7 Great Avengers Members Nobody Talks About

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The Avengers are Marvel’s flagship superhero team, responsible for some of the most beloved characters in Marvel history. The idea of a superhero team wasn’t new – DC Comics had already shown it could work – but the Avengers approached it uniquely. While stars like Iron Man, Thor, and the Hulk already had their own comic series, others like Ant-Man, Wasp, and even Captain America initially didn’t. Characters like Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, and the Vision were first introduced through the Avengers comics. Marvel cleverly used the popularity of its biggest heroes to spotlight lesser-known team members, helping them gain a following and become stars in their own right.

Despite the team’s many heroes, some haven’t received the recognition they deserve. For various reasons, these incredible Avengers often go unnoticed. We’re highlighting seven amazing team members who deserve more attention.

7) War Machine

It’s surprising how easily some Marvel heroes fade from memory, and War Machine is a prime example. Originally stepping in as Iron Man after Tony Stark, James Rhodes proved so capable that Stark created the War Machine armor just for him. He’s been a valuable member of various Avengers teams – from the West Coast to the Secret Avengers – and is genuinely one of the coolest. Yet, many fans seem to forget he was ever part of the group. War Machine is a strong, smart hero, and he deserves another run with the Avengers to remind everyone what a fantastic asset he is.

6) Smasher

It’s easy to overlook some of the lesser-known Avengers, and Smasher is a great example of one. Izzie Kane, the granddaughter of Golden Age hero Captain Terror (who knew Captain America), discovered the powerful exo-specs of a Shi’Ar Imperial Guardsman named Smasher on her family’s farm. After putting them on, she became the new Smasher, joining both the Imperial Guard as a Subguardian and the Avengers. She was a fantastic Avenger, and her skills eventually led to a promotion to Superguardian within the Imperial Guard. Unfortunately, this is when she became less visible in the Avengers, as the promotion required her to move to Chandrilar. It’s a shame, because Smasher was one of the most interesting Avengers, and deserved a more prominent role.

5) Cannonball

As a long-time comic fan, I always enjoyed Cannonball’s journey. He really came into his own with the New Mutants and later with X-Force and the main X-Men team. Honestly, he was probably the *last* person anyone would have predicted joining the Avengers, but he totally delivered! His ability to blast off with kinetic energy made him a fantastic fighter, and I especially loved his dynamic with Sunspot and Smasher – their friendship was great to read, and seeing him eventually marry Smasher was really satisfying. They ended up moving to the Shi’Ar Empire, which unfortunately marked the end of his time as a superhero. He was a solid Avenger, though, and it’s a shame we never got to see him truly take the lead in that role.

4) Sunspot

Sunspot teamed up with the Avengers alongside Cannonball, fighting against threats like Ex Nihilo and Abyss as part of the Avengers Machine. While they weren’t central members at first, Sunspot experienced significant growth within the Avengers that he hadn’t achieved with the New Mutants or X-Force. He cleverly used his family’s fortune to acquire AIM, befriending some of its agents during a mission and integrating them into the Avengers’ strategy against the Incursions. This eventually led him to create his own Avengers team, where he even clashed with the Maker. Sunspot had all the qualities of a strong leader for the Avengers, but his contributions are often overlooked, which is unfortunate.

3) Quicksilver

Quicksilver used to be a prominent Avenger, but over time, his role diminished. He’s now largely remembered as Scarlet Witch’s brother, overshadowing his own heroic achievements. His super speed causes him to perceive the world in slow motion, which contributes to his often-abrasive personality. It’s strange that he receives more criticism than his sister, despite her having committed terrible acts and repeatedly battling the Avengers. Though he can be outspoken, Quicksilver was a genuinely entertaining member of the team. He hasn’t been a core Avenger for years, though he did serve with the Avengers Unity Squad a couple of times recently. Once, it would have been hard to imagine the Avengers without him, but now he’s mostly known as Scarlet Witch’s quick-witted companion.

2) Echo

Brian Michael Bendis’s *New Avengers* added popular heroes like Wolverine and Spider-Man to the team, but also introduced Echo. Often overlooked, Echo was initially brought in by Daredevil, disguised as Ronin, to investigate the Hand in Japan. She repeatedly called on the Avengers for assistance, and her final confrontation with the Hand ultimately revealed the Skrull invasion. For months, Echo bravely fought the Hand on her own, proving her heroic abilities, and even became a host for the Phoenix Force while with the team. It’s a shame she’s not discussed much anymore, as she’s one of Marvel’s strongest street-level heroes and deserves more recognition.

1) Hyperion of Earth-13034

Jonathan Hickman’s work on *Avengers* and *New Avengers* was truly exceptional. He assembled what many consider the strongest Avengers team ever, known as the Avengers Machine, gathering the most powerful heroes in the Marvel Universe. Interestingly, one of the team’s biggest powerhouses wasn’t originally from our main Marvel universe (Earth-616). Hyperion came from Earth-13034, which was destroyed, and he was brought to Earth-616 by AIM. He quickly became a valuable Avenger, forming a strong friendship with Thor based on their shared love of fighting. Together, Hyperion and Thor even managed to hold their own against the incredibly powerful Beyonders. Hyperion was a fantastic hero, and it feels like he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves.

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2025-10-16 17:15