Billy & Teddy's Excellent Adventure: Wiccan & Hulkling Appreciation
In April 2005 a new superhero group debuted: the [I]Young Avengers[/I]. Two of their founding members were [B]Asgardian[/B] [William Kaplan] and [B]Hulkling[/B] [Theodore Altman]. Written by Allan Heinberg, with art by Jim Cheung; Billy and Ted were soon established as one of Marvel's first openly gay couples (after [U]Billy changed his codename to Wiccan[/U]... to avoid some unintentionally inuendos). Since then, they have become one of Marvel's most stable couples (outlasting the entire engagement, marriage AND DIVORCE of Storm and the Black Panther); appearing in [I]Young Avengers [/I]vol. 1; the mini-series [I][B]Civil War:[/B] Young Avengers and the Runaways[/I]; [I][B]Secret Invasion:[/B] Young Avengers and the Runaways[/I]; [I][B]Dark Reign:[/B] Young Avengers[/I]; in the EPIC [I]Avengers: Children's Crusade[/I]; and are set to star in Kieron Gillen's brand spanking NEW on-going series:[I] Young Avengers [/I]vol.2 (debuting in January).
In [I]Avengers: The Children's Crusade[/I] #9, Teddy proposes to Billy, and the two share their first [U]on-panel[/U] kiss.
[SIZE=4][B]WICCAN [/B][William 'Billy' Kaplan][/SIZE]
[SIZE=1][from Wikipedia][/SIZE] Billy Kaplan is the eldest of three sons born to Reform Jews Jeff Kaplan (a cardiologist ) and Rebecca Kaplan (a psychologist). Regularly bullied in school, Billy found solace outside the gates of the Avengers Mansion. One day, Billy encountered the Avenger the Scarlet Witch, who told him to stand his ground the next time it happens. She then touched his head, causing a red light to flash briefly. The flash healed Billy's wounds and a few weeks later he stood up for another kid being bullied, demonstrating his powers for the first time.
[SIZE=4][B]HULKLING[/B] [Theodore 'Ted' Altman][/SIZE]
[SIZE=1][from Wikipedia][/SIZE] Little is revealed about Hulkling save for the fact he is raised by a single mother. All this changes when the shapeshifting extraterrestrial known as the Super-Skrull appears, stating that Teddy is a Skrull. The Super-Skrull reveals that, years ago, during the Kree-Skrull War, he kidnapped Captain Mar-Vell, Quicksilver, and the Scarlet Witch, presenting them to the Skrull Emperor. Though the heroes later escaped, the Emperor's daughter, Princess Anelle, conceived a child with Mar-Vell. At birth, the child was marked for death. However, his nurse smuggled him to Earth and raised him as Teddy.
[B]Name:[/B] Dorrek VIII [SIZE=1][Theodore “Teddy” Altman][/SIZE]
[B]Alias:[/B] Hulking
[B]First Appearance:[/B] [I]Young Avengers[/I] #1 [SIZE=1](2005)[/SIZE]
[B]Affiliations:[/B] Young Avengers[SIZE=1] (current), [/SIZE]Secret Avengers [SIZE=1](formerly) [/SIZE]
[B]Species:[/B] Alien [SIZE=1](Kree/Skrull)[/SIZE]
[B]Citizenship:[/B] American [SIZE=1](New York)[/SIZE]
[B]Height & Weight:[/B] Variable and Variable
[B]Eye & Hair Color:[/B] Blue and Blond
[B]Unusual Features:[/B] Green Skin in Hulking Form.
[B]Gender Identity:[/B] Male
[B]Sexual Orientation: [/B]Gay
[B]Comic “Outing”:[/B] [I]Young Avengers[/I] #6 [SIZE=1](2005)[/SIZE]
[B]Significant Relationships: [/B]Wiccan [SIZE=1](fiancé),[/SIZE] Greg Norris [SIZE=1](crush)[/SIZE]
[B]Known Relatives:[/B] Mar-Vell [SIZE=1](father, deceased),[/SIZE] Anelle [SIZE=1](mother, deceased),[/SIZE] Genis-Vell [SIZE=1](half-brother, deceased),[/SIZE] Phyla-Vell [SIZE=1](half-sister, deceased), [/SIZE]Mrs. Altman [SIZE=1](foster-mother, deceased)[/SIZE]
[B]Powers & Abilities:[/B] Shape-shifting, Super Strength, Invulnerability, Flight, Healing Factor, Subconscious Adaptation
[I][SIZE=3][B]Gillen:[/B] Hulkling and Wiccan are one of modern comics' greatest romantic couples.[/SIZE][/I]
I'm still on cloud 9 about them getting back together. Mostly, I'm in awe that Gillen had added this conflict and drama AND YET makes the characters both so loveable and understandable. Neither is "the bad guy" in their relationship. I mean look at this beautifully written scene:
[IMG]http://speakgeekytome.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/CR-YoungAvengers1-03.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://retconpunchdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/why-dont-you-just-rip-my-heart-out-gillen.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]https://24.media.tumblr.com/eb46a7049fa6bb9b6fb1282ca322f722/tumblr_mxbz6plsuW1ravq99o1_500.jpg[/IMG]
Hulkling/Wiccan appreciation
Far and away the cutest couple Marvel has created in a long time. Teddy and Billy are incredible characters on their own but together they make Young Avengers a must read.
This is the thread for all your Theodore Altman and Billy Kaplan love.
From the Young Avengers issue 1 Billy and Teddy stole the show and they just keep getting better.