A couple of weeks ago, Marvel decided to start getting the ball rolling on the upcoming Heroic Age. First, we had images stating “I Am An Avenger,” with the characters we can expect to see in Bendis’ Avengers title, with art by John Romita Jr. Then Marvel revealed Secret Avengers, by Ed Brubaker featuring art by Mike Deodato. This time, they blacked out all the images, creating mass speculation through out the internet.
We here at Multiversity, just like on every other site on the internet, have our own theories as to who is who. For our speculations, click behind the jump!
Matt’s thoughts: Well, the pose says Spider-Man, but the cover of Avengers #1 says it’s not. The obvious speculation would be to Beast due to his leaving the X-Men and him being free from SWORD responsibilities. The quote is obviously that of someone of the scientific mind set, and since there is no way that Hank Pym is that beefy, I’d imagine it would have to be Beast. However, I’d really it rather not. Just personally, I’d like to see Beast go off and do X-Club if he can’t be a SWORD member or be in the X-Men any longer.
David’s thoughts: I really like Beast here. It seems like an acrobatic pose as well as a very scientific statement that Beast would say. Plus, with SWORD being cancelled and Beast effectively leaving the X-Men (not to mention his previous association with the Avengers), I think he’s a great fit.
Gil’s thoughts: It’s Beast. There really is no other person it could possibly be. The quote is scientific in nature, the pose is animalistic, and the frame is large but dexterous. It also happens to fit my theory that the members are all characters who have fallen out of favor in the world. Beast being a mutant, fits that bill.
Matt’s thoughts: I do not have that much of a clue, to be honest. At first I think it was someone on a goblin glider, but upon re-assesment I realized that the character was standing on the ground. So when I start thinking about who wears a tattered cloak of this kind, I can think of only two people: Cloak and the Hood. I’m almost positive that’s not Cloak based on the stance, but I don’t know why it would be the Hood. As far as how Brian K Vaughan originally wrote the character, he wasn’t neccesarily a bad guy… just a man unafraid to walk the dark path to take care of his family. And with the recent Dark Reign: The Hood mini, Hood’s mythos was elaborated on that angle greatly. Sure, he can’t care about his wife THAT much due to him sticking it to Madame Masque, but he loves his family still.
Perhaps he wants to redeem himself for beating Tigra within an inch of her life?
David’s thoughts: I’m not going to lie, I don’t really have any clue as to who this could be. My initial guess was Taskmaster. He fits the look for the most part – the hood, the cloak…etc. etc. Plus he’d be the type who would look for redemption. Yet, there is the issue of the clawed thumb and the fact that Taskmaster really couldn’t give a crap about anyone unless they were paying him. Why would he need redemption?
I’m going to say Taskmaster here, but honestly, this one could be anyone. The Hood is an option, but I just don’t see him going that direction (even if he was a good guy in Beyond!)
Gil’s thoughts: This is the toughest one. It’s a tough call. And you know what? I’m going to say Beta Ray Bill. Just because I can.
Matt’s thoughts: It’s Scarlet Witch. There’s no one else it could be. “I’m in control of my life now” has to be a reference to her insane crazy pants breakdown, and if Siege really does bring about an end to all the crazy stuff that’s been going on in the Marvel U since Avengers: Disassembled, and if Heroic Age is REALLY a way to bring back “classic storytelling,” Scarlet Witch has to be back for real this time.
It only makes sense to make her a Secret Avenger considering that the majority of the world hates her for the whole House of M thing…
It’s either her or the female version of the Sentry. Maybe Siege ends with Sentry realizing the reason he’s so crazy is actually because he’s a man, so he rewrites his existence to make him into a woman. Hey, Bendis said we wouldn’t see it coming!
David’s thoughts: To me, this has to be the Scarlet Witch. I’m not sure how they’d make it happen or why she’s missing her weird crown thing, but it’s the only character I can think of when I look at the silhouette and the quote. I can’t imagine anyone else.
Gil’s thoughts: Does anyone think it ISN’T Scarlet Witch? Really.
Matt’s thoughts: I have no real clue. It looks like someone who would be able to fly and do cosmic-y stuff, so I’m going to go before David and Gil and say Noh-Var, if only for the Dark Avengers Annual.
David’s thoughts: Gil said this originally, but to me, it has to be Noh-Varr here. He fits the bill with his new costume, the quote is appropriately douchey (we should expect nothing less from the Kree), and he has to fill a role going forward in Marvel. I don’t think they would have developed him to the degree they have if they didn’t have a plan for him.
Plus, he’s super badass. I love the guy.
Gil’s thoughts:Someone said they thought it was War Machine, and I about slapped him. Well, not really. But everything about this picture is Noh-Varr, otherwise known as Captain Marvel, or Marvel Boy.
Matt’s thoughts: Just to annoy David, I’m going to speculate that it’s Random.
David’s thoughts: Iron Man 2 is coming out. War Machine is in it. War Machine has to be somewhere. This is where it is.
Gil’s thoughts: It’s War Machine. Although part of me wants it to be ROM: Space Knight.
