Young Avengers #7-8 (2005): Secret Identities

The New Avengers debate whether to tell the Young Avengers’ mommies and daddies about them. Vision is still in Avengers custody and he’s being examined by Tony Stark, but the rest of the kids are back to living “normal” lives by day and donning spandex at night. There are some well done moments with each of them hiding the truth from their families (including Billy’s parents assuming that his big secret is that he’s gay, which we all will learn later is in fact the truth)…

Another nice touch is that Eli’s Grandpa, Isaiah Bradley aka the black Captain America, figures out his grandson’s secret and it brings a proud team to his eye.

But it’s not all talk.

It’s a solid battle until the New Avengers break it up.

Wiccan realizes during this story that he can teleport himself or others, and moves the hot-headed Patriot away from the battle.

Without spoiling all the complexity of the story, I will sum up by saying that Captain America tattle-tales on the kids…

…at which point Isaiah tells Cap that Eli has no superpowers and it’s revealed that Eli has been talking Mutant Growth Hormone to get his abilities.

So he quits.

I love this series.