WRITTEN BY Lorraine

Cink

ILLUSTRATED BY Alice X.
Zhang

LOS ANGELES • NEW YORK

For you.

You have everything you will ever need

already inside of you. You are a

universe.
–Lorraine Cink

For my parents.

Thank you for your support since my

childhood.
For anyone giving this book to a child.

Thank you for being someone’s real-life

Copyright © 2019 MARVEL
hero.
All rights reserved. Published by Marvel Press, an
imprint of
X. Zhang
–Alice
Disney Book Group. No part of this book may be
reproduced

or transmitted in any form or by any means,

electronic or

mechanical, including photocopying, recording or

by any

information storage and retrieval system, without

written

permission from the publisher. For information

address Marvel

Press, 125 West End Avenue, New York, New

York 10023.

Designed by Elizabeth H. Clark and Scott

Petrower

ISBN 978-1-368-04383-0

Visit Marvel.com and DisneyBooks.com

Table of
Contents

Ms. Marvel
Introduction

Hellcat
Captain Marvel

Animal Companions
America Chavez

The Runaways
Quake

Dora Milaje
She-Hulk

Daughters of the
Thor

Dragon
Science Squad

Peggy Carter &

Black Widow

S.H.I.E.L.D.
Spider-Woman

art
Mentors
Ironhe &
Mary Jane

Unsto
Matria rchs e Wasp
ppabl
Watson

Moon Girl
Gamora

Mockingbird
Medusa

Shuri
Ghost-Spider

Hawkeye
Valkyrie

Scarlet Witch
Monica Rambeau

Silk
Terrific Twosomes

Gwenpool
Squirrel Girl

Portraits Poster
Mantis
 Sorry about that. Now, where was awkward. Even the most powerful
I? Oh, yeah! Super Hero is stronger with the help
Before Gwenpool interrupts again, of her allies. So, join me and other
I should mention that I’m Lorraine. I True Believers who dare to seek the
live in New York City, the home of wisdom of Marvel Super Hero Girls.
Super Heroes. I can almost see As I was saying, girls have many
Avengers Mansion* from my office powers, which we’ll explore in this
window! Well . . . kinda. There’s
book. And while, yes, some of these
a building in the way. girls can fly, punch hard, embiggen,
Since I was a girl, Super Heroes talk to squirrels, and occasionally
have been a big part of my life, and emit dangerous sparkles, that is far
now I get to talk about them every from what makes them super. Super
day as part of my work. I live and Heroes come in all shapes, sizes,
breathe this stuff on the daily! I know, races, religions, genders, sexualities,
right?! But, I’ve always wished a book outfits, and musical tastes, but there
existed not just celebrating heroic is one thing that they all share.
LIONHEARTED
women in the Marvel Universe, but GWEN. NO. Anyways, this brings An

LADIES.
led

sharing their struggles, victories, and us to: u rid st

n b
o d lu
Galactic the lessons we can learn from these Girls:
blo
?!
galS.
laudable ladies. These girls and women The Origin

T Daring
his is dameS.

the Marvel
can teach us so much more than how
to punch hard (though I am HERE
Story
No Super Hero is born a champion.
Bad
Universe. Where
baeS.the personalities, for So what
that, exactly
too). They are canthe powers
teach of a
us about Even if you just so happen to tumble
powers, and straight-up legends of girl?
growth,Whether
passion,you ourwere born aselves,
innermost girl, out of the womb flying, punching
countless heroic women have identify
and how as a girl, or
to become ourjust
ownappreciate
heroes. hard, embiggening, talking to squirrels,
ve
captivated readers for generations. or emitting danger sparkles, the path
I lo h

how darn cool girls and former girls

n c Whether they consider their to heroism requires a choice. The
pu D
(or as you might call them: women)
AN hsupernatural abilities a blessing or a just so happen to be, we know that choice to use your powers for good.
c
pun ! curse, these women have gifts as being a girl can bring you great and That’s why none of these stories really
g
in diverse as these heroic ladies
unforetold powers. And as Spider- start at birth. They begin when
themselves. From the powerful Man’s Uncle Ben once said, with great something awful, amazing, clandestine,
punches of America Chavez to the Thatcomes
power remindsgreat—Eh,
me . . . fromyoutime
knowto or all of the above happens. What
godly
Evenzealasof extraordinary
Valkyrie, there’s
as an entire
Squirrel time, I might mention boys, or even
the rest. these girls choose to do with that
universe
Girl. of women
Perhaps the mostherepowerful
to teachherous men, or sometimes boys who put something is what makes them great.
how
in thewe all Marvel
entire have the powerSquirrel
Universe, within “man” in their name to sound cool. Life some
Heck, is full ofof these
these choices, and
ladies were
ourselves
Girl hasto bedefeated
extraordinary.
villains as Boys and men are welcome here, too. that
heroesis before
where they
our heroes begin.
were even Girls
super.
o omnipotent as Thanos and as titanic Everyone is welcome. Hey, we’re all in have choices to do the right thing, and
o
Oo as the city-crushing monstrosity Fin it together, right? Well, except for that is their first super-power.
id

o, d she Fang Foom. Although the name maybe the Super Villains. Hopefully, if SPOILER ALERT: When they start
s t
Squirrel

Girl may not immediately any Super Villains are reading this, out, some girls may even work with
ju the
say evoke
fear, Doreen Green has a they will learn to turn over a new leaf some pretty reprehensible people
f
m eo doing some pretty not-cool things and
n a k ?
surprisingly formidable set of gifts. and stop being Grade-A jerks.
boo
the She is said to have all the powers of a Anyway, while this book will focus on end up becoming heroes, like Black
squirrel and all the powers of a girl. girls and former girls, everybody is Widow and Gamora. Sorry to call you
Stop breaking the fourth wall, welcome to the girl party because a out, ladies, but . . . you know what
* Avengers Mansion is based on a real building in
Gwenpool. We haven’t gotten to you party
NYC,alone is . called
a museum . . well,
the Frick House. Which
you did.
yet. But I can’t wait! is pretty Frickin’ awesome. Here are attributes of a girl that, as
GWEN! Okay, okay. Sheesh! we’ll see, will make super people
ch

’m su Super Heroes.
Ibecome
#BOO an That’s
t! me!
M artis
 !Warning! Spider-Woman. Perhaps after deciding that lady
Flaws this is a harder kind of scientists weren’t getting
I just want to get this out responsibility because enough attention. Even
in the open now: This there is no glory, but it the greatest super-genius
isn’t going to be one of doesn’tEmpathy make it any less invests in her mind with
those books where all the Acknowledging
brave. the education, reading,
heroes do everything right suffering and needs of exploring, getting messy,
all the time. In fact, others is the first signal to and stoking the flames of
sometimes these girls any hero that she must herBeing
curiosities. At only
Brave
mess up. Big-time. dive into action. These nine
girls see their fellow Girls years
do braveold, Lunella
things!
Sometimes they mess up Lafayette
humans, aliens, and Being brave thecansmartest
is mean
and bad things happen to character in the entire
sometimes whole planets, everything from standing
them and to the people Marvel Universe, but she
and feel their pain, up for what one believes in
they love. Sometimes bad still has a lot to learn.
outrage, and fear. Only to simply saying no to
things happen and it’s not
then will they truly know something one doesn’t
even their fault and they
Sacrifices and

Hard Work how to spring into action want to do. Honestly, the
still have to deal with the
Sometimes doing what is and save the day. When latter is often harder than
fallout. No girl is perfect,
right means giving up Captain Marvel sees the the former. But don’t be
no matter how super. A
other things. Spider-Gwen aliens displaced by mistaken. Being brave
lot more can be learned
would much rather hang Thanos,
team-ups
she knows she doesn’t mean she always
from failures than from Asking for help when you
out with her ax-grinding cannot feels impervious or is
always winning,
bandmates, the Mary
so need it is return
definitely toa super-
Earth
never scared. In fact, what
appreciate these failures! until they have
power. Girls know that a homes
Janes, than save NYC because she knows makes her so brave is that
Learning from mistakes super-squad gets ithow done it
she keepsaregoing
youwhen she
Responsibility
from the Lizard, but you must feel to have nowhere Okay, ready?
and not
It’s moving on Spider-
just for is one way faster than going it
know, not everything can to go. This also sometimes
means she feels the most afraid.
These girls are going to Ms.
heck of a super-power.
Men anymore. Girls can alone, and that
be rock-star jam sessions. must have empathy for Marvel
do somewas petrified
awesome that
things.
take responsibility for a job takes more than one she’d disappoint
Super-powers won’t do all
their actions and their herself,
lady. Whether which it’s canhaving be a They’re going to beat herup
the work for you. boatload harder at times. family by taking
baddies, break through on her vi!
to
communities. A hero sees equally super backup like Ob
This is why bubble baths Super Hero persona—not
other dimensions, and
the world she lives in and BFFsUsing Captain Marvel Her and to mention putting herself
knows she can use her were invented.*
Spider-Woman, or having save the fricking universe!
Smarts
in personal peril—but she
powers to improve it. It’s aGirls
wholeuse crewtheir minds.
of confident knew she had to do what
her responsibility to make Take
baes like She-Hulk, or Riri
fifteen-year-old the was right to protect the e,

her world better if she can. Williams, who createdgirls her nd m l!

HERoes of A-Force, lives of her fellow GANew n p oo
we
When Quake sees that the own
get Iron the Man job suitdone— in her Jersey teens.
world is being overtaken dorm
* Not really,room
together. but they at MIT. Or
are straight-up

by evil, instead of Nadia Van Dyne, the

magic.
AC
H
submitting, she leads a second-generation #Wasp PRE

team of elite forces to save who started her own lab

“Have you ever seen a little girl

Run So Fast she falls

down? There’s an instant, a fraction

of a second before the world

catches hold of her again . . .

A moment when she’s outrun

every doubt and fear she’s ever

had about herself and

She Flies.
In that one moment, every little girl

flies. I need to find that again. Like

taking a car out into the desert to see

how fast it can go, I need to find the

Edge of me . . .

And maybe, if I fly far enough,

I’ll be able to turn around

and look at the world . . .

And see where I belong.”

— Carol Danvers,

Captain Marvel
 CAPTAIN MARVEL
Ace Pilot. Sparklefists. Lady
Boss.

live for hyphens between syllables, so just go

C AROL DANVERS grew up
in a Boston military family with her with it.) During their alien skirmish, Carol
absorbed a great deal of radiation that
parents and two brothers. Although it was a
steep uphill battle in her time, Carol needed to unlocked Kree powers within her body.
fly. So she joined the Air Force as soon as However, they lay dormant until months
she turned eighteen (despite the protests of later—more on that
After aiding soon.Mar-Vell, who was
Captain
her father, who believed women weren’t as under government investigation, Carol
capable as men), taking inspiration from Danvers’s career at NASA quickly
women like aviation hero HELEN COBB. It deteriorated. I mean, she saved the world
can be very hard to push past the limits but pissed off the government. Classic
others place on you, but Carol knew she Super Hero mistake. While everything was
must follow her own dreams. She pushed falling apart, Carol reawakened her passion
herself to become a top-of-her-class fly girl. for writing and began working for Woman
Before long, she was bravely piloting an elite magazine, owned by the Daily Bugle. There
Stark plane through enemy territory under she became BFFs with Mary Jane Watson
the code name “Cheeseburger”—delicious (ya know, Spider-Man’s on-again-off-again
and deadly. Carol retired from the Air Force bae) and enjoyed a normal life until she
as a colonel, and became the head of began having strange blackouts. During
At NASA,
security Carol .met
for NASA Oh, did I not
Captain Mar-yet these blackouts, new super-powers emerged
mention Carol is a straight-up boss? Super
Vell , a Kree alien who was also a Yeah! and transformed her into the Super Hero
Hero
She wasonbreaking
the side.
down I barriers
know what you’re
long before Ms. Marvel. Yeah, that’s right. MS.

thinking. Wait, isn’t Mar-Vell a

she got super-powers, silencing anyone who lot like Marvel. And thus, Princess Sparklefists was
Marvel? Well, yes! And for
doubted that women were capable of good reason. born! Carol eventually mastered her gifts
Carol developed
incredible things. her powers when she was and began aiding Super Hero teams on the
caught in a conflict between Captain Mar- reg. She eventually joined The

Vell, his foe Yon-Rogg, and a large alien Avengers as one of their major players.

machine called a Psyche-Magnitron. (Listen, In her early days (and later days, for that
these aliens matter) she had A LOT of drama. The
Avengers and Carol have always been on-
again, off-again, so let’s just say sometimes
she was seeing other Super Hero teams.
 Ms. Marvel. As you can imagine, all of this
name-changing had her ready to take a little
solo time.
Carol had always been a military girl, so
when Tony Stark needed to enforce the
Super Hero Registration Act, Ms. Marvel
was ready to lend her muscle to the fight.
All super-powered people were forced to
register with the government, which created
a civil war between Super Heroes. Her best
friends were torn apart and fighting—
anyone who has lived through high school
knows how that goes.
In the wake of all of these global upsets, a
new and super-not-cool power arose:
On a space mission with some “off- Norman Osborn (as in the Green Goblin—
again” Super Hero allies, Carol began to yeah, that Norman Osborn). Well, he tried
channel the powers of a white hole, which to convince Ms. Marvel to join his Dark
transformed her into the ultra-powerful and Avengers, but she refused, because she
knows a jerk when she sees one. Instead she
flame-covered entity Binary. As Binary,
her cosmic powers were nearly limitless. joined the New Avengers to stop
Feeling detached from her home planet, she Osborn’s evil agenda and protect the world
traveled the stars, often teaming up with a in secret alongside Captain America, the
very bohemian band of space travelers biggest teddy bear in the good ole U-S-of-
called the Starjammers and just chilling out A. With only slightly world-ending
across the galaxy. consequences, Osborn was defeated and the
Over time, the white hole Binary drew SuperBUTHeroWHEN
RegistrationDIDAct CAROL
was repealed.GET

her power from began to collapse. Carol Phew! Ms. Marvel had finally found her
PANTS?!

returned to Earth to join forces with the homeFinally,

againcourtesy of Tony
with Earth’s Stark,
Mightiest CarolI
Heroes.
rest of its mightiest heroes, the Avengers. Danvers
mean, what’swas given
a world a fancy new every
takeover flight now
suit
After spending some time recuperating with (and
WITHthenPANTS
anyway,, because
right? fighting bad guys is
the old Avengers gang, she took on the code hard enough without your butt showing).
Captain America suggested that Carol had
name Warbird, in memory of one of her
earned a new title to go with her new look:
favorite fighter jets. As Warbird, she was not
Captain Marvel.
taking any crap. She was back for
vengeance, taking down every villain and Carol had to do some soul-searching.
criminal around. Mourning the death of her aviation hero
The Avengers would need Carol’s help and mentor, Helen Cobb, Carol realized that
once again during the world-altering mental
* An alien creature resembling a cat, but containing pocket dimensions holding without women like Helen who paved the
a seemingly endless protrusion of tentacles, toothy maws, and eggs to be laid.
breakdown
Very snuggly. of the powerful Scarlet Witch, way, sometimes having to fight her own
where she turned reality inside out. Carol, superiors to prove her worth, Carol might
seeing her true power in this altered reality, never have gotten to fly in a plane, much
rediscovered her past reality, reclaiming her less in her new Super Hero flight
name as suit.

b d f d
 WHY IT MATTERS THAT

CAROL DANVERS WAS MS.

MARVEL
BEFORE SHE WAS CAPTAIN
MARVEL

Carol took on the code name Ms.

Marvel when she became a Super
Hero because of her creation
during the Women’s Liberation
Movement. During this time,
honorifics for women were either
Miss (if unmarried) or Mrs. (if
partnered). However, you will
notice men are noted as Mr.
whether or not they are married,
meaning maybe their status isn’t
greater or less depending on if they
locked it down or not. Around the
same time Carol Danvers showed
up in comics, the title Ms. began to
be adopted as an honorific
for
measure—Carol forged her own path to
women in hopes of giving them
greatness. But sometimes the hardest part of
equal opportunity to that of men,
achieving great things is pushing past the
regardless of marital status. When
limits you put on yourself, even if you are
Ms. Marvel was given her name, it
decades deep in super-heroing. So for
meant she wasn’t there to be
Helen, for her father, for the long-passed
married or to be single—she was
Mar-Vell, for the future of girls and women
there to kick some butts and save
to some
followdays.
in her flight path, and yes, for So Let’s Review!
herself, Carol Danvers claimed the name
Captain Marvel, a symbol of greatness. Just US Air Force (The

as Helen paved the road for Carol, Carol Cheeseburger years)

must now make way and support future NASA (Head of Security, aka

women Super Heroes. Boss Lady)

And that’s just what she has done.

Ms. Marvel
Captain Marvel has saved the world
(If ya nasty)

countless times, traveled the cosmos with Ms. Marvel 2.0 (Struck by

her cat, Chewie (who might just be the lightning)

cutest and creepiest alien in the universe), Binary (2 Hot 2 Handle)

and spent tons of time hanging with her Warbird (Give them the bird!)

bestie, Spider-Woman. Now she focuses on Captain Marvel (KWEEN)

protecting the Earth and other planets

across the galaxy. Not a bad gig, really.
 America Chavez
Power Puncher. Rising Star.
Dreamer.

love in this alternate dimension. On the day

B IEN, MI FAMILIA!
off, you need to know that
First
of America’s birth, Madrimar left the
AMERICA CHAVEZ likes to punch hard. Utopian Parallel to go back to rebuild
Not only is she good at it, she has a no-BS Planeta Fuertona. America had a relatively
policy of punch first and ask questions later normal and happy existence as a tiny girl
when it comes to villains. She is notorious who gained super-powers from absorbing
for her sassy mouth, bangin’ style, and a the Demiurge. What’s the Demiurge,
smirk that puts Tony Stark to shame. But you ask? Just a sentient life force that seeded
don’t get me wrong—just because America the planets and created the elder gods. Stay
is a cool girl doesn’t mean she is a mean girl. with me, people. America and her family of
When it comes to friendship, America is literal strongwomen were imbued with
THERE for it. We’d all be lucky to have or power punches, interdimensional travel
be a friend as supportive as America. Oh! through star portals, and of course, flight
You probably should also know that she through those perfectly punched star
hails from a dimension made up exclusively portals. Can you imagine having so many
of women called Utopia, but trust me, she super-powered ladies to look up to?! Sure,
is all-American. you can! They’re everywhere, even if our
America Chavez’s story begins on dimension tends to have ladies with
Planeta Fuertona (part of Utopia different kinds of powers.
so, you know, all women here, too), a world When America was only six years old,
that was invaded by insectoid parasites black holes threatened to engulf her home
called La Legion. Super-gross. Think giant in the Utopian Parallel. To save their people,
evil roaches. Nooo thanks! The gods that America’s mothers sacrificed themselves to
created Planeta Fuertona sent an ice age heal the rift that threatened their dimension.
over the planet to cleanse it of the invaders. This left them “smeared” across the
America’s grandmother Madrimar punched multiverse. Not the ideal afterlife for your
a star portal (pretty tough abuela) through parents, but still . . . a bit cosmically
to the Utopian Parallel, an alternate romantic. I mean, it is very heroic but not
dimension. There the women of Fuertona super-great for a little kid who suddenly has
could be safe and wait for their planet to no parents. America, bereft and grieving,
heal, and, ya know, not freeze their cookies hastily exited the last portal from the
off. Utopian Parallel into the outer dimensions.
America’s mothers, Amalia and Elena, She hoped to travel the stars and
met and fell in become a hero like her
 mothers. Because and somewhat less-evil-than-usual Loki to
America did
join the Young Avengers. She
not have her familia to became best of friends with the magical
care for
Wiccan, hulking Hulkling, genius Prodigy,
her as she grew up, she
alien bad boy Noh-Varr, and her soon-to-be
was forced to learn to
BFF Kate Bishop (aka the best Hawkeye).
protect herself. She
Together they faced an interdimensional
punched first and
parasite named Mother that took on the
asked questions
form of the team’s (you guessed it) mothers.
later. This made
As you can imagine, this was very hard for
America tough,
America, who had two moms, both of
resilient, and
whom are multiverse smears. America
fierce, but she still
obviously punched a heap-ton of mothers,
had plenty of lessons to
eventually banishing the beast and winning
learn about being a the day. But in hopping dimensions and
hero.
fighting enough mothers to need to have a
America wandered until sit-down with Freud, America realized
she
maybe it was time for her to stop trying to
with Earth’s own Latinx found community, and
our Earth, fill her mothers’ footsteps and start adulting
because of this she easily foundaccepting
a home the

on for real. She took a break from the team to

Earth. At just sixteen, America joined
kindness of strangers tothe regroup and focus a bit on her solo dreams.
Teen Brigade to follow in her mothers’ survive.
Once the multiverse got back to being less
heroic footsteps. Living upAmerica’s
to your parents’
home “multi” and more “uni,” America got to
feats can be hard, especially when dimension

you’re still kicking it with an amazing Super Hero team

just a kid yourself. shares
However, thecultural
striking Teen called the Ultimates, including the crazy-
Brigade didn’t last very long, as they parted
similarities powerful Blue Marvel, the light-wielding
ways due to “musical differences,” aka Monica Rambeau, the king himself, Black
#DRAMA, not long after. Hey, sometimes Panther, and the one-and-only Captain
it’s better to just leave the drama behind, Marvel. She also began dating a super-
and America still had lots of growing up to adorable Earth girl named Lisa Halloran.
THE COLLEGE YEARS
do. However,
America#DRAMA woulddealing
decided after be back.
withThis
so
Her next team had her joining up with time inteen
much the(and
formadult)
of predictive
angst thatjustice
maybe(aka
she
Earth’s mightiest teens! America was using the
should visions
focus of education.
on her an Inhuman named
So she did
recruited by a younger Ulyssesanyto red-blooded
what stop violenceAmerica
before itwould
started).
do
The Super
and signed Hero community
up for was torn Super
interdimensional apart
with
Heromajorcollege
chaos. Once
at again it seemed that
Sotomayor
maybe she
University.
needed some solo time.
Any burgeoning young
adult wants to make sure they get the best
possible education, and sometimes that
means moving far from home. In fact,
sometimes that means leaving your
dimension altogether to find the school
that is the right fit for your kind of hero.
America’s main squeeze, Lisa TO PUNCH, OR NOT TO
Halloran, saw that they were literally PUNCH,

moving apart (like, light-years apart) and THAT IS THE QUESTION

ended things. America was heartbroken, but
with time and a road trip with her BFF, Soooo . . . America likes to punch
Kate Bishop, she eventually saw that her problems. There isn’t a battle
separating was for the best. And better yet, she can’t solve with her fists—or at
Lisa and America were able to remain least that’s what she thought for a
friends after a little distance. very long time. However, part of
At Sotomayor U, America spent mad growing up is learning how to keep
hang-time with her boy-genius bud Prodigy your lucidity when things are at
and found a new Girl Squad with the ladies their worst. Learning how to plan
of LLMPPTB, a sorority of brilliant bad your next moves and breathe
baes. She even was lucky enough to be through life’s difficulties is much,
reunited with her abuela Madrimar. America much harder than throwing
learned through time travel arranged by her punches. America is working on

grandmother and her instructor Professor her focus through breath,

Douglas how to use her head and not just meditation, and using her mind
before her muscle. This is greatly
her fists. Traveling back in time to WWII,
aided by leaning on her friends.
she was taught by Peggy Carter how
to The
makemoney-grubbing,
a battle plan, leather-clad
and maybesuper- even
When
Young
in a
Avengers
difficult situation,

freak known as Exterminatrix

punched Hitler for Captain America. infiltrated
You
though America can be a bit of a

Sotomayor University. She tohoped to use loneGroup Chatto her friends

wolf, turning
go, girl! Then she traveled Westchester, Check
and mentors forout who I foundoffers
guidance at
America
New York, and where
others to buildtaught
Storm weaponry her for
to Sotomayor

her new clarity and perspective to

the
meditate and calm herself during aasstorm.
Midas Foundation. Posing an Americ U! He’s a real PRODIGY!
help
a her win the day. Oh, and it’s a
administrator
America’s newfoundand abusing
ability tothefocus
campus
and lot more fun OMG! Come
than visit
dealing with a
political system, Exterminatrix
plan would soon be put to the test. attempted me!
problem
Kate by herself.
to lock down and silence the student body.
America normally would have gotten angry Hello,
and started a slug-fest she might not ladiiiiiieeeeessss.
Noh-Varr
have been able to win. After all, Hulkling and I are
Exterminatrix had taken away America and missing you guys!
her fellow students’ autonomy! And Wicca
political voice! Not only was that a jerk n
New yamblr. Who
move, but it was totally dangerous for all dis?
Lok
the students at Sotomayor! Fortunately, i
now America knew she had to use her calm Dis girl ready to punch you
back to

and focus if she wanted to conquer this Asgard. ;)

Ameri
corrupt and abusive system. Using her ca
newfound skills, America was able to
expose the leather-clad bad girl’s evil plot
and punch her back to space. Okay, so
maybe you can punch some of your
pr bl ms
 quake
Fearless Leader. Mover.
Shaker.

and her new seismic super-powers, Daisy

D AISY JOHNSON
than an Inhuman Super Hero. She’s a
is more
felt a sense of duty to do what was right.
She had a chance to rectify her father’s
stone-cold Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.* who has
been commanding a team of fellow agents wrongs, avenge her mother’s death, and
since she was a teenager. Not to mention learn how to use her powers to help
she is the youngest director of S.H.I.E.L.D. others. Daisy left school to join
ever. Um, back up, did you just register Director Fury. I mean, who says no

that? Daisy is straight-up quaking the to Nick Fury, anyway? He has a flying car.
glass ceiling. Daisy’s super-power
(I don’t condone leaving high school for a
isn’t just using seismic vibrations; her true guy with a cool car, just for the record.)
gift is her confidence in her abilities, and By the age of eighteen, Daisy was a Level
the strong moral compass that guides her 10 Agent with the highest clearance at
decision-making process. This strong sense S.H.I.E.L.D. She was completely off the
of right and wrong allows her to assert map until she teamed up with several of
well-defined boundaries, even when it Earth’s mightiest heroes for a covert
comes to super-powerful people. It pushes mission where Nick Fury conscripted the
her to question the rules when the rules are group to overthrow a corrupt foreign
wrong—which can be super hard. Her government. When the secret coup was
personal conviction alone is enough to publicly revealed, Nick Fury was forced to
shake up any villain. But shake-ups are kind go on the run. Daisy remained with
of her thing. S.H.I.E.L.D., but Maria Hill put her on
Daisy Louise Johnson grew up
mandatory retirement at just eighteen years
with her adoptive parents, the Suttons, old, which was not as cool as it sounds.
attending high school like any other Daisy easily could have cracked under the
teenager. . . . Well, until she was recruited pressure but she knew her loyalty was to
by Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick Fury and to the mission. She carried it
* S.H.I.E.L.D. stands for Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement,
Part of Nick
and Logistics Fury’s one-of-a-kind recruiting
Division.
off with a knowing smile and a pile of
process? Revealing Daisy’s true origins. smugness.
Daisy’s biological parents were the deceased Nick Fury eventually found Daisy. He
Jennifer Johnson and the dangerously told her that her next secret mission was to
transforming scientist, Calvin Zabo, who put together a team of gifted young people
moonlighted as the monstrous Mister from Nick’s “Caterpillar files.”
Hyde. Learning of her true parentage These recruits were considered
“caterpillars”
because of their potential to turn into Daisy was hurt, furious, and without a team.
beautiful, butt-kicking butterflies called the In a final letter, Fury apologized and
Secret Warriors. Daisy enlisted a group of encouraged Daisy to build a team her own
young heroes, including the fire- way. Sometimes when things go upside
chain-wielding Hellfire, the superfast down, you have to define what you want
Slingshot, the young god of fear Phobos, and what is right for you. Daisy reinstated
the tough-as-bricks Stonewall, and the Druid and welcomed the Howling
magic-brandishing Druid. Daisy led her new Commandos to continue fighting the
titanic teenage team to take on a secret good fight. Now Daisy could be a leader on
invasion by creepy green shape-shifting her own terms. She took what she learned
aliens called Skrulls. from Nick Fury, coupled with her own
When Nick Fury broke into a moral code, to make a better, smarter, and
S.H.I.E.L.D. base, he found secret files stronger team.
revealing that America’s own government Under the weight of the Hydra scandal,
had been corrupted by hidden branches of S.H.I.E.L.D. fell apart, and a new, more
the terrorist organization known as Hydra. sinister organization named H.A.M.M.E.R.
It wasthemore
Though important
Skrulls were on than
their ever for
way out, took its place, led by Norman Osborn.
there wasanda whole
Daisy her new teamsecret
of invasion
Secret to During this time, Captain America
worry about. to
Warriors Under
remain Nick Fury’sAstutelage,
covert. a first- reinstated S.H.I.E.L.D. in secret, asking
they leader,
time uncovered
Daisythe shadow
faced organization’s
an intense learning During
Daisy her tenure
to follow in Nick as director,
Fury’s Daisy
footsteps to
far-reaching
curve. plot toher
No matter take over the
respect for world.
Nick Fury, recruited
become the two youngest
of the organization’s
director of most the
following anyone blindly can be hard, as it famous agents,inNick
organization Fury Jr.
history. and her
OMG! future
Teenage
requires a staggering amount of trust. He Daisy Johnson
mentor, Phil Coulson was the . Together
leader they
of
asked her to remove her teammate Druid as S.H.I.E.L.D.—the
took on Normanmost Osborn’s
powerful less-than-
covert
a liability. Daisy pushed back, but Fury agency in thegroup
scrupulous world! How
H.A.M.M.E.R.
flippin’ coolandis
removed him anyway. Daisy was frustrated that?!
returned S.H.I.E.L.D. to its rightful place
and felt helpless. No one wants to be forced protecting America. Daisy eventually
to do anything, much less fire your friend. handed over the title of director to
However, those are the sad and frustrating someone with a bit more experience, but
things that are required when you answer to she kept S.H.I.E.L.D. afloat when they
someone above you. were facing their greatest threat, and that is
Daisy’s anger and growing involvement unquestionably amazing.
with her hot-headed teammate Hellfire Daisy continued to grow as a hero,
(whom she found hot both in temperature fulfilling her lifelong dream of teaming up
and in attractiveness) began to cloud her with the Avengers. Avengers
judgment. Hellfire was more than just a assemble! She aided them against a
smart-mouthed love interest—he was also military-weapon-stealing diplomat, a siege
an informant for Hydra. The information by the gods, and a world-burning cosmic
Daisy shared with him led their team to be entity.
ambushed by Hydra on their next mission. Daisy later united with S.H.I.E.L.D.
During the epic battle, Nick Fury revealed agents Phil Coulson, Melinda May, Jemma
he knew that Hellfire was a double agent Simmons, and Leo Fitz. This time Daisy
and let him fall to his death. The team would have to face her literal daddy issues.
disbanded. Daisy’s Quake powers began to splinter her
C n s t u t i u ?! H llfir ’s d th b d h k h d d h
serum had mixed with her mother’s
dormant Inhuman genes to create her
Quake powers, and only he knew how to
create a cure. As his demure alter ego, the
brilliant scientist Calvin Zabo, he was
arrested by S.H.I.E.L.D. and charged with
making the cure for Daisy. This reawakened
his love for his daughter, though Daisy
kept a safe distance. He pined to reunite,
but she could not trust a man who turned genius Moon Girl, the calculating Karnak,
into a literal monster. Calvin did indeed and the flaming-hot Inferno. (Did I mention
cure Daisy; however, he also attempted to she likes hot guys?)
inject her with his maddening Hyde serum. Daisy has learned we cannot choose our
He hoped it would protect her on future parents, but we can choose how we engage
missions the way it had protected him as with them, and we can choose our families.
Hyde. But just because your parents want Sometimes our true family is the friends
to protect you doesn’t mean they are going around us every day. We can lean on
to go about it the right way. Phil Coulson mentors like Nick Fury to guide us when no
interceded, using the serum to go fist-to- one else can. We can enlist our teammates
fist with Zabo, who transformed into and friends to help us win our battles and
Hyde. Using her now-healed vibration pull out victories. And above all, just
powers, Daisy stopped Hyde by opening a because we sometimes quake, that does
crater in the ground that swallowed him up. not mean that we are not super-powerful.
Daisy now works with a new team of
Secret Warriors, including the shape-shifting
Ms. Marvel, the super-
 she-hulk
Buff babe. Party girl. Power
lawyer.

