The Avengers are stuck in the middle of a deadly war between the X-Men and the Eternals in the A.X.E.: Judgment Day event. The team’s strongest leaders are all working to stop the Eternals from eradicating the X-Men as a Deviant threat to humanity. Even with leaders like Captain America, fans aren’t sure the Avengers will be able to stop Judgment Day.
Of course, the Sentinel of Liberty isn’t the only person to serve as chairperson for the Avengers. The team has welcomed quite a few different leaders over the years. Some characters have stepped into the role and shined. Other Avengers have formed their own successful branches or even led other Marvel teams to gain even more experience in the role.
10 Iron Man Is An Adequate But Sometimes Controversial Leader
Tony Stark was a founding member of the Avengers, though some of Iron Man's best personality traits also made him a good leader. Iron Man was dedicated but also opinionated, which led to some issues with his teammates over the years. He controversially led the Avengers during dark moments like “The Crossing” storyline and the Civil War event.
Iron Man has even created his own teams like Force Works when he didn’t agree with the leaders of the Avengers. However, Iron Man was quick to allow others to take command like Scarlet Witch and Captain Marvel. Iron Man tends to work better when he’s free to worry about details other than decisions in the field.
9 Sunspot Bought A.I.M. And Organized His Own Branch Of Avengers
Iron Man and Captain America reworked the team in the Marvel Now era. Cannonball and Sunspot were the best New Mutants who were added to the team as a powerful strike force. Sunspot would take this opportunity and run with it. When the Avengers encountered a new scheme from A.I.M., Sunspot ended their threat in a unique way by buying the scientific organization.
Sunspot remolded Advanced Idea Mechanics into Avengers Idea Mechanics to better support Earth’s mightiest heroes. He assembled his own team in U.S.Avengers and helped bring separated factions together during the “Time Runs Out” storyline. While he returned to his roots in the X-Men, Sunspot remains a respected leader of the Avengers.
8 Spectrum’s Run Was Sabotaged But She Proved Herself On Other Teams
When Monica Rambeau first joined the Avengers it was in her first superhero role as Captain Marvel. She was asked to become the Avengers chairperson after Wasp took a break from the team. Unfortunately, her run as leader was somewhat tarnished by Dr. Druid’s psychic sabotage so he could take over the team.
Rambeau was discredited as a leader of the Avengers and left the team. She would eventually return to lead her own squad during the Kree-Shi'ar war. As Spectrum, she would lead other teams like Nextwave before returning as a field leader of Luke Cage’s Mighty Avengers. Spectrum would later lend her expertise to teams like the Ultimates and Strikeforce.
7 Rogue Became A Respected Leader Of The Avengers Unity Division
While Rogue might be better known as one of the strongest characters from the X-Men, she has also earned respect as one of the Avengers' greatest leaders. It’s quite an accomplishment, considering Rogue was originally their enemy. She was one of the first members of the X-Men that Captain America recruited for the Avengers Unity Squad.
While the team was initially led by Havok, Rogue soon took over and led the Avengers Unity Squad through a few iterations. Rogue’s unique absorption abilities also mean that she isn’t just working with her own leadership experience. She can also call upon the experience of anyone that she has touched and drained memories from over the years.
6 Black Widow Has Repeatedly Led Under-Powered Teams To Victory
Natasha Romanoff is a highly-trained spy who usually operates best on her own during important missions. Black Widow is an awesome Russian superhero and superspy. She has also become a dedicated member of the Avengers who has led a few different rosters over the years. Unfortunately, Black Widow’s teams weren’t always stacked with powerful heroes.
Black Widow’s run as a leader during the ‘90s saw her leading a struggling team of heroes through a few deadly events. She was able to stand up front and direct the team to victory even without some of the Avengers’ heaviest hitters. She still prefers to work alone from the shadows, but has proven herself as one of the Avengers best leaders.
5 Luke Cage Has Led A Few Different Rosters Of The New Avengers
The former Hero for Hire Luke Cage first joined the team as a founding member of the New Avengers. His super-strength and bulletproof skin made him a powerful member of the team. Cage's strong moral compass and unwavering dedication to helping people also made him a great leader.
Luke Cage was chosen by Steve Rogers to lead his own New Avengers team. He also formed his own group of Mighty Avengers that made Earth’s mightiest heroes more accessible as a street-level team. His experience even earned him a position as the leader of the government’s roster of the Thunderbolts when they were based out of The Raft prison.
4 The Wasp Is A Founding Avenger Who Has Led The Team A Few Times
Janet van Dyne initially operated as The Wasp alongside Hank Pym’s Ant-Man. They gathered with other heroes for the first formation of the Avengers. The Wasp even suggested the name for Earth’s mightiest heroes. She was voted in as chairperson fairly early in her time with the Avengers and would take on the position quite a few times over the years.
The Wasp was a great team leader not just because of her experience in the role, but also because of her ability to keep a cool head under pressure. She helped organize a few teams of Avengers together during events like No Surrender. She was later appointed as a leader of Black Panther’s Agents of Wakanda when he took over the Avengers.
3 Hawkeye Formed His Own West Coast Branch And Led The Thunderbolts
Clint Barton was one of the first new recruits to the Avengers when he joined the team as Hawkeye. He remained with the team for years and had a few issues with authority figures, but he was ultimately indispensable to the Avengers. He helped to expand the team by founding the West Coast Avengers branch in Los Angeles.
When the original Thunderbolts decided to break away from the villainous Baron Zemo, Hawkeye decided they needed a mentor. He left the Avengers to take over the Thunderbolts and help them reform as heroes. He later led his own Secret Avengers squad that further proved his leadership skills. He later became a mentor to a new WCA recruited by his protégé, Kate Bishop.
2 Black Panther Used His Experience As A King In His Role As Chairperson
While the Black Panther hasn’t spent as much time as an Avenger as some of the other members, he has still proven that he is one of the team’s best leaders. Black Panther was selected as the modern chairperson of one of the most powerful rosters of the Avengers. He even organized a support team of powerful heroes called the Agents of Wakanda to help support the Avengers.
A lot of T’Challa’s experience as a leader comes from his years serving as the King of Wakanda. He ruled over his entire country and led them in a number of devastating battles. Black Panther’s resources as king allowed him to outfit a new headquarters for the Avengers. It showcased just how much he brought to the team alongside his leadership skills.
1 Captain America Has Been Leading Teams Into Battle Since World War II
The best leader of the team is also one of the founders of the Avengers. However, Captain America didn’t end up joining the team until after their first adventures. The Avengers were the ones who found Captain America frozen in the ice. this led to a lasting loyalty with the team as he attempted to make the modern era safer with their help.
Captain America served as the leader of the team for most of the iterations of the Avengers. While other characters took on the role of chairperson, Captain America was always there to lend his strategic advice in the field. He has more years of experience than almost any other Avenger and has been leading soldiers into battle since he first appeared during World War II.