Marvel’s Most Powerful Cosmic Teams, Ranked

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Marvel Comics features a vast universe beyond just superheroes on Earth, and its teams from other planets demonstrate this perfectly. While the Guardians of the Galaxy are well-known, they’re actually not the strongest cosmic team in the comics. Many other groups exist – some protect their home worlds, others travel the galaxy helping those in need, and there was even a team of intergalactic police similar to the Green Lanterns. These teams are often locked in conflict with one another, adding to the cosmic drama.

Here is a look at the best cosmic teams in Marvel Comics, ranked by power levels.

10) Starjammers

The Starjammers are a group of adventurers historically led by Corsair, Cyclops’ father. Corsair was taken from Earth and forced into slavery for years, but eventually escaped. Drawing on childhood memories, he became a pirate and assembled a team of daring heroes. While he doesn’t have superpowers, Corsair is a skilled military tactician and has fought alongside powerful allies like his son Havoc and the X-Men’s Polaris. The Starjammers are a likeable bunch, though they’re generally more supportive allies than a major power themselves, often assisting larger forces when called upon.

9) The Black Order

The Black Order quickly became popular after appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Thanos’s elite team in *Avengers: Infinity War*. Interestingly, they were relatively new to Marvel comics when they first appeared on screen. They officially debuted in the comics in *New Avengers* Vol. 3 #8, as part of the *Infinity* storyline. This story saw Captain America leading the Avengers into space to face a major cosmic threat, and Thanos used this opportunity to attack Earth with his newly formed Black Order. The team – Ebony Maw, Black Dwarf, Proxima Midnight, and Corvus Glaive (who had been introduced shortly before) – fought Earth’s heroes. Since then, the Black Order has continued to fight alongside Thanos in large-scale cosmic events, but they generally serve whoever is the most powerful villain at the time.

8) Guardians of the Galaxy

The Guardians of the Galaxy, while popular, are often considered overrated compared to other Marvel teams. The version most fans recognize is actually quite different from their original comic book incarnation. They didn’t become well-known until shortly before the release of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, gaining prominence in the *Annihilation* storyline. Originally, the Guardians were a futuristic team featuring characters like Yondu and were involved in events like *The Korvac Saga*. The team later evolved into a present-day group led by Star-Lord, which is the version most people are familiar with today. While they include powerful heroes like Drax and fan-favorites like Rocket, the team has often been inconsistent and plagued by internal conflicts, preventing them from ranking among the strongest cosmic teams in Marvel.

7) Warbound

The Warbound team truly demonstrated its strength during World War Hulk, when the Hulk became one of Marvel’s biggest threats. While the Hulk was the most powerful member and led the attack on Earth, the rest of the team – including Korg, No-Name, and the traitorous Miek – were also formidable. After the Hulk left, Katherine Waynesboro took over as leader, but the team wasn’t as effective without his strength. There’s speculation that the Hulk may have formed another version of the Warbound for the upcoming 2025 cosmic event, *Imperial*, when he traveled to Sakaar with Amadeus Cho and She-Hulk, and if so, they appear to be powerful again.

6) Inhumans

I’ve been reading Marvel comics for years, and the Inhumans are one of the oldest groups around! They actually showed up in *The Fantastic Four* way back in the early days, even before characters like Silver Surfer and Galactus! At first, they seemed pretty grounded – they lived right here on Earth before moving to the moon. But their history is actually really complex. The Kree created them a long time ago, genetically engineering them to be soldiers. Eventually, the Inhumans rebelled and built their own civilization. There are tons of Inhumans out there, but the team we’re focusing on is the Royal Family. They’re incredibly powerful – people like Black Bolt and Medusa, and Gorgon. They’ve gone toe-to-toe with some of the biggest threats in the universe, like Thanos during the *War of Kings* storyline, and Black Bolt even had a huge role in the *Imperial* storyline a few years back. They’re a force to be reckoned with!

5) The Imperial Guard

The Imperial Guard are a powerful and intimidating military force, known throughout the galaxy. They serve as the protectors of the Shi’ar Empire, ensuring its dominance in galactic affairs. Led by Gladiator, a Marvel hero comparable to Superman, they first gained notoriety by capturing Jean Grey and nearly defeating the entire X-Men team, insisting she face justice for her actions as the Dark Phoenix. They’ve also played a significant role in major events like *Annihilation* and the 2025 *Imperial* crossover, consistently demonstrating the power to challenge any opponent, including the Kree, Skrulls, Black Panther, and the Nova Corps.

4) The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda

T’Challa dispatched a team to investigate the origins of the Mena Ngai, but they became lost in space. A strange time warp flung them back to the past, where they discovered a rich, uninhabited area in a faraway galaxy. There, they built a successful empire that grew over two thousand years, eventually controlling planets across five galaxies. Their expansion finally brought them into conflict with Wakanda from Earth-616, and the man inadvertently responsible for the empire’s creation. The empire’s unchecked conquest demonstrates its incredible strength. Despite everything, T’Challa maintained the empire, appointing M’Baku as its leader and advisor.

3) Annihilators

The Annihilators were a powerful team created with a single, focused goal: to eliminate the galaxy’s greatest threats – enemies that even teams like the Guardians of the Galaxy couldn’t handle. Led by Cosmo the Russian dog, the team gathered some of the most powerful warriors in the universe to stop Blastaar and any future villains from endangering everything. Its roster included heavy hitters like the Silver Surfer, Gladiator, Beta Ray Bill, Ikon, Quasar, and Ronan the Accuser, making it arguably the strongest team ever assembled.

2) The Kree-Skrull Alliance

The Kree and Skrulls were once locked in a devastating war, fueled by mutual hatred and a desire to destroy each other. But everything changed during the *Empyre* event when Hulkling was revealed to be the son of a Kree hero, Captain Mar-Vell, and a Skrull princess – making him the rightful ruler of both empires. This led to an end to the conflict, with Hulkling becoming emperor and forging the Kree-Skrull Alliance. This new alliance, which includes powerful figures like Super Skrull and Carol Danvers, is now a formidable power and a serious threat to anyone who challenges them.

1) Celestials

In the vast Marvel Comics universe, the Celestials are the most powerful entities. First appearing in 1976’s *Eternals* #1, created by Jack Kirby, these cosmic beings originally rebelled against their creators, the First Firmament. This rebellion led to the destruction of the first universe and the beginning of the repeating cycles of universes we see today, demonstrating their immense power. They played a key role in forming the current Marvel universe. The Celestials are impartial judges who travel to different planets, evaluating the life they find there. They are also responsible for creating both the Eternals and Deviants, and they introduced the genetic code to Earth that eventually led to the emergence of mutants. Though not invulnerable – one Celestial actually died on Earth billions of years ago – they are far more powerful than almost any other being in existence.

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2025-09-18 23:16