The 10 Best Marvel Teams Who Aren’t the Avengers or X-Men

Throughout the company’s epic history, Marvel Comics have given the world a massive tapestry of amazing characters. Many of them have gone on to become household names, with images of those like Spider-Man, the Hulk, and Captain America adorning the bedrooms, backpacks, and clothes of children (and adults) across the world. While the fame of many of those characters has been augmented by the MCU, there are plenty of other amazing characters and superhero teams who have yet to make their full debuts on film.

The vast success of the Avengers in the MCU and the X-Men movies has given those franchises a monopoly on Marvel superhero teams. However, while more obscure, and mainly known to comic geeks, there are many other great superhero teams that have graced Marvel’s illustrious pages over the years. As fans continue to await the upcoming expansion of the MCU, here’s a look at 10 of the best Marvel teams who aren’t the Avengers or the X-Men.

10 A-Force

What makes the A-Force such an awesome team is that they’re a superhero team composed exclusively of female characters. They were first introduced during the “Secret Wars” timeline in 2015, but have gained independent popularity since. Initially from a realm known as Arcadia, the team operated in a parallel universe known as Battleworld.

A-Force Is a Team of Heavy Hitters With Some Powerful Members

Like most superhero teams, their members have changed and rotated over the years. However, among the core team members, A-Force often comprises many literal and figurative heavy hitters. These include characters like She-Hulk, Medusa, Dazzler, and Captain Marvel. As time went on, other prominent Marvel characters like Scarlet Witch have also fought for them. Boasting an eclectic mix of personalities and abilities, A-Force was created by G. Willow Wilson and Marguerite Bennett, with Jorge Molina being the artist that brought them to life.

9 The Inhumans

Created by the original Marvel dream-team of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, The Inhumans are a race of superhumans with various abilities. They first appeared in 1965, showing up in “Fantastic Four” #45, but were distinct since they gleaned their powers from the Terrigen Mists — a naturally occurring mutagen that forms as a vapor emitted from Terrigen Crsytals, which carry the ability to alter inhuman biology.

The Inhumans Were a Secretive Race That Often Faced Internal Strife

Using a type of caste system, the Inhumans were initially a secretive race led by their King, Blackbolt and his Queen, Medusa. Most of their core members have been consistent over the years, with others like Gorgon, Karnak, and Triton all playing prominent parts in the team. Over time, their isolated existence meant they usually fought against internal struggles, but later brought them into contact with other famous Marvel characters. As Marvel explains, the Inhumans later forged strong alliances with other teams like the Avengers.

8 The Defenders

Calling this one a “team” may be a little incorrect, since The Defenders only assemble when needed. First summoned in 1971, they were initially brought together by Doctor Strange and included the Hulk and Namor the Sub-Mariner. Their main goal is usually to stifle supernatural or cosmic threats when needed. As a result, membership is often fluid and has changed over the years, making for a great chance to team up various Marvel characters over time.

Plenty of Scope for Friction and Conflict With The Defenders

That same aspect also provides plenty of scope for friction, uneasy team dynamics and even straight-up conflict between teammates. Often called a “non-team,” over the years, other notable members have included the likes of Valkyrie, Daredevil, Silver Surfer, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and X-Men’s Beast.

7 Alpha Flight

Given the spin-off world they appear in, it was only fitting that Alpha Flight were a group of Canadian superheroes. Primarily associated with X-Men story lines, their mission is to protect Canada from superhuman threats as they operate under the auspices of the Canadian Department of Defense. They are made up of a unique group of mutants who each have distinct abilities, and have featured some great cameo appearances over the years,

Alpha Flight Is Known for Adventures With Canada’s Most Famous X-Men Member

Their most famous members include James Hudson (Guardian), and his wife, Heather Hudson, who eventually becomes the Vindicator herself. Others, like Sasquatch, are known for their brute strength, while Northstar and Aurora are mutant siblings who can fly and create forceful bursts of energy and light. Often featuring adventures with Wolverine because of his Canadian roots, the team make for a great alternative to traditional X-Men stories.

6 Illuminati

With Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness bringing this team to light for MCU fans, the Illuminati have now technically been introduced on screen. However, over the years of their comic book history, they’ve comprised different iterations that vastly differed from the ones we saw in the film. A secretive team made up of the most powerful and intelligent characters across Marvel, they were initially created to counter the threats posed by the Kree-Skrull war, and to fight off cosmic-level threats.

Illuminati Has a Combination of Intellect and Resources

In the comics, their main members have included the likes of Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, Doctor Strange himself, and X-Men’s Beast. While they usually face tough intellectual and moral decisions, their members are usually up to the task, since they often comprise some of the most brilliant characters Marvel has to offer. Pooling their resources, combined intellect, and abilities, the Illuminati have often formed some of the coolest and most powerful Marvel teams around.

