Marvel helped reinvent superheroes for the modern era, creating relatable characters going on extraordinary adventures. Some of these heroes have joined forces, creating teams that have lasted the test of time. Lineups such as the Avengers, The Fantastic Four, and the X-Men are among the greatest teams in comics history.
Over the years, Marvel has experimented with creating the next big superhero team, resulting in some outlandish and bizarre creations. While some of these groups have been lost to time, others have gone on to become fan favorites that fans wish they had more adventures with.
10 The Harvesters Are Kansas's Greatest Protectors
After the events of the tragic Civil War, Iron Man created the Fify-State Initiative, having government-funded superhero units placed throughout the United States. While several established teams remained, new groups composed of local heroes were formed. The Sunflower State gained its own fighting force in the form of the Harvesters.
The team was composed of new yet strange heroes such as Pioneer, Sunflower, and Meadowlark. Unlike other teams, the group met a tragic fate while dealing with a zombie clone of the superhero Hyperion. Only Pioneer survived the battle, only to die from an infection while recovering, leaving Kansas without any protectors.
9 The Livewires Are Android Adolescents With Attitude
S.H.I.E.L.D has many divisions, each with the same goal of national security. The Livewires were released in the 00s under the Marvel Next imprint. While they may look like regular teenagers, each member is a Life Model Decoy, advanced androids armed with a fully-loaded arsenal.
Unlike other Marvel teams, the Livewires were meant to draw in a younger audience, bearing a unique art style and aesthetic made popular in the 00s. Unfortunately, being a product of their time, the group has remained forgotten, left in a bizarre state of limbo with an uncertain future.
8 The Avengers 1,000,00 B.C Introduced Past Protectors
The Avengers are Marvel's premier powerhouse, consisting of some of its greatest superheroes. With each new incarnation comes new challenges and adventures. What makes this alternate version of the Avengers so bizarre is that they're technically the team's first version.
Created during the Stone Age, the group is made from the predecessors of more popular heroes, such as Black Panther, Ghost Rider, and Iron Fist. Seeing an Avengers team battle cavemen and dinosaurs can seem odd, but still enjoyable nonetheless. Though most have passed on, their legacy remains as strong as ever.
7 The Micronauts Are Mini Defenders
Some of Marvel's most bizarre comics came from acquired licenses from various brands. The Micronauts was a toy line in the late 70s focusing on small action figures. In an effort to sell the brand, Marvel released a comic series about the toys to gain interest, resulting in a bonkers storyline about small soldiers.
In the series, the Micronauts are a rebel task force looking to free the Microverse from various evil threats. The group often journeyed into the Marvel universe, battling various villains while retaining their small stature. While the series lasted even after the toy line dissolved, the Micronauts left Marvel soon after, and their adventures continued with other comic publishers like IDW Publishing.
6 The Skrull Kill Krew Gained Their Powers From Food
The Skrulls have been a nuisance in Marvel since their first appearance in Fantastic Four #2. The Skrull members who fought the team at this time ended up hypnotized and stuck as cows by Reed Richards. Unbeknownst to him, the cows were turned into beef and consumed by various humans, resulting in a few regular people gaining extraordinary powers.
A few join forces to act as an alien bounty hunter squad, targeting the Skrulls still roaming Earth. In Secret Invasion, it’s revealed that the majority of the team was killed off, left as talking, disembodied heads. The remaining members became crucial in hunting the sleeper agents left on Earth, with the surviving members currently drifting the Marvel universe for any spies left.
5 The Brute Force Are Cyborg Critters
Marvel has had multiple imprints over the years to try to diversify their stories for various audiences. As part of kids-centric Star Comics, Marvel released a team composed of animal superheroes with one caveat: they all wield cyborg armor to fight for the environment.
What made the team strange was the massive firepower they had at their disposal to protect Mother Nature from various groups seeking to pollute Earth. Sadly, these cyborg animals only lasted four issues, failing to draw in a new audience, though they returned to fight Deadpool years later.
4 The Agents of Atlas Are A Quirky Collective Of Heroes
While some of Marvel's greatest superhero teams have garnered the spotlight over the years, some have remained in the shadows, lost in continuity. The Agents of Atlas originally appeared in the experimental series What If? as a possible predecessor to the Avengers created in the 50s to rescue President Eisenhower from the mysterious Yellow Claw.
Made up of several weird superhumans such as Marvel Boy, Venus, and the 3D Man, the strange team remained under the shadows as a covert spy unit for the government until it was disbanded. The group returned years later, now comprised of various heroes of Asian descent, to combat modern threats.
3 The Pet Avengers Are Furry-ous Fighters
Superheroes come in many shapes and sizes in the Marvel universe. Some of these heroes are part of the animal kingdom, ranging from mammals and birds to fictional beasts like dragons. A team comprised of such beasts called the Pet Avengers assembled to collect the Infinity stones from Thanos.
The team was made up of famous animal sidekicks, led by the Inhumans' royal canine companion, Lockjaw. Together the group traveled across time and space to locate each gem, leading to an epic battle with the mad Titan himself. While the group disbanded after their mission, it's possible that the animal Avengers could answer the call once again someday.
2 X-Statix Are Mutant Celebrities
Depending on how they use their powers, being a mutant in the Marvel universe can be difficult. In an effort to revive the former X-Force team, writer Peter Milligan and artist Al Milgrom took the team and transformed them from an action squad to a group of media-crazed celebrities looking to elevate their fame by any means necessary.
The team's misadventures often led to members being killed off constantly, leading to no official set group. Their smorgasbord of expendable members combined with their constant desire for global recognition made the group an uncanny lineup of mutant heroes that have become a cult classic with Marvel fans.
1 The Great Lake Avengers Are Z-List Wannabes
Marvel is filled with superheroes desiring prominent careers like Spider-Man or Captain America. The Great Lake Avengers are an ensemble of Marvel's most peculiar z-list heroes, with the likes of Mr. Immortal, Doorman, Big Bertha, and Flatman rounding the main lineup.
The eager do-gooders try their best to save the day, resulting in run-ins with the craziest villains and multiple misadventures. In an effort to try to remain relevant, the group has changed its name to associate with other popular teams, though it hