History ComicBook / TheAvengers

Not to be confused with the British AgentsDating/Spy Couple series ''Series/TheAvengers''.

The Franchise/MarvelUniverse's all-star super-hero team, [[AlternateCompanyEquivalent equivalent]] to Franchise/TheDCU's Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica... except with more B-List heroes originally and a name that is based firmly on the concept of RuleOfCool (literally, Wasp picked the name because it sounded cool; some adaptations provide better explanations, though). The team debuted in The Avengers #1 in 1963. The classic lineup is ComicBook/CaptainAmerica, ComicBook/IronMan, ComicBook/AntMan, ComicBook/TheWasp, [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]], and [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk The Hulk]]. The team also within the first few issues gained the series trademark of [[RevolvingDoorBand shifting lineups]], with the Hulk leaving the group with issue two, and Captain America not actually joining until issue 4, and with the major change of all the originals save Captain America being replaced by issue 16. Over the years, half of the Franchise/MarvelUniverse has been a member (to the point that every member of the ComicBook/FantasticFour has been a member at some point), with new members being recruited and old members coming back or leaving [[RotatingArcs as story dictates]]. Other long-serving members include ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}, the ComicBook/ScarletWitch, ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}}, ComicBook/TheVision, [[Comicbook/TheIncredibleHercules Hercules]], ComicBook/SheHulk, ComicBook/WonderMan, [[ComicBook/MsMarvel Captain Marvel]], ComicBook/{{Beast|Marvel Comics}}, ComicBook/BlackPanther, Comicbook/BlackWidow, and many many more.

The Avengers have been adapted for other mediums multiple times; a complete list of which can be found on [[Franchise/TheAvengers the Franchise page]]. The highest-profile and most influential version is the one that features in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, with several members getting their own films and a few others being supporting characters, and the MCU usually brings the entire team together in an ''Avengers'' movie at the climax of a multi-film story arc. The movies that feature the entire team are ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'', ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'', ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', and ''Film/AvengersEndgame''. Like the comics, the team has a flexible roster:
[[folder:MCU Avengers]]
* Founding members: Comicbook/IronMan (Creator/RobertDowneyJr), Comicbook/CaptainAmerica (Creator/ChrisEvans), [[Comicbook/TheMightyThor Thor]] (Creator/ChrisHemsworth), ComicBook/BlackWidow (Creator/ScarlettJohansson), ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}} (Creator/JeremyRenner), and [[Comicbook/IncredibleHulk the Hulk]] (Creator/MarkRuffalo)
** ''Age of Ultron'' additions: ComicBook/ScarletWitch (Creator/ElizabethOlsen), ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}} (Creator/AaronJohnson), and Comicbook/TheVision (Creator/PaulBettany)
* New Avengers (between ''Age of Ultron'' and ''Civil War''): Captain America, Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, Vision, ComicBook/WarMachine (Creator/DonCheadle) and ComicBook/TheFalcon (Creator/AnthonyMackie)
* ''Civil War'':
** Team Iron Man: Iron Man, Black Widow, War Machine, Vision, ComicBook/BlackPanther (Creator/ChadwickBoseman), and ComicBook/SpiderMan (Creator/TomHolland). Afterwards, the membership is reduced to Iron Man, War Machine, and Vision; Spider-Man is later offered membership but declines.
** Team Cap: Captain America, Falcon, ComicBook/BuckyBarnes (Creator/SebastianStan), Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, and ComicBook/AntMan (Creator/PaulRudd). After the movie, Captain America, Falcon, and Black Widow (moving from Iron Man's team) continue operating underground.
* ''Infinity War'': The movie's main team is formed by Captain America, Black Widow, Falcon, Vision, Scarlet Witch, War Machine, Bruce Banner,[[note]]not the Hulk, despite Banner's best efforts[[/note]] Black Panther, and Bucky Barnes; with Thor in a separate subplot until he meets up with them as an EleventhHourRanger. Iron Man, ComicBook/DoctorStrange (Creator/BenedictCumberbatch), and Spider-Man act as a smaller independent team.
* ''Endgame'': Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, the Hulk, War Machine, and Ant-Man; plus Rocket Raccoon (Creator/BradleyCooper) and Nebula (Creator/KarenGillan) on loan from the Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy.
[[/folder]]

* ''Endgame'': The main team in the film appears to be Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, War Machine, Bruce Banner, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Ant-Man, and [[ComicBook/CarolDanvers Captain Marvel]] (Creator/BrieLarson); plus Rocket Raccoon (Creator/BradleyCooper) and Nebula (Creator/KarenGillan) on loan from the Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy. Ultimately, all official and unofficial Avengers[[note]]with the sole exception of Quicksilver, who died in ''Age of Ultron''[[/note]] plus the rest of the Guardians and ComicBook/TheWasp (Creator/EvangelineLilly) are expected to join the fight.

