Comics 101: Team-Ups

Though “Big Two” team-ups like the Avengers and the Justice League have hit mainstream media (especially now, it’s hard to even walk into a grocery store without seeing Captain America and Iron Man splashed all over bags of chips or boxes of cereal) their history is varied. Here’s a rundown of the major rosters (and changes) throughout the years:

Team: Avengers

Original Members: Iron Man, Thor, Ant-Man (Hank Pym), Wasp (Janet Van Dyne)

Founded: Avengers #1 (1963)

1960s: Captain America, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Black Panther, the Vision

1970s: Black Widow, Ms. Marvel, and Falcon added

1990s: Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch (Jim Hammond), Spider-Man 2000s: Luke Cage, Ant-Man (Scott Lang), Wolverine

2010s: Captain America (Bucky Barnes), Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew), Power Woman/Jewel, Rogue, Doctor Strange

Team: West Coast Avengers

Original Members: Hawkeye, Mockingbird (founding member), War Machine (founding member), the Thing, and Moon Knight

Founded: West Coast Avengers #1 (1984)

Team: Secret Avengers

Original Members: Captain America, Black Widow, Beast, Valkyrie, Moon Knight, Agent 13 (Sharon Carter), War Machine, Ant-Man (Eric O’Grady), Nova

Other Members: Hawkeye (Clint Barton), Captain Britain, Human Torch (Jim Hammond), Giant-Man (Hank Pym), Venom, Maria Hill, Nick Fury Jr., Mockingbird, Hulk, Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)

Founded: Secret Avengers #1 (2010)

Team: Young Avengers

Original Members: Iron Lad (Nathaniel Richards), Patriot (Eli Bradley), Hawkeye (Kate Bishop), Stature (Cassie Lang), Wiccan (Billy Kaplan), Hulkling (Teddy Altman), Speed (Tommy Shepherd)

Added in second series: Kid Loki (Loki Laufeyson), Miss America (America Chavez), Marvel Boy (Noh-Varr), Prodigy (David Alleyne)

Founded: Young Avengers #1 (2005)

Team: Justice League

Original Members: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, the Flash, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter

Rotating Members: Green Arrow, Zatanna, Black Canary, Captain Marvel, Captain Atom, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Cyborg, Vixen, Plastic Man, the Atom, Firestorm

Sidekicks: Supergirl, Robin, Aquagirl, Speedy

Founded: The Brave and the Bold #28 (1960)

Spinoff Groups: Exteme Justice, Justice League Antarctica, Justice League Dark, Justice League Europe, Justice League United, Justice League International, Justice League 3000

Team: Young Justice

Original Members: Robin (founding member), Superboy (founding member), Impulse (founding member), Captain Marvel Jr., Arrowette, Empress, Beast Boy, Flamebird, Batgirl, Secret, Lagoon Boy, L’il Lobo/Slo-bo, the Ray

Founded: Young Justice: The Secret #1 (1998)

Fun Fact: Kurt Busiek and George Pérez featured The Justice League and the Avengers in a crossover series in 2003.

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