10 Marvel Villains Who Joined The Avengers

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Comic book characters are fickle, if only by necessity. Popular characters have to stick around and therefore have to change their stripes every now and then, to tell different stories and to keep fans invested.

The comic book industry sometimes reboots and changes team line-ups for bigger titles to this end. That means that villains have turned coats and joined teams like the Avengers in Marvel Comics over the years. Though this is occasionally a short-lived appearance in the team roster, some members have been in the team for so long that fans might forget they even started life out as villains.

10

Wonder Man

Built For Villainous Means

Joined In: Avengers (1963) #9

Joined Because: He Was Sent To Infiltrate Them

One of the upcoming MCU stars who seems set to be a hero from the get-go as his Disney Plus series approaches, Wonder Man, began his journey by receiving his powers from a set of villains. The Masters of Evil were early foes for the Avengers, and they empowered Simon Williams as Wonder Man with the intention of using him to destroy the Avengers from within.

Wonder Man betrays the team at first, but then decides to stop the Masters of Evil from killing his new teammates and sacrifices himself in the process. He later returned and rejoined the team, remaining generally a hero to this day.

9

Hawkeye

The Beloved Archer Began As A Villain

Joined In: Avengers (1963) #16

Joined Because: He Genuinely Wanted To Redeem Himself

In Avengers #16, the writers decided to bring many minor characters to prominence as new members of the major team title. Hawkeye has become a huge part of the MCU, getting his own miniseries on Disney Plus and being a major part of most of the Avengers movies. However, the character started villainously, working alongside Natasha Romanoff against Iron Man in particular.

Hawkeye later turned away from this life. In an issue of The Avengers, he turned up at the team’s mansion, asking if he could join them. Miraculously, they accepted, and Hawkeye has basically never turned to the path of evil again. He has remained a hero and a member of the team for decades since.

8

Quicksilver

The Speedster That Felt The Call

Joined In: Avengers (1963) #16

Joined Because: He Wanted An Easier Life As A Mutant

The story of the Maximoff twins, starting out as villains, is similar to their introduction in the MCU. In the comics, it was their father, Magneto, and his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, that guided them down the wrong path instead of Ultron. But the end with them joining the Avengers is the same.

Pietro decided that life as a mutant in an unfriendly world would be simpler if he and Wanda fought alongside Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, so he convinced her to join the team with him. Unfortunately, he couldn’t find much of a place, and the Speedster moved on while his sister remained.

7

Scarlet Witch

The Uncertain Hero Who Found Her Home

Joined In: Avengers (1963) #16

Joined Because: Her Brother Convinced Her

The Avengers generally only take the best of Earth’s heroes, but they have made some exceptions, like taking Wanda Maximoff in because her brother convinced her it would be a good idea. Strangely, Wanda was the one who found a home with the Avengers. She found love with the android hero Vision, and remained loyal to the team for decades.

Wanda has had her problems, echoed by the darker path her character took in the MCU. But she has managed to tread the line better than most between being a mutant and an Avenger, as well as between being a hero and a villain. Her dangerous powers often overtake her, in a comparable way to Jean Grey in the X-Men roster.

6

Black Widow

The Super Spy Eventually Changed Loyalties

Joined In: Avengers (1963) #111

Joined Because: She Finally Felt It Was Right

Another of the most famous Avengers characters wasn’t a member anywhere near the beginning of the team. Natasha Romanoff was a dangerous villain and a Soviet Super Spy for years. She turned away from villainous work long before she joined the team, and even rejected their initial invitation to join them.

Black Widow initially became a hero because of her love for Hawkeye, but she later broke up with him and went independent, appearing in Spider-Man and Daredevil comics before joining the Avengers briefly in the 70s. She wouldn’t become a frequent member for many years, but she has become a major piece of modern Avengers runs and remains a beloved part of the original MCU Avengers team.

5

Namor

The Prince Finally Turned From Villainous Ways

Joined In: Avengers (1963) #262

Joined Because: He Had Been Deposed

Though audiences haven’t seen much of Namor in the MCU besides his villainous side, this underwater prince has had his fair share of heroic endeavors in the comics. Never completely villainous, as he sought to protect and lead his people, it wasn’t until Namor was deposed from his role beneath the waves that he began to think about a new position.

Namor had been offered membership in the Avengers before, but always turned it down. Captain America re-offered when he was deposed, and Namor accepted. Although he didn’t last long in the team that first time, he has returned more recently and proven that he is a great character on both sides of the law.

4

Sandman

A Torn Villain Fully Redeemed

Joined In: Avengers (1963) #329

Joined Because: He Earned A Presidential Pardon

Sandman is rarely all bad. Flint Marko was a criminal before gaining his powers, but he has always struggled with being a villain and often wishes to do good. Sometimes he even has to be brainwashed into turning evil again, but his original redemption arc was one of the best in comic history.

Working hard at doing good, Sandman received a momentous presidential pardon after years of villain activity, and was gifted membership to the reserve ranks of the Avengers. Though this didn’t last, he has returned to being more of a hero on and off over the years.

3

Loki

The God Of Mischief Turned Young Hero

Joined In: Young Avengers (2013) #3

Joined Because: He Was Trapped In His Younger Body

There are few Avengers villains as recognizable both in the MCU and in Marvel Comics. Loki might be known for his relationship with Thor, but he was the villain that first brought the Avengers together. That being said, he has technically been a member too.

Loki was recently trapped in the body of his younger self. This young Loki took membership in the Young Avengers team at a time when the main Avengers were dissolved, making the Young Avengers the primary Avenger team in Marvel Comics. Loki is a trickster by nature, so, of course, this turn to heroic teamwork was temporary, but it made for a fascinating run.

2

Red Hulk

A Redemption For A Scorned General

Joined In: Avengers (2012) #12

Joined Because: He Sought Redemption

General Thunderbolt Ross, or President Ross as he’ll be known as in Captain America: Brave New World, has been all over the place in Marvel Comics. He went from the weapon of the Intelligencia, to a mad creature that took over the White House, to a man desperate to make amends.

Bruce Banner and Steve Rogers wanted him to be able to make amends as well. They gave him an opportunity, which led to him saving and organizing the Avengers in a key situation. Ross stayed with the Avengers for some time and went on to lead the Thunderbolts team of reformed villains, which has proven to be a great success.

1

Norman Osborn

The Mastermind Who Took Over The Avengers

Joined In: Dark Avengers (2009) #1

Joined Because: He Had The Authority To Create A New Avengers Team

The events of Marvel’s massive and memorable Secret Invasion saw the Skrulls invade Earth, taking over many superhero and supervillain roles. Norman Osborn, formerly the Green Goblin, ended up shooting the Skrull Queen at the conclusion of the story. After SHIELD was dissolved, he was put in charge of the replacement HAMMER and allowed to form a new team of Avengers, known as the Dark Avengers.

Leading the team as Iron Patriot, Osborn commenced the Dark Reign storyline. His team contained many other villains and was government-certified, making it a terrifying prospect which led to the Siege storyline. Osborn may never have been on a “real” Avengers team, but his actions throughout those times were more terrifying than anything a villain could have achieved by joining the Avengers under normal circumstances.

“}]] Although Marvel Comics features many great heroes who have become Avengers, there are also villainous characters who have turned into Avengers.  Read More