[[{“value”:”
Warning: contains spoilers for West Coast Avengers #7!
Marvel just reminded fans of a key rule of the Avengers franchise, one that tends to be forgotten. The Avengers are Marvel’s premiere superhero team, and seemingly everyone who is someone has been a member. Membership in the Avengers is a massive honor for any hero, and as revealed by Wonder Man in West Coast Avengers #7, it is for a lifetime.
West Coast Avengers #7 was written by Gerry Duggan and drawn by Danny Kim. Wonder Man is helping Blue Bolt, who recently joined the squad, deal with father issues. These issues are seriously impeding Blue Bolt’s burgeoning heroic career. After a tense meeting, Wonder Man tells Blue Bolt that once a hero joins the Avengers, they are essentially an Avenger for life.
Wonder Man tells a doubtful Blue Bolt that getting on the Avengers roster is the hardest part, and that Bolt must have impressed someone.
The Avengers’ Debut Took the Marvel Universe to Another Level
The Avengers Have Been Important to Both the Comics and the MCU
According to legend, Stan Lee intended for Fantastic Four #1 to be his “swan song” to comic books.
The “Marvel Age of Comics” was in full-swing by the time the Avengers debuted in the Summer of 1963. Beginning with the publication of The Fantastic Four #1, Marvel Comics helped revolutionize superhero comics in America. After the arrival of the Fantastic Four, a quick procession of heroes debuted, including the Hulk, Iron Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp. Each of these characters found success individually, so the next step was to bring them together against a common foe. The Fantastic Four showed Marvel was not averse to teams, but the Avengers would be a totally different dynamic.
Related
Marvel Just Defined What Makes an Avenger, And It’s an Insult to Tony Stark
The Avengers apparently aren’t defined by their heroism and good deeds, but by whether or not they’ve encountered one major downside of Iron Man.
The Avengers #1, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, introduced the team to the Marvel Universe, and was an immediate hit. As detailed in the first issue, Loki manipulates the Hulk into attacking, forcing Thor, Iron Man, Ant-Man and Wasp to work together to de-escalate the situation and turn back the evil trickster. The four heroes, plus the Hulk, realize they worked great together, and thus the Avengers were born. The team’s formation sent ripples through the Marvel Universe, signaling a new era of greatness had begun.
The Avengers’ lineup was in flux from the beginning.
The Avengers’ lineup was in flux from the beginning. Founding member Hulk would leave after a few issues, and was replaced by Captain America in The Avengers #4. Two years later, in The Avengers #16, Captain America assembled a new incarnation of the squad, composed of characters who were new to the team, such as Hawkeye. The team’s roster grew even more over time, as characters such as the Vision, Wonder Man, the Beast and Mantis found their way to the Avengers Mansion. At some points, there have even been multiple teams of Avengers active, such as the West Coast branch.
Just as the Avengers have been central to the Marvel Universe, they have been equally integral to the MCU. The MCU’s first films were origin stories for some of the Avengers’ biggest players. Iron Man showed how Tony Stark became the Armored Avenger and Thor depicted Odinson’s first trip to Earth. Each of these films was a success on its own. It made sense in the comics to bring the heroes together and this logic was applied to the movies, leading to 2012’s Avengers film. It was a massive hit, and centered the team in the public eye.
The Avengers Do Not Have a “Revolving Door’ of Members
The Avengers Are Like a Family
With the sheer number of heroes (and even former villains) who have been Avengers, the “once an Avenger, always an Avenger” maxim spouted by Wonder Man might seem infeasible, but Simon Williams speaks the truth. The Avengers’ roster has fluctuated a lot since 1963, and members have come and gone and come again. It may be tempting to say the Avengers have a “revolving door” when it comes to membership. Yet, as Wonder Man points out, getting through that door ensures that a hero is an Avenger for life.
Related
Marvel Introduces Its All-New Wonder Man, And It’s a Villain No One Saw Coming
A surprising new villain has taken the Wonder Man name, and it’s not at all who fans would expect to inherit Simon William’s iconic mantle.
Wonder Man also tells Blue Bolt that getting into the Avengers is the “hardest part.” Not just anyone can walk in and join the Avengers: they have to be offered a spot on the team. This means they have to do something great, or impress another member with their powers and character. Keeping the Avengers exclusive allows for a rigorous vetting process, but once a hero passes, they are in. Membership in the Avengers can be likened to tenure for teachers: extremely hard to get, but once it is obtained, they are set for life.
Once A Hero Joins the Avengers, They Are a Member For Life
Given the Sheer Amount of Heroes Who Have Been Avengers, This is No Easy Feat
Some fans of the Avengers, particularly those coming to the team through the MCU, may not be aware of this rule. It is not an official and formal rule that can be found in the team’s charter. Instead, it is unspoken and more like a “code” that members live by. Wonder Man, a quintessential Avenger, did not hesitate to show this rule to Blue Bolt, despite the latter being relatively new to the team. Over the past 62 years, the Avengers have become like a family, with members looking out for each other, regardless of their status.
West Coast Avengers #7 is on sale now from Marvel Comics!
“}]] A big rule. Read More