The 10 Greatest Marvel Teams

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It’s never easy being on your own, but in the Marvel Universe, it’s nearly impossible. When the threat of Mephisto harvesting your soul or Galactus eating your planet looms large, you’ll need a super-powered pal or two to lend a hand.

Fortunately, Marvel boasts the top teams of heroes you’ll find anywhere. From families of intergalactic explorers to vanguards who protect even those who hate and fear them, you’ll find a variety of groups fighting for the greater good.

We’ve rounded up the details on the most elite organizations in all of Marvel lore. Read on to learn much more!

THE FANTASTIC FOUR

It’s a family affair for the formative heroes of the Marvel Universe, as Reed Richards—aka Mr. Fantastic—teams with his wife Sue—also called the Invisible Woman—her little brother Johnny—better known by his Human Torch codename—and their friend Ben Grimm—recognized by legions of admirers as the one and only Thing—to comprise the Fantastic Four! This quartet gained their super powers on a daring outer space mission that saw them bombarded with mysterious cosmic rays. They have tussled with a variety of menaces to humanity, from the dastardly Doctor Doom to all-powerful Galactus, and explored everywhere from the Negative Zone to the Microverse. Reed and Sue’s precocious children, Franklin and Valeria, also have accompanied their parents on daring escapades and exotic adventures! And now the FF are back in a new series! 

Discover the Fantastic Four's full story on their Marvel.com explore page: Fantastic Four

THE AVENGERS

There came a day when a group of super heroes banded together to combat the threats none dared face on their own—and on that day, the Avengers assembled! Comprised of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes—including Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Thor and many, many more through the years—this A-list super group stands as the benchmark for all other alliances. A ton of inspiring heroes have served as Avengers, with the ranks sometimes swelling to several dozen. Whether it’s the malevolent machine menace of Ultron or time-traveling tyranny of Kang, the world can count on the Avengers to hold the line and keep humanity safe!

Discover the Avengers' full story on their Marvel.com explore page: The Avengers

THE X-MEN

Professor Charles Xavier, a powerful telepath, founded a school for the gifted as well as a strike force called the X-Men in the hopes of fostering peaceful relations between his own people, mutants, and humanity. Over the years, the group has evolved appropriately, from teenagers to adults, from students to freedom fighters, but have never lost sight of the larger goal: battling for their mentor’s dream of racial equality while also protecting the world at large, even if they are feared and hated while doing so. Notable X-Men include Cyclops, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Storm, Beast, Kitty Pryde, Gambit, Rogue and many more—even their archenemy Magneto has been known to ally with the forces of good from time to time!

Discover the X-Men's full story on their Marvel.com explore page: X-Men

THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

In the aftermath of intergalactic war, a hero of that combat, Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, brought together a ragtag band of cosmic crusaders that also included Drax, Gamora, Groot, and Rocket Raccoon. Taking on the name of another heroic group from an alternate timeline’s future, this unusual crew has more than proven worthy to be called Guardians of the Galaxy, facing down the likes of Thanos and Annihilus, fending off invasion from the extra dimensional Fault, and stepping in when aggressive alien races like the Skrulls, Kree, Shi’Ar, and Spartax attempt to tread upon territory not their own.

Discover the Guardians of the Galaxy's full story on their Marvel.com explore page: Guardians of the Galaxy

INHUMANS

There dwells among us a hidden race with powers beyond anything we understand, a mix of nobility and madness struggling internally to find their path—there dwells the Inhumans! An offshoot of normal humanity experimented on ancient times by the alien Kree, this secret society gains incredible and often horrifying abilities by exposure to the sacred Terrigen mist that alters their genetics upon adolescence. Ruled by a royal family that includes Black Bolt, Medusa, Crystal, Karnak, Gorgon, and Maximus, the Inhumans work tirelessly to carve out an existence apart from hardship and isolation.

Discover the Inhumans' full story on their Marvel.com explore page: Inhumans

CHAMPIONS

When young and idealistic heroes Ms. Marvel, Nova, and Spider-Man disagreed with the guiding principles of their elder Avengers and a schism led them to form their own initiative—and inherit a name used by another short-lived super hero team—they became the Champions! Other novitiate adventurers like Amadeus Cho and Viv Vision quickly came into the fold, with others such as Cyclops and Ironheart following later on. While the more mainstream teams of the Marvel Universe take on larger than life super villains, the Champions focus on making a difference at a more local level and affecting change wherever they can.

S.H.I.E.L.D.

The organization identified as S.H.I.E.L.D. has had many incarnations, but most associate the acronym with the modern international peacekeeping body that has employed operatives from Nick Fury, Maria Hill and Phil Coulson to Black Widow, Captain America and Quake. Employing the latest technology, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents—whether superpowered or not—stand ready to rally against formidable threats such as HYDRA and A.I.M. while also providing support to teams like the Avengers.

Discover the full story of S.H.I.E.L.D. on their Marvel.com explore page: S.H.I.E.L.D. 

THE DEFENDERS

The name “Defenders”has been associated with several loosely-affiliated alliances throughout the Marvel Universe, beginning with the notable teaming of Hulk, Doctor Strange, Namor, and the Silver Surfer. More recently, a street level fighting force consisting of Daredevil, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage adopted the moniker. The fierce foursome stood up to organized crime, and refused to let super villains like Black Cat and Diamondback infect the neighborhoods of New York City with their brand of elaborate evil. There’s no telling when the Defenders, whatever their lineup might be, might materialize once more in the war for justice, but don’t count them out.

Discover the Defenders' full story on their Marvel.com explore page: The Defenders

THE ETERNALS

Their origins span the stars, but destiny has placed them on Earth where they’ve served to inspire the heroes of myth—witness the Eternals! The offspring of the omnipotent Celestials, this pantheon of power boasts the likes of Ikaris, Sersi, Makkari, Gilgamesh and many more who reside in mystery, appearing when needed then receding back into the shadows. What part will the Eternals play in the ultimate fate of the Marvel Universe? Only time will tell…

THUNDERBOLTS

It began as a scam—the megalomaniacal Baron Zemo recruited his fellow Masters of Evil to pose as heroes, forming the Thunderbolts with the goal of a power grab. But along the way, members like Songbird, Atlas, and Moonstone discovered within themselves the desire to do good for real, and ultimately turned against Zemo. As time marched on, even tenured Avengers such as Hawkeye and Luke Cage would take the T-bolts under their leadership (along with more nefarious figures like Norman Osborn), contributing to a legacy that has outlived the team’s shocking origins.

Discover the Thunderbolts' full story on their Marvel.com explore page: Thunderbolts

Read up on these teams and more on the Explore the Universe section at Marvel.com and with Marvel Unlimited now!