10 Biggest Milestones That Defined Avengers History

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The Avengers can be seen as Marvel’s celebration of its success during the Silver Age of comics. Following the example of teams like DC’s Justice Society and Justice League, Marvel assembled its most popular heroes, creating a supergroup that would become a 21st-century pop culture phenomenon. Known as “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes,” the Avengers truly live up to that name, consistently saving the world and the universe from incredible dangers. They remain the most prominent team in the Marvel Universe, and their impact solidifies them as one of the most significant groups in comic book history.

As a huge Avengers fan, I’ve seen them go through so much! Over the years, their adventures have really defined who they are as a team. They’ve had tons of big moments, but ten really stand out to me as the most important. These moments are what truly made the Avengers the biggest heroes in the game – at least until we finally get an X-Men movie in the MCU!

10) “Onslaught”

As a long-time comic fan, there are certain events you just wish hadn’t happened, and for me, “Onslaught” is definitely one of them. Back in 1996, it was this huge crossover where all the big Marvel teams – the X-Men, Avengers, Fantastic Four, everyone – fought this incredibly powerful villain called Onslaught. He came about because of something Professor X did to Magneto’s mind way back in X-Men #25. The whole thing ultimately led into Heroes Reborn, where Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld took over the Avengers and Fantastic Four for a whole year. Honestly, it’s considered one of Marvel’s biggest blunders, and it really highlights how sometimes they’ve made some pretty questionable decisions with their flagship heroes.

9) Avengers vs. X-Men

The Avengers vs. X-Men event often gets a bad rap, and I understand why some people don’t like it. But really, it’s just a huge, over-the-top superhero brawl. Created by a team of writers including Brian Michael Bendis, Jonathan Hickman, and artists like John Romita Jr. and Olivier Coipel, this 12-issue series was clearly Marvel capitalizing on the popularity of The Avengers movie in 2012. It also marked the end of Bendis’s long run with the Avengers, serving as a conclusion to a significant era for the team and a launching pad for Jonathan Hickman’s work and the creation of Uncanny Avengers. It’s actually a more important event in Avengers history than many fans give it credit for.

8) The Incursions

Jonathan Hickman’s run on Avengers was incredibly well-executed and introduced the idea of ‘Incursions,’ which dramatically reshaped the Marvel Universe. These Incursions, started by beings called the Beyonders as a cruel experiment, involved alternate Earths crashing into each other, wiping out entire universes. This led to war with the Builders, a conflict that ultimately destroyed the original Marvel Multiverse, including the beloved Ultimate Universe in the Secret Wars event. The story resulted in a period of redemption for Doctor Doom and the temporary disbanding of the Fantastic Four. Honestly, the Incursions remain a defining moment in Avengers history.

7) House of M

Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel’s House of M dramatically reshaped the Marvel Universe. Following the events of “Avengers Disassembled: Chaos,” the story focused on Scarlet Witch and marked the first major crossover between the Astonishing X-Men and New Avengers teams. Scarlet Witch created a reality where Magneto ruled a mutant-dominated world, but this ultimately led to the loss of powers for most mutants, Wanda disappearing, and set the stage for the Civil War storyline. Although House of M heavily impacted the X-Men, it remains a crucial event in Avengers history.

6) “Under Siege”

The 1980s were a strong period for Marvel Comics, and the Avengers team really benefited from the improved storytelling. A particularly memorable run by Roger Stern and John Buscema included the story arc “Under Siege,” which is considered a high point in Avengers history. In this story, the Avengers faced a remarkably powerful and organized team of Masters of Evil. Though initially defeated soundly, the Avengers ultimately triumphed, making it one of their most famous victories and a story that perfectly showcases both their vulnerabilities and strengths. It has since become a legendary tale for fans.

5) Civil War

The Civil War storyline is a pivotal moment in Marvel’s history, significantly changing the Avengers. A major disagreement between Captain America and Iron Man caused a massive conflict within the team, resulting in some of Marvel’s most memorable fights. Though Iron Man’s faction ultimately prevailed – leading to his appointment as Director of SHIELD – the Avengers fractured into two groups: a covert team led by Luke Cage and an official, SHIELD-affiliated team. This event also set the stage for Norman Osborn’s rise to power and the creation of the Dark Avengers. While not always popular with fans, Civil War remains a crucial story in the Marvel Universe.

4) Heroes Return

The comic book event Heroes Reborn was largely considered a failure. Marvel tried to revitalize titles like Avengers, Captain America, Fantastic Four, and Iron Man by incorporating characters and creators from Jim Lee’s Wildstorm and Rob Liefeld’s Extreme Studios. Unfortunately, this approach alienated both existing fans and those familiar with Lee and Liefeld’s work. After only 13 issues, Marvel cancelled the initiative and launched Heroes Reborn: The Return, bringing the Avengers and Fantastic Four back from a separate reality created by Franklin Richards. The core titles – Avengers, Captain America, Fantastic Four, and Iron Man – were relaunched as Heroes Return, with The Mighty Thor following shortly after. This led to a brief but successful period for these comics, highlighted by Kurt Busiek and George Perez’s acclaimed run on Avengers, which helped restore the team’s popularity.

3) “Avengers Disassembled: Chaos”

As a huge Avengers fan, I remember “Avengers Disassembled: Chaos” really shook things up – it honestly changed the direction of the team for years! After Kurt Busiek finished his run, the book just wasn’t doing well, so Marvel brought in Brian Michael Bendis and David Finch to try and revitalize it. This story was intense. It turned Scarlet Witch into a villain once more, and tragically, we lost Vision, Ant-Man (Scott Lang), and Hawkeye. But it wasn’t all bad; it set the stage for the creation of New Avengers, which quickly became the most popular superhero team in comics throughout the 2000s and early 2010s. Looking back, it’s definitely one of the most important Avengers storylines ever.

2) “The Kree-Skrull War”

Roy Thomas, Neal Adams, John Buscema, and Sal Buscema’s “The Kree-Skrull War” was a turning point for the Avengers. The Kree and Skrull empires brought their ancient conflict to Earth, believing humanity’s superpowers held the key to their own evolution and the end of their war. The Avengers intervened, successfully defending Earth from both alien races. This story is significant because it redefined the Avengers’ role – they weren’t just protectors of Earth anymore, but among the most powerful heroes in the entire universe, paving the way for epic cosmic adventures.

1) The Return of Captain America

Though not one of the original Avengers, Captain America quickly became the team’s most vital member and strongest leader, providing a crucial moral compass for their adventures. His arrival in Avengers (Vol. 1) #4 – after being absent for the first three issues – was a turning point, not just for the series’ history, but for the entire Marvel Universe. This issue is a standout comic, largely due to Jack Kirby’s incredible artwork, and features a particularly memorable action sequence: Captain America cleverly uses the tight confines of a submarine to defeat his opponents. This moment fundamentally changed the Avengers and the course of Marvel history.

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2026-01-05 19:42