Overview
- Many iconic Marvel heroes have previously been part of the Avengers but have faced removals due to internal conflicts and differing values.
- U.S. Agent suffered exclusion from the West Coast Avengers after a dispute with Hawkeye and was deemed unsuitable for the title by Tony Stark.
- Black Knight experienced feelings of inadequacy, struggling with his identity despite multiple contributions to the team.
Throughout its storied history, nearly every prominent Marvel superhero has donned the mantle of an Avenger. This elite group is known for its dynamic team dynamics, featuring various line-ups over decades in both comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Nevertheless, certain heroes have been removed from the roster, sometimes reluctantly, highlighting the complexities of team dynamics in high-stakes superhero scenarios.
In this discussion, we delve into eight Marvel heroes who found themselves ousted from the Avengers at various points in their journeys. The reasons for their exclusions vary widely, from unresolved conflicts with teammates to ongoing struggles for acceptance. Each of these heroes has had to forge a path as solo champions to eventually be recognized among Marvel’s elite.
Updated December 26, 2024, by Blaise Santi: The Marvel Comics landscape experiences numerous shifts annually, with even more transformations in teaming structures among the Avengers. As we explore two additional heroes who faced ousting—one from recent comics and the other from earlier tales—it raises the question: might we see them resurface in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars slated for 2026 and 2027? One of these heroes may even be preoccupied with another team debuting in 2025’s Thunderbolts.
10. Black Panther
Even for a King, He’s Faced Struggles
| Name(s) | T’Challa, The Man Without Fear, King of the Dead, Panther King |
|---|---|
| Powers | Super-strength and super-speed from the Heart-Shaped Herb, necromancy |
| Team Affiliations | Avengers, Secret Avengers, Defenders, Fantastic Four, Agents of Wakanda, Illuminati |
| First Appearance | Fantastic Four #52 (1966) |
Black Panther stands as one of the most cherished heroes in Marvel’s legacy. Yet, recent comic narratives have seen him in an ostracized position. Upon returning to Wakanda after participating in an intergalactic conflict, T’Challa discovered significant changes, including a shift towards democratic governance. His efforts to reintegrate himself with the Avengers, however, led to further complications.
The emergence of a terrorist faction led by Jhai, T’Challa’s childhood friend, undermined his trustworthiness in the eyes of the team. As of the 2023 series, T’Challa maintains a camaraderie with the Avengers, yet the official invitation to rejoin the group as a full member has eluded him, reinforcing his status as a refugee in his own homeland.
9. U.S. Agent
Some Heroes Don’t Work Well in a Team
| Name(s) | John Walker, Patriot, Captain America, Super-Patriot |
|---|---|
| Powers | Super-strength and super-speed from the Power Broker |
| Team Affiliations | S.H.I.E.L.D., Thunderbolts, Dark Avengers, West Coast Avengers, Defenders |
| First Appearance | Captain America #323 (1986) |
John Walker, often seen as more of an anti-hero rather than a typical hero, experienced a complex journey within the Marvel universe. Initially introduced as a replacement for Steve Rogers when Rogers retired, Walker’s portrayal as Captain America was markedly less popular, leading him to rebrand himself as U.S. Agent.
Although Walker has never been a full-fledged Avenger, his time with the West Coast Avengers ended after a clash with Hawkeye, who doubted his worthiness. Consequently, Tony Stark expelled him from the team, an acknowledgment that Walker needed a break from the pressures of superhero life.
8. Black Knight
He Struggled with Imposter Syndrome
| Name(s) | Dane Whitman, The Pendragon |
|---|---|
| Powers | Wields the Ebony Blade, which harnesses negativity to empower its user and allows for resurrection |
| Team Affiliations | Avengers, Excalibur, Heroes for Hire, Defenders, Savage Avengers |
| First Appearance | Avengers #47 (1967) |
Dane Whitman may not be among the most recognizable members of the Avengers, yet his journey with the team is storied and complex. Initially featuring alongside prominent heroes like Sersi and Thor, he later felt marginalized despite his contributions.
His frustration stemmed from perceived rejection by the Avengers, exacerbated by the dark influence of the Ebony Blade. This emotional turmoil led him down a precarious path, struggling with feelings of unworthiness and despair, often feeling like an outsider despite his many attempts to contribute.
7. Rage
Appearances Were Deceiving with This Hero
| Name(s) | Elvin Haliday, The O.G. |
|---|---|
| Powers | Super-strength, super-speed, and an accelerated healing factor from toxic waste |
| Team Affiliations | New Warriors, Avengers, Counter Force |
| First Appearance | Avengers #326 (1990) |
Elvin Haliday burst onto the Marvel scene in Avengers #326, pouring into the superhero landscape as “Rage.”His early attempts to join the Avengers were met with rejection, drawing attention to the glaring absence of diversity within the team’s roster. Despite this, he made significant contributions in subsequent missions.
Eventually, Haliday gained recognition and respect among his peers, particularly from Captain America. Unfortunately, his youth—revealed to be only fourteen years old—became a liability. His altercation with the New Warriors, where they commandeered an Avenger Quinjet, ultimately sealed his fate with the team.
