Young Avengers #7
Young Avengers #7 launches the 'Family Matters' arc, the second half of Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung's landmark 12-issue debut run — the series that introduced an entire generation of now-central Marvel characters. The issue deepens the Isaiah Bradley legacy subplot, tying the forgotten 1940s super-soldier directly to Patriot's origin in a way that would reverberate across Marvel continuity for years. It also establishes Kate Bishop's role as the team's de facto organizer and financial backer, cementing her agency before she ever picks up a bow in a costume. The issue is collected in the 'Family Matters' trade paperback, one of two volumes that together constitute the complete Heinberg–Cheung Young Avengers run.
In "Secret Identities Part One," the Young Avengers return to action with new uniforms and a hidden base, funded by Kate Bishop and her father’s resources—despite Captain America’s warning that he’ll stand in their way. When he finds out they’re back in the game, he calls for a meeting with their parents, while Patriot takes a dangerous solo mission against a drug ring dealing in mutant growth hormones. Written by Allan Heinberg and illustrated by Andrea DiVito, with inks by Drew Hennessy and colors by Justin Ponsor, this issue’s cover by Jim Cheung and John Dell captures the tension of heroes stepping back into the shadows.
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Allan Heinberg came to Marvel after producing television series including The O.C., and Young Avengers was his first comic book work; Marvel approached him after he discussed comics' influence on The O.C. in a Wizard magazine interview. Because of his ongoing television commitments, the series was structured from the outset as a 12-issue limited series rather than an ongoing title — closer to a television season, as Heinberg described it — with Jim Cheung as the only artist ever seriously considered for the book. Issue #7 kicks off the second six-issue 'season' of that plan, after the first arc resolved the Kang the Conqueror storyline. The series won the 2006 Harvey Award for Best New Series and the 2006 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Written by Allan Heinberg with art by Jim Cheung — the same creative team behind the entire 2005–2006 twelve-issue run.
- Issue #7 opens the 'Family Matters' arc (issues #7–12), the second half of Heinberg and Cheung's original series, collected in Young Avengers Vol. 2: Family Matters.
- The story involves Mr. Hyde (Calvin Zabo) distributing a new mutant growth hormone on the streets, drawing both the Young Avengers and the adult Avengers — Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Luke Cage — into conflict.
- Captain America's investigation leads to Patriot's grandmother, advancing the subplot about the Bradley family's connection to the super-soldier program and Eli Bradley's secrets.
- Kate Bishop's role as the team's organizer is reinforced: after Captain America's ultimatum to disband, she uses the Bishop family fortune to fund new costumes and a covert headquarters.
- The new Vision (whose brain patterns are based on Iron Lad rather than Wonder Man, unlike the original Vision) is part of the active Young Avengers lineup by this issue.
- Isaiah Bradley — the 'Black Captain America' who first appeared in Truth: Red, White & Black (2003) — appears as a supporting character, continuing the series' engagement with Marvel's broader super-soldier history.
- The complete Heinberg–Cheung run (issues #1–12 and the Young Avengers Special) has been collected multiple times, including a Complete Collection trade paperback (2016) and a comprehensive Omnibus.
Cast · 25 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
The Young Avengers have been told by Captain America that if they ever don their uniforms again he will do everything he can to stop them. So, with the help of Kate Bishop and her father's money, they acquire new uniforms and a secret lair - everything they need to start fighting crime again. When Captain America learns that the Young Avengers are back in business he decides it's time for the Avengers to have a talk with their parents. Elsewhere, Patriot decides to take down a group of drug dealers, who are selling mutant growth hormones, all on his own.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).