Revengers

• Core Identity: In stark contrast to their heroic namesake, the Revengers is a designation used by multiple, distinct teams across the Marvel Multiverse, almost always formed in direct opposition to or as a dark parody of the avengers.
• Key Takeaways:
• A Name, Not a Legacy: Unlike the Avengers, “Revengers” is not a continuous entity but a recurring, thematic title. Each incarnation is independent, sharing only a name and an oppositional stance to an established heroic team, most notably the Avengers.
• Ideological Opposition vs. Direct Antagonism: The motivations of the Revengers vary wildly. The most prominent comic version (Earth-616) was founded on the ideological belief that the Avengers had become a reckless danger to the world, whereas other versions, like those from the Cancerverse, are overtly villainous cosmic threats.
• Comedic Counterpart vs. Serious Threat: There is a critical and defining split between the two most famous versions. In the primary comic universe (earth-616), the Revengers are a serious, if misguided, team of powerful beings posing a genuine threat. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the name is used humorously by Thor for his makeshift team of misfits, devoid of any serious ideological mission beyond immediate survival and revenge.

The concept of the “Revengers” has been introduced multiple times, each serving a different narrative purpose. The most significant Earth-616 incarnation was created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Gabriele Dell'Otto. This team, led by a disillusioned Wonder Man, made its dramatic debut in Avengers Annual #1 in 2012. This version was conceived during the “Heroic Age” of Marvel Comics, a period that followed dark events like `civil_war` and `secret_invasion`. Bendis used the team to explore the consequences of the Avengers' actions and to question whether their immense power was truly a force for good, channeling years of continuity-based grievances through the character of Simon Williams. Prior to this, a more monstrous version appeared as the primary antagonists in the 2010 cosmic event, the_thanos_imperative, written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. These “Revengers of the Cancerverse” were corrupted, deathless versions of Earth's heroes from a parallel dimension, serving as a terrifying army for the story's villain, Lord Mar-Vell. The most widely known version debuted in the 2017 Marvel Studios film Thor: Ragnarok, directed by Taika Waititi. This team's creation was purely for comedic effect, a moment of levity where Thor attempts to brand his haphazard alliance with the Hulk, Loki, and Valkyrie. The name choice plays on Thor's established relationship with the Avengers and his slightly egotistical, off-the-cuff nature as portrayed in the film.

The formation of the prime universe's Revengers was the culmination of years of trauma and disillusionment suffered by its founder, Simon Williams, also known as Wonder Man. An early Avenger himself, Simon's ionic energy form made him functionally immortal, but he was forced to “die” and be resurrected multiple times. He came to believe the Avengers were a magnet for disaster, citing a long list of calamities: the creation of Ultron by Hank Pym, the Scarlet Witch's mental breakdown in Avengers Disassembled, the superhero `Civil War`, the Skrull `Secret Invasion`, and Norman Osborn's subsequent “Dark Reign.” Believing the Avengers were incompetent, reckless, and unaccountable, Simon publicly denounced them. When his words failed to have an impact, he decided on a more direct approach. He began recruiting other heroes and former villains who shared his grievances or could be convinced of his cause. His argument was persuasive: the Avengers needed to be stopped for the good of the world before they caused another catastrophe. He gathered a unique team:

• Goliath (Tom Foster): Nephew of the original Black Goliath, Bill Foster, who was killed by a clone of Thor during the Civil War. He held a deep and personal grudge against Tony Stark and the pro-registration side.
• D-Man: A mentally unstable but loyal friend of Captain America, who Simon manipulated by appealing to his sense of justice.
• Anti-Venom (Eddie Brock): Who saw the Avengers' association with figures like Spider-Man (whom he distrusted) and the an-heroic Red Hulk as a sign of moral decay.
• Other members like Atlas, Captain Ultra, Century, and Devil-Slayer were recruited with similar appeals to their past grievances or moral codes.

This team's mission was clear and direct: to attack Avengers Mansion, defeat the active roster, and force them to disband permanently. A separate, far more terrifying team bearing the name hailed from the Cancerverse (Earth-10011). In this reality, Death itself was vanquished, leading to a universe of eternal, cancerous life ruled by eldritch beings known as the Many-Angled Ones. Their agent, a corrupted version of Captain Mar-Vell, led a twisted version of the Avengers, called the Revengers. They were not driven by ideology but by a fanatical desire to spread their “gift” of undeath across the multiverse, acting as the primary invasion force during The Thanos Imperative.

