Loners (originally named Excelsior) are a group of Marvel Comics characters, a support group for former teenage superheroes, founded by Turbo of the New Warriors and Phil Urich, the heroic former Green Goblin. Its stated goal is to help fellow teenage superheroes to adjust to mundane lives and dissuade other super-powered teenagers from becoming heroes. They were introduced in "True Believers," the first arc of Runaways (vol. 2). The story and team titles are an in-joke. Stan Lee often uses the phrase "Excelsior" and refers to fans as true believers in his "Bullpen Bulletin" in Marvel comic books and Who Wants to Be a Superhero? At the close of the "True Believers" arc, it was revealed that the group was secretly sponsored by Rick Jones on the behalf of Captain America, who hoped to ensure the Runaways do not get into trouble. Following Excelsior's battle with Ultron, Rick offered to sponsor the team full-time.

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