10 Best Avengers Rosters, Ranked

In the 2010s, the Avengers, Marvel’s superhero team, not only became incredibly profitable but also gained immense popularity, surpassing many others in their league. The Marvel Cinematic Universe played a significant role in catapulting the Avengers to stardom, introducing general audiences to what comic enthusiasts have long recognized. This extraordinary collective of heroes, known as “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes”, has demonstrated over time that they are not just the mightiest on Earth but also within the entire Marvel Universe. One of the most intriguing aspects of Avengers comics lies in their ever-changing roster, which constantly redefines team dynamics and offers readers a unique blend of superhero action that cannot be found with a single hero. Over the years, the Avengers have fielded some truly exceptional teams, providing fans with unparalleled superhero excitement.

While not all lineups of the Avengers have been exceptional, certain ones truly shine and are often remembered as the epitome of the team. These Avengers squads have tackled some of the Marvel Universe’s most formidable adversaries. Among these ten extraordinary teams, the Avengers have assembled rosters that not only vanquished every foe but also provided readers with some of the most captivating stories in comics.

10) The First Avengers Unity Squad

Historically, The Avengers and X-Men have had a professional relationship, yet never truly considered each other friends. This became evident during the 2012 event, Avengers Vs. X-Men, where the two teams collided over the Phoenix Force. Following the dispute, Captain America formed a new Avengers team, merging members from both groups. Thus, the Avengers Unity Squad was established. Over time, there have been several iterations of this team, but many fans agree that the original was the finest – featuring Captain America, Wolverine, Thor, Rogue, Havok, Wasp, Wonder Man, Scarlet Witch, and Sunfire. This squad was potent, but what made it exceptional was the tension among its members. Rogue harbored resentment towards Scarlet Witch for her part in disabling the mutant species, causing the team to fracture over allegiances. It was intriguing watching them squabble and gradually unite, vanquishing the Apocalypse Twins and saving Earth before AXIS brought about destruction.

9) Cap’s Kooky Quartet

In their early days, the Avengers underwent numerous transformations. Originally consisting of Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Ant-Man, and Wasp, the team experienced several shifts. The Hulk departed almost instantly, and later, Captain America was discovered and defrosted. Unfortunately, this initial lineup didn’t persist, as everyone but Cap eventually left.

Captain America then assembled a new group of Avengers, recruiting three individuals who were previously villains – Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, and Hawkeye. By providing these three villains with an opportunity, Captain America altered not only their lives but also the course of Avenger history. The amusing quartet, led by Captain America, was entertaining despite their relative lack of power, as they compensated for this weakness with plenty of drama.

8) ’80s Avengers

In the 80s, the Avengers had a golden era, particularly during Roger Stern’s tenure as writer. Working alongside artist John Buscema, Stern crafted one of the most iconic Avengers lineups in classic tales like “Under Siege”. The Avengers of the 80s were a rather expansive group consisting of Captain America, Captain Marvel II, Thor, Hercules, Namor, Doctor Druid, Wasp, Black Knight, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Mockingbird, and Starfox. With an excellent blend of power and personality, this team was led by Wasp, Captain Marvel II (Monica Rambeau being my personal favorite Captain Marvel due to this period), and Doctor Druid. This era embodied the essence of classic Avengers, featuring occasional squabbles among members but always delivering in combat. It marked a peak for the team until the late 90s, making it an exceptional Avengers lineup for the extravagant decade.

7) Busiek/Perez Avengers

During the ’90s, being an Avengers fan wasn’t particularly enjoyable due to the team not having a prominent role in the Marvel Universe and certain events like “The Crossing” and “Heroes Reborn” causing chaos. However, things took a turn for the better in 1997 when Kurt Busiek and George Perez, both renowned in the industry, took charge of Avengers. They introduced a fresh team that blended classic Avengers members with new characters. This team consisted of Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Vision, Scarlet Witch, Wonder Man, Warbird (Carol Danvers’ previous superhero identity), along with Firestar, Justice, and Triad. This revamped team represented a comeback for the Avengers as it brought together some legendary characters alongside exciting new members. The series provided the action and drama that fans had been missing from Avengers comics for quite some time.

6) The First New Avengers Team

In the 2000s, the New Avengers rekindled the popularity of the traditional Avengers by drawing inspiration from DC Comics’ Justice League. This inaugural lineup brought together four iconic Marvel characters – Captain America, Iron Man, Wolverine, and Spider-Man, alongside some lesser-known but exciting heroes such as Luke Cage, Spider-Woman, the Sentry, and Ronin. While writer Brian Michael Bendis shied away from writing grand action stories, which occasionally fell short of expectations given this stellar roster, the dynamic between team members added an element of entertainment. Despite differing opinions on the book’s quality, it is undeniable that the New Avengers were a remarkable team and precisely what was needed to revitalize the Avengers’ popularity.

