Avengers History: Who Is on Marvel’s New Avengers Team?

Of all the teams in Marvel’s long, legendary comic book history, the Avengers are pretty unique. This team has accepted members from the various corners of Marvel super heroes: self-made scientists, otherworldly gods, experimental mutates, street level heroes, and even mutants. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes have always drawn strength from this diversity.

However, that doesn’t mean the Avengers are perfect — far from it, in fact. Over the years, this dynamic team has faced horrible infighting, devastating grief, and countless schisms. Big super heroes tend to have big personalities. With Thunderbolts* now part of the MCU, and Marvel’s interesting marketing strategy on revealing the Thunderbolts to be the New Avengers, it’s time to look back at Avengers history. Who are the New Avengers in the MCU and Marvel comics?

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New Avengers Comics vs MCU

While they often end up going in different directions, there are similarities shared by the comics and the MCU. Both original Avengers lineups first assembled to defeat Loki. But, as we know, the members of these teams looked pretty different. Similarly, the New Avengers are different from their comic book counterparts.

In the MCU, the New Avengers consists of Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Ghost, John Walker, Red Guardian, and Bob (AKA Sentry/Void). They were formerly called the Thunderbolts until Valentina Allegra de Fontaine debuted them to the public as a new super hero team following Void’s destructive behavior. Despite the odds, they decided to stick by each other.

New Avengers in the Comics

Back on the page, the comic book New Avengers (created by Brian Michael Bendis) also formed because of a powerful figure’s loss of control. When Scarlet Witch’s grief destroyed the Avengers, it seemed the team was gone forever. She killed Vision, Hawkeye, and Ant-Man. Thor was dead. Iron Man refused to finance the team. The world was without its premier super hero team. But thanks to Electro and his mass breakout of super-villains from a high-security prison, a new team would rise up.

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Civil War New Avengers Teams

Rather than a dubious figure like de Fontaine, Captain America actually formed the New Avengers. This team popped up in the middle of a very tumultuous time for Marvel super heroes. Scarlet Witch caused the Avengers to disassemble and then fractured mutantkind with her Decimation. But Steve saw there was still a need for heroes. So he recruited Luke Cage, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, and later Wolverine, Ronin (Echo), and Sentry. Initially Iron Man helped out, though Daredevil declined his invite. He would end up joining the team in the future. It’s also important to note that Spider-Woman was actually a Skrull imposter at this time.

Of course, the Civil War event threw a wrench in everything related to the super hero world. Marvel’s biggest names were divided over their reaction to the Superhuman Registration Act. One side believed in government intervention, led by Iron Man and called the Mighty Avengers. On the other hand, Captain America and many others wanted to continue operating independently. They formed the Secret Avengers. It was a bitter argument from both sides. Around this event, the New Avengers lineup further shifted, adding Moon Knight, a new Ronin (Hawkeye), Iron Fist, and even Doctor Strange.

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Post-Skrull Invasion New Avengers

Did you think our Marvel heroes would find any peace? Think again! The Skrulls launched a debilitating campaign, known as Secret Invasion. Slowly, the truth was revealed that many important Marvel figures had actually been Skrulls for years. Secrets were exposed and identities put into question. It was another confusing time of upheaval.

By this point, Luke Cage was the New Avenger’s team leader. Despite differences during Civil War, Ms. Marvel, AKA Carol Danvers, also worked with the team. Fortunately, Skrull Invasion (and the hard lessons of Civil War) reunited Cap and Iron Man. Their re-assembled Avengers used Avengers Tower, while Luke Cage’s team used Avengers Mansion. Jessica Jones, Mockingbird, and The Thing also joined the post-Skrull New Avengers.

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There’s no doubt that new iterations of the Avengers are still on the horizon. Marvel has even revealed that their new Thunderbolts* series for this summer is now The New Avengers! If you were to assemble a New Avengers team, who would be on your ideal roster?

Share your New Avengers lineup with other Marvel fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!