Avengers

“There was an idea, Stark knows this, called The Avengers Initiative. The idea was to bring together a group of remarkable people, see if they could become something more. See if they could work together when we needed them to, to fight the battles that we never could.”

―Nick Fury, following Coulson's death^[src]

The Avengers are a team of superheroes from Marvel Comics. They are featured in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting with 2012's The Avengers, and also have made appearances across various other media, including several TV series, such as The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Avengers Assemble, and Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers.

In Marvel Comics, the team originally consisted of Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk, Ant-Man, and the Wasp. Throughout the story, different members have joined or left the group.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the team originally consisted of Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, and Hawkeye. They were assembled by Nick Fury, director of the intelligence agency S.H.I.E.L.D. through the Avengers Initiative, to combat threats that could not be dealt with alone. They were initially brought together to combat Loki, Thor's adoptive brother. Different members join or leave the group throughout the film series, and after the death (Iron Man and Black Widow) or retirement (Hawkeye and Captain America) of most of the original members, a new team will emerge.

In The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the group's founders are the same five from the Marvel Comics, with different members joining the group throughout the series. In Avengers Assemble and related animated series, the group members are the same six from 2012's The Avengers plus the Falcon.

The Avengers were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

Appearances

Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Avengers

Nick Fury assembles the team when an unexpected threat associated with Thor's brother Loki and the Tesseract appears. The team initially have difficulty and refusal to obey each other; for example, Tony Stark is reluctant to working under the command of Captain America, Thor demands that Loki is his responsibility and the team is uncomfortable with the presence of Bruce Banner. When Loki attempts to destroy the team and promote his godlike supremacy to Earth in a public way, the Avengers depart from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s command and rally in defense of New York as it is invaded by the extraterrestrials known as the Chitauri.

Captain America takes command of the team and they each work to suppress the invasion force. The Hulk beats Loki into submission and Iron Man sends a nuclear weapon fired by the World Security Council into the portal through which the aliens enter Earth and their fleet is destroyed, breaking the neural connection with their ground troops and instantly killing them. The team take Loki as their prisoner and Thor takes both Loki and the Tesseract back to Asgard. The team disbands but agrees to reassemble when another global threat requires their combined efforts.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

The Avengers went to Sokovia to taking down the last known HYDRA base and retrieve Loki's Scepter. Although the base had much protection, they easily defeat the HYDRA soldiers, who wore Chitauri armor. During the battle, they fought against the twins, Pietro and Wanda Maximoff. The battle was successful as they captured Baron von Strucker and regained the scepter. Days later, Stark organized a party in honor of the victory over HYDRA, but when the party was over they were attacked by Ultron, an artificial intelligence designed by Tony Stark and Bruce Banner.

The Avengers went to Salvage Yard to investigate why Ultron needed the Vibranium and also destroy the mad robot. Here, they came across Ultron and Maximoff twins, this leading to a fight between the two sides. Stark fought Ultron, while the others fought the twins and Klaw's men. Thanks to her powers, Scarlet Witch was able to beat almost all the Avengers, including Hulk. Eventually, Iron Man defeated Ultron before facing Hulk, who was under Scarlet Witch's mind control. After a fierce battle and causing many civilian casualties, Stark defeated Hulk. As the world's governments were unhappy with Avengers' actions, Barton took them to a warehouse.

After spending a few days on Barton's farm, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and Captain America went to Seoul, South Korea to steal the new synthetic body of Ultron, while Stark went to Norway to investigate who was the secret enemy of Ultron as Banner returned to the Tower. The Avengers went to Seoul managed to steal the synthetic body, however Ultron managed to capture Romanoff. When Captain America found out the intentions of Stark to use the android for his benefit (Wanda had told him that Tony would look for a way to fix the things, no matter how). He ordered him to destroy the android because it was very dangerous, but as Tony sought to resolve what he had caused. This led to a fight between Rogers's side and Stark's side; but soon Thor arrived and using his Mjlnir gave birth to synthetic android. Cap asked Thor his reasons and he replied that Stark was right because the android would be able to defeat Ultron. Minutes later, they saw how Vision lifted Mjolnir and demonstrating that they should trust him. The next day the team went to Sokovia to stop Ultron for last time.

Arriving in Sokovia, the group helped to evacuate the city in order that civilians not being casualties during the battle. Although Ultron had a big number of Sentries, the Avengers were able to defeat him and his army. During the battle, Quicksilver sacrificed his life to protect Hawkeye and Sokovian child from Ultron. While Scarlet Witch destroyed Ultron Prime's body, a Sentry activated the core causing Sokovia back down to Earth. Eventually, Vision defeated Ultron; while Thor and Iron Man prevented Sokovia hit into Earth and Banner went off the grid.

