4 Avengers Members Who Best Represent What the Team Means (And #4 Should Be a Full-Time Member)

The Avengers have been the top of the superhero food chain since they first appeared. While the Fantastic Four came first, it was Earth’s Mightiest Heroes that brought together the greatest solo heroes of the Marvel Universe and set them against the worst villains you can imagine. They were the thin line between the world and destruction and as the years went by, the team’s meaning started to coalesce. It’s not just that they were the primary defense force for the planet, they represented something special. They were the ones that the rest of the heroes looked up to (well, the non-mutant heroes; the X-Men and the Avengers have long been rivals). It’s not just that they were willing to fight for what’s right, it’s that they set the standard.

Avengers are trustworthy, committed, and always ready. They stand for justice and freedom. They don’t see the planet in terms of nations; they see everyone as people under their protection. While they don’t always live up to their ideals – not being perfect is another part of being an Avenger – they always do their best to hold themselves and others to a higher standards. These four members of the Avengers represent everything the team should stand four, and one of them deserves a permanent berth with the team.

4) Rogue

Rogue has long been one of the most powerful X-women, and she proved that in her first appearance in Avengers Annual #10, when she used her powers to run through one of the most powerful rosters of the team ever. Her power-siphoning abilities took her years to master; for a while she couldn’t touch anyone without either stealing their powers and memories permanently, like she did with Carol Canvers, or putting them into a coma. She could even kill if she touched someone too long. However, she never stopped fighting evil, never stopped trying to master her powers. She eventually ended up joining the Avengers Unity Squad and would rise to become leader of the team. She’s a character who has devoted herself to being a superhero, whether that leads her to fighting for mutant rights or saving the world with the Avengers, overcoming the sins of her past and mastering herself to become one of Marvel’s greatest current leaders. She’s kept the faith even when it wasn’t fun for her, sacrificing her life for the causes she believed. She hasn’t been an Avenger in a while, but she should always be on the team. She defines what they can be.

3) Thor

Thor Odinson fought for Asgard and Midgard for years as the God of Thunder, battling frost giants, fire demons, dark elves, and dwarves with the power of Mjolnir. His arrogance caused Odin to punish him, creating Don Blake and grafting Thor’s soul into him. The Odinson was sent to Earth and he took up his old role as a defender of humanity, learning humility and friendship alongside the Avengers. Thor is the perfect Avenger; first off, since he kills, he’s one of the only members of the team who is actually an avenger. He’s a tireless warrior, always ready to throw himself into the fray to save the innocent. He never stops fighting and is almost always one of the first people to arrive at a fight and the last to leave. You know that when he’s on your side, he’s on your side. He may dress you down, but he will also build you up and work with you to make yourself better. He’s a shoulder to cry on, someone who will share a horn of mead with you and tell you the most amazing stories. He’s always there, which is key to being an Avenger.

2) Black Panther

Black Panther is Marvel’s greatest king but he’s also been their most problematic Avenger at times. More than once, he joined the team in order to spy on the American superhero national defense apparatus, the first time in the late ’70s and again in the early ’00s. While that can seem pretty untrustworthy, the thing about T’Challa is he was more spying on the government than the team. For the team, he was there for his teammates, at the forefront of the battle; they trusted him with their lives and he proved to be worthy of that trust. He left the team for years, but his recent return has seen him become an exemplary Avenger. While he has some favoritism towards Wakanda, he still works his hardest to protect the entire world, putting aside his personal wants to save the world and the universe. You can say that ultimately he’s just doing it for Wakanda, but he’s still doing. That’s what the Avengers are all about – putting aside your feelings for the greater good and doing the job.

1) Captain America

Captain America is the Sentinel of Liberty, the living legend of World War II. Steve Rogers was a child of the Depression, inspired by Roosevelt’s New Deal and the promise of American freedom. He wanted more than anything else to fight the Nazis, but his body was too weak. The super soldier serum gave him the strength he needed to fight and he became the exemplar of the early superhero community. He was an Avenger before the team was a thing – a hero everyone looked up to, everyone trusted, everyone listened to. He’s tenacious, he’s skilled, he’s indomitable. He inspired generations of heroes, and let’s be real – the Avengers weren’t the Avengers until they freed him from the ice. The team followed his example even before he was part of it, and then he personified it. They became his team and through them, he became the greatest leader of them all.

Who do you think exemplifies the Avengers? Leave a comment in the comment section below and join the conversation on the ComicBook Forums!

5 Great Avengers Comics Held Back by Too Much Fan Service