10 Avengers Stories We Need to Talk About More

The Avengers, known as “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes,” are Marvel Comics’ most celebrated team. Since their debut in 1963, they’ve starred in countless stories that have made them legendary. While famous adventures like “Kree-Skrull War” and “Under Siege” are often discussed, they represent just a fraction of the team’s impressive history. Over 63 years of monthly issues, many incredible stories have been told, and some of the very best have faded from memory.

Many great Avengers stories don’t get the recognition they deserve. Some are hidden gems, while others are unfairly disliked but actually really enjoyable. Here are ten stories that every fan should experience – they’re classics that deserve more attention.

10) “Time Runs Out”

I was completely blown away by Jonathan Hickman’s run on Avengers! It all culminated in an incredible story called “Time Runs Out.” He’d been setting things up for a while, introducing these universe-threatening events called Incursions throughout Avengers (Vol. 5) and New Avengers (Vol. 3), and it all came crashing down in issues #35-44 of Avengers and #24-33 of New Avengers. The artwork by Jim Cheung, Mike Deodato, Stefano Caselli, and Kev Walker was fantastic too. Basically, the world found out about the Illuminati’s secret actions and the Incursions, and the Avengers went after them, trying to fix everything. But Doom had his own agenda, and honestly, it felt like he could either save the universe or destroy it. It was peak Hickman – a huge, exciting story with so many twists and turns. I really loved it!

9) AXIS

I’ve always been a bit of a defender of Rick Remender’s AXIS. It gets a lot of flak, but honestly, I think it’s a really enjoyable read. It started as a continuation of the Uncanny Avengers storyline, and it threw everything at the wall – the Avengers, the X-Men, even some villains – against this incredibly powerful foe, the Red Onslaught, who was basically the Red Skull with Professor X’s mind. The solution they came up with to beat him was wild, and totally took the story in a direction I didn’t see coming. It didn’t land well with everyone when it first came out, but revisiting it now, I think it’s a genuinely fun event series. There are so many awesome moments that people seem to forget, and I really think it deserves another look from Marvel fans.

8) “Avengers: No Surrender”

“Avengers: No Surrender,” created by Mark Waid, Al Ewing, Jim Zub, and artists Pepe Larraz, Kim Jacinto, and Paco Medino, was a 15-issue story arc that arrived during a challenging period for Avengers comics. Following Jonathan Hickman’s successful run, sales had declined, and this story was intended to revitalize the team. It brought together three different Avengers lineups – the main Avengers, the Avengers Unity Squad, and the U.S. Avengers – to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Earth. The situation gets even more complicated with the arrival of Voyager, who claims to be a long-lost member of the team. While not a groundbreaking story, it’s a well-made superhero comic that’s often underrated.

7) Avengers Forever (Vol. 1)

Kurt Busiek is considered one of the best writers to ever work on The Avengers. He revitalized the team in the late 90s and early 2000s after a long period of unsuccessful stories. While he wrote many excellent issues, his twelve-issue run on Avengers Forever (Volume 1), co-written with Roger Stern and illustrated by Carlos Pacheco, is a standout. This story brings together Avengers from different eras to face an incredibly powerful enemy, and it’s truly exceptional. It’s a great introduction to the history of the Avengers, and even new readers will find it engaging. It’s a near-perfect story that deserves more attention, and it’s important to distinguish it from the later Avengers Forever (Volume 2), which isn’t as strong.

6) Age of Ultron

Ultron is considered the Avengers’ biggest enemy and has been featured in several memorable storylines. While not all of these stories have been hits with fans, the ten-issue series Age of Ultron (by Brian Michael Bendis and artists Bryan Hitch, Carlos Pacheco, and Brandon Peterson) often receives criticism. Despite this, it’s actually a pretty enjoyable story involving time travel and alternate realities. The plot centers around Ultron conquering the world and nearly wiping out humanity, leading the Avengers to a desperate plan. Unfortunately, Wolverine and Invisible Woman attempt their own solution, which backfires and complicates things. Released between 2012 and 2016, this story was one of many Avengers events created to build on the popularity of the movie, and it’s surprisingly one of the stronger ones.

5) “The Trust”

Brian Michael Bendis’s New Avengers gets a lot of attention, but some of its best stories are often overlooked. One example is “The Trust,” a storyline spanning New Avengers (Vol. 1) #32-37 and New Avengers Annual #2, featuring art by Leinil Yu and Carlo Pagulayan. This arc set the stage for the Secret Invasion event. As the team discovers the Skrull invasion, their trust in each other begins to crumble. A major betrayal shakes them up, followed by a dangerous attack from the Hood and his crew. This story stands out from typical New Avengers issues, offering more than just witty dialogue and emotional moments, and is filled with exciting action sequences thanks to Leinil Yu’s dynamic artwork. It’s a really compelling story and a high point of Bendis’s run on the series.

4) “Operation: Galactic Storm”

While the Avengers didn’t really hit their stride until 1998, a fantastic story unfolded earlier in the ’90s. “Operation: Galactic Storm” was a sprawling, 19-part adventure that spanned multiple titles – Avengers, Avengers West Coast, Captain America, Quasar, Iron Man, Thor, and Wonder Man. It threw the Avengers into a large-scale war between the Shi’Ar and Kree empires. Though reminiscent of the original Kree-Skrull War, it wasn’t a simple repeat – it borrowed one idea, but it fit into a common Kree storyline. The story is filled with memorable moments and impressive visuals, and its conclusion significantly impacted the team’s direction for years to come.

3) Avengers (Vol. 5) #29-34

The storyline Original Sin was an Avengers event from the 2010s that writer Jonathan Hickman incorporated into his run on Avengers (Vol. 5). Issues #29-34, with art by Leinil Yu, focus on the revelation of past sins, specifically Captain America discovering the Illuminati had mindwiped him after learning about the Incursions. He assembles an Avengers team to confront them, but the team is unexpectedly sent hurtling through time, traveling further and further into the future. The story is a compelling blend of superhero action and science fiction, showcasing increasingly unfamiliar future timelines. While large-scale sci-fi isn’t typically a focus for the Avengers, this arc demonstrates how well the concept can work with the team.

2) “Revolution”

Following the significant impact of Civil War on the Marvel Universe in the 2000s, the New Avengers story arc “Revolution” (issues #27-30, by Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Yu) explores the aftermath. A new team – Luke Cage, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Doctor Strange, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Ronin (Clint Barton) – initially pursues the remnants of Iron Man’s side in the conflict. Their investigation leads them to Japan, where they confront Elektra and the Hand, ultimately uncovering a major secret. This arc showcases Bendis’s skill for compelling drama and character development, while Leinil Yu’s artwork brings the action sequences to life. Though released nearly 20 years ago, it remains a standout story and is considered one of Bendis’s best works with the New Avengers team.

1) The Last Avengers Story

Though largely overlooked, The Last Avengers Story is a truly exceptional comic. This short, two-part series, created by the late Peter David and Ariel Olivetti, presents a dark future where the Avengers have already fallen. Hank Pym and the Wasp assemble a new team to face Kang in a final, desperate battle. It’s a prime example of compelling, dystopian Marvel storytelling. David expertly builds on decades of Avengers history, projecting it into the future, and Olivetti’s unique, painted artwork perfectly complements the narrative. It’s a classic adventure for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and Marvel should definitely consider reprinting it for a new audience.

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2026-04-05 16:12