“ Ohio, developing a strong bond with her

SNo matter what others callorher,“savage”:
ENSATIONAL”
we can cousin Bruce Banner. Jen’s mother died in a
all agree that Jennifer Walters is all car crash that would later be revealed to be
She-Hulk. Why do we love her?! Well, let me the work of mob boss Nick Trask. Both Jen
tell you, Jen doesn’t let anyone put limits on and her father threw themselves into their
what she can do and never gives in to what work with the law as recompense. Jennifer
people think a lady should be. Jen is a graduated Harvard to attend law school at
brilliant lawyer, a buff Super Hero, and is UCLA, and was more likely to be hidden in
always the life of the party. This mighty her room studying than hitting the LA party
package may be intimidating to some, but scene (although that would change). Jen was
Jen knows you can be big, powerful, and an excruciatingly shy at first, but found solace
intellectual dynamo that is all woman. Hey, in her work and books.
people have a lot of ideas about what a lady While working as a lawyer, she took on a
looks like, and Jen is a reminder that no case defending a man accused of killing
one gets to tell you who you
Nick Trask’s guard (yeah, the jerk-butt who
are , no matter if you are a boy, girl, killed her mom). Seeing that her defendant
nonbinary, actual green person, or any- was framed, she was targeted by the real
dang-thing in between. Jen is one of the first culprit, Trask, and his henchmen. Trask and
his lackeys, trying to stop her, gunned her
ladies to truly show that she doesn’t need to
down. Luckily, her cousin was there and
be demure or petite to be feminine or foxy.
gave her a vital blood transfusion. Unluckily,
Jen is all about confidence, body positivity,
her cousin is Bruce Banner, the famous
and fun. However, she wasn’t always that
scientist who turns into a giant green rage
way (and sometimes still isn’t). It takes work.
monster called the Hulk. Banner’s
Jennifer Walters grew up in Los Angeles
gamma-irradiated blood was so
as a bookish, quiet girl raised by her father,
Sheriff Morris Walters, and her mother, genetically similar to Jen’s, it combined with
Elaine Banner-Walters. (Yeah, Banner as in her physiology to transform her into the six-
that Banner.) She spent her summers in foot-seven green glamazon known as She-
Charlestown, Hulk. BOOM!
 obsessed with besting the green glam
machine. Jen was forced to face off against
Titania again and again—even long after
they were free of the Beyonder and returned
to Earth.
At first, Jennifer couldn’t control her Back home in New York City, Jennifer
powers as She-Hulk. She would turn green really came into her own. She got a job at a
at the worst of times, like during a heated district attorney’s office, where she met her
case in court. BLAM! All green! But Jen girl, Louise “Weezi” Grant-Mason—aka the
increasingly enjoyed being the Savage She- Blonde Phantom. The ladies loved

Hulk. Taking on this persona made her feel going on adventures together, whether they
Fierce and Formidable. Eventually were zipping back and forth to LA in Jen’s
she learned how to control her She-Hulking totally awesome flying car to see her father
tendencies, allowing her not only to choose or punching out bad guys. But She-Hulk
her body’s form, but to keep her rational wasn’t just spending quality time with Weezi
mental state no matter how green she gets. You also
—she called?
got Ohintoboy,
thehere
habitweofgodirectly
again.
Over time, She-Hulk took down Trask’s Hi, Shulkie!her
addressing Hey, girl! You
readers and know, way
occasionally
men, saved the people of Los Angeles from before Gwenpool
tearing through the was
pageseven born,
of the I was
comics as
earthquakes and peril, roughed up passing jumping
people readinto them.theShe-Hulk
white is space and
a woman
After so
villains likemany villains,
Ultima, plus a falling-out
Man-Elephant, and chatting
who is hardwith readers. Hey, reader! That’s
to contain.
with her father and her old friend Zapper,
Man-Killer, and saved a micro-universe—ya great. You’ve inspired future generations, it
Jen
know, knew
like ityouwas
do.time
She for
evenher
metto her
get later
the seems. All in a day’s work for Shulkie!
heck out
BFF, Hellcat!of LA. She packed up her things Also, does anyone have a snack? I am
and road-tripped to New York City, the famished! This much muscle requires
home of Super Heroes. There she fuel. Just toss something into these
answered an ad to join the Avengers. Her pages. PLEASE DON’T TRY TO
fellow queen bee of butt-kicking, the Wasp, SHOVE SNACKS INTO THIS BOOK.
invited She-Hulk to join alongside Hawkeye Fine, I’ll go ask Thor. Asgardian snacks
—beginning a long, antagonistic friendship are HEAVENLY. As I was saying . . .
between the archer and jade giantess. Jennifer was loving working for the DA
While part of the Avengers, Jennifer was and rocking that #HeroLife
THE BLONDE while living at
PHANTOM
pretty much crushing it. Jen was feeling herself, Avengers Mansion.
and bringing it as one of Earth’s Considered to be the first woman
mightiest heroes. Unfortunately, she introduced as a Marvel Super Hero,
would get dragged to a planet called the Blonde Phantom splashed onto
Battleworld by an omnipotent alien named comic-book pages as the petite and

the Beyonder, who wanted to create his very modest secretary Louise Grant. At

own gladiator-style battles known as the night, she took on the masked
moniker the Blonde Phantom,
Secret Wars, where Super Heroes and
using her natural athletic ability
Villains of Earth faced off. During this time,
and detective skills to solve crimes
She-Hulk started an ongoing feud with the
big and small.
original mean gargantuan girl, Titania, who
was as strong as she was not nice. Though
Titania and Shulkie could have been buff girl
However, Jen’s lifestyle became a problem.
She partied too hard and was eventually let Fun Fact: Three of the namesakes
go from the DA’s office and asked to move of the legendary law firm of
out of the Mansion by Captain A-stick-in- Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg, and
the-mud-ica, who didn’t appreciate her Holliway are all legendary comic-
rowdy parties or overnight guests. book creators: Goodman is Martin
Admittedly, it’s probably not a great idea to Goodman, the original publisher
invite strangers into a home full of special of Marvel Comics; Lieber is the
weapons, government secrets, and heroes real name of the iconic Stan Lee;
who have Super Villains looking for them. and Kurtzberg was Jacob
Fortunately, Jen was offered a job at the Kurtzberg, or as many better know
prestigious law firm Goodman, Lieber,
him, the prolific comic-book
Kurtzberg, and Holliway. However, the big
creator Jack Kirby. Although
boss didn’t want She-Hulk parading
Holliway isn’t a real-life comics
through their offices or bringing her party
girlBut
persona. pro, he’s still important—he’s the
Jen hadThis wasused
to get kindtoofnota having
bummera But hey, life
for powerful
big, her, because Jen togenerally
persona prefers
hide behind and to character whoisn’t
hires all
Jennifer in
sunshine,

doncomfortable
be her muscular green
with her appearance—it
vulnerable, smaller the comics.
puppies,

and hulking out. She almost died

makes her shefeel
body—one confident,
couldn’t use to sexy,
pound andher during

charismatic.
problems into submission. She had to use a battle with the intergalactic,

her mind first, which was especially death-obsessed alien Thanos,

important when she began working with her leaving her traumatized

rival and frenemy Mallory Book. Mallory and literally gray. Jen has

could be prickly and hurtful, but Jen had to been spending more

take the high road and prove her time getting to know

powerfulness by winning her cases. Luckily, and taking care of

she had the help  of the kindhearted her non-Hulk self,

Augustus “Pug” Pugliese. Together, the working on cases to

team took on cases of super-powered clients help super-people,

who needed protection and monetary finding ways to manage

reimbursement. Jen learned to help out the her new anxiety, and

little guy—and herself—in her own watching a lot of baking

vulnerable form. videos. Whatever helps,

Eventually, Jen took a little time off- right? One day at a time,

planet to administer some intergalactic Jen healed. It wasn’t

justice and do some heavy training with the long before Jen was

toughest Guardian of the Galaxy, Gamora. back on her feet, greener

After three months of training, She-Hulk’s than ever, and already giving

strength increased so much that she had to major flirty vibes to Thor Odinson.

wear a power-dampening ensemble called What can I say? You can’t keep

the Jupiter Suit, and learned how to a good Shulkie down.

use her strength without crushing
everything.
Jennifer also hooked up with some
 thor
Doctor. Senator.
Goddess.

became even more tricky when you consider

FtwoIRST, let me explain how there are
Thors. Thor Odinson is the the All-Father, Odin, did not
brawny, hunky male Thor, and Jane approve of gods dating plain old humans.
Foster transforms into the brawny, Odinson’s father protested, but it did not
babely goddess Thor. For purposes of keep Odinson from wanting to put a ring on
clarity, I will call Jane Foster “Thor” and it. He brought Jane to the godly realm of
male Thor “Odinson.” You with me? For Asgard to meet the fam and hopefully earn
Asgard! (That means Great!)
her a spot in the heavens once and for all.
Jane Foster wasn’t always a god. She Odin agreed to give Jane a chance to become
started out as a normal human, just like any a god (which was not all that likely,
one of us. She became a nurse and worked considering she had little opportunity to do
her way up to being a full-fledged doctor, well—-the King of the Gods had his own
which already basically makes her a hero on agenda). Odin turned Jane into the goddess
two counts. However, Jane was pulled into of flight, and put her through a series of tests.
the world of Super Heroes and would Odin wasn’t playing fair, though, and set Jane
eventually follow the call to become one up to fail. When she did, Odin sent her back
herself. to Earth. Odinson was forbidden from
Jane Foster was working as a nurse seeing Jane any longer. Her mind was wiped
alongside sickly doctor Donald Blake, who clean of Odinson, and life continued. Pretty
happened to transform into Thor Odinson easy breakup for her, really.
when he struck his cane on the ground. Jane Jane and Odinson moved on, but when
would often be caught up in the Jane was on the verge of death, an
shenanigans of Odinson and Dr. Donald unexpected goddess came to help.
Blake, crushing on both of them but Odinson’s long-intended Asgardian love,
Sif, came to Jane’s aid. Their bodies were
unaware they were in fact the same
fused together. For a while Sif and Jane
guy. And this wasn’t any of that silly just-
shared a body, not unlike Donald Blake and
putting-on-a-pair-of-sunglasses stuff. His
Odinson had previously. This was honestly
body, face, and whole persona fully
kind of weird, because they both dated
transformed into his alter ego—the God of
Odinson, but sometimes
Thunder. The love triangle between Donald,
Jane, and Odinson
 Fun Fact: Jane Foster’s rise to
godhood was first foreshadowed
in a comic called What If . . . ?
where writers experimented with
one-off stories outside of
continuity (basically sanctioned
fan fiction). In one issue they
asked the question “What if Jane
Foster had found the hammer of
Thor?” The answer? She finds the
hammer instead of Donald Blake
to become the goddess Thordis.
She bests a ton of baddies, but
her beloved Donald Blake falls for
the goddess Sif while Thordis is
away. As a consolation prize, Jane
ends up marrying Odin and is
crowned queen of the gods, which
is pretty weird when you consider
the age difference between Jane Earth but with the many realms that
and Odin, and that they just met, Odinson traveled. Like Jane, we should all
and athe
dating dudewhole “boyfriend’s
can really bring two dad”
women take an interest in our world and advocate to
thing. Luckily,
closer.Like . . . much,the
much next time we
closer—literally. make it better.
see Jane
The ladiesaseventually
Thor, things shakebodies,
separated out Not long after, Odinson fell from grace,
anda little differently.
Jane married Dr. Donald Blake’s rival, becoming unworthy of his hammer,
Keith Kincaid. Jane furthered her medical Mjolnir. The hammer chose Jane as the
education. She helped out the Avengers person most worthy to wield it,
alongside Keith. However, their relationship transforming her into the blond badass
deteriorated when she heard that Odinson Goddess of Thunder. As Thor, she
had returned. She hoped to rekindle her was compelled to protect the ten realms
relationship with the God of Thunder. from various Frost Giants, Dark Elves, and
Jane Foster became an ER doctor, the king Odin himself, when warranted.
continuing to help out the Avengers However, Jane’s
between patients and finding tenuous
romance with Odinson.
#ItsComplicated. However, the
doctor would soon become the patient.
Jane was diagnosed with breast cancer that
was both aggressive and malignant.
Odinson offered Jane the role of Senator
for Midgard (Midgard is what those
wacky Asgardians call Earth) in the
Congress of Worlds. Though Jane was sick,
she accepted. She felt a deep sense of duty
as someone who was very familiar not just
time as the Goddess of Thunder left her
human body even more weak and frail. She MJOLNIR
began missing her cancer treatments to
answer the call of Thor, and her body began
Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, can
faltering in battle. And what was worse,
conduct thunder and lightning,
Odin really never liked her taking the mantle
open portals, and make her fly in
of Thor from his son.
Odin sent his big cruel brother, Cul addition to obviously being a

Borson—the God of Fear—to take back powerful weapon. But the hammer

Thor’s hammer. What’s worse, he was also once came to Jane when she

wearing the Destroyer armor, which is a was most in need and took on the
big, gnarly suit that could crush a city. appearance of Thor herself! It

With the help of the All-Mother, allowed Jane to hide her secret

Freya (a goddess in her own right), plus identity from S.H.I.E.L.D., and it

a band of warrior women, and Odinson helped

even her hide athis.
healed After
lethal all, wound.
bullet they both
himself, Thor defeated the Destroyer dated Odinson,
Pretty handyandfor aknew that being Thor
hammer!
armor. This obviously didn’t sit well with was complicated business. Furthermore, the
Odin. He became enraged and mad with ladies learned they could be an asset to
power, and took his wife, Freya, as his each other as they fought crimes Asgardian
prisoner, declaring her to be guilty of and otherwise.
treason. While Freya was on trial, Thor Thor also joined the All-New, All-
interrupted the proceedings to free her. In Different Avengers to help protect

theIn past,
the midst
Odinof this
had war, a new Jane’s
stopped battle the Earth, where she started a flirt-a-thon
began when Malekith the Accursed,
relationship with Odinson. He never leader with Sam Wilson, aka Falcon (although at
of the her
found Darkworthy.
Elves, And
waged nowa war
hereacross the
she was, the time he was filling in as Captain
realms. Loki, the God of Mischief,
Thor herself, the worthiest of all! She was, OF America). After a successful mission, feeling
COURSE,
could finallyplaying
fight both
back.sides as ashe
Plus, double
was the heat of the moment and knowing that
agent (he’s the flippin’ god of MISCHIEF).
punching him across the cosmos, so that she must live her life to the fullest, she
He stabbeddarn
felt pretty his fulfilling.
own adoptive(It suremother,
beats grabbed Sam and kissed him. With her body
Freya, with
cancer, anyway.) a poison blade. This Though
ailing, Jane Jane
knew would
now moreultimately havethat
than ever to
immediately stopped the fight between choose between her time as Thor
she must enjoy things while they happen. and
Thor and Odin, as Odin rushed to Freya’s allowing
Live for her
today,body to heal
because you asnever
Jane,know
she
side to heal her. The brutish Cul Borson continues to be a
what tomorrow may hold.woman strong enough
took the throne in Odin’s place. Asgard to know when to care for herself so she
would have to survive under his brutish may care for others.
rule until Odin and Freya emerged. On Mjolnir it reads, “Whosoever
Things weren’t any simpler for Jane in holds this hammer, if she be
her human form! Her transformations worthy, shall possess the
between human and goddess Thor power of Thor.” Jane was chosen
interrupted her chemotherapy treatments, because she is worthy. You may not have a
and S.H.I.E.L.D. began hounding her as hammer that says it, but you are worthy, too.
a potentially super-powered person and
alter ego to Thor. Luckily her new friend,
S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Roz Solomon,
 science squad

Iscientific minds! From Lunella prepare

N THESE PAGES, to meet some of Marvel’s greatest
Lafayette, the smartest person in the world,
to the S.H.I.E.L.D. research scientist Mockingbird, to Riri Williams, the fifteen-
year-old dynamo who reverse engineered her own Iron Man armor—these
ladies have got STEM on lock! Let’s do some research of our own, shall we?

G.I.R.L. Vivian

Scientific “Viv”
Research

Collective
Vision
This badass lab Synthezoid

was founded by Technology

Nadia Van Expert
Dyne with the Imagine if you
help of her had a friend
stepmother, who emitted
Janet Van Dyne! In Nadia’s own words, Wi-Fi! Viv is
G.I.R.L. (Genius In action Research Labs) is the ultimate technological mind, because she
“dedicated to finding the brilliant girls and IS technology. When her father, Vision,
women who will not just save the world, but found himself single but ready to settle
change it.” LaShayla “Shay” Smith, Priya down, he just created an android
Aggarwal, Taina Miranda, and Ying family of his own. Viv is Dr.a microchip off
(G.I.R.L.’s faithful members) are housed at the old block with a brain out of a super
Wilma

Pym Labs, where Nadia works in her father computer! She comes complete with

Hank Pym’s old laboratory. (You might Calvin

internet access and a search engine at the
remember him as the original Ant-Man.) In ready. No wonder she knows it all!
S.H.I.E.L.D.
addition, the lab has some of the greatest
Xiaoyi
Biochemist
research tech around. It has also been Meet one of
“Iso”
outfitted with dorm rooms for the girls and Marvel’s earliest
Chen aka
their overseeing scientist, Mockingbird, notable
the legendary S.H.I.E.L.D.
Engineer,
scientists who
agent/scientist/adventurer Bobbi Morse!
Terrigen Expert has been
Iso, a New breaking
Inhuman, is a barriers for women of color in
mechanical and STEM since 1972! Dr. Wilma Calvin was
engineering assisted by none other than Bobbi Morse in
genius. She was selected by the Inhuman her early days as a scientist. This position
Queen Medusa to work on a cure for a would later inspire Bobbi to become one of
disease plaguing mutants. A huge job for a S.H.I.E.L.D.’s greatest agents—
burgeoning scientist! Iso was Mockingbird. Wilma also uncovered the
more than up to the task. Especially when greatest secrets of the super-soldier
you consider her Inhuman ability to control serum that gave Captain America his

pressure systems. You might even say Iso famed strength. Dr. Calvin has created the
 Elsa
Anna
Bloodst Maria

one Marconi
Archaeologist,
Chemistry,
Monster Hunter Physics,

This straight- and Cybernetics

shooting Brit Specialist

was born into a Though some
long line of may
monster hunters, which means she underestimate her due to her small stature,
doesn’t like to just track down horrific Anna Maria Marconi is a genuine scientific
beasts, she studies them, too! In order to genius. She first met Peter Parker while he
pursue these oft-antediluvian beings, she has was finishing his doctorate. (He was actually
become an expert in ancient civilizations, under the control of the villain Doctor
dead languages, folklore, and monster Octopus at the time, but let’s not worry too
biology. All of which she uses to track down much about that.) She became his chemistry
malicious creatures and obliterate
Moon them. Her and physics tutor. Yes, she straight-up
achievements have even landed her a schooled Spider-Man! She was immediately
Girl hired by Parker Industries, where she
professorship at the Braddock
Genius Inventor
Academy in her home country of Great
became one of the IronHear
world’s most advanced
Britain. Though research scientists. She even helped Doctor
Lunella Octopus take on more theroic
Lafayette is cybernetic works , which she
Advance
only nine years continued after his control over Peter
Technologies
old, she is the Parker’s body ceased. Riri Williams’s
smartest true super-
person on Earth! Her Super Hero power is her
name, Moon Girl, was originally what her genius as an

peers used to mockingly call her, for her engineer.

love of space. She’s still just a kid, but her Graduating
youthful imagination often results in high school at fifteen years old, she headed
ingenious inventions adults might never off to college at MIT where she was able to
even consider! From her spring-loaded reverse engineer her own Iron Man armor
skates to her fully functioning cybernetic in the school lab. With the blessing of Tony
Lego triceratops, Lunella never limits her Stark and added bonus of her own personal
creativity. Oh, and she’s even been featured Stark Artificial Intelligence system, Riri now
as a guest speaker at the interdimensional fights crime as Ironheart. She continues to
Super Hero college Sotomayor improve the functionality of her Ironheart
University! tech, because any machine can always be
better, faster, and smarter.
 black widow
Super-spy. Assassin. absolutely
lethal.

real or her own. Many have played with her

S OME MIGHT find Natasha
Romanoff cold, but she grew up in a mind, and as you can imagine this can be
cold place, during a Cold War, and was hard to cope with at times, even for a master
trained to be a stone-cold assassin. Cold is assassin.
in her blood. Nat isn’t here to smile and During her time in the KGB’s Red
make you feel good, unless that is her Room, she trained with the Winter Soldier,

assignment. If a guy asked Natasha to who also moonlighted as Captain America’s

smile as she walked by, she’d probably BFF, Bucky Barnes, before his capture and
Tase him with one of her Widow’s subsequent brainwashing. Natasha and
Bites. She is here to get the job done Bucky had a brief kindling of a relationship
quickly, quietly, and well. Though she may before it was arranged for her to marry a
not be the softest and cuddliest of women, Russian fighter pilot named Alexei
Nat is without a doubt someone who Shostakov. Though not long after their
cares profoundly . . . though it may be marriage Alexei was reported to have died
hard to see at first glance. She has been in a test flight crash, he would resurface in
through a great deal of trauma in her life, Natasha’s life more than once.
but she has allowed that trauma to help In her early missions, Natasha was sent
her grow and become a better person. with her fellow agent Boris Turgenov to
Natasha was born in Russia. After the Tony Stark’s laboratory in search of a
death of her mother, she was raised by the defected scientist named Professor Anton
KGB’s Black Widow Program.
Vanko. Her job was to distract ladies’ man
There, in a facility named the Red Room, Tony Stark while Boris recovered the
Natasha was trained to be a spy, an assassin, professor. However, the mission soon went
an acrobat, and a master of deceit. She also south when Boris got into one of Vanko’s
was instructed as a prima ballerina, though it armors, and both the professor and Boris
appears some of those memories may have were Vanko-uished in its destruction. (Too
been implanted by the KGB. This is how a soon?) Natasha made a run for it, knowing
great deal of Natasha’s memories feel—like that a failed mission might cost her life.
they may or may not be
 In time Natasha hoped that she might
leave Russia and be accepted into the ranks
of the Avengers alongside her new
lover, the straight-shooting archer
Hawkeye. However, Nick Fury had other
plans and recruited Nat into the covert
agency S.H.I.E.L.D. With the impressive
success of her first mission, she proved
herself more than capable as a member of
S.H.I.E.L.D.
and the
Avengers.
During this
time Natasha
went back
andNatasha would later

forth
team
betweenup both heroically

and
beingromantically
an with the

hero
Avengerof Hell’s
and Kitchen,

an Agent of
Daredevil . TheS.H.I.E.L.D.,
two moved
eventually
to San Francisco
splitting togetherbut
with Hawkeye to
remaining his
fight
friend.crime, eat Rice-A-Roni, and

ride cable cars. Natasha also got a side

hustle as a fashion designer. Though their

partnership was fruitful, Natasha ultimately

would

leave him because he didn’t treat her as an

equal on

the battlefield. Natasha doesn’t have time

for a guy who doesn’t think she can keep up.
Doesn’t he realize she’s the Black-flippin’-
Widow?! Nat knows it’s important to have a
partner who believes in you, and who you
believe in, too. Case closed.
Natasha would spend a little time in LA.
She cofounded a team called the
Champions and
 much brainwashing by both the KGB and
ACCESSORIES TO DIE S.H.I.E.L.D. that relationships with other
people were hard to keep stable. However,
FOR there was always immense understanding
and fondness between the two, as few
Black Widow’s gauntlets are could comprehend their lives as well as
dangerous weapons that project they do. They are the only two that can
various tools such as Widow’s truly understand each other’s lives and
Bites, which electrocute the target; experiences.
Widow’s Kiss, which contains a The Black Widow again went her own
powerful knockout drug; and way, takingespionage jobs and wiping out
Widow’s Line, which can be used the red in her ledger from her past mistakes.
for rappelling up the side of a We all make mistakes as we learn, and some
building; in addition to other items are worse than others. Sometimes we hurt
such as tear gas. Her signature belt people without realizing the repercussions
contains explosive discs of TNT as of our actions. Natasha is not defined by her
well as
hooked up other weapons,
with the such as
musclebound god guilt, but she is driven by her regrets to
knives. before
Hercules She’s one girl back
heading who’s togotNYC.
it make amends. Also, she can break a guy’s
all.
There, she continued working for neck with her thighs. But, yeah, she’s also
S.H.I.E.L.D. and teaming up with the trying really hard to be a better person.
Avengers. Although Natasha is a fab Natasha demonstrated her growth when
Avenger, Agent, and Champion, she really she intercepted a fatal blow at the hands of
works best alone. the evil organization Hydra to protect the
Going solo from both the Avengers and teenage hero Miles Morales, aka
Hercules, Natasha defeated an army, saved Spider-Man. She was seriously hurt in the
her mentor, Ivan Petrovitch Bezukhov, process, but soon reappeared after Hawkeye
saved her former husband, Alexei (who andFun
Winter Soldier teamed up to find her.isIt’s
turned out to be a Life Model Fact: So, did I mention there
hard to keep a good spy down.
more than one Black Widow?
Decoy), stopped the rebirth of an epic
Probably a good time to note that
villain, died, came back to life, and the Red Room produced several
overcame Russian reprogramming. She had such women, including Natasha’s
a little help along the way, but she had to do rival, Yelena Belova. First, the two
it all with her own grit. Natasha finally faced off to find Nick Fury’s Super-
returned to the Avengers and became the Soldier Serum, and then they
team’s coleader alongside the moody, literally faced off by removing
armor-wearing Black Knight. Girl was their faces. On a mission for
buuuuuuusy. S.H.I.E.L.D., Natasha surgically
Natasha continued working alongside swapped faces with Yelena Belova.
S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers until she was Yelena didn’t handle this so well.
reunited with someone from her early life in As Yelena, Natasha infiltrated the
Russia—the Winter Soldier. Bucky first KGB, and after getting what she
reentered her life still brainwashed and wanted, Natasha swapped back
trying to take down the Avengers. In time, her and Yelena’s faces. Ouch!
he shook off his old programming and
turned over a new leaf working with the
 SPIDER-WOMAN
Avenger. Detective.
Super-Mom.

