AVENGERS (COMICS)

The 'Avengers' are an elite fictional comic book superhero team in the Marvel Universe. The team, comprising existing Marvel characters variously created by writer-editor Stan Lee, artist and co-plotter Jack Kirby and others, first appeared in ''The Avengers'' vol. 1, #1 (Sept. 1963).
Tagged by the company as "Earth’s Mightiest Heroes", the Avengers originally consisted of Ant-Man, Wasp, Thor, Iron Man, and the Hulk. Almost from inception, however, the roster has been fluid, with the Hulk departing^[1] and Captain America joining.^[2] The rotating roster has become a hallmark of the team, although one theme remains consistent: the Avengers fight the foes no single superhero can withstand - hence their famous cry of "Avengers Assemble!" To that end, the team has featured humans, robots, gods, aliens, supernatural beings and even former villains.
Despite the diverse nature of the team (which often resulted in squabbling), the Avengers have always managed to unite into a cohesive unit to combat extraordinary threats.

Publication history

In 1963, the Avengers debuted in their own comic book series, dated September of that year. The team was created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers. This series ran for 403 issues from September of 1963 through September of 1996.^[3]
In 1984, Marvel published a four-issue limited series called ''West Coast Avengers'' as a spin-off of ''The Avengers''.
In 1985, Marvel launched an ongoing series following the success of the ''West Coast Avengers'' limited series. This series ran for a total of 102 issues under two titles from October 1985 through January 1994. The title changed to ''Avengers West Coast'' with issue #48.^[4]^[5]
In 1987, Marvel launched a second ongoing spin-off titled ''Solo Avengers''. This series ran for 40 issues, also under two titles from December 1987 through January 1991. The title changes to ''Avengers Spotlight'' with issue #21.^[6]^[7]
Between 1996 and 2004 Marvel relaunched the primary Avengers title three times.

★ In 1996, as part of the "Heroes Reborn" line, where Marvel contracted outside companies to produce four titles including ''Avengers''. Part of the arrangement included revamping and restarting the Avengers' history.
The series ran for 13 issues from November 1996 through November 1997 and was written by Rob Liefeld with art by Jim Valentino. The final issue features a crossover with the other "Heroes Reborn" titles, and returned the character to the main Marvel Universe.^[8]

★ In 1997, when the characters returned to its original continuity. The series ran for 84 issues from February 1998 through August 2004.^[9]

★ In 2004, to coincide with what would have been the 500th issue, Marvel changed the numbering of the issues. This series lasted 4 issues, from September through December 2004.^[10]
In 2005, Marvel began publishing a new series featuring the Avengers titled ''New Avengers''.^[11]

Fictional biography

The 1960s

''The Avengers'' #1 (Sept. 1963. Cover art by Jack Kirby & Dick Ayers.

The first issue features the Asgardian trickster god, Loki, who seeks revenge against his adopted brother, Thor. Using an illusion, Loki tricks the Hulk into destroying a railroad track, and then diverts a radio call by Rick Jones for help to Thor, whom Loki hopes will battle the Hulk. Unknown to Loki, the radio call is also answered by Ant Man, the Wasp and Iron Man. After an initial misunderstanding, the heroes unite and defeat Loki. Ant-Man points out that the five work well together and suggests they form a combined team — with the Wasp naming the group the Avengers. The original members are known as the "founding members," and courtesy of an Avengers Charter are responsible for the good name of the team. As a result, their wishes regarding the direction of the team are given additional weight and deference.
The roster changes almost immediately: by the beginning of the second issue, Ant-Man has become Giant-Man and, at the end of the issue, the Hulk leaves once he realizes how much the others fear his unstable personality. Feeling responsible, the Avengers try to locate and contain the Hulk (a recurring theme in the early years of the team), which subsequently leads them into combat with Namor the Sub-Mariner. This would result in the first major milestone in the Avengers' history - the revival and return of Captain America. Captain America joins the team eventually becoming field leader. Captain America is also given "founding member" status in the Hulk's place.^[12] The Avengers go on to fight foes such as Captain America's wartime enemy Baron Zemo, who in turn forms the Masters of Evil; the Lava Men; Kang the Conqueror; Wonder Man; Immortus; and Count Nefaria.
The next milestone came when every member but Captain America resigns and is replaced by three former villains - Hawkeye, the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver.^[13] Although lacking the raw power of the original team, "Cap's Kooky Quartet" (as they were sometimes jokingly called) proved their worth by fighting and defeating the Swordsman; the original Power Man; Doctor Doom and Kang once again. They are soon rejoined by Henry Pym (who changes his name to Goliath), the Wasp, Hercules, the Black Knight and the Black Widow, although the last two do not obtain official membership status until later in the book's history.
Under the tenure of Roy Thomas as writer, the stories begin to focus more intently on characterization. The Black Panther joins the team, followed by the Vision. Thomas also established that the Avengers are headquartered in a New York City building called Avengers Mansion — provided courtesy of Tony Stark (Iron Man's alter ego), who also funds the Avengers through the Maria Stark Foundation, a non-profit organization. The mansion is serviced by Edwin Jarvis, the Avengers' faithful butler, and also furnished with state-of-the-art technology and defense systems, including the Avengers' primary mode of transport: the five-engined quinjets.

