Summary
- The Avengers have had over 150 members, including weaker heroes like Swordsman and Doctor Druid.
- Kate Bishop is a skilled archer and martial artist, but her youth and inexperience make her one of the weaker Avengers.
- Squirrel Girl has powerful abilities but is often written as a comedic character, making her one of the weaker Avengers.
The Avengers are the premier team of Superheroes in the Marvel universe and, with the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), they might be the most popular superhero team of all time. Despite constantly coming up against world-ending threats, the Avengers have recruited many relatively weak characters over the years.
Since they debuted in 1963 with The Avengers #1, they have had over 150 members, ranging from gods like Thor and Hercules to superhumans like Captain America and Spider-Man. Although members consist of some of the strongest beings in the Marvel universe, there have been plenty of weaker heroes in The Avengers.
10 Strongest Avengers Ever In Marvel Comics, Ranked
The Avengers, Earth's Mightiest Heroes, have had over 100 members since their inception, but none are more powerful than these characters.
1 Swordsman
Black Knight, But Worse
- First Appearance: The Avengers #19 (1965)
- Creator: Stan Lee
- Real Name: Jacques Duquesne
Swordsman is an ex-circus performer who left the circus life behind to become a mercenary, taking work around the world. He attempted to join the Avengers, but was declined due to his violent past. After fighting the Avengers multiple times, Swordsman eventually got his life on track, became a hero, and joined the Avengers.
Swordsman is a regular human and has no special skills that make him stand out, especially against his most obvious counterpart, Black Knight. Unlike Black Knight, Swordsman has no special suit of armor or knowledge of magic, and is a worse fighter, earning him the title of the weakest Avenger.
2 Doctor Druid
The Avengers' Other Sorceror
- First Appearance: Weird Wonder Tales #19 (1976)
- Creator: Stan Lee
- Real Name: Anthony Ludgate
Doctor Druid is the descendant of the famous druid Amergin Gluingel. When he found out about his ancestor's magical past, he became obsessed with learning about the mystic arts. He eventually became a successful superhero and joined The Avengers.
Unlike the most popular magic user in Marvel, Doctor Strange, Doctor Druid cannot cast spells and can only use Druid Magic, which requires a long ritual to work. He does have telepathic and telekinesis powers to a degree, but nowhere near the likes of other telepathic heroes. His limited magic also has a weakness to iron, making him one of the weaker Avengers.
3 Hawkeye (Kate Bishop)
The Future Archer Of The Avengers
- First Appearance: Young Avengers #1 (2005)
- Creator: Allan Heinberg
- Real Name: Kate Bishop
Kate Bishop is the young prodigy of the popular hero Hawkeye, and takes up the mantle in some iterations. After experiencing a traumatic event as a child, Kate became motivated to learn all things martial arts. She took a particular liking to swords and, of course, archery. With her skills, Kate became a prominent member of the Young Avengers and later the Avengers.
Kate is a skilled martial artist and one of the best archers and marksmen in the Marvel universe. With her training from Clint Barton, Kate rarely misses a shot and can accurately fire up to five arrows at the same time. Despite her skills though, Kate is still young and inexperienced, earning her a place on this list.
4 Stingray
The Underwater Avenger
- First Appearance: Tales to Atonish #95 (1967)
- Creator: Roy Thomas
- Real Name: Walter Newell
When Dr. Walter Newell is a Ph.D. In oceanography. He supervised the construction of an underwater city, which, during its destruction, led him to meet Namor. After using his genius-level intellect to create his super suit, he took on the name Stingray and began helping Namor protect the oceans.
The Stingray Suit gives Walter superhuman strength, reflexes, durability, and energy projection. The main strength of the suit is also its main weakness, since it falls short when not in the water. Even though Stingray has some powerful abilities, he is one of the weakest Avengers and is only called upon during ocean-related incidents.
5 Tigra
Marvels Cheetah
- First Appearance: Cat in The Claws #1 (1972)
- Creator: Roy Thomas
- Real Name: Greer Nelson
Formerly the vigilante known as the Cat, Greer Nelson was mutated into a human/tiger hybrid through the use of a mystical ritual. She became known as Tigra and continued to fight crime. Tigra later became a member of the Avengers, and even went on to be recruited into the West Coast Avengers.