The Avengers managed to save millions of lifes in Sokovia and defeated Ultron, in the aftermath of the Battle of Sokovia, Stark remodeled one of his where houses as the Avenger's new headquarters abandoning Avengers Tower, and the original team was no more, Thor leaves to Asgard, Hulk is missing, Hawkeye and Stark retire and Captain America leads a new team of Avengers consisting Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, War Machine, Vision, and Falcon.

Ant-Man

Months later, Falcon was in charge of protecting the New Avengers Facility. During his watch, he realized that someone had infiltrated into the facility with unknown reasons. That someone was Scott Lang, who presented as Ant-Man. Wilson asked Lang the reason of his infiltration; Lang replied that he only was looking for a device that he needed.

Falcon didn't take kindly to thievery and immediately attacked Lang, who using the skills of his suit and attack techniques that Hope showed managed to defeat Wilson. Days later, he began the search for Ant-Man because he believed he could be useful to the Avengers. He later along with Steve Rogers were able to capture Bucky Barnes after months of search.

Captain America: Civil War

While preventing the theft of a biological weapon in Lagos, Scarlet Witch accidentally causes the destruction of a building (and killing several Wakandan humanitarian workers), while trying to contain the blast of a suicide vest. This incident causes the United Nations to pass the Sokovia Accords, which will establish a United Nations panel to oversee and control the Avengers. Either the Avengers sign it, or they either retire or will be arrested. While Tony Stark, Vision, and War Machine are for it, in order to limit the collateral, Steve Rogers feels the Avengers should trust their judgment, and worries that this will make them political pawns.

The conflict is made even worse when Captain America's friend, Bucky Barnes, is framed for a terror attack, and the Pro-Accord side are ordered to apprehend him. This splits the Avengers into two factions: the Pro-Accord side (Iron Man, War Machine, Vision, Black Panther, and Peter Parker, recruited by Stark), and the Non-Accord side (Captain America, Falcon, Winter Soldier, Agent 13, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, and Ant-Man, recruited by Falcon). Black Widow apparently starts on the Pro-Accord side, but she is revealed to have been on Captain's side the entire time.

After an airport battle, the Non-Accord side (minus Rogers and Barnes) are arrested and imprisoned on the raft. The Avengers are now down to Iron Man, Vision, and a now-paralysed War Machine. Steve Rogers, however, sends Tony a message, saying that he holds no ill will to Tony andto give him and his team a call if he ever needs them. At that time, his team is being broken out of the raft (and Tony ignores Thunderbolt Ross' calls for help, to give them a head start).

The "Secret Avengers" faction claim asylum in Wakanda, under Black Panther's protection.

Avengers: Infinity War

The Avengers, together with the Guardians of the Galaxy and other heroes, unite to battle their most powerful enemy yet, the evil Thanos. On a mission to collect all six Infinity Stones, Thanos plans to use the artifacts to wipe out half the population of the universe, which he suceeds at doing, leaving Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, War Machine, Okoye, Captain Marvel, Ant-Man, Rocket Raccoon, Nebula, Valkyrie, Korg, and Miek as the only Avengers left alive.

Captain Marvel

Captain America, Black Widow, War Machine, and Bruce Banner are surveying the carnage left behind by Thanos' extermination of half the population of the universe, when they are suddenly confronted with Captain Marvel.

Avengers: Endgame

“Avengers.... Assemble.”

―Captain America^[src]

The Avengers during the "Battle of Earth".

Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye, War Machine, Nebula, Rocket Raccoon, and Scott Lang travel back in time to retrieve the Infinity Stones and the Infinity Gauntlet. They succeed, even though Black Widow dies in the process of retrieving the Soul Stone, and Hulk uses the Infinity Gauntlet to undo the snap and bring everyone back to life. In retaliation, Thanos attacks Avengers Headquarters with an army of Chitauri, Outriders, and the Black Order. All the Avengers, the ones who survived the Decimation and the ones who were brought back to life, join forces to fight Thanos and his army. Iron Man uses the Infinity Stones to kill Thanos and his army, but since Tony is a regular human with no powers, the strain of using the Infinity Stones kills him. The rest of the Avengers attend Iron Man's funeral, Captain America retires from superhero work and goes back in time to the 40's to live a more peaceful life with Peggy Carter, with Sam Wilson eventually becoming his successor, and Thor joins Mantis, Nebula, Drax the Destroyer, Rocket Raccoon, and Star-Lord in the new incarnation of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Post Infinity Saga

Although the Avengers officially split up in Avengers: Endgame, there is a little video made by the students at Peter Parker's school in Spider-Man: Far From Home. The video shows a few of the Avengers - Iron Man, Black Widow, Captain America (who actually retired and didn't die), and Vision - who died during Infinity War and Endgame. Some of the other Avengers are mentioned by Spider-Man, such as Thor, Captain Marvel, and Hawkeye.