The 1970s

The Avengers in the Korvac Saga, from Avengers vol. 1, #175. Art by Dave Cockrum and Terry Austin

Thomas continued his run into the early 1970s, with highlights including a version of the Justice League called the Squadron Supreme and the Kree-Skrull War - a ten-part storyline about an epic battle between the Kree and Skrull races and guest-starring the Kree hero Captain Marvel. This storyline also features the first disbanding of the Avengers, as Skrulls impersonating Captain America, Thor and Iron Man use their authority as founders of the team to disband it. The true founding Avengers, minus the Wasp, reform the team in the 100th issue in response to complaints from Jarvis.
The Vision also falls in love with the Scarlet Witch, who eventually responds with a love of her own. Their relationship, however, is tinged with sadness as the Vision believes himself to be inhuman and unworthy of her.
Writer Steve Englehart continued with the emphasis on the cosmic, introducing Mantis, who joins the team along with the reformed Swordsman. Englehart linked her origins to the very beginnings of the Kree-Skrull conflict in a time-spanning adventure involving Kang the Conqueror and the mysterious Immortus, who are revealed to be past and future versions of each other. Mantis is revealed to be the Celestial Madonna, who is destined to give birth to a being that would save the universe. This saga also reveals that the Vision's body had only been appropriated - and not created - by Ultron, and that it had originally belonged to the 1940s Human Torch. With his origins now clear to him, the Vision finally summons up the courage to propose to the Scarlet Witch. The Celestial Madonna saga ends with their wedding, presided over by Immortus, a future version of Kang.
Englehart's tenure coincided with the debut of George Pérez on the book in #141 (August 1975).
After Englehart's departure, Jim Shooter began as writer and penned several epics, including "Bride of Ultron"; the "Nefaria Trilogy" and the "Korvac Saga" in which almost every Avenger who ever joined is featured in a final, climatic battle. New members added during this time include the Beast; a resurrected Wonder Man; Captain America's former partner the Falcon and Ms. Marvel.
Shooter also introduced the character of Henry Peter Gyrich, the Avengers' liaison to the United States National Security Council. Gyrich is prejudiced against superhumans, and acts in a heavy-handed, obstructive manner, insisting that the Avengers follow government rules and regulations or else lose their priority status with the government. Among Gyrich's demands is that the active roster be trimmed down to only seven members, and that the Falcon, an African American, be admitted to the team to comply with affirmative action laws. This last action is particularly resented by Hawkeye, who because of the seven-member limit, loses his slot to the Falcon. The Falcon, in turn, is unhappy to be the beneficiary of what he perceives to be tokenism, and decides to resign from the team, after which Hawkeye rejoins.

The 1980s

''The Avengers'' vol. 1, #200. Art by George Perez.

