10 Greatest Marvel Team Ups, Including Deadpool & Wolverine (& 5 Haven’t Been In Movies)

From the very start, Marvel Comics has been known for bringing superheroes together. Early comics like *Strange Tales* showed heroes such as the Human Torch joining forces for adventures. Later, Marvel created two dedicated team-up titles: *Marvel Two-In-One* and *Marvel Team-Up*. These comics featured The Thing and Spider-Man each partnering with a different hero every month. This kind of collaboration wasn’t limited to those series, though. Many solo hero comics also developed strong connections between characters, sometimes to the point where they became closely associated with each other. These partnerships weren’t always about a senior hero and a sidekick – often, the best duos were equals.

As a huge movie and comic book fan, I’ve always loved seeing characters team up, and Marvel Comics is *full* of amazing collaborations. This is a rundown of some of the very best – from the epic pairings like the Avengers and X-Men, to more unusual combinations featuring detectives and even alien heroes!

10) Iron Man & War Machine

Tony Stark and James Rhodes have been close friends for a long time. Tony famously became Iron Man early on in the world of Marvel superheroes. James was always a strong supporter and ally, initially as Tony’s pilot and later as a fellow fighter, using his military skills. He even stepped into the role of Iron Man himself when Tony was struggling with alcoholism, at Tony’s urging.

When Tony returned, James became War Machine, upgrading to a new suit of armor. James and Tony stayed close friends and worked together more often than Tony teamed up with anyone else. Their bond was so strong that Tony even used advanced technology to save James’s life after he died during the events of *Civil War II*.

9) Captain America & Sam Wilson

Steve Rogers (Captain America) and Sam Wilson (the Falcon) have developed a strong partnership over time. They first teamed up after Sam, a young man, became the Falcon following a fight with the Red Skull. They quickly became close friends and effective allies, balancing each other out – Steve embodied traditional heroism and patriotism, while Sam focused on fighting for fairness and social justice.

Over time, the relationship between Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson has evolved. While Steve initially welcomed Sam taking on the role of Captain America, they haven’t always agreed on things due to their different beliefs. Currently, they both serve as Captain America and, despite occasional disagreements, are very close—even closer than Steve’s long-time partnership with Bucky Barnes.

8) Rocket & Groot

Rocket Raccoon and Groot are one of the most beloved pairings in the Marvel movies, especially thanks to their roles in *Guardians of the Galaxy*. Rocket’s wit and Groot’s simple nature made them a hit with audiences. While they’re also a strong team in the Marvel comics, they aren’t quite as popular as they are in the films. This is largely because, although Rocket is consistently a great character, Groot isn’t always as compelling.

As a long-time comic book fan, I’ve always found Groot’s character interesting because he hasn’t always just said “I am Groot!” He’s actually spoken normally quite a bit over the years. And his relationship with Rocket? It’s complicated! Often, Groot seems to push Rocket away, even though Rocket clearly adores him. But when those two are working *together*, it’s pure entertainment, honestly.

7) Colleen Wing & Misty Knight

Colleen Wing and Misty Knight are one of the longest-running partnerships in comic book history. Their friendship and teamwork began in the early *Iron Fist* comics, even before the *Power Man and Iron Fist* series. Originally appearing as supporting characters in *Iron Fist*, the duo – known as the Daughters of the Dragon – quickly became fan favorites, and readers started asking for more stories focused on them.

By 1990, the pair were finally starring in their own stories, establishing themselves as a strong team. In the 2000s, they appeared in a miniseries and were key characters in the new *Heroes for Hire* comic series. Their roles in the Netflix shows *Luke Cage* and *Iron Fist* boosted their popularity even further, and they continue to be one of Marvel’s most recognizable duos.

6) Rogue & Gambit

Gambit and Rogue are a beloved couple in Marvel Comics, and fans have long wondered why their romance hasn’t been featured in any of the X-Men films. Now that Gambit is appearing in the upcoming *Deadpool & Wolverine* movie and the X-Men are joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there’s excitement that this popular pairing might finally get the spotlight they deserve.

Rogue and Gambit are one of the most beloved couples in X-Men comics, and their appearances always enhance a story. They work wonderfully together both romantically and in battle, with a clear and engaging connection. Their playful arguments also make them a fun and entertaining pair.

5) Deadpool & Wolverine

For a long time, Deadpool and Cable were considered Marvel’s best duo, but the popularity of their pairing with Wolverine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has changed that. Like the dynamic between Deadpool and Cable, one often plays the serious role while the other provides comic relief. Although Deadpool and Cable first teamed up as members of the X-Force, Deadpool and Wolverine have developed a strong connection throughout various Marvel comics.

Let me tell you, Deadpool is still at it, relentlessly poking fun at anyone with a fragile ego. While Cable just couldn’t handle his antics, Wolverine’s a bit more easygoing, and that dynamic is pure gold. We get some genuinely hilarious scenes of them working together, but also some fantastic clashes when one of them is trying to take the other out – or vice versa. It’s a really fun back-and-forth.

4) Spider-Man & Black Cat

Spider-Man starred in a comic book series where he joined forces with a new character each issue. While he frequently teamed up with the Human Torch and Daredevil outside of the *Marvel Team-Up* series, his strongest partnership has always been with Black Cat. She’s considered one of the best and most dependable partners – and girlfriends – in Spider-Man’s comic book history.

Black Cat arguably knows Peter Parker better than anyone else. Recent comics have shown this, as she was the only one who realized Peter wasn’t actually Peter – he was an imposter. She’s also motivated to improve herself to be a better partner for Spider-Man, highlighting their strong connection.

3) Cloak & Dagger

Cloak and Dagger are unique among this group because they always operate as a pair – it’s hard to picture them working separately. As teenagers, Ty and Tandy ran away from home and were then kidnapped and forced into a situation where they were given drugs. This traumatic experience triggered their mutant abilities: Ty gained the power of darkness, becoming Cloak, while Tandy developed the power of light, becoming Dagger.

After that, Cloak and Dagger operated as heroes and sometimes antiheroes. Their methods were often more aggressive than Spider-Man preferred, but they were always so relatable that everyone – even Spider-Man – would rally to their aid. Once, when they were separated, Cloak nearly lost control completely and needed Dagger to help him regain it.

2) Nova & Star-Lord

Star-Lord is famous for leading the Guardians of the Galaxy, but some of his most memorable Marvel Comics stories actually involve his partnership with Nova. Peter Quill and Richard Ryder are close friends, and together they consistently stand out as highlights in major cosmic Marvel events like *Annihilation* and the more recent *Imperial*.

The playful banter between these two characters makes them a fantastic team, and they consistently make any story they’re in better by bringing out the best in each other. Even when Marvel tried to create a love triangle with Gamora, fans were much more invested in their close friendship than in the romantic storyline.

1) Luke Cage & Iron Fist

Luke Cage and Danny Rand form one of Marvel’s most beloved and long-running partnerships. Originally known as Power Man and Iron Fist, their team-up has remained popular for decades. It began in the 1970s as a way for Marvel to tap into the trends of blaxploitation films and kung fu movies, creating the street-level hero team ‘Heroes for Hire’.

Despite trying to build a normal life with Jessica Jones, Luke Cage always found himself teaming up with Iron Fist. They became a fan-favorite pair, protecting the people of New York City as two of Marvel’s strongest heroes who worked at the street level. Many consider Luke Cage and Iron Fist to be the best duo in all of Marvel Comics.

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2025-10-07 01:19