5) The First Dark Avengers Team

The period of Marvel Comics known as “Dark Reign” captivated many fans since Norman Osborn assumed control over the superhuman agency established following the events of Civil War. This agency veteran formed his own version of the Avengers, a fascinating blend of power and skill that proved both entertaining to read and thought-provoking.

In this new team, Osborn replaced key members with villains: Moonstone took on the role of Ms. Marvel, Venom became Spider-Man, Daken stood in for Wolverine, and Bullseye assumed Hawkeye’s position. A newcomer named Noh-Varr was christened Captain Marvel. Osborn retained some powerful members from Iron Man’s last Mighty Avengers team, including the Sentry and Ares. To further enhance his group, he donned a repurposed suit of Iron Man armor, painted it red, white, and blue, and became the Iron Patriot – an amalgamation of Iron Man and Captain America symbols.

This initial lineup of Dark Avengers provided readers with compelling narratives centered around villains attempting to transform into heroes, as well as Osborn’s intricate maneuvers to prevent internal conflicts among the team members in order to save the day.

4) Post-Civil War New Avengers

The Civil War reshaped the Marvel Universe significantly, with Iron Man assuming leadership of SHIELD and establishing the Initiative to oversee the superhero community. Captain America found himself imprisoned and ultimately assassinated due to Red Skull’s machinations. However, Luke Cage refused to yield and formed a resistance against Iron Man alongside Wolverine, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Iron Fist, Spider-Woman, Ronin, Jessica Jones, and Echo. This incarnation of the New Avengers was particularly popular due to their thrilling escapades, engaging in battles with Iron Man’s Mighty Avengers, the Hand, the Hood’s supervillain alliance, the Skrulls, and numerous other adversaries. Even after nearly 20 years, this unique take on the Avengers remains compelling.

3) Roy Thomas Avengers

Jack Kirby and Stan Lee initially introduced the team known as the Avengers, but it was Roy Thomas who truly shaped them during the transition from the Silver Age to the Bronze Age of comics. His tenure is remembered for establishing a team that embodies the essence of the Avengers. This original team consisted of Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Giant-Man (later known as Ant-Man), Wasp, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, and Wonder Man. Occasionally, Black Panther and Captain Marvel I also joined in. Under Thomas’s guidance, along with artists Neal Adams, Sal Buscema, and John Buscema, the Avengers evolved into a formidable fighting force and even managed to save the universe from numerous threats on multiple occasions.

2) Late ’70s Avengers

In the late ’70s, Roy Thomas’s departure from The Avengers marked a significant turning point as David Michelinie, Jim Shooter, and George Perez took over, crafting some of the most cherished (and controversial – they were behind Avengers #200) tales in the series history. This dynamic team included heavyweights like Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Yellowjacket, Wasp, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Falcon, Hercules, Beast, Wonder Man, Scarlet Witch, Jocasta, Quicksilver, and Black Panther. They built upon the legendary line-up established by Thomas, Buscema, and Adams, making the team even more formidable. This era is best remembered for the classic tale where government liaison Henry Peter Gyrich ordered a reduction in team size. This unbeatable roster was capable of tackling almost any challenge, ruling as the most powerful Avengers team for many years. However, this would shift in the 2010s.

1) The Avengers Machine

Jonathan Hickman’s tenure on the Avengers was nothing short of spectacular. Building upon Bendis’ grounded approach, Hickman propelled the team into cosmic realms. The new volume of Avengers (Vol. 5) commenced with Captain America expressing concern that the threats they faced were becoming increasingly larger, leading him and Iron Man to assemble an extraordinary roster for what they dubbed the Avengers Initiative. This team included heavy hitters like Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, Cannonball, Sunspot, Black Widow, Spider-Woman, Hulk, Hawkeye, Shang Chi, Manifold, Smasher, Hyperion, Captain Universe, Starbrand, Nightmask, Ex Nihilo, and Abyss. This ensemble was more than capable of tackling any challenge that came their way, with Hickman pushing them to the limits, resulting in victories against intergalactic wars and existential threats across multiple dimensions. In essence, this team stands as the epitome of an ideal Avengers lineup.

What’s your favorite Avengers team? Sound off in comments below.

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2025-08-12 16:56