In the Marvel Universe, the role of heroes has fallen to individuals from all walks of life. From husbands, wives, and parents who must fight to protect their family (or avenge them), to aliens from other worlds and scientists who transform into monstrous beasts, the Marvel heroes know no bounds.
Yet a common trait of many popular heroes is that they get their start as teenagers. While some have transitioned into adulthood throughout the decades, others have become a staple of the teenage superhero community. Let’s take a look at the 10 most powerful teen heroes in the Marvel Comics universe.
10 Kate Bishop
The first powerful teen hero worth mentioning is Hawkeye, aka Kate Bishop. The young hero is a member of the young Avengers and a protege of longtime Avenger Hawkeye, aka Clint Barton. The hero underwent extreme training at a young age after surviving a brutal attack very few other heroes know about.
After taking equipment from several Avengers, she invited herself to join the Young Avengers. A skilled fighter and archer, she has taken the mantle of Hawkeye for herself and has taken part in battles like Civil War and Secret Empire. She’s even worked with Old Man Logan when he came into the 616 Universe.
9 Nadia van Dyne
This next teen hero is a relative newcomer into the world of Marvel Comics, and yet she has made an impact both in the superhero community and socially in our world as well. The hero in question is Nadia van Dyne.
The daughter of Hank Pym and his first wife, Maria Trovaya, Nadia’s mother was taken out after her birth, and she was raised in the Red Room. However, she escaped using Pym Particles and became The Wasp, a young hero. She has gained great social attention for being the first open hero with Bipolar Disorder, making a positive impact on mental health advocacy.
8 Patriot
The next interesting teen hero that actually led the Young Avengers was Eli Bradley, the second Patriot. His history was unique, in that his grandfather Isaiah was one of several African-American men tested with strains of the Super-Soldier Serum after Captain America was lost in WWII, and thus gained powers himself.
While Eli claimed to have inherited his grandfather’s abilities, this was a lie. While he and Kate Bishop had a contentious relationship and his lie caused him to quit the team, he was accepted as their leader after rescuing Hulkling, and he gained his powers after his grandfather gave a blood transfusion later on.
7 Gwenpool
One of the most unique teen heroes of the Marvel Universe is none other than Gwenpool. The hero otherwise known as Gwendolyn “Gwen” Poole comes from what she claims is the “real” universe, where the Marvel Universe is a comic book. She was originally just a teen hero with little to no power, but in recent years she has gained some serious firepower.
Her knowledge of the Marvel Universe and it’s secrets thanks to reading the comics has gained her a deep advantage over villains and heroes alike, but in recent years she has gained reality-altering powers, able to step out of comic panels and change outcomes.
6 Ironheart
A powerful new hero in the teen superhero community is Ironheart. Real name Riri Williams, Ironheart is a young teen inventor and engineer, with a genius-level intellect that allows her to build her own suit of Iron Man-like armor. This gains Tony Stark’s attention, and he is so impressed with her skills he endorses her superhero career.
She has since fought alongside the teen superhero team known as the Champions and has participated in battles like Civil War II and Secret Empire. She is a brilliant inventor and master of new technology, making her a serious teen powerhouse.
5 Brawn
One of the more powerful teen heroes in the Marvel Universe is Brawn, more commonly known by others as Amadeus Cho. The young hero is a Korean-American teen who’s known as one of the smartest individuals on the planet, with some arguing he is the 7th smartest person on Earth while others say he is the eight or tenth smartest.
A friend of both Hercules and the Hulk, Amadeus Cho has been a sidekick of Hercules, become the Prince of Power thanks to his ties to Greek mythological figures, and has since become a Hulk, joining teams like the Champions.
4 Nova
The next teen hero worth mentioning is none other than Sam Alexander, aka Nova. The next hero to wear the Nova helmet from Earth, Sam’s father was a member of the Nova Corps for years. After spending years as a bitter and absent father, Sam’s father disappears and he learns about his heritage as a member of the Nova Corps.
Trained by Rocket Racoon and Gamora, Sam takes part in many missions, learning from Uatu the Watcher and stopping threats like the Chitauri and the Phoenix Force. He has since joined the Avengers and the Champions, becoming a full-time Marvel hero.
3 Ms. Marvel
One of the more popular and recent teen heroes of the Marvel Universe who has gained a major role in the multiverse as a whole is Ms. Marvel, aka Kamala Khan. A teen hero who discovered she had latent Inhuman genes after the Terrigen Mist flooded Jersey City, Kamala gained the ability to shape shift and gain abilities kind of similar to Mr. Fantastic.
A fan of the Marvel heroes and a powerful hero, Kamala has become the leader of the team Champions, and has had a major impact on the superhero community as a whole, such as during events like Civil War II and Secret Empire.
2 Miles Morales
The second most popular and powerful teen hero of the Marvel Universe is none other than Miles Morales, one of the many heroes to don the mantle of Spider-Man. Originally one of the heroes of the Ultimate Universe who took the mantel of Spider-Man after Peter Parker’s demise, Miles joined the 616 Universe after the events of Secret Wars.
Miles is a powerful hero who has worked with the Avengers, the Champions and of course his mentor and idol, Peter Parker. He has also participated as a key member of the Spider-heroes of the multiverse during Spider-Verse and Spider-Geddon.
1 Hulkling
The most powerful teen hero who is set to make a major splash on the Marvel Universe in the coming year is Hulkling, known also as Doreek VIII. The teen hero was unique in that he is the son of Captain Mar-Vell and the Skrull Princess Anelle. Born as a Half-Kree, Half-Skrull hero, Hulkling has been destined to unite the two warring empires.
A member of the Young Avengers, Hulkling is not only super strong and powerful but is notable as one of the more powerful and open gay superheroes in the Marvel Universe, along with his love interest Wiccan.