By TJ Dietsch
"And there came a day, a day unlike any other, when Earth's mightiest heroes and heroines found themselves united against a common threat. On that day, the Avengers were born-to fight the foes no single super hero could withstand!"
As the Heroic Age dawns on the Marvel Universe and we prepare for a new chapter in the ongoing saga of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, each Friday Marvel.com will present a different column focusing on the one and only Avengers. From line-ups to costumes to villains to classic stories and beyond, we've got you covered on the history of Marvel's most prolific team of heroes!
So let the call go out: Avengers Assemble!
ANT-MAN & THE WASP writer and artist Tim Seeley may be busy working on a pair of smaller Avengers right now, but that doesn't mean his favorite team members all have an affinity for identity swapping and size alteration.
"I'm approaching this as my fave characters as Avengers," Seeley says, noting that the likes of Iron Man and Spider-Man don't make the list because they work as well on their own as on the team. "My philosophy on the Avengers is that they work best as a team of rogues, misfits and outcasts who team up to redeem themselves and save humanity from big crazy threats, under the direction of the perfect, infallible leader."
5. Captain America (Steve Rogers)
"The ultimate leader, the ultimate boy scout, the ultimate bad ass. Cap at his best manages to always reinforce why a legion of gods, aliens and misfits will follow him anywhere."
4. She-
"I'm a sucker for a strong woman, and they don't get much stronger than She-
3. Hercules
"The first issue of AVENGERS I'd ever received as a kid had poor old Herc getting head-punched into a coma by the Masters of Evil, so I was instantly sympathetic to the big guy. Herc makes a great team member because he's a great hero and all that, but mostly because he's such an inappropriate jerk. He likes to drink, have a good time, and tell everyone how wonderful he is."
2. Tigra
"Tigra works best on a team, and I like the diversity she brings to any Avengers roster. No matter who you have on a team, adding 'weretiger in a bikini/monster fighter/former cop' to the line up always makes it just that much better."
1. Hawkeye (Clint Barton)
"When it comes right down to it, Clint is the Avengers story. He was misfit, a crook, and a loser. Being an Avenger gives Clint his path and redeems him. Clint is also willing to cross the line, making him a perfect foil for Cap. One of my favorite Avengers moments involves Hawkeye cheating on a game of chance with the Gamesmaster. Plus the fact that he's just a guy with a bow helps add humanity to any Avengers line up."
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1.Captain America2.Thor3.Iron Man4.Hawkeye5.Black Widow
1. The Hulk 2. Captain America 3. Wolverine 4. Thor 5. Sentry
1. The Hulk 2. Captain America 3. Wolverine 4. Thor 5. Sentry ....badass team
1. She-Hulk. I remember how happy everyone was when she re-joined the Avengers during Busiek's run in the midst of a lot of darkness. That was my first exposure to the character.2. Black Widow. A spy leading aliens, gods, and mutants was just cool. I love that she's just as tough as the guys.3. Spider-Man. I groaned when he joined the team, but he has fit in well and added a lot of humor.4 ...
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1. She-Hulk. I remember how happy everyone was when she re-joined the Avengers during Busiek's run in the midst of a lot of darkness. That was my first exposure to the character.2. Black Widow. A spy leading aliens, gods, and mutants was just cool. I love that she's just as tough as the guys.3. Spider-Man. I groaned when he joined the team, but he has fit in well and added a lot of humor.4. Quicksilver. He's a jerk, but also very few would question his commitment to the team or his sister. 5. Ms. Marvel. She's one of the most iconic characters who still has room to grow and evolve.
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1. Ms. Marvel2. Spider-Woman3. Iron Man4. Thor5. She-Hulk