The Champions are a Marvel team that was first introduced in Champions Vol. 1 #1, by Tony Isabella, Don Heck, Mike Esposito, and Petra Scotese. The original members of the team were Black Widow, Hercules, Angel, Ghost Rider, and Iceman. Decades later, the team was brought back with an all-new line-up and premise in Champions Vol. 2 #1, by Mark Waid, Humberto Ramos, Victor Olazaba, and Edgar Delgado.
The founding members of this iteration were Ms. Marvel, Miles Morales, Sam Alexander, Viv Vision, Amadeus Cho, and time-displaced Cyclops. Since then, the team has grown and has many of Marvel's young heroes in its ranks. However, there are still some more heroes who would benefit the team.
10 Pei: An Iron Fist Trying To Get Out Of Another One's Shadow
Pei is a young girl who has the powers and title of Iron Fist. She was first introduced in Iron First: The Living Weapon Vol. 1 #1, by Kaare Kyle Andrews. Since then, she has stayed with Danny Rand, another Iron Fist as his mentee. Even though Pei has few appearances, she would be a perfect match for the Champions. This is because they are a group of young heroes who were originally formed to try and get out of other character's shadows, which is something Pei could benefit from.
9 Lila Rhodes: Teen Genius & Iron Man Adjacent Hero
While there are several Iron Man adjacent heroes in Marvel Universe, one of them even already being on the Champions team, there is still one that has been overlooked for years. This character's name is Lila Rhodes, the niece of James Rhodes aka War Machine.
Lila's first appearance was in Iron Patriot Vol. 1 #1, by Ales Kot, Garry Brown, and Jim Charalampidis. She is a teen genius, and in one alternate reality, she even became an armored heroine.
8 Lyra: Another Hulk To Add To The Team
Lyra is the daughter of Hulk and Thundra and is one of the heroines to use the title of She-Hulk. She is actually from another Earth and was sent to Earth 616. Lyra attended Avengers Academy, which makes her a perfect candidate for a new Champions member. And while the team already has a Hulk, Amadeus Cho, he is also a member of the Agents of Atlas. With Lyra on the team, it would be assured the team will have a Hulk even when he is unavailable.
7 Priya Aggarwal: Has Newfound Plant Abilities To Develop & Utilize
Priya Aggarwal is one of the newest young characters in the Marvel Universe. She debuted in Unstoppable Wasp Vol. 1 #3, by Jeremy Whitley, Elsa Charretier, and Megan Wilson. Priya is a member of Nadia van Dyne's group known as G.I.R.L. and is a biologist and geneticist. Recently, she developed the power to communicate with plants and has been training with Finesse to become a superhero. Her joining the Champions would give her an opportunity to use her newfound abilities for good.
6 Xavin: A Super-Skrull Who Needs To Make A Return
Xavin is a Super-Skrull who was a member of the Runaways. They were also the fiancee of Karolina Dean, but the two broke up when Xavin impersonated Karolina so she would not be the one to serve time in jail for her parents' crimes. Due to the events of Empyre, Xavin could easily return since they are related to Hulkling. The current Runaways comics have yet to include Xavin, so Champions would be a great book to bring back the fan-favorite character.
5 Red Widow: A Skilled Fencer With The Ability To Channel Electricity Through Her Weapons
Ava Orlova, aka Red Widow, made her first appearance in the story Red Widow: First Strike in Mockingbird: S.H.I.E.L.D. 5oth Anniversary Vol. 1 #1 by Margaret Stohl, Nico Leon, and Andres Mossa. She is a skilled fencer and can channel electricity through her weapons due to experiments she underwent when she was a child. Most of her story takes place in the novels Black Widow: Forever Red and Black Widow: Red Vengeance by Margaret Stohl, so this could be a way to get her in more comics.
4 Reptil: Can Transform Into & Connect To Any Prehistoric Animal
Humberto Lopez, also known as Reptil, is a superhero with the ability to transform into and connect to any prehistoric animal. He gained these powers by using a fossilized amulet that was found by his parents. Reptil was experimented on by Norman Osborn but was rescued and sent to Avengers Academy.
He also was one of the many young heroes to be sent to Murderworld. Most recently, Reptil joined Leonardo da Vinci's program with his friend and fellow Avengers Academy classmate, Striker.
3 Ying Liu: A Skilled Assassin & Chemist
Ying Liu is a member of G.I.R.L and is a chemist. Ying was raised in the Red Room Academy as a part of the Black Widow Ops Program, just like Nadia van Dyne and Natasha Romanoff. This means she is also a skilled assassin and is well trained in hand-to-hand combat. Ying has an incredibly rich backstory and talents, which makes her a great fit for the Champions. Her joining the team would give her a chance to connect to characters outside of her small circle of G.I.R.L. agents.
2 Valeria Richards: One Of The Smartest People In The World
Valeria Richards is the daughter of Invisible Woman and Mister Fantastic and a member of the Fantastic Four. She is a genius, and one of the smartest people in the world. Throughout her life, she has made several inventions and discoveries. Almost every team in Marvel Comics has a scientist on the team to help them develop tech to help them on missions, such as new costumes, and weapons. Valeria would be a natural fit in this role for the Champions.
1 Victor Mancha: Son Of Ultron & A Member Of The Runaways
Victor Mancha is a member of the Runaways. He also was a part of Avengers Artificial Intelligence Squad, a team put together to try and defeat Ultron. Victor Mancha is actually the son of Ultron, and in some alternate futures, he becomes a villain known as Victorious. Thankfully, it seems this version of Victor is on a strictly heroic path. While the Runaways are not typical costumed fighters, it is clear Victor has what it takes, and should join the Champions.