Marvel Needs to Figure Out How to Fix the Avengers

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As a huge Marvel fan, I’ve always thought the Avengers were the big leagues. Sure, the Fantastic Four came first, and the X-Men really broke through into mainstream popularity, but Marvel always positioned the Avengers as the premier team – the place where all the biggest heroes ended up, and Earth’s main line of defense. They really lived up to the ‘Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ title, and over the years, so many incredible writers and artists – people like Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Roy Thomas, Neal Adams, John Buscema, and tons more – delivered some truly amazing stories. It’s been a real treat watching their adventures unfold over the decades!

During the 2010s, The Avengers were central to the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, becoming the most popular superhero team for many fans. However, the Avengers comic books haven’t lived up to that same level of success for quite some time. It’s been nearly ten years since the comics were truly outstanding, and Marvel needs to find a way to restore the team to its former glory.

Can Marvel Save the Avengers?

For about twenty years, starting around the early 2000s, Avengers comics were consistently the best-selling titles. This run began with New Avengers and included popular series like Mighty Avengers, Dark Avengers, A.I. Avengers, and Secret Avengers, culminating in a new Avengers series in 2011. While the 2000s were already a strong period for Avengers fans, things really took off in 2012 when Jonathan Hickman became the writer. He transformed the team into their most powerful iteration yet and introduced threats that surpassed any they’d previously encountered.

Jonathan Hickman’s run on Avengers was exceptionally well-done, and at the same time, the Uncanny Avengers introduced a fresh take by combining the Avengers with the X-Men. From 2012 to 2015, it was a fantastic period for fans, but since then, the series hasn’t lived up to its potential. Marvel has made efforts to revitalize the team, bringing in talented writers like Mark Waid, Al Ewing, Jason Aaron, and Jed MacKay, and featuring popular characters. Despite these efforts, the Avengers have largely faded into the background for many readers.

Since 2015, some Avengers comics have been really strong. Stories like “No Surrender” and “No Way Home” (which aren’t connected to the Spider-Man film) were definite standouts. Avengers: Twilight was particularly well-received, offering a compelling look at a bleak future for the team. However, other series, like Avengers and West Coast Avengers, either struggled to hold readers’ interest or didn’t find a large audience. It feels like Marvel has lost its way with the Avengers, and a fresh start is needed.

I’ve observed that the Avengers team truly shines when the stories focus on what made them great in the first place. Over the last ten years, many writers have tried to emulate the Justice League, creating huge, universe-threatening conflicts and losing sight of what fans love about the Avengers. Classic villains have been absent, and characters who were once supporting players – like Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, and the Vision – now have their own separate series, fundamentally altering the team’s dynamic. Even more recent Avengers titles, such as New Avengers, Dark Avengers, and Uncanny Avengers, managed to innovate while still respecting the core concepts. That balance – honoring the past while moving forward – is essential for success.

The Avengers Concept Needs a Refresh

The Avengers are currently struggling, and Marvel needs to refocus on what makes the team appealing. Right now, the team is filled with characters who already have their own solo comics, so fans of those characters don’t need to read the Avengers book to follow them. Meanwhile, lesser-known members aren’t getting any development, and iconic villains haven’t appeared in a long time. Although the latest series started with a storyline featuring Kang, it was dropped when Kang’s role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe changed. Overall, the series is underperforming.

Marvel has faced similar challenges before, and their previous solution was to refocus on core elements. While creating a team dynamic similar to the Justice League is appealing, it only succeeds with truly exceptional characters – something Marvel currently lacks. To revitalize the team, they should build up lesser-known heroes, reintroduce classic villains, and tap into the nostalgia of longtime fans. Relying on connections to the Marvel Cinematic Universe – like the current lineup featuring Captain Marvel, Sam Wilson as Captain America, Vision, Scarlet Witch, and Black Panther – isn’t boosting sales, and hasn’t for quite some time. Instead, they should focus on the spirit of the older comics to win back readers who miss the team’s original feel, rather than depending on movie fans who aren’t invested in the comics themselves.

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2025-10-29 01:41