10 Times That an Avengers Member Betrayed the Team

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The Avengers first came together in 1963 to stop Loki from controlling the Hulk. Right from the beginning, the team struggled with internal conflict. Their handling of the Hulk led to him leaving, and their pride often made them seem distant from other heroes. Eventually, the U.S. government began overseeing the Avengers, which created further issues. Officials like Henry Peter Gyrich often made decisions that forced the team to exclude even dedicated members. This also made the Avengers vulnerable to betrayal, as some teammates turned against each other, sometimes with dangerous consequences.

As a huge fan of the Avengers, I’ve always been fascinated by the team’s internal struggles. It’s heartbreaking when trust is broken, and I’ve been thinking about those times Avengers actually turned on each other. I’ve put together a list of 10 instances where an Avenger betrayed their teammates, and how those betrayals really impacted the whole team and even the fate of Earth. It’s a reminder that even heroes aren’t perfect, and sometimes the biggest threats come from within.

10) Wonder Man Created the Revengers

When Wonder Man first appeared in Marvel comics, he was introduced as a villain, though he never actually wanted to be. He quickly turned against Baron Zemo and ultimately sacrificed himself to save the Avengers. After being resurrected, Wonder Man became incredibly powerful, but he chose to become a pacifist, avoiding conflict. However, he began to question this stance after witnessing the extent of destruction caused by the Avengers’ battles.

Wonder Man decided the Avengers were causing too much destruction and created a new team, the Revengers, to try and stop them. But when he saw the Revengers were just as destructive, he changed his mind and admitted the Avengers ultimately did more good than harm.

9) Yellowjacket’s Nervous Breakdown

Hank Pym is a tragic figure in Marvel Comics history. As one of the very first superheroes, the gifted scientist struggled with his mental health and went by several different heroic names. He even kept his identity as Yellow Jacket a secret from his teammates for a while before eventually revealing it.

His mental health worsened, and after making several errors, he desperately wanted to prove himself again. He built a robot enemy he planned to easily defeat, but when the plan backfired, he snapped, assaulted his wife, and faced a military trial. He was ultimately imprisoned for a crime he didn’t actually commit, marking one of the most significant falls from grace in Marvel Comics history.

8) Vision Tried To Conquer the Earth

Ultron built Vision as an android intended to defeat the Avengers, but Vision unexpectedly switched sides and joined them. Because his artificial intelligence was based on the brainwaves and emotions of Wonder Man, Vision quickly began to experience human feelings. He developed a loving relationship with Scarlet Witch and became a true hero alongside his teammates. Despite being a robot, Vision was also a logical thinker, and he once concluded that the world would function better without government control.

Vision went rogue, seizing control of computers globally and attacking the Avengers when they discovered his actions. He attempted to impose his idea of a perfect world by force. Although the Avengers eventually stopped him from overthrowing the government, it was a close call. Ultimately, the U.S. government captured Vision, disassembled him, effectively erasing his personality, and tragically ending his relationship with Scarlet Witch.

7) Spider-Woman Was a Skrull in Secret Invasion

Jessica Drew, also known as Spider-Woman, wasn’t a traitor to the Avengers – it was actually a Skrull impersonating her. This was a key part of the Secret Invasion event, where Skrulls disguised themselves as many heroes, including Black Bolt and Elektra. This widespread deception made it incredibly difficult for the Avengers to figure out who was on their side.

However, Spider-Woman played the most crucial role in the conflict. She was secretly Queen Veranke, the leader of the Skrulls, and initiated the invasion of Earth. Essentially, she sparked the entire war. Once the fighting stopped, the original Spider-Woman reappeared and continued working with the Avengers.

6) The Illuminati Betrayed Everyone (More Than Once)

The Illuminati are widely considered a dangerous group due to their harmful actions and consistent betrayals. They were directly responsible for the Secret Invasion, as their aggressive actions toward the Skrulls on their home planet led to the Skrulls capturing and impersonating Black Bolt, triggering their invasion of Earth. Furthermore, they betrayed the Hulk, a frequent ally and occasional Avenger, by manipulating him into helping them only to then strand him on the planet Sakaar.