Jessica was born seemingly healthy, but

J ESSICA DREW might have an
alias that’s similar to another web- unbeknownst to Miriam, Jessica’s father,
slinger’s, but she’s a hero all her own! In Jonathan, began experimenting on her,
addition to the wall-crawling super-powers under the guise that it was a “treatment.”
like that spider-guy, Jessica Drew can emit Not cool, Dad!
Venom Blasts from her hands like Miriam realized Jonathan’s true intent and
supercharged Tasers. She can give off intervened—like a true hero. However,
powerful pheromones that make people when Jonathan lashed out at them, Jessica
scared of or attracted to her. (She almost manifested Venom Blasts from her hands
never abuses this power, unless you count for the first time, knocking both of her
that time she used her pheromones to parents unconscious. Jessica passed out and
convince the Hulk to make her a sandwich, was taken by her father’s research
which honestly was a very good cause.) But benefactor, a genetic modification–obsessed
perhaps most impressive of all, Jessica has scientist who would come to be known as
learned to have a good sense of humor the High Evolutionary. You can guess why.
about things. She has been through her fair Despite being an evolutionary, he was hardly
share of brainwashing, kidnapping, highly evolved in his treatment of others.
manipulation, and gaslighting. Despite this When she awoke, ten years had passed,
fact, Jessica has learned to trust, leaning and her abilities had been evolved (you can
hard on the friendship of her fellow lady guess by who). She was introduced to the
Avengers, and of course finding love in the seemingly altruistic organization Hydra,
most unexpected places. More on that soon. where she was further brainwashed. At the
Jessica didn’t exactly have your average Hydra base, she fell in love with a young,
child-hood. British research scientists handsome recruit named Jared while they
Miriam and Jonathan Drew worked in the were training to become agents. However,
small European range of the when Jared was taken prisoner by the
Wundagore Mountains, collecting organization S.H.I.E.L.D., Jessica went
and studying various breeds of spiders for to save her man. In the skirmish, a literal
genetic experimentation. While pregnant switch went off and a video of Hydra’s true
with Jessica, her mother, Miriam, was caught operations played. Hydra was actually a
in the ray of the genome-manipulation
machine.
terrorist organization. Jessica was shocked,
and what wounded deeper was that Jared
revealed himself as a plant meant to
manipulate her; he never loved her. Jessica,
horrified and furious, and confused about
what was real, returned to the Hydra base
and destroyed it.
Jessica went on the run. She bounced
between

London and Los Angeles and San Francisco

working as a secret Super Hero, bounty

hunter, and

detective and doing her best to outrun

Hydra. During

this time, as the hero Spider-Woman

she saved Carol Danvers (later to be known

as

the hero Captain Marvel), who nearly fell off

the Golden Gate Bridge. The powerful

ladies

began a lifelong friendship.

A tougher road was still ahead. An
encounter

with the ancient sorceress Morgan Le Fay

would

remove
Fun
some of Jessica’s
Fact: Jessica’s
powers and even
longtime
leave

costume was actually made for her

herbybodiless (aka organization
the terrorist pretty dead) Hydra.
until the tion to S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury,
Avengers

When Jessica went on the run, she

who encouraged her to accept and inform
defeated
took thehermalicious magician
specialty suit,andwhich
Jessica
for S.H.I.E.L.D. instead. Unfortunately, the
washelped
returned to her body by Doctor

her control and channel her Hydra agents were actually bodysnatching
Strange.
powersFor a while
as well as glideJessica
on theremained
air aliens called Skrulls, who replaced Jessica
depowered, and

with her special webbed wings. with their queen in order to start a secret
other Spider-Women
New filled
Do in for her while invasion of Earth. Tony Stark found Jessica
Jessica is a natural blonde, but went
Madame
along with other kidnapped and replaced
brunette to hide her secret identity. So, as
Web helped Jessica regain her powers.
heroes, but Jessica was not okay. So much of
the age-old question goes . . . do blondes her life had been taken from her. So much
have more fun? Clearly, the answer is was out of her control. To reclaim power
dependent on your desire to hide your over her life, she worked with
identity and your roots. S.W.O.R.D. (the Sentient World
When Hydra approached Jessica to Observation and Response Department),
become a double agent to infiltrate hunting down the dang invading Skrulls and
S.H.I.E.L.D., Jessica took this informa- making sure what happened to her would
never happen to others.
 Gerry with a special alien crib called a
VOLDURIAN INCUBATION FIELD,

which could contain his superhuman antics.

Good thing Jess had as muchsupport as she
did!
Seeing Roger’s devotion not only to her
son, but to Jessica herself, Jessica’s feelings
for him began to blossom. Who could
resist his messy hair, handsome beard, and
gentle affection with her son? Though
some of her hero friends initially protested
In time, Jessica headed back to Earth to (Roger was known to be a bit of a jerk as
rejoin the Avengers, but her travels the Porcupine), they were soon won over.
through the Marvel Universe were hardly Her new boyfriend Roger was an ex-
over. She helped to stop a siege on the criminal after all, but technically so was
Jessica. Just because someone makes a
godly realm of Asgard. (You’re
mistake does not mean they cannot be
welcome, Thor.)And she later teamed up
reformed and live a good life. Roger
with every spider-person in every Although
turned over Jessica
a new initially
leaf whenfelt he
guilty about
came to
dimension to fight off spider-consuming doing Super
Jessicanamed
then took a step backJessica
from had
the work for Jess,Hero
and work
endedwhen
up asshehercould
manny.be
creeps the Inheritors. spending
Avengers, focusing more on her previous When her more timesawwith
super pals Gerry,
to what she
lengths
more than filled up her passport. ultimately realized that thefor
besther
thing forthey
her
career as a private investigator. She wanted Roger would go to care son,
to have greater impact on the lives of the son was to him
welcomed teachwith
himopen
by example
arms. and show
people she was trying to protect. him how important it is to use her gifts to
Furthermore, she finally reached a point in better the world. After all, mothers are more
her life where she was feeling mentally than just parents: they are women with
healthy and ready to have a child. Because dreams, career ambitions, friendships, and
she wasn’t in a meaningful relationship, she worlds to save. Gerry is fortunate to get to
decided to be artificially inseminated. She see his mother as more than just the person
was ready for more, so she took control of who cares for him, but as a human being
the situation. Jessica continued working, who cares for the world as a true hero.
but she knew she needed help with her Jessica Drew is proof that no matter your
past, present, or even predestined future,
practice and bringing up a baby. It takes a
you can make life what you want it to be.
village—or at least Midtown. She brought
From leaving her Hydra beginnings behind
on a reformed D-List villain, the
to choosing a heroic profession more in line
Porcupine, aka Roger Gocking, and
with her values to her choice to start a
investigative journalist Ben Urich to assist
family of her own when she was ready,
with her cases. And when her son, Gerry
Jessica knows that if you surround yourself
Drew, was born, they assisted with
with good people and you work hard, you
babysitting duties.
can accomplish anything.
As a baby, Gerry manifested spider-like
powers like his mother’s, including climbing
walls, increased strength, Venom Blasts,
and probably too much fearlessness.
 mary jane watson
Celebrity. club connoisseur.
entrepreneur.

TMary Jane might seem like little more

O THE UNINITIATED, “Face it, tiger. You just hit

the jackpot.” These were the first

than a love interest for Peter Parker, aka words Mary Jane ever said to Peter
Spider-Man, but I’m here to tell you that’s Parker, and they truly encapsulate the
only half the story. Don’t confuse how essence of this self-assured and dynamic
people might feel about Mary Jane with who dame. When Mary Jane was a girl, her
Mary Jane really is. Mary Jane parents had split, so she enjoyed staying
watson is defined by her confidence and with her Aunt Anna in Forest Hills, Queens,
self-respect. She has always known her next door to Aunt May, Peter’s aunt. Her
worth and has never sacrificed her ambition turbulent home life had resulted in frequent
for any relationship. moves, which left Mary Jane with a rare
Taking on careers as a model, actress, perspective on the impermanence of life
nightclub owner, and businesswoman, she and a need to seem okay to the outside
has shown that she knows how to hustle world. Instead of drawing inward, Mary Jane
and be her own breadwinner. Mary Jane became a sassy, hilarious, flirty young
won’t be waiting by the phone for any fella. woman who was always the life of the party.
She has refused many a suitor because she Their aunts often tried to set the two up,
had her eye on the prize, valuing her career but Peter refused, wrongfully assuming
and freedom over romantic entanglements. Mary Jane would be a weirdo. When she
That being said, when Mary Jane loves finally appeared in his doorway, Peter was
someone, she is willing to make sacrifices shocked to find that Mary Jane was a
as a devoted friend and partner. Mary Jane popular, carefree girl who delighted in not
proves you really can have it all! belonging to anyone or anything. Too often,
Men are drawn to Mary Jane not just her detached attitude was wrongly viewed as
because of her external beauty, but because frivolous instead of life-affirming, but no
she suffers no fools and loves herself too one could deny that Mary Jane was always
much to do anything less than exactly what gregarious. Mary Jane was all about living
she wants. She isn’t playing hard to get, she for the now, because who knows where
is hard to get, because she knows her value. tomorrow might take you?
Mary Jane Watson doesn’t settle—and that Though Peter and Mary Jane dated a bit
is truly intoxicating. We could all be a bit casually in their high school years, he was
more like Mary Jane. too serious for young Mary Jane. However,
after the death of her dear friend
Gwen Stacy, with whom Peter was too heavy, so she left New York for a while
romantically involved, MJ insisted on to work on her modeling career and
helping her friend Peter through the reconnect with her family. If their love was
mourning process. meant to be, it could certainly withstand
Though MJ developed feelings for Peter, some time for them to grow up.
she wouldn’t give in to a romantic Mary Jane returned to NYC and revealed
relationship with him because she wanted to that she knew about Peter’s secret identity
focus on her future. Besides, he was still all along. Surprise! I mean it was kind of
reeling from Gwen Stacy’s death, as was she. hard for her not to know at that point, with
Mary Jane recognized that he needed a him constantly disappearing. Peter and MJ
friend because of his deep depression and fell back into their old rhythm and back into
self-inflicted isolation. This shared their old love, this time with more openness,
mourning brought them together, and from communication, and maturity. Peter
thatAscloseness
Mary Janecame and something
Peter beganmore.
to date,
As proposed again and she finally accepted,
she
Peterwas saidbasically
good-byea saint for not
before he ripping
left foroffa despite every eligible bachelor in New York
his
shortfulltriphead. In the
to Paris, an early days, he
unexpected andwasn’t
very City trying to convince her to stop the
open
electricabout being
kiss left thema vigilante dressed like a
forever changed. wedding.
spider, so he was ghosting her 24/7. Sure, Although their marriage was happy, Mary
Mary Jane is a free-spirited gal, but Jane’s success as a model and actress
the seeming lack of respect Peter had for intimidated Peter. However, she did not
her, coupled with his running off at the drop allow her husband’s insecurities to impede
of a hat, did not go unnoticed. Mary Jane her own ambitions. She supported herself
made it clear to him what was acceptable andMary
PeterJane
whileand
doingPeter
whathadshesome
loved rough
every
behavior. She demanded Peter’s respect and day. She astransitioned
patches, Mary Jane fromdealt
modeling
with the to
he gave it in any way he could. acting. Mary
pressures of her
Janecareer
took and
a role
the on
worry
the that
hit
Peter eventually proposed to MJ. Though daytime
she could
drama
becomeSecret a Hospital.
widow She if Peter’s
even
she considered it, she returned the ring. She fought for her
Spider-Man activities
role to landed
be adjusted
him toin be
harm’s
less
had more men to date and more life to live vapidHowever,
way. and mean,
they were
and truly
a more
thrilled three-
when
before she’d be ready to settle down, if at all. Mary Jane woman.
dimensional announcedGet it, herMJ! pregnancy.
After her sister’s disastrous marriage right Things seemed on the way up as Peter
after high school and her parents’ own made promises to prioritize his family over
divorce, she did not want to make the same Super Hero activities and another hero
mistakes. All of this was waaaay stepped in to take his place. But tragedy
struck when she was poisoned by one of
Peter’s enemies, causing her to lose the
baby. This is an enormous and painful loss
for any excited parent. The couple
soldiered on, but the mourning was deep
and painful. Miscarriage and stillbirth often
aren’t talked about because of their
profound sadness, but Peter and Mary Jane
were there for each other through
everything. Room for acknowledgment and
mourning together was so important for
 But even more trouble was ahead. Mary being the vivacious and jubilant creature
Jane and Peter Parker would finally face a she had always been. She focused on her
problem they could not handle. Peter’s Aunt career. She opened two fabulous clubs,
May lay dying and the demon Mephisto both of which were destroyed in Super
gave the couple the option to save her if Hero battles. (Can we say not her fault or
they agreed to allow the demon to go back what?!) After the closing of the second,
in time and erase their entire marriage from Tony Stark approached Mary Jane about
history. Don’t trust a demon, assisting him at Stark Industries.
y’all. Knowing that Peter wanted his aunt Though it was difficult to again be a part of
to live but could not make the tough call, the Super Hero world, working for her ex’s
Mary Jane stepped up to Mephisto and set direct competition, Mary Jane thrived. She
the terms. She agreed to Mephisto’s deal, even had a brief escapade as a hero. She
but he would also never be allowed to come donned an Iron Spider suit to save
near Peter again. History was changed and both Peter and Tony, who were caught up
Mary Jane and Peter were never married. in a losing battle. Though the costume life
Mary Jane saved the day and was arguably was not for her, she certainly remains a
emotionally stronger than Peter. hero, and she does it with style.
Now free of her past strife, Mary Jane Not all heroes have super-
went back to powers.
 gamora
Guardian. Assassin.
Unamused.

rescued Gamora and raised the little girl. He

Gfiery,
AMORA IS FIERCE,
and not in the mood for also encouraged her lust for revenge. He
shenanigans—probably because she’s the could use her ire to exact vengeance on their
last of her kind. She is skilled with many mutual enemy—the Magus.
weapons, but is best with her blade, Being the murderous megalomaniac that
Godslayer. Ya know, perfect for killing he was, Thanos took Gamora pirating
a mad god named Thanos. Gamora does across the cosmos, developing her thirst for
NOT mess around. Although Gamora has blood. He not only trained her in the deadly
had some passionate moments, feverish arts, but upgraded her body with bionic
emotions are not what drive her in the enhancements, making her the
slightest. Gamora is a sword-wielding, deadliest woman in the

death-defying, space-traveling kind of gal. galaxy . Let’s be real here—Gamora was

And though she’s a bit of a lone wolf, she not exactly the best person during her early
has also learned to open her heart and years. Thanos raised her as a living weapon,
welcome a new chosen family, who are also which meant that she spent a lot of time
pretty dang fierce themselves. Above all, fighting for the wrong side. Even so, from
Gamora is here to kick butts, take names, the time that Gamora was a child, Thanos
and save the universe—not saw that there was too much good in her to
necessarily in that order. But she wasn’t make her truly capable of being the
always a hero. Gamora started out on a coldhearted assassin he was hoping to
villainous road that could have defined her, create. Gamora felt it, too. She was torn
but instead she found her own path that between pleasing her father and his cruel
allowed her to become the hero she was desires, and the softness she felt in her
always meant to be. heart. Despite Thanos’s cruelty, she loved
Gamora was born to a peaceful and her father and did his bidding.
devotedly religious alien race. Her Gamora and Thanos teamed up with
upbringing was charmed and peaceful, until another hero to help them conquer the
her people were obliterated by a competing Magus. His name was Adam Warlock and he
evangelical religion. This religion was led by was created to be genetically perfect—let’s
a purple jerk named the Magus. Gamora just say he was a pretty great guy, and
escaped, but she was orphaned and alone. Gamora noticed. Gamora had some major
Another purple jerk, the Mad Titan Thanos, feels. But plot twist!
Warlock was destined to become her mortal but she did not have to follow in his
enemy, the Magus, in the future, because of footsteps. After all, we cannot help but
time travel and different dimensions and learn what our parents teach us. They are
that kind of stuff. It’s complicated, so just the people who literally introduce us to the
roll with it. You can only imagine how torn entire world or, in this case, galaxy. That
Gamora was between stopping the Magus, said, we have the power to learn new
feels for his younger self, and the lessons and choose who we want to
complicated issues with her father, who become. Seeing the universe in a greater
wanted her future crush to die. context and doing the right thing is what
The new comrades defeated the Magus being a true hero is about. The greatest gift
and all seemed well—until Gamora learned we can give ourselves is the chance to grow
Thanos’s true plot was not to save the and become a better person, and that is
universe from the Magus, but to rule it in his exactly what Gamora did.
stead. He was just letting the Magus do the She went to warn her allies of Thanos’s
heavy lifting for him. Thanos planned to kill true intent, but before she could arrive she
all of the stars, wiping out every lifeform on was attacked by Thanos’s enemy Drax the
every planet that depended on those stars, as Destroyer and was left wrecked. As she lay
a sacrifice to his true love, the lady Death. Oh dying, her friend Adam Warlock found her
yes, did we mention Gamora’s adoptive dad and saved her soul inside his Infinity Stone
IS IN LOVE WITH ACTUAL DEATH?! —the Soul Gem. He was able to lock
Yeah, because that’s a thing. her essence within it until she could be
A switch went off in Gamora. Thanos When Adam
resurrected. ThereWarlock finally aconquered
she shared heavenly
had manipulated her anger to create a Thanos,
space withheher took possession
friend of theas Mad
Pip the Troll, well
killing machine for his own devious Titan’s
as othersall-powerful
who were savedweapon,
withina the
bejeweled
gem as
purpose. She realized that her adoptive a shared glove
metal consciousness.
called This
the wasInfinity
basically a
father’s prejudices and maleficence had really nice all-inclusive vacation
Gauntlet. Using its awesome power, spot withhea
become her own, dash of existential crisis.
was able to bring Gamora and Pip back to
life, though a piece of Gamora remained
trapped within the gem. That’s right—a part
of her is literally missing.
Gamora, now freed, sought redemption
and vengeance against the man who made
her into a weapon—her adoptive father,
Thanos. This new turn was not easy for
Gamora. She continued to crave blood over
diplomacy. Anger is hard to kill, though
killing came easy. This probably would have
been a great time to do some therapy and
work on herself, but Gamora didn’t have
time for that. She had a galaxy full of
adventures to explore.
She worked alongside Adam Warlock as
part of his Infinity Watch to separate and
protect the Infinity Stones that
d Th ’ I fi i G l Sh
could not allow her father to ever again
wield that kind of power over her or anyone
else. However, Gamora relieved herself of
duty after a falling-out with Adam.
She teamed up romantically and
professionally with the super space cop
Nova, though they could not last because new heroic family, she captured Thanos and
of her propensity for slicing bad guys up left him to spend the remainder of his days
first and asking questions later. She was too in prison. That should be plenty of time for
much of an outlaw for this law-lover. reflection.
Gamora even trained a fellow green Gamora has a new family all her own, a
glamazon, She-Hulk, when she entered the real family. And sure, they are kind of smelly
Contest of Champions. They and one of them is a tree and another is a
should probably be best friends, right? Green raccoon, but they are all hers. As friends and
girls pumping iron all day! equals, they are there for each other, no
But Gamora’s most profound growth matter what the galaxy brings.
came from teaming up with her chosen
space family: The Guardians of the Groo
Galaxy. Together, this motley crew of t I am
misfits saved the universe from time to time.
They also caused some trouble, stole a few
Groot? Gamo
things, and lived in a moral gray area, which
was the best place for a trained assassin to
Can youra
live. This band of unlikely heroes had an please give

Gamora chased effectThanos

on across the galaxy,
unexpected
sometimes even running
Gamora.
from
The
her the
closeness of the team began to break down
teammates to exact revenge on Thanos for
Gro communicator

her walls, and for the first time since she was
herself and her people. At one point,
orphaned, she had a family. But don’t get she ot I am to Rocket?
even butted Gamora
heads with stillCarol Danvers and
me wrong,
the Guardians because
thirsted
they knew
endlessly
Thanos
Groot. Gam
for revenge against Thanos.
was on Earth and didn’t tell her. Finally, the How about ora
day came. She stood able to strike a killing
blow against the man who harmed her, the Gro Star-Lord?
man who made her kill. Her enemy. The
only father she had ever known. This was ot I am
the moment she had dreamed of for GROOT. Gamo
decades. However, something in Gamora
had changed. It was all she’d ever wanted, No. No one ra
and yet, there she was, unable to strike. She
was better than that. Better than him.
wants

Capturing Thanos humanely was the only to talk to

way to truly beat him and correct the Drax.
lessons he had wrongfully instilled in her.
Together with the help and encouragement
of her
“
Help Us
win the hard way—

the right way—

not with hate,

not with retribution,

but with wisdom

and hope.”

— Kamala Khan,

Ms. Marvel
 medusa
Queen. Diplomat. Hair
raiser.

has learned to understand Black Bolt

G OD
QUEEN!
SAVE THE
JK, this queen doesn’t without words. She serves as his translator
and mouthpiece to present a unified front
need to be saved. Medusa is the matriarch
between the two of them. Sometimes she
of a race of super-powered people called the
even bends his words to best suit her own
Inhumans. Her name might evoke the
message. It’s easier to get the last word in
ancient Greek story of a woman with snakes
when you’re the only one who gets to talk,
swirling around her head, and that’s for
after all. Medusa’s hair is powerful, but her
good reason. Medusa’s hair is prehensile,
words and her persuasiveness as a diplomat
enabling her long tresses to move like
are arguably her greatest powers.
lengthy, formidable appendages. Yes, that
Furthermore, the Inhuman people know
means she can walk using her hair. She puts
only Medusa as the representative of their
ladies in shampoo commercials to shame
people,
A whole because her husband
royal court surroundsmust
Medusa,stay
with her split-end-free, floor-length locks!
But what are Inhumans?! They are a race silent. While Medusa speaks for
the first member of which is Medusa’s all of
Don’t be too distracted by her fabulous
of people from Earth that were genetically Inhumanity and its king, she also
younger sister, Crystal, who can controlrules as
hairdo, though—Medusa is a monarch who
enhanced during the days of cavemen by Black Bolt’s equal.
the elements. Her brother-in-law is
should inspire us all to lead with heart,
aliens known as Kree. Now, when these Maximus the Mad, a brilliant but
eloquence, and intelligence.
seemingly normal humans are exposed to treacherous usurper. His thirst for the
the Mist elicited from Terrigen crown, and his deceptive means of attaining
Crystals, they manifest fantastic gifts it have long been a painful struggle for the
specific to each Inhuman. This is, of course, royal family. Luckily, Medusa can lean on the
what gave Medusa her fierce hairstyle. bull-legged-stomping, earthquake-inducing
Medusa leads the Inhuman people Gorgon, who serves as leader of the

alongside her husband, Black Bolt, the royal guard and is one of Medusa’s dearest
king, in the royal city of Attilan. Though the friends. Her cousins, the super calculating
Inhumans live in a patriarchy, Medusa has strategist Karnak and the fishy-faced Triton,
much more power than you might assume a round out her inner circle. Medusa and
subservient female monarch to have. Black Bolt also have a child named Ahura,
Because Black Bolt is gifted with a voice whose unstable Inhuman powers have
that can decimate a city (though much caused him to be in and out of various care
handier in a battle than a public address), facilities, creating a point of tension for all
Medusa of Attilan.
 They needed to rebuild Attilan anew. And
so they did—in the middle of the Hudson
River. Being stuck in an unsanctioned city in
the middle of a river wasn’t ideal, but at least
there was a good view of Manhattan, New
Jersey, and the Statue of Liberty.
The last of the Terrigen Mists
spread over New York City and New Jersey.
Many humans were killed by the intense
vapors, while others cocooned and began
Though
their InhumanMedusa had seemingly
transformation, lost that
unaware her
husband
they carriedanddormant
her people weregenes
Inhuman reeling, she
at all.
knew she must continue to serve the
Inhumans no matter the cost. Would-be
Oh, and I couldn’t possibly forget the usurpers like her brother-in-law Maximus
royal family’s pet! Lockjaw, the two- the Mad think that being a ruler permits
thousand-pound teleporting canine. them to lord over and command others for
Because of King Black Bolt’s profound their personal gain. That is, in fact, being a
need for Medusa to communicate with dictator. A true leader must serve those she
others, and because of the nature of their leads. She is meant to teach, mentor, inspire,
nonverbal communication, the love and pave the way through her own
between the two of them is profound and goodness, in addition to providing the
intimate. Can you even imagine someone structure in which her people will thrive.
who can tell what you are thinking all the Knowing this, Medusa sought out her new
time? Secrets are few and far between when Inhuman subjects being born from the
you can read every detail of someone’s Terrigen Mists released on Earth. These
body language. However, when secrets newly transformed people needed her.
they’ve
Blackkept
Boltfrom
wenteach
behindotherMedusa’s
are revealed,
back Though many did not understand how or
the betrayal
and conspired
is unfathomable.
with his brother
Yeah,Maximus
you can why, they emerged forever changed from a
see where
the Mad tothis
blow
is going.
up Attilan
. . . with a Terrigen chrysalis. Together with her fellow surviving
bomb. Sure, he was doing it to defeat an Inhuman royals, Medusa brought together
equally mad Titan named Thanos, and he her new people and helped to guide them in
evacuated most of his people, but the their new lives.
The Terrigen Mists did much more than
Inhuman city Attilan was destroyed, as
create
Funnew Inhumans.
Fact: In fact, theycity
The Inhuman probably
of
was their entire supply of the super-power-
should’ve
Attilan come with a warning.
has existed in many Something
places,
giving substance Terrigen. Attilan fell into
likefrom
“Side effects
the may include
Himalayas to outerdeath.”
space, The
New York Harbor, and Black Bolt was
mists
on killed a lotside
the dark of people
of theon Earthand
moon, and aleft
assumed dead. Medusa’s heart was broken
others
hostinjured or adversely
of places affected. Medusa
in between. Now
and her people were strewn to the wind.
hadNew Attilan to lives inmake the Hudsonthe
She could not fall apart, though, because River.
her people needed her. She became the sole
leader of the Inhumans.
difficult decision to rid the Earth of the during their time apart. They no longer were
vapors entirely, though it also meant she the people they were when they were
would not be able to create any future younger. They chose to separate as lovers,
Inhumans. The entire supply of Terrigen but remained partners. They could still love
would be eliminated. Nobody carrying an and co-parent their son, Ahura, serve
Inhuman gene would ever be able to their people, and maintain a deep and
transform into their super-powered state meaningful friendship. Love takes all kinds
again. Despite the crippling effect it would of forms, and sometimes a relationship
have on the lineage of Inhumans, Medusa matures to a place where two people can
knew she must make the decision to save love each other without being in love with
the greatest number of people. Heavy is the each other.
head that wears the crown—or the very Together with the royal family, Medusa
long hair. However you want to look at it. searched through outer space and found a
Black Bolt resurfaced, totally alive, but new source of Terrigen, a purer form called
his relationship with Medusa could never Primagen, and with it, the promise of
be the same. He had betrayed her and their future Inhumans was restored. Medusa
people, leaving her to pick up the pieces. remains queen of the Inhumans, promising
Furthermore, they’d both grown and to serve her people in any situation, no
changed matter how hairy.
 ghost-spider
Spider-Gwen. Spider-Woman. Spider-
Rock-Star.

she’s just trying to figure out all this Super

Wcomes ITH GREAT POWER
great responsibility, and Hero stuff and keep her after-school job
selling hot dogs before the place is smashed
even more band practice. The Gwen
Stacy of the main Marvel Universe,
up again by some dang Super Villain. Gwen
Earth-616, may have died in the arms of Stacy is proof positive that you can try to do
Peter Parker, but in the dimension of Earth- the right thing and it can still come out
65 it was Gwen Stacy who lived and Peter wrong. But hey, you have to keep trying
who died. Now Gwen lives as the costumed either way!
Let’s start at the beginning. Gwen Stacy
vigilante Ghost-Spider, chasing down
was bitten by a genetically modified spider
villains as small as the Bodega Bandit all the
while at a science demonstration about
way up to the Kingpin named Matt
Murdock
Oh hey, (who wasisthea hero
this goodDaredevil
time toon radioactivity. The bite gave her Spidey-
Senses to predict danger, the ability to
Earth-616,
explain but
someis astuff
sly devil on Earth-65).
about Earth-65.
Gwen’s home dimension is a lot like cling to walls with her fingers and toes, and
the Marvel Universe that we know the proportional speed and strength of a
and love, but in this world some spider. Gwen spent her time out of costume
heroes are villains and some working hard in high school, hanging with
people who are alive in one her besties, Peter Parker and Harry Osborn,
dimension are dead in this one, and crushing the drums in the Mary Janes.
and sometimes a guy is a girl, etc. However, her secret exploits as
Basically, you can’t assume that
Spider-Woman made Peter Parker
people from our universe are like
desperate to follow in her web-prints.
So back
their to Gwen.
Earth-65 She truly rocks,
counterparts, otherand Especially after Gwen saved him from
notthan
just because
the she is a fiercephysical
occasional drummer bullies in a humiliating display. She was
for her band, the Mary
similarities. Phew! GladJanes. She’s a
we cleared
trying to help her friend, but it only made
devoted friend and daughter. And honestly,
that up!
things worse for him. Using a chemical
power-up by Midtown High teacher Dr.
Connors, Peter hoped to transform himself
into someone extraordinary like Spider-
Woman. Instead he turned himself into a
giant rampaging Lizard, who ruined prom.
Gwen had to save the innocent bystanders,
so she began fighting the
 Determined to make amends for
unwittingly killing her best friend, Peter,
Gwen spent her free time swinging around
NYC taking down criminals and trying to
prove herself a hero.
During one of her heroic encounters, she
stepped in to save her father from a
hit man. Captain Stacy took this as an
opportunity to turn on her, despite the fact
that she saved his flippin’ life! In a moment
of vulnerability, she revealed her secret
identity to her father. Her only hope of
escape was her father’s love. Captain Stacy
let her go, but now he had a much bigger
problem: clearing his daughter’s name, even
though doing so meant technically aiding
and abetting a criminal.
Her father was there for her when she
needed him most. Confiding in a parent
sometimes seems hard, but they’ve lived a
lot more life and sometimes they
understand more than their kids think they
will. Sure, Captain Stacy wasn’t ever a Super
In the
Hero, butmidst of all
he did this,what
know Gwenit was called
meant to
away
serve toandhelp PeterHeParker
protect. knewofthat
thepeople
main
crazed Lizard. How could she know it was
actually her best friend, Peter?! make
Marvel mistakes
Universe, because
Earth-616 he had madea
, defeat
Transforming back to his human form, mistakes. Allowing her father to see
bunch of dimension-hopping “Inheritors” behind
Peter Parker died from his injuries in the
that mask
liked gave Gwen
to eat another person
spider-people. in On
Gross! her
Gwen’s arms. Tragic much? corner and a promise that she did not
the bright side, coming together with so have
Now considered a murderer, Spider- to facespider-people
many the challengesgave
of heroism alone. what
Gwen exactly
Woman was on the run, hunted by the she needed—a support system
entire police force. To make matters worse, and mentorship.