The Avengers are later mentioned in Spider-Man: No Way Home when Spider-Man says to alternate versions of himself that he was once part of the team. The Amazing Spider-Man thinks that the Avengers are a band and Spider-Man becomes surprised to learn that the Avengers don't exist in their universes.

Marvel Animation

The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes

The Avengers in *Earth's Mightiest Heroes*.

The team was formed during a massive breakout in the supervillain prisons the Vault, the Cube, the Big House and the secret fourth prison, the Raft. Iron Man faced the inmates of the Vault, Henry Pym and Wasp did the same at the Big House, and the Cube inmate Hulk saved Leonard Samson, then all them plus Thor fought together against the Raft escapee Graviton. After seeing how well they worked together, they decided to become a team and Wasp suggested the name Avengers.

Shortly after the team was formed, Amora the Enchantress created distrust between Hulk and the other Avengers, causing him to resign the team. Following him, the Avengers find the frozen Captain America, who joins the team.

After the Avengers help Black Panther to recover Wakanda, he returns to New York with them, as a new member. During a Gamma crisis caused by Hulk's Enemy the Leader, the jade giant rejoins, alongside new member Hawkeye.

The Avengers' enemies also form their own team, the Masters of Evil, led by Baron Zemo and the Enchantress. The Masters of Evil defeat the Avengers one by one and capture them, but Black Panther and Hawkeye cause a diversion so Hank can find a weapon to get the upper hand, and the Masters of Evil are forced to retreat.

Among other menaces, one of the greatest enemies the Avengers faced was Ultron. The robot created by Henry Pym tricked Radioactive Man, the Serpent Society, and Red Ghost to follow his plans, and then attacked the Avengers with their own technology. He was finally stopped when he was about to wipe humanity with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s arsenal. However, Pym, feeling guilty, resigned the Avengers.

When the Masters of Evil tried to use the Norn Stones, each Avenger faced a Master and destroyed the stones, but they were transported throughout the Nine Realms, where they found Loki Laufeyson was the mastermind behind the Masters of Evil. The Avengers helped the Aesir against Loki's forces and saved the Nine Realms. After returning Earth, Captain America was captured and supplanted by a Skrull.

The Avengers had more adventures not knowing about the Skrull spy. When facing Ronan the Accuser, they got a new member in Ms. Marvel, who got Kree powers during a previous crisis. When the Avengers found one of them was a Skrull impostor, not knowing who, distrust made several of them leave, and Skrull-Cap remained as leader.

The real Captain America and other prisoners of the Skrulls managed to escape and returned to Earth to help the Avengers against the Skrull invasion. While the Avengers faced super-powered Skrulls, Cap defeated his doppelganger in single combat.

Avengers Assemble

To be added

Ultimate Spider-Man

Members of the avengers frequently are a part of Ultimate Spider-Man episodes, since both the Avengers and Spider-Man are allied with S.H.I.E.L.D.

In "The Avenging Spider-Man" Part 1 and 2, Spider-Man gets an offer to join the Avengers, leaving behind his old team (Nova, Power Man, White Tiger, and Iron Fist) to protect the world. He accepts, and quickly becomes a pawn in Loki's trap. Loki and Spider-Man switch bodies, and Loki continues to manipulate the Avengers into believing he is Spider-Man. Spider-Man gets attacked by the Avengers, and Loki corners him and then switches back, to create the illusion of it just happening. The real Spider-Man then swims through the sewer to Midtown High and asks his old team to help him. At first they believe that he is Loki, trying to harm them, but Nova realizes that (because of the sewer smell) it must be the real Spider-Man; since Loki would never travel through the sewer.

Marvel's Spider-Man

As J. Jonah Jameson praises the Avengers' latest fight with the Frost Giants, Spider-Man comes across a girl who has electrical abilities and traces the 237 number to a room at an elite boarding school called the Bilderberg Academy. Upon encountering Avengers member Ms. Marvel who is investigating on Iron Man's behalf, they discover that it is a front for A.I.M. with their superhuman project overseen by Scientist Supreme Monica Rappaccini who has captured Captain America, Captain Marvel, and Hulk for the experiments.

Members in animated series

The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes

The ten members of the Avengers in the series

Iron Man (first leader, founder member)
Thor Odinson (founder member)
Hulk (founder member)
Yellowjacket (previously known as "Ant-Man" and "Giant Man", founder member)
Wasp (founder member)
Captain America (second leader)
Hawkeye
Black Panther
Ms. Marvel
Vision
Spider-Man (honorary member)

New Avengers

Other Allied Members

Ultimate Spider-Man

Avengers Assemble

Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel

Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers