Thanks to the recent release of the uber hit Spider-Man: No Way Home, the friendly neighborhood's popularity is at an all-time high. Spider-Man was already one of the most beloved teenage heroes in comic books, but his current fame arguably places him at the top of the Marvel food chain.
Like Spider-Man, several other comic book heroes are also teenagers, although not all are as likable as the web crawler. Indeed, some might be more divisive than others, but they all share things in common: trouble at school, hormonal changes, and the struggle to juggle adolescence with a superhero's lifestyle.
Nova (Sam Alexander)
Created in 2011, Sam Alexander's Nova is a member of the intergalactic force known as the Nova Corps based on the original Nova, Richard Rider. Sam is thirteen during his debut and comes from a troubled family. Shortly after his alcoholic father goes missing, Gamora and Rocket Racoon arrive to inform him about his father's nature as a Nova Corps member. Sam later s the team, much like Rider did before him, becoming one of the most powerful of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Sam often acts arrogant and prideful because of his young age and immaturity. His considerable power, which comes from the Nova helmet he uses, makes him even more confident and reckless. However, Sam is still courageous and often selfless, qualities he shares with Marvel's most famous web crawler.
Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes)
The original Blue Beetle, Dan Garrett, was a Charlton comics creation whose popularity reached its peak during the Golden Age of comic books. His successor, Ted Kord, didn't have any superpowers and instead relied on intelligence and science. The third Blue Beetle, Mexican-American teenager Jaime Reyes, gained his abilities after discovering Garrett's original alien scarab.
Blue Beetle shares many similarities with Spider-Man, chief among them, an insect-based identity. However, Jaime struggles to understand the nature of the scarab, and most of his storylines center on his complicated relationship with the alien.
Kick-Ass
Not every teenage superhero comes from Marvel or DC; however, Kick-Ass was originally published under Marvel's Icon Imprint before moving to Image Comics. The series follows Dave Lizewski, a teenager whose desire to fight crime leads him to become a real-life superhero named Kick-Ass. He eventually crosses paths with the violent father-daughter duo of Big Daddy and Hit-Girl, who are on a mission to take down the Genovese crime family.
Dave lacks any superpowers and is actually rather unathletic, at least initially. After receiving a severe beating and getting stabbed during his first outing, he has several metal plates surgically implanted in his body, making him almost immune to pain. Kick-Ass might not be the best superhero out there, but his will to fight crime and unassuming nature make him instantly likable.
Red Hood
Jason Todd was never particularly well-liked during his time as Robin; in fact, he was one of the Batman heroes fans hated, explaining why he was killed off during the now infamous A Death in the Family storyline. However, his return as the violent vigilante Red Hood cemented him as one of the most crucial and popular of the sprawling Bat-Family.
Red Hood might not have a lot in common with Spidey; indeed, Jason's vigilante is aggressive and reckless, anger brought to life courtesy of the Lazarus Pit. Still, they both share a sense of commitment to those they love, with Jason willing to do almost everything for his adoptive brothers.
Spider-Gwen
The Night Gwen Stacy Died still holds up to this day. The seminal story, which featured the shocking death of Spidey's then-girlfriend, was a turning for the comic book business, to the point where many critics consider it the end of the whimsical Silver Age of comics and the beginning of the darker and grittier Bronze Age.
An alternate version of Gwen, introduced during the Spider-Verse storyline, became Spider-Gwen in the comics, granting agency to a character who represented the ultimate damsel in distress for so long. Like Peter Parker, Spider-Gwen is brave, selfless, open-minded, and remarkably intelligent, making her a perfect member of the arachnid family.
Spider-Man (Miles Morales)
Spider-Gwen's boyfriend, Miles Morales' Spider-Man, is one of the most popular characters in the Marvel canon. Following his introduction in 2011, Miles quickly received his solo series in the Ultimate Marvel imprint before moving on to the mainstream Marvel Universe.
Aside from representing a major win for diversity and inclusivity in the comic book industry, Miles is also a genuinely great character. He shares several similarities with his close friend Peter Parker, including a sense of duty and responsibility coupled with a somewhat dorky persona. Like Peter, Miles often has to prove himself to naysayers and those who take him for granted.
The Super-Sons
Damian Wayne and Jonathan Kent are a classic case of enemies turned friends. Their relationship gets off to a very rough start, with their prideful and immature personalities getting the best of them. Over time, they warm up to each other, eventually becoming one of the best bromances in DC Comics.
Jon and Damien are much more confident than Peter; in fact, they are quite arrogant, although they have matured considerably over the years. Still, all three characters share a common sense of commitment towards their heroic duty, with Jon becoming more wholesome with every new issue.
Invincible
Image Comics scored another win with Invincible. Although the series began in 2002, it acquired worldwide popularity thanks to the acclaimed Amazon Prime adaptation. Invincible follows the titular character, the superhero identity of Mark Grayson.
Mark is a boy scout in many ways; he is noble and courageous, staying true to himself even when everything tells him otherwise. However, he's also quite competitive and brave but hides deep insecurity within, stemming from having Earth's mightiest superhero as a father.
The Young Avengers
Marvel's teenage answer to the main Avengers, the Young Avengers first appeared in a twelve-issue run in 2006. They participated in several crucial events in the Marvel timeline, including Civil War and Children's Crusade, before receiving their own series as part of the Marvel NOW! rebranding.
Although numerous teenage characters with close ties to the main Avengers have been part of the Young Avengers over the years, the most famous line-up is still the original: Iron Lad, Hulkling, Wiccan, Patriot, and Kate Bishop's Hawkeye. The young heroes are always eager to help, just like Spider-Man before them; just like the friendly neighborhood, they too made their fair share of mistakes along the way, but always remaining relatable and sympathetic.
The Teen Titans
Arguably the most famous teenage team in comic books, the Teen Titans made their debut in the 60s before rising to prominences during the 80s after receiving a considerable revamp. Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad were the three founding of the Teen Titans; eventually, characters like Donna Troy and Speedy would their ranks.
The team's most well-known and successful line-up is The New Teen Titans from the 80s, including Robin, Starfire, Raven, Cyborg, and Beast Boy, then going by Changeling. The Titans work together as both a heroic team and a found family; each member has a unique trait that separates them from society, thus finding comfort and in each other. Like Spider-Man, the Titans became beloved both as a team and in their own right, with many going on to have their own series.