* ''Endgame'': The main team in the film appears to be Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, War Machine, Bruce Banner, Rocket Raccoon (Creator/BradleyCooper), and Ant-Man; with Iron Man and Hawkeye (as "Ronin") operating independently at first and [[ComicBook/CarolDanvers Captain Marvel]] (Creator/BrieLarson) expected to join as well. Ultimately, all official and unofficial Avengers[[note]]with the sole exception of Quicksilver, who died in ''Age of Ultron''[[/note]] plus ComicBook/TheWasp (Creator/EvangelineLilly) are expected to join the fight.

* HighTurnoverRate: It was proverbial for this until the modern era for having an expanding constantly shuffling roster, especially in the opening ten years or so. The complaints people had about ''Avengers Disassembled'' and ''New Avengers'' changing rosters suddenly and dramatically were par for the course.

->''"And there came a ''day,'' a day unlike any ''other,'' when ''[[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk Earth's]] [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor mightiest]] [[ComicBook/IronMan heroes]] [[ComicBook/AntMan and]] [[ComicBook/TheWasp heroines]]'' found themselves ''united'' against a common threat! On that day, the ''[==]'''Avengers'''[==]'' were born—to fight the foes no ''single'' super hero could withstand! Through the years, their roster has ''prospered,'' changing ''many times,'' but their ''glory'' has never been denied! Heed the ''call,'' then—for now, the ''[==]'''AvengersAssemble!'''[==]''"''

[[caption-width-right:350:AVENGERS ASSEMBLE![[note]]Pictured, left to right: [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk Hulk]], ComicBook/IronMan, [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]], ComicBook/TheVision, ComicBook/CaptainAmerica, ComicBook/WonderMan, [[ComicBook/AntMan Henry Pym]], ComicBook/ScarletWitch, ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}}, ComicBook/MsMarvel, and Triathlon. Not pictured: [[ComicBook/TheWasp Wasp]], ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}, and about [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters a hundred other heroes]]]][[/note]]

The Avengers have been adapted for other mediums multiple times; a complete list of which can be found on [[Franchise/TheAvengers the Franchise page]]. The highest-profile and most influential version is the one that features in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, with several members getting their own films and a few others being supporting characters, and the MCU usually brings the entire team together in an ''Avengers'' movie at the climax of a multi-film story arc. The movies that feature the entire team are ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'', ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'', ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', and ''Film/AvengersEndgame''. Like the comics, the team has a flexible roster, consisting of:

* ''Endgame'': This one will involve all of the above heroes[[note]]with the sole exception of Quicksilver, who died in ''Age of Ultron''[[/note]] plus ComicBook/TheWasp (Creator/EvangelineLilly) and [[ComicBook/CarolDanvers Captain Marvel]] (Creator/BrieLarson).

* ''Occupy Avengers'': Another team formed from the aftermath of ''ComicBook/CivilWarII'', ''Occupy'' features unpowered heroes going on the road to help everyday people.
* The current Avengers team as of 2018 consist of the big three; Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor. Along with Black Panther, Dr. Strange, Hulk (Jennifer Walters), Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes), and Captain Marvel.

* AnimalThemedSuperbeing: Tons of members: ComicBook/AntMan (three versions), ComicBook/TheWasp (two versions), Yellowjacket (also two versions), Comicbook/SpiderWoman (again, there were two different versions; funnily enough, the original one joined the team ''later'') Mockingbird, [[Comicbook/TheFalcon Falcon]], Hellcat / Tigra, Stingray, Mantis, ComicBook/BlackPanther, Comicbook/BlackWidow, Franchise/SpiderMan, and {{Wolverine}}.

* AesopCollateralDamage: The first story of the "Sons of the Serpent" explained at every page everything that was wrong with racism. Poor Bill Foster (who was not Black Goliath nor had any special powers back then) received a huge beating by the Serpents, just so that the Avengers could keep telling that racism was so awfully wrong.

* AllYourPowersCombined: Super-Adaptoid.

* AnAssKickingChristmas: Avengers 157 takes place on Christmas Eve. The "Ghost of stone" (a living statue of the Black Knight) beats Beast, Iron Man, Yellowjacket, Captain America, Wasp, Jarvis, the Scarlet Witch and Wonder Man, and finally the Vision [[TalkingTheMonsterToDeath talked him to death]]. And, as the next story continues right where the previous one ended, issues 158 and 159 are also on Christmas. Graviton captures a whole city with his power, takes it to the air, defeats the Avengers badly, takes it to float above New York, gives an ultimatum to the UN, drives a woman to suicide, and tries to kill the Avengers. And, as issue 160 also starts where the previous one ended, it is ''also'' in christmas. The Grim Reaper found out about the resurrection of Wonder Man, and wants to find which one is his brother, the Vision or him, and kill the other. What a Christmas! Those guys must be at the top of Santa's naughty list!

** Separately: Captain America, Hawkeye, Wonder Man, Vision, Wasp, Thor, Mockingbird, Hellcat, Jack of Hearts, Quasar, and Ant Man II have all come back from the dead in various ways and forms.

* ButtMonkey: Hank Pym, Hank Pym, [[RuleOfThree Hank Pym]]. The latter era runs did a good job trying to lift him from his ButtMonkey status, but then, [[http://i.imgur.com/VkgP17z.jpg THIS is the cover image of the final issue of ''Mighty Avengers'']].
** No worries, that was just CoversAlwaysLie.

* DistressCall: How the group first formed.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Warlock #11, in the 1970s. Trying to prevent himself from turning into the Magus, Warlock (with Thanos' help) uses a time probe to go some months into the future. He finds his future self in some destroyed sci-fi setting, dying among the remains. The dying Warlock is fully aware of what is his younger self about to do: capture his soul with the soul gem. He is completely bitter and cynical, and ready to die. "''[[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-19yt71Nt_DI/UJbWdb_pneI/AAAAAAAADTY/udSmH6BR8wc/s1600/welcome+its+end.jpg Short time? You fool, it's been an eternity. During that time, everything I've ever cared for or accomplished has fallen into ruin! Everyone I've ever loved now lies dead! My life has been a failure! I welcome it's end!]]''" Warlock captures his future self's soul, and returns to the present. You asked about the Avengers? Oh, well, the Avengers, Warlock and Captain Marvel fought against Thanos' armada in ''Avengers Annual #7''. His main ship was actually a decoy, so Warlock and Marvel left the Avengers and foght Thanos at his real ship. And, after the battle... [[http://www.soundonsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/StrangeDeathofWarlock.png exactly the same thing happened]].

* FullyAbsorbedFinale: The first ''Spider-Woman series'', ending with her apparent death, was resolved in ''The Avengers'' #239-242 with Jessica Drew losing her powers in order to help the Avengers beat Morgaine [=LeFey=].

** It's more guaranteed to go the other way: Namor was an Avenger before his current tenure with the X-Men.

* MyFriendsAndZoidberg: Gorgon appears at the Avengers mansion to take them to the wedding of Quicksilver and Crystal, only to realize that (contrary to promises) Quicksilver had not invited them. He begins to kick the floor in anger, as Mantis requests he not destroy their house. The Scarlet Witch corrects her: the Avengers house, she's no Avenger, she was there just as a courtesy to her boyfriend the Swordsman (who was an Avenger). Sounds mean? Well, have in mind that in that time Mantis was trying to seduce the Vision and make him leave the Scarlet Witch for her... so Wanda was actually being polite.

* {{Narm}}: InUniverse, when the Enchantress wanted to use the late Zemo's machines on Zemo's mook, Erik Josten. He had no problems to go along with it, as long as she did not give him a corny name such as "Wonder Man", the previous guy. She called him "Power Man", and he protested: that name is even more corny than the other, but what the hell...

* NotGoodWithRejection: Mantis declares her love to the Vision, but he mantains his love for the Scarlet Witch, and tells her to be JustFriends. Her despair is so great that, several centuries in the future, Kang detects it, and finally identifies her as the elusive Celestial Madonna.

* TheResolutionWillNotBeTelevised: The first series "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." had the recurring mystery of the identity of the villain Scorpio. Nick Fury once unmasked him, but just cried out "You!"; readers were still left in the dark. The series was cancelled, without closure for the Scorpio thing, and Nick Fury was killed. Then, Roy Thomas tied up the loose ends in the Avengers: Skorpio was Jake Fury, Nick's brother. Nick took up the Scorpio identity and, taking advantage of his supposed death (the Nick who was shot was [[ActuallyADoombot actually a LMD]]) he infiltrated the Zodiac, to destroy them from within.

* {{Revision}}: Baron Heinrich Zemo was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Avengers issue 4, and retroactively treated as Captain America's archnemesis during World War II. Readers may get the wrong idea by the stories, but Zemo was not created during UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks. And the famous story of the plane where Bucky "died" and Captain America fell to the ocean and froze, was not Captain America's finale retconned as NotQuiteDead, but a plot created by Lee and Kirby when they brought him back.

* WithAFootOnTheBus: Issues #183 and #184. Instead of seeking revenge, the Absorbing Man tried to take a ship to South America. There are no super heroes in there (at least, not many ones), and he could be a jerk without any interference. Bad luck: he was a jerk with Hawkeye in his civilian identity when he waited at the port. This made the Avengers come after him, and by the time he got rid of them, the ship had already left.

* WrittenByTheWinners: Once upon a time, the Shi'Ar were almost destroyed by the Mephitisoids, an AlwaysChaoticEvil race with CompellingVoice. But, in their darkest hour, T'Kyll Alabar managed to inspire bravery in the Shi'Ar troops, who fought with renewed strength and managed to turn the tide of the war and win. The Mephitisoid leader was sentenced to roam the space in a SleeperStarship, alongside the hero that defeated him. LegendFadesToMyth, until the day the ship crashed on Earth. Alabar, the living legend, explained to the Shi'Ar Deathcry that it was all Shi'Ar propaganda, that the reviled Mephitisoids were actually [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters noble aliens defending their homeland from an invading Empire]]. And the Vision figured out something else as well. Legend says that Alabar inspired bravery on the soldiers all by himself, but does not mention [[YouKillItYouBoughtIt how did he do it]]. [[WouldBeRudeToSayGenocide It would be better to forget that little detail]]...
* XanatosGambit: Subverted in the first X-Men crossover, back in the days of Roy Thomas. Magneto boasted that he had calculated everything, that he was ready for all possible outcomes. Then, the Avengers defeated the mind-controlled X-Men. Toad asked, now what? Which is the plan for this specific scenario? None. No plan. From then on, Magneto's whole business in the island began to fall to pieces.

* The fourth movie will involve all of the above heroes[[note]]with the sole exception of Quicksilver, who died in ''Age of Ultron''[[/note]] plus ComicBook/TheWasp (Creator/EvangelineLilly) and [[ComicBook/CarolDanvers Captain Marvel]] (Creator/BrieLarson).

The Avengers have been adapted for other mediums multiple times; a complete list of which can be found on [[Franchise/TheAvengers the Franchise page]]. The highest-profile and most influential version is the one that features in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, with several members getting their own films and a few others being supporting characters, and the MCU usually brings the entire team together in an ''Avengers'' movie at the climax of a multi-film story arc. The movies that feature the entire team are ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'', ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'', ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', and an untitled "''Film/Avengers4''". Like the comics, the team has a flexible roster, consisting of:

* {{Revision}}: Baron Heinrich Zemo was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Avengers 4, and retroactively treated as Captain America's archnemesis during World War II. Readers may get the wrong idea by the stories, but Zemo was not created during UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks. And the famous story of the plane where Bucky "died" and Captain America fell to the ocean and froze, was not Captain America's finale retconned as NotQuiteDead, but a plot created by Lee and Kirby when they brought him back.

* OlderThanTheyThink: Most people think that Spider-man only joined up in 2004, when Bendis took over the franchise and radically changed the direction of the series. The truth is that Spidey's been a member been since 1991, and while he may have initially joined only as a reservist, he wasn't the first. Black Knight and Black Widow followed much the same path, starting out as reservists before joining full time decades later, and Spidey followed suit. But when most people think of when Spidey joined the Avengers, 2004's New Avengers is what they tend to point to.

* The current Avengers team as of 2018 consist of the big three; Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor. Along with Black Panther, Dr.Strange, Hulk (Jennifer Walters), Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes), and Captain Marvel.

