Avengers (comics)

The Avengers are a team of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in '' The Avengers'' #1 (cover-dated Sept. 1963), created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby. Labeled "Earth's Mightiest Heroes", the original Avengers consisted of Iron Man, Ant-Man, Hulk, Thor and the Wasp. Captain America was discovered trapped in ice in issue #4, and joined the group after they revived him.

The Avengers are an all-star ensemble cast of established superhero characters from the Marvel Comics portfolio. Diegetically, these superheroes usually operate independently but occasionally assemble as a team to tackle especially formidable villains. This in contrast to certain other superhero teams such as the X-Men, whose characters were created specifically to be part of their team, with the team being central to their identity. The Avengers were created to create a new line of books to sell and to cross-promote Marvel Comics characters. An Iron Man fan might buy an Avengers book because Iron Man appears in them, and perhaps in turn take an interest in Thor, who appears in the same book as Iron Man's friend and comrade. Kaveney (2008), ''Superheroes!'', p. 28: "Crossovers, in which a character from one comic produced by a house visited the story of another, meant that there was a chance that readers who were not buying the first comic would start to buy it in addition to the second. Team-up comics like the ''Justice League of America'' were even more likely to interest readers in characters they had not previously bothered with." The cast usually features a few highly popular characters who have their own solo books, such as Iron Man, alongside a number of lesser-known characters who benefit from exposure, such as Quicksilver.

The Avengers have appeared in a wide variety of media outside of comic books, including several different animated television series and direct-to-video films. Beginning in 2008, they were adapted in a series of movies from Marvel Studios known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, culminating with '' The Avengers'' in 2012, with more appearances of the team in subsequent films.

Publication history

The team debuted in '' The Avengers'' #1 (September 1963). Much like the Justice League, the Avengers were an assemblage of superheroes who each had an existing series of his own. All of the characters were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. This initial series, published bi-monthly through issue #6 (July 1964) and monthly thereafter ran through issue #402 (Sept. 1996), with spinoffs including several annuals, miniseries and a giant-size quarterly sister series that ran briefly in the mid-1970s. Writers of the first series included Roy Thomas, Steve Englehart, Gerry Conway, Jim Shooter, David Michelinie and Roger Stern. Artists included John Buscema, Tom Palmer, Neal Adams, George Perez, John Byrne and Steve Epting.

Other spinoff series include ''West Coast Avengers'', initially published as a four-issue miniseries in 1984, followed by a 102-issue series (Oct. 1985–Jan. 1994), retitled ''Avengers West Coast'' with #47; and the 40-issue ''Solo Avengers'' (Dec.1987–Jan. 1991), retitled ''Avengers Spotlight'' with #21.

Between 1996 and 2004, Marvel relaunched the primary Avengers title three times. In 1996, the " Heroes Reborn" line took place in an alternate universe, with a revamped history unrelated to mainstream Marvel continuity.

''The Avengers'' vol. 3 ran for 84 issues from February 1998 to August 2004. Early issues were written by Kurt Busiek and pencilled by George Perez. To coincide with what would have been the 500th issue of the original series, Marvel changed the numbering, and ''The Avengers'' #500–503 (Sept.– Dec. 2004), the one-shot ''Avengers Finale'' (Jan. 2005) became the "Avengers Disassembled" storyline and final issues. In January 2005, a new version of the team appeared in the ongoing title '' The New Avengers'', followed by ''The Mighty Avengers'', '' Avengers: The Initiative'', and ''Dark Avengers''. ''Avengers'' vol. 4 debuted in July 2010 and ran until January 2013. Vol. 5 was launched in February 2013. After Secret Wars, a new Avengers team debuted, dubbed the ''All-New, All-Different Avengers'', starting with a Free Comic Book Day preview. Following ''Civil War II'', the book was relaunched in 2016 as ''Avengers'', while retaining the same writer and much of the cast from the ''All-New, All-Different'' run. The series ran for 11 issues before reverting to the numbering of the original ''Avengers'' series with issue #672. Starting with issue #675, all four Avengers titles being published at the time (''Avengers'', ''Uncanny Avengers'', '' U.S. Avengers'' and ''Occupy Avengers'') were merged into a single weekly series dubbed ''Avengers: No Surrender, lasting 16 issues'', designed to close out this era of the team's history.

Following the conclusion of ''No Surrender'' in 2018, the series was relaunched again as ''Avengers''.

Fictional biography

1960s

When the Asgardian god Loki seeks revenge against his brother Thor, his machinations unwittingly lead teenager Rick Jones to collect Ant-Man (Hank Pym), the Wasp and Iron Man to help Thor and the Hulk, the latter of whom Loki used as a pawn. After the group vanquished Loki, Ant-Man stated that the five worked well together and suggested they form a team; the Wasp named the group ''Avengers''.

The roster changed almost immediately; in the second issue (November 1963), Ant-Man became Giant-Man, and at the end of the issue, the Hulk left once he realized how much the others feared his unstable personality. Captain America joined the team in issue #4 (March 1964), and he was given "founding member" status in the Hulk's place. The Hulk, upset about being replaced by Captain America and the apparent betrayal by Rick, sought revenge against the Avengers, who teamed up with the Fantastic Four to stop him in ''The Fantastic Four'' #26 (May 1964). The Avengers went on to fight foes such as Baron Zemo, who formed the Masters of Evil, Kang the Conqueror, Wonder Man, and Count Nefaria.

The next milestone came when every member but Captain America resigned; they were replaced by three former villains: Hawkeye and the Maximoff twins, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. Giant-Man, now calling himself Goliath, and the Wasp rejoined. Hercules became part of the team, while the Black Knight and the Black Widow abetted the Avengers but did not become members until years later. Spider-Man was offered membership but did not join the group. The Black Panther joined after rescuing the team from the Grim Reaper and Klaw. ''The X-Men'' #45 (June 1968) featured a crossover with ''The Avengers'' #53 (June 1968). This was followed by the introduction of the android Vision. Pym assumed the new identity of Yellowjacket in issue #59, and married the Wasp the following month.

The Avengers headquarters was in a New York City building called Avengers Mansion, courtesy of Tony Stark (Iron Man's real identity). The mansion was serviced by Edwin Jarvis, the Avengers' faithful butler, and furnished with state of the art technology and defense systems, and included the Avengers' primary mode of transport: the five-engine Quinjet.

The prequel comic ''Avengers'' #1 1/2 (Dec. 1999), by writer Roger Stern and artist Bruce Timm, told a retro-style story taking place between issues #1 and #2, detailing Ant-Man's decision to transform himself into Giant-Man.

1970s

The team encountered new characters such as Arkon in issue #75 (April 1970) and Red Wolf in #80 (Sept. 1970). The team's adventures increased in scope as the team crossed into an alternate dimension and battled the Squadron Supreme, and fought in the Kree-Skrull War, an epic battle between the alien Kree and Skrull races and guest-starred the Kree hero, Captain Marvel. The Avengers briefly disband when Skrulls impersonating Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man used their authority as founders of the team and disbanded it. The true founding Avengers, minus the Wasp, reformed the team in response after complaints from Jarvis.