The origin of the Revengers in the MCU could not be more different; it is a product of desperation, comedy, and circumstance on the alien planet of Sakaar. After being cast out of Asgard by his sister Hela, Thor crash-lands on the cosmic junkyard planet ruled by the hedonistic Grandmaster. He is forced to become a gladiator and discovers the arena's reigning champion is his “friend from work,” the Hulk, who has been stuck in his monstrous form for two years. Thor's initial goal is simple: escape Sakaar, return to Asgard, and defeat Hela. To do this, he realizes he needs a team. His recruits are hardly a lineup of noble heroes:

• The Hulk: A rage monster who initially wants to fight Thor but is eventually calmed by a recording of Natasha Romanoff.
• Valkyrie (Scrapper 142): A disgraced, alcoholic Asgardian warrior living in self-imposed exile on Sakaar after her entire squadron was slaughtered by Hela centuries ago.
• Loki: Thor's treacherous brother, who has already ingratiated himself with the Grandmaster and whose loyalty is, as always, questionable.

As they gather on a stolen ship to plan their escape, Thor, in a moment of bombastic inspiration, tries to give them a team name. He first suggests “The Lord of Thunder,” which is met with silence. He then declares they will be called “The Revengers,” because he's getting revenge, Hulk is getting revenge, and Valkyrie is getting revenge. The name is treated as a joke by the others and is never seriously used again, but it perfectly encapsulates the thrown-together, dysfunctional, and purely situational nature of their alliance. It's a parody of the formal, world-saving mission of the Avengers, adapted for a bizarre, high-stakes prison break. The MCU's adaptation serves the comedic and anarchic tone of Thor: Ragnarok, using the audience's familiarity with the “Avengers” brand to create a memorable and funny moment.

• Mandate & Ideology: The team's sworn mission was to force the dissolution of the Avengers. Wonder Man argued that the Avengers' constant battles and internal conflicts created more chaos than they prevented. He believed their very existence invited cosmic-level threats and that the world would be safer without them. Their mandate was not to kill the Avengers, but to publicly defeat and shame them into disbanding. They launched a media campaign alongside their physical assault to win the “hearts and minds” of the public.
• Structure & Hierarchy: The structure was a simple hierarchy with Wonder Man as the undisputed leader, strategist, and moral compass. As the team's founder, his vision was the sole driving force. There was no formal chain of command below him; members operated as a single strike unit following his direct orders. However, this centralized leadership was also a critical weakness, as Simon's increasingly unstable mental state and rigid ideology left no room for dissent or alternative strategies.
• Roster and Key Members:
• ` * ` Wonder Man (Simon Williams): Leader. An Omega-level being composed of pure ionic energy. His immense strength, invulnerability, and flight made him the team's powerhouse, capable of engaging Thor or Red Hulk in single combat. His motivation was a mix of genuine philosophical opposition and severe post-traumatic stress.
• ` * ` Goliath (Tom Foster): Held a deep-seated and justified grudge against Iron Man and the pro-registration heroes for his uncle's death in the Civil War. His size-shifting powers made him a formidable brawler.
• ` * ` Atlas (Erik Josten): A long-time villain and former member of the Thunderbolts. Josten had a complex history with the Avengers and was swayed by Williams' arguments about heroism and accountability. He also possessed size-shifting abilities derived from Pym Particles.
• ` * ` Anti-Venom (Eddie Brock): As the bearer of the Anti-Venom symbiote, Brock possessed a powerful healing factor and the ability to “cure” radiological powers. He viewed himself as a righteous crusader and was convinced by Wonder Man that the Avengers were morally compromised.
• ` * ` D-Man (Dennis Dunphy): A loyal friend of Captain America, Dunphy's mental health was fragile. Simon Williams exploited his black-and-white view of justice to turn him against the very heroes he once admired.
• ` * ` Captain Ultra: A hero with a vast array of powers but a crippling pyrophobia. He joined out of a belief that the Avengers' methods were too extreme.
• ` * ` Century: An alien being with deep ties to the Avengers through the hero Force Works. He felt the modern Avengers team had lost its way.
• ` * ` Devil-Slayer: A mystical warrior who believed the Avengers were meddling with forces beyond their control.

