MCU Phase 4 Is Still Missing One Key Young Avengers Member

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is assembling the Young Avengers, but Phase 4 is still missing one of the team’s key members. The fallout of Avengers: Endgame has put Marvel Studios in a position to build multiple new super teams. Seeds have been planted for the New Avengers, Thunderbolts, Defenders, and more, but it is the likelihood of the Young Avengers forming that has many excited. Before that can happen, the MCU still needs to introduce one of the foundational pieces of the team.

MCU Phase 4 has already introduced multiple members of the Young Avengers. Hawkeye brought Kate Bishop to the forefront and set her up to be one of the team’s leaders, while WandaVision showed the powers of Billy Maximoff AKA Wiccan and Tommy Maximoff AKA Speed as children. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier also included Eli Bradley AKA Patriot before he gets superpowers, and even Kid Loki was part of Loki‘s multiverse story. The MCU has already featured Cassie Lang, and she is set return in Phase 4 during Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Kang even helps set up Iron Lad and the Young Avengers’ first big villain. There’s even a chance America Chavez and Ms. Marvel will be part of the MCU’s Young Avengers team.

Comparing the comics version of the Young Avengers with a potential live action adaptation, there is still one prominent member missing from MCU Phase 4: Teddy Altman AKA Hulkling. He is one of four original members of the team in the comics, and there were rumors that Hulkling would appear in WandaVision at one point. Those rumors didn’t pan out, and there are no other credible reports of him appearing in Phase 4 properties. But since Hulkling is such a key part of the Young Avengers, it should only be a matter of time before he is introduced.

One of the reasons Hulkling might not have been introduced yet is because Marvel had to figure out his origin for the MCU. He’s the son of Mar-Vell (the original Captain Marvel), making him half-Kree, half-Skrull. The MCU only just introduced Skrulls in Captain Marvel, but the movie also gender-swapped Mar-Vell, which means his father would need to be a Skrull now. The good news for Hulkling’s MCU future and placement on the Young Avengers team is that this could be resolved easily in various Phase 4 properties. Secret Invasion and The Marvels are great options to feature Hulkling’s debut.

No matter where and when Hulkling is introduced, his role with the Young Avengers and prominent MCU future is undeniable. His and Wiccan’s relationship could give the MCU the type of LGBTQ+ representation many have continued to ask for. Meanwhile, Hulkling’s existence as a Skrull/Kree hybrid makes him cosmic royalty in the comics. If the MCU ever wants to do an Empyre adaptation, they’ll need Hulkling to do it and the foundation of everything that comes with his time with the Young Avengers.