her own father, Captain George Learning that there was another Gwen
Stacy, was leading the investigative Stacy who died in another dimension made
charge in true witch-hunt fashion. And as if it hard for Gwen not to be curious about
that weren’t enough, she was also lambasted what could have been her fate. Jessica
by the press, thanks to the diligent Drew, Earth-616’s Spider-Woman, was kind
muckraking of editor-in-creep J. Jonah enough to remind Gwen that you just can’t
Jameson. compare yourself to others, no matter how
Gwen’s BFF, Harry Osborn, left to join similar they might seem. There is only one
the army and become an Agent of you, and only you can do your life. It’s like
S.H.I.E.L.D. And her girl crew, the Mary Theodore Roosevelt said: “Comparison is
Janes, were increasingly torn apart by the thief of joy.”
Gwen’s depression and absence.
 Gwen’s father landed himself in jail after
Spider- admitting his association with Spider-
Woman.
SwingingGwen by the Gwen knew that her father’s only hope
bodega.
for staying out of jail was to go through
Spider-Man
Need anything? Kingpin Matt Murdock, who was also the
district attorney and didn’t mind making a
Peter Coffee, crooked deal. So in a moment of weakness,
please.
she agreed to work for the Kingpin. It had
Spider-Woman
Thanks, seemed like the best option at the time, even
if it was making a deal with the devil. The
Jess
I’ll takekid. It downside
only was important forheGwen
was that to have to
also happened at
anything with
least one peer
be a mob bossshe
andcould
leadertalk
to to, even if he
a boatload of
did
ninjalive in another
But yadimension. So, when
Spider-
bacon! assassins. know, hindsight
Miles .
Morales hopped into Earth-65
Ham...
is 20/20
looking for his father, he and Gwen had an
WOW. Spider-
instant connection. Spider-powers,
tragedies, daddy issues, homework—what
. . . maybe Gwen I just didn’t they have in common? Though a long-
distance relationship didn’t make sense
get
between dimensions, the two promised to
coffees for
There is no manual for how to be a hero,
stay friends. Didn’t stop them from
smooching anyway. . . .
everybody.
or even for how to grow up to be a decent
Now she must face the Kingpin, save her
person. Luckily, Gwen could lean on
father, and protect all of New York City.
another Spider-Woman. Well, not literally,
That’s a lot of work for one girl, but she is
because Jessica was VERY pregnant at the
up to the task. She is still learning how to be
time—but she still had plenty of good
a good Super Hero, and how to be a good
advice. When in doubt, a mentor who has
person, too. She is making mistakes along
followed a similar path or has similar
the way, but with a little help from her
interests, or, in this case, has super-powers,
friends, she’s well on her way to being the
can be an important step in anyone’s
best Gwen Stacy that she can be.
growth. Spider-Woman took Gwen on
patrol, and offered advice, which was
sometimes more about snacks than
punching bad guys (pregnancy makes you
hungry) but still helpful.
Perhaps things would’ve turned out
better if Gwen had taken more of Jessica’s
advice, because things weren’t going great.
Her old BFF, Harry Osborn, returned as a
chemical-fueled rage monster. The Mary
Janes teetered on the edge of abject

failure, and her bandmates became

increasingly aware of Gwen’s notable
 valkyrie
Shield-maiden. Asgardian. Fearless
Defender.

only for victory at the side of her brawny

VValkyrior,
ALKYRIE is the leader of the
a horde of Asgardian beau, the master of arms, Sigmund.
warrior demigoddesses working for the big Odin came down to Midgard (Earth in
guy in the Norse sky, Odin. Basically, these Asgardian speak), spreading war across
gals are butt-kicking angels. Their Europe. He stormed the Wrlstead Arms
chief duty is to deliver the worthy dead from castle, but Brunnhilde would not hide.
their battlefields to the heavenly realm of Instead, the headstrong young woman went
Valhalla—sometimes even intervening
in search of her father, the king, who she
during combat to help their warriors win the prayed was safe. Sigmund tried to protect
day. These brawling babes are the most her in the fray, but took an arrow while
formidable warriors in the heavens. The shielding her. As Sigmund lay dying in
most notable of these fierce women is Brunnhilde’s arms, Valkyrie’s only concern
Brunnhilde, the head of the shield-
was her ailing love. The opposing troops
maidens. marched toward her, but she was fearless.
Brunnhilde has spent most of her godly She was too overcome with grief, too
life overseeing warriors in battle and furious to care about anything else. Odin
sometimes protecting them through her himself offered her mercy so that she might
own intervention. Like many Asgardians, escape his army. But Brunnhilde did not
she has shared bodies with Earthly humans want his pity. She stood up to the king of
—such as activist Samantha Parrington, the gods with fire and determination. Can
cultist Barbara Norriss, and archaeologist you even imagine?! She said no to
Annabelle Riggs—but she still remains the Odin himself. She didn’t need his pity!

one true Valkyrie. She refused to leave Sigmund’s body behind.

Imagine a time long, long ago, when the Seeing her steadfast spirit and devotion to
small kingdoms of Europe still existed in her dead warrior, Odin recognized
citadels, roads were made of dirt, and the something special in her. He offered her a
people enjoyed watching sword fights like godly position as his personal Valkyrie. As
they were at Medieval Times—because it Valkyrie, she would deliver his true believers
was in fact medieval times. In the ancient and worthy warriors from battle to the
land of Wrlstead Arms, Valkyrie was a heavenly realm of Valhalla to stand by his
princess. Not the kind who wears fancy side. As a reward, she could one day join
dresses and drinks tea, but the kind who Sigmund in Valhalla to live in eternal bliss.
studies how to wield a broadsword, rocks a With ferocity and love in her heart,
metal bra, and thirsts Brunnhilde accepted his offer so
that men like her dear Sigmund could enjoy was to fall in love with the first man she set
a heavenly afterlife. eyes on. This was literally Valkyrie’s worst
Hello! How fearless is that?! To resign nightmare. Not just mortality, but to be tied
yourself to carrying heroes into the to someone undeserving of her and to lead
afterlife?! To defy a god?! Valkyrie an ordinary life.
plays by her own rules. Valkyrie lives for her

Valkyrie stood up for herself and what freedom! She rides on the wind and
she believed in, and was rewarded. She took thrives in the space between life and death.
control of her own destiny, which Valkyrie would rather bear bloodied bodies
positioned her to become a leader. This to Valhalla than be with a man who did not
rebel spirit would come to inform her work deserve her. Let. That. Sink. In. We might all
as a goddess and commander for years to value our freedom and bliss over the
come. confines of attachment as Valkyrie does.
As the leader of her fellow Love is indeed a rare gift, but to be tied
Valkyrior, Brunnhilde was charged down for the sake of it is hardly a treat.
with serving Odin, but sometimes she was Valkyrie instead finds fulfillment in her
guided by her own sense of righteousness
and compassion. In fact, Valkyrie once
defied Odin’s decree in order to save a
warrior she felt was worthier than his
sadistic opponent. Odin himself stepped in
to kill her champion (for no one could
disobey the command of Odin as king of
the gods or whatever, blah, blah,
patriarchy). Valkyrie was to be
punished for disobeying him. What was
Valkyrie’s punishment, you ask? To be sent
work and closeness in her relationships with mad by the experience. The Defenders
her fellow bad baes—the Valkyrior. Her life imprisoned her along with Amora the
is full and exhilarating. Though her Enchantress. Finally, being in the presence
punishment was rescinded, it would not be of another woman, Amora knew how to
the last time Valkyrie caused troubles for the break free! She called Valkyrie into Barbara’s
king of the gods or that her freedom was body. Valkyrie freed Amora, but realized she
put in peril. would be better suited to serve the
The Bifrost, also known as the Rainbow Defenders as a hero rather than serving the
Bridge, is the only permanent portal to untrustworthy goddess. Valkyrie became a
Midgard from Asgard. After the events of Defender, and they helped Valkyrie free
Ragnarok, the Bifrost was destroyed, herself from Amora’s imprisonment and
shattering any connection between the two inhabitMistyher own Asgardian body once and
realms. Without the passageway, Valkyrie for all.Knight
Hey, hon, what are
became tired of the heavens. Gods don’t you up to? Valkyrie
really die all that often, so it was pretty I stand in battle
boring. She was enticed by the beguiling against

goddess Amora the Enchantress with the Misty the dark elves.
promise of adventure outside Valhalla’s Knight at you later
I’ll Val-hollah
walls. How could our wild Valkyrie refuse? then. ;) Valkyrie
We must choose our friends carefully, Are you to die in
especially those who lure us with tempting
Misty battle?
promises. Promises that seem to be too
good
ThetoEnchantress
be true. Valkyrie
usedsoon saw that
Valkyrie as her . .Knight
. I hope
strength was being misused
weapon against the heroes of Midgard, for the not. Valkyrie
Enchantress’s own deceitful gain.
taking revenge on men who spurned her. Valkyrie ’Tis my
stood up to
She forced the bewitching
Valkyrie to possess goddess,
the bodiesbut
of Misty regret.
Amora
humans on Midgard and wreak Valkyrie’s
was unwilling to surrender havoc in I’mKnight
glad we’re friends,
impressive
their place.muscle.
UnderInstead the Enchantress
the control of the
but can

imprisoned Valkyrie’s
Enchantress, Valkyriesoul
firstwithin
tookher blade.
over the
you stop hoping for
body of a well-to-do socialite and women’s Valkyrie is now able to finally live the free
equality activist, Samantha Parrington.
me to die?
and fabulous life she always dreamed of. She
Valkyrie used Samantha’s passion for equal has fought alongside the Defenders,
rights and public visibility as a socialite as a the Secret Avengers, and was even
way to lash out at men under the villainous recruited by a group of interdimensional
trance of the Enchantress. Though Valkyrie EXILES to protect the multiverse from the
was a powerful woman, she did not wish to reality-devouring Time-Eater. Calling on her
spurn men for the sake of it. That was the signature zeal for life, war, and horses, she
misguided desire of the Enchantress slashes her way through the many
coursing through poor Valkyrie’s dimensions with Blink, Iron Lad, Khan, and
musclebound body. Later, a cultist named the adorable Wolvie in the hopes of making
Barbara Norriss saw the errors of her ways all the realms of the heavens and Midgard a
and sacrificed herself to save Doctor better place for all people.
Strange and the Hulk. THE DEFENDERS
later rescued Barbara from the dimension
 Monica Rambeau
Powerhouse. Electric personality.
Bright.

from the bad ones. Furthermore, she puts

M ONICA RAMBEAU
pioneering woman in the Marvel
is a
the needs of others before herself, because
above all, Monica is here to serve and
Universe. This woman is powerful! She is
a leader, a force to be reckoned with, oh, protect.
and she’s made up of pure energy Monica Rambeau was part of the New
from the electromagnetic spectrum. She Orleans Harbor Patrol, where she dreamed
broke the mold as a lieutenant in the New of climbing to the rank of captain, but her
Orleans Harbor Patrol, and as the first boss had no intention of promoting her to
African American Woman Super
such heights. Monica was an outspoken
Hero to join the Avengers. She even went live wire who played by her own rules, and
on to become the Avengers’ official on top of all that, she was a woman of
color. Passed over again and again for
chairperson. Heck yes! That’s right—she
promotions, Monica was furious and
was one of the few women to lead the
frustrated. So, when she was asked for
Avengers!
help by her grandfather’s old work
What makes her such an amazing leader?
associate, Professor Andre LeClare, she
Monica isn’t just an insanely powerful
figured she didn’t have much to lose. He
Super Hero with all of the forces of
was in deep trouble because his research
light and energy behind her; she’s
into interdimensional energies was taken
also never afraid to question the status quo by his old assistant in hopes of
and shut down bad behavior. She stood up weaponizing it. The energy and technology
to Iron Man, letting him know in no was incredibly volatile, not to mention it
uncertain terms her name isn’t “babe.” had the potential to rip a hole between
She’ll call out sexism in a snap, because dimensions.
sometimes people need to know that even Together, LeClare and Rambeau took
well-intentioned behavior can be entirely her patrol boat to find the assistant on an
uncool. Monica doesn’t tolerate bad old Roxxon oil rig out in the ocean. Posing
behavior, even from the good guys, and as a sexy sunbather, she convinced the
especially not
sailors to let her board the ship to enjoy Hero costume, eh?) There, she saved
the view. However, when LeClare got LeClare, closed a strange, growing portal
impatient and decided to stow away to find between dimensions, called in the Navy to
the machine, he blew her cover. In a last- help shut down Roxxon’s rig, and saved the
ditch effort to dismantle the dangerous day! The men of the ship called her both
machine, Monica punched into its circuits. Captain and a marvel, so she took it as her
Something strange took place. A flash of first Super Hero name: Captain
light coursed through her body as she Marvel. If people think you’re
absorbed interdimensional marvelous, you have to own it. And own it
energies. In an instant, she was turned she did.
into pure electromagnetic energy! Suddenly Not long after Monica’s transformation
able to fly, she headed back to the into a being composed of interdimensional
mainland at the speed of light. Confused, energies, she had a chance encounter with
she found herself in a warehouse full of Spider-Man in NYC that introduced her to
Mardi Gras costumes. She grabbed her the Avengers. She needed to channel her
classic white outfit to cover her swimsuit literal energies or she might cause an
and flew back to the rig. (Convenient way explosion! The Avengers helped her to
to get a Super disperse her energies. Seeing
Monica’s clear potential, they invited her to themselves doubt their own abilities
stick around for training. After only a few because of unspoken societal constructs.
weeks, the Avengers’ leader, Janet Van Dyne The only way for women to grow into
(aka the Wasp), asked her to join the team, leadership roles is to lift each other
making her the first African American up by cheering on capable ladies with
woman to become one of Earth’s Mightiest diverse voices and gifts. Like Monica, you
Heroes. may not realize that you’re the leader a
Monica Rambeau took the name of team needs until someone brings it to your
Captain Marvel, not knowing it belonged attention! It’s never too late to take a stand
to a recently deceased Super Hero named as a leader in your community.
Captain Mar-Vell. (Awkward!) Her fellow Emboldened by She-Hulk’s words and
heroes initially encouraged her to keep the Captain America’s nomination, Monica
name, because her immense ability was accepted. Monica was the first woman
considered an honor to the fallen hero. of color to lead Earth’s Mightiest
However, the son of Captain Mar-Vell, Heroes.
Genis-Vell, came back to Earth using his Monica led the Avengers against a
father’s old name. Monica gracefully serious gallery of rogues, including actual
agreed to take the name Photon gods. But an encounter with a sea monster
instead. But when Genis-Vell abandoned named Leviathan left Monica stretched
the name, he then took on the name thin. She had literally spread her energy so
Photon. Say what?! He managed to take her greatly that it left her depleted and nearly
name twice! Monica had to again change depowered. Monica was in bad shape. Her
herOnlyalias,a few
but weeks
this time
later,thethetwo
Wasphashed
steppedit parents took her home to convalesce and
out over
down as chairwoman
a coffee andof decided
the Avengersshe’d for
takea eatMonica was a bornhome
some delicious leadercooking.
and returned
Monicato
little
the name rest and Pulsarrelaxation.
. LaterAssheyouwould can the helm of
had to step away from the Avengers to
the Mighty Avengers

imagine, leading the team was

embrace her full colors under the name a lot of work. alongside the man
heal, but when she with
was unbreakable
back on her skin,
feet
Captain
Spectrum America himself
. But let’snominated
just callMonica
her Luke
she would be ready to again artist
Cage, magical martial White
answer the
Rambeau for the role
Monica Rambeau. She does have a
of chairwoman. At Tiger, the insanely
call. Monica was farpowerful Blue Marvel,
from finished leading
first, Monica was reluctant
real spectrum of names, though. to accept; she and
the hero others.
team, She
though.alsoIt was
joined the
only the
was new to the team, after all. Thor beginning.
Ultimates alongside the king of
immediately jumped in, questioning Wakanda, Black Panther, the teen titan
Monica’s capability, and offered himself America Chavez, and Captain Marvel (Carol
instead, but She-Hulk quickly interceded. Danvers this time).
She-Hulk slowed everyone down, and with On some teams Monica led, on others
her vote of confidence gave Monica an she followed. But on all of her teams,
opportunity to actually accept. Women in Monica remains a beacon of integrity. Her
leadership need each other’s support, and wise words are matched only by her
this was truly a beautiful moment of veracity and dedication. Not to mention,
encouragement and her body is made of pure energy—so she
sisterhood among Avengers. continues to be literally powerful. And
It is important to encourage our friends maybe her Super Hero names never really
to fulfill their potential. In today’s world, stuck, but what’s in a name, anyway?
women are still over- looked for leadership Monica Rambeau by any other name is
positions, and sometimes ladies still one of the most powerful people on
E h
 terrific twosomes

Ffriend by your side! These fearless

IGHTING CRIME and saving the day is always more fun with a
friends offer each other endless support,
good laughs, work opportunities, real talk, and of course, a power-up on the
battlefield.

Butt-Kicking
Besties

Captain Marvel Hawkeye &

&
America
Kate Bishop and America Chavez first
Spider-Woman
Captain Marvel and Spider-Woman are teamed up with the Young

Avengers, with whom they cemented

total #GOALS. These ladies know what it’s
like being a Super Hero day in and day out, their reputation as ultimate BFFs. And
and always know they can support each not just because they are the team’s notable
ladies, but also because they have the
other. Sometimes being an Avenger is a
lot to handle, and no one understands that sassiest comebacks. These freewheeling
better than a fellow Avenger. Plus, it’s young women enjoy a good road trip, an
impromptu slumber party, sharing life
always good to have a lady friend to talk to
advice, leaning on each other, and punching
when Avengers Mansion is full of sweaty
menfolk. Even when these ladies disagree, up baddies. Now that America is in an
they manage to encourage each other and alternate-dimension college and Kate has
She-Hulk moved to Venice & Beach,
Hellcat the girls don’t get
find common ground—which Theseusually
straight-talkin’ galin-person
pals have been through
involves bacon. as much time, so it’s a good itthing
all!
JENNIFER WALTERS they have an out-of-this-world
(aka data plan.her
She-Hulk), employed
bestie, Patsy Walker (aka Hellcat), as a private
detective for her law firm, and Patsy has employed Jennifer
as her lawyer. Their friendship is hardly all business,
though. They share a bevy of their civilian pals and quality
time together. They love to hit the club together, grab
brunch with a group of fab friends, or just visit a taco
truck or two. And of course, they are always around to help
battle each other’s awful exes and online dates.
 Power Couples Sister Sister

Angela & Sera Medusa and

Angela and Sera are angels from the tenth
Crystal
realm of Heven! Together these battle- Royal sisterhood has never been so hairy!
ready seraphim have literally been to Hel
Medusa, the prehensile-maned queen of the
and back for each other. When Sera was
Inhumans, and her younger, element-
imprisoned in the afterlife, Angela
controlling sister, Crystal, would do
overthrew Hela, the goddess of death, so anything for each other. Though Terrigen,
that she might return Sera to the realm of Super Villains, and complex romantic
the living. That is love! Now they can enjoy
relationships have threatened their sisterly
cuddling on their couch together in
bond, these women have managed to
heavenly peace.
remain close. They also work together not
just as Super Heroes, but as royals. Crystal
serves as an Inhuman diplomat reporting
to Medusa in order to protect the interests
of New Attilan and Inhumans
everywhere.

Cloak & Dagger

You cannot have light without dark, or Cloak
without Dagger. After meeting as runaways,
Gamora &
Tandy Bowen and Tyrone

Johnson were abducted and Nebula

experimented on. Now Tandy (aka Dagger) These sisters don’t share blood (unless you
is able to channel energy to create psionic count bad blood), but they do share the worst
light daggers, while Cloak can adoptive dad in the universe, Thanos! Both
produce a portal to the
girls were taken in by the genocidal maniac to
Darkforce dimension, allowing be raised as living weapons. They were pitted
him to teleport and channel dark energy. against each other in a lethal sibling rivalry.
Their complementary powers of dark and Because of her superior fighting prowess,
light are symbiotically balanced so neither is Gamora was deemed the deadliest woman in
overtaken by the light or dark inside the galaxy. The competition left Nebula
themselves. They also share a deep affection bitter and power hungry. Over the years and
for each other that is only intensified by the through numerous battles, against each other
intimacy and necessity of each other’s and their father, Gamora and Nebula have
powers. learned that they no longer have to fight their
father’s battles, or each other. In fact, they
actually might be on the same side.
Despite everything they’ve been through
 Squirrel
girl
Eats nuts. Kicks butts.

her scratchy claws to fight, she asks herself

D OREEN GREEN isn’t just
your average computer science and sometimes her foe, “Why are they
major, she’s one of the most powerful doing this? Do they need money?
characters in the Marvel Universe. No, Friendship? A good snack? How can I help
really! She possesses all the super abilities this person without anyone getting hurt?”
of both a squirrel and a girl. Which means You can win a fight by defusing it and
she can talk to squirrels, use her fluffy (BONUS) you make unlikely friends! And
prehensile tail like a weapon, wallop with who doesn’t want more friends?!
squirrel-like strength (which is
Growing up in Los Angeles, Doreen
surprisingly strong at human-size ratio), initially hid her powers to avoid
slice with razor-sharp nails, and, of course, embarrassment. But she found solace in her
hold all the majestic powers one possesses squirrel friend Monkey Joe—who was
as a girl. Though she might seem cute and not a monkey, just a squirrel. After Doreen
fluffy, don’t scoff! Squirrel Girl has taken saved him from a dog, he encouraged her to
down some of Marvel’s biggest baddies, become a Super Hero. She had a natural gift!
from Thanos to a planet-size world eater. She caught up with Iron Man, hoping to
Though she does often rely on her head finally prove herself and impress him
and heart instead of her fists and a horde enough to earn an invitation to be his
of adorable rodents to win the day. (You sidekick. Though she totally saved Iron Man
really haven’t seen a good fight until and conquered the attacking Super Villain
you’ve seen a Super Villain engulfed in (Yes! She saved Iron Man on her first time
squirrels, trust me.) out of the flippin’ gate!), he still refused her
While Squirrel Girl’s rodent powers are generous offer. She also helped the Hulk to
incredible, her compassion and warmth are beat up a big mutated beast named
what make her an acorn in the rough. Abomination, but he offered her little credit
Though villains may appear battle-ready, and didn’t really seem to be the “playing well
there’s usually a greater issue behind their with others” type. Squirrel Girl would not
evildoing—and it usually doesn’t have to do give up on her dreams so easily, though.
with a desire to fight. Everyone is the hero Maybe she needed to be a hero all on her
of their own story—even evil geniuses and own.
big palookas who smash up banks. Squirrel Girl set off for New York City—
Everyone has dreams, wants, and needs. the home of Super Heroes! She didn’t hit
Before Squirrel Girl gets out the big time right away, but she did protect
Central Park and its squirrels from
Super-Villainous threats. It was there that
she was scouted by the Great Lakes
Avengers. (She was kind enough to save

them from muggers, so they knew she was

the real deal.)
For several years, she worked with them
to protect the Midwest, this alliance later
being known as the Great Lakes Defenders
and Great Lakes Champions. Finding your
personal brand and a catchy name become the nanny to Jessica Jones and Luke
can be hard—especially when the Avengers Cage’s daughter, Danielle Cage.
send you a cease-and-desist letter. Doreen Deciding to pursue higher education,
would eventually make her way back to Doreen enrolled at Empire State University
New York to work for the New Avengers, to study computer science. She was assigned
aka a dorm and a roommate, Nancy Whitehead.
Though both girls hit it off, Doreen’s best
squirrel friend, Tippy-Toe, was not too
pleased with Nancy’s cat, Mew, but they
made it work. Doreen was quick to expand
her hero circle as well. ESU had plenty of
folks to team up with, including the dreamy
Chipmunk Hunk and the unsinkable

Koi Boi, who wasn’t afraid of a little fish-

to-cuffs. It’s not your average team of Super

Heroes, but Doreen is hardly average. She
balances her time in classes with taking on
some of the biggest and strangest villains in
the universe. Luckily, her new team has
helped Doreen to be not only a better Super
Hero, but a more thoughtful one.
In fact, when Doreen’s new super crew
encountered the Hydra-programmed cyborg
Brain Drain, Doreen and her fellow

animal-themed heroes pounced on him

without pause. Realizing that they hadn’t
HOW
even given himTOa HIDE
chance AtoTAIL  
be friendly,
Doreen
1. Put onmadeyogaamends.
pants Not only did they
patch
2. Foldthetail
hero
intoup,
thebut theyof used
shape a their
computer
bodacious science knowledge from school to
behind
update
3. Rock yoga pants his so hard operating
systems and delete the Hydra propaganda Squirrel Girl!
making him a grade-A jerk. Brain Drain was @unbeatablesg

reformed into the friendly scarf-and-hat- @starkmantony No need

donning Brian Drayne: ESU student and
to build a

generally weird BFF.

Her first encounter with Brain Drain new

Scottone!
Lang@Antman
@Antman
will
taught Squirrel Girl a valuable lesson: that shrink an

@unbeatablesg
she cannot be the one to strike first. She not old one for you, right
@starkmantony

only recognized her mistake, but admitted it Scott?

Sure, but it’ll cost you
and took actions to make amends. We all Tony Stark @starkmantony

slip up, especially in the heat of the moment, $50

@Antman @unbeatablesg I
but if we pause and take a moment to think, am not

we can often course-correct. Because

Doreen took a moment to realize that she
going to shrink an Iron
was potentially in the wrong, she completely Man
Scottarmor

Lang @Antman

turned around someone else’s life! She was for your squirrel friend
@starkmantony
able to reach out to him, and make a new @unbeatablesg

friend. Sure, he’s a pretty weird friend, but

he’s a friend nonetheless!
Does that mean I’m
Squirrel Girl!
Squirrel Girl continues to grow not getting

@unbeatablesg

as a student of computer science and of 50 bucks?