• Mandate & Ideology: Their mandate was absolute and horrific: to serve as the vanguard for the Many-Angled Ones and spread the eternal, cancerous life of their dimension to all of reality. They were not misguided; they were zealous converts to a cosmic horror, seeking to conquer and corrupt in the name of their dark gods.
• Structure & Hierarchy: They were a dark mirror of the Avengers, led by the charismatic and utterly malevolent Lord Mar-Vell. Their structure was that of a fanatical military, with Mar-Vell as the general and the Revengers as his elite special forces.
• Roster and Key Members: Their roster consisted of corrupted, nightmarish versions of Earth's greatest heroes, all retaining their full powers but twisted to serve evil. This included a six-armed Spider-Man, a monstrous Hulk, a brutal Captain America, and many others.

• Mandate & Ideology: The MCU Revengers had no grand ideology. Their mandate was entirely situational and short-lived:

1. Escape the planet Sakaar.

2. Return to Asgard.
3. Defeat Hela, the Goddess of Death.
4. Save the Asgardian people.

Their goal was one of revenge and survival, making Thor's chosen name coincidentally apt, if comically delivered.
*   **Structure & Hierarchy:** The "team" was a chaotic, loose alliance born of mutual necessity. Thor acted as the optimistic, self-appointed leader, but his authority was constantly challenged.
* **Thor** provided the mission's direction.
* **Valkyrie** provided the tactical knowledge of the Grandmaster's palace and the means of escape.
* **Hulk** provided the brute force needed for a distraction.
* **Loki** provided the cunning, treachery, and eventual last-minute assistance.

It was less of a structured team and more of a "disaster quartet" who managed to succeed despite their wildly conflicting personalities.
*   **Roster and Key Members:**
* `  * ` **[[thor|Thor]]:** //De Facto Leader.// The God of Thunder, seeking to reclaim his throne and save his people. He forms the team and gives it its name.
* `  * ` **[[hulk|The Hulk (Bruce Banner)]]:** //The Muscle.// The Grandmaster's champion, initially content on Sakaar but convinced by Thor to help. His conflict with Banner adds another layer of instability.
* `  * ` **[[valkyrie|Valkyrie (Scrapper 142)]]:** //The Ace Pilot.// A legendary Asgardian warrior hiding from her past trauma. She is motivated by a rediscovered sense of duty to Asgard.
* `  * ` **[[loki|Loki]]:** //The Wild Card.// The God of Mischief, whose motivations are purely self-serving until a final, redemptive moment where he chooses to help his brother.

For most incarnations of the Revengers, the concept of “allies” is antithetical to their purpose.

• Wonder Man's Revengers (Earth-616): This team operated in complete isolation. Their mission was so extreme that it alienated them from the entire superhero community. Their only “allies” were the news media outlets they manipulated to broadcast their anti-Avengers propaganda.
• MCU Revengers: Their primary allies were the people of Asgard, whom they were fighting to save from Hela. They also received crucial support from Heimdall, who was leading the Asgardian resistance on the ground, and Korg and Miek, fellow gladiators who helped start a planet-wide revolution on Sakaar, which aided the Revengers' escape.

The nemesis of the Revengers is, by definition, baked into their name.

• The Avengers: This is the ultimate and defining enemy for Wonder Man's team. The conflict was both physical and ideological. Wonder Man's Revengers didn't just want to win a fight; they wanted to prove that the Avengers' entire philosophy of heroism was flawed. Their primary targets were the New Avengers team, led by Luke Cage, and the main Avengers team, which included figures like Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor.
• Hela: The primary antagonist for the MCU Revengers. As the Goddess of Death and Odin's firstborn, she was an overwhelmingly powerful foe who effortlessly destroyed Mjolnir and conquered Asgard. The entire purpose of the Revengers' formation was to stop her reign.
• Lord Mar-Vell and the Many-Angled Ones: For the wider Marvel Universe, the Cancerverse Revengers were the arch-enemies of all life. Their immediate foes in The Thanos Imperative were the combined forces of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Nova, and, ironically, Thanos, who allied with the heroes as he was an avatar of Death, the very concept the Cancerverse sought to destroy.