5 X-Force

For X-Men lovers, the spin-off team known as X-Force will be right up your alley. A very popular team from the X-Universe, X-Force comics were known for being more gritty and featuring more militarized stories and aggressive battles. Introduced in 1991 by Rob Liefield, X-Force was initially led by Cyclops’ son, Cable. Brutal and unforgiving, they often make for a refreshing change of pace from how pacifist the X-Men can be at times.

Many Well Known Characters Have Been Members of X-Force

Unlike their more diplomatic counterparts, the X-Men, X-Force were known for taking preemptive action against threats to mutantkind. Aside from Cable, core members have included the likes of Domino (both of whom have already been seen on screen in Deadpool 2). Other members over the years have included well-known mutant characters like Havok, Wolverine, Deadpool, Psylocke, Colossus, and Archangel, and even typically villainous characters like Omega Red.

4 The Thunderbolts

Introduced back in 1997 in a Hulk comic, The Thunderbolts were initially debuted as a team of superheroes, only to later be revealed villains. While they were first created to replace the Fantastic Four and Avengers, who were all presumed dead, their leader, Baron Zemo, was later revealed to be leading the team toward a nefarious end of gaining the public’s trust to gain control of the world. Despite this atypical start to their story, over the years, the team has changed, and generally grew to include good guys too.

The Thunderbolts’ MCU Debut Is Currently in the Works

They have been led by notorious characters like Norman Osborn, with many of their members often seeking redemption for past wrongs. Key members have included characters like Moonstone, a well-known villainous and antihero character. Others like Ghost and Fixer have all shared similar tropes, making this one of Marvel’s most intriguing teams over the years, since their exploits and character arcs are never straight forward.

With plenty of amazing characters like Sentry also in the mix, this team now famously has an upcoming MCU film due to drop next year. With plenty of scope, some of the team rosters over the years have also included amazing characters like Red Hulk, Punisher, and Ghost Rider.

3 Guardians of the Galaxy

Made famous in the 21st century by their appearances in MCU films, the Guardians of the Galaxy are a rag-tag group of interstellar travelers. Made up of an eclectic bunch of characters, they’re well known for bickering among themselves, but also for their awesome range of skills and abilities when it matters.

The Guardians of the Galaxy Are an Enduring and Hugely Popular Team

Original team members from the comics included the likes of Yondu and Captain Charlie-27, who are featured in timelines that take place in the 31st century. However, over the years, many other now more familiar faces have joined. Among them are MCU fan favorites like Peter Quill (Star-Lord), Gamora, Drax, Rocket, Groot, and Mantis. Engaging, funny, and brilliant when they need to be, the enduring nature of this team is evident from the fact that they were created in 1969.

2 Eternals

Created by Jack Kirby in the mid ’70s, the Eternals were the product of genetic experiments by the Celestials on early humans. Granting them powers as a result, they are basically immortal and have been around for millennia. Over the ages, they formed teams that have protected the Earth from others like them. As a result, many of Earth’s myths and legends are based on them.

Eternals Are the Stuff of Myths and Legends

Some of their core characters over the years include Ikaris, who has superhuman strength, can shoot beams from his eyes, and fly, Sersi, who can manipulate matter at an atomic level, and Thena, who can manipulate cosmic energy to form powerful weapons. With stories often featuring diverse views and philosophical ideas, the Eternals have built up a strong fan base over the years, and now have an MCU movie to go with their long and proud comic book legacy too.

1 Fantastic Four

Known as the first family of Marvel, Fantastic Four were Marvel’s inaugural team. Created back in 1961, they famously consist of siblings, Sue (Invisible Woman) and Johnny Storm (the Human Torch), Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), who later marries Sue, and their close friend, Ben Grimm (Thing). They were formed when the group were tasked with a space mission and got caught in a storm of cosmic rays that transformed them on a molecular level, granting each of them powers in the process.

The Fantastic Four Are Famous for Facing Cosmic Level Threats

Returning to Earth, they learn how to control their powers and use them to protect the world from a variety of Earthly and cosmic threats. With infamous characters like Dr. Doom and Galactus often showing up in their adventures, the team have had many iconic story lines over the years. They have also interacted with many other famous Marvel characters, including stints as part of the Avengers, and team ups with the likes of Daredevil, Spider-Man, Hulk, Silver Surfer, Iron Man, the X-Men, and many others.

Often featuring complex and brilliant story lines with scientific underpinnings, Fantastic Four characters are among Marvel’s most beloved characters. They’ve already had three modern films, and are due to make their full MCU debut soon. Check out the video below to see who’s already been cast for their upcoming MCU film.