Shooter's greatest contribution during this period was a storyline that chronicled the breakdown of Henry Pym. Shooter saw Pym's frequent changes of costume and name as symptomatic of an identity problem and an inferiority complex. After abusing his wife; failing to win back the confidence of the Avengers with a ruse and being duped by the villain Egghead, Pym is jailed. The main writer during the 80's was Roger Stern, who resolved the Pym storyline by having Pym outwit Egghead and defeat the latest incarnation of the Masters of Evil single-handedly, thereby proving his innocence. Pym reconciles with the Wasp, but they decide to remain apart. Pym also retires from superheroics, but returns some years later.
Stern developed several major storylines, such as "Ultimate Vision"; the formation of the West Coast Avengers; and "Avengers Under Siege", which involves the second Baron Zemo. Zemo reforms the Masters of Evil - now a virtual army of super villains - and conducts a coordinated attack on the Avengers in an attempt to break Captain America's spirit. The plan finally failed, but not before Hercules was beaten and rendered catatonic. This immediately led into the "War on Olympus" storyline, as an enraged Zeus decides the Avengers are to blame for Hercules' injuries. New members during the 1980s included an African American Captain Marvel named Monica Rambeau the new team leader; She-Hulk; Tigra, Namor, and Hawkeye's wife, Mockingbird, while Henry Pym emerges from retirement to join the West Coast Avengers.
In 1988, Stern left the title in the middle of a storyline after a disagreement with editor Mark Gruenwald over the removal of Captain Marvel as Avengers chairman. She was to appear incompetent and be replaced by Captain America. Gruenwald believed that Captain America's return as Avengers chairman would boost sales of the character's solo title. Stern disagreed and after expressing his views was dismissed from the title.^[14]
John Byrne eventually took over writing both titles and made several significant contributions, including a revamp of the Vision; Wonder Man harboring feelings for the Scarlet Witch and the discovery that the children of the Scarlet Witch and the Vision are actually illusions. The loss of the Scarlet Witch's children and the Vision drives her insane, although she eventually recovers and rejoins the team. This, however, will have repercussions years later.

The 1990s

The 90s were a turbulent time for Marvel Comics - and as result all titles such as Avengers - as the company adopted an aggressive business expansion model tied to increased publication. This coincided with a speculators' boom (which was followed by an industry-wide slump, which proved devastating for Marvel: filing for bankruptcy in 1997). Bob Harras and Steve Epting took over the title, and introduced a stable lineup with ongoing storylines and character development focused on the Black Knight, Sersi, Crystal, Quicksilver, Hercules and the Vision. During this period, the team find themselves facing increasingly murderous enemies, and are forced to question their rule against killing.
This culminated in "", a 19-part storyline that runs over all Avengers-related titles and showcases a conflict between the Kree and the Shi'ar Empire. An argument of the actions of The Supreme Intelligence - which resulted in mass genocide - splits the team. Iron Man and several dissidents execute the Supreme Intelligence against the wishes of Captain America.
After the demise of the West Coast Avengers, Iron Man would form a proactive and aggressive team called Force Works. During the team's first mission Wonder Man is apparently killed again (his atoms are simply scattered and reform later). Force Works later disbands after it is revealed that Iron Man has become a murderer courtesy of the manipulations of the villain Kang.^[15]

Heroes Reborn (Vol. 2)

''The Avengers'' vol. 2 #11, showing the Heroes Reborn Avengers. Cover art by Michael Ryan

The team would be disrupted once again when in final battle against the gestalt psychic entity Onslaught. The main team, along with the Fantastic Four and others apparently die stopping Onslaught, although it is later revealed that Franklin Richards preserves these heroes in the "Heroes Reborn" pocket universe. Believing the main team to be dead, the Black Widow disbands the Avengers, with only Jarvis remaining to look after the Mansion.
Marvel contracted out several titles set in the pocket universe to Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld, two of the founding creators of Image Comics. The previous continuity of the Marvel Universe was set aside as the heroes were "reborn" in this new setting. While the ''Avengers'' was relaunched as a new series, the "Heroes Reborn" line ended after a year as planned and the license reverted to Marvel.^{[see publication history]}

Heroes Return (Vol. 3)

The third volume of the title by writer Kurt Busiek and artist George Perez was known for its attention to detail. Busiek's finest work on the Avengers was arguably the limited series, ''Avengers Forever'', illustrated by Carlos Pacheco, a time travel story that explores the history of the Avengers and resolves many outstanding questions and loose ends. New members during this run included the former Ms.Marvel, Carol Danvers, now Warbird; the revived Wonder Man; Justice; Firestar; Silverclaw and Triathlon.

The new millennium

Pérez eventually left the title and Busiek completed his run with an epic storyline involving Kang and the destruction of several cities. Geoff Johns began as writer and much of his run deals with the aftermath of the war as the Avengers are given international authority by the United Nations. Members joining during this period included Jack of Hearts and the second Ant-Man. Johns was followed by Chuck Austen who added a new Captain Britain to the team. The writing was then taken over by Brian Michael Bendis, who rebooted the title courtesy of the controversial storyline "Avengers Disassembled".^[16] Entitled "Chaos", the story features the deaths of several members and a loss of credibility for the team. The culprit is revealed to be the Scarlet Witch, who has gone insane again after agonizing over the memory of her lost children and subsequently loses control of her reality-altering powers. Doctor Strange is eventually forced to put the Scarlet Witch in a coma and she is taken away by her father, Magneto.^[17] With the team in disarray and the Mansion a wreck, the surviving members agree to disband.