Most Revengers members have pasts deeply intertwined with the very institutions they come to oppose.

• Wonder Man's Revengers: This team's roster is a case study in irony. Wonder Man, Atlas (as Power Man), and Century were all former Avengers. Atlas and D-Man also had ties to the Thunderbolts and other heroic groups. This prior affiliation was key to Wonder Man's argument: he claimed he knew from the inside how broken the system was.
• MCU Revengers: The team's affiliations are with Asgard and, for Thor and Hulk, the Avengers. The team's existence is a temporary divergence from their primary loyalties, born out of necessity. Their actions ultimately lead to the salvation of the Asgardian people, reinforcing their heroic, if unconventional, status.

Featured in Avengers Annual #1 and New Avengers Annual #1, this storyline was the definitive arc for Wonder Man's team. The Revengers launched a surprise, multi-pronged assault. They first ambushed the New Avengers at their base, successfully neutralizing them. Simultaneously, they hacked global communication systems to broadcast Simon's manifesto, accusing the Avengers of negligence and endangering the world. Their main assault on Avengers Tower was a brutal affair, with Wonder Man single-handedly holding his own against Thor. The Revengers were ultimately defeated when the combined might of multiple Avengers rosters was brought to bear. The event ended not with a simple victory, but with Captain America confronting Simon, expressing disappointment rather than anger. Simon Williams was taken into custody, and his team was disbanded, a short-lived but impactful rebellion against the world's premier superhero team.

This cosmic epic featured the Cancerverse Revengers as the main antagonistic force. Hailing from Earth-10011, they swarmed through a dimensional rift known as the Fault, seeking to conquer the main Marvel Universe. They were depicted as monstrous and overwhelmingly powerful, easily tearing through the forces of the Kree and Shi'ar empires. Their iconic moment was their confrontation with the Guardians of the Galaxy and Thanos. The event highlighted their sheer horror, as they were heroes twisted into agents of cosmic cancer. They were only stopped when Thanos, in a bid to bring Death back to their reality, allowed himself to be “killed” by Lord Mar-Vell, an act that caused Death herself to enter the Cancerverse and obliterate the un-living invaders.

This entire sequence from the second half of Thor: Ragnarok serves as the MCU Revengers' only “storyline.” After Thor convinces his reluctant allies, the plot follows their comically inept and ultimately successful attempt to start a revolution and steal the Grandmaster's personal leisure vessel. Key moments include Loki's predictable betrayal (and Thor's intelligent counter-betrayal with an obedience disk), Hulk's rampage through the palace, and Valkyrie's aerial dogfight with Sakaaran forces. The arc culminates in their arrival at Asgard, not as a conquering force, but as the last, desperate hope for its people. This “event” permanently altered the trajectory of Thor, Hulk, and Loki, setting the stage for `Avengers: Infinity War`.

• MC2 / Earth-982: In this alternate future timeline, the Revengers were a team of supervillains founded by Hope Pym, the daughter of Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne. Dubbing herself the Red Queen, she formed the team to destroy A-Next, the next generation of Avengers. Her roster included the children of other famous villains, such as Big Man (son of the Wasp and Giant-Man, but turned to evil) and Sabreclaw (son of Wolverine's nemesis, Sabretooth).
• A-Force / Counter-Earth: During the 2015 Secret Wars event, the planet Battleworld was composed of fragments of different realities. On a version of Counter-Earth ruled by the Countess, a new team of Revengers was formed. This villainous group was created to oppose the new superhero team A-Force. This short-lived incarnation included evil versions of familiar characters, such as a female Doctor Octopus.
• Marvel's Avengers (Video Game): While not a story element, the 2020 video game by Crystal Dynamics paid homage to the MCU team by releasing a “Revengers” cosmetic skin pack. The outfits for Thor, Hulk, and Black Widow were directly inspired by their gladiator-esque appearances in Thor: Ragnarok, cementing the film's version of the team in the pop culture lexicon.

• avengers
• wonder_man
• thor
• the_thanos_imperative
• marvel_cinematic_universe
• earth-616

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