Mark Waid Brings Avengers And Champions Together For Marvel Legacy

Marvel Legacy will cause worlds to collide. Literally.

That’s the plan for the High Evolutionary, and it’s up to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, the Avengers, and Marvel’s newest young team, the Champions, to stop him.

ComicBook.com spoke to Mark Waid, the writer of both Avengers and Champions, about coming crossover and got some new details on the threat of the High Evolutionary, what fans should expect from the teams’ reunion, and which Avenger and Champion to most keep an eye.

Plus, check out a new preview of Jesus Saiz’s interior artwork from Avengers #672, the first issue of the epic “Worlds Collide” story.

When the Champions broke away from the Avengers after Civil War II, they had the mission of redefining what it means to be a superhero. These months later and after the events of Secret Empire, is that a goal the Avengers have come to respect or resent?

Mark Waid: No resentment. And with the Wasp having served now with both teams, she’s a great bridge to overcome any respect issues.

What can you tell us about The High Evolutionary’s plan that brings the Avengers and Champions together? What is he after?

MW: His realm is Counter-Earth, a duplicate Earth on the far side of the sun. His goal is to use it to end all life on Earth and create something new from it–something that the Avengers and the Champions have to stop.

While several of the Champions are former Avengers, some weren’t, including Hulk, Viv Vision, and Cyclops. How does their introduction into the mix change the dynamic between the two groups?

MW: Viv is the key–it’s really her story, hers and her father’s. Their dynamic is a microcosm of the whole dynamic between both teams–one protective, one rebellious.

With the High Evolutionary involved, could we see some newly designed Animen or New Men, or does he have something else in store for our heroes?

MW: A little of both. Wait, I take that back. A LOT of both.

Splitting the Avengers and Champions was a big deal, both for the characters and for the themes and tones of both books? Now that they’re coming back together, how do those tones mix together and what themes are you looking to touch on?

MW: Again, everything comes back to generations of heroes, exemplified by Vision and Viv. That’s the theme–will you grow to replace me someday? If so, where does that leave me? These are also questions I have begun to ask Ta-Nahasi Coates and Tom King, by the way.

Any last teases you’d like to leave fans with?

MW: We enter this story with twelve heroes. We’re not guaranteed to exit with that same number.

Avengers #672 hits comic book stores on Oct. 4, 2017. Check out the preview in the gallery below.

Avengers #672
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(W) Mark Waid (A) Jesus Saiz (CA) Alex Ross
WORLDS COLLIDE Part 1

Following the events of GENERATIONS comes the long-promised clash between the Avengers and the Champions! The countdown has started as the High Evolutionary, a twisted scientist determined to create a better world at all costs, sets the Earth on a collision course with destruction! The Avengers and the Champions are ready to meet this threat – but will their first cataclysmic clash deter them from Changing the World? PLUS: Includes 3 bonus MARVEL PRIMER PAGES! Story by Robbie Thompson and a TBA artist!

Rated T+
In Shops: Oct 04, 2017
SRP: $3.99