Every Original Avenger, Ranked by How Much We Want Them To Return in Doomsday & Secret Wars

A cosmic clash looms over the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, promising an epic payoff for the Multiverse Saga. The fabric of reality is unraveling, and the fate of all existence in all universes hangs in the balance. As the heroes in the current era are set to go up against Victor von Doom in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret War, many fans are already thinking back to the past. Will the heroes who first united to face down Loki in 2012 be a part of this phase’s finale? The original six Avengers, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, each left their own mark on the MCU, making them the foundation upon which the franchise was built.

Now, as the ever-expanding Multiverse opens new possibilities, the question remains: which of these original heroes do we want to see save the very fabric of existence from Doctor Doom?

6. The Hulk

While both the Hulk and Bruce Banner are fan favorites, his journey has reached a quiet and contemplative standstill. Bruce Banner figuring out how to merge with the Hulk to create Professor Hulk feels like the character’s final evolution. Though Banner has made a few appearance across Disney+ series, none of these appearances add to his character arc as a whole. As it stands, he doesn’t have any loose threads that could be tied up by appearing in the upcoming films.

While a return is always possible, his overall story feels complete. He has gone from the brilliant scientist trying to keep his green side locked away to fully embracing that the Hulk is part of who Bruce Banner is. For a massive two-parter like Doomsday and Secret War, other heroes have more pressing reasons to be involved.

5. Tony Stark

Tony Stark’s sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame was the emotional climax of a decade’s worth of storytelling. It was a fitting, heroic end for the character who started it all, bringing his arc full circle from a selfish billionaire to a self-sacrificing savior. A return in the upcoming Avengers film would cheapen that final sacrifice Tony made to beat Thanos.

Furthermore, with Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom, a comeback for the original Tony Stark is unnecessary. His legacy lives on through characters like Spider-Man and his daughter, and his story is already perfectly tied up with a bow.

4. Thor

Thor is already confirmed for both Doomsday and Secret War, so any hype surrounding seeing the God of Thunder again doesn’t carry the same weight as the others. We’ve seen his journey from a brash prince to a weary king to an introspective god, and we know his story will continue to unfold.

While it’s exciting to see him again, especially after the character development that has made him a fan favorite, there is no element of surprise or shock. While there may be questions about what’s in store for Thor in the battle for the Multiverse, his return is a certainty, not a hope.

3. Clint Barton

The Hawkeye Disney+ series finally gave Clint Barton the depth and exploration he deserved as a founding member of the Avengers. Clint finally embraced his identity as an everyman hero with an apprentice, Kate Bishop, at his side. By leaning into the grounded, street-level adventures elements from Matt Fraction and David Aja’s modern classic Hawkeye comic run, the Disney+ series firmly solidified his place as a hero.

It would be fascinating to see this evolved version of Clint alongside the other founding members or even mixed in with other heroes he’s worked with in the past (or some he’s never met, like The Fantastic Four). Clint’s grounded nature and the fact that he isn’t superpowered or magical by any means adds an element on much needed contrast to the cosmic events unfolding. His return would add a touch of humanity and finally give Clint his due.

2. Steve Rogers

Steve Rogers has the most possible and unique avenues for a return than almost any other character. There could be a version of him from an alternate timeline, like the comic-accurate Hydra Supreme Captain America. Alternatively, the original Steve who stayed in the past with Peggy Carter after returning the Infinity Stones should have disrupted the timeline according to the rules established in the MCU.

Steve Rogers’ return could quite possibly be the catalyst for the entire plot. Whether as an antagonist or a hero who unknowingly caused cracks in the Multiverse that lead to Doom’s rise, Cap’s return would be a game-changer. His story has so much more potential to be explored through the Multiverse, and it would be a shame to leave that potential untapped.

1. Natasha Romanoff

Natasha Romanoff’s death on Vormir felt like an injustice to a character whose story had yet to be fully told (not to mention she was the only female member of the original Avengers). She deserved to have her complex past explored, as her solo film failed to truly do her justice as one of the most complicated characters in the MCU. Her sacrifice for the Soul Stone, while heroic, cut her potential short.

A return for Natasha could be the most impactful of all. What if there was a twist that she never truly died on Vormir? What if there was some sort of mystical soul-realm resurrection? The emotional weight of her return could rally the heroes when they need it the most, as they certainly will need all the help they can get against Doom. It would be the kind of shock that the entire plot of the two-part arc hinges upon and finally bring Natasha back to continue to explore her character in the way she deserves.

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