10 Superheroes Who Define Their Teams in Pop Culture (Despite Joining Late)

When it comes to the sprawling comic book universes of Marvel and DC Comics, more superhero teams are fighting the good fight than fans can keep track of. Usually rostered by the most popular characters in each company’s back catalog of fictional creations, these teams — like the Justice League, Avengers, Suicide Squad, X-Men, and more — are defined by the champions who roster them, turning many of these heroes into household names in the process.

While most major heroes in both Marvel and DC continuity are founding members of their respective teams, like how Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman are for the Justice League and how Iron Man, Thor, and Ant-Man are for the Avengers, some characters didn’t join their crews right out of the gate. A few heroes who have gone on to define their superhero squads became members way after their teams ever formed, with certain recruits undoubtedly coming as a surprise to fans.

Legends #3 – 1987 (John Ostrander, Len Wein, and John Byrne)

Initially a World War II-era team rostered by convicted soldiers who were sent on dangerous missions with slim to no chance of survival, this Suicide Squadron was originally led by Rick Flag’s father, Rick Flag Sr., in 1964’s Star-Spangled War Stories #116, with his son and current mastermind behind the team’s modern day incarnation, Amanda Waller, not joining until 1987’s Legends #3 courtesy of writer John Ostrander. Quickly becoming synonymous with the Suicide Squad from that moment forward, Rick Flag Jr. and Amanda Waller solidified themselves as staple characters of nearly every version of Task Force X since.

9 Darla Dudley, Eugene Choi, and Pedro Peña Joined The Shazam Family Much Later

Flashpoint #1 – 2011 (Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert)

Introduced in 2011’s Flashpoint, an alternate timeline where Billy Batson’s Captain Marvel never existed, the newly created characters of Darla, Eugene, and Pedro, along with Flashpoint’s version of Billy, Mary Marvel, and Freddy Freeman, were each given unique powers by the Wizard Shazam, helping them to form the team known as S.H.A.Z.A.M., and, when uttering the word of power together, transform into Captain Thunder. Post-Flashpoint, Darla, Eugene, and Pedro were re-introduced as the foster siblings of Billy, Mary, and Freddy, with Billy eventually sharing his power with them, effectively turning them into real superheroes.

8 Silver Surfer Was Not One of the Original Three Members of the Defenders

The Defenders #2 – 1972 (Steve Englehart and Sal Buscema)

A team that made its debut in 1971’s Marvel Feature #1, by Roy Thomas and Ross Andru, this “non-team” was originally rostered by Doctor Strange, Hulk, and Namor aka the Sub-Mariner, and came together to thwart the evil villain named Yandroth and his magic and science-based doppelgänger dubbed the Omegatron. Eventually getting popular enough to warrant their own series, Silver Surfer joined the team in 1972’s The Defenders #2, by Steve Englehart and Sal Buscema, and has always been treated as a core member of The Defenders, despite him not showing up until the team had officially formed.

Batman Inc. #1 – 2022 (Ed Brisson and John Timms)

An international crime-fighting network created by Batman in 2011’s Batman Incorporated series, this team was well-established by the time Ghost-Maker premiered in 2020 as a former rival-turned-reluctant hero to Batman. Eventually appointed by The Dark Knight to run Batman Inc., as long as he adhered to Bruce’s patented “no-kill” rule, Ghost-Maker was first tasked with hunting down the villains murdering his and Batman’s old mentors, only to dissolve Batman Inc. shortly after its reformation. Still, nothing can keep a good bat-person down, as the remnants of the team haven’t given up on their mission, despite Ghost-Maker’s decision.

6 Kate Bishop’s Hawkeye Wasn’t A Founding Member of the Young Avengers

Young Avengers #1 – 2005 (Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung)

Technically a second-round recruit rather than a founding member of this Avengers-level team, Kate Bishop aka Hawkeye, is arguably the hero whose presence has been most consistent in defining the Young Avengers, despite the group being formed by Iron Lad, Patriot, Hulkling, and Wiccan just previous to her time on the roster. Premiering in 2005’s Young Avengers #1 as her civilian self, it wasn’t until later in that same run that Kate stepped into the role of Hawkeye, and after helping the Young Avengers defeat Kang, invited herself to join the team — a status that was confirmed soon after.

5 Kilowog Joined The Green Lantern Corps Decades After They Debuted

Green Lantern Corps #201 – 1986 (Steve Englehart and Joe Staton)

While it’s reasonable to assume Kilowog was an original member of the Green Lantern Corps and helped to define this intergalactic superhero team alongside Green Lantern Hal Jordan ever since its debut in 1959’s Showcase #22, Kilowog arrived on the scene in 1986’s Green Lantern Corps #201 – 27 years after the Corps was introduced. The tough-as-nails trainer for all new Lantern recruits who arrive on Oa, Kilowog is a hulking brute with a heart of gold, and immediately became an important addition to the Corps, with Kilowog’s recent death fighting against the Sinestro Corps affecting every member deeply.

4 Star-Lord Wasn’t On The Guardians of the Galaxy’s First Future Team

Guardians of the Galaxy #1 – 2008 (Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning)

Originally a totally different team in Marvel’s far future, the first incarnation of the Guardians of the Galaxy premiered in 1969’s Marvel Super-Heroes #18, with the most popular version of the team — including Peter Quill aka Star-Lord — coming about in 2008’s Guardians of the Galaxy #1, by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. Already kicking around the Marvel Universe since 1976, Star-Lord’s profile got a boost in the Annihilation comic event, giving him a path to define the new Guardians team as its leader, with his MCU appearance solidifying the character as an integral member of this cosmic team.

3 Beast Boy, Raven, and Cyborg Weren’t Part of the Original Teen Titan’s Lineup

The New Teen Titans #1 – 1980 (Marv Wolfman and George Perez)

A set of characters who have defined the Teen Titans, along with their leader Robin/Nightwing, Beast Boy, Raven, Starfire, and Cyborg, were nowhere to be seen when the team first banded together in 1964’s The Brave and the Bold #54, but eventually joined up almost two decades later in 1980’s The New Teen Titans #1. Brought under the same roof by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, Beast Boy (going by Changeling at the time), Raven, Starfire, and Cyborg are often thought of as founding members of the team, when in reality, they’re just the most popular ones.

2 Wolverine Became a Staple Member of the X-Men Way After The Team Premiered

Giant-Size X-Men #1 – 1975 (Len Wein and Dave Cockrum)

An iconic mutant hero who has become one of the most popular characters in the entire comic industry, Wolverine wasn’t even close to being a founding member of the X-Men, as the original team, consisting of Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Angel, Beast, and Iceman, arrived on the scene in 1963, almost a full decade before Wolverine even existed as a character. Making his debut in a fight against the Hulk in 1974, Wolverine finally joined Marvel’s squad of mutants in Giant-Size X-Men #1 a year later and has been a consistent part of the team and its multiple incarnations ever since.

1 Captain America Didn’t Fight With The Avengers In Their First Battle

The Avengers #4 – 1964 (Stan Lee and Jack Kirby)

Arguably Marvel’s most recognizable hero, Captain America was never part of the original Avengers when they made their debut in 1963’s The Avengers #1. Created in 1941 for Timely Comics, Captain America was frozen in ice for decades before being found and thawed out by the Avengers in their fourth action-packed issue. Luckily for the team, Cap had lost none of his battlefield smarts, fighting vigor, and impeccable leadership skills while encased in ice, allowing him to easily slip into the role of inspirational leader, effectively defining a super-team that has saved the Marvel Universe thousands of times over.