In Phase 4, Marvel has been expanding the universe through younger heroes like Ironheart and Ms. Marvel, setting a new trend for the franchise. Ms. Marvel debuted in the Disney+ show of the same name, played by actress Iman Vellani, and is introduced as a superhero fangirl with an obsession for Captain Marvel in particular. The hero Ironheart is set to make her first appearance in the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever portrayed by Dominique Thorne, eventually forging her own Iron Man-esque suit. Both characters are heavily inspired by heroes already in the MCU, and seem to struggle with living up to those expectations.

Related: Ironheart's First MCU Costume Has 1 Major Iron Man Suit Difference

Ms. Marvel and Ironheart are the latest in a new line of young heroes to the MCU. Thanks to the MCU's use of long-form storytelling, it's able to tell coming-of-age stories in ways that no other franchise can. By adding a new generation of heroes all at once, even more opportunities open up, too. While teams like the Avengers are commonplace, the MCU is building toward different superhero team-ups after Avengers: Endgame. One of those team-ups may very well be the Young Avengers. Either way, it gives audiences the chance to see young superheroes grow into their abilities together, something that hasn't been shown before in live-action movies.

Why Phase 4 Has Introduced So Many Young Superheroes

After Phase 3, the MCU was faced with a unique problem, living up to their hits like Endgame and The Avengers. The Infinity Saga had been wildly successful, but numerous headline characters had finished their character arcs. To fix this, the MCU followed Marvel's comics. They added new legacy heroes that could continue to please audiences, with fresh new twists to the characters before them. Because of this, future team-ups are almost inevitable. It'll help give audiences a true "next phase" of the MCU, and will keep the MCU moving forward naturally.

Although the title hasn't been used in the MCU yet, several of the characters that have been introduced in Phase 4 are part of the Young Avengers in Marvel Comics. Kate Bishop and America Chavez both the team in the comics, and were introduced earlier in Phase 4. While Ms. Marvel and Ironheart aren't part of this team in the comics, they will most likely feature on the team in the MCU. With the MCU continually moving toward an ever larger scale, the balance could shift from a single superhero team to having several teams. While the Avengers continue to lead the universe, the Young Avengers could help to and learn under them, while growing together in ways the Avengers never could.

Most importantly, introducing young, teen superheroes gives young viewers characters that they can see themselves in. Watching superheroes like Ironheart and Ms. Marvel learn how to be heroes helps to draw in younger audiences, and show them noble qualities they can strive for, in a more relatable way. These heroes will need to learn to use their abilities in new ways, different from Iron Man and Captain Marvel. A Ms. Marvel and Ironheart team-up could be coming to the MCU, and should provide a unique story of watching younger heroes grow and mature together.