First 10 Avengers Members In History, Ranked by Power

by

The Avengers first teamed up in Avengers #1 back in 1963, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. In that first issue, Thor, Ant-Man, Wasp, and Iron Man responded to a call for help from Rick Jones, initially thinking the Hulk was the villain. They soon discovered the real threat was Loki, the God of Mischief. Things quickly evolved after that, with the team both losing and gaining members. A little over a year later, all the original members left, and four new heroes joined, completing the first ten-member roster starting with Avengers #16.

Here is a look at the first 10 members of the Avengers, ranked by power.

10) Hawkeye

Hawkeye is generally considered the weakest of the original ten Avengers, and there are clear reasons why. Unlike his teammates, he doesn’t have any superpowers; he’s a highly skilled archer, consistently hitting his targets. While he later received advanced military training, this Hawkeye differs from the SHIELD agent seen in the films. He’s more of a self-taught, confident archer with a strong competitive drive, but ultimately, his power level is lower than most of the other Avengers.

9) Wasp

The Wasp possesses incredible abilities, but she’s known more for her leadership within the Avengers than raw power. Early on, like many female characters of that era, she wasn’t written as strongly. She could shrink to a tiny size, fly, and use energy blasts to temporarily disable opponents. Over time, she developed into a capable and inspiring leader, skilled at motivating her teammates. However, when it comes to direct combat strength, she’s not one of the team’s most powerful fighters.

8) Ant-Man

Hank Pym is a long-standing hero in Marvel Comics, first appearing as Ant-Man. He developed special particles, called Pym Particles, that allowed him to shrink in size while retaining his normal strength – making him incredibly powerful for his size. He could also use the particles to grow into the giant hero known as Giant-Man, and later fought as Yellowjacket. Despite his abilities, Hank has struggled with mental health issues that led to periods of retirement, though he’s repeatedly returned to heroics.

7) Black Widow

Many fans mistakenly believe Black Widow is just a normal human Avenger, but that’s not the case. Natasha Romanoff is actually quite old – around the same age as Captain America and the Winter Soldier – because of a special program she was put into as a baby. This program, run by Russia, gave her an extended lifespan similar to the effects of the Super-Soldier Serum. She’s a highly skilled fighter and strategist, trained by both the Red Room and SHIELD, making her arguably the most dangerous member of the original ten Avengers.

6) Captain America

Despite being a central figure, Captain America wasn’t one of the original Avengers. He was discovered frozen in ice in Avengers #4, rescued, and hadn’t aged thanks to the preservation of the ice from when he was lost during World War II. He immediately proved his worth and became a key member, eventually becoming one of the team’s most respected leaders over the years. Captain America’s powers come from the Super Soldier Serum, which grants him incredible strength, speed, resilience, and other abilities, making him a formidable fighter in the Marvel Universe.

5) Iron Man

It’s close, but Iron Man is generally considered more powerful than Captain America, even though their positions on the Avengers could switch depending on who’s writing the story. While Captain America is incredibly strong and has superpowers from the Super Soldier Serum, Iron Man’s armor gives him a significant firepower advantage that he could easily use against Cap in a real fight. They’ve battled each other a few times – notably in Civil War and during the final Incursions – and those fights usually end in a stalemate, making this the one area where their ranking is debatable.

4) Quicksilver

When the original Avengers team disbanded, Captain America assembled a new group, including Quicksilver, his sister Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, and Black Widow. Although Quicksilver is incredibly powerful due to his super speed – allowing him to often win fights before they even begin – his sister, the Scarlet Witch, is actually more powerful, possessing some of the strongest magical abilities in the Marvel Universe.

3) Scarlet Witch

Currently, Scarlet Witch is Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme, demonstrating her incredible power. Although not originally destined for the role, she claimed it after Doctor Doom’s death when the Cloak of Levitation and Eye of Agamotto recognized her potential. Even before becoming Sorcerer Supreme, Scarlet Witch was exceptionally powerful, famously defeating the Avengers and altering reality in major storylines like ‘House of M.’ Her ability to strip almost all mutants of their powers with just three words firmly establishes her as one of the most powerful magical beings in the Marvel Universe.

2) Thor

Thor is a supremely powerful god, often considered the strongest in Marvel Comics. He’s proven his strength many times, even ruling Asgard after his father and defeating incredibly powerful beings like Galactus. As an Avenger, he’s consistently been one of the team’s most formidable members. In a clash with Iron Man, Thor easily overpowered his teammate, revealing he intentionally limits his power to avoid causing catastrophic damage. When wielding the Odinforce, Thor becomes even more powerful, solidifying his place among the most powerful characters in the entire Marvel Universe, heroes and villains alike.

1) Hulk

Among the original ten Avengers, the Hulk is undoubtedly the most powerful. Initially, the team saw him as a threat and formed to stop him, before discovering he was being manipulated by Loki. Despite realizing the Hulk wasn’t a villain, the Avengers lost trust in him after a major fight, leading to his departure. Over time, it’s become clear that the Hulk’s strength has no upper limit – he actually gets stronger when he’s angrier. Evidence even suggests he’ll outlive everyone else, solidifying his position as the strongest Avenger of all time.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/comics/list/ranking-thors-first-10-villains-by-power/embed/#

Read More

2026-02-15 23:14