6. She-Hulk
She Wasn’t a Great Fit for the Avengers
| Name(s) | Jennifer Walters |
|---|---|
| Powers | Hulk transformation, healing factor, fourth wall breaking |
| Team Affiliations | Avengers, Defenders, Fantastic Four, Heroes for Hire, A-Force |
| First Appearance | Savage She-Hulk #1 (1979) |
As an iconic figure within Marvel, She-Hulk has had a multifaceted relationship with the Avengers. While she has proven her value on multiple occasions, her lifestyle clashed with the serious tone of her fellow heroes, particularly when her outgoing nature was deemed disruptive.
Captain America and Wasp’s decision to ask her to leave the Avengers Mansion was softened by reassurances, but this incident alienated her from their group dynamic, prompting her to resign in favor of pursuing a career in law.
5. Warbird
Her Demotion Led to an Interesting Team-Up
| Name(s) | Carol Danvers, Ms. Marvel, Captain Marvel, Binary |
|---|---|
| Powers | Flight, super-strength, energy manipulation |
| Team Affiliations | Avengers, A-Force, Guardians of the Galaxy, New Avengers, Infinity Watch |
| First Appearance | Marvel Super-Heroes #13 (1967) |
Carol Danvers, who has held numerous superhero titles, was most notoriously known as “Warbird”during her tumultuous time within the Avengers. This phase was marked by personal struggles, including alcohol issues and a propensity for solitary missions, which led to her court-martialing by Captain America.
As a result, she faced expulsion from the official team roster. On a silver lining, her subsequent isolation led to an unexpected collaboration with Wolverine, which developed into a partnership fraught with its own challenges due to Wolverine’s unpredictable nature.
4. Scarlet Witch
Her Breakdown Pitted Her Against the Marvel Universe
| Name(s) | Wanda Maximoff, Redeemer, Living Darkhold |
|---|---|
| Powers | Witchcraft, chaos magic, reality manipulation, flight, telepathy |
| Team Affiliations | Avengers, West Coast Avengers, Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Secret Defenders |
| First Appearance | X-Men #4 (1964) |
Wanda Maximoff’s tumultuous relationship with the Avengers takes center stage in her narrative arc. Following a severe emotional breakdown stemming from the trauma of losing her children, Scarlet Witch became a threat to her allies. Her destructive outburst led to catastrophic consequences, decimating Avengers Mansion and raising significant concerns about her mental state.
This descent into chaos culminated in her remaking reality itself, establishing a dystopian world that favored mutants over humans. A select group of heroes took a stand against her reign of terror, leading to one of the defining confrontations in Marvel history.
3. Yellowjacket
Getting Fired Destroyed His Life
| Name(s) | Hank Pym, Ant-Man, Giant-Man, Goliath |
|---|---|
| Powers | Self-shrinking, gigantification |
| Team Affiliations | Avengers, West Coast Avengers, Defenders, Illuminati, Secret Avengers |
| First Appearance | Strange Tales #75 (1960) |
Hank Pym’s legacy with the Avengers is riddled with complexities, particularly during his time as Yellowjacket. Though he was among the founding members of the Avengers, Pym endured a dark period marked by personal turmoil and conflict, particularly during the precarious end of his marriage to the Wasp.
An incident involving the villain Elfqueen highlighted his instability, leading to court-martial proceedings after he nearly put civilians at risk. His desperate efforts for redemption—creating a robot intending to save face with the Avengers—backfired spectacularly and resulted in his expulsion from the team and final separation from Janet Van Dyne.
2. Storm
She Defended Her Fellow X-Men
| Name(s) | Ororo Munroe, White King, Weather Witch |
|---|---|
| Powers | Weather manipulation, witchcraft, teleportation |
| Team Affiliations | X-Men, Avengers, Fantastic Four, Hellfire Club, Secret Avengers |
| First Appearance | Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975) |
While Storm is traditionally recognized as part of the X-Men, she has also taken part in Avengers teams. In her endeavors, she had the opportunity to collaborate with well-known heroes such as Captain America and Hawkeye. However, a decisive moment arose during a conflict between the Avengers and the X-Men, igniting significant tensions.
When Namor’s assault on Wakanda prompted her to defend her fellow X-Men, Storm faced a personal crisis that culminated in her marriage to T’Challa ending. Following the confrontation, Storm withdrew from the Avengers and reestablished her commitment to the X-Men, even as she participated in a key battle against the Phoenix Force.
1. Iron Man
He Wasn’t Always the Avengers’ Golden Child
| Name(s) | Tony Stark |
|---|---|
| Powers | Armored suit |
| Team Affiliations | Avengers, New Avengers, Hellfire Club, West Coast Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy |
| First Appearance | Tales of Suspense #39 (1962) |
In both cinematic adaptations and the comics, Iron Man is frequently seen as an essential member of the Avengers. Despite this, the character is not without controversy and moral ambiguity. Particularly during the Armor Wars storyline, Stark found himself at odds with multiple allies, including Captain America, who condemned his actions.
There were instances when the U.S. government seized control of the Avengers from Tony, placing Norman Osborn at the helm instead. Ultimately, Stark adapted by aligning himself with Hank Pym’s Mighty Avengers, yet it remains evident that Tony Stark, as a character, often thrives in isolation, faring better as a lone hero than in collaborative endeavors.
Leave a Reply