Comics
Published March 19, 2019

5 Characters You Didn’t Know Were Avengers

Check out some of the unlikeliest additions the Avengers ever made!

Wolverine

An ever-changing and expanding roster has become the norm for the Avengers over the past years, as heroes—and sometimes villains—from all walks of life have added an official Avengers membership ID card to their super-wallets. But no matter how odd you might think some of the incoming members might be, just remember that making Avengers out of the most unexpected and unlikely heroes around has kinda become the team's thing.

DOCTOR DRUID

There's only room for one mystical wizard in the Avengers' ranks, and that spot most definitely has to go to Doctor Strange. If you're not gonna get Strange on the team, which the Avengers tried to do for decades, then the mystical telepath Anthony Druid would make for a fine substitute. Unfortunately for Doctor Druid, he spent most of his time as an Avenger as a mind controlled operative of the super villain Ravonna. He eventually broke free of the brainwashing, but his reputation had been tarnished.

Avengers (1963) #279

Avengers (1963) #279

What is Marvel Unlimited?

SANDMAN

Yeah, Sandman. The Spider-Man villain attempted to turn over a new leaf in AVENGERS #329 when he became a reserve member of the Marvel Universe's most prominent super hero team. Sandman's good intentions didn't pan out, though, when he stopped a street-level crime—an offense that did not meet the world-threatening criteria specified in the team's charter. Sandman quit, assuming (incorrectly, as it turned out) that Captain America would fire him over the mistake.

The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #348

The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #348

What is Marvel Unlimited?

DEATHCRY

Every super hero team in the 90's needed an animalistic bad girl on their roster, and the angry avian alien Deathcry provided just that for the Avengers. As the Avengers' Shi'ar-appointed protector, Deathcry prioritized defending the team from the Kree over all else. Because of this, the warrior never achieved more than just probationary membership with the team—even though she stood by their side for three years.

Avengers (1963) #364

Avengers (1963) #364

What is Marvel Unlimited?

WOLVERINE

The clawed Canadian called Wolverine might just be the most recognizable X-Man of all time, so rebranding the mutant as one of the new Avengers took a lot of time—and convincing. Wolverine's on this list mainly because Captain America himself considered Logan to be an unlikely Avenger. He fought Iron Man's decision to allow Wolverine on the team, pointing out the X-Man's murder-filled past. Iron Man convinced Cap, and Wolverine's heroism eventually earned him a seemingly permanent spot on the team.

New Avengers (2004) #5

New Avengers (2004) #5

What is Marvel Unlimited?

EX NIHILO

Sometimes bad guys take the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" approach. Ex Nihilo made his grand debut as a major threat to the expanded Avengers roster; he threatened to remake the Earth from scratch by destroying everything on it. Then, with the threat of the even more merciless Builders fast approaching, Steve Rogers extended membership to Ex Nihilo and his sister Abyss.

Avengers (2012) #17

Avengers (2012) #17

What is Marvel Unlimited?

Related

Comics

Wolverine's Milestone 400th Issue: The Long-Awaited Showdown with the Adamantine, an Unbelievable Return from Logan's Past and More

This April, 'Wolverine' #8 marks 400 issues of The Best There Is with an over-sized issue by series creative team Saladin Ahmed and Martín Cóccolo. Plus, a variant cover and backup story by Eisner Award-winning creator guest creator Daniel Warren Johnson!

Comics

Marvel Comics Expands ‘Marvel Premier Collection’ Line for 2025

Following Daredevil, Black Panther, Captain America, and Fantastic Four, the Marvel Premier Collection will continue with new launches of Civil War, Wolverine, and Hawkeye, debuting later this year.

Comics

Miles Morales Enters the New Ultimate Universe in 'Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion' as Worlds Collide

A new chapter of Marvel's blockbuster new Ultimate Comics line arrives this May in 'Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion,' a five-issue limited series by Deniz Camp, Cody Ziglar and Jonas Scharf.

Comics

Spider-Man and Wolverine, Together Again as Webs and Snikts Fly in New Comic Series

'Spider-Man & Wolverine,' a new ongoing comic book series by Marc Guggenheim and Kaare Andrews, launches in May.