Mantis joined the team along with the reformed Swordsman. "The Avengers-Defenders Clash" storyline crossed over between the two team titles. "The Celestial Madonna" arc linked Mantis' origins to the very beginnings of the Kree-Skrull conflict in a time-spanning adventure involving Kang the Conqueror, and Immortus, who were past and future versions of each other. Mantis was revealed to be the Celestial Madonna, who was destined to give birth to a being that would save the universe. It was revealed that the Vision's body had only been appropriated, and not created by Ultron, and that it had belonged to the 1940s Human Torch. With his origins clear to him, the Vision proposed to the Scarlet Witch. The "Celestial Madonna" saga ended with their wedding, presided over by Immortus. The Beast and Moondragon joined the team soon after. A seven-part story featured the Squadron Supreme and the Serpent Crown.

Other classic storylines included " The Bride of Ultron", the " Nefaria Trilogy", and "The Korvac Saga", which featured nearly every Avenger who joined the team up to that point. Henry Peter Gyrich became the Avengers' liaison to the United States National Security Council. Gyrich was prejudiced against superhumans and acted in a heavy-handed, obstructive manner, and insisted that the Avengers follow government rules and regulations or else lose their priority status with the government. Among Gyrich's demands was that the active roster be trimmed down to only seven members, and that the Falcon, an African American, be admitted to the team to comply with affirmative action laws. This last act was resented by Hawkeye, who because of the seven-member limit lost his membership slot to the Falcon. The Falcon, in turn, was unhappy to be the beneficiary of what he perceived to be tokenism, and decided to resign from the team, after which Wonder Man rejoined. The true origins of Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch were revealed in a three-part story that ran in issues #185–187 (July–Sept. 1979). After this adventure, the Scarlet Witch took a leave of absence and Ms. Marvel officially joined the team as her replacement.

1980s

The first major development was the breakdown of Henry Pym, with his frequent changes of costume and name being symptomatic of an identity problem and an inferiority complex. After he abused his wife, failed to win back the confidence of the Avengers with a ruse and was duped by the villain Egghead, Pym was jailed. Pym would later outwit Egghead and defeated the latest incarnation of the Masters of Evil single-handedly, and proved his innocence. Pym reconciled with the Wasp, but they decided to remain apart. Pym retired from super-heroics, but returned years later.

This was followed by several major storylines, such as "Ultimate Vision" in which the Vision took over the world's computer systems in a misguided attempt to create world peace; the formation of the West Coast Avengers; and "Avengers Under Siege" which involved the second Baron Zemo and the Masters of Evil taking over the mansion and severely injuring Jarvis and Hercules. "Assault on Olympus" featured Hercules' father, Zeus, blaming the Avengers for his son's injuries and brought them to Olympus for trial, and the "Heavy Metal" arc saw the Super Adaptoid organized several robotic villains for an assault on the team. New members during the 1980s included Tigra; the She-Hulk; Monica Rambeau (then going by the name Captain Marvel); Starfox (the brother of Thanos); Hawkeye's wife, Mockingbird; and Namor, while Henry Pym emerged from retirement to join the West Coast Avengers. Spider-Man was again offered membership, but failed to gain admission due to security concerns by the Avengers' government liaison.

The villain Nebula falsely claimed to be the granddaughter of Thanos. The team relocated for a period to a floating island off the coast of New York called Hydrobase after Avengers Mansion was severely damaged during the events in "Under Siege". Hydrobase was later sunk during the ''Acts of Vengeance'' crossover.

The Avengers and West Coast Avengers changed to allow members to be active when available and reserved when not available and merged the two separate Avengers teams into one team with two bases. The Vision had his personality fundamentally altered, along with the discovery that the children of the Scarlet Witch and the Vision were actually illusions. The loss of the Scarlet Witch's children and the Vision, who was disassembled by government agents in retaliation for the ''Ultimate Vision'' storyline, drove her insane, although she eventually recovered and rejoined the team. This story revealed that the Scarlet Witch's powers included wide-range reality manipulation and she was what the time-traveling Immortus refers to as a "nexus being" setting the stage for 2004's eventual ''Chaos'' and ''Avengers Disassembled'' storylines. This played out in the ''Darker than Scarlet'' storyline which ran in ''Avengers West Coast'' from issues #51–62 (Nov. 1989–Sept. 1990). The Avengers titles in late 1989 were involved in the major crossover event "Acts of Vengeance" where Loki assembled many of Marvel's arch-villains, his inner circle consisted of Doctor Doom, Magneto, Kingpin, Mandarin, Wizard, and Red Skull, in a plot to destroy the team. Loki orchestrated a mass breakout of villains from prison facility, the Vault, as part of his "Acts of Vengeance" scheme, but he ultimately failed in his goal to destroy the Avengers.

1990s

The U.S. government revoked the Avengers' New York State charter in a treaty with the Soviet Union. The Avengers then received a charter from the United Nations and the Avengers split into two teams again with a substitute reserve team backing up the main teams.

At this point, ongoing storylines and character development focused on the Black Knight, Sersi, Crystal, Hercules, the Vision, and the Black Widow. Their primary antagonists in this run were the mysterious Proctor and his team of other-dimensional Avengers known as the Gatherers. During this period, the Avengers found themselves facing increasingly murderous enemies and were forced to question their rule against killing.

This culminated in " Operation: Galactic Storm", a 19-part storyline that ran through all Avengers-related titles and showcased a conflict between the Kree and the Shi'ar Empire. The team split when Iron Man and several dissidents executed the Supreme Intelligence against the wishes of Captain America. After a vote disbanded the West Coast Avengers, Iron Man formed a proactive and aggressive team called Force Works. During the team's first mission, Wonder Man was killed again, though his atoms were temporarily scattered. Force Works later disbanded after it was revealed that Iron Man became a murderer via the manipulations of the villain Kang, the same storyline seeing Iron Man sacrificing himself and being replaced by his teenage counterpart from a parallel timeline.

During the Heroes Reborn event, many of the Avengers together with the Fantastic Four and others, died trying to stop the psychic entity Onslaught, although it was revealed that Franklin Richards preserved those heroes in a pocket universe. Believing the main team to be gone, the Black Widow disbanded the Avengers, and only butler Edwin Jarvis remained to tend to the Mansion.

The previous continuity of the Marvel Universe was set aside as the heroes were "reborn" in the pocket universe created by Franklin Richards to save his parents and their friends, while the " Heroes Reborn" line ended and the heroes returned to the prime Marvel Universe. This restoration also undid recent changes to the team members such as the Wasp being mutated into an insectoid state, Hawkeye being rendered deaf, and Stark being replaced by his teenage self, attributed to Franklin's childish perception recreating the heroes in the manner he was more familiar with.

After the Heroes Reborn series concluded, the Avengers comic was restarted with vol. 3 #1 written by Kurt Busiek and pencilled by George Pérez. New members during this run included the revived Wonder Man, Justice, Firestar, Silverclaw, and Triathlon. The Avengers fought many of their traditional villains such as the Grim Reaper, Ultron, Count Nefaria, and Kang the Conqueror. The limited series ''Avengers Forever'', starting during this period, was a time travel story that explored the history of the Avengers and resolved many outstanding questions about Kang and Immortus's past manipulations of the team, featuring various Avengers from the past (Captain America immediately after ''Secret Empire'', Hank Pym early in his Yellowjacket delusion, and Hawkeye just after the Kree-Skrull war), present (Hank Pym as Giant-Man and Janet as the Wasp) and possible futures (Genis-Vell and Songbird) working alongside Kang the Conqueror and Rick Jones as part of Kang's attempt to escape his perceived 'destiny' as Immortus.