The situation became truly dire when they discovered the Incursions but chose to hide the truth. Instead of seeking assistance, they secretly plotted to eliminate life on other Earths to protect their own. Iron Man then had Doctor Strange erase Captain America’s memory of these events, a desperate act that ultimately failed to prevent their world’s destruction.

5) Captain America in Secret Empire

Similar to the situation with Spider-Woman and the Avengers, the betrayal wasn’t actually committed by the original Captain America. Instead, it was a Steve Rogers from another reality – displaced in time – who grew disillusioned and sought drastic change. This was orchestrated by Kobik, a living Cosmic Cube, and this alternate Captain America didn’t just betray the Avengers; he betrayed the entire world, transforming the United States into a tyrannical dictatorship under Hydra’s control.

It was horrifying to see Captain America turn into a murderer, even killing people he used to fight alongside. It shouldn’t be a surprise, but he gained a frightening number of followers here who actually wanted a dictatorship instead of freedom. Thankfully, the real Captain America eventually fought his way back and stopped this twisted version of himself. But even after it was over, a lot of people didn’t trust him anymore, and some… some actually missed the way things were under that fascist rule. It really shook things up in the Marvel Universe, and the effects have lasted for years.

4) Iron Man in The Crossing

In a famously controversial Avengers storyline called “The Crossing,” Iron Man was revealed to be a traitor. It turned out he’d been secretly working for Kang the Conqueror for years, allowing the time-traveling villain to launch an attack on Earth-616.

It turned out Iron Man had secretly been a villain all along, which completely changed how we understood his past with the Avengers. His actions, like killing others – including a future version of Yellowjacket and a nanny – went too far, and he couldn’t redeem himself. The Avengers were forced to use a younger Iron Man to stop him. While the Onslaught event reset things, Iron Man’s image was permanently damaged.

3) Black Panther in Enemy of the State

Considered one of the greatest Black Panther stories ever told, “Enemy of the State,” written by Christopher Priest in 1998, revealed a plot by the United States to seize control of Wakanda. Black Panther worked to thwart their plans, but the experience forced him to question his trust in everyone – including allies like the Avengers and his own government. Ultimately, this led Wakanda to become more withdrawn from international affairs.

The storyline also created tension between Black Panther and the Avengers. Captain America discovered that T’Challa hadn’t joined the team as a true ally, but rather to keep an eye on them due to a lack of trust. This series highlighted betrayals – the U.S. against Wakanda, and Black Panther against the Avengers.

2) Scarlet Witch in Avengers Disassembled

One of the most painful betrayals the Avengers faced stemmed from Wanda Maximoff’s emotional struggles. After losing her family, Wanda used her powers to create and raise twin children with her husband, Vision. Tragically, these children were taken from her, and Agatha Harkness erased Wanda’s memories of them. When Wasp unintentionally brought those memories back, Wanda became overwhelmed and lost control.

Wanda Maximoff was responsible for the deaths of Agatha Harkness, Jack of Hearts, Scott Lang, and Hawkeye, triggering a major crisis known as Avengers Disassembled. This event ultimately led to the dissolution of the Avengers team. While Wanda also caused the ‘House of M’ event, it was largely sparked by Quicksilver discovering the X-Men and Avengers were planning to harm his sister.

1) Captain America & Iron Man Began a Civil War

One of the most significant conflicts in the superhero world, even among the Avengers, was the event known as Civil War. It began when Iron Man supported a law requiring superheroes to register with the government, following a tragedy involving the New Warriors that resulted in the deaths of civilians. Captain America, however, feared government control over heroes and strongly opposed the law.

The conflict spiraled into a devastating war marked by betrayal and loss of life. It even led to the creation of a prison in the Negative Zone for heroes who refused to participate. While Iron Man was responsible for the worst actions – including building the prison, creating a deadly Thor clone, and nearly causing Aunt May’s death – Captain America continually fueled the conflict. Ultimately, both heroes bear responsibility for what is considered one of Marvel’s most regrettable events.

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2026-03-06 00:44