The Avengers as a team have a long and rich history in the comic books put out by Marvel Comics. The cinematic version of the team is configured somewhat differently than the comic version, but with heroes who do meet the basic definition of a hero. The movie Avengers lineup includes Avengers stalwarts like Iron Man, Thor, and the Hulk (all original Avengers in the comic continuity). Also on the film team are Captain America (joined the Avengers in issue #4), Black
Widow (Avengers vol. 1 #111), and Hawkeye (Avengers # 16).
Not included in the film version of the Avengers, are several significant heroes who became staples of the Avengers comics. Below are brief bios of several Avengers left out the movie and a reader poll you can take on who else should have been in this
first Avengers movie.
The Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) and Quicksilver (Pietro Maximoff)--Started out their careers as super-villians, in Magneto's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. At the time, they were unaware that they were the children of Magneto. After deciding to give up being bad mutants, they apply for membership in the Avengers in issue # 16. They were the first of several mutants to join the Avengers. While they started out in the X-Men books, they are largely associated with the Avengers. Note: Due to some stupid deals made by Marvel prior to Disney's purchase of the company, the rights to Wanda and Pietro may not be in the hands of Disney, and thus, may not be capable of appearing in an Avengers flick.
Quicksilver and the Scarlet
Witch
Wonder Man (Simon Williams) is another interesting character who started out working for the bad guys and eventually became an Avenger. Given his powers by Baron Zemo in Avengers # 9, Simon Williams joined the Avengers for real in Avengers #160. He is a significant character for several reasons. His brother is The Grim Reaper, a nasty villian who can appear in future Avengers flicks. Also, an android named the Vision was created using the brain engrams of Simon Williams, so, in a sense, the Wonder Man and Vision share a brother-like relationship. That also explains why they both like jazz and both have the hots for the Scarlet Witch.
Wonder Man punching out
Vision
Two original Avengers in the comics franchise did not make it into the movie version. Ant-Man (Hank Pym) and the Wasp (Janet Van Dyne) are a couple with serious romantic and marital problems. Pym is somewhat mentally unstable and they both provide the Avengers with an interesting psychological/emotional link to the real world. Hank Pym also can grow to giant size as Giant-Man, and also took the alter ego of Yellowjacket.
Ant-Man and the Winsome
Wasp
One of the first Black (but NOT African-American) superheroes in Marvel Comics was the Black Panther (T'Challa), a prince of an African country who dons the costume of his native land's symbolic guardian, the Panther. Again, this character may not be available to Marvel Studios because of pre-existing film rights, as the Black Panther originally appeard in the Fantastic Four comics. In the comics, he is also married to Storm of the X-Men.
Not Batman--The Black
Panther
And, to round out this list of potential Avengers, we have the Greek god for whom muscle and brains are never confused, Hercules! This Greek demi-god is the mediterranean analog to the Asgardian Thor. Frankly, given Herc's famous bouts of drunken debauchery and serial womanizing, having a Hercules in an Avengers movie could provide great comic relief. Plus, he is nearly as strong as Thor himself.
Who is stronger-Thor or
Hercules?
So, True Believers, there you have it. Who should have been included in the first Avengers movie among these worthy, and, in some cases, mentally and emotionally mixed up heroes? You decide by taking the poll below:
Take this Avengers Poll Who
Else Should Be An Avenger?