@Antman
Super Hero-ing, but she still has a lot to
TonysheStark
learn. Luckily, can lean on her mentor, @starkmantony

Scott Lang @Antman

Tony Stark, and her heroic friends. Oh, and

@starkmantony
How about $50 and
@unbeatablesg
Tippy-Toe.@unbeatablesg
She’s small, but sturdy.
I am not you make

@starkmantony

making
Tippy-Toe
Tony
Squirrel Girl! Sure!!Stark
any more armor! ENORMOUS!!!
@starkmantony

@unbeatablesg

@Antman
@starkmantony Hear
Tony Stark @unbeatablesg Ugh,

me out Squirrel Girl! @unbeatablesg

@starkmantony
everyone. NO! NO
@starkmantony Does that
@unbeatablesg No GIANT

mean

Squirrel Girl! SQUIRRELS

you’ll give
Squirrel Tippy-Toe a flight
Girl!
@unbeatablesg
suit?!?!
@starkmantony A flight @unbeatablesg

suit for
@starkmantony?
Tony Stark Squirrel Girl!
Tippy-Toe Hello?
@starkmantony
@unbeatablesg

@unbeatablesg No @starkmantony I’m

going to take

the silence as a
resounding YES!
 mantis
Empath. Celestial Madonna. Plant
lover.

unbelievable fighting skills, and being raised

M ANTIS might seem like a
delicate flower, but don’t be fooled around the telepathic Cotati imbued her
by her Zen demeanor. The likes of Mantis with empathic powers that allowed
have rarely been seen anywhere in the her to feel and affect people’s emotions, as
universe. She is a master martial artist able well as communicate psychically.
to drop dudes twice her size, a telepath, and Mantis’ empathy has set her apart from
was chosen by an alien race as the perfect every hero of her time. Not only can she
human being. Her powers are immense in sense people’s emotions—she can truly
every way imaginable! She also has learned a experience what they feel. This is a super-
great deal from her strange life. Oh, and did power that even we simple humans can
I mention that she’s an Avenger and a explore. If we focus on how another
Guardian of the Galaxy?
person might feel, we can begin to
Mantis was born in Vietnam to a empathize with their experience. In our
German mercenary father and a minds, we can explore things they’ve
Vietnamese mother. Her mother’s brother shared with us and imagine how those
Kruul was king of the Saigon underworld, experiences might be shaping their
and did not approve of the union between thought process, body, or emotional state.
his sister and a foreigner. With Kruul We may not have Mantis’ psychic abilities
aiming to kill them both, the young lovers to help us truly know how someone else
were forced to go on the run. Ten months feels with perfect accuracy, but we can
later, Mantis was born. Unfortunately, offer the same gifts to the world by trying.
Kruul caught up with them. In a And, bonus, when we empathize with
devastating explosion, her mother lost her others, we all feel a little less alone.
life and her father lost his vision. Mantis Mantis’ memories were wiped by the
and her father were taken in by the Priests Priests of Pama to continue her adult life in
of Pama at a local temple. Not only was Saigon. Working in a bar, she met a dashing
she raised in the temple, but she and her swashbuckler named the Swordsman,
father were trained in the martial arts there a former Avenger. Both hoped to prove
as well. Unbeknownst to either of them, themselves and join the Avengers.
the priests were actually an alien colony of Interceding in a Super Villain battle, Mantis
Kree and Cotati pacifists. The Kree
saved the team and earned spots for both
passed for humans, while the Cotati, who her and the Swordsman. Mantis quickly
bore telepathic roots, passed as trees. Being became an integral
raised under the Kree gave Mantis
member, often able to take down villains mind first. Studying martial arts has taught
with her mind or with her thigh chokehold. her to center herself and breathe through
In fact, Mantis’ strong mental discipline is the stress of conflict. The calm of her quiet
the key to her physical prowess. Her mind is mind allows her to feel empathy for her
so clear and so connected that she can use it opponent, to attempt a dialogue, and to
to control every element of her physical harness her emotions so that she can act
body. Some heroes like to punch villains logically.
now and worry about consequences later, Interestingly enough, Mantis is a
but Mantis uses her formidable combatant because she doesn’t
fight angry. She enacts movements
calculated to a certain end. She isn’t trying happened to be a big telepathic tree. YES.
to harm anyone, but to protect those in SHE WAS PROPOSED TO BY A TREE.
need of her help. As a member of the Well, technically a Cotati elder, which was a
Avengers, Mantis offered a rational logic to plant-based alien, but you get it. Listen, it’s
the team. Instead of heroes entering with not going to get any less weird from here, so
fists blazing, Mantis would sense another just go with it.
creature’s true desires and try to help before At first, she reacted much like we did. . . .
resorting to harmful methods. Not all who Say what?! But at the Cotati’s urging, she
seem villainous want to watch the world touched her head to the tree to share its
burn. Using her gifts, she was sometimes telepathic link. Apparently, his bark was
able to save the day without anyone getting bigger than his bite, because she said yes! In
hurt. an attempt to endear himself to her, the
Mantis fell out of love with the Cotati took on the form of her former
Swordsman and caught feels for another lover, the Swordsman. She was married to
teammate, the sentient android Vision. him in the garden where she grew up, in a
Yes, he was a robot. Yes, that was fine with joint wedding ceremony with Scarlet Witch
her.Mantis wouldn’t
However, Vision bewassingle
alreadyfor long,
involved andThe Vision.
elder You’d
Cotatithink
revealed
it would
the secrets
be superof
though
with theshe was Witch
Scarlet rejectedand
by rebuffed
Vision, and her
Mantis’ awkward,
the universe,
marrying
allowing
yourMantis
tree husband
new cosmic in a
former
advances.lover Swordsman
While rejection died
can in
be battle.
hard, joint ceremony
awareness and the
withability
your former
to travelcrush,
through
but
Without knowing
Mantis could not it,help
Mantis
but was chosen by
understand. If Mantisinisn’t
space herone
astral
to form.
get caught
In time,
up inthe
all Cotati
that.
the Cotati
things weretotruly
be meant
raised to
by work
the Priests of
out, they would leave her greener in hue, but Mantis
would into
Pama time.become the CELESTIAL remained her impressive and powerful self.
MADONNA, or the perfect human. The two even conceived a child named
Another girl named Moondragon was Sequoia, who was raised by the Cotati to

also raised for this potential, and she was be the messiah of their people. For many
flawless in many ways. However, Mantis was years, Mantis traveled the universe,
ultimately chosen, not just because of her occasionally meeting up with the Avengers.
gifts, but because of her flaws and her true She even briefly dabbled in a romance with
understanding of the human experience. Vision, when they were both single. (See, if
Her loss of love for Swordsman, her desire it’s meant to be, it will be.)
for someone else, her mistakes, her joy, her Mantis was eventually locked away in a
bravery, her jealousy, her gifts, her faults all Kree prison until the galaxy’s most famous
made her perfect for the role. pain-in-the-butt hero, Star-Lord,

Vulnerability, emotion, and poor recruited her to fight some baddies at his
judgment may be seen as faults, but they are side with his band of merry aliens, the
what make us truly human. No one is Guardians of the Galaxy. She even used her
perfect. As a smart guy once said, “To err is empathic powers to help Star-Lord
human.” While no one wants to be a human convince some other heroes to join his
mistake factory, these blunders and their team.
forgiveness are what bring people together. Now Mantis travels the universe helping
A person is perfect because those in need and listening to their feelings.
they are imperfect. Humanity is a Though she has great physical power, she
paradox—get used to it. knows the greater power is one’s mind. All
As the Celestial Madonna, Mantis was life-forms need understanding and empathy,
d it i th i t thi t i
 MS. MARVEL
Inhuman Hero. Shape-Shifter.
Geek Girl.

instead. Feeling suffocated by all those rules,

K AMALA KHAN is one of the
greatest heroes in the Marvel Kamala made a break for it and sneaked
out.
Universe, and it’s not because she has a lot
of hero experience. She’s a devoted friend Down at the party on the waterfront,
and daughter. She works hard in school. She she could see the wreck of Attilan in
is a level-five orc wizard in World of the harbor (which, if you remember, had
Gamecraft. She writes Super Hero fanfic. But fallen into the Hudson River). Kamala
most importantly, Kamala cares. She sees the caught up with her friends, but between
world as it is and wants to make it an even insults from her frenemies and the
better place. uncomfortable pressure to drink, she
Kamala is one of the few heroes who decided to bail and headed for home. Soon
does everything in her power not to destroy after she left, though, she found herself
a building, because she knows that it surrounded by strange mists, and
belongs to a small-business owner. She asks something about the turn this night was
herself if someone really needs to be taking started to feel seriously weird. A
punched or if there’s a less fist-forward cocoon engulfed her and the mist—made
solution at hand. Kamala is a leader—not of Terrigen—kickstarted a process known
because she forces people to obey her, but as “terrigenesis.” Turns out that
because people follow her example. unbeknownst to her or her family, Kamala
Kamala Khan is the Pakistani was an Inhuman, and the Terrigen Mists
American girl next door. She loves sci-fi, activated her Inhuman genes, transforming
video games, and geek culture, and she’s a her.
serious Super Hero fangirl. She has loving When Kamala awoke, she found herself
parents who try to instill in her traditional with fantastic new powers. She realized she
Muslim values, which means being a good could shape-shift parts of her body (her
person, doing your homework, steering fists, for example), making them very large
clear of drugs and alcohol, and not spending and increasing her strength (a process she
time alone with boys. calls embiggening). She could also
One Friday night, Kamala asked her make herself very small, take on different
parents if she could attend a party with appearances, and bend her body like putty.
some of her friends from school, but of Feeling a sense of duty to her
course with the possibility of drugs, alcohol, hometown, Jersey City, she took on the
and definitely boys, her parents sent her to moniker Ms. Marvel in a nod to her
her room
longtime hero, Captain Marvel, who had Kamala saved the day and even got to
used the name previously. When baddies fight alongside her hero, Captain Marvel.
ventured across the river from New York Captain Marvel gave Kamala a necklace that
City, Kamala was there to stop them. featured both their symbols—Captain
The Inhuman Queen Medusa took an Marvel’s star of Hala and Ms. Marvel’s
early interest in Kamala and her heroic lightning bolt—and provided
tendencies. At the newly rebuilt Inhuman emergency GPS should Kamala ever need
city of New Attilan, Medusa took Kamala to be found.
under her wing for training, and even sent Even though she had proven herself as
her teleporting canine, Lockjaw, to aid a Super Hero, Ms. Marvel felt
Kamala on her journey. Her actually- disconnected from her life as Kamala
maybe-pretty-cute best friend, Bruno, was Khan. Kamala returned to her family and
one of very few to know her secret and aid confessed to her mother that she was Ms.
herWhenas Ms.
a genius
Marvel.
whoKamala
turnedcontinued
himself into
to Marvel. While she braced for impact, her
ahide
birdlike
her heroics
figure called
from the
her Inventor
family andbegan
her mother revealed that she’d already known.
friend Nakia,
stealing teenagers
whichtoslowly
use asdrove
a renewable
a wedge In fact, she was very proud to call this
betweensource,
energy them. Kamala made it her mission Herwho
hero, friend
caredBruno
for and. .protected
. well, Kamala
people,
to find and free the teens. Like most finally gave Bruno
her daughter. Kamala time
madeto amends
talk, andwith
he
baddies, though, the Inventor didn’t stop confessed
her friend his loveand
Nakia, for even
her. her
Though she
frenemy,
there. Instead, he resorted to convincing knew it was
Zoe, who, important
with to figure
time, became moreout her
friend
the teens that they had no worth until they feelings
than enemy.for him, she had other priorities.
volunteered to sacrifice themselves for his Even if her rejection meant he would move
plans. Kamala isn’t the quitting kind, so she on to someone else, her life as a hero was
redoubled her own efforts. She liberated simply more important than romantic
the teens again and this convinced them entanglements. Her priority was saving the
that their lives were worth fighting for. She world, becoming the greatest Super Hero
made it clear that kids were not responsible she could be, and learning things in school
for adults who squandered their money, —and she could not let anything
ruined the environment, and jeopardized compromise that. Some things are just
their children’s futures. Kamala showed imperative, and she knew she’d have plenty
them that kids must save the future, of time for romance in the future when she
because the future belongs to was ready for love.
them. Kids must find their own self- Kamala threw herself into hero life and
worth and never let any person—young or was scouted almost immediately by Tony
old—take it from them. Kids have more Stark to join his “All-New, All-
power than they might ever know. Different” team of Avengers.

There, she met fellow young heroes Spider-

Man (aka Miles Morales) and Nova (aka
Sam Alexander). It wasn’t all sunshine and
rainbow bridges, though. Tony Stark and
Captain Marvel faced off in a major fight,
and Kamala’s morals wouldn’t allow her to
continue being a part of the team. She cut
ties with Captain Marvel and became her
the saying: “Don’t sit too close Champions
Ms. Marvel believed that though they’d
at the ballet.” It’s easy to forget the
once been her biggest heroes, adult Super
people we look up to are people, and that
Heroes had made a royal mess of things
people make mistakes.
with their carelessness, infighting, and
Ms. Marvel started an elite team called
blatant disregard for anything beyond their
the Champions with Miles Morales and
missions. It was the job of the younger
Sam Alexander, who had also stepped away
generation to take on saving the world in a
from the Avengers. They were joined by the
new way—a way that used their
eighth-smartest person on Earth, Amadeus
intelligence and empathy
Cho, who also happened to turn into a big
before their fists. Using Viv’s search-engine-
green Hulk, later known as Brawn, as well as
like brain, they could find people around the
Viv, the synthetic sentient android daughter
world who needed their help, so that they
of Vision. In time, they would add to their
might protect them. But even more
ranks a time-displaced teenage Scott
importantly, the Super Heroes began to
Summers, aka Cyclops; tiny scientist Nadia
learn about helping others the way they
Van Dyne, aka the Wasp; Inuk teen Amka
needed, rather than the way they thought
Aliyak, aka Snowguard; and Ironheart, aka
people needed to be helped. Ms. Marvel
Riri Williams.
reminded herokind that being a hero is less
about punching bad guys and more about
helping those who need it—helping can still
be fun! Now, let’s go embiggen
something!
 hellcat
Child Star. Hell Tourist.
Cool Cat.

Walker comic-book series. This boosted

P ATSY WALKER isn’t your
run-of-the-mill Super Hero. She wasn’t Patsy’s fame—much to Patsy’s mortification.
Patsy couldn’t wait to be free of her mom,
born with magic powers, she didn’t get
doused with chemicals, and she definitely and married Buzz at a young age. But she
wasn’t raised studying the martial arts. Patsy dreamed of Super Heroes and the big city.
was a reluctant child star who made her After Buzz returned from a tour of military
childhood dream of becoming a Super Hero duty, their relationship became strained and
a reality as an adult. She’s acquired they eventually separated.
FANTASTIC POWERS along her journey
Now unattached, she finally felt free to
with her own training, hard work, and maybe pursue her real dreams. She hunted down
an occasional trip through hell. After all, she THE AVENGERS and begged to join their

did sort of marry the Son of Satan for a ranks. Hoping to scare her out of the idea,
while. Hey, we all make some dating the Avengers took her on a mission to the
mistakes. Brand Corporation, where her ex-husband,
But some of the best things about Patsy Buzz, now worked. The mission quickly
are her sense of duty, her capacity for turned upside down and revealed that her
forgiveness, and her intelligence. She has ex had become a cruel criminal. With
used her skills as a Super Hero not just to Patsy’s knowledge of her ex and
punch, but to reform criminals and help resourcefulness, the team was able to finally
super-powered people find legitimate career take down the Brand Corporation. They
options so they don’t have to turn to crime. even found a costume for Patsy that had
By helping people before they have to turn to once belonged to a hero named the Cat.
illicit means, Patsy is stopping the need for The yellow catsuit gave the wearer super-
ill-gotten gains before it starts. Now that is a strength, durability, and retractable metallic
smart way to fight crime! claws on her gloves and boots that are
PATRICIA WALKER is a child-star-
capable of slicing through most materials
turned-Super Hero. “Patsy” grew up a and enhance her climbing abilities. The
classic California girl: She was a teen model team was reluctant to have her join their
and commercial actor who spent her days ranks, but she immediately put on the
surfing, studying, dancing, romancing her costume and proclaimed herself . . .
beau Buzz Baxter, and battling her ultimate HELLCAT!

frenemy, Hedy Wolfe. Hey, if you want others to believe in you,

Her momager (mom + manager = you must first believe in yourself. Patsy, who
momager) exploited her teen adventures as had done all kinds of
fodder for a Patsy
jobs, from food service to retail to television Mad Dog), attempted to interrupt. Despite
star, was ready to take on the job of being a battle that had the ex-spouses fighting like
Hellcat. All heroes have to start somewhere, cats and dogs, Patsy made sure Mad Dog
and this is where she began. Patsy knew she was taken for a walk, and Daimon and Patsy
needed training and time before she could were married.
be an Avenger, but she also knew she had The lovebirds moved to San Francisco to
what it takes to make it as a hero: be paranormal investigators. However,
COMMITMENT. (And maybe just enough when the evil in Daimon’s soul returned in
audacity and dumb luck to land herself in full (Hello, remember? Son of flippin’
peril on the regular.) Like Patsy, if we hope Satan?!), they separated. No one wants to
to follow our dreams, we must go beyond couple up with an evil guy. Furthermore,
fantasizing about them. We must go after Hellcat was driven mad by his malevolence.
what we want! In her weakened state, she was convinced by
Patsy was new to the hero game, and a jerk named Deathurge to take a trip to
though she did have a fabulous new outfit, hell. Of course, nothing goes super great in
she wasn’t quite ready to go toe-to-toe with hell. She spent a lot of time battling the
Super Villains. She wasn’t exactly a fighter, After Mephisto
demon making some and dramatic
trying to relationship
come back
though she was naturally athletic and her mistakes,
to life. ShePatsy
was went
finallytotally solo and
resurrected withbuilt
the
new costume enhanced those abilities. The up
help aof super-awesome support Patsy
the Avengers. Obviously, team was
of
Avengers’ resident bald babe, amazing friends.
stoked about For a back
coming time, she worked
to life, but as
wasa
It’s so wonderful that Patsy embraced
MOONDRAGON, insisted that Patsy come her shaken after
detective forherSHE-HULK
stint in hell., helping crack
need for experience and education!
with her to the moon Titan (where No one legal cases. However, She-Hulk had to let
knows
Moondragoneverything, and we
had been can all tolearn
educated) be Patsy go when business hit a slump. This
something from every person
trained in psionic and martial arts. we meet.
Patsy turn of events was particularly unfortunate
Furthermore,
accompanied Super Heroes must
Moondragon work and
to Titan, out because it meant Patsy also got kicked out
—and work harrrrrd. Okay, so, maybe
even absorbed some new powers while she not of the storage closet she’d been kinda sorta
Thor, because she’s a god and all. But
was there. secretly squatting in inside She-Hulk’s office
human Super Heroes have to work for it, building.
and even our genius inventors are always Luckily, Patsy met an Inhuman named
trying to learn something new or perfect IAN SOO as he was committing his first

their next gadget. Growing and getting crime—levitating money from an armored
better is a lifelong process. There really isn’t car. Patsy intervened and knew immediately
a finish line. If you work hard, you can that Ian wasn’t really a bad guy—he was
achieve anything. just really broke and very desperate. This
When Patsy returned to Earth, she was turned on a big lightbulb for Patsy. Why
buff and ready to party. She joined THE not start a SUPER-HUMAN TEMP
DEFENDERS and started flirting with the AGENCY to help super-powered people

Son of Satan, Daimon Hellstrom. You’d like Ian find jobs?! Not all super-powered
think the whole “Son of Satan” thing would people want to be Super Heroes, but they
be a major red flag, but sometimes it’s easy do have skills that are ideal for certain jobs.
to ignore obvious signs—like being an In turn, when Ian needed a roommate,
actual demon. Especially when that demon Patsy moved in! Win-win!
is a total hottie. When Daimon’s evil was In a bizarre twist of fate, Patsy’s old
officially removed from his soul, the two FRENEMY, Hedy, inherited the Patsy
d id d t H h B k b k
time, so she couldn’t exactly execute the when she signed it. Patsy re-inherited the
will). Hedy was using the old comics not comic-book rights, which finally gave her
just to make money off Patsy’s likeness, but enough money to keep that super-human
also to torment her! UGH! Finally, with the temp agency open! Patsy spends her time
help of her bestie/attorney, She-Hulk, and helping super-people get jobs instead of
her newfound friends, Patsy was able to falling into a life of crime, and, of course,
prove that the contract was nonbinding, as kicking some evil villain butt on the side.
her mother was under heavy sedation She’s one hell of a COOL CAT.
BFF
Crew

SHE-HULK IAN SOO

Bestie
Inhuman

Legal counsel
newbie

A smash at Roommate

parties Sassmaster

TOM HALE HEDY WOLFE

Patsy’s Frenemy

childhood pal
Mean girl

Ian’s buff beau

The WORST

Bookshop
Evil Exes:
owner
Buzz Baxter, aka Mad Dog

Daimon Hellstrom, aka Son of

Satan
 animal companions

Sjust sidekicks, they’re su-purr

UPER HEROES deserve super pets! These party animals aren’t
heroes in their own right, complete with
super-powers, amazing adventures, and happy tails. Even when times are ruff, we
can always count on these p’awesome pals.

Dinosaurs Are a Girl’s Best

Friend

Old Lace Devil Dinosaur

Psychic Raptor T-Rex
Gertrude Yorkes found her dino locked up Lunella Lafayette met her T-Rex partner
for safe-keeping as a present from her courtesy of a portal from a prehistoric
time-traveling parents. Gert and her raptor dimension. Devil Dinosaur chose Moon
buddy go by the code name Arsenic and Girl at first sniff and they’ve been
Old Lace, based, of course, on Gert’s inseparable ever since. This twenty-foot-tall
enjoyment of vintage films and plays. What dinosaur really sticks out in a crowd, which
can I say, she has great taste! Arsenic and makes it pretty hard to keep a low profile.
Old Lace share a psychic connection, so But Devil Dinosaur is an important part of
Gert can direct and control her dinosaur Moon Girl’s battle strategy. She’s the brains
friend by just thinking what she wants her and he’s the muscle. Well, except when the
to do. But don’t be too intimidated. Old two mind-swap during the full moon and
Lace is surprisingly cuddly for a Lunella turns into a giant red lizard, and
carnivorous dinosaur. Devil Dinosaur rampages as a nine-year-old
girl. Cool as it sounds, it’s actually pretty
inconvenient.
Unconventional House
Chewie
Pets
Flerken
What kind of cat does Captain Marvel have? Well, a Flerken,
of course! Flerkens are alien beings that look like your run-of-
the-mill ginger cats, but they actually contain a pocket
universe’s worth of tentacles, teeth, and suckers. This really
gives new meaning to the phrase “Cat got your tongue?” They
are extremely dangerous, laying upward of a hundred eggs full
of hungry little tentacle-mouthed kittens. However, they do
make faithful pets if you can find a devoted one.
Tippy-Toe
Squirrel
You’re not really supposed to have pets in your dorm room at
Empire State University, but Squirrel Girl could hardly say no
to her BSFF (Best Squirrel Friend Forever), Tippy-Toe! Well,
technically she lived in the tree outside of her dorm, but close
enough. After college, Squirrel Girl got an apartment with her
college roommate, Nancy, so Tippy moved in with them (and
Nancy’s cat, Mew). Squirrel Girl and Tippy enjoy long chats (as
they both speak Chitter), fighting bad guys, and of course,
snacking on nuts. Tippy-Toe also effectively works as the
general to her squirrel army! When Squirrel Girl needs help,
Tippy and her legion of fluffy-tailed rodents are always there.
Daring
LockJaw
Doggos
Inhuman Canine
This huge five-foot-tall, two-thousand-pound canine might look
fierce, but he’s all cuddles. But beware the slobber! It’s not
dangerous or anything, it’s just wet and smelly. Lockjaw was
raised by the Inhuman Royal Family and is one of the only
known animals to be awarded the Inhuman transformation
called Terrigenesis. With his special powers, he can play the most
epic game of fetch, as he can teleport anywhere in the universe.
Lockjaw has recently gone to live with the new Inhuman Ms.
Marvel to aid her in her Super Hero training and to help keep
Lucky,
her safe. Good dog.AKA Pizza Dog
Golden Retriever Mix
The Hawkeyes took in this happy-go-lucky stray from the
streets of Brooklyn. Lucky only has one eye, but that just
means he’s always giving you a cheerful wink. He fits right in
with the Hawkeyes for his love of pizza and his willingness to
hang out even when things get tough. He’s a big fan of snacks,
long car rides with his tongue out, and, of course, ear
scratches.
 the runaways
Sorceress. Time Traveler. Alien.
Bruiser.

stumbled upon their parents’ private

tof teenagers who went onarethea team
HE RUNAWAYS
run discussion, but it didn’t look much like event
when they found out their parents were planning. Their parents were all dressed like
evil. While the team does have some boys, Super Villains. Stranger still, they weren’t
the ladies of the Runaways are the team’s putting their heads together over seating
true heart and soul. NICO MINORU isn’t charts or venue rentals, but human sacrifice!
just a moody goth—she comes from a Horrified and confused, the kids went on
family lineage that allows her to harness the run, vowing to stop their parents and
powerful blood magic. GERTRUDE learn how to become their own heroes.
YORKES might come off like a mouthy
However, the road wasn’t all that easy.
hipster, but she is the child of time Molly was still in elementary school, and the
travelers who gave her a pet dinosaur she rest of the team members were only
teenagers. They couldn’t easily get jobs
shares a psychic link with. KAROLINA
without parental permission and were still
DEAN, often written off as a basic blonde,
learning how to take care of themselves.
is really a super-powerful and sparkly alien.
These young women have also shared the What
With wastensions
worse was that they
running high,couldn’t
it was even
easy
And MOLLY HAYES might seem like
team with Chase Stein (the jock-y son of evil be seen
for the inteam
public:to Their
end parents were very
up in screaming
your average eleven-year-old
scientists), Alex girl who loves
Wilder (the super-intelligent high profile
matches overin battle
Los Angeles
plans—orand really
used this
muchto
Super Heroes and hats, but she’s
son of mobsters), and Victor Macha actually
(thea startanything.
of a public Just
manhunt for their
like many kids. who
teenagers
super-powered
surprisingly kind son of an evil robot). Thea
bruiser! These ladies have spent a lot of time together, love triangles
lot to offer. have a habit of turning
Runaways formed. Team members constantly
expectations on their heads because there’s a squabbled over who liked whom.
lot more to these kids than meets the eye. Despite all the fights and feelings, the
They all have flaws, but they’re all willing to Runaways have come together to become
put aside their needs for the greater good better people. In fact, their fights, feelings,
and for those who might need their help. tragedies, and ultimately their willingness to
Once a year for their entire lives, Nico, work through the hard times and support
Gertrude, Molly, Karolina, Chase, and Alex each other has cemented them together as a
were forced to hang out together while family. THEY MIGHT BE CALLED
their parents had meetings about their RUNAWAYS, BUT THEY NEVER RUN
annual charity events. At one such AWAY FROM EACH OTHER .
gathering, the kids
 NICO MINORU GERTRUDE
Alias: Sister Grimm YORKES
Secret Weapon: Staff of One Alias: Arsenic

Special Skill: Emo feels Secret Weapon: Old

Lace

If only you could make your every wish In an attempt

SpecialtoSkill:
sever all ties to her
Smack

come true by saying it. Well, Nico can! former life, Gertrude Yorkes changed her
talk

Using her STAFF OF ONE, she can bring name to Arsenic and dubbed her new pet
most any request to life—but there is a cost. dinosaur Old Lace. But having A PET
She must be bleeding to summon the staff DINOSAUR THAT CAN READ HER
(which is a lot easier when you have your MIND is hardly the most interesting thing
period). Her magic also requires creativity. about her. She’s too smart for her own
She can never use the same wording for a good, and she’ll let anyone know when
spell twice, or she might elicit disastrous they are wrong. She stands up for civil
results, like accidentally teleporting into a rights, doesn’t tolerate MANSPLAINING,
far-off desert instead of “fumigating” a and is the first to jump to action when
villain made of bees named Swarm. things get tough. Her passion, intelligence,
As with her magic, she also struggled and kindness draw people to her as a
with saying how she felt. With so much natural leader. It’s easy to want to be Gert,
dark magic and feelings swirling inside of because she says what’s on her mind. Oh,
herself, she wasn’t always great at allowing and you know who fell in love with her?
others in. For many years, Nico felt The jockiest boy in school and in the
something for Karolina, but she didn’t Runaways: Chase Stein. Gert exudes
know how to express it. Furthermore, she confidence that is irresistible. Gert doesn’t
wasn’t completely sure if her feelings were have time for “conventional beauty
steeped in friendship or romance. standards.” She has her own style, a body
Thankfully, Nico’s closeness with the other that she feels comfortable in, and a mind
Runaways over the years taught her how to that she values above her external
open up about her emotions and appearance. But real talk, sometimes Gert’s
EXPRESS HER DARKNESS AND wit and confidence get her into trouble.
LIGHT . After this time of growth, Nico While saving her boyfriend and talking
confessed her true feelings to Karolina, and smack to the cruel parent that held him
the two kissed for a second time. prisoner, she was killed. Luckily, Chase
Nico has learned to channel her dark eventually found a way to time travel to
 KAROLINA DEAN MOLLY HAYES
Alias: Lucy in the Sky Alias: Princess

Secret Weapon: Rainbow Powerful

solar blasts Secret Weapon:

Special Skill: Sunny attitude Muscles

Karolina Dean is one of those girls that Special

Just because Skill: is little sure as
someone Naps

people like to pin assumptions on. Her heck doesn’t mean they can’t be a
parents are both TV actors, she is painfully powerhouse. Molly Hayes might be pint-
pretty, she happily eats a vegan diet, and sized, but she’s the most physically strong
worst of all, she’s nice. Other kids sometimes and durable of the group. Her powers first
see too much “perfection” as a bad thing. manifested when all of this parental drama
They might even use it as an excuse to write caused an emotional response that sent
someone off, because frankly, it’s the easiest Molly into OVERDRIVE. When she lost
way to deal with jealousy. But when you take her cool, her powers surfaced, giving her
a deeper look, Karolina is far from the glowing eyes and an uncanny ability to
perfect kid everyone seems to think she is. exude strength well beyond her weight
Karolina has lived her whole life having to class.
hold her true self back. When on the run Like many growing kids, Molly needs
from her parents, she discovered her truth. massive amounts of sleep and food to
She had always worn a medical alert recover from her exertion. Her abilities just
bracelet, but at the other kids’ urging, she amplify those needs, which is the downside
removed it. Her body filled with of her particular power. But don’t
SPARKLING RAINBOW ENERGY. She underestimate her—Molly is insanely tough.
could fly. She could fight. She could shoot However, Molly’s blind trust can put her
solar blasts. Karolina was an alien called a and the team in peril! From accepting a
MAJESDANIAN all along. Furthermore, magic immortality cupcake from her school
Karolina had been knowingly hiding friend to being super okay with her
something else. All the scrutiny from others grandma’s creepy mind-reading watch-cats,
made it hard for her to feel that she could Molly sometimes gives people a little too
be open about her sexuality. After finally much credit. She’s still a kid, and learning
revealing her developing feelings for Nico, whom to trust can take time and experience.
the girls kissed. Though Nico did not return Although she may not enjoy feeling like
her feelings at the time, Karolina was the baby of the group, the team has a
unburdened. Everyone in the group responsibility to care for her. In turn, she
 dora milaje
Royal Guard. Wakandan Warriors.
Adored Ones.

Upunga and a senior leader within the Dora

Tof Wakanda is the most technologically
HE AFRICAN NATION
Milaje. She offers a stern but maternal voice
to the recruits as they enter the most
advanced country in the world, and the
BLACK PANTHER is its king. The DORA
rigorous training program of their lives to
MILAJE (pronounced DOR-ah muh-LAH-
become the greatest warriors in the world.
jay) are an elite squad of fierce warriors that They learn a myriad of fighting styles:
serve as the king’s personal royal guard. martial arts, traditional African hand-to-
Only the most talented, wellborn, and hand combat, and the use of a series of
strong girls from each of the eighteen tribes technologically enhanced weapons that can
of Wakanda are chosen to become part of only be crafted by WAKANDA’S
the Dora Milaje, or “ADORED ONES.” BRIGHTEST.

