Avengers, Kate Bishop has made the title of Hawkeye her own, whilst still sharing a great relationship with the name’s first holder, Clint Barton. Her next-level archery skills and charm make her compelling to readers, whilst her strong friendships with Clint and other Young Avengers like America Chavez are always entertaining.

In more recent years Kate has taken on the role of a private investigator and become a member of the West Coast Avengers, but her ties to her former teammates remain strong. Her popularity has also led to the character – portrayed by Hailee Steinfeld – being set to debut as part of the MCU’s Hawkeye series on Disney+, which starts airing November 24th.

8 Spider-Man (Miles Morales)

Miles Morales may have only made his first appearance in 2011, but since then the teen has faced off against a whole host of the most powerful Marvel comic book enemies, survived the collapse of his home universe, and become a member of both the Avengers and the Champions, the latter of which is a team of exclusively teenaged heroes.

His camouflage and venom strike abilities set him apart from the Peter Parker incarnation of the hero, and his appearance as protagonist of movie Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse introduced the character to a wider audience.

7 Danielle Moonstar (Psyche/Mirage)

As a member of one of Marvel’s best Mutant Teams, the New Mutants, Dani Moonstar has a range of telepathic and psionic abilities. Following a stint in Asgard, she also gained powers associated with the Valkyrie.

Her far-reaching abilities have made her a valued member of many superhero teams, and her Native American (Cheyenne) heritage has played an integral part in her story.

6 Laura Kinney (X-23/Wolverine)

Often portrayed as a mid-to-late teenager, Laura Kinney is a mutant and the daughter of Wolverine (Logan), with similar powers that include adamantium claws in her hands and feet (though hers are two-pronged rather than three), enhanced reflexes, and regenerative healing abilities.

Laura has been a member of the X-Men and a student at Avengers Academy. Starting in the 2015 comic All-New Wolverine, she also started using the moniker Wolverine, and adopted a costume similar to her father’s.

5 Wiccan (Billy Kaplan)

The son of Scarlet Witch and the Vision, Billy Kaplan is an incredibly powerful magician who made his first appearance as a member of the Young Avengers alongside his twin Tommy. He’s been a candidate for Sorcerer Supreme and more recently a Guardian of the Galaxy.

As an openly gay hero Billy has been a big part of Marvel Comic’s LGBTQ+ representation, and the progression of his romance with fellow Young Avenger Teddy Altman (Hulkling), has been a recurring theme in his stories.

4 Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan)

Kamala Khan is a Pakistani American hero from New Jersey who took on the mantle of Ms. Marvel once her idol Carol Danvers became Captain Marvel. Her earliest storylines, discovering her Inhuman powers and the journey to becoming a hero, made Kamala instantly vibrant and relatable.

Set to make her live-action debut in the MCU’s Phase 4 series, itself titled Ms. Marvel, the show will hopefully transfer Kamala’s tendency to use her shapeshifting powers in creative ways to the screen, whilst also retaining her thoughtful approach to heroism.

3 Nova (Sam Alexander)

Sam Alexander is not the first hero to have the name Nova, but in his backstory he takes it on after learning that his father was a member of the Nova Corps.  Subsequently trained by the likes of Gamora and Rocket Raccoon, Sam’s been on the roster of several young heroes teams, including the New Warriors and the Champions.

Granted his powers by the Nova Force – accessed through the helmet he wears – Sam’s abilities range from flight and super speed to telekinesis. He’s also great friends with Miles Morales and Kamala Khan, and the trio’s team-ups are always memorable.

2 Miss America (America Chavez)

With abilities that include being able to kick holes through dimensions, America Chavez entered the world of Marvel with a bang in 2011, and has since become a Young Avenger, member of the A-Force, and West Coast Avenger.

From fights with Kid Loki and Doctor Doom to figuring out life as a university student, America’s adventures are never boring. Her solo series, America, also made her the first LGBTQ+ Latina hero to headline her own story.

1 Squirrel Girl (Doreen Green)

Doreen Green has been a part of Marvel history since 1991, and though she was originally conceived as something of a comedic character, later stories have expanded her personality, and she became a hero called, as is the title of her solo series, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl.

She’s worked as a babysitter for Jessica Jones and Luke Cage, been an Avenger, and faced down the likes of Thanos and Galactus, amongst others. Her squirrel-themed powers remain funny, but Doreen’s character development has shown that not all heroes need to be overly serious in order to be powerful.

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