The Teen Brigade is the name of two teams appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Both teams were recruited by Rick Jones from young amateur radio enthusiasts in order to obtain and divulge strategic information about safety hazards, usually involving the Hulk. These teams were attempting to aid the Hulk in using his super strength for good. They knew he, the Hulk, just desired to help citizens, and did not intend to harm them. The first group was founded in The Incredible Hulk #6 (March 1963). In modern times, they have largely fallen into obscurity.[1]
Overview
editThe rationale for creating such teams was that with their help Rick Jones could reach the Hulk (and occasionally other people or events of interest) faster, possibly in time to help him avoid fights or other incidents that could bring the Hulk trouble.
The first Teen Brigade was formed by Rick in The Incredible Hulk #6 (March 1963), and they helped build a weapon for the Hulk to defeat the Metal Master.[2] The group played a role in the origin of the Avengers in The Avengers #1, as their radio transmission brought the original Avengers (Thor, Iron Man, Wasp and Ant-Man) together to fight the Hulk. The Avengers and the Fantastic Four were a part of keeping Hulk in check, as well as the Teen Brigade.[3] In The Avengers #2 (November 1963), they called Giant-Man (Hank Pym) to help defeat a Space Phantom.[4] They contacted the Avengers to notify them about the whereabouts of the rampaging Hulk in The Avengers #3 (January 1964).[5] In The Avengers #4 (March 1964), the team helped Rick and Captain America track down a villain who turned the Avengers into stone.[6] Captain America showed off his acrobatics abilities to the Teen Brigade in The Avengers #5 (May 1964).[7] They later freed the Avengers after Kang the Conqueror captured them.
The second Teen Brigade was assembled when the Hulk was under the Corruptor's control. In an eerie parallel to the Avengers' origin, the Corruptor's own equipment interfered with a transmission meant for the Avengers and instead reached a handful of south western superheroes, giving birth to the superteam known as the Rangers.
The Teen Brigade was mentioned as an inspiration by Captain America when he decided to create an online network in stories published in the early 1990s.
A third incarnation of the Teen Brigade appears in the 2011 series Vengeance, consisting of Barnell Bohusk, Angel Salvadore, the In-Betweener, America Chavez, and the Ultimate Nullifier.
References
edit- ^ DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 370. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
- ^ Lee, Stan (w), Ditko, Steve (a), Simek, Art (let). "The Metal Master!" The Incredible Hulk, no. 6 (Mar 1963). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Brevoort, Tom; DeFalco, Tom; Manning, Matthew K.; Sanderson, Peter; Wiacek, Win (2017). Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History. DK Publishing. p. 91. ISBN 978-1465455505.
- ^ Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Reinman, Paul (i), Simek, Art (let). "The Space Phantom" The Avengers, no. 2 (Nov 1963). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (a), Reinman, Paul (i), Rosen, S. (let). "Sub-Mariner!" The Avengers, no. 3 (Jan 1964). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (a), Rosen, S. (let). "Captain America Joins... the Avengers!" The Avengers, no. 4 (Mar 1964). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (a), Reinman, Paul (i), Rosen, S. (let). "The Invasion of The Lava Men!" The Avengers, no. 5 (May 1964). Marvel Comics.
External links
edit- Teen Brigade at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe