The Avengers have had several lineups, but one of the least discussed iterations assembled during the Secret Empire event by Nick Spencer and a host of artists including Rod Reis, Daniel Acuña, Leinil Francis Yu and more. These Avengers were willing to serve Hydra -- but it's not that simple.
Secret Empire saw Hydra become the supreme power in the United States. At the head of this new world order stood none other than Captain America himself, Steve Rogers -- or at least, a version of him. After having his reality altered by the sentient Cosmic Cube known as Kobik, the original Steve Rogers was lost within Kobik’s memory as a Hydra version took his place and rose to power.
By simultaneously launching a Chitauri invasion of Earth, a supervillain attack on New York and a Hydra invasion of Sokovia that results in the seizure of their nuclear warheads, Hydra Cap manipulates events to the point where the federal government has no choice but to initiate the SHIELD Act, giving him control over all U.S. military and federal law enforcement agencies. With this power, he effectively declares himself dictator of the U.S. and begins reshaping society -- and the Avengers -- in Hydra’s image.
The Secret Empire Avengers lineup included Scarlet Witch, Thor, Vision, Deadpool, Taskmaster and Black Ant, led by Otto Octavius, the Superior Octopus. Octavius joined in exchange for help in dismantling Parker Industries -- the company he’d founded during his time masquerading as Peter Parker. Wanda was possessed by the Elder God Chthon and had no choice in her actions, nor did Vision who was controlled by a virus designed by Arnim Zola.
Taskmaster and Black Ant were mercenaries in it for the paycheck. Fellow mercenary Deadpool joined, but out of his blind admiration for Captain America. Odinson was also swayed by his respect for Rogers. He'd been promised both the opportunity to retrieve Jane Foster -- then the Mighty Thor -- from the dimension to which she was banished during Hydra’s coup, as well as the restoration of the connection between Asgard and Midgard. Hydra Cap had been worthy enough to lift Mjolnir, so it wasn't surprising Thor fell in line.
Despite their short time together, these Avengers were quite efficient. They slayed the creature known as Krigorrath without civilian casualties and with minimal property damage, which earned the public's approval. On the orders of Hydra, they attacked Atlantis in search of a Cosmic Cube fragment and they aided Hydra Cap in his mission to retrieve a Cube fragment from the territory of the new Ultron, though that one was lost to the resistance movement known as the Underground. They also prevented the breakout of the mutant Sunfire from prison and took down a team of Inhumans led by Quake.
The team began to crack when Scarlet Witch, Vision and Odinson were ordered to attack the Underground’s base. While the former two could not penetrate its defenses, Odinson let the members of the Underground escape as he was beginning to grow weary of the atrocities he’d witnessed in this new order. By the time they were sent to combat the resistance in Washington DC for the series’ final battle, Odinson realized his folly, turned on Hydra and finally sided with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
Doctor Strange freed Scarlet Witch of her possession and the Vision purged Zola's virus from his system with the help of his daughter, Viv. Once they heard Thor was no longer on their side, Taskmaster and Black Ant realized they had lost. The only member of the Secret Empire Avengers who didn't quit was Octavius, who was defeated with the rest of Hydra.
While this lineup came together during one of Marvel’s darkest moments, they were one of the team’s most scarily efficient iterations. If only they’d been on the right side of the battle between good and evil.
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