2000s

The Avengers were granted international authority by the United Nations. Members joining during that period included Jack of Hearts and the second Ant-Man. A new Captain Britain was added to the team. The "Avengers Disassembled" storyline followed. Titled ''Chaos'', the story featured the deaths of some members and a loss of credibility for the team. The culprit is revealed to be the Scarlet Witch, who had gone insane after agonizing over the memory of her lost children and who subsequently lost control of her reality-altering powers. With the team in disarray and Avengers Mansion ruined, the surviving members agreed to disband.

A new Avengers team formed, in the series '' New Avengers'' after a group of heroes banded together to thwart a break-out at super-villain prison the Raft, composed of Iron Man, Captain America, Luke Cage, Wolverine, Ronin, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, and the mysterious Sentry. This was soon followed by the ''House of M'' event.

In the company-wide "Civil War" story arc, Marvel superheroes were split over compliance with the U.S. government's new Superhuman Registration Act, which required all superpowered persons to register their true identities with the federal government and become agents of same. The New Avengers disbanded, with a rebel underground starring in a series retaining ''The New Avengers'' in its trademarked cover logo and ''New Avengers'' in its copyright indicia. Luke Cage led this team, consisting of himself, Echo, Ronin, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Wolverine, Iron Fist, and Doctor Strange. During the long-term Secret Invasion by the shape-shifting alien race the Skrulls, it was revealed that Spider-Woman had been abducted and replaced by the Skrull queen Veranke before she even joined the team. After the Skrulls' defeat, Spider-Woman was rescued along with other abducted and replaced heroes. During the company-wide story arc " Dark Reign", Echo and Iron Fist left the team and the Avengers gained Ms. Marvel, Bucky Barnes as a fill-in Captain America, and Mockingbird.

Iron Man, in the series ''The Mighty Avengers'', formed a team under the aegis of the government's Fifty State Initiative program, and took up residency in New York City, joined by Ares, the Black Widow, the Sentry, the Wasp, Wonder Man, and leader Carol Danvers as Ms. Marvel. After the events of the Secret Invasion story arc, Norman Osborn assumed control of the formerly S.H.I.E.L.D.-sponsored Avengers, now under the auspices of his own agency, H.A.M.M.E.R. All but Ares and the Sentry left this team — the Wasp appeared to have died — and the team migrated to the series ''Dark Avengers''. Osborn recruited Marvel Boy to pose as Captain Marvel and Daken to pose as his father, Wolverine, bringing Moonstone, Bullseye, and Venom from his previous Thunderbolts team to impersonate Ms. Marvel, Hawkeye, and Spider-Man respectively.

In ''The Mighty Avengers'', Pym, assumed the Wasp identity in tribute to his fallen ex-wife, led a new team of Avengers, and claimed the name for his team as he was the only founding Avenger on any of the three active Avengers rosters (Wasp and Cap were dead, Thor was acting solo, and Iron Man was on the run from Osborn). His team operated under a multinational umbrella group, the Global Reaction Agency for Mysterious Paranormal Activity (GRAMPA). This team featured the roster of Hercules, Amadeus Cho, Stature, the Vision, Jocasta, U.S. Agent, Quicksilver, and Pym. Loki in disguise as the Scarlet Witch was a recurring character. Iron Man and the Hulk were briefly with them.

2010s

After Osborn's Dark Avengers are exposed as criminals and their attack on Asgard was thwarted, the next iteration of the Avengers roster consists of Thor, Hawkeye, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Captain America, Spider-Woman, Iron Man, and team leader Maria Hill. Steve Rogers, briefly eschewing his Captain America persona, responds to Luke Cage's concerns about the team reverting to old methods by granting Cage's "New Avengers" recognition as an official team independent of Stark's more traditional Avengers. Bucky Barnes as Captain America joined the main Avengers, while Iron Fist, Power Woman, and the Thing joined Cage's team, Spider-Man and Wolverine maintaining dual membership in both teams. Rogers was an occasional presence and Victoria Hand was added as a government liaison for the New Avengers with Rogers's backing.

A second series, titled ''Secret Avengers'', was released in May 2010, written by Ed Brubaker with Mike Deodato as the regular artist. The second volume of the '' New Avengers'' series was launched in June 2010, written by Bendis and drawn by Stuart Immonen. A fourth title, ''Avengers Academy'', was launched in June 2010, replacing ''Avengers: The Initiative''. Christos Gage served as writer, with Mike McKone as artist.

Following a meeting between Rogers and MI-13 (comics), MI-13, Captain Britain accepts a position with the Avengers. Noh-Varr later does as well. Hulk, Bruce Banner made arrangements with Rogers for the Thunderbolt Ross, Red Hulk to join.

The "Shattered Heroes" storyline leads to several changes in the main Avengers lineup, with Daisy Johnson, Quake and Storm (Marvel Comics), Storm being recruited, and the Vision rejoining the team. Wolverine and Spider-Man leave the main team and become more involved with the New Avengers. During the events of the "Avengers vs. X-Men" storyline, Storm quits to side with her fellow mutants as a member of the X-Men. The Avengers dismiss Noh-Varr after he attempted to betray the team, though ultimately he did not. The conflict ends with both teams united but defeated by an unrepentant Cyclops (Marvel Comics), Cyclops. A new series, ''Uncanny Avengers'', debuted in the flagship title of the Marvel NOW! initiative. The title is written by Rick Remender with art by John Cassaday, and the team contains members of both the Avengers and the X-Men. As well, a biweekly ''Avengers'' title was launched, written by Jonathan Hickman and drawn by different artists for each story arc. Hickman also began writing ''New Avengers''.
During the 2014 "AXIS (comics), AXIS" storyline, when a now-evil Scarlet Witch invades Latveria, Doctor Doom forms his own team of Avengers consisting of 3D Man, Elsa Bloodstone, Stingray, Valkyrie, and U.S. Agent. After various heroes and villains experience a moral inversion in the battle against the Red Skull empowered with Professor Charles Xavier's abilities, Rogers later assembles Magneto, Doctor Doom, the Absorbing Man, Carnage, Deadpool, the Enchantress, the Hobgoblin, the fifth Jack O'Lantern, Loki, Mystique, and Sabretooth, all temporarily 'inverted' to act as heroes, to assist he and Spider-Man in defeating the inverted Avengers and X-Men until the original spell can be undone. During the "Time Runs Out" storyline, Sunspot (comics), Sunspot created a team of the Avengers, consisting of himself, Black Widow, Cannonball, Manifold, Pod, Shang-Chi, Smasher, Spider-Woman, Validator, and the Children of the Sun. The "Multiversal Avengers" division of this team consists of Abyss, the Ex Nihili (including Ex Nihilo), Hyperion, Nightmask, Odinson, and Star Brand.

Following the destruction and reconstruction of reality in the 2015 "Secret Wars" storyline, a new team is created known as Avengers Idea Mechanics, set to tackle Avengers-level threats beyond simply fighting villains, while the Avengers Unity Squad continues to operate to support mutant relations. Iron Man forms a new team of Avengers in the ''All-New All-Different Avengers'' series consisting of himself, the Vision, Nova (Sam Alexander), Ms. Marvel, Spider-Man (Miles Morales), Captain America (Sam Wilson), and Thor (Jane Foster). Following the "Civil War II", storyline, the title was canceled and replaced with a new volume of the regular ''Avengers'' title. The roster was also changed, where following Iron Man being placed in a coma, and Spider-Man (Miles Morales), Nova, and Ms. Marvel's resignation from the team (who instead teamed up with other heroes their own age to form their own group the Champions (2016 team), Champions), the remaining three members are paired up with Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Hercules and Wasp (Nadia Pym) to form a new team.

During the 2017 "Secret Empire (comic book), Secret Empire" storyline, when Captain America was 'reprogrammed' to believe that he had been a Hydra sleeper agent since childhood, the Hydra regime formed their own Avengers. This team consisted of Odinson (Thor currently doubting his worth and believing that Rogers must be 'right' as he could wield Mjolnir when Thor couldn't, unaware that Hydra had used the cosmic cube to change the nature of the enchantment), Deadpool, a Chthon-possessed Scarlet Witch, Vision (who was suffering from an A.I. Virus created by Arnim Zola), Taskmaster (comics), Taskmaster, Eric O'Grady's Life Model Decoy counterpart Black Ant (comics), Black Ant, and Doctor Octopus' Superior Octopus appearance. However, in the final stand, Odinson rejects Rogers' authority and sides with his old allies, while the Vision's daughter purges him of the virus and Brother Voodoo exorcises Chthon from the Witch. Taskmaster and Black Ant free the imprisoned Champions in exchange for leniency, and the true version of Steve Rogers was restored, using Mjolnir against his counterpart.

In May 2018, another volume for the series was launched as part of Marvel's Fresh Start (comics), Fresh Start initiative, written by Jason Aaron and drawn by Ed McGuinness. This new volume also saw the return of the main three core members, as Steve Rogers and Thor met up with Tony Stark to convince him to reassemble the group with themselves at its core. The reunion was consolidated by the machinations of Loki, who facilitated the arrival of the world-threatening Dark Celestials as a ploy to get the Avengers back in action, resulting in the participation of Black Panther, Carol Danvers, Captain Marvel, She-Hulk, Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes), Ghost Rider and Blade (comics), Blade, with the Black Panther being elected chairperson. After the Dark Celestials were defeated, the Celestials set upright the corpse of the long-time dead Progenitor in the North Pole. The Avengers refurbished the Progenitor's corpse, transforming it into their base of operations, the Avengers Mountain.

Team roster

The Avengers team lineup is known for being perpetually fluid and changing, with many members coming and going, often more than once. The founding members of the team were Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Ant-Man and the Wasp. Hulk left after a single issue, which would become a running gag among splinter team members (for example, Spider-Man leaving the second incarnation of the Avengers Unity Division), and his founder status was retroactively filled in by Captain America. Later additions and frequent members include Hawkeye, Black Widow (Natasha Romanova), Black Widow, Falcon, Black Panther (character), Black Panther, Carol Danvers, Captain Marvel, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, and Vision, among others.

There are also numerous splinter teams that have formed, starting with the West Coast Avengers in 1984. Each of these splinter teams tends to specialize in a way the main team does not. Members of these teams can be on other splinter teams or on the main team. These teams are, in alphabetical order:

* A-Force: An all-female team formed after the ''Secret Wars'' event.
* Avengers A.I.: A team consisting of people with various artificial intelligence-related abilities.
* Avengers Academy: A school for teenage superheroes who served as Avengers members and received training from full-time Avengers members. The school was shut down shortly after the events of ''Avengers Arena''.
* Uncanny Avengers, Avengers Unity Division: A team meant to bridge the gap between humans, mutates, and mutants following ''Avengers vs. X-Men'' by including members of all groups. Their mission statement was later expanded to include Inhumans.
* Avengers World: A team that specializes in international protection following the disbandment of the U.S.Avengers; not to be confused with the Avengers World, comic book of the same name.
* Great Lakes Avengers: A farcical team consisting of low-level heroes living in Wisconsin.
* Mighty Avengers:
** A team formed by Iron Man as part of the Fifty-States Initiative, which was broken apart after the events of ''Secret Invasion''.
** A team formed by Hank Pym after the previous Mighty Avengers collapsed.
** A team formed by Luke Cage to deal with more street-level threats in response to the latest invasion by Thanos. It was shut down by Iron Man during the ''AXIS (comics), AXIS'' event.
* New Avengers:
** A team created after the disbandment of the main team to replace them. This team was known for including more prestigious Marvel superheroes, such as Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Daredevil (Marvel Comics character), Daredevil, and disbanded after the retirement of its leader, Luke Cage.
** A team formed by Sunspot (Marvel Comics), Sunspot after he purchased and reformed Advanced Idea Mechanics.
** A similar team to Sunspot's, going by the name "Avengers Idea Mechanics".
* Savage Avengers: A team consisting of supernatural and/or antiheroic members.
* Secret Avengers:
** A black operation team formed by Steve Rogers.
** Another undercover team formed by S.H.I.E.L.D.
* U.S.Avengers: A patriotic-themed team.
* War Avengers: A temporary team formed during the War of the Realms event.
* West Coast Avengers: A team formed by Vision to expand the Avengers' reach.
* Young Avengers: A team consisting of teenage and young adult heroes.

Of these teams, only the main team, Avengers World, the Great Lakes Avengers, the Savage Avengers, and the Young Avengers are currently active. Additionally, all members of the Fantastic Four, as well as various members of the X-Men, Heroes for Hire, and other prominent Marvel teams have served as members of the Avengers.

Enemies

The Avengers have a long list of villains they frequently face.

Some of the most recurring include Thanos, Ultron, Kang the Conqueror and Loki.

Cultural impact and legacy

Impact

Most of the characters that appear in Marvel Comics' books are set in the same fictional universe, known as the Marvel Universe. They occasionally make guest appearances in each other's books, and more regularly in team books such as ''The Avengers''. Such crossovers encouraged readers to buy other books in the Marvel Comics catalogue, and readers became engrossed not just in the individual characters but in their web of relationships across the broader setting. DC Comics pioneered this idea with the Justice Society of America and the Justice League, likewise promoting and developing the DC Universe. Many readers devoted themselves to just one of these two comic book universes. After all, they were both quite large and didn't overlap. Thus, the superhero fan community developed sub-communities of DC devotees and Marvel devotees.

Marvel Studios repeated this business strategy when it produced the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), culminating with the release of '' The Avengers'' in 2012. Before the MCU, superhero movies were usually isolated productions mostly because of licensing issues, but the shared universe model has led to its continued growing success. In response, Warner Brothers (which owns DC Comics) began to produce its own series of interconnected superhero movies known as the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), culminating with ''Justice League (film), Justice League'' in 2017. Movies tend to have bigger audiences than comic books, so, the general public are more aware that the likes of Wonder Woman and Captain America existed in separate universes owned by different companies. The movies raised brand awareness of DC Comics and Marvel Comics.

Accolades

* In 2012, ''Complex Magazine, Complex'' ranked the Avengers 2nd in their "10 Best Superhero Teams In Comics" list.
* In 2020, ''CBR.com'' ranked the Avengers 2nd in their "Marvel: 10 Most Powerful Teams" list.
* In 2021, ''CBR.com'' ranked the Avengers 1st in their "Every Marvel Superhero Team" list and 1st in their "Marvel: The 10 Strongest Superhero Teams" list.
* In 2022, ''Newsarama'' ranked the Avengers 1st in their "Best superhero teams of all time" list.

Theme park attractions

Avengers Campus

After the acquisition by Disney in 2009, Marvel films began to be marketed at the Innoventions (Disneyland), Innoventions attraction in Tomorrowland#Disneyland (California), Tomorrowland at Disneyland. For ''Iron Man 3'', the exhibit, entitled "Iron Man Tech Presented by Stark Industries", featured the same armor display that was shown at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con, with the Marks I-VII and the new Mark XLII. In addition, there was a simulator game, titled "Become Iron Man", that used Kinect-like technology to allow the viewer to be encased in an animated Mark XLII armor and take part in a series of "tests," in which you fire repulsor rays and fly through Tony Stark's workshop. The game was guided by J.A.R.V.I.S., who is voiced again by Paul Bettany. The exhibit also had smaller displays that included helmets and chest pieces from the earlier films and the gauntlet and boot from an action sequence in ''Iron Man 3''. The exhibit for ''Thor: The Dark World'' was called "Thor: Treasures of Asgard", and featured displays of Asgard (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Asgardian relics and transports guests to Odin (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Odin's throne room, where they were greeted by Thor. ''Captain America: The Winter Soldier''s exhibit, "Captain America: The Living Legend and Symbol of Courage", featured a meet and greet experience.

From May to September 2017, Disneyland Resort featured the "Summer of Heroes", which sees members of the Guardians and Avengers making appearances throughout the Disneyland Resort. Additionally, the Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance Off event was featured, which involved Peter Quill (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Peter Quill / Star-Lord blasting music from his boombox, along with the Avengers Training Initiative, a limited experience where Natasha Romanoff (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Black Widow and Clint Barton (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Hawkeye "assemble a group of young recruits to see if they have what it takes to be an Avenger." Marvel-related food and merchandise was also available throughout Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure during the "Summer of Heroes".

{{cn span, text=In March 2018, the Walt Disney Company announced three new Marvel-themed areas inspired by the MCU to Disney California Adventure, Walt Disney Studios Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland. The developments will be designed by Walt Disney Imagineering in collaboration with Marvel Studios and Marvel Themed Entertainment., date=December 2022 As was established with Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!, Avengers Campus exists in its own theme park universe that is inspired by the MCU.{{Cite web , last=Lussier , first=Germain , date=May 25, 2017 , title=The New Guardians of the Galaxy Ride Exists in Its Own Unique Marvel Universe , url=http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-new-guardians-of-the-galaxy-ride-exists-in-its-own-1795437971 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170528101348/http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-new-guardians-of-the-galaxy-ride-exists-in-its-own-1795437971 , archive-date=May 28, 2017 , access-date=May 29, 2017 , website=io9 {{cn span, text=Being in the MCU multiverse, Avengers Campus has a shared history with the MCU proper, with a few notable exceptions being the Blip from ''Avengers: Infinity War'' did not occur, and some characters who died, such as Tony Stark, are still alive., date=December 2022

Walt Disney Studios Park

In March 2018, the Walt Disney Company announced a new Marvel-themed area inspired by the MCU to Disneyland Paris' Walt Disney Studios Park. The area includes a reimagined attraction where riders team up with Iron Man and other Avengers on a "hyper-kinetic adventure" on July 20, 2022.{{Cite web , last=Perine , first=Aaron , date=November 20, 2021 , title=Disney Announces New Avengers Campus Opening Date , url=https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/disney-new-avengers-campus-opening-date/ , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120153316/https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/disney-new-avengers-campus-opening-date/ , archive-date=November 20, 2021 , access-date=July 1, 2022 , website=ComicBook.com The park also hosted the "Summer of Super Heroes" live-action stage show from June–September 2018.{{Cite web , last=Glover , first=Erin , date=March 20, 2018 , title=Avengers and Other Super Heroes to Assemble in New Themed Areas at Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland , url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2018/03/avengers-and-other-super-heroes-to-assemble-in-new-themed-areas-at-disneyland-resort-disneyland-paris-and-hong-kong-disneyland/ , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321063239/https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2018/03/avengers-and-other-super-heroes-to-assemble-in-new-themed-areas-at-disneyland-resort-disneyland-paris-and-hong-kong-disneyland/ , archive-date=March 21, 2018 , access-date=March 20, 2018 , website=Disney Parks Blog

''Avengers: Quantum Encounter''

{{main, Disney Wish
In July 2021, the immersive family dining experience "Avengers: Quantum Encounter" at the Worlds of Marvel restaurant on the ''Disney Wish'' cruise line was announced, which debuted when the cruise began voyages on July 14, 2022.{{Cite web , last=Paige , first=Rachel , date=July 8, 2021 , title=Science and Cuisine Collide with 'Avengers: Quantum Encounter' Dining Experience Aboard the Disney Wish , url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/culture-lifestyle/avengers-quantum-encounter-dining-experience-disney-wish , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708151056/https://www.marvel.com/articles/culture-lifestyle/avengers-quantum-encounter-dining-experience-disney-wish , archive-date=July 8, 2021 , access-date=July 8, 2021 , website=Marvel.com{{Cite web , last=Tribou , first=Richard , date=February 3, 2022 , title=Disney Cruise Line delays debut of Disney Wish at Port Canaveral , url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-bz-disney-cruise-line-disney-wish-delay-20220203-zzuva27445ea7h6ksmrjueqy4q-story.html , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217194427/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-bz-disney-cruise-line-disney-wish-delay-20220203-zzuva27445ea7h6ksmrjueqy4q-story.html , archive-date=February 17, 2022 , access-date=April 9, 2022 , website=Orlando Sentinel The experience takes place during dinner with interactive elements and a full CGI recreation of the ''Wish''{{'s upper decks.{{Cite web , last=Goslin , first=Austen , date=October 26, 2021 , title=Disney made a new Avengers show but you'll have to take a cruise to see it , url=https://www.polygon.com/22746704/disney-wish-avengers-quantom-encounter , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026202421/https://www.polygon.com/22746704/disney-wish-avengers-quantom-encounter , archive-date=October 26, 2021 , access-date=October 28, 2021 , website=Polygon (website), Polygon Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Anthony Mackie, Brie Larson, Kerry Condon, and Iman Vellani reprised their MCU roles,{{Cite web , last=Sternberg , first=Sabrina , date=October 26, 2021 , title=Brie Larson, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie and More to Star in Marvel Dining Adventure on Disney Wish Cruise Ship , url=https://collider.com/brie-larson-paul-rudd-anthony-mackie-avengers-quantum-encounter-disney-wish/ , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026230737/https://collider.com/brie-larson-paul-rudd-anthony-mackie-avengers-quantum-encounter-disney-wish/ , archive-date=October 26, 2021 , access-date=October 26, 2021 , website=Collider (website), Collider{{Cite web , last=Paige , first=Rachel , date=June 16, 2022 , title=Ms. Marvel Boards the Disney Wish and Joins 'Avengers: Quantum Encounter' , url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/culture-lifestyle/ms-marvel-disney-wish-avengers-quantum-encounter , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616162609/https://www.marvel.com/articles/culture-lifestyle/ms-marvel-disney-wish-avengers-quantum-encounter , archive-date=June 16, 2022 , access-date=June 16, 2022 , website=Marvel.com while Ross Marquand voiced Ultron (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Ultron after previously doing so in ''What If...? (TV series), What If...?'', in which he replaced James Spader. Chris Waitt directed Rudd and Lilly's content, which was written by Steven Spiegel and featured visual effects by Framestore.{{Cite web , last=Jirak , first=Jamie , date=April 7, 2022 , title=Ant-Man Star Paul Rudd Appears in New Photo for Avengers: Quantum Encounter , url=https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/ant-man-star-paul-rudd-appears-in-new-photo-for-avengers-quantum-encounter/ , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408225051/https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/ant-man-star-paul-rudd-appears-in-new-photo-for-avengers-quantum-encounter/ , archive-date=April 8, 2022 , access-date=April 8, 2022 , website=ComicBook.com{{Cite web , title=Chris Waitt Portfolio – Avengers: Quantum Encounter , url=https://www.chriswaitt.com/portfolio/avengers-quantum-encounter , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408225339/https://www.chriswaitt.com/portfolio/avengers-quantum-encounter , archive-date=April 8, 2022 , access-date=April 8, 2022 , website=ChrisWaitt.com

''Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.''

In May 2014, the ''Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.'' (Scientific Training and Tactical Intelligence Operative Network) exhibit opened at the Discovery Times Square center. The exhibit features replica set pieces, as well as actual props from the films, mixed with interactive technology and information, crafted through a partnership with NASA and other scientists. Titus Welliver also provides a "debrief" to visitors, reprising his role as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Felix Blake. Created by Victory Hill Exhibits, ''Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.'' cost $7.5 million to create,{{Cite web , last=Sacks , first=Ethan , date=May 25, 2014 , title=Exclusive: Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N exhibit fan-tastic blend of props, high-tech , url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/exclusive-avengers-s-t-t-o-n-exhibit-fan-tastic-article-1.1804244 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925104435/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/exclusive-avengers-s-t-t-o-n-exhibit-fan-tastic-article-1.1804244 , archive-date=September 25, 2014 , access-date=September 20, 2014 , website=New York Daily News{{Cite magazine , last=Towers , first=Andrea , date=May 30, 2014 , title=Marvel's 'Avengers' S.T.A.T.I.O.N. exhibit: We took the tour (and chatted with Stan Lee) , url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2014/05/30/the-avengers-exhibit-new-york/ , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022103551/http://popwatch.ew.com/2014/05/30/the-avengers-exhibit-new-york/ , archive-date=October 22, 2014 , access-date=September 20, 2014 , magazine=Entertainment Weekly and ran through early September 2015.{{Cite web , last=Nelson , first=Craig , date=October 6, 2015 , title=10 Essential Exhibits at Marvel's Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. , url=http://www.newyork.com/articles/attractions/10-essential-exhibits-at-marvels-avengers-s-t-a-t-i-o-n-86371/ , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327025217/http://www.newyork.com/articles/attractions/10-essential-exhibits-at-marvels-avengers-s-t-a-t-i-o-n-86371/ , archive-date=March 27, 2015 , access-date=August 24, 2015 , website=NewYork.com

The exhibit also opened in South Korea at the War Memorial of Korea in April 2015,{{Cite web , last=Hyo-won , first=Lee , date=April 17, 2015 , title=South Korea Hypes Up for 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' , url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/south-korea-hypes-up-avengers-789522 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006091553/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/south-korea-hypes-up-avengers-789522 , archive-date=October 6, 2016 , access-date=June 25, 2016 , website=The Hollywood Reporter{{Cite web , last=Victory Hill Exhibitions , date=June 25, 2016 , title=Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. Immersive Attraction Opens in Las Vegas , url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/avengers-t-t-o-n-140000262.html , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813205257/http://finance.yahoo.com/news/avengers-t-t-o-n-140000262.html , archive-date=August 13, 2016 , access-date=June 25, 2016 , website=Yahoo! in Paris, France, at Esplanade de La Défense (Paris Métro), Esplanade de La Défense a year later, and in Las Vegas at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in June 2016. The Las Vegas version of the exhibit featured updated character details and corresponding science to incorporate the Marvel films that have released since the original exhibit in New York. Additionally, the Las Vegas version features Cobie Smulders reprising her role as Maria Hill to "debrief" visitors, replacing Welliver.{{Cite web , last=Ouellette , first=Jennifer , date=June 24, 2016 , title=Explore the Science of The Avengers with This Sneak Peek into a New Vegas Exhibit , url=https://gizmodo.com/explore-the-science-of-the-avengers-with-this-sneak-pee-1782300625 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160626140933/http://gizmodo.com/explore-the-science-of-the-avengers-with-this-sneak-pee-1782300625 , archive-date=June 26, 2016 , access-date=June 25, 2016 , website=Gizmodo

''Avengers: Damage Control''

In October 2019, Marvel Studios and ILMxLAB announced the virtual reality experience ''Avengers: Damage Control''. The experience would be available for a limited time starting in mid-October 2019 at select The Void (virtual reality), Void VR locations. ''Avengers: Damage Control'' sees players taking control of one of Shuri's Emergency Response Suits–which combine Wakandan and Stark Industries technologies–to defeat a threat alongside Doctor Strange, Ant-Man, and the Wasp. Letitia Wright, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Rudd, and Evangeline Lilly all reprise their MCU roles,{{Cite web , last=Whitbrook , first=James , date=October 3, 2019 , title=Test Out Shuri's Latest Gadgets in ILM's New Marvel VR Experience, Avengers: Damage Control , url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/test-out-shuris-latest-gadgets-in-ilms-new-marvel-vr-ex-1838741351 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003174402/https://io9.gizmodo.com/test-out-shuris-latest-gadgets-in-ilms-new-marvel-vr-ex-1838741351 , archive-date=October 3, 2019 , access-date=October 3, 2019 , website=io9 while Ross Marquand voices Ultron, replacing James Spader.{{Cite web , last=Davis , first=Brandon , date=October 15, 2019 , title=Avengers: Damage Control Recasts James Spader's Ultron , url=https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/avengers-damage-control-recasts-james-spaders-ultron/ , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302032936/https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/avengers-damage-control-recasts-james-spaders-ultron/ , archive-date=March 2, 2021 , access-date=October 28, 2021 , website=ComicBook.com The experience was extended to the end of 2019.{{Cite web , last=Paige , first=Rachel , date=November 18, 2019 , title='Avengers: Damage Control' Extended: Team Up to Fight Alongside Earth's Mightiest Heroes , url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/culture-lifestyle/avengers-damage-control-extended-dates , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191118233833/https://www.marvel.com/articles/culture-lifestyle/avengers-damage-control-extended-dates , archive-date=November 18, 2019 , website=Marvel.com

Other versions

1950s Avengers

{{Main, Agents of Atlas

A short-lived team of superheroes in the 1950s called themselves the ''Avengers''. It consisted of Marvel Boy (Robert Grayson), Marvel Boy, Venus (Marvel Comics), Venus, the 3-D Man, Gorilla-Man, M-11 (comics), M-11, Jimmy Woo, Namora, and Jann of the Jungle, and existed in an Parallel universe (fiction), alternate timeline that was erased by the time-manipulating Immortus. Agents of Atlas, a version of the group, without 3-D Man and Jann existed in mainstream continuity, and eventually reformed in the present day.

Avengers 1959

{{Main, Avengers 1959

The '' New Avengers'' vol. 2, #10 revealed another 1950s Avengers team, formed by Nick Fury to hunt the last remnants of Nazi Germany and consisted of Fury himself, Dominic Fortune, Dum Dum Dugan, Namora, Silver Sable, Sabretooth (comics), Sabretooth, Kraven the Hunter, and Ulysses Bloodstone. A follow-up miniseries penned by Howard Chaykin showed this group assisted by Blonde Phantom, Eric Koenig and a brand new character British wizard and spy, Powell McTeague. That time they fought against a cult based on the Nazi party which employed several agents, including Baron Blood and Brain Drain (comics), Brain Drain.

Avengers (1,000,000 B.C. version)

In the one-shot issue that ties in with "Marvel Legacy," there was a version of the Avengers that existed back circa 1,000,000 B.C. The line-up consists of Agamotto, Odin (Marvel Comics), Odin, Phoenix Force (comics)#Lady Phoenix, Lady Phoenix and Stone Age versions of Black Panther (character)#Mosi, Black Panther, Ghost Rider#Ghost / The Rider, Ghost Rider, Iron Fist (comics)#Fan Fei, Iron Fist, and Star Brand#Vnn, Star Brand. This group first came together to defeat an out-of-control Celestial (comics), Celestial called the Fallen where they defeated it and sealed it underground somewhere in South Africa.

Avengers (A.D. 1000 version)

During the 11th century, it is revealed that Thor had formed that time period's version of the Avengers with Boldof the Black, the Black Panther Black Panther (character)#Nehanda, Nehanda, Ghost Rider#Hellhawk, Chief Hellhawk, an Iron Fist (comics)#Unnamed Atlantean, unnamed Atlantean who wielded the Iron Fist, and Tanaraq of the Great Beasts.

Avengers Next

{{Main, A-Next

In the alternate future timeline known as Marvel Comics 2, MC2, the Avengers disbanded and Avengers Mansion was a museum. An emergency forced Edwin Jarvis to sound an alert, and a new generation of heroes formed a new team of Avengers. Most of the new Avengers were children of established Marvel superheroes.

Ultimate Marvel

{{Main, Ultimates
In the Ultimate Marvel Universe, the Avengers are named the Ultimates, and were formed by Ultimate Nick Fury, General Nicholas Fury to protect America against superhuman threats. They first appeared in ''The Ultimates (comic book), The Ultimates'' by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. After the events of ''The Ultimates 2'', the team left S.H.I.E.L.D. employment to become independent and financed by Ultimate Iron Man, Tony Stark.

A Black Ops team called the ''Avengers'' debuted sometime after the ''Ultimatum (Ultimate Marvel), Ultimatum'' storyline. This version was a project headed up by Nick Fury and Tony Stark's brother Gregory Stark to bring Captain America back. Its known members consisted of War Machine#Ultimate Marvel, War Machine, Hawkeye (Clint Barton)#Ultimate Marvel, Hawkeye, Monica Chang, Black Widow II, Spider (an Asian in an orange and purple Spider-Man outfit who once claimed to be a spliced clone of Spider-Man (Ultimate Marvel character), Spider-Man and Professor X#Ultimate Marvel, Professor X from the future), Tyrone Cash (who was the original Hulk before Hulk (Ultimate Marvel character), Bruce Banner), Petra Laskov, Red Wasp (a former Liberators member), and Nerd Hulk (an intelligent clone of Hulk who lacks Hulk's rage). Additional members included Punisher#Ultimate Marvel, Punisher (who joined the Avengers against a Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze)#Ultimate Marvel, Ghost Rider manhunt) and the half vampire Blade (character)#Ultimate Marvel, Blade (who joined the group to help against a Vampire (Marvel Comics), vampire invasion).

Avengers Forever

One of the timelines seen in ''Avengers Forever'' is an alternate future where Martians (War of the Worlds), Martians have ravaged Earth and killed most of its heroes. An older version of Black Panther leads a team of Avengers consisting of Killraven, Living Lightning, Jocasta (Marvel Comics), Jocasta, a new Crimson Dynamo, and Thundra.

Marvel Zombies

The Avengers existed as a team prior to a zombie contagion's arrival in the original Marvel Zombies universe and resembled their pre-disassembled roster. When several of their members were infected, they set about eating humanity and sent out a bogus "Avengers Assemble" call to draw super-humans to the Avengers Mansion, infected more heroes and thus spread the virus. The team fell apart and many of its members were killed as time passed.

The second team of zombie Avengers appeared in ''Marvel Zombies Return'', set in another timeline where the original zombies had been sent after the final battle. That team was brought together to find food and kill any resistance (zombie or uninfected) and was led by Sentry. Also on the team were the zombies Moon Knight, Namor, Quasar (comics), Quasar, Quicksilver, Thundra, and Super-Skrull. They were joined by zombie Giant-Man of the original Zombiverse, who was trying to power a dimensional teleporter, but were all killed by Spider-Man's New Avengers. The team was composed of himself with Iron Man (James Rhodes, who had escaped infection by the zombie virus by amputating his bitten limbs and replacing them with cybernetic implants), Sandman, and the zombie Hulk and Wolverine.

House of M: Avengers

In an alternate reality which was created by the Scarlet Witch, the Avengers were a street gang of superpowered humans formed by Luke Cage in Hell's Kitchen, a human ghetto in the mutant-ruled reality. Although they were initially criminals, the disenfranchised human residents came to view the Avengers as their protectors and would often go to Cage when the mutant authorities refused to help them.

Age of Apocalypse

A humanized version of the Avengers banded together during the Age of Apocalypse and were known as the Human High Council.

Avengers 2099

During the "Secret Wars" storyline in the Battleworld domain of 2099, the Avengers are a team of corporate superheroes sponsored by Alchemax. The group consists of Captain America (a Latina woman named Roberta Mendez), Black Widow (an African-American woman named Tania), Iron Man (a Dwarfism, dwarf named Sonny Frisco), Hawkeye (a half-man, half-bird creature named Max), and Hercules.{{cite comic, writer= Peter David, David, Peter, penciller= Sliney, Will, inker= Sliney, Will, story= Nueva York. The year 2099, title= Secret Wars 2099, issue= 1, date= July 2015

In other media

{{Main, Avengers (comics) in other media, Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Television

Three animated series have been based on the team.

* ''The Avengers: United They Stand'' was mainly based on the Roy Thomas era of the group, and ran from 1999 to 2000.
* ''The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes'' was based on the early adventures of the team, but also used many elements from other runs. The TV show ran for two seasons, from 2010 to 2013, and started presenting the original Avengers line-up founded by Iron Man, Thor, Ant-Man, Wasp and the Hulk, who leaves the group after battling Amora the Enchantress and Skurge. Captain America later joins the team, replacing him.
* ''Avengers Assemble (TV series), Avengers Assemble'' is mainly based on the MCU iteration of the group and premiered on May 26, 2013. The show also changed its title to ''Avengers: Ultron Revolution'' (2016), ''Avengers: Secret Wars'' (2017) and ''Avengers: Black Panther's Quest'' (2018).

Film

Marvel Animation has made three Avengers films, ''Ultimate Avengers'', ''Ultimate Avengers 2'', and ''Next Avengers''.

The Avengers are prominent in current popular culture due to the Marvel Cinematic Universe from Marvel Studios. The Avengers as an organization was emphasized in '' The Avengers''. This film featured Tony Stark (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Iron Man, Steve Rogers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Captain America, Bruce Banner (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Hulk and Thor (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Thor being recruited by Avengers' founder Nick Fury to fight, alongside S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Natasha Romanoff (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Black Widow and Clint Barton (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Hawkeye, the villain Loki (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Loki, who leads an invasion of New York City with a Chitauri army. The Avengers are successful in bringing an end to the attack and restraining Loki. It is revealed in the 2019 film ''Captain Marvel (film), Captain Marvel'' – set in the 1990s – that Fury named the Avengers Initiative after being inspired by Carol Danvers, who used the call sign when she was an Air Force pilot.

A second ''Avengers'' film titled ''Avengers: Age of Ultron'' was released on May 1, 2015, which featured the Avengers forced to face the menace of Ultron after Tony was manipulated into accelerating an artificial intelligence program and the resulting entity was driven insane. The film ended with Falcon, War Machine, Vision and Wanda Maximoff (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Scarlet Witch joining the team after Iron Man, Hawkeye, Thor and Hulk left to explore personal issues ( Quicksilver also joined briefly as was killed in the battle with Ultron). The team also was featured in the film ''Captain America: Civil War'', which saw Captain America and Iron Man acting as leaders to two opposing Avenger teams acting against and for the 'Sokovia Accords'. The Accords would bring heroes under government control, with Captain America leading the team of Bucky Barnes, Winter Soldier, Falcon, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye and Scott Lang (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Ant-Man against the idea of being under external authority, while Iron Man and his team of War Machine, Black Widow, Vision, Black Panther and Peter Parker (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Spider-Man fight to make the heroes accountable.

A third ''Avengers'' film titled ''Avengers: Infinity War'' was released on April 27, 2018, where the heroes from ''Civil War''– now including Thor and Hulk but absent Hawkeye and Ant-Man– join forces with the Guardians of the Galaxy (2008 team), Guardians of the Galaxy and Doctor Strange to stop the mad titan Thanos (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Thanos as he attempts to claim the Infinity Gems, Infinity Stones. Despite their efforts, Thanos manages to gather the six stones, killing Gamora and the Vision in the process, with the Snap killing Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Star-Lord, Mantis, Drax, Groot, Black Panther, Falcon, the Winter Soldier, and the Scarlet Witch, among others.

A fourth film titled ''Avengers: Endgame'' was released on April 26, 2019, which opens with the revelation that Thanos had destroyed the Infinity Stones in the present. Five years later, the return of Scott Lang (who had been trapped in the Quantum Realm after the Snap) gave the Avengers the opportunity to undo Thanos' victory via a complex scheme involving time travel; as Thanos had destroyed the Infinity Stones in the present, the team go back and gather past versions of the Stones and bring them into the present to create a new Gauntlet. After Black Widow sacrificed herself to claim the Soul Stone, a past version of Thanos travelled into the future with the goal of using the gauntlet to completely remake the universe. The final battle against Thanos featured an Avengers roster including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, War Machine, Falcon, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, Ant-Man, Hope Pym, Wasp, Doctor Strange, Rescue (Pepper Potts), Rescue, Black Panther, Okoye, Bucky, Nebula, and Rocket Raccoon (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Rocket Raccoon, as well as the Guardians of the Galaxy. The film concludes with the Avengers essentially disbanded as a team, with Black Widow and Iron Man deceased, Hawkeye and Ant-Man retired to return to their respective families, Hulk crippled by an injured arm after he triggered the reverse Snap, and Thor departing Earth with the Guardians of the Galaxy. Captain America returns to the past to marry Peggy Carter, and in the present he becomes old and passes his shield and mantle to Falcon, making him his successor.

Two further ''Avengers'' films are slated for release in 2025: ''Avengers: The Kang Dynasty'' and ''Avengers: Secret Wars''.

See also

* Dark Avengers – Supervillain and antihero version of the Avengers
* Young Avengers – Young version of the Avengers
* Alpha Flight – The Canadian version of the Avengers.
* Big Hero 6 (comics), Big Hero 6 – The Japanese version of the Avengers.
* Excalibur (comics), Excalibur – The British version of the Avengers.
* Winter Guard – The Russian version of the Avengers.
* Justice League - A DC comics superhero team with the same concept of the Avengers.
* List of Marvel Comics superhero debuts
{{clear

References

{{Reflist

Sources

*{{cite book , author=Andrew Hickey , year=2011 , title=An Incomprehensible Condition: An Unauthorised Guide To Grant Morrison's Seven Soldiers , isbn=978-1-4477-8002-1 , ref=refHickey2011
*{{cite book , author=Roz Kaveney , year=2008 , title=Superheroes!: Capes and Crusaders in Comics and Films, publisher=Bloomsbury Academic , isbn=978-1-84511-569-2 , ref=refKaveney2008

External links

{{Wikiquote
Avengers
at the Superhero Database
*Marvel pages
A1963A1996A1998A2010A2012A2016A2018
��Sales figures from 1966–present
*MarvelDatabase:Avengers, MDP:Avengers—Marvel Database Project (wiki)
Avengers Assemble!
��Archives and Database

at Don Markstein's Toonopedia
Archived
from the original on April 7, 2012.
*{{Marveldatabase, Avengers
*https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Avengers

{{Avengers
{{Avengers characters
{{Stan Lee
{{Jack Kirby
{{Navboxes top
, title= Articles and topics related to the Avengers
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{{Avengers Academy
{{Dark Avengers
{{Illuminati (comics), Illuminati
{{Mighty Avengers
{{New Avengers
{{Secret Avengers
{{Uncanny Avengers
{{Young Avengers
{{Avengers publications
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{{Ant-Man and Wasp
{{Black Panther
{{Black Widow
{{Blade
{{Captain America
{{Captain Marvel (Marvel Comics)
{{Deadpool
{{Doctor Strange
{{Hawkeye
{{Hulk
{{Iron Fist
{{Iron Man
{{Luke Cage
{{Moon Knight
{{Ms. Marvel
{{Namor
{{Nick Fury
{{Shang-Chi
{{She-Hulk
{{Silver Surfer
{{Spider-Man characters
{{Spider-Woman
{{Thor
{{Wolverine
{{navboxes bottom
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{{Eternals
{{Fantastic Four
{{Guardians of the Galaxy
{{Inhumans
{{Ka-Zar
{{S.H.I.E.L.D.
{{X-Men characters
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{{Doctor Doom
{{Galactus
{{Goblin (Marvel Comics)
{{Magneto
{{Skrull
{{Symbiote Family and Hosts
{{Thanos
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{{Authority control

Avengers (comics),
Marvel Comics American superheroes
Characters created by Jack Kirby
Characters created by Stan Lee
Comics by Geoff Johns
Comics by John Byrne (comics)
Comics by Kurt Busiek
Comics by Mark Waid
Comics characters introduced in 1963