They are not only trained in the deadly

arts but were traditionally chosen as
potential mates for the king. Though King
T’Challa has put this antiquated practice to
rest, he still relies on these lethal women to
protect him, his sister, his mother, and his
country—an amazing feat when you After young women leave their families to
consider the fact that the Black Panther is join the Dora Milaje, they often struggle to
already one of the most formidable heroes adjust to the rigors of training or suddenly
onThe Dora
Earth. Milaje
It says oncedeal
a great held
thattheir own
he relies being asked to serve instead of having the
with only their five hundred warriors
on anyone. The Black Panther’s respect for led by run of their home. Mistress Zola sees to it
against
and devotion to the Dora Milaje are a
CAPTAIN ANEKA seventy that these girls become a team, a family, and
thousand
testament highlyto the trained militaryof troops.
strength these work together. When a new recruit named
That’s right—these
incredible young women. women are so Folami ran to Mistress Zola to tattle on the
dangerous they took out an entire army! But other girls in hopes of making herself look
it’s not just that these women are skilled or better, Mistress Zola reminded her that she
physically tough or well-armed (although must work together with the other girls and
they’re all of that, too). What makes these keep her eyes on her own progress first.
women so impressive is their ability to work Folami was outraged, but the Doras know
as a team and to lift each other up in the that without trust in and understanding for
face of adversity. one another, they cannot have an
The Dora Milaje go through intense indestructible team. POWER AND
training with Mistress Zola, the leader of PROGRESS MUST FIRST COME WITH
the instructional facility in THE SHEDDING OF EGO.
 Not only must these ladies work hard to the people of Wakanda who were suffering
know the ways of battle, they must also in lawless territories. Internal power
work together with respect. When struggles at the palace had left many places
teammates can finally shed their judgments largely unsupervised, allowing local leaders
of one another and allow themselves to to abuse their power. Aneka and Ayo
stand on equal footing with their fellow imposed swift and decisive justice against
cadets, they’re truly capable of becoming an sexual predators and human traffickers,
incredible force. picking up where the rule of law fell short.
Captain Aneka didn’t just bring Wakanda These unsanctioned actions put them at
one of its most impressive victories (she odds with the ruler of Wakanda, but they
led those five hundred warriors, were eventually welcomed back into the
remember?). She also served the Dora ranks of the Black Panther’s unofficial guard
Milaje as an instructor under Mistress Zola. when he required their assistance. Though
Aneka trained new initiates in the ways of their justice was brutal, these women took
fighting and served in the personal guard action to protect their communities when
for both T’Challa and his sister, SHURI. no Fun
one Fact:
else Wakanda
could, which
has isthe
pretty darn
largest
Seeing the crimes overlooked by the royal impressive.
store of Vibranium in all of the
family in the villages of Wakanda, Aneka world. Vibranium is an incredibly
overstepped her boundaries and began rare alien metal that absorbs
dispensing unsanctioned vigilante justice, vibration and is nearly

which included killing a chieftain who was indestructible. Naturally, it’s an

abusing women in his village. Aneka was ideal material for creating
weapons and advanced
arrested for assassinating the chieftan, but
technologies. Due to the metal’s
her lover and fellow Dora Milaje, Ayo, was
scarcity and its high monetary
unwilling to watch her beloved sentenced
worth, it’s made Wakanda a target
to death. Ayo stole a prototype flying suit Two of Black
of outside foes and, Panther’s closest

on occasion,
belonging to Wakanda’s special Dora Milaje
personal
internalguard were NAKIA and OKOYE,

strife.
ops, the MIDNIGHT ANGELS, Wakanda’s who traveled the world at his side.
most lethal and skilled warriors. Ayo risked Both

her entire life as a Dora Milaje and her women risked their lives to protect their
personal safety to rescue Aneka. Now free, king, but

the defected Dora Milaje became vigilantes. Nakia’s feelings for T’Challa clouded
They set their sights on protecting her abilities.
Though T’Challa did not view these warrior
women as prospective partners, he couldn’t
deny that he shared Nakia’s feelings. When
Nakia could no longer ignore her feelings
for T’Challa, she was removed from the
Dora Milaje. She could no longer be a part
of the royal guard. Okoye continued on as
T’Challa’s close friend and confidante.
Ce’Athauna Asira Davin (also known as
Chanté Giovanni Brown or as Queen
Divine Justice when acting
as a vigilante) was the princess of the White
Gorilla–worshipping JABARI tribe. After AMAZING ACCESSORIES
her parents were killed in a tribal dispute,
she was raised in Chicago by a Wakandan All Wakandan citizens, including
agent posing as her grandmother. When an the Dora Milaje, are outfitted with
opening became available in the Dora Milaje Kimoyo Beads. These innocuous-
for the Jabari tribe, she was called back to seeming bracelets store an untold
Wakanda to serve her country. amount of power and information,
Many intrepid women have served the serving as smartphones, geo
Wakandan royal family, and there wouldn’t trackers, full medical histories, and
even be a royal family without their
almost anything else you can
protection. Their inspirational teamwork,
imagine.
commitment to their kingdom and
communities, and incredible work ethic
make these women one of the most
formidable teams in the universe—without
one super-power in sight. WAKANDA
FOREVER!
 daughters of the
dragon
Misty Knight. Colleen Wing.
Not Actually related to Dragons. Or
Each Other.
States to live with her father, Columbia
TManyHESE BABES are ride or die.
Super Heroes are brought professor Lee Wing, when she met Misty.
together by a mutual enemy or purpose, but These two ladies were pretty awesome on
these daring divas teamed up because of their own, but they’d end up being EVEN
friendship. Through peril, near-death BETTER TOGETHER.

experiences, and even revenge, these women Misty and Colleen met under less-than-
have stood together through it all. Their ideal circumstances. In the midst of a West
friendship is boundless and is total Side Manhattan shootout, Misty rescued the
#GOALS. As both business partners and unsuspecting Colleen from the line of fire. It
friends, they have tracked down villains, was only natural the two bonded quickly,
found missing persons, teamed up with becoming best friends. I mean, a woman
Super Heroes, and have always had each who can save your life is a good woman to
other’s backs. Also worth noting, these BAD have around, right? Misty continued to work
MAMMAJAMMAS are masterful martial alongside her NYPD partner, Rafael Scarfe,
artists. You need someone to punch their and Colleen continued her training in the
way through a fight, ’70s kung fu–style? martial arts with her new friend Iron Fist
Look no further. From Afros to women’s (the name sounds pretty tough, but he’s
rights, these chicks are keeping the 1970s actually pretty easygoing for a near-
lifestyle alive and well. immortal martial-artist type).
MERCEDES “MISTY” KNIGHT was
While patrolling with the NYPD, Misty
raised in New York City. She was at the top Knight tried to disarm a bomb that would
of her police academy’s class, and a star instead literally dis-arm her. (Too soon?)
officer in the NYPD’s 12th Precinct, where Dejected and feeling directionless following
she worked as a detective. the loss of her right arm, Misty decided to
COLLEEN WING’S mother died as a
leave the NYPD. She felt being a civilian
member of the Nail, a women-only strike would be easier than resigning herself to
force within an order of evil samurais called life as a desk jockey. Misty was deeply
the Hand. Colleen was sent to be raised by depressed. But when life hands you lemons,
her grandfather in Japan, where he was a and those lemons take your right hand,
member of the secret service. He taught her your friend teaches you to make sweet,
the ways of the samurai, passing down his sweet lemonade with your left hand!
thousand-year-old sword, called a katana. Colleen used her martial arts training to
Colleen had recently returned to the United help Misty
recover her agility, improve her left-hand headed to Asia to track down his killer, drug
coordination, and most importantly, work lord Emil Vachon. Together they navigated
through her depression. Martial arts teach the Hong Kong underworld. Though they
great mental quietude, patience, and were forced into a number of scary
fortitude using meditation. This helped situations and through a plethora of slug-
Misty to regain her confidence, not just fests, the ladies eventually brought the killer
with her new dominant hand, but in to justice—together.
herself. With Colleen’s help, Misty found Like all truly great unions, the whole is
new fighting skills and coordination that greater than the sum of its parts. Without
made her better than ever before. their shared strength, resourcefulness, and
Tony Stark took an interest in Misty love for each other, Misty and Colleen
Knight’s hero tale and gifted her a BIONIC would not have been able to accomplish
ARM. Misty, now ambidextrous and their great feats. The keys to a successful
sporting an even more powerful right arm, working partnership are trust, respect, and
became doubly lethal. She would soon be appreciation. Each is confident that their
able to use her new strength to return partner is skilled and has the group’s best
Colleen’s favor and friendship. Colleen’s interest
grandfather was murdered in Hong Kong
with no one captured for the crime.
Luckily, her bestie was formerly the best
detective in the 12th Precinct! The two
 Misty
Knight
What if we
changed

Knightwing to

something Colleen
snappier? Wing
We’ve already
at heart. They respect their partner’s needs,
boundaries, and process for getting things
done

done. And finally, they both appreciate the Heroes for Hire
Misty. . .

contribution their companion brings to the

partnership. They celebrate their victories
and share their spoils. Besides, when two How
Knightdidn’t work out.
about
people share their celebrations, you get to
do double the partying! Colsty?

Colleen and Misty were such a terrific Mistleen?

twosome that they started their own PI and

bail-bond business—KNIGHTWING
Knights of the
RESTORATIONS. Combining Misty’s Wing Table?

skills as a bionic detective and Colleen’s Ooo, maybe we Colleen

training as a samurai, they hunted down
missing persons and bad guys who skipped should
Arestart a Wing
you bored?
out on bail. Their adventures would restaurant
Do you
called

eventually bring the ladies together with the

HEROES FOR HIRE, run by Colleen’s
Colleen’s
want me Wings?
to come
friend Iron Fist and his buddy with
Misty
over?
unbreakable skin, Luke Cage. Misty even Knight
Yes,
caught some feels for Iron Fist. The please.
dynamic duos would often team up and
sometimes even work for each other’s Colleen
Though these women have taken onand
an
companies.
endless
In fact,
string of
for a while,
street-level
Colleen
baddies, the I’ll bring
Wing
Misty took over the Heroes for Hire at the
two haveof remained
request Tony Stark. dear friends
The ladies through
employedit wings.
all—with honesty, respect, and empathy.
the somewhat-reformed cat burglar the
The one thing no villain can break is this
Misty
BLACK CAT and the Black Widow–esque
duo’s bond. Even when the women chose to
TARANTULA to find Super Heroes trying
Knight
Yaaaaass
temporarily
to avoid the Superdisband Knightwing
Hero Registration
Restorations or Heroes for Hire, it never
Act. ss.
dissolved their friendship.
 peggy carter &
s.h.i.e.l.d.
Agents in the streets. Ladies Who can’t be
beat.

was far more important than any romance.

Swithout the letters S,cannot
.H.I.E.L.D. be spelled
H, and E! And Peggy and Cap were separated, and an
explosion affected some of her memories,
you can’t have lady agents without PEGGY
CARTER. Sure, S.H.I.E.L.D. technically but Peggy continued her career fighting for
stands for Strategic Homeland Intervention, freedom as one of the first women to
Enforcement, and Logistics Division, but it become an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
also stands for a Whole Bunch Of Ladies In the early days, she worked with Nick
Kicking Butts. Sorry, W.B.O.L.K.B. just Fury’s HOWLING COMMANDOS and
doesn’t have the same ring to it. Iron Man’s father, Howard Stark, all the
These fabulous women may not all have while paving the way for future agents to
super-powers (unless you count being change the world. In Peggy’s day, agents
smart, gutsy, and strong as powers—which I who were women were a rarity, especially
do, even if the power matrix doesn’t), but those allowed to work in the field. Though
they certainly are heroes. These ladies are some of Peggy’s memories were lost
soldiers, detectives, public servants, spies, forever, some of those long-dormant
scientists, freedom fighters, and generally a memories were reawakened when Captain
special type of woman who wants to serve America found his way back into her life.
and protect the people around her. So let’s Unfortunately, she was now much older
open our super-secret S.H.I.E.L.D. file and than he was, thanks to Cap spending a
take a look at the greatest ladies to serve. decade or two frozen in ice. You know
Peggy was an all-American girl who what they say: Love is patient, love is kind,
sprang into action, joining the allies in the but come on, cryogenic intervention is just
French resistance during WWII. It was there unfair.
that she first encountered CAPTAIN Even into her elderly years, Peggy
remained a role model to the women of
AMERICA. They spent a few short weeks
S.H.I.E.L.D., a lethal force against the foes
fighting side by side—and falling in love.
of freedom and justice, and a dear friend to
But their romance was cut short when the
Captain America.
war sent Cap to his next destination. Peggy
Inspo: Be like Peggy—break the glass ceiling
felt a sense of duty to continue her mission
and do things most never believed possible!
in France, as protecting the world from
Nazi domination
 orders made her an ideal S.H.I.E.L.D.
operative. She even served as the flippin’
first female director of S.H.I.E.L.D.!
Outside of former Director NICK
FURY, Hill has held the biggest role as the

shadowy organization’s leader. Maria gets

flak for not being faithful to Fury, but she
Hearing her aunt Peggy’s stories of doesn’t serve the man at the top. She
S.H.I.E.L.D. and WWII, SHARON serves S.H.I.E.L.D., whatever form it might
CARTER wanted nothing more than to take. Though some have questioned her
follow in her footsteps. After joining methods and morals, Maria is indomitable.
S.H.I.E.L.D., she was issued her aunt’s She’s received a lot of criticism for not
former code name: AGENT 13. Sharon going easy on Super Heroes or fellow
also became a covert agent and had a agents, but she knows it’s her job to keep
romance with the forever-young (and now everyone in line, no matter how gifted they
thawed) Captain America. But let’s not get may be. She doesn’t give dispensations to
caught up on how weird that family dating anyone, regardless of ability or skill level.
connection is. Instead, let’s talk about how All are equally fallible in her eyes. Even
Sharon is a kick-butt agent! She was even Super Heroes need someone to keep them
the leader of the first FEMME FORCE—an honest and in line.
elite task force of women working for Inspo: Be like Maria Hill—be a boss!
S.H.I.E.L.D. Though Sharon has no super-
powers, she’s held her own alongside her
longtime beau, Captain America, and the
Avengers. She even joined the ranks of the
SECRET AVENGERS—some of the most

covert Super Heroes that have ever existed! YOYO RODRIGUEZ was recruited
Inspo: Be like Sharon Carter—follow your from San Juan, Puerto Rico, as part of Nick
childhood dreams! Fury’s SECRET WARRIORS initiative
under the direction of leader Daisy Johnson,
aka Quake. She is the daughter of a Super
Villain named the Griffin, but was happy to
be recruited by a more heroic organization.
MARIA HILL is resilient, and for good Her superhuman ability to run in any
reason. She survived a traumatic family life direction and then snap back to her original
with an abusive father. She escaped by place earned her the code name
joining the Marine Corps, which was hardly “SLINGSHOT.” Together with the Secret
an escape at all. When Maria made her way Warriors, Yoyo was instrumental in shutting
to S.H.I.E.L.D., she quickly ascended the down the Skrull and Hydra infiltrations of
ranks to become a top agent. Her S.H.I.E.L.D. Nothing gets past someone
willingness to follow even the toughest this fast.
Inspo: Be like Yoyo Rodriguez—go your own
way (and as fast as you like)!
 MELINDA MAY is one of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s

top agents. She is a crack shot, ace pilot,

and is never afraid to take the most
strenuous field missions. Melinda’s stoic
demeanor should not be mistaken for
apathy. She is deeply caring, even if she ROSALIND SOLOMON first
doesn’t always show it. Her cool, calm, encountered Thor Odinson as an Agent of
collected manner allows her to keep her S.H.I.E.L.D., and started a romantic
wits about her when the going gets tough, entanglement. When the new Thor surfaced
because nothing is as tough as Melinda (Jane, not the son of Odin), Agent Solomon
May. was sent in to observe and report. However,
Inspo: Be like Melinda May—remain cool speculation was that Rosalind might BE
under pressure! Thor herself until it was proven otherwise.
The true Thor was in fact Jane Foster, who
was battling cancer in her human form. The
two ladies built an important and unlikely
friendship. Rosalind chose to help her sick
friend instead of bringing her in for
unnecessary
Though these S.H.I.E.L.D.
ladies fulfill
interrogations,
different
AGENT SIMMONS is part of Coulson’s purposes withinherS.H.I.E.L.D.,
and has helped they are all
on many ASGARDIAN
elite force of S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives and heroes. Their
MISSIONS . guts and gumption in
has been an integral part of his team. She serving
Inspo: and protecting
Be like Rosalindare truly impressive
Solomon—be a loyal
was recruited while still attending college, —especially
friend! when you consider the fact
but because of her covert work, Simmons that most of them don’t have super-
needed a secret identity. Her parents think powers. These ladies have spent hours
that she is a corporate party planner! In training, working to strengthen themselves
reality, she is a top scientist and covert field mentally and physically so that they’re able
agent. When Jemma was undercover at a to handle any task. But above all, the
New Jersey high school, she met a young women of S.H.I.E.L.D know what it
Ms. Marvel. Not only did they team up, but means to be both leaders and followers.
Jemma also gave Ms. Marvel her card and That’s right, they must both lead and
offered a listening ear if ever the weight of serve. Heck, even the director of
keeping her secret identity was too heavy. S.H.I.E.L.D. answers to the government
Inspo: Be like Jemma Simmons—offer help and the American people. These ladies
because even heroes need someone to talk to. know how to work hard and conquer their
fears to do truly amazing things to serve
others!
“Little Miss Know-It-All

. . . that would be the

worst thing in the

whole world.
Knowing

Everything?

Never

Learning?

What else is there to do?!”

— Lunella
Lafayette,

Moon Girl
 ironheart
Inventor. accidental queen.
iron will.

things, which evolved into a love of creating

Wwhen you mix the gumption and
HAT DO YOU GET
new technology. Though Riri was thrilled by
genius of Tony Stark with the heart and her intellectual endeavors, she tended to be
enthusiasm of a pint-size teen tech prodigy? a solitary child. Children her age just
Ironheart, obviously! RIRI WILLIAMS is a couldn’t match wits with her, but her
fifteen-year-old SUPER-GENIUS with her parents wanted Riri to enjoy a normal
own Iron Man–style armor and a whole lot childhood. Luckily, Riri fell into a close
of tenacity. Her endless inquisitiveness and friendship with her neighbor Natalie. They
dedication have given her the skills (and the didn’t necessarily always share the same
machine) needed to be a Super Hero. interests, but Natalie respected Riri’s
Though her suit does the bulk of the heavy eccentricities and reminded her to be a kid
lifting, Riri’s true super-power is hard work every now and then. The girls grew very
and intellectual curiosity. No one has put close, and Natalie was one of the few people
Riri to the test more than herself. She was who understood Riri.
never tasked with reverse engineering an Riri continued to stoke the fires of her
Iron Man armor—she did it to prove to creativity, eager to understand the world
herself that she could. around her. Did I mention that STEM
We can all take a page from Riri’s (Science, Technology, Engineering, and
instruction manual and make our hobbies Math) can be very creative? STEM may have
our life’s work, if we put our minds to it and a reputation for being left-brained, but it
follow our intellectual interests. It just takes takes wild imagination to dream up new
a dash of BRAVERY and a whole lot of machines, formulas, and hypotheses about
hard work. Each device and piece of Riri’s the world. Riri drew her greatest STEM
mech suit requires endless iterations, but the inspiration from the astronaut MAE
process can be the fun part! Riri gets to JEMISON, who faced great challenges as

discover something new every day and make the FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN
it better. And trust me, something can WOMAN to go into space, in 1992. Riri

always be better. Take it from me, a woman wasn’t often challenged by her education,
writing a book. but she begged one of her teachers to create
As a small child, Riri was highly more challenges to help her be more like
intelligent. Even at a very young age, she Jemison. That way she, too, would have
became fascinated with building something to fight for and against. Her
teacher finally acquiesced and halfheartedly
told her she’d never be as good as Tony Riri trained at Stark’s facility, playing war
Stark at building tech. From that day games with his other armor suits and
forward, Riri set out to beat Tony Stark at learning the finer points of being a hero.
his own game. Things were going pretty great—until Tony
At Natalie’s urging, Riri and her parents was injured during a SUPER HERO CIVIL
attended what was supposed to be a jovial WAR. Seeing a definite need for someone
church picnic in a Chicago park. to take up the mantle, Riri decided to take
Unfortunately, instead of summer fun, shots over for Iron Man as her alter ego,
rang out. Riri’s stepfather and Natalie were Ironheart. Though Tony was no longer
hit by a drive-by shooter in a random act of around to guide her, he was kind enough to
violence. Neither survived the attack. Riri’s leave behind an A.I. system built from his
mother was devastated to lose another own personality and memories. In hologram
husband to gun violence. Riri lost not only form, A.I. Tony Stark continued to assist
her second father, but the only true friend Riri with her day-to-day problems and
she’d ever had. She dealt with her pain by helped her to pilot her new Ironheart
throwing herself into her work like never armor.
before. She Riri
At MIT, shuthadoutall the
kindspain
of and kept
resources Having mentors is important for young
herself
and busy.
tools Very
that hadbusy.
never Riribeen
graduated from
available to people (and honestly, not-so-young people,
high before.
her school early
Usingand was accepted
materials found into the
on her too). No one knows the trials and
Massachusetts
campus, Institute
she reverse engineeredof Technology
Iron Man’s tribulations of a field more than those who
(MIT) suit
mech whenand
she created
was just herfifteen
ownyears old.
FLYING

DEFENSIVE ARMOR. Riri would never

have to watch the people around her die in a

senseless act of violence again. However,
when campus security caught wind of her
little project, Riri fled, going on the lam
around the US.
In New Mexico, she had her first
experience with stopping escaped criminals,
but her armor was damaged in the fray. She
wasn’t quite ready for prime time. Returning
to her mother’s home in Chicago, she set
out to repair and improve her armor as best
she could. Guess who was there waiting for
her? Tony flippin’ Stark! I guess when you
straight-up steal someone’s style, they take
notice pretty quickly. Awkward! Tony was
truly impressed, though. With Stark’s
surprise blessing, Riri chose to follow in his
technological footsteps as a hero. As you
can imagine, her mother was less than
thrilled that her only daughter was risking
her life to protect the world. However, it
was also painfully clear from the tragedies
 talents and tried to recruit her. S.H.I.E.L.D.
could offer Riri exciting opportunities to
become a real hero. However, Riri was in
no hurry to sacrifice her autonomy for a
black-and-white uniform. Though Sharon
was none too pleased with Riri’s decision,
she decided to be there when Riri needed
her most—whether Riri wanted her help or
not.
When it came to her daily activities,
Tony’s executive assistant, Mary Jane
Watson, and his biological mother and CEO
of Stark Industries, Amanda Armstrong,
were also there to help Riri. In fact, Riri had
a whole
Riri was
crew
welltoon
assist
her her
wayon to her
becoming
journey.a
Cultivating mentors
full-fledged Super Hero.
might She
seemeven
a strange
(only
process,
sort of but
accidentally)
seeking out freed
those who
the cancorrupt
help
you can ofchange
country Latveria.
yourDefeating
life. It the
certainly
evil
changed
ruler Lucia
Riri’s.Von Bardas in battle, Riri
became Latveria’s de facto QUEEN!
Listening to the concerns of the Latverian
people, Riri saw they weren’t evil—just
desperately in need of assistance.
Previously, the Latverian people would
have had to resort to less-than-moral
work in and around it. Fortunately, Pepper means to get their basic needs met. It’s no
Potts, Tony’s former girlfriend, past Stark wonder so many turned to lives of crime!
Industries bigwig, and part-time hero, was Riri laid out a plan to get the country back
also available to help Riri with the armor. on track before departing the monarchy.
They first became acquainted when the The job of running a country, on top of
Techno Golem, Tomoe, tried to relieve the demands of her college and Super
both ladies of their armor using her Hero schedule, would pose real difficulties.
technological manipulation. Luckily, Riri So she set up a fair election process that
was able to outsmart Tomoe using nothing restored democracy and helped the
but a crappy laptop, a homemade techno country get back on its now-democratic
virus, and a fire extinguisher. Not. Bad. feet.
Pepper was impressed and was ready to Riri continues sharing her iron heart
give Riri her leave, but they had attracted with the people who need her help and the
more attention. The skirmish brought baddies who need straightening out. She
S.H.I.E.L.D. knocking—specifically often lends her muscle to THE
S.H.I.E.L.D.’s executive director, SHARON CHAMPIONS, the teenage Super Hero

CARTER. In the aftermath of the fight, team that solves the problems that adults
Sharon recognized Riri’s can’t solve or sometimes overlook. Riri is
even on the short list for the NOBEL
 UnSTOPPABLE WASP
Red Room Scientist. Small Size. Big
Science.

imprisoned, and Nadia was raised in a secret

Wcome in small packages! Just like
ONDERFUL THINGS
Russian spy program. She grew up in the
THE WASP, who can shrink down to RED ROOM FACILITY, where young girls

molecular levels. Though Nadia had a rough are trained to be assassins for the KGB.
start in life, it never stopped her unbridled (Black Widow fans, you’ll remember
passion for life, science, and friendship. And Natasha also had a “fun” stay at the Red
what’s even better? She is the namesake of Room!)
the original Wasp, JANET VAN DYNE, Fortunately, Nadia excelled at science like
who was a founding member of the her parents. Recognizing her true calling,
Avengers and the first woman to become her instructors assigned her to the Red
the chairperson of the team! Nadia is Room’s “Science Class,” which allowed her
destined for greatness and has the exuberant to focus completely on her scientific
energy and winning smile to prove it! endeavors. Most girls held at the Red Room
Nadia is the daughter of Hank Pym (aka are never told who their real parents are, but
the original ANT-MAN and the creator of Nadia was clued in on her parents’ research
the shrinking PYM’S PARTICLES) who in hopes of stoking her desire to learn. And
was married before he met the original boy, did it work. She became obsessed with
Wasp, Janet Van Dyne. Nadia’s mother was her father’s studies and, with hard work, she
Maria Trovaya, the daughter of a Hungarian was able to duplicate Pym’s Particles by
geneticist. Science is in her blood! Her using scraps of black-market research. At
parents were happy—until a bunch of the Red Room, she studied alongside other
mysterious foreign criminals kidnapped her gifted girls, like her friend Ying. However, if
mother. Unbeknownst to anyone, Maria was the girls formed too strong a bond, they
pregnant with a daughter. Despite her dire would be separated and one of them would
circumstances, she named the girl Nadia, be replaced by another girl. Despite trying
which means “hope.” Maria died while to hide their friendship, Ying was removed
and sent to another class.
 The Red Room was supposed to create well Janet would take the news that her late
heartless assassins and amoral scientists who husband had a secret daughter. However,
would follow any and all orders without Janet reacted surprisingly well because she
question. However, the light of Nadia’s kind desperately needed Nadia’s help. Upon their
heart could not be extinguished. Nadia first meeting, Janet rushed Nadia onto a
would never give up on escaping and being helicopter headed for the White House to
reunited with her family and dearest friend. defuse a microverse bomb. A Super Hero’s
Using Pym’s Particles to shrink herself, work is never done.
she was able to escape the Red Room and The mission was a success and a new
make her way to America. There, she snuck friendship was born! To celebrate, Janet
into Pym’s old New Jersey home, only to treated Nadia to a day of shopping, eating,
learn that he had recently passed away. and learning about her father. It was a
Though Nadia had longed for family her dream! Upon their return, the Russian
whole life, she picked herself up and made a consul general and his men were waiting to
new goal. Using old materials found in take Nadia away. However, something about
Pym’s home, Nadia decided to continue his these guys seemed off. The men were
work, and created a Wasp costume of her members of the covert Russian team
own. She toiled to refine her skills and W.H.I.S.P.E.R.,
Janet and Jarvis anddecided
they planned to return
they would take
presented herself to the Avengers as THE NadiaoftoNadia,
care the Red Room.
which The out
turned Wasps tooka
to be
UNSTOPPABLE WASP. out the bad
full-time job.guys, but this
Nadia’s much was
outgoing clear—
personality
It took some convincing, but the Avengers if Nadia
had her stayed in thenew
attracting US, she wouldwherever
friends need to
finally believed Nadia was the daughter of sort out
she herThough
went. citizenship as soon
Nadia’s lifeashad
possible.
begun
Hank Pym, especially when she helped them with a great deal of trauma, she never
correct a malfunction inside sentient robot allowed that trauma to define her. She
Vision. Tony Stark’s butler, Jarvis, took chose to let go of her past and live with
Nadia to meetG.I.R.L.
Janet Van Dyne, who was, for hope and gratitude. Nadia embraced her
all intents andRecruits
purposes, her stepmother, her new world with zeal. From donuts to car
only surviving relative, and a fellow Wasp. As rides, there was nothing that Nadia would
Ying
you can imagine, Jarvis was not sure how take for granted now that she was free
from the Red Room. A second chance is
• Nadia’s bestie

hard to come by, so when it presents itself

• Red Room lab partner

• She’s the bomb

you must seize it with both hands. And
eat as many baked goods as you can get
LaShayla “Shay” Smith
said hands on.
• Pop culture junkie

Jarvis was responsible for watching over

• Physics prodigy

Nadia and making sure that she finalized her

• Style for miles
immigration paperwork, which included
proving her DNA relation to Hank Pym.
Priya Aggarwal
However, Nadia got caught up in the Super
• Popular girl

Hero stuff along the way. In fact, while

• Secret biology genius

battling a giant robot, Nadia met

• Works in retail
S.H.I.E.L.D. scientist, fellow adventurer,
and her personal icon, MOCKINGBIRD.
Taina Miranda
Over the moon with excitement, she gushed
• Genius engineer
 joined the G.I.R.L. crew, never to return to
the Red Room again.
Seeing what G.I.R.L. was capable of,
Janet Van Dyne gave them their own area of
Pym Laboratories. It seemed only fitting
that Nadia take over Pym’s old private floor,
Ying which was outfitted with a large laboratory
Priya
and rooms for all the girls, as well as for
Janet and the new G.I.R.L. Lab mentor,
Aggarwal Mockingbird! Heck yeah! Nadia would get
to learn from one of her greatest heroes. To
celebrate the opening of the lab, Janet Van
Dyne threw a gala for the girls, because
that’s what you do when you announce a
fancy new lab. She took them all to get
fabulous new dresses from Van Dyne’s own
Taina
boutique.
Nadia wasHowever,
destroyed Nadia
by thisoverheard
news. Janetsome
had
sales associates
told Nadiatalking
about about her father,
Mirand never her father’s true

La S ha yla a who had

nature
had issues
that
a less-than-pristine
in hopes
with violence
she knew there wasand
past. but
of sparing her pain,
nomental
He nowhad
illness.
turning back,
“Shay”

encouraged Nadia to seek out other girls

Janet had to help Nadia process that her
father wasn’t the hero of her dreams.
like her S
who h scientific geniuses. Surely
mitwere Though he had been cruel to Janet, she had
moved on and none of that was Nadia’s
with savants like herself and Lunella
Lafayette coming to light, there must be fault. Nadia was full of love and excitement.
many geniuses yet to be discovered. From She realized that she could both be inspired
that day on, Nadia began looking for other by her father’s work and also be
brilliant girls to join her new group: disappointed in some of his actions. His
GENIUS IN ACTION RESEARCH LAB, past did not change her future. Closer than
or G.I.R.L. ever, the two Wasps went to the party to
However, the Red Room was not giving celebrate science and girl power.
up Nadia so easily. Her dearest friend from Nadia used Hank’s DNA, which was
the Science Class, Ying, was sent to bring found at Pym Laboratories, to prove she
Nadia back. However, their meeting was was indeed his daughter in order to get her
about to be more explosive than either American citizenship. However, Nadia had
wanted—because a bomb was inserted into never known Hank (or her mother, for that
Ying’s brain. If either girl refused to comply, matter), and she needed to have a last name.
it would be detonated. Nadia gathered her Janet was the closest thing to family she had
newfound G.I.R.L. associates and they all ever had, so she asked if she could take the
went to work on defusing the device. last name Van Dyne. Janet was honored
Finally, using some of Vision’s skin, a glove, and, of course, agreed! And so the Van
and a whole lot of ingenuity, they were able Dyne Wasps became an
to remove the bomb. Ying was free of the UNCONVENTIONAL LEGACY. Plus, the

bomb and the Red Room with it! So, of Unstoppable Wasp would go on to build her
 mentors & matriarchs

HSuper Hero! Whether it’s a mother,

AVING A STRONG woman to look up to is a must for every
guardian, teacher, or friend, these
experienced ladies are all an inspiration. Gray hair? Don’t care! These dynamic
dames are in the prime of life and they’ve never been better!

Tracy

Agatha

Burke
Harkness
Wise Friend,
Magical Mentor
Wiseguy
This witch has
Even a been a Super
powerhouse Hero
like Captain governess and
Marvel needs magic teacher
someone to for centuries!
look up to and
Under her tutelage, the Scarlet Witch
lean on! Not
blossomed into one of the most powerful
all BFFs have to be the same age, either.
beings in the multiverse. Even after death,
Tracy Burke has been a longtime friend to
Agatha, in astral form, continued training
Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, since
the Scarlet Witch. Just because she’s dead
their early days sharing an office at Woman
doesn’t mean she’ll call in sick. Her
magazine. Tracy doesn’t take any guff, even
adeptness, stern foresight, and empathetic
from Carol. She’s stern, but fair, and she’s
Maureen
heart have made her Madame

one of the greatest

notorious for giving Carol the tough love magic wielders in Marvel history.
she sometimes needs. Green Web
Super Mom Psychic Guide
Get ready for Cassandra
the mother Webb was
lode! You born blind
think your and with a
mom is rare
embarrassingl neurological
y loving? Meet condition that
Maureen Green. She’s Squirrel Girl’s mother gave her psychic powers. She used her
and number one fan. Plus, she has the T- clairvoyance to aid Spider-Man in his
shirt to prove it. She makes bangin’ baked missions, sometimes reaching out at the
goods, is a great host to Doreen and her most opportune of moments. As a psychic,
pals, and always has an eye out for a good she has very good timing. She uses both her
potential beau. Her daughter is single, after mental foresight and vast knowledge to help
all. Know any nice boys? Maureen may not her young arachnid-themed heroes navigate
have a super-cool spy backstory, but she’s the web of life. Though Madame Web’s
just a really awesome, loving mom. What’s ethereal side may cause some people to
not to like about that?! underestimate her, she demands great
 May Ramonda
Parker Wakandan Queen

Mother
Spider-Man’s Aunt
All hail the
May Parker is
Queen
one of the
most Mother! Shuri
and T’Challa
influential
learned it all
ladies in the
from
Marvel
Ramonda. After the death of T’Challa’s
Universe.
mother, N’Yami, at his birth, Ramonda
Hands down. And not just because she
raised the boy as her own. She also gave
adopted Peter Parker, who would become
T’Challa his sister, Shuri, who was born
Spider-Man. When her husband, Ben, died
after T’Chaka died. Ramonda brought her
at the hands of a criminal, she set out to
up to be T’Challa’s equal and friend. After
raise Peter all on her own. Keep in mind
that Peter isn’t her blood relative. Yet she the death of King T’Chaka, Queen
still put aside her life plans and raised Peter. Ramonda held the country together. She
She stood by him through all of his trials remains the figurehead of the Wakandan
and tribulations, from studies to romance to nation. Guiding both of her children as they
becoming a Super Hero. Her clear moral took over running the country, she has
guidance and heart made Peter the provided counsel, encouragement, and
sometimes even hard truths. Ramonda
upstanding Super Hero he is today. May
Freya shapes the way for Wakanda.
Madrima
doesn’t just matter to Peter, but touches the
lives of those around Queenher withGoddess
her strong r
moral code, big heart, and The philanthropic
All-
Interdimensional

spirit. Now that is a real SuperMother

Hero! of the
Abuela
Asgardian This
gods, Freya is luchador-
more than a esque lady is
mother or none other
queen—she’s than
a mentor, too. She has raised both Thor grandmother
Odinson and Loki Laufeyson as if they were to America Chavez. Though America spent
her own children and ruled Asgard at Odin’s much of her childhood lost between
side for millennia. But it’s her alliance with dimensions, her grandmother has been
our new Thor that’s most impressive. searching for her and guiding her.
Though Odin railed against the idea of a Madrimar encourages America to explore
woman taking up his son’s mantle, Freya her rich ancestral past so that she never
stood up for what she knew was right, even forgets her culture and familial line. She
if it meant defying her king and husband. also helps America develop her super-
She used her position of power to fight powers and tactical skills so that she can
against the patriarchy, defending women grow as a fellow Super Hero!
ih l i fl N h ’ i
 moon girl
Super-Genius. Inventor. Fourth
Grader.

Eduardo, and the others teased her and

Gsafety glasses becauseandyou’re
ET READY put on your
about to called her names like “Moon Girl.” After all,
meet the smartest person in the Marvel she loves space, and she does tend to space
Universe! Lunella might be tiny, but she’s out during her more boring classes. Despite
got a big brain and even bigger ideas. She the teasing of her peers, Lunella kept herself
happens to be only nine years old and busy with independent studies, inventions,
capable of outsmarting Tony Stark, Bruce and her reading list. Besides, Lunella had
Banner, and plenty of other Marvel bigger worries. Like the fact that she tested
geniuses. Oh, and she didn’t start out as the positive for the INHUMAN GENE, and
SMARTEST PERSON ON THE clouds of Terrigen Mists that could unlock
PLANET . . . but we’ll get to that. From her dormant Inhuman DNA and turn her
the outside, Lunella Lafayette may seem into a freak were now floating around New
like a pretty average kid, but her disinterest York!
in acting like a “normal” kid made her One day, Lunella found a KREE OMNI-
stand out—especially when she happened WAVE PROJECTOR that she could use

upon a big red dinosaur and Terrigen Mist! to monitor the Mists. She knew she needed
She also spends her time outside of school to guard such a precious item. However,
as her alter ego, MOON GIRL, stopping while she was holding the spherical object
criminals, saving those who need help, and during gym class, her coach snapped it up
creating all kinds of inventions in her secret and spun it, inadvertently opening a portal
underground lab. There is really nothing to a prehistoric alternate reality. A huge red
Lunella can’t do . . . except vote. T. rex named DEVIL DINOSAUR ran
Okay, so not everything about her is through, pursued by a group of monkey-
strictly average. Perhaps we should start at like men called the Killer-Folk. (Not the
the beginning. way anyone wants to get out of gym class.)
On the Lower East Side of NYC, Devil Dinosaur snapped up Lunella, and
specifically Yancy Street, LUNELLA lives the Killer-Folk followed them. Seeing that
with her parents and attends school at PS Devil Dinosaur meant no harm, Lunella
20. Lunella Lafayette was rejected from just attempted to leave him under the Brooklyn
about every gifted school there was, forcing Bridge, but the Killer-Folk caught up to
her to continue attending PS 20, where she them. Though Devil Dinosaur helped her
was . . . (how do I put this gently?) not so escape, the Killer-Folk got away and the
popular. Her classmates Zoe, Omni-Wave Projector was
lost. This was especially distressing, could swap minds with Devil Dinosaur
knowing those darn mists were out there— anytime she got emotional or angry, or felt
not to mention what those primitive under duress—particularly if it was a full
primates might do with such a powerful moon. This turned into quite a problem as
weapon. Lunella couldn’t very well ditch the Lunella attempted to fight crime or deal
big red reptile now. with high-pressure situations.
Lunella and Devil Dinosaur were fast Marvin Ellis (under the alias Kid Kree)
friends, but she couldn’t exactly just hang continued to try to capture Lunella by night,
with him in public. She kept him hidden in when her escapades as Moon Girl left her in
her SECRET LAB under PS 20. It didn’t the open. He discovered Lunella’s secret lab
take them long to discover that they had a and followed her inside. He pounced, ready
knack for helping people, as Lunella had the to strike, but he couldn’t follow through.
brains and Devil Dinosaur had the brawn. It Instead he confessed he was totally in love
seemed that things were looking up for with her. While being rather happy not to
Lunella at last! But then Brawn (or Amadeus have to battle him, Lunella could not be
Cho if we’re going by real names) appeared, bothered with love. She was nine, for crying
insisted a dinosaur was too big a out loud! A few days later Mel-Varr’s
responsibility for a nine-year-old, and took parents came to find him and bring him
him into Avengers custody. So home. It was a relief, even if the hubbub did
condescending, Brawn! Lunella couldn’t make Lunella lose a competition for which
accept defeat so easily and went to save her she built a FULLY FUNCTIONAL
friend. Even a fancy high-security cell was This was only the
CYBERNETIC beginning for Lunella.
TRICERATOPS out of
no match for Lunella’s wits! Lunella and Throughout her
nothing but LEGOs. short life, people had
Devil Dinosaur were making a break for it rejected
Lunellahertookfrom gifted programs,
an intelligence aptitude and
test
when they ran into the Killer-Folk. Though being endlessly bored in
designed by Bruce Banner, whichclass haddeclared
gotten
Alldefeated
they of that the worrying
hairy menwasand forrecovered
nothing! her to
into
be trouble. Finally,
the smartest Lunella
person knew the
on Earth!
Some
the Omni-Wave Projector, Lunella kill
people say, “What doesn’t us
didn’t reason! It’s easy for people to be
makes us stronger,” but in this
notice the Terrigen Mists rolling in. case, what overlooked, but Lunella had finally been
Lunella’s
didn’t kill Lunella
body was madeencased
her SMARTER
in an egg-like! But acknowledged for what she truly was—
cocoon,
that wasn’t
which
all she
Devil
could
Dinosaur
do. . . . took back to extraordinary!
theMeanwhile,
safety of far heraway
lab inuntil
space,shea Kree
hatched.
boy As Lunella grew into the idea of being the
When Mel-Varr
named Lunella hopedemerged,to prove
muchhimself to herto smartest person around, she got to know
surprise,
his father she
by capturing
appearedantoInhuman.
be exactly Lunella
the cool teenage Super Heroes like Ms. Marvel
same. She
seemed likedidn’t
the perfect
seem different
trophy. at Disguised
all! as and Ironheart, who showed her the ropes.
a human named Marvin Ellis, he tried to Even geniuses don’t know everything!
befriend Lunella at school. However, they Lunella has lots of work ahead of her. She
got into a classroom argument during a even fashioned some Moonbots to take over
group project. At that moment, Lunella’s for her at home and school so she could
full powers made themselves known. She really delve into #HEROLIFE.
appeared to go wild. Say what?! HER BRAIN So obviously, when Moon Girl finally
HAD ACTUALLY SWAPPED BODIES actually traveled around (and even visited
with Devil Dinosaur! It turns out Lunella the ACTUAL MOON), she had a whole
wasn’t just super smart, she also new perspective on life. After seeing so
many different worlds, Lunella realized she
d d D il Di hi
dimension, just as she belonged in hers, no
matter how close they were. Devil Dinosaur
tried to protest and stay with her. Though it
tore at her heart, she knew he needed to go.
Lunella said good-bye and left him in his
home dimension. That’s the hard thing about
being smart—sometimes the most intelligent
thing to do hurts. Especially when the other
person (or in this case dinosaur) can’t see
that it’s the right thing to do.
However, back in New York, Lunella still
craved a partnership in butt-kicking. Solo
Super Herodom just wasn’t for her. Putting she was able to retrieve Devil Dinosaur and
her genius mind to the test, she found that save the Earth from being devoured!
the Fantastic Four were a perfect fit! After After some time, Lunella realized that all
all, they were down to two members (the she was looking for in a teammate was
ever-lovin’ orange rock-covered Thing and indeed Devil Dinosaur, and what the
the cool but fiery Human Torch), and they Fantastic Four really needed was the return
really needed a genius after losing Mister of Mister Fantastic and the Invisible
Fantastic! The Fantastic Three took to Woman. Lunella and Devil Dinosaur said
protecting New York from interplanetary their good-byes and headed off into the
menaces. However, when the chips were sunset to continue to fight crimes, save the
down, Lunella knew their team needed a universe, and protect her fellow kids of New
fantastic fourth—not just to reinstate their York.
catchy name, but to help them beat an
enormous incoming intergalactic threat.
With a little help from her handy robotic
friend,
 mockingbird
Boss biochemist. Adventurer.
Super-spy.

Bobbi followed to assist her advisor.

Mwith a wit so snarky that they put
EET A SUPER HERO
Together they hoped to re-create the Super-
Soldier Serum (you know, the stuff that
“mocking” in her code name. She is the
queen of the clapback with a punch to turns a scrawny Steve Rogers into Captain
back it up! But BOBBI MORSE is far America). Bobbi Morse was inspired both
more than muscle. She joined S.H.I.E.L.D. by the idea and the WWI pioneering
as a lab research assistant and ended up as espionage vixen MATA HARI, so she
one of the organization’s greatest agents of joined S.H.I.E.L.D. spy school. She was
all time! That’s right—she’s a super-badass trained in a variety of fields, from fighting
scientist! There is little Bobbi can’t do if techniques to subterfuge, graduating at the
she puts her mind to it. Her examination top of her class.
of the Super-Soldier Serum has changed Her first mission was to travel to a secret
the science game, and her work in the tropical preserve in Antarctica. There she
field as a spy and Super Hero has not was to recruit the flowing-blond-haired,
received nearly enough credit. That’s the loincloth-clad hero, KA-ZAR. Together
hard thing about being a spy, right?! You Bobbi and Ka-Zar scrapped with Nazis and
kind of need to keep a low profile. other baddies, toiling tirelessly to protect the
Despite this fact, Bobbi has had a thrilling new incarnation of the Super-Soldier Serum
life peppered with a whole lot of weird that she researched with Dr. Wilma Calvin.
romances. But just because she has had a But, hey now, Bobbi and Ka-Zar’s
lot of boos doesn’t mean she’s emotionally adventures in the jungle led to a romance
available; she’s still kind of working on between the two. You could say the
that. Hey, we’re all a work in progress, chemistry gave them chemistry.
right? Though the two managed to keep the
Bobbi Morse was born and raised in San serum out of the wrong hands, their days
Diego, California, before attending Georgia as a couple were numbered. When their
Tech, where she worked under the tutelage mission together ended, so did Bobbi’s
of the groundbreaking scientist DR. tolerance for the hidden locale. She was
WILMA CALVIN. That’s right, Bobbi has
just starting out as an agent for
been mentored by strong women from the S.H.I.E.L.D. and wasn’t about to give it all
start! Awesome! When Dr. Calvin was up for a guy—no matter how good he
recruited to work on S.H.I.E.L.D.’s looked in fur bikini bottoms. Mockingbird
“PROJECT GLADIATOR” in the Florida
had a lot of other things to learn, but she
Everglades, had quickly realized that her first loves
were science and being an agent in the field.
No matter how great the romance, there are
plenty of fish with great abs left in the sea.
For Bobbi’s next big mission, she was
hired by Congressman Kirk to root out
S.H.I.E.L.D. corruption under the code
name the HUNTRESS. She used her new
secret identity to infiltrate her own covert
agency and reveal the true allegiances of
several corrupt agents. In doing so, she
found the real Nick Fury, who had been
replaced by an LMD.* He filled in all the
missing pieces and gave Bobbi his
commendation for uncovering the secret
plot. Though Bobbi did right by Mockingbird would soon meet the
S.H.I.E.L.D. and her country, her secret Avengers’ archer, HAWKEYE (Clint
identity as the Huntress was compromised, Barton). Bobbi’s smart mouth wouldn’t jive
and she was labeled an enemy of the state. It with Clint’s less-than-trusting roguish
was easier to just swap the code name and attitude, but they were forced to work
the costume. together against the attacks of the billiards-
Taking the moniker MOCKINGBIRD loving Odd Ball, explosive Bombshell, and
(particularly fitting because of her sass) and sharpshooting Crossfire. Though their
a new costume, she went to work for union was reluctant at first, the two began
S.H.I.E.L.D. once again. However, some to work in tandem, and sparks flew. They
overzealous friendly fire left her soon discovered their skills made them an
convalescing in a hospital for six months. incredible team—and an incredible couple.
When she recovered, she turned down a They eloped and had a bath in a heart-
S.H.I.E.L.D. promotion to go solo as a hero. shaped bathtub, because that’s just what
To heck with it, right?! Sometimes a painful newlyweds do. It seemed Bobbi and
event can really clear a person’s mind and Hawkeye were coming into their own—
show them what they want. In this case, she together. Which is the sign of a pretty good
realized she did not want to kick the bucket thing!
following someone else’s orders and agenda. The lovebirds joined THE AVENGERS,
A lot of good can come from bad things if but Avengers’ chairman, the sentient robot
you let it. Sure, Bobbi almost died, but the Vision, had other plans for them. They were
experience gave her the clarity to become sent to open a new chapter of the Avengers
the hero that she wanted to be! on the West Coast, in Los Angeles. During
the team’s skirmish against the time-
traveling villain Kang the Conqueror, the
* Life Model Decoy West Coast Avengers got stuck in the Old
West, encountering a villain called the
Phantom Rider. He became obsessed with
Bobbi. Not like, “OMG, you’re so obsessed
with me.” But like, “OMG. YOU’RE SO
She even began fighting by his side. She Just because a couple separates doesn’t
didn’t know what the heck she was doing, necessarily mean they have to hate each
and it certainly wasn’t making her husband other. Some incidents are just better left in
happy. When the potion wore off, she the past. Bobbi and Hawkeye needed to let
returned to Hawkeye’s side to rid herself of their relationship go, and Bobbi’s newfound
the Phantom Rider. During the tussle, singleness left her open to new and different
Bobbi let Phantom Rider fall to his death. adventures.
Those final moments led to a great deal of Mockingbird still had her greatest loves:
scrutiny and strain between Mockingbird SCIENCE AND BUTT-KICKING. Oh,

and Hawkeye. Hawkeye said he did not and the butt-kicking was about to get a
agree that a hero should let anyone die, whole lot better. She was forever changed
even a villain. But Mockingbird was too when she was shot by agents of an
traumatized to help the man who had opposing agency called H.A.M.M.E.R. and
brainwashed her. Phantom Rider had was treated with the Super-Soldier Serum
forced her to be his romantic partner INFINITY FORMULA by Nick Fury. The
against her will. Furthermore, Bobbi always Infinity Formula notably gave Nick Fury
believed that it wasn’t the villain’s death but his forever-young appearance and
her perceived infidelity that was the true superhuman strength. Given the choice
cause of Hawkeye’s anger. The lovebirds between death and life, there wasn’t much
divorced once and for all. of a decision to make. The formula was
Despite the couple’s split, Hawkeye and administered, and Bobbi woke up good as
Mockingbird would work together for years newBobbi
with took
someher newfound
additional powers back
power-ups. She
to come. Birds of a feather flock together— to S.H.I.E.L.D., where she
had increased her physical prowess, metagility,
the
even sometimes after they get divorced. somewhat-not-good-for-long-term-dating-
durability, and ability to heal. S.H.I.E.L.D.,
They still shared a great love and respect for but-still-totally-dreamy-and-cute-British-
however, didn’t really know the side effects
each other. accent-having-fellow-agent
of the formula, so lots of Lance Hunter.
checkups were
Some
required, but that’s the price you paystand
relationships aren’t meant to for
the test of time, especially when both
super-powers.
people are spies with secret missions and
agendas. On the upside, Lance was still
totally down to take on zombies or
opposing super-baddies when the chips
were down—whether he and Bobbi were
dating or not.
Bobbi continues to kick butts and science
up by working with various Super Heroes,
like Spider-Man and the Unstoppable Wasp,
and with biochem research companies. In
fact, she is the mentor of Genius In action
Research Lab (G.I.R.L.), making way for
more young women who, like Bobbi, want
to change the world with science and
heroics.
After all, every G.I.R.L. could use a good
 shuri
Genius scientist. Black Panther. Warrior
princess.

Shuri might have been seen as a child by

G ET READY for a girl who is a
scientific genius, a fierce warrior, and many in the royal palace, but she had already
straight-up Black girl magic! SHURI might far exceeded the intelligence of many
be the kid sister of her half brother around her. Though her older half brother,
T’Challa, but she has grown up to be one T’CHALLA, was assumed to be next in line

of the most important women in the long to be the Black Panther, she too wished to
history of the African nation of Wakanda. enter the arena and compete for the mantle
As the daughter of King T’Chaka and in ritualistic combat. The siblings had all the
Queen Ramonda, she was raised with all same training and experience preparing to
the charms and education befitting a rule as both warriors and monarchs, but she
princess, as well as all the physical prowess was urged toward roles that were more
befitting A FUTURE BLACK PANTHER. traditionally expected for a woman in the
Black Panthers, of course, being each royal family. That’s patriarchy for you. She
generation’s chosen protectors and rulers accepted T’Challa’s ascent to the throne—
of Wakanda who are given special powers though it pained her. Fear not, though,
by the Panther God herself. Possessing a Shuri would soon enough find the action for
formidable mind and a warrior’s body, which she so yearned.
Shuri has grown up to serve WAKANDA Under her brother’s rule, Shuri used her
as a scientist, queen, Black Panther, and scientific studies to save Wakanda from
now as the AJA-ADANNA (a guide to Vibraniam contamination caused by Super
Wakanda’s spiritual past and keeper of Villains that was missed by Wakanda’s own
Wakandan lore). chief science officer. Her impressive
But before I give it all away, the most education led to her advancement not only
important thing to know about Shuri is that in government but as headmistress of the
she is capable and adaptable, which both go Wakanda School for Alternative Studies,
a long way. When Shuri sees a task that must where she directed the most intelligent
be done, she dives in and commits hard to youths on the planet. So maybe she wasn’t
becoming the very best she can be. Any task the queen, but her position was a huge
worth doing is worth doing well, whether honor and responsibility, especially in a
it’s scientific research, leading a country, or nation built on advanced technologies
created from its legendary store of the
becoming one with THE ANCESTRAL
world’s most valuable metal. Shuri didn’t
PLANE.
just advise the king, she was masterminding
the weapons
 waits for no woman. The cabal that had
nearly killed her brother had come for the
GOLDEN CITY, which needed its
protector. Shuri had no choice but to
woman up and put on the Black Panther suit
to save Wakanda. Whether she had the
powers of the Black Panther or not, Shuri
and innovations of the most technically was going to battle.
advanced country in the world as a very Can you even imagine how brave you
young woman. She also became the must be to face such a powerful cabal alone
headmistress of the Wakandan School for and without super-powers?! In the act of
Alternative Studies, directing the most humbling herself before her people and
intelligent youths on the planet. potentially sacrificing her life for the well-
Shuri finally got her chance at the crown, being of others, she proved to Bast that she
but not at all in the way she had hoped. was indeed worthy. Shuri was granted the
T’Challa was injured in combat against an powers of the Black Panther and became the
evil cabal of Super Villains—which is part true queen and protector of Wakanda. Oh,
of the job description, but not the way you and she totally kicked the cabal’s butts with
want to go out. With T’Challa left at death’s some help from the DORA MILAJE and a
door, someone had to step up to rule whole lot of faith in herself.
Wakanda. Possessing the same Shuri had learned an important lesson.
aforementioned training and royal lineage, Yes, the Black Panther must be confident
Shuri now had her opportunity to prove and mighty, but she must also be kind and
herself worthy. With the backing of the royal humble. Sacrificing herself for her people
court, Shuri made the great and dangerous proved she could be a strong leader and
THE GREAT MOUND
journey to procure the heart-shaped herb showed maturity. She relinquished her
that gave the Black Panthers their increased former sense of entitlement and earned
endurance, strength, and agility. She faced a ThetheGreat
back trust Mound is considered
of her people. A talented
daunting mission that included fighting a leader leads by example, as
the Jewel of Wakanda the both
with the a
world’s largest Vibranium deposit.
pack of actual black panthers (as in roar!)! pragmatic mind and empathy
This meteoric metal is so valuable
SheTaking
conquered every
the herb sent her onchallenge with
a vision quest not just because of its scarcity as
panache.
to Let’s by
be judged takethea moment—Shuri
Black Panther god, was an alien substance, but because of
the first
BAST . Shewoman
would known
either betogiven
conquer the
the great its ability to absorb vibration with
physicallyof grueling
powers obstacleor course
her ancestors that is
be destroyed. its incredibly light and durable
obtaining
Yikes! the crowd.
Tough heart-shaped herb! Thisherself
Shuri presented was a molecular structure. Weapons and
taskBast
to taken
andonarrogantly
by only the strongestthat
proclaimed mensheof suits (like the Black Panther’s) are
the nationtheformantle
deserved centuries—and this young
of Black Panther for made with Vibranium, which is
woman
her efforts IT! Okay—moving
and birthright.
CRUSHED But Bast felt on.
that completely silent, nearly
Shuri was too haughty and proud. Bast indestructible, and easy to wear or
rejected her as the Black Panther, but did carry. Who wouldn’t want to have
not demolish her. a bit of Vibranium?! (Turns out a
Shuri awoke dejected and ashamed, but a LOT of people do, and they’re not
pending war all nice.)
for those around them. It can be tempting As sitting protector, Shuri faced Proxima
to take the lead by force, but the greatest Midnight head-on. These two fierce women
leaders aren’t the ones who shout for faced off, but Shuri alone could not stop
control—they’re the ones who inspire her. Fear not, faithful reader! She did not
confidence and strength in those who look die, but was trapped in a state of living death
to them. (kind of like being imprisoned in her own
As T’Challa convalesced and Wakanda mind). In a dreamlike limbo world called
recovered from the cabal’s attack, Shuri THE DJALIA, Shuri was taught the stories

served as QUEEN and protector of of the ancestors by a spirit guide called the
Wakanda with all the powers belonging to Griot, who presented herself in the form of
the Black Panther. Once he was healed, Shuri’s mother, Ramonda. The Griot taught
the siblings fought side by side as equals, her the lessons and history of her people
triumphing over any who dared to invade through ancient allegories. When T’Challa
their lands. T’Challa did not question was finally able to free Shuri from her
Shuri’s rule; instead he used his newfound dreamlike state, she retained the powers
freedom to focus on helping the Super detailed in the legends she’d learned. She
Heroes across the world protect the could now fly like birds, become tough as
planet. stone, and run faster than fire—in real life.
When a big purple megalomaniac alien Shuri mastered science, diplomacy,
named Thanos invaded Earth, he sent a combat, and now the spiritual realm. Is
seriously nasty alien general named Proxima there anything this woman can’t do?!
“
No shame
in being afraid.

Being brave isn’t

the same thing

as not being scared.”

— America
Chavez
 hawkeye
The Better One. Young Avenger. Straight
shooter.

say, Okay, Girl. You messed up. Welcome to life.

