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Avengers (comics): the story on HearLore | HearLore
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers were not born from a grand design of unity, but from a petty act of revenge by a trickster god. In the autumn of 1963, Loki, the Asgardian god of mischief, sought to destroy his brother Thor. His plan backfired spectacularly when he manipulated a young teenager named Rick Jones into gathering a disparate group of heroes to stop him. The resulting team was a chaotic collection of Iron Man, Ant-Man, the Wasp, the Hulk, and Thor, who had been used as a pawn in Loki's scheme. After vanquishing the villain, Ant-Man noted that the five worked well together and suggested they form a permanent team. The Wasp, seizing the moment, named them the Avengers. This accidental origin set a precedent for the team's future: they were not a family created from scratch, but a group of established solo heroes who happened to cross paths. Unlike the X-Men, whose characters were designed specifically to be a team, the Avengers were an all-star ensemble cast of existing Marvel characters, a strategy Stan Lee and Jack Kirby used to cross-promote their individual titles and sell more comics. The team's first issue, cover-dated September 1963, featured art by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers, launching a legacy that would redefine the superhero genre.
The Captain America Rescue
The team's identity was cemented not by its founders, but by a discovery made in the fourth issue of their series. In March 1964, the Avengers stumbled upon Captain America, who had been trapped in ice for decades, a secret kept from the world until that moment. The cover of The Avengers #4 boldly announced, Captain America lives again. This event was so significant that Captain America was retroactively granted founding member status, replacing the Hulk, who had left the team after a single issue due to the others' fear of his unstable personality. The Hulk's departure was a running gag among splinter team members, a testament to the difficulty of integrating a powerhouse with a volatile psyche. The arrival of the Captain transformed the group from a collection of individuals into a symbol of American heroism. The team's headquarters, Avengers Mansion, was provided by Iron Man, Tony Stark, and was serviced by Edwin Jarvis, a faithful butler who became the emotional anchor of the group. The mansion was equipped with state-of-the-art technology and defense systems, including the five-engine Quinjet, the team's primary mode of transport. This era also saw the introduction of the Masters of Evil, a group of villains formed by Baron Zemo to counter the Avengers, establishing a dynamic of hero and villain that would persist for decades. The team's roster continued to evolve, with Hawkeye and the Maximoff twins, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, joining after the original founders resigned, setting a precedent for the fluid nature of the team's membership.
The Avengers comic team was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in the autumn of 1963. Loki, the Asgardian god of mischief, manipulated a young teenager named Rick Jones into gathering Iron Man, Ant-Man, the Wasp, the Hulk, and Thor to stop him, which led to the formation of the group.
When did the Avengers first appear in comic books?
The Avengers first appeared in a comic book with a cover date of September 1963. The first issue featured art by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers and launched a legacy that would redefine the superhero genre.
Who was the fourth member added to the Avengers in 1964?
Captain America was discovered by the Avengers in March 1964 during the fourth issue of their series. This event was so significant that Captain America was retroactively granted founding member status, replacing the Hulk who had left the team after a single issue.
What happened to the Scarlet Witch in the Avengers Disassembled storyline?
The Scarlet Witch went insane after agonizing over the memory of her lost children and subsequently lost control of her reality-altering powers. This event led to the deaths of some team members and the disbanding of the original Avengers team.
How much money did the Marvel Cinematic Universe Avengers films make?
The Marvel Cinematic Universe Avengers films have collectively grossed over 26 billion dollars in box-office revenue. The franchise began in 2008 with the film Iron Man and culminated with the release of The Avengers in 2012.
The 1970s brought a level of mythological complexity to the Avengers that had never been seen before. Writer Steve Englehart orchestrated the Celestial Madonna saga, a time-spanning adventure that linked Mantis' origins to the very beginnings of the Kree-Skrull conflict. Mantis, who had joined the team along with the reformed Swordsman, was revealed to be the Celestial Madonna, destined to give birth to a being that would save the universe. This storyline also clarified the origins of the Vision, an android whose body had been appropriated, not created, by the villain Ultron. The Vision's body had actually belonged to the 1940s Human Torch, a fact that gave him a deeper connection to Marvel's history. The saga culminated in the double wedding of Mantis to the resurrected Swordsman and the Vision to the Scarlet Witch, presided over by Immortus, a time-traveling version of Kang the Conqueror. This period also saw the introduction of the Kree-Skrull War, an epic battle between alien races that spanned nine issues and solidified the idea that every comic book Marvel had ever published was part of an endless, ongoing saga. The team's adventures increased in scope, crossing into alternate dimensions and battling the Squadron Supreme, a group of evil counterparts to the Justice League. The Avengers' headquarters, Avengers Mansion, remained a central location, but the team's challenges grew from personal conflicts to cosmic threats, setting the stage for the complex storylines that would follow.
