10 Best Reserve Avengers, Ranked

The Avengers often have multiple teams across America, so they sometimes have to be picky about membership. Knowing who is active or inactive is obviously important, but knowing who’s on reserve is vital, too. At the Avengers’ level, calling on the reserves might even be necessary to help save the world.

Thanks to the team’s illustrious history, every A-List or B-List hero has been part of the team at some point. Of course, some reserve members are more helpful than others, either as team leaders or just in terms of sheer power. It doesn’t hurt to have some of the best reserve members on call when things get bad.

10 Captain America Invited Sandman To Become An Avenger

Once one of Spider-Man’s strongest enemies, Flint Marko began to see the error of his ways in the ’80s. Thanks to the Thing, Sandman gradually went from giving up crime to even working with his sworn foes in The Fantastic Four and Spider-Man as a hero. His time helping out other heroes led to Sandman being offered a presidential pardon and eventually the ultimate respect of being offered reserve membership in the Avengers.

With his ability to transform into sand, Flint can be nearly anywhere and attack from everywhere. Still, he ranks last because he’s never shown himself to be the most stable. His alignment switches frequently enough that it’s difficult to count on him.

One of Marvel’s earliest heroes, Matt Hawk was a lawyer inspired to become a vigilante from the Western novels he read. Establishing a name for himself as the Two-Gun Kid, Hawk was already used to the life of a hero when the Avengers came to the distant past. After helping them with their mission, the Two-Gun Kid asked to return to the present with the team, and was granted reserve status in the Avengers.

Two-Gun is a talented marksman and skilled fighter with years of experience after spending so many years helping people. While he’s a bit out of his depth against the more cosmic threats, his ingenuity still makes him a valuable ally. It doesn’t hurt that he’s also one of the most powerful lawyers in Marvel Comics.

8 Firestar Has Experience With Several Teams

Angelica Jones didn’t originally want to be a superhero, and she’s bounced around from team to team in the years since her mutant powers awakened. She started with Emma Frost’s Hellions, then became a member of the New Warriors before becoming an Avenger in her late teens. Her experience and powers proved invaluable, and even though she wasn’t sure about being a member, she put herself at risk several times to prove her dedication.

She and Justice left the team following a major battle with Kang the Conqueror, effectively downgrading themselves to reserve status. Her ability to manipulate microwave radiation makes her an incredibly powerful member of the Avengers. Since leaving active duty as an Avenger, she’s mostly been associated with the X-Men, though she was secretly working for the Avengers.

7 Silverclaw Joined After Protecting Her Adopted Uncle

Introduced in the famous Busiek/Perez run of the Avengers comic, Silverclaw was originally Jarvis’ adopted niece, Maria de Guadalupe Santiago, also known as Lupe. However, Lupe’s birth mother was the volcano goddess Peliali, who remained with her people even when the other gods in her pantheon left humanity alone. After a few missions with the Avengers, the team brought her into the group as an official reserve member.

With her ability to transform into any animal, Silverclaw has the potential to become one of Marvel’s best shapeshifters. She can also draw on their unique abilities in her humanoid form, showing off the mastery of her powers even despite her inexperience as a hero. Silverclaw hasn’t seen a major focus since her introduction, likely due to the team not wanting to involve Jarvis’ niece.

6 Stingray Offers The Avengers An Underwater Connection

Walter Newell is a genius scientist and oceanographer who just happened to create a suit of armor that allowed him to operate as a superhero. However, Newell prefers to spend his time as himself rather than Stingray unless the Avengers come along. The Avengers have worked with Newell numerous times, even letting them operate a headquarters on the artificial island Hydro-Base.

After helping the Avengers out multiple times, he joined as a reserve member in 1990. Effectively, Stingray’s the guy the Avengers call when they’re on bad terms with Namor. He will never argue about who’s leading the team or cause problems like some of the Avengers’ more well-known members. The only real issue on his part is that although he’s got the strength and intelligence, he prefers to continue protecting the seas.

5 Quasar Is Busy As The Protector Of The Universe

A member of SHIELD, Wendell Vaughn was considered a supremely talented agent before the Quantum Bands suddenly chose him. The bands allow him to generate and shape a near-infinite form of pure energy from the Quantum Zone. After mastering the bands, it didn’t take Wendell long before he went from a member of SHIELD to joining the Avengers.

Over the years, Wendell has proven to be one of the most powerful superheroes. He would be invaluable as a member of the team…if he had the time. Not long after gaining the Quantum Bands, Wendell was told he was the Protector of the Universe. Because of that, his work often calls him to deal with threats in outer space. While he’s certainly one of the biggest guns the team could call on, he lands in the middle spot because he’s unreliable, even as a reserve member.

4 Namor Has Too Many Shifting Allegiances

One of the first documented superhumans to appear in the Marvel Universe, Namor’s roots go back to the 1930s. Once a villain, Namor began working alongside Captain America and the original Human Torch during World War II to repel the Nazis. That same connection led to Captain America offering Namor a position with the Avengers after Namor had been rejected by his people.

Since then, Namor has fallen from his position as an active roster member. Namor is a heavy-hitter for the team; at his best, he’s strong enough to trade blows with any of the Hulks. Still, he’s one of the shadiest Marvel characters thanks to his shifting allegiances, which makes it difficult to rely on him in all but the most extreme circumstances.

3 Thing Occasionally Joins The Avengers As A Break

While best known as one of the original members of The Fantastic Four, Benjamin Grimm hasn’t always been part of their ranks. When returning from space after the first Secret Wars story, he joined the West Coast Avengers in the late ’80s. Initially, he pretended he only wanted to touch base with the Avengers, but it wasn’t long before he joined the fold as their sixth member.

Thing is one of the most beloved heroes in the Marvel Universe, with his toughness only being matched by how kind he is. He can be hot-headed sometimes, but that’s part of his charm. Still, he’s one of the biggest powerhouses available, so if the Avengers ever need a reserve, he’s a great person to call on.

2 Justice Becoming An Avenger Was His Dream

The Avengers originally rejected Vance Astrovik when he was Marvel Boy for his youth and inexperience. However, after years of working with the New Warriors, his telekinetic powers vastly increased, and he became a more competent hero. With that in mind, Captain America awarded both Justice and his superhero partner Firestar membership in the Avengers as reserve members.

Though Vance suffered from a bad case of hero worship early on, Justice became a valued team member during one of their most dangerous times. Though he and Firestar left the team after an incident with Kang, Vance, in particular, has returned several times as a reserve member to help with the Initiative.

1 Spider-Man Is A Great Leader But Prefers Working Alone

Peter Parker may be a street-level hero, but Spider-Man has been an Avenger longer than people realize. While everyone recognizes him from his time in the New Avengers, he was actually brought into the team in the early ‘90s. At the time, though, they designated him as a reserve member who would only step in during emergencies.

This decision came from Marvel’s belief that the Avengers should be used to prop up lesser heroes and explained in-universe as Peter being more of a loner. That said, Pete has shown courage and strength and has brought a lifetime of experience as a superhero. He’s also shown he can lead heroes to victory several times. That means he’s great as both a soldier and a leader, making him one of the most versatile reserve members they have.