Matt’s thoughts: It’s Steve Rogers. It has to be. The quote “I lead by example” is Steve Rogers right there. Plus, Brubaker is writing this title, and he’s been the writer of Captain America for a while now. He recently said Steve is off relaxing somewhere, getting used to reality again because he doesn’t want to be Captain America anymore. Ok, so he’s Steve Rogers, and he’s going to lead the Secret Avengers. Will he have a new costume and name? Maybe. That’d be neat, but it doesn’t have to happen. But that WILL be Steve Rogers.
David’s thoughts: As much as I thought Steve Rogers would be leading SHIELD after Siege, there are a number of reasons why I think this is him. First off, they can’t not have Steve on an Avengers squad. Second off, this team is a complete mess without someone like Steve Rogers on it. Third, “I lead by example” is classic Steve Rogers. If it’s not him, no one is buying the book. It’s Steve Rogers (under some new name).
Gil’s thoughts: If you haven’t noticed, we’ve largely been agreeing with all these characters, and this is no different. It’s Steve Rogers, probably in a SHIELD uniform, as I heard a rumor he’d be taking over for Norman Osborn after Siege. Makes sense, no? That way Nick can do what he does, Bucky can do what he does, and Steve can do what he does.
And then there is Burpee. When I e-mailed Brandon and asked him his thoughts on the upcoming Secret Avengers line-up, he decided he doesn’t care about the way I run things. No, Brandon is a loner, Dottie, a rebel. So he went ahead and made his own set of Secret Avengers. Here is that list:
Who are the Secret Avengers and why are they secret? Well I think it’s because this is where the whole Marvel being bought by Disney thing is going to start to turn sour. This is where we start to get force fed the Disney crossover machine. So who are the Secret Avengers?! I’ll tell you!
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Who is it?: The first one people seem to think is Spider-Man or Beast or something of that nature. The people who think it’s Beast are right only in name. This silhouette is clearly Beast from Beauty and the Beast! I mean look at his monstrous shape.
Why them?: I’m not sure how I feel about this selection but I must admit selecting Beast makes sense. It gives the team a sweet castle headquarters and provides them with a financial backer. It also supplies the team with a complete staff of servants to take care of all the things they wont have time to do like doing dishes and laundry.
Who is it?: The ragged cloak was a good ruse on Marvel’s part. It had a lot of people thrown off the proper trail. The key is looking at the characters posture. The posture is very awkward and slouched. Almost hunched wouldn’t you say? Well there you have it! This guy is obviously Quasimodo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame!
Why them?: Ole’ Quasi will add that freak element to the title. The drama of not fitting in with the pretty heroes has many endless story possibilities. It’ll be like having a Morlock on the team. What team couldn’t use some good old-fashioned angst?
Who is it?: Many a speculative fan guessed this might be Scarlet Witch. I admit it looks like her but where is her tiara thingy? Based on this it can’t be her. My next guess was it might be Hannah Montana which is yet another Disney property. I withdrew that guess though upon realizing it had to be Sleeping Beauty. I mean look at the picture here and then look at the ad for her. Also, the line, “I am in control of my life”, clearly is alluding to her freedom from her prolonged sleep.
Why them?: I can’t really say why she is being used here. I assume they needed a token female character and just went for one of the most recognizable Disney Princesses in the Disney catalogue.
Who is it?: I think this one is pretty obvious. It’s the goddamn Rocketeer! This is by far the best thing to come of the Disney merger. Placing him on a team is a great choice and will surely make a lot of fans really happy.
Why them?: Because the Rocketeer is one badass sum of a bitch that’s why! He has a rocket and a badass helmet! He also totally nailed Jennifer Connelly’s character at some point and she’s hot. Right? Right?!
Who is it?: It’s Mega Man! While he isn’t owned by Disney or Marvel at this point I hear there are ongoing negotiations for them to buy him and his associated characters.
Why them?: Mega Man is uber popular and has a robo dog and such. His hand blaster doo hickey’s will provide the team with the firepower necessary to combat the evil forces of Magneto and Scar.
Who is it?: This was the last one and is clearly the leader based on his tagline. Who could command this team of Secret Avengers? Well I think the best choice would be Norman Osborne! I mean why not he did an awesome job with the Dark Avengers.
Why them?: As the current moral compass of the Marvel Universe he would indeed lead by example and also would help to get the common fan to accept this obvious force feeding of Disney characters.
In the end the team of Beast, Quasiomodo, Sleeping Beauty, The Rocketeer, Mega Man and Norman Osborn are a terrible mix of characters that is surely being put together to cash in on the Disney and Avenger names. It is an obvious cash grab and as fans we shouldn’t take this shit!
So I ask you, nay, implore you to set the message boards ablaze with fan whining! Write scathing letters letting Marvel know you knew this kind of thing would happen after their merger. Let them know how pissed you are we are getting this instead of SWORD or any other title that’s been cancelled. As fans it’s our job to make sure these guys get this stuff right. So do your jobs and let them know!
