Avengers

> *Avengers Assemble!* - Captain America
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## Overview

The **Avengers** were a team of extraordinary individuals, with either superpowers or other special characteristics. Though primarily affiliated with the interests of the United States of America, the group's purpose was to protect global stability from inner or extraterrestrial threats. The Avengers were first assembled by SHIELD, specifically Director Nick Fury. as a result of the Avengers Initiative, when Loki invaded Earth with his Chitauri army. The team, consisting of IronMan, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow and Hawkeye defeated Loki and went their separate ways for a while.

## History

After SHIELD is infiltrated by HYDRA, the team was no longer an American governmental division, therefore becoming an independent and private organization. Stark Industries remodeled Stark Tower into Avengers Tower and the team joined in the fight against HYDRA. After their victory, Tony Stark built Ultron, hoping that the A.I. would be able to defend the world from any threats necessary in place of the Avengers. The plan backfired and Ultron started a war against humanity, forcing the Avengers to fight him.

### New Avengers

When Ultron was defeated, Bruce Banner, Clint Barton, Thor and Tony Stark left the team, so Wanda Maximoff, Vision, War Machine and Falcon were recruited, renamed the New Avengers and they were relocated to the Avengers Compound. (For more, see New Avengers)

### Civil War

Under Captain America's leadership, the team completed several operations around the world with success, until the amount of collateral damage during their conflicts caused the United Nations to pass the Sokovia Accords in an attempt to regulate their actions, turning the team from a private organization to one which was under the control of a governmental body. The differences in opinions created a rift within the team which split the Avengers into two factions, one led by IronMan and the other by Captain America. After Captain America was able to stop Helmut Zemo, the instigator of their fight, the team was divided; IronMan, Vision and War Machine remained official members, while a small group consisting of Captain America, Black Widow, and Falcon continued to operate in the shadows.

### Reconciliation

The two factions reconciled their differences when Earth was faced with an immense threat, creating the Avengers once again. The Avengers Tower once again became the headquaters of the team, leaving the Avengers Compound for the new and upcoming team

### Going Seperate Ways

IronMan retired to raise his family, but still being 'on-call', telling his teammates to only call his "if the Earth was really ending that day".

Hawkeye continued to divide his time between being an Avenger, a SHIELD agent and a father with varying degrees of sucess

Black Widow, inspired by the discovery of her sister, Yelena Belova, began a solo mission to track down the rest of her fellow widows from the Red Room, and recruiting to SHIELD whenever possible.

Thor returned to Asgard to rule, still visiting his teammates on Earth regularly

Hulk was giving the opportunity to work on a scientific discovery that he had long since been interested in and finally felt like he was in control of his powers well enough to take the opportunity when it was presented

Captain America, seeing as the team had mostly moved on with their lives, handed the mantle of team leader to Falcon, and tried his best to be a civilian. While that did not last long, he returned to the Avengers Compound to help with training and recruitment.

### Notable Members

* Captain America - Steve Rogers (official leader)
* IronMan - Tony Stark (financer)
* Black Widow - Natasha Romanoff
* Thor
* Hawkeye - Clint Barton
* Hulk - Bruce Banner

Predecessor to New Avengers and later Young Avengers