Avengers

Clint Barton

Wanda Maximoff

Pietro Maximoff †

Vision

James Rhodes

Sam Wilson

Peter Parker

Rocket Raccoon

Carol Danvers

Nebula

Okoye

Scott Lang

Benatar (formerly)

*"The Avengers. That's what we call ourselves. We're sort of like a team. “Earth's Mightiest Heroes”-type thing."*
―Tony Stark to Loki
 The **Avengers** is a team of extraordinary individuals, with either superpowers or other special characteristics. Its purpose was to protect global stability from inner or extraterrestrial threats. Though primarily affiliated with the United States of America, they work with the peaceful interests of the whole world in mind rather than a specific country or organization. The Avengers were first assembled by S.H.I.E.L.D. when Loki invaded Earth with his Chitauri army to conquer the planet. The team defeated him and went their separate ways for a while, before joining back together.

## History

### Recruitment:

#### Avengers Initiative:

After meeting Captain Marvel in the 1990s, and being thrown into the midst of the Kree-Skrull War, Nick Fury realized that a group of extraordinary individuals would be needed to battle the growing forces that conventional military forces or S.H.I.E.L.D. would not be able to handle alone, much less defeat. During the starting development of the initiative, the team’s original name was meant to be named the **Protectors**, until Fury decided to name it as the **Avengers**, after Captain Marvel’s former Air Force pilot call sign. The Avengers Initiative was born.

#### Recruiting Tony Stark:

Nick Fury personally encountered Tony Stark, following his revelation to the world that he was Iron Man. Fury consulted with Stark regarding the Avengers Initiative, telling him that he's not the only superhero in the world. Stark declined but Fury still kept his eye on him for the meantime.

Six months after revealing to the world that he was Iron Man, Stark helped to stabilize peace between East and West relations. However, he discovered that the Palladium Arc Reactor was slowly killing him. Beginning to act questionably, such as donating a large number of his personal belongings and giving Pepper Potts control of Stark Industries, Nick Fury began to intervene, sending Natasha Romanoff a candidate of the Avengers Initiative, in the guise of Stark's new assistant, to keep an eye on him.

Following a number of altercations, including an attack on Stark by Ivan Vanko and a fight with James Rhodes during a drunken stupor, Fury met with Stark to discuss his condition and help him get back on the path to save himself. After finding a new element to stabilize his health and end a large scale attack by Vanko, Romanoff wrote a report on Stark, stating that while the armor would benefit the Avengers Initiative, Stark himself was deemed unsuitable and was instead given a position as a consultant. Stark accepted on the condition that he and Rhodes would be given medals for their heroics, personally awarded by Senator Stern.

#### Thor's Arrival:

After Thor was exiled to Earth, landing in New Mexico, he tried to retrieve Mjølnir after discovering it was on Earth as well. During this attempt, Avengers Initiative candidate, Clint Barton, who was there to watch over the site, was tasked with stopping Thor if requested.

Phil Coulson made note of Thor's strength, albeit human, and his combat skills, as he took down a group of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents with ease. When Thor's brother Loki sent the Destroyer to Earth to kill him, Thor regained his power and defeated the Destroyer. After that, Coulson approached him and Thor vowed he would be an ally to Earth if they return Jane Foster's research, which Coulson agreed. However, before Coulson had a chance to debrief him, Thor flew to the landing site to return back to Asgard to stop Loki.

#### Captain America's Return:

Upon the expedition in the Arctic, S.H.I.E.L.D. recovered the body of Captain America who was frozen for approximately 70 years. Examining Rogers' body, scientists informed Nick Fury that he was still alive.

Fury ordered to place Rogers in a 1940s-style hospital where he suddenly woke up. Realizing that something was wrong, he escaped onto the streets of New York City. There, he met Fury who told him the entire incident was meant to break the news to him slowly that he had been missing for nearly 70 years.

### Chitauri Invasion:

#### Destruction of Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S.:

When it seemed no progress had been made with it, the Avengers Initiative was shut down by World Security Council. Using the Tesseract, Loki arrived on Earth, initiating an invasion, taking control of Clint Barton with the Scepter and stealing the Tesseract. Following this, Nick Fury reinstated the Initiative in hopes to stop Loki's invasion. Fury later spoke with the council, who opposed Fury's actions, not believing in the Initiative, but it was still allowed to proceed.

#### Bringing together the team:

While she was on a mission, Natasha Romanoff was called by Phil Coulson to assist in the recruitment. Romanoff was tasked with recruiting Bruce Banne, much to her fear. After arriving in Kolkata and tricking Banner, Romanoff introduced herself to the the scientist, informing him of the Tesseract and how Nick Fury wanted him to find it due to his expertise. After some persuasion, Romanoff was able to convince Banner to accompany her to the Helicarrier.

Fury then went to recruit Steve Rogers for his first mission since being awakened. Fury arrived at a gym, where he gave Rogers a report on the Tesseract, informing him that Loki had stolen it from S.H.I.E.L.D.. Fury told Rogers he would provide him with more details if he accepted the mission, although Rogers was hesitant to return to the world, and left the gym after telling Fury the Tesseract never should have been found. After reading a debriefing packet for him, Rogers accepted the mission and was picked up in a Quinjet.

Coulson was assigned to bring in Tony Stark, so he forced his way into Stark Tower to recruit him. Coulson gave Stark files that contained information on his other potential teammates, Loki, and the Tesseract. When Pepper Potts realized the visit was about the Avengers, Stark commented on how he didn't qualify for the Initiative, but Coulson informed him that it didn't matter anymore. Stark then looked over the files, updating him on the situation was going on.

