The Marvel Comics event One World Under Doom has been fantastic (pardon the adjective that Doctor Doom would hate). Victor von Doom rules the world, but without an iron fist. He’s actually made Earth better by opening borders for everyone, giving universal healthcare, and making sure criminals are taken care of before they can become a threat to the public. Sadly, as you learn in Superior Avengers No. 1, things are good in the present, but not in the future.
Whatever happened, Doom’s world became a mess. And let’s be honest, no one should be shocked. If it walks like Doom and talks like Doom, we can guess that the future ends in (say it with me!) doom. This is why a team of freedom fighters (Onslaught, Killmonger, Ghost, Malekith, Doctor Octopus, and Abomination) came from the past to ensure their future doesn’t occur. They did so by convincing Doom and his adopted son, Kristoff Vernard, that they could help Victor keep power. Realistically, they’re working on his downfall. Or so we thought.
Superior Avengers creative team
- Writer: Steve Foxe
- Artists: Kyle Hotz and Luca Maresca
- Colorist: Mattia Iacono
In issue No. 3 of Superior Avengers, Ghost catches Killmonger sleeping with Kristoff. This leads to Ghost confronting Kristoff about the people he’s let into his life. Some of the Superior Avengers were hurt by Doom’s reign while others have benefited. Ghost is the latter. And while she wants Doom defeated, what came next (the Annihilation Wave) was worse. And if her teammates get what they want, they could destroy the world.
None of the Superior Avengers are their namesakes. Killmonger was orphaned and later climbed Doom’s ranks to get close to him. She eventually killed him. Abomination is a true believer in Doom’s reign and wears a mask to hide his unscarred face. Doctor Octopus is a scientist who was gifted Otto Octavius' arms from Doom’s trophy room. Malekith is a combination of Undrjarn (the All Weapon) and Necrosword turned sentient. Onslaught is the last mutant in the world after the second Krakoan Age failed. And then there’s Ava Starr, a.k.a. Ghost.
Ava Starr isn’t the evil Ghost working with Doom. That one was in charge of one of Doom’s prisons and made the inmates' lives Hell. When she got the opportunity, Ava killed Ghost and assumed her name. Sadly, Ava's son was killed while the Annihilation Wave consumed Earth. Ava isn't sure if her future can be saved. However, she does know that her teammates' success will make things worse. The only way to stop them is to get help from the person who ruined the future, Victor Von Doom.
Ava Starr isn't an original Marvel Comics character as she debuted in Marvel Studios movie Ant-Man and the Wasp, in which she is portrayed by Hannah John-Kamen. The character returned in this year's Thunderbolts* and will return in next year's Avengers: Doomsday.
It's a pretty big deal for an MCU character to be introduced in the comics after all this time, but it's not the first time this has happened. Among the most popular comic book characters to debut outside of the comics are Harley Quinn (Batman: The Animated Series), Laura Kinney (X-Men: Evolution), and Terry McGuiness (Batman Beyond), who all got their starts in animated projects. In terms of live-action Layla El-Faouly (Moon Knight) made her Marvel Comics debut in Moon Knight: The Last Days of Moon Knight, Darcy Lewis (Thor) first appeared in comics in Scarlet Witch by Steve Orlando, and Phil Coulson (Iron Man) made his comic book debut as Phil “Cheese” Coulson in Battle Scars.
As you can see, Ava Starr isn’t the first, and she certainly won’t be the last character to go from V shows and movies to the comics. Whoever pops up next could be a comic book game changer. Stat tuned to Bam Smack Pow to find out who that is.