The Decline of Marvel’s New Warriors: A Case Study in Missteps

Marvel Comics, a behemoth in the superhero genre, has created some of the most influential and beloved characters in the industry. However, every now and then, a character or team concept falls flat. In this article, we will explore the worst of the bunch, focusing on Marvel’s New Warrior team that debuted in 2020 and their subsequent failings.

Introduction to the New Warriors

The New Warriors were a superhero team that first appeared in "Ultimate Marvel Teamup #25" in 1989. The team consisted of Night Thrasher, Nova, Firestar, Speedball, Justice, Namorita, Darkhawk, and Silhouette. While there have been various iterations of this team over the years, a 2020 version faced significant criticism for its concept and execution. This version is still considered one of the worst ever introduced in the previous decade.

Concept and Execution: Why It Struggled

The 2020 New Warriors were created by writer Daniel Kibblesmith, who has previously expressed concerns about his confidence in "buff dudes" and the older version of the New Warriors. These factors alone point to potential issues with the team's initial premise.

Team Members Analyzed

The team members were somewhat lackluster, to say the least, and their backstories and powers contributed significantly to the overall negative reception.

Trailblazer

Trailblazer is a Native American teen with no powers, possessing instead a magical backpack from her grandfather that acts as a pocket dimension. The Pocket Dimension and Magic Backpack concept might seem innovative, but it lacks the depth and intrigue needed to captivate audiences. Additionally, the name "Trailblazer" raises questions like 'Trail of Tears,' which reflects poorly on the character and the team.

Screentime

Screentime, a character whose brain became connected to the internet after exposure to his grandfather's experimental internet gas, seems like a plot that would be better left in a meme post. The idea that his powers only work if he is connected to the internet is also absurd, making the character seem unbearable in Marvel’s already rich tapestry of superheroes.

B Negative

B Negative received his powers from a rogue blood transfusion, a concept that might seem intriguing if not for his unconventional character design. The visual representation of this character, with all-boys-blue and all-girls-pink color schemes, further alienates him from his team and audience.

Conclusion and Criticism

When considering the New Warriors of 2020, it's hard to escape the feeling that Marvel was simply trying too hard to be edgy and inclusive, with resulting concepts that would be better left for a Hotel Transylvania movie. The poorly executed characters and overall premise of this team seem to be a symptom of a broader problem within the Marvel Universe, where "woke" messaging often overshadows storytelling.

Amidst all this, it’s clear that the spirit of Marvel has been replaced with an era of careful, sometimes misguided, inclusivity. This version of the New Warriors is just one of many instances where they have taken a misstep, proving that even the highest of companies can falter when pushing the boundaries too far.

For fans who truly appreciate the essence of what Marvel once was, this incarnation of the New Warriors stands as a stark reminder of the potential for miscommunication and misinterpretation in modern storytelling.