The Pym Paradox
The 1980s introduced a psychological depth to the Avengers that was unprecedented in superhero comics. The breakdown of Hank Pym, originally Ant-Man and later Giant-Man, became a central theme of the era. Pym's frequent changes of costume and name were symptomatic of an identity problem and an inferiority complex. After he abused his wife, the Wasp, failed to win back the confidence of the Avengers with a ruse, and was duped by the villain Egghead, Pym was jailed. He would later outwit Egghead and defeat the latest incarnation of the Masters of Evil single-handedly, proving his innocence. Pym reconciled with the Wasp, but they decided to remain apart, a decision that reflected the growing complexity of their relationship. This era also saw the formation of the West Coast Avengers, a team that allowed members to be active when available and reserved when not available. The team merged the two separate Avengers teams into one with two bases, a move that reflected the changing dynamics of the superhero landscape. The Vision had his personality fundamentally altered, and the discovery that the children of the Scarlet Witch and the Vision were actually illusions drove her insane. The loss of the Scarlet Witch's children and the Vision, who was disassembled by government agents in retaliation for the Ultimate Vision storyline, set the stage for the eventual Chaos and Avengers Disassembled storylines. The team's roster continued to evolve, with new members like Tigra, the She-Hulk, and Monica Rambeau joining, while others like Hawkeye and the Wasp remained central figures.
The Disassembled Legacy
The turn of the millennium brought a period of crisis and reinvention for the Avengers. The Avengers Disassembled storyline, written by Brian Michael Bendis and drawn by David Finch, featured the deaths of some members and a loss of credibility for the team. The culprit was revealed to be the Scarlet Witch, who had gone insane after agonizing over the memory of her lost children and subsequently lost control of her reality-altering powers. With the team in disarray and Avengers Mansion ruined, the surviving members agreed to disband. A new Avengers team formed in the series New Avengers, composed of Iron Man, Captain America, Luke Cage, Wolverine, Ronin, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, and the mysterious Sentry. This team was known for including more prestigious Marvel superheroes, such as Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Daredevil, and disbanded after the retirement of its leader, Luke Cage. The Civil War story arc further split the team, with superheroes divided over compliance with the U.S. government's Superhuman Registration Act. The New Avengers disbanded, with a rebel underground starring in a series retaining The New Avengers in its trademarked cover logo. The team's history was marked by a series of crossovers and events, including the Secret Invasion, where the Skrulls, a shape-shifting alien race, infiltrated the team, and the Dark Reign, where Norman Osborn assumed control of the Avengers. The team's roster continued to evolve, with new members like Ms. Marvel, Bucky Barnes as a fill-in Captain America, and Mockingbird joining, while others like Echo and Iron Fist left. The team's legacy was one of constant change, with the core members shifting and the team's identity evolving to meet the challenges of a changing world.
The Modern Reassembly
The 2010s saw the Avengers return to their roots while embracing new challenges. Following the exposure of the Dark Avengers as criminals, the next iteration of the Avengers roster consisted of Thor, Hawkeye, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Captain America, Spider-Woman, Iron Man, and team leader Maria Hill. Steve Rogers, briefly eschewing his Captain America persona, responded to Luke Cage's concerns about the team reverting to old methods by granting Cage's New Avengers recognition as an official team independent of Stark's more traditional Avengers. The team's history was marked by a series of crossovers and events, including the Shattered Heroes storyline, which led to several changes in the main Avengers lineup, with Quake and Storm being recruited, and the Vision rejoining the team. The Avengers vs. X-Men storyline saw Storm quit to side with her fellow mutants as a member of the X-Men, and the conflict ended with both teams united but defeated by an unrepentant Cyclops. A new series, Uncanny Avengers, debuted in the flagship title of the Marvel NOW! initiative, containing members of both the Avengers and the X-Men. The team's history was also marked by the AXIS storyline, where a now-evil Scarlet Witch invaded Latveria, and Doctor Doom formed his own team of Avengers. The team's legacy was one of constant change, with the core members shifting and the team's identity evolving to meet the challenges of a changing world. The team's history was also marked by the Secret Empire storyline, where Captain America was reprogrammed to believe that he had been a Hydra sleeper agent since childhood, and the Hydra regime formed their own Avengers. The team's history was also marked by the Fresh Start initiative, which saw the return of the main three core members, as Steve Rogers and Thor met up with Tony Stark to convince him to reassemble the group with themselves at its core.
The Global Impact
The Avengers have transcended the pages of comic books to become a global cultural phenomenon. The Marvel Cinematic Universe, which began in 2008 with the film Iron Man, culminated with the release of The Avengers in 2012, and has since become the highest-grossing film franchise in history, having collectively grossed over $26 billion in box-office revenue. The team's popularity has led to the creation of theme park attractions, including Avengers Campus at Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios Park, as well as immersive dining experiences like Avengers: Quantum Encounter on the Disney Wish cruise line. The team's influence extends to virtual reality experiences, such as Avengers: Damage Control, and has inspired a new generation of fans to explore the broader Marvel Universe. The team's legacy is one of constant change, with the core members shifting and the team's identity evolving to meet the challenges of a changing world. The team's history is also marked by the creation of splinter teams, such as the West Coast Avengers, the Great Lakes Avengers, and the Young Avengers, each with their own unique identity and mission. The team's history is also marked by the creation of alternate versions, such as the 1950s Avengers, the Age of Apocalypse Avengers, and the Marvel Zombies, each with their own unique story and challenges. The team's legacy is one of constant change, with the core members shifting and the team's identity evolving to meet the challenges of a changing world.