Marvel has introduced its newest Young Avenger to the MCU in America Chavez. Played by Xochitl Gomez, Chavez debuts in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where her fate is integral to the plot. As a hero capable of traveling the multiverse, she's very valuable to Wanda Maximoff's desire to reunite with her kids.
However, comic fans have known America Chavez's worth for many years. Since her debut in 2011, Chavez has quickly become one of the strongest Young Avengers in the Marvel universe. While pure MCU fans have only gotten to know Chavez a bit, these ten facts about her are common knowledge to avid comic book fans.
10 America Has An Older Sister
America Chavez was born in an alternate dimension from the MCU's main reality (designated 616). Her home is known as the Utopian Parallel in the comics. In Multiverse of Madness, fans get a brief look at Chavez's childhood in the Utopian Parallel, but some comic book readers may notice one thing missing.
That one thing is America Chavez's sister, Catalina. In the comics, Catalina is separated from America when they're children and experimented on. Over the years, she develops powers like her sister, though Catalina's abilities include shooting lightning bolts rather than America's dangerous power of warping through realities.
9 America Had A Traumatic Childhood
The brief look audiences get at America's childhood in Multiverse of Madness explains a lot about her character. During the first instance of her using her powers, America accidentally lost her mothers in a star-shaped portal. Since then, America has attempted to travel to multiverses in search of her lost parents.
This aligns with America's backstory in the comics, albeit with a few missing details. America's parents were microbiologists working to cure both of their children from a genetic disease known as Edges Syndrome. Eventually, the disease went into remission for America, causing her superpowers to manifest as a result.
8 America Makes It To... America
Eventually, America tries to save herself and her sister from the experiments of Mr. Gales, a billionaire who worked with their mothers. Unfortunately, America loses Catalina in the escape, and her sister remains a prisoner of Gales. America finds herself adrift at sea, eventually washing up on the shores of New York.
Suffering from amnesia, America is taken in by the Santana family, who raise her as one of their own. It's not until three years later that America's memories are restored. Unfortunately, the Santanas assume that this is a coping mechanism for her trauma, and America ends up being sent to a child psychologist to break the fantasy.
7 America Becomes A Vigilante
It comes as a shock to the Santanas and America's doctor when she finally proves to them that she's telling the truth by flying. Once her powers resurface, America puts them to good use as a vigilante around Washington Heights. This leads to conflict between her and her adopted parents, who demand she keep it on the down-low.
Still, this period of time finds America learning how to become a hero. Her initial fights are with small-time and petty criminals around the New York City area. However, it won't be long until America is recruited to lend her abilities to fights with a lot higher stakes as she donned the superhero moniker of "Ms. America."
6 Ms. America Joins The Teen Brigade
The first team that America got to be a part of was the Teen Brigade. This group of teenagers was started by Richard Jones, a former sidekick to heroes such as Captain America and Bruce Banner. This team became close confidants of the Avengers, though they were usually only called upon to help in larger conflicts.
With the Teen Brigade, America Chavez quickly gained a reputation for her strength and confidence. She eventually even became co-leader of the group alongside a teen hero known as Ultimate Nullifier. During her time with the group, she even comes at odds with villains such as Kid Loki and Doctor Doom.
5 America Protects Wanda Maximoff's Son
Some comic book fans might find it ironic that in Multiverse of Madness, Wanda's goal is to kill America and harness her power. Of course, this makes sense for Wanda's arc in the MCU, but in the comics, America would likely be a close ally to the Scarlet Witch. That's because, at one point, America saves the life of her son, Wiccan.
America travels to Earth-212, where she once again encounters Kid Loki. Loki attempts to persuade America to kill Wiccan, but she refuses and fights Loki instead. She and Wiccan later become allies after she saves Wiccan, Loki, and Hulkling from the resurrected Laufey. This later becomes a fortunate decision for America.
4 America Helps Found The Young Avengers
Eventually, America, Wiccan, Loki, and Hulkling become members of the Young Avengers. The heroes that join them include Kate Bishop, Speed (Wiccan's twin brother), and Elijah Bradley. Early on, the Young Avengers battle an interdimensional parasite known as "Mother," which masquerades as an average adult woman.
Eventually, the Young Avengers wind up in Mother's Dimension, where they encounter her allies: a variant version of the Young Avengers. However, it turns out that this team is not real, and only a manifestation of Kid Loki's guilt. Nevertheless, America and the Young Avengers are saved after Wiccan kills Mother.
3 Ms. America's Future Team-Ups
America Chavez would go on to become a valuable team player for several superhero squadrons. She continued to fight with the Young Avengers from time to time, notably helping them against the Sentinels. However, America also became a member of a super-group known as A-Force alongside Sister Grimm and female Loki.
The A-Force consisted of primarily female heroes, often led by She-Hulk, though occasionally they welcomed people like Steve Rogers or Luke Cage. However, America's time with the A-Force came to an end after she broke one of the Battleworld's greatest laws, causing her to be imprisoned on the Shield.
2 America Makes Some Super Friends
During her adventures joining various super-groups, America makes a lot of allies across the multiverse. While imprisoned on the Shield, she befriends Lady Katherine, a Robin Hood-esque variant of Kate Bishop from Earth-311. Together, the two become members of a team called the Hel-Rangers with Benjamin Grimm, the Thing.
America later found herself working with Monica Rambeau as a member of the Ultimates. Alongside heroes like Carol Danvers, T'Challa, and Blue Marvel, they faced the destructive being known as Galactus. America also stayed close with the original Kate Bishop, encouraging her to become independent of her mentor, Clint Barton.
1 America Joins The Second Civil War
Ms. America is one of many heroes who appear in the comic book arc "Civil War II." There, she assists the Ultimates in preventing an attack from Thanos that was foreseen by an Inhuman named Ulysses Cain. Sadly, the encounter with Thanos leads to the death of James Rhodes, also known as War Machine.
Following the deaths of a few of her teammates, America is encouraged by Monica not to blame herself. Later, after Clint Barton kills Bruce Banner, America and the Young Avengers anxiously watch Clint's trial, comforting the nervous Kate Bishop. The Ultimates eventually side with Captain Marvel and help her fight the Inhumans.