I BET
THINKING . . . Wait—isn’t
YOU’RE
Everybody screws up—look at Clint Barton. Now,
that’s a mess. Now it’s time to kick butts and make
Hawkeye that guy named Clint Barton who
shoots arrows and wears a purple mask?! Yup! it right. We could all use that kind of faith in
So, then, who’s this chick? Also Hawkeye! Just ourselves.
Let’s bring it back. Kate Bishop is the
like Clint Barton, KATE BISHOP is a
daughter of a very successful and crazy-rich
Super Hero who doesn’t have super-
publishing magnate named Derek Bishop
powers, aims true, and holds her own!
and his charitable wife, Eleanor. Growing
However, unlike Clint Barton, she comes
up, Kate always hoped the “too busy”
from lots and lots of money . . . and she
businessman she called Dad would give her
is probably a lot more mature than Clint,
his approval and time. I mean, what kid
despite their age difference. But what I
doesn’t want their parents’ approval and
love most about Kate Bishop is that she
time, right?! Until, of course, Kate realized
took some messed-up stuff that happened
that not only were her parents separating,
to her when she was just a kid and used it
but her father had been wheeling and
as the inspiration to become a badass
dealing with Super Villains. Not long after,
crime fighter. Now she’s a private eye who
her mother was presumed dead. This was all
takes down super jerks and helps out the
awful.
people who need help most. Plus, she has
Losing a parent sucks. Hard. Learning
a one-eyed dog named LUCKY, AKA your only remaining parent might not be a
PIZZA DOG, so you know she’s doing
great person also mega sucks. Kate was in A
something right.
REAL SUCK BUFFET. She had a
And for real—Kate is a straight shooter
realization that many don’t have until much
(and only kind of an arrow-punner). Kate
later in life: Parents are just people. They
lets everyone know what’s up, how she
make mistakes. Sometimes those mistakes
feels, what she wants, and how it’s going
are huge. I am going to let you in on a
to go down. Even with her mentor and
grown-up secret . . . most adults are just
fellow Hawkeye, Clint Barton, she seems
faking it and figuring it out one day at a
to be just as much his teacher as he is
time. The only difference is the adults have
hers. This is all largely because Kate
made more mistakes during their longer
believes in herself. She just seems to have
lifetimes, so they theoretically make fewer
this voice inside her saying, Yasss, Girl, you
stupid mistakes than younger people.
got this. And even when she knows she
Theoretically. Kate found
screwed up big-time, that voice seems to
 Woman
Man

Shoots

Young Avenger
Older Avenger

arrows
Venice Beach, CA Brooklyn, NY

Looks good
kate clint
in

bishop sunglasses
barton

Has lots of friends

Kate is his friend
Dog person

Comes from money sometimes

Pretty good at Comes from the

dating circus

out that her father was only human the hard Kate didn’t just fall into Super Hero life,
So many angry exes

way—by realizing he was DEEPLY she sought it out. When armed men began
FLAWED. taking hostages during her sister’s wedding,
Also, the other thing about parents . . . Kate sprang into action, aiding THE
they die. Not to super bum you out, but it’s YOUNG AVENGERS. Later, tracking
just a fact. All people die—which seems down the shape-shifting Hulkling, magical
pretty obvious. We will die someday, too. Wiccan, mech-suit-wearing Iron Lad, and
Heck, even ASGARDIANS kick the bucket, their patriotic leader, Patriot, Kate and new
and they are gods! But just so we aren’t too recruit Cassie Lang, aka Giant-Girl, offered
bummed right now, Kate ends up okay. In their services to the team. The boys were
fact, sometimes death is a super-great quick to refuse, but they quickly learned
reminder to live your life to the fullest! they needed the girls’ help, especially when
But bad news, Kate’s life got worse Kate was able to score a bunch of
before it got better. One day while walking Mockingbird’s and Hawkeye’s old battle
in Central Park she was attacked. The gear from the now-defunct Avengers
incident left her with some serious PTSD. Mansion. When THE AVENGERS

But rather than let the incident ruin her disbanded, the new team of all-teenage
life, she got herself some mental health heroes stepped in to protect New York City,
care and began to train in self-defense as despite the protests of Captain America and
well as other forms of physical combat. Tony Stark.
Endorphins from working out helped to With a big job ahead of them and no
cheer her, the therapy helped her work support or training, the Young Avengers
through her trauma, and the physical managed to save the world from the time-
training made her ready to take on any traveling villain Kang the Conqueror, as well
baddie who came her way again. Bad as stop an alien invasion. The group had
experiences can conquer us, or we can use more than proven themselves. Kate finally
them as a stepping-stone to reach the next stood up to Captain America, who was
level of who we desire to be. What makes continuing to pressure the team to disband.
teammates in the first place instead of falling-out between the two. Kate Bishop
treating them like children, they might not headed west to Venice Beach in California,
be injured now. The Young Avengers were letting Clint’s dog, Lucky, tag along with her.
heroes, and they were never going to stop, In Venice Beach, Kate was cut off from
so he’d have to accept it. (Oh yeah, Kate her father’s riches and had to make money
serves up the honesty piping hot.) like a normal person, so she began taking
Captain America ended up giving Kate a detective cases. However, her father’s old
gift, including new gear, and also giving her criminal dealings caught up with her. After
the name Hawkeye. After all, the archer was doing business with Kate’s father, a not-so-
the only Avenger before her to stand up to nice lady who went by Madame Masque and
him that way. Accepting her new moniker, was known for cloning folks so she could
Hawkeye continued to shoot straight and wear them like skin suits came for Kate.
true for the Young Avengers. As the team And weirder yet, she seemed to find some
evolved, she would meet her all-time bestie, answers about her mother’s untimely death
AMERICA CHAVEZ, kiss a handful of wrapped up in some long-buried family
cute boys, and defeat a whole bunch of evil secrets. With the help of her new Venice
mothers. Well, they looked like mothers, but friends, Kate finally tracked down Madame
they were actually evil interdimensional Masque. Only thing was, Madame Masque
parasites. was wearing a full-on Kate Bishop clone
Kate also took time to learn from her suit! Kate faced off against Kate—battling
mentor Clint Barton and the two worked as both her inner demons and her literal self.
Hawkeyes together—name mix-ups be Madame Masque was defeated, but Kate
darned! For a while, she even helped Clint won’t stop until she’s solved her mother’s
deal with a mob infestation in his Brooklyn murder. Fortunately, she has a lot of great
apartment building. But Clint’s lack of friends to lean on. Sometimes even the
honesty and general lack of emotional other Hawkeye. IT’S NOT HIS FAULT
availability eventually led to a SHE’S COOLER, YA KNOW?
 scarlet witch
Chaos Magic. Twin Avenger.
Nexus Being.

the twins’ powers manifested at puberty, the

H OLD ON TO YOUR
HAT, because things are about to
Roma people turned on them and wanted to
burn them like witches. A man stepped in to
get MAGICAL. I mean, Wanda Maximoff
save the twins, but also expected a favor in
has “wand” in her name, so you know
return.
you’re about to be spellbound. The Scarlet
Magneto, the man who rescued them,
Witch is potentially the most powerful
moved both Wanda and Pietro to America
SORCERER in the Marvel Universe.
to work for his evil brotherhood. The
Because . . . She. Can. Alter. The. Confines.
twins quickly realized his intentions were
Of. Reality. HELLO! This woman can turn
possibly less than altruistic. Taking the
the dang world inside out and upside down
code names SCARLET WITCH and
with her mind. Wanda also follows the beat
QUICKSILVER, the twins started off a
of her own drum—she left home to become
a Super Hero, married a robot, and has reluctant life of crime. An altercation with
often created her own reality. I guess when Super Heroes injured Quicksilver, but
you control chaos magic, the rules just don’t the heroes still came to his aid.
apply. But spoilers: Wanda has been through This moment of kindness made the
some pretty messed-up stuff. Her emotions twins realize that they were perhaps
are both what make her wickedly powerful fighting for the wrong side. Believing
and what have sometimes led her to do that they had more than paid their debt,
some pretty impulsive and dangerous things. they returned home to Europe. In general, if
someone isn’t trustworthy, maybe don’t do
WANDA MAXIMOFF and her twin
their bidding.
brother, PIETRO, were raised by their When spots became available in the
Roma parents, Django and Marya Avengers team (which were obviously
Maximoff. They grew up leading nomadic
advertised in the newspaper), they both felt
lives across Europe, settling at the base of the call to repay society. The twins became
the fantastical Wundagore Mountain, until
staple Avengers. Wanda was given the
they were abducted and experimented on by opportunity to refine her magic with
the High Evolutionary. Along with being
training from the centuries-old witch
given a (secret) dark blessing by the elder god Agatha Harkness, and she learned how to
Chthon, this gave Wanda her powers of control the chaos magic gifted to her by
probability manipulation and chaos magic,
Chthon, which let her harness her untold
and gave her brother super-speed. When powers.
 WHAT’S THAT HAT?! The Scarlet Witch has been through
It’s not a hat, it’s actually called a wimple! many adventures with the Avengers, but
A wimple is a medieval form of headdress Wanda has not always been a joyful
created with folded and starched cloth, character. She has battled various forms of
usually worn as a symbol of modesty by mental illness and suffering, which is
women of many faiths—especially nuns. particularly dangerous when you consider
Wanda is not a nun . . . unless you count Wanda’s hex powers manipulate probability
that she’s taking nun of anyone’s sass. in ways that can SHAPE REALITY
Being an Avenger wasn’t all work. Wanda ITSELF. Most anything Wanda can dream
found romance with one of the most of, she can make happen with her mind
unlikely people—or, in this case, (e.g., creating her own children). This means
synthezoids. Though VISION is technically that her emotions and words can be
a robot, he first learned about love from incredibly dangerous. Psychology tells us
observing Wanda when Quicksilver went humans cannot control which emotions we
missing. He witnessed Wanda’s intense love may be feeling. Sometimes people feel
forThough manyawakening
her brother, membersnew of feelings
the group
and happy, sad, angry, or scared—that’s just part
were very much team “Uh,
compassion within himself. These emotions He’s A of being a sentient being. There isn’t a lot
Robot,” the two
flowered inside Visionfound
as lovea forprofound
Wanda. that can be done about experiencing
romantic connection.
And Wanda felt it, too. After being After Wanda and
emotions—because theyVision joined the
are involuntary—
confronted with a near-death experience but we can
WEST control what
COAST we do with
AVENGERS , athem.
time-
involving an interdimensional delinquent traveling
Wanda baddie
was still
named
learning
Immortus
to control
had her
the
named Dormammu, they agreed to be emotional outbursts
government dismantle
as well
Vision.
as her Gah!
powers—
He
married . . . immediately. I mean, you’ve whichfinally
was is an especially
put back dangerous
together, but
combo.
he was
got to live life while you can, right?! The no longer the Vision Wanda knew and
two hoped despite having untraditional loved. Their relationship deteriorated.
lives that they might follow a more Wanda was further distressed that the
traditional family path. However, Wanda demonic Master Pandemonium stole her
and Vision were unable to have children children’s souls, effectively making them
(because uh, he’s a robot). Instead she cease to exist. The Scarlet Witch began to
used her CHAOS MAGIC to will her own break down. Fearing the worst, her
Which
twin children Family Is
into existence. mentor, Agatha Harkness, tried to erase
Witch the memory of the children from her
mind to ease her suffering. However, when
Fraternal Twin

the truth came to light once again, Wanda

Quicksilver
went over the edge.
When you or I say things we may not
Ex-husband

mean out of intense feelings, it can totally

Vision
hurt people—emotionally. When Wanda
says something out of anger or fear, she
Reincarnated Children
can hurt people literally. She wanted her
Wiccan and Speed
children back at any cost, and for the
Avengers to be punished for lying to her.
And that’s just what she made happen: She
allowed her breakdown to alter the world,
greatest wishes to fruition, including the universes. Wanda is in fact a “NEXUS
return of her children. However, the world BEING,” which can be a little confusing,
outside of her family was a certified but extremely cool. Let me explain.
dystopia. Seeing the chaos she created, she Alternate realities are dimensions where
acted drastically again and overcorrected. characters exist that are different but similar
With a few small words, she wiped the earth to ones that we know. For example, Spider-
of super-powered mutants. Though two Gwen is from a reality where Peter Parker
wrongs most certainly don’t make a right, at died and Gwen lived. However, there is only
least the heroes of Earth could begin to one Wanda in all of the realities. She is a
rebuild. KEYSTONE TO THE MULTIVERSE,
Wanda spent the years following these which means she is basically part of the
incidents rebuilding trust with the Avengers fabric of everything in all of existence. Don’t
and aiding them in battles of COSMIC get it twisted, though. Wanda has worked
PROPORTIONS. Though Wanda’s hard to control her emotions and her magic,
mistakes were dangerous, there’s no denying and to make amends for her mistakes. We’re
that she is potentially the most powerful all a work in progress.
being in all of the
 silk
Spider-Bride. Soft Yet Durable. Still
Single.

identity, which was often in conflict with

S HE CRAWLS OVER
WALLS, swings with the greatest
what her parents’ dreams and expectations
were for her.
of ease, and is smooth as Silk! CINDY
One day, in hopes of seeing Hector, she
MOON might have spent over a decade
planned to attend a hockey game. However,
locked away, but she’s back in the world and her parents weren’t having it! They instead
better than ever. Cindy is a new Super Hero forced her to go on a school field trip to
and she’s still learning the ropes (er, webs),
GENERAL TECHTRONICS. Not only was
but she’s doing her best. She spent so many
it majorly disappointing for her BF and her
years locked up in a bunker, she’s still just
team, there she would encounter the same
trying to get a handle on smartphones, Insta
RADIOACTIVE SPIDER that bit Peter
filters, and memes. That goes double for
hero-ing. Cindy is just getting the hang of it, Parker. As you can imagine, Cindy was
but that doesn’t mean she isn’t a straight horrified when her body suddenly became a
badass. She is even more powerful than her wall-crawling, web-shooting disaster. After
having so many battles with her parents
fellow spider-bite victim SPIDER-MAN!
over boys and school, it felt scary to rely on
Also (spoilers), she has had some rough
them. But when the chips (or webs, in this
teenage years with her family, but she’s still
case) were down, the Moons were there for
totally dedicated to her fellow Moons. Not
Cindy in her hour of need. Cindy confessed
to mention she’s kind of crushing on a
her afflictions and her parents dedicated
ghost.
themselves to finding a cure for their
Cindy Moon grew up in a fairly
daughter. Teenage years can be hard when
conservative Korean American household
kids struggle to earn more freedom from
with her doctor mother, Nari Moon, her
their parents, and that can cloud the love
teacher father, Albert Moon Sr., and her
between them. The reality is that they often
little brother, Albert Jr. Cindy and her
fight because parents hope to protect and
parents clashed . . . a lot, especially Cindy
improve their child.
and her mother. Let’s just say her parents
Though things were momentarily
were less than impressed with Cindy’s “C”
better in her family unit, more strife
average. Cindy was more interested in
was headed their way. A dimension-
playing her sport of choice, hockey, and
hopping devourer of spider-people named
hanging out with her super-secret, super-
Morlun descended into Cindy’s reality. A
dreamy boyfriend, HECTOR
fellow spider-person and eccentric
CERVANTEZ. Like many teens, she billionaire named Ezekiel
struggled to build her own life and
Sims helped Cindy escape certain death by to capture her. How could Peter be so
locking her away in a bunker so Morlun stupid?! Despite her fury at Peter,
couldn’t find her. However, Ezekiel never something came over both of them.
returned for her. Ticktock. Days turned Something that neither of them could
into weeks, weeks into years. When all was control. They began passionately kissing
said and done she’d been locked away with (yes, really). Something in their shared
no connection to the outside world for spider essence drew them magnetically
nearly fifteen years! She was now an adult, together. Sheesh, get a room.
but had been utterly alone most of her life. Peter helped Cindy get back on her feet,
Peter Parker (aka Spider-Man) found Cindy offering her a place to stay. But their intense
locked away and released her from the spider attraction made them constantly want
bunker. With Morlun dead at long last, to head to smooch town whenever the other
Cindy took to the skies and swung from was in arm’s reach. This was especially
the tops of buildings, finally free! awkward because Peter was still living with
Peter Parker was shocked by her speed. his kind-of sort-of ex, Anna Maria Marconi.
She was even FASTER AND MORE Worse yet, Morlun, the spider-snack
AGILE than he was. Her webs flowed connoisseur, was indeed awakened when
naturally from her hands, including very Cindy emerged from the bunker. Deciding
helpful/painful barbs that attached to those thatWith the was
Cindy help the
of foretold
Spider-Man, Cindy
SPIDER-

she webbed up. Cindy swung excitedly all banded together with every
BRIDE, Morlun took it as a sign that it was Spider-
the way to her family’s apartment to reunite Man/Woman/Animal/Robot in
time to hunt down all of the spider-people the
with them. But they no longer lived there. multiverse to face Morlun and
in the multiverse with his family ofhis evil troop.
Crestfallen, Cindy asked how long ago she Her inexperience
Inheritors as a Super
and consume Hero
them all. put the
Yuck.
could have gone free. Peter explained that team at risk more than once with her often-
Morlun hadFriends
been deadandforEnemies
a while now— impulsive actions. Despite setbacks and
twice actually. She was furious! If he could tragic fatalities, Cindy finally learned to work
come Hector Cervantez
back once, she was sure he’d return together with her teammates to conquer
• Spectro
Morlun and the Inheritors. Cindy was finally
• High school boyfriend

truly free.
• Technically dead
Cindy had to figure out where to start
and what she wanted her new life to be. She
Felicia Hardy got herself an internship at the FACT
• The Black Cat
CHANNEL working for the notorious
• High-end thief
blowhard and former editor-in-chief of the
• Cruel boss Daily Bugle, J. Jonah Jameson. J. Jonah took a
shine to Cindy for being more of a pen-and-
Lola & Rafferty paper kind of gal. (Remember, she missed
• Work at Fact Channel
the whole information technology
• Know Silk’s identity
revolution during her time in the bunker.)
• Very in love The internship gave her a small income that
helped her afford a new place to live with
her colleague Lola and get back on her feet.
It didn’t last long, though—Lola’s new
romance with her coworker, Rafferty, soon
the bunker at least felt safe and was rent- on her Silk costume. Despite Cindy’s claims
free. that she was just a cosplayer, the girls knew
By day, Cindy worked at the Fact she was indeed Silk. Obviously, this was
Channel, and tried to use the company super stressful for Cindy because secret
database to track down her missing family. identities are supposed to be, ya know, secret.
By night, Cindy continued moonlighting as But the girls offered their support! In fact,
the Super Hero SILK. Which quickly they were proud of her and enveloped
brought her in contact with the catty cat Cindy in a huge group hug. Finally, Cindy
burglar the Black Cat, who took a had someone who knew her secret, and she
dangerous interest in her. Noting Silk’s did not have to carry the weight of it all
Super Hero skills, the Black Cat targeted her alone. It’s were
Things important
looking to up
have someone
now, to
especially
as a potential lab rat for her planned black- share yourCindy
because secretsgot
with, because
wind that no
herone can
family
market Super Villain upgrades. What’s do life alone.
might be hidden in a less-than-fun
worse, the surgeon Black Cat was using to dimension called the Negative Zone. She
potentially slice and dice Cindy knew where figured what the heck, and took her BFFs
the Moon family was. And just as Cindy was along for the ride. What followed was a lot
about to finally get a real lead on where to of fighting of dragon creatures and meeting
find them—the Black Cat killed him. Gah! up with a badass RED KNIGHT—who
On the upside, J. Jonah Jameson took an turned out to be Cindy’s mom, Nari Moon!
interest in helping Cindy find her family, Together, the Moon women saved Cindy’s
She wasn’t
giving her a the
veryonly personlead
tangible whoonwasn’t
her father, Albert Moon Sr., who was trapped
pleased with the Goblin Nation—the
brother, Albert Jr. He was discovered in a like a damsel in a tower. At last, the fam was
Black
halfwayCat didn’t
house care for from
recovering them an
elbowing in
addiction reunited and it felt so good! High fives all
on her turf. Cindy began working
to Goblin Serum that he had developed for the around!
Black
while Cat against
being part their common
of the rival. This
gang called the After a few more weird adventures with
gave her the opportunity to also become

Goblin Nation. Cindy was able to get Albert her surprisingly supportive boss, J. Jonah
aout
double agent,
and help himinforming

get clean. Jameson, Cindy decided to pack up her

S.H.I.E.L.D. through her
things and quit the news business. She had a
contact, MOCKINGBIRD. Black
new apartment in Washington Heights,
Cat eventually discovered Silk’s
where she now lives with her whole family
involvement with S.H.I.E.L.D. and nearly
on her own terms. But that doesn’t
killed her for the betrayal. But (shock of

the century) Cindy was saved by her first

love, Hector Cervantez, who’d become a

semi-dead Super Hero named SPECTRO.

Cindy was feeling very much on her
mean she has severed ties with
own as a double agent, with no one but
S.H.I.E.L.D.

her ghost ex to turn to. Until one

Oh no. In fact, Cindy is enrolled in
day when Lola and Rafferty
S.H.I.E.L.D.

walked in on Cindy putting Academy and preparing for her next

mission!

Agent Moon reporting for

duty.
 the BEST

gwenpool Saved
for last!!

Adorable Mercenary. CutUp. Fourth-Wall

Breaker.

about heroes and villains in comic books.

G WENPOOL hails from an
alternate dimension called Earth- You should read my Captain America and
TRN565, or as Gwen calls it, “the real Spider-Man fanfic!Ahem. So when she was
world.” It IS the real world! Sorry, it’s just whisked away into the main Marvel
going to be like this. Gwen has “medium Universe by participating in a totally shady
awareness,” which means she knows that universe-jumping sleep study, she knew
I’m writing about her in a book right now. what she had to do. Yeah! If you don’t want
FINALLY! I have been waiting foreeeeever. to be an extra, then you need to get yourself a
Gwen, please . . . let me focus. While cool costume and maybe some knives or
Gwenpool might be slightly exasperating to
grenades or whatever. So that’s what I did,
those around her, (Hey!) she is also one of
except I didn’t fill out the form very clearly
the most fun Super Heroes to ever live.
for Big Ronnie’s Custom Battle Spandex store,
That’s more like it! Because Gwen knows she
is living in a Super Hero comic book, she so she misread my pseudonym and thought it
allows herself to stand out and do things was Gwenpool instead of my real name, Gwen
she’d never do in real life! Well, if you are Poole. Honest mistake!

going to be trapped in a comic-book world, you In fact, I wasn’t really intended to even get
might as well be the star of your own story, ya my own comic book! I was first drawn into the
know?! Totally. But that means she also has Marvel Comics Universe by an artist named Chris
a lot to learn about being a Super Hero, Bachalo as part of a series of Gwen Stacy–
because she doesn’t always take the job themed variant covers. Ya know, after the
super seriously. Valid point. BTW. Are . . . popularity of Spider-Gwen. I was intended to be
are you using Comic Sans? Yeah! It’s fun and a character mash-up of Gwen Stacy and the
fresh and it lets you know I don’t take myself mouthy mercenary Deadpool—and in the picture
too seriously! Whoa, boy. Don’t hate on Comic I was sitting in a pool, obviously. However, people
Sans or I’ll dice you. Okay, okay, no need for loved me so much that they gave me my own
violence—sheesh. Can I write this section origin story and then my own comic book! Pretty
now?
cool, right?!
Proceed.
Now armed with a seeming mixture of
In her home universe, Gwen Poole was a Gwen Stacy and Deadpool costume vibes,
big fan of the Marvel Universe. In fact, after she became Gwenpool—the merc with pink
she left high school, Gwen just spent all of tips. Since Gwen was now stuck in the
her time chilling out and reading
Marvel comic-book world, she didn’t think to pay those bills. It’s unbelievable how
her actions could really hurt anyone, and if expensive even a burner phone is. I mean, data,
they did hurt someone . . . well, she didn’t
am I right?! Gwen took on a series of
really care much about that, either. She first
mercenary jobs through her tailor, Ronnie,
encountered Howard the Duck—who is a
which were executed with a hacker named
Duck detective also from another universe
Cecil. However, things got . . . weird, and
—when she was hired to steal a killer virus
Cecil was killed by the evil mechanical
from a high-class cat burglar named the
Black Cat for the super-evil organization genius M.O.D.O.K. That’s short for Mental
Hydra, who definitely wanted to wipe out Organism Designed Only for Killing, but
the general population. In my defense, I M.O.D.O.K. is a handy acronym! M.O.D.O.K.
thought the Avengers would just handle it or forced Gwen to become one of the personal
agents of his Mercenary Organization
something. How was I supposed to know they’d
Dedicated Only to Killing (so . . . also called
be off-planet?! Luckily, Howard was able to
help her track down the killer virus and M.O.D.O.K.) alongside the high-jumping
help Gwen save the world from being Batroc the Leaper, largely scientific Mega
Tony, and the magic-wielding Terrible Eye.
killed by germs. Tell them how I saved the
M.O.D.O.K. eventually caught on that
day! . . . She drank the killer virus. I DRANK
Gwen didn’t really have all that many
IT! Which was stupid and dangerous. And it mercenary skills and tried to kill her! Using
worked! the new skills Gwen learned from Batroc
Good
Don’t try this Goodkids.
at home, Friends Good
and with some helpBad
fromFriends
Cecil’s ghost (oh
Gwen now had a new comic-book life yeah, did I mention Cecil became a ghost?
Ronnie
with no parents to support her, so she had Batroc
Because he the
did),Leaper
she managed to send
to make some
• Costume creator
cheddah M.O.D.O.K. to space with misfiring
• High jumper

• Mission point person

• Gwen’s mentor

• No nonsense • Frenchie

Cecil Sarah the Terrible Eye

• Hacker
• Spells

• Gwen’s Mission Control

• Creepy mask

• Ghost • Surprisingly good hugger

Teddy Poole Mega Tony

• Little brother
• Expert chemist

• Natural blond
• Inventor

• Kind of a buzzkill • Big fella

Bad Bad Not-Friend M.O.D.O.K.

• Murder obsessed

• Big flying head

• Sent to space
rockets. Gwen took over M.O.D.O.K. the about me in this book or when you find a trade
organization and rebranded his foot troops paperback of my collected issues on a library
as the Poole Boys, complete with sassy pink
shelf or you pick up an old issue in a comic-book
matching outfits. Even though Gwen
wasn’t especially great at being a good guy, store, I will live on with you. So, I never have to

she learned that caring about people might be sad because I will always be alive in your
actually help her become a better hero. I mind.
also got a chance to team up with Spider-Man; Oh, Gwen . . . That . . . that was
surprisingly nice.
you know, the cool one—Miles Morales. I am a
But not like when you’re reading on the toilet.
very big fan! But turns out he wasn’t super into
I have standards.
me shooting people in the face, so that kinda
Welp. I think we’re done here.
ended any hope of a long-term team-up. Oh, and
Byeeeeeeeee.
he honestly made me kind of realize that if I
didn’t start to take SOME stuff seriously, I
might turn into a flippin’ Super Villain.That’s a
great thing to realize, Gwen. I’m glad you
gotOoo,
backtell
on track. Anyway,
them about she of
some evenmyhelped
other
Mega Tony,
stories! I’veBatroc, and Terrible
honestly had SOEyeMANY turn
over new leaves
adventures. Well,asGwen
heroes,got
but stuck
it turnsinouta
Super Heroes
deadly RPG just aren’t paid
designed by very
the well.
game-So
yeah, they
obsessed hadArcade
villain to keep takingupsome
and teamed with
mercenary-type
her namesake, jobs.
Deadpool. Yeah! I also
teamed up with Rocket and Groot from the
Guardians of the Galaxy!And she had a run-
in with her evil future self! Yeah, that was a
lot to take, because even if I come off as
pretty irreverent I still don’t want to be EVIL,
ya know? I love Super Heroes—I don’t want to
friggin’ fight them! I want to hug them and be
BFFs. So, I did the only thing I could think of
to get rid of bad future me. I decided then and
there to be good and fight for what’s right. I
would no longer be a mercenary. . . . And POOF!
She disappeared! Because I control my destiny!!
Take THAT, evil me!
Gwen now turned to the more altruistic
path of Super Herodom, but there was
something else waiting for her. That’s right .
. . my comic-book series was coming to an end.
And UGH, it made my heart hurt so much
because I KNOW I’m a comic-book character.
“You and me’ve always

been like this. Always

a little removed.

Always . . . dreaming.

Of higher,

further,

faster . . .

more. Always more . . .

We’re gonna get where

we’re going, you and me . . .

we’ll get there . . .

and we will be the stars

we were always meant

to be.”

— Helen Cobb to

Carol Danvers,

Captain Marvel
 This is the Marvel Universe. Where the
personalities,

powers, and straight-up legends of countless

heroic women have captivated readers for

generations.

This unique book is the perfect start—or

addition—to any Marvel fan’s collection! Using
her in-depth knowledge and passion for Super
Heroes, Lorraine Cink explores the lives of the
exceptional and diverse women of the Marvel
Universe. Filled with inspirational lessons and
clever observations, each section digs into what
these relatable women can teach us all about
growth, bravery, and the true meaning of
strength. Paired with over one hundred original,
vibrant, and emotive illustrations from the
talented Alice X. Zhang, this book balances the
“Squirrel Girl, Squirrel Girl!

responsibility and the fun that comes with being

Powers of both

a hero.
squirrel and
girl!

Finds some nuts, eats some

nuts,

kicks bad guuuuuys’ evil butts!

To her, life is a great big

acorn!

Where there’s a city crime-

torn,

© 2019 MARVEL

you’ll find the

LOS ANGELES NEW YORK

Squirrel Girl!” Visit Marvel.com and

DisneyBooks.com

Doreen Green