The Avengers are considered one of Marvel’s most iconic teams. Although the Fantastic Four came first, the Avengers distinguished themselves by assembling Marvel’s strongest heroes to tackle dangers too big for any single hero to face – similar to DC’s Justice League. Despite having powerhouses like Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man, the Avengers haven’t always succeeded, and have sometimes suffered significant defeats. These failures stemmed from both external threats from other dimensions and internal conflicts within the team itself.
The Avengers have faced some tough losses – from being defeated in battle to failing against huge threats like Thanos and Korvac, and even losing to the Masters of Evil. Here’s a look at their most significant failures.
6) Infinity Gauntlet
The *Infinity Gauntlet* was a massive, universe-altering story where Thanos used the Infinity Gems to try and impress Death. He believed wiping out half of all life would prove his love, but he eventually realized that wasn’t what she desired. Before he could complete this, the Avengers teamed up with powerful heroes like Adam Warlock, the Silver Surfer, and Doctor Strange to fight him. Despite their efforts, Thanos was too powerful and succeeded in eliminating half of all life in the universe.
5) World War Hulk
Although not the full Avengers team, Tony Stark acted on their behalf when he launched Hulk into space, ultimately sending him to Sakaar. Tragedy struck when Hulk’s wife and friends died in a shuttle explosion, prompting his return to Earth seeking revenge on the Illuminati, whom he blamed for their deaths. A massive battle ensued, with all of Earth’s heroes, including the Avengers, fighting against Hulk, but none could defeat him. Hulk became a terrifying villain, systematically defeating the Avengers until no one remained. Only the Sentry was powerful enough to finally stop Hulk’s rampage, as the Avengers had all fallen victim to his fury.
4) Kang Dynasty
The Marvel Cinematic Universe was building towards a storyline called the *Kang Dynasty*, but those plans were changed due to unforeseen issues. This story was anticipated because, in the original comics, Kang the Conqueror decisively defeated the Avengers. Kang is a villain who travels through time and is determined to maintain his control over the universe across all timelines. In the comics, he succeeded in establishing his dynasty, conquering while commanding a spaceship shaped like a massive sword. He utterly defeated the Avengers, leaving them stranded in space and ultimately forcing their surrender – a complete and total victory.
3) Avengers Disassembled
Scarlet Witch is incredibly powerful, making her a major threat when she loses control. Several times, other heroes, including the Avengers, have had to intervene, often with devastating consequences. The worst instance occurred in the storyline *Avengers Disassembled*. Driven by grief over the loss of her children-who she had unknowingly created-Wanda sought revenge on those she blamed. This led to a violent rampage where she killed Agatha Harkness and several Avengers, including Hawkeye, Ant-Man, and Jack-of-Hearts. Only Doctor Strange was able to stop her by shutting down her mind. This defeat caused the Avengers to break up and directly led to the events of *House of M*.
2) The Korvac Saga
The Korvac Saga was a devastating defeat for the Avengers, and they were completely outmatched. Korvac wasn’t interested in simply defeating them; he was a nearly all-powerful being who wanted to reshape the world into his idea of a perfect society, believing he knew what was best for humanity. When the Avengers and the original Guardians of the Galaxy opposed his vision, Korvac unleashed his immense power and instantly killed every hero who stood against him. The entire Avengers team was wiped out, and they were only brought back to life because Korvac fell into a deep depression, leading him to resurrect them before taking his own life.
1) Under Siege
“Under Siege” is a truly great Avengers story that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, and it stands out for one key reason. The Avengers actually *lost* a battle to the Masters of Evil – a shocking turn of events for any Marvel reader. It was a brilliant move by the villains to wait until most of the Avengers’ strongest members were absent before attacking their headquarters.
The Avengers suffered a surprisingly devastating defeat – one so humiliating it would likely never be shown in their movies. They were completely overwhelmed by their opponents, who even went so far as to brutally attack Jarvis, the team’s butler, while Captain America was forced to watch. Hercules was nearly killed, and the Avengers were left badly beaten. Though they eventually managed to win a rematch, it remained a deeply embarrassing loss for the team.
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2025-09-19 23:42