New Avengers

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Main articles: New Avengers (comic book)

''New Avengers'' was launched in November 2004, written by Brian Michael Bendis and drawn by David Finch (with additional arcs by other popular artists such as Steve McNiven, Frank Cho, and Mike Deodato, Jr.). The first storyline parallels the original circumstances that first brought the team together: a supervillain shuts down a prison for super-powered criminals and the heroes unite to combat the common foe. The heroes that feature are S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman); Daredevil; Luke Cage who are joined by Captain America; Iron Man, and Spider-Man, as well as a seemingly insane Sentry. Most of the super villains are stopped, although 42 escape. Captain America decides that fate has brought this group together, just as it had the original Avengers. All but Daredevil accept the offer and join the New Avengers, with X-Men member Wolverine joining following a trip to the Savage Land.^[18]
The team's ongoing mission is to capture the remaining super-powered criminals who escaped during the riot that brought them together. The emergence of the Young Avengers is also a matter of concern and the team find themselves divided in what actions they should take. There is also a growing sense of unease with S.H.I.E.L.D. after the disappearance of Nick Fury. A secret member known as Ronin acted as an agent for the Avengers and followed the actions of the Hand on their behalf. It was later revealed that Ronin was actually Echo and she had been suggested to Captain America by Daredevil in response to his turning Avengers membership down.
The events of Civil War splits the new team, and Captain America continues to fight crime illegally with a team the press dubs the Secret Avengers - against the wishes of Iron Man.^[19]

Post-Civil War

After Captain America surrenders to authorities at the end of ''Civil War'', Luke Cage becomes leader of the New Avengers and goes underground along with fellow members Wolverine, Spider-Man and Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew), and new members Doctor Strange, Echo, Iron Fist and a new version of Ronin (Clint Barton).
A new title, ''Mighty Avengers'', was launched in 2007 that features a new team of Avengers, formed by Iron Man, that is made up of heroes that fought on the Pro-registration side of the Civil War. It includes Iron Man, Black Widow, Ms. Marvel, Wonder Man, the Wasp, Sentry and the Olympian god Ares. The ''Mighty Avengers'' title is also written by Brian Michael Bendis.
A third Avengers ongoing series called '' also began which deals with the aftermath from the Civil War and the training of a new generation of heroes.^[20] The series is written by Dan Slott and with artwork by Stefano Caselli.^[21]

Alternate Avengers

1950s Avengers

A short-lived team of superheroes who band together in the 1950s and call themselves the "Avengers". This team consisted of Marvel Boy; Venus; the 3-D Man; Gorilla-Man; the Human Robot; Jimmy Woo; Namora and Jann of the Jungle.^[22] It was portrayed years later in ''Avengers Forever'' that these events occurred in an alternate timeline — one that was erased by Immortus using the Forever Crystal.^[23] Recent developments confirm that a version of the group did exist in mainstream continuity, and eventually reform in the present day.^[24]

Avengers Next

Main articles: A-Next

In the alternate future timeline known as MC2, the Avengers have disbanded and Avengers Mansion is now a museum. An emergency forces Edwin Jarvis to sound an alert, and a new generation of heroes form a new team of Avengers. Most of the new Avengers are children of established Marvel superheroes.

The Ultimates

Main articles: Ultimates

In the Ultimate Marvel Universe, the Avengers are named "The Ultimates", and were formed by Ultimate Nick Fury to protect America against superhuman threats. ^[25]

Marvel Adventures: The Avengers

In 2006, ''Marvel Adventures'' (Marvel Comics' "All Ages" line) began a new Avengers series, featuring a line-up of Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man (supplanting Ant-Man), Wolverine, Storm, the Hulk and Giant-Girl (Janet van Dyne, the Wasp in regular continuity). Recent issues have referred to Storm as the co-leader of the team. The series takes place in its own continuity, as with most of the other titles in the ''Marvel Adventures'' line.

