Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor Don’t Define the Avengers, These 5 Heroes Do

The Avengers have earned the appellation “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” by defeating the greatest threats to not just our planet, but the entire universe. The team has consisted of Marvel’s greatest heroes from the beginning, but three of them have become the group’s most important members – Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor. This trio of heroes have played the most important roles in the team for decades; Cap is the ultimate leader and role model, Iron Man is the brains (and wallet) behind the whole thing, and Thor is the team’s muscle. There are many fans out there who would say that they define the team and there’s definitely something to that.

They’re the ones everyone thinks about when they hear the name “Avengers”, each of them playing a crucial role in the team’s history. However, if you really want to see who defines the group, you have to look past this trio. As great and important as they are to the history of the team, there are other members who actually define this august assemblage, becoming integral parts of them and their history. These five Avengers define the team more than Cap, Shellhead, and the God of Thunder, helping forge the legend we all love today.

5) The Wasp

The Wasp is an amazing hero, even if she’s never been all that popular. She was introduced back in the early days of the Marvel Universe with her boyfriend Hank Pym, using his Pym Particles and technology to become the diminutive yet high-flying hero known as the Wasp. The two of them ended up alongside Iron Man, Thor, and the Hulk when Loki attacked and the Avengers were born. For years, Janet Van Dyne was the team’s main woman, eventually rising to the level of chairwoman of the group. She has always been completely devoted to her life as an Avenger, constantly working to make the team better. In the past, mostly because Stan Lee couldn’t write realistic women, she was played as the flighty debutante, but that changed as others creators expanded upon on her, showing all the sides to this fantastic hero (in recent years, read anything written by Al Ewing that has her in it, especially the criminally underrated Avengers, Inc.). She’s become an Avengers’ legend; her time with the group molded them into what they are today. She’s an amazing Avenger, showing the world that great things come in small packages.

4) Hank Pym

Hank Pym is one of the most maligned Avengers, but when it comes right down to it, he doesn’t deserve it. Pym is a team founder, fighting evil as Ant-Man, Giant-Man, Goliath, Yellowjacket, Wasp, and using his own name, playing a big role in molding Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. He’s one of the smartest scientists in the Marvel Universe and has often served as the brains of the team. However, it’s that brain that makes most of his problems. To begin with, he’s bipolar, which is what led to him striking Janet. His bipolar is part and parcel of why he’s something of an erratic member of the team, constantly changing his name and costume. He’s also the person who created the Avengers’ greatest enemy, Ultron, gifting the team he founded the most dangerous foe imaginable. However, the thing about Pym that makes such a defining Avenger is the fact that he never truly gives up. He faced all of his problems head on, never giving up or giving in, and not making excuses. He represents the persistence that has helped make the team into what they are today.

3) Hawkeye

Hawkeye is one of the most underrated Avengers, but anyone who knows the team knows how important he is to their history. Clint Barton was abused by his alcoholic father and ran away to the circus, trained by Swordsman and Trick Shot to become the world’s greatest archer. Eventually, he was approached by Black Widow, who recruited him to fight Iron Man back before she became a hero. This normal human being, armed with one of the oldest weapons in human history, went up against the Armored Avenger with no fear, showing everyone what he was made of. He soon joined the team and despite being rather mouthy and rebellious, rose to become one of the most devoted members of the group. Hawkeye shows that power doesn’t make a person brave and that everyone deserves a second chance. He’s a product of the promise of the Avengers, showing what the team can do for anyone who devotes themselves to it. Much like the Avengers, when the odds are against Hawkeye, he’s at his most dangerous.

2) Scarlet Witch

Much like Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch joined the Avengers after years as a villain. She became one of the team’s most beloved members, but she had her own problems which have bitten the group many times over the years. Wanda Maximoff’s upbringing was the definition of terrible and her powers were such that her sanity was always hanging on by a thread. She’s lost control of herself many times over the years, often battling her friends. She’s done some terrible things over the years and the Avengers have always forgiven her, welcoming her back to the team. There’s a reason so many major Avenges stories have revolved around her; she’s long been one of the team’s most important members. She shows that the Avengers never give up on helping their friends and that there’s always a chance to get back on the right road. Her time with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes showed not only who she was on the inside, but who they were.

1) The Vision

The Vision has proved himself to the Avengers, despite having one of the worst introductions to the team you can imagine. The Vision was created by Ultron as a sleeper agent, meant to destroy the heroes when they least expected it. However, he was able to see who they really were, breaking through his programming and ended up joining the team, becoming the most stalwart Avenger of them all. He never gives up the fight, loves his friends with all his synthezoid heart, and has devoted himself to making the world a better place. He’s the perfect Avenger – a hero who was able to overcome the shadows of his past to become a devoted protector of the Earth. He truly embodies everything great about the Avengers, showing the promise of the group and its methods. He’s had his share of ups and downs with the group, but he’s an Avenger to his core, an exemplary hero whose legend has spread far beyond the comics.

5 Marvel Characters Who Could Be the Avengers’ Next Great Members