Schedule Bimonthly Number of issues 17 Publisher Marvel Comics | Format Ongoing series Genre Superhero | |
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Publication date October 1975 – January 1978 Main character(s) Angel; Black Widow; Darkstar; Ghost Rider; Hercules; Iceman Inker(s) John Byrne, Vince Colletta, Mike Esposito, Frank Giacoia, Bob Layton, Bruce Patterson, John Tartaglione Writers Chris Claremont, Tony Isabella, Bill Mantlo Pencillers John Byrne, Bob Hall, Don Heck, George Tuska Similar Infinity - Inc, New Warriors, Alpha Flight, X‑Factor, Thunderbolts | ||
The Champions are a fictional team of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team first appears in The Champions #1 (October 1975) and was created by writer Tony Isabella and artist Don Heck.
Contents
Publication history
Writer Tony Isabella developed the concept of a new team of superheroes and originally wanted the roster to consist of former X-Men Angel and Iceman, and the newly created Black Goliath. Black Goliath became unavailable when the character debuted in his own title, forcing Isabella to rethink the concept. Editor Len Wein insisted on at least five members, and Isabella added three established heroes: Russian spy Black Widow (team leader), the Greek god Hercules, and the supernatural avenger Ghost Rider. Captain Marvel, Power Man, and the Son of Satan were all considered for the final place on the roster before selecting Ghost Rider. Writer and publisher David Anthony Kraft is credited with naming the team, with the title originally intended to be published in Giant-Size format as Giant-Size Champions. Production difficulties, which caused a three-month delay between the first and second issues, prevented this. The title was eventually published as The Champions, and ran for seventeen issues from October 1975 to January 1978. In addition to Don Heck, artists who drew the series include George Tuska, Bob Hall, and John Byrne.
The team battled established Marvel villains such as Pluto; the Griffin; the Titanium Man and Crimson Dynamo; Warlord Kaa; the Stranger; Kamo Tharnn; and new foes such as Rampage and Swarm. Russian heroine Darkstar joins the team, and Black Goliath eventually guest stars in the title. The second-to-last issue continued a story involving a power struggle between villains Doctor Doom and Magneto from the title Super-Villain Team-Up. The last issue's storyline involving an attack by the Sentinels is referenced in the title Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man, which explains in flashback how the team disbanded.
The Champions guest-starred in several other Marvel titles, including Ghost Rider #18; Iron Man Annual #4; The Avengers #163; and Godzilla #3.
The group briefly reunite in a X-Force/Champions Annual. In a humorous issue of the second volume of The Thing, the character Flatman—a member of the misfit team the Great Lakes Avengers—wins a poker tournament and renames his team the Great Lakes Champions, despite protests from Hercules. An issue of The Incredible Hulk features a flashback to a period when the Champions were still together. The team mistakenly attack the Hulk, with the delay almost killing a gravely ill Jennifer Walters.
A new team also called the Champions debuted in October 2016. This team consists of Ms. Marvel, Spider-Man, Nova, Teen Cyclops, Viv Vision, and the Totally Awesome Hulk.
Trademark dispute
In 1987, Heroic Publishing began using the name "The Champions" for a role-playing game series which has been adapted into comic books. The United States Patent and Trademark Office ruled that Marvel had abandoned its trademark of the name and could no longer use it, causing a planned 2007 revival of the series to be renamed The Order. This has since been resolved with Marvel announcing a new Champions series set to debut following their Civil War II event.