Judgment League Avengers

Main articles: Judgment League Avengers

The 'Judgment League Avengers' are an Amalgam Comics superhero team. They are a combination of DC Comics' Justice League and Marvel Comics' Avengers. ^[26]

In other media

★ There was a paperback : ''The Avengers Battle the Earth-Wrecker'' by Otto Binder (a comic book writer for decades), published by Bantam (F3569) in June 1967. It featured Captain America, Goliath, Hawkeye, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch on the cover but inside, Iron Man and the Wasp replaced Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch. The villain was named Karzz.

Animated series

Guest appearances

★ The Avengers appeared briefly in the 1966 ''The Marvel Superheroes Show.''

★ The team also made appearances in the 1980 ''Spider-Man'' animated series ("Arsenic and Aunt May"); the 1994 ''Fantastic Four'' cartoon ("To Battle the Living Planet" and "Doomsday"), and in the ''X-Men'' animated series.

The Avengers: United They Stand

''The Avengers'' (also known as ''), was an animated series consisting of 13 episodes. It originally aired from October 30, 1999 to February 26, 2000, and was produced by Avi Arad and distributed by 20th Century Fox Television. This series featured a team comprising of Ant-Man (leader); the Wasp; Wonder Man; Tigra; Hawkeye and the Scarlet Witch. The Falcon and the Vision were added to the roster in the opening episodes. Captain America and Iron Man only make one appearance, while Thor does not appear in the series outside of the opening titles.

Animated films

Marvel released two ''Avengers'' animated, direct-to-DVD feature films, ''Ultimate Avengers'' and ''Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Black Panther'', (both based on the Ultimates), the first released in February 2006, followed by its sequel in August 2006.

Video and computer games

In 1991, the Avengers were featured in the arcade and console game ''Captain America and the Avengers''.
In 1995 a videogame called ''"Avengers In Galactic Storm"'' based on the events of the was published by Data East Corporation in the arcades in Japan and USA. It is now emulated by MAME.
The Avengers feature prominently in the '' videogame.

Film

It was revealed in early August 2006 by a stock market report that The Avengers was listed under Marvel films in development. It was later revealed that Zak Penn, writer of '', will be writing a live-action Avengers script.^[27].

Footnotes

1. ''The Avengers'' v1 #2 (Nov 1963) Marvel Comics
2. ''The Avengers'' v1 #4 (Mar 1964) Marvel Comics)
3. Avengers, The (1963 Series)
4. West Coast Avengers (1985 Series)
5. Avengers West Coast (1989 Series)
6. Solo Avengers (1987 Series)
7. Avengers Spotlight (1989 Series)
8. Avengers (1996 Series)
9. Avengers (1998 Series)
10. Avengers (2004 Series)
11. New Avengers (2005 Series)
12. ''Avengers'' v3 #1 (Feb 1998) Marvel Comics
13. ''The Avengers'' v1 #16 (May 1965) Marvel Comics
14.
Just re-read Avengers #255... (single post) RogLStern
15. ''Force Works'' concluded its run with issue #22 (Apr 1996).
16. The "Avengers Disassembled" story ran through several titles, with the final chapters featured in ''Avengers'' vol. 4, #500 - #503(Sept - Dec 2004). The anniversary issue of #500 marked the end of Volume 3 and the commencement of Volume 4.
17. The story of the Scarlet Witch continued in ''House of M'' #1 - #8 (Aug - Dec 2005)
18. ''New Avengers'' #4 (Feb 2006) Marvel Comics
19. ''Civil War'' #1 - #7 (July 2006 - Jan 2007) Marvel Comics
20. Marvel Makes ''Avengers: The Initiatve'' an Ongoing
21. New Joe Fridays Week 30
22. ''What If'' v1, #9 (Jun 1978) Marvel Comics
23. ''Avengers Forever'' #1 - #12 (Dec 1998 - Feb 2000) Marvel Comics
24. ''Agents of Atlas'' #1 - #6 (Oct 2006 - Mar 2007) Marvel Comics
25. ''Ultimates'' #1 - #12 (Mar 2002 - Apr 2004) Marvel Comics
26. ''JLX'' #1 (Apr 1996) Marvel and DC Comics
27. Zak Penn Writing ''The Avengers''

External links

★ Official webpage at Marvel.com

★ - Marvel Database Project

★ Avengers comic book list at Big Comic Book DataBase

★ Avengers Infocenter - Database covering issues and characters

★ Avengers Forever

★ Avengers Assemble

★ Earth's Mightiest Heroines - Fansite for the women of the Avengers.

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