We already knew that Squirrel Girl would be included in the character line-up for Marvel’s “New Warriors“. The question since its announcement has been what other characters would be joining her in the Freeform series? Today the company released a roster for the would-be superhero team and it contains a few surprises. Who made the cut? Let’s take a look…
- Debrii
- Microbe
- Mister Immortal
- Night Thrasher
- Speedball
- Squirrel Girl
The full line-up was revealed to USA Today by showrunner Kevin Biegel, along with character descriptions. If you’re unfamiliar with the above characters and/or craving more information about the coming live action portrayals, keep on reading…
Deborah Fields (aka Debrii)
Not only is she a low-level telekinetic trickster who has experienced serious personal loss due to the actions of superheroes, Deborah is also a proud, witty lesbian. “It’s not all about ‘Hey, I relate to the show because I want to have a squirrel tail,’ but ‘Hey, this is the story about someone who’s out as a lesbian and maybe it’s not that easy,’” Biegel says.
Zack Smith (aka Microbe)
A big guy with a sizable heart, Microbe communicates with germs, giving him telepathic-like qualities, though he leans on his pals to find extra confidence. “Zack literally is just looking for a connection: ‘Hey, maybe I can find a group of people I can hang out with,’ which is totally part of who you are in your 20s,” Biegel says.
Craig Hollis (aka Mister Immortal)
The squad’s resident troublemaker and lothario, this guy can’t die — or at least that’s what he says — and is equally cocky and grumpy. “Craig is a little more jaded and saying things aren’t as rosy and the world isn’t as hopeful as you make it out to be,” says Biegel.
Dwayne Taylor (aka Night Thrasher)
The masked dude is a local celebrity with his own YouTube channel but no actual superpowers. His parents were killed when he was younger, though he worries about his family’s wealth ruining his street cred. “Dwayne is the one who’s enterprising and really trying to figure out the business side of this entire thing,” Biegel says, “but at the same time he really does care about justice.”
Robbie Baldwin (aka Speedball)
A guy whose childhood was spent watching Quinjets take off from Avengers Tower, Speedball has the knack — though maybe not the greatest aim — for tossing kinetic balls of energy. Although immature and impulsive, “Robbie has these noble aspirations, but can’t quite figure out which one to pursue,” Biegel says.
Doreen Green (aka Squirrel Girl)
Squirrel Girl is the spunky fangirl and “wonderful heart of the show” with acrobat skills, superhuman strength and a cool squirrel tail, Biegel says. (She can also talk to critters including her sidekick, Tippy Toe.) “She is openly hopeful and earnest and sweet and optimistic, but smart and very determined that she can make a difference, too. She knows she’s great and if you’re not going to get on board with her, she’ll leave you in the dust.”
Aside from Night Thrasher and Speedball, none of these characters have been members of the New Warriors in the comics. Previous mainstays such as Scarlet Spider, Darkhawk, Firestar, and Nova. There are a number of reasons for this, ranging from murky rights issues to some of them potentially being used elsewhere in the MCU on down the line. Regardless, this is a fine lineup and one that should prove to be a fun focus for a young new team coming up in the Marvel world a decade after the events of the films started in earnest.
“New Warriors” is set to be a 30-minute action comedy superhero series. It will be the third Marvel series to arrive outside of the usual outlets (ABC & Netflix), following Hulu’s “Runaways” and Freeform’s “Cloak & Dagger“. It is expected to premiere on Freeform in early 2018.
