With the Avengers movie on the horizon and multiple (and I mean MULTIPLE) Avengers titles to choose from, it struck me that 90% of the Marvel Universe have been an Avenger at some point. From longtime heroes (Spider-Man, the Thing, Doctor Strange, Daredevil) to the obscure (Squirrel Girl, Quake, Speedball), it got me thinking about characters that I grew up reading that never joined and I wondered why? So, in no particular order:
- Polaris--she was never really an X-Men anyway and her magnetic powers had so many applications. Besides she was once thought to be the daughter of Magneto, and that didn't stop them from letting the Scarlet Witch in. Unless she said "No More Mutant (girls on the team)."
- The Aquarian--Yes the former Wundarr. After his intelluct got a boost, he was a walking EMP, capable of shutting down any power source or powers for that matter. True it would effect the Avengers, too, particularly Iron Man but that's what training is for! Plus do it for Unca Benjy!
- Nova--he was young and headstrong but he had his own book. No way he should have (briefly) showed up as Kid Nova in New Warriors.
- Makkari--a super-speedster (far faster than Quicksilver) and an Eternal. Given what we later learned about his assumption of myriad heroic identities, some version should have appeared.
- Darkstar--She was allied with the Champions but her powers were unique and effective. The Black Widow could have sponsored her. Actually she would have made a better Avenger than Natasha!
- Sabra--the heroine of Israel, she went one-on-one with the Hulk! She has super-strength, flight and paralizing quills. The team could always use more powerful women.
- Texas Twister--just for his John Wayne personality. You could just see him arguing with Hawkeye or Iron Man. Plus it would be great to see an Avenger with Red Tornado's powers! ;-)
- Shaman--He was part of Alpha Flight but they weren't really a team. Canada could have sent him as their representative in a political move. His abilities and knowledge were unmatched by any Avenger not named Strange.
- Ghost Rider--I know! The Champions again! But in that brief period where Johnny Blaze controlled his transformation and held his demon in check, he could have joined. In fact he's the only Marvel "Horror" star that could! And again, he had his own book.
- Phoenix---Avengers Versus X-Men is revolving around a new Phoenix. But when it was Jean Grey, she was too powerful to be fighting only evil mutants. She belonged with Earth's Mightiest Heroes. I even know when! After Uncanny X-Men #112, she believed the X-men, including Scott, were killed and she survived with the Beast who could have led her to the Avengers and....
Of course, all these heroes are from the 70s but then so are Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Spider-Woman and Valkryie. And that's my Golden Age!
Who would have YOU liked to see as an Avenger?
Later who I would not have picked!
Replies
Why, none other than Volstagg the Voluminous!
Thinking about it, in terms of villains turned good (well, never 100%, but I've always wished they would) the Gladiator could've worked, I think.
Their loss..
I was trying to think of another Asgardian to join the Avengers and really couldn't think up of one. I would hate to split up the Warriors Three, Balder is a bit dull (as paragons of virtue generally are) and why pick Sif if you could get Valkryie.
Nova is an Avenger, he's part of the Secret Avengers team in the first five issues.
I had hoped back in the 80s that the Bill "Giant Man" Foster would join, but alas, it was not to be.
Silver Surfer and Havok would have been good choices too.
I am sorry that we got Spider-Man, Power Man, Wolverine and Daredevil as Avengers. None of them fit, I don't think. But I always wondered why Doc Strange never was!
I want to see Johnny Storm on the team. He's the only original FFer who hasn't (unless he has and I missed it. I haven't read Avengers since Busiek left). I would also like to see Warren Worthington. Thought he was more mainstream than some X-Men, would have a good report with Hank and would be like a Hawkman analogue. I'd put both of them on my Avengers team along with Hawkeye, She-Hulk and Quasar.
Who HASN'T been an Avenger?
Howard the Duck for one.
WAAUGH!
Seriously, he made a guest appearance once with the original Defenders, but no one seems to know how to write, let alone draw him properly since the days of Steve Gerber and Gene Colan!
Lee Houston, Junior said:
Well, there were some changes in Howard the Duck's look mandated by the Walt Disney Company, as per terms of Marvel's settlement with them over copyright and trademark infringement.
As we well know, Disney famously sued Marvel over Howard the Duck, citing confusion in the marketplace between Howard and Donald Duck, another cantankerous bird with white feathers who wears a blue blazer and a small hat. Such changes went beyond requiring Howard to wear pants ever after; Howard's look has been altered.
That, in part, was what I was referring to Clark.
But in all honesty, in his last mini-series, Howard looked more like a nervous Woody Allen to me than an actual duck!
And the script wasn't that great either.
As far as I'm concerned, there are no canonical Howard the Duck stories that Steve Gerber didn't write. And since the esteemed Mr. Gerber is no longer with us, the character is essentially dead to me.
Have either the Prowler or the Gibbon become members at any time? Either could be fun for different reasons. I could certainly see either as a member of the Great Lakes Avengers if they wanted.
Rich Steeves said:
Dr Strange has been a member quite recently.
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