When Rogers arrived on the Helicarrier, he was greeted by Romanoff, and the two got acquainted. They were soon joined by Banner, who discussed the mission with Rogers, as well as getting to know each other. When S.H.I.E.L.D. prepared for takeoff, Romanoff guided the two inside, after they were amazed by the Helicarrier actually being an aircraft. The three then met up with Fury in the bridge and started to assist S.H.I.E.L.D. in there search for Loki and the Tesseract.

In a secure hideout, a mind controlled Clinton Barton, informed Loki that Fury was putting a team together. When Loki asked about if they would be a threat, Barton insisted that the Avengers would be more of a danger to themselves. Loki then demanded to know everything about the Avengers, vowing to test them. Barton would go on to inform Loki all about the Avengers, including the dangers of the Hulk, Romanoff's past, and the power of Stark Towe.

#### Skirmish in Germany:

When Loki was spotted in Germany, Captain America was sent to apprehend him. Discovering Loki standing over a group of people and about to execute one, Captain America dropped down to stop him. After deflecting a blast back at Loki, Captain America confronted him, while Black Widow provided assistance from a Quinjet in the sky. When a fight commenced between the two, Iron Man soon arrived, knocking Loki down, resulting in him surrendering.

Rogers and Stark brought Loki onboard the Quinjet and they flew back to the Helicarrier for questioning. On the way, Rogers and Stark discussed Loki's suspicious surrender, as well as each other. Not too long after, the Quinjet was infiltrated by Thor, who grabbed Loki and flew away. Stark then went after him, and Rogers followed after equipping a parachute, despite Romanoff's warnings about the Asgardians.

When Iron Man found Thor, the two argued over taking Loki. Both of them refused the other's requests, so a fight broke out between them. During the fight, Captain America intervened and tried to talk with Thor. However, this did not last long, as Thor went to attack Captain America, too. Although, when Thor struck Captain America's Shield with Mjølnir, it caused a shockwave to go off, knocking everyone down. The three then decided to no longer fight, and all return to the Helicarrier.

#### Team tension:

With the team joined by Thor, they all gathered in the bridge and watched Nick Fury talk with Loki in his cell. The team discussed Loki's plans, and Thor revealed that his brother had an army that was going to attack Earth. When they realized Loki planned to open a portal, Tony Stark joined them informing them that was what the Iridium was for. Stark and Bruce Banner discussed the mechanics of the portal in detail, and then went to work on locating the Tesseract.

As Stark and Banner examined the Scepter and began their search, they bonded with each other. When Steve Rogers arrived and found Stark testing Banner's control over his transformation, the three discussed Fury calling them in, believing he was hiding something. After discussing Fury's motivations, a dispute broke out between Stark and Rogers, as the latter believed they should stay focused on the mission, whereas Stark was attempting to uncover S.H.I.E.L.D.'s secrets.

After Natasha Romanoff discovered Loki's plans to unleash the Hulk, she and Thor headed to the lab to watch over him. Fury met with Stark and Banner in the lab, questioning Stark on why he was hacking S.H.I.E.L.D., and Stark asked about Phase 2. Rogers returned and revealed S.H.I.E.L.D. were intending to make weapons from the Tesseract. Romanoff and Thor then joined them, and they all began to argue over S.H.I.E.L.D.'s secrets as well as with each other.

#### Attack on the Helicarrier:

The heated argument between the Avengers was interrupted when the Helicarrier was attacked by Hawkeye, blowing up the lab, scattering the team in the chaos. Iron Man and Captain America went to repair the turbine, while Black Widow witnessed Bruce Banner lose control and transform into the Hulk. Black Widow proceeded to run for her life from the rampaging Hulk until she was saved by Thor, who fought the beast. Meanwhile Iron Man cleared through the debris as he instructed Captain America how to fix the engine.

When the Hulk was lured out of the Helicarrier, Thor went to check on Loki in his cell. Black Widow went to stop Hawkeye, and the two fought, until she was able to release him from Loki's control. Iron Man was able to start up the engine, stopping the Helicarrier from falling. When Thor reached the detention level, he was tricked by his brother and was locked in the cell. Although, Phil Coulson tried to stop Loki, but was killed, and Thor was dropped from the Helicarrier.

With the Avengers distracted during the attack, Loki was able to escape from the Helicarrier. Fury informed the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and Avengers of Coulson's death, so Stark and Rogers returned to the bridge to mourn him. Fury also updated them on their situation and used Coulson's death to motivate them to avenge him. After Stark and Rogers spoke, they realized Loki's plan to use Stark Tower, so they decided to head there and stop him. Rogers recruited Romanoff and Barton for the fight, and they all geared up and traveled to New York City.

#### Battle of New York:

Iron Man was the first to arrive at Stark Tower, so he confronted Loki, threatening him with the might of the Avengers. However, Loki threw him out of a window as the portal opened. After suiting up, Iron Man engaged in battle, destroying many ships.

When the invasion had begun, Thor arrived to confront his brother, followed by Captain America, Black Widow and Hawkeye flying in a Quinjet. While the two brothers fought, the Quinjet was shot out of the sky and crashed. The three on the street went to fight Loki, but were stopped by the sight of the Leviathans flying through the sky. They then decided to stay on the ground to help save the civilians and fight the Chitauri, so Black Widow and Hawkeye held them off as Captain America went to coordinate the police assistance.

While Black Widow and Hawkeye fought off hordes of the Chitauri, they were eventually joined by Captain America and Thor. The four discussed the battle, and Captain America went to create a plan, but was interrupted by the arrival of Bruce Banner. When Iron Man was informed of Banner's arrival, he led a Leviathan towards them, so Banner transformed into the Hulk to defeat it. With all of the Avengers finally assembled and working as a team, they stood together in a circle and looked over the ongoing invasion