As Tigra, Greer has superhuman strength, speed, durability, agility, and cat-like senses. Tigra has been trained by some of the best combatants in Marvel, like Captain America and Hawkeye. However, Tigra still lacks experience and has been known to have mental breakdowns. Her lack of control makes her one of the weaker Avengers.
6 Squirrel Girl
The Girl That Defeated Thanos
- First Appearance: Marvel Super-Heroes Winter Special (1991)
- Creator: Will Murray
- Real Name: Doreen Green
Doreen Green was born with a squirrel-like tail and the unique ability to talk to squirrels. At ten years old, she fully realized her abilities and befriended a squirrel known as Monkey Joe. After seeking out and assisting many heroes, like Iron Man and Hulk, Doreen built up her name as Squirrel Girl and became a full-time hero, eventually joining the Avengers.
Doreen has superhuman strength and agility, claw-like nails for climbing, night vision, accelerated healing and, of course, a tail. Yet despite these powerful abilities, Squirrel Girl is only written as a comedic character, and hasn't had the chance to prove herself in a serious comic run or event. With that being said, fans shouldn't discount Squirrel Girl as she once defeated Thanos himself.
7 Punisher
The Butcher Of The Criminal Underworld
- First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1974)
- Creator: Stan Lee
- Real Name: Francis Castiglione / Frank Castle
After returning from his service in the US Marines, Frank Castle and his family were in Central Park when they stumbled upon a mob killing. To remove any witnesses, the mob gunned down Frank and his family, leaving him the sole survivor. This tragic event led to him seeking out the mob and other criminals, punishing them, earning the name Punisher.
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Despite his mostly uncomplicated depiction in comic form, many actors have attempted to play The Punisher, but not every version has been a success.
Frank Castle is arguably the best example of a peak human in Marvel Comics. He has peak physical conditioning, endurance, and durability, as well as extremely high pain tolerance. He is a master combatant, martial artist, pilot and marksman. He's one of the strongest non-powered humans in Marvel — but he is still only human in the end.
8 Jack of Hearts
The Novice Super-Hero
- First Appearance: The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #22 (1976)
- Creator: Bill Mantlo
- Real Name: Jonothan "Jack" Hart
Jonothan Hart is half-human, half-Contaxian (an alien race similar to humans, but more advanced). When Jonathan's mother was killed in a car crash, his father became obsessed with helping the world and created Zero Fluid to help end the energy crisis. When criminals murdered his father, Jonothan was caught in an explosion, and fused with the Zero Fluid.
With his alien physiology and exposure to the Zero Fluid, Jonathan mutates into a powerful being with superhuman strength and intellect. He also has the abilities of flight, accelerated healing, and energy blast. A main weakness is his inability to contain his power. Jonathan cannot exert his full powers for much more than twenty-four hours before he becomes exhausted.
9 Falcon
Captain America's Trusty Sidekick
- First Appearance: Captain America #117 (1969)
- Creator: Stan Lee
- Real Name: Sam Wilson
Sam Wilson is a long-term friend and ally of Captain America. After crash landing on Exiles Island, Sam finds himself in the middle of the Red Skull plot to defeat Captain America. Red Skull had used the Cosmic Cube on Sam, granting him Avian Telepathy, which allowed him to bond with his pet falcon, Redwing. Sam used his newfound abilities to help Captain America defeat the Red Skull.
After returning home, Sam became the Falcon and worked closely with Captain America for years. Black Panther went on to create Falcon's iconic winged suit, allowing him to fly as he became the best aerial combatant in the world. As Falcon, Sam Wilson is one of the strongest of the weaker Avengers.
10 Nick Fury
The Man Whose Secrets Have Secrets
- First Appearance: Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1 (1963)
- Creator: Stan Lee
- Real Name: Nick Fury
Nicholas Joseph Fury, better known as Nick Fury, is a World War 2 veteran who fought alongside Captain America in the Howling Commandos. Shortly after the presumed death of Steve Rodgers, Nick Fury was injured during battle and injected with the Infinity Formula. The formula signals decreased Fury’s aging process, allowing him to live way beyond his expected life-span.
With his extended life, Fury went on to work for the CIA, S.H.I.E.L.D. And later helped form and join the Avengers. Over the years, Fury has become a master marksman, martial artist, tactician, strategist and spy. Despite his experience and skill, Fury is only a slightly enhanced human and thus, is one of the weaker Avengers.
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