[[caption-width-right:350:AVENGERS ASSEMBLE![[note]]Pictured, left to right: [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk Hulk]], ComicBook/IronMan, [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]], ComicBook/TheVision, ComicBook/CaptainAmerica, ComicBook/WonderMan, [[ComicBook/AntMan Henry Pym]], Comicbook/ScarletWitch, ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}}, Comicbook/MsMarvel, and Triathlon. Not pictured: [[ComicBook/TheWasp Wasp]], ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}, and about [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters a hundred other heroes]]]][[/note]]

* The fourth movie will involve all of the above heroes[[note]]with the sole exception of Quicksilver, who died in ''Age of Ultron''[[/note]] plus ComicBook/TheWasp (Creator/EvangelineLilly) and [[ComicBook/MsMarvel Captain Marvel]] (Creator/BrieLarson).

[[caption-width-right:350:AVENGERS ASSEMBLE![[note]]Pictured, left to right: [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk Hulk]], ComicBook/IronMan, [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]], ComicBook/TheVision, ComicBook/CaptainAmerica, ComicBook/WonderMan, [[ComicBook/AntMan Henry Pym]], Comicbook/ScarletWitch, ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}}, Comicbook/MsMarvel, and Triathlon. Not pictured: [[ComicBook/TheWasp Wasp]], Franchise/{{Hawkeye}}, and about [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters a hundred other heroes]]]][[/note]]

* TangledFamilyTree: Ultron. No, seriously. You've got his "father" Hank Pym, Pym's wife Janet, his bride Jocasta based on Janet's brain patterns, his bride Alkhema based on Mockingbird's brain patterns, his "son" Vision, Vision's wife the ComicBook/ScarletWitch (and her brother ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}}), Quicksilver's ex-wife [[ComicBook/TheInhumans Crystal, and their daughter Luna]], Vision's brother-by-way-of-once-being-the-same-guy the original Human Torch, Vision's brother-by-way-of-copied-brain-patterns Wonder Man, Wonder Man's brother the Grim Reaper, Mockingbird and her husband Hawkeye, and Ultron's second son Victor Mancha. Ultron actually calls this entire group his family. Vision was later brought back but with the mental imprint of Iron Lad aka Kang the Conqueror and is currently dating Ant Man's daughter. Everyone is also a part of the [[{{Comicbook/Cyclops}} Summers]] Family Tree. (Vision -> Vision II -> Iron Lad -> Kang -> Mr. Fantastic -> Franklin Richards -> Hyperstorm -> Rachel Summers -> Cyclops).

* UnexpectedCharacter: Depending on the era of the team, the Avengers can consist of nothing but Marvel's biggest guns or an entire roster of C-List fodder. Whenever it's at either of those two extremes, the way a writer may try to shake things up is by adding characters from the opposite end of the hierarchy. For example, the unknown Black Panther replacing Captain America in the 60s was considered a surprise, while Captain America re-joining the team in the 90s was equally a shock. And it's always a surprise when characters associated with other teams or "franchises" join (Justice and Firestar from ''Comicbook/NewWarriors'', Beast and Wolverine from the ''Comicbook/XMen'', or Comicbook/SpiderMan).

The Avengers have been adapted for other mediums multiple times; a complete list of which can be found on [[Franchise/TheAvengers the Franchise page]]. The highest-profile and most influential version is the one that features in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, with several members getting their own films and a few others being supporting characters, and the MCU usually brings the entire team together in an ''Avengers'' movie at the climax of a multi-film story arc. The movies that feature the entire team are ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'', ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'', ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', and an untitled fourth ''Avengers'' film. Like the comics, the team has a flexible roster, consisting of:

* Allied heroes: ComicBook/AntMan (Creator/PaulRudd), ComicBook/BlackPanther (Creator/ChadwickBoseman), ComicBook/BuckyBarnes (Creator/SebastianStan) and ComicBook/SpiderMan (Creator/TomHolland) fought alongside established Avengers in ''Civil War''; Spider-Man is later offered membership but declines. ComicBook/DoctorStrange (Creator/BenedictCumberbatch), ComicBook/TheWasp (Creator/EvangelineLilly), and [[ComicBook/MsMarvel Captain Marvel]] (Creator/BrieLarson) also feature in movies of their own, and all the heroes listed are expected to gain at least honorary membership in either ''Infinity War'' or its sequel.

** The Avengers break up in "Avengers Disasembled", and return as a small team in ''New Avengers'', which has a vastly different line-up (most of the "classic" members being off doing other things). The team broke up again during Comicbook/CivilWar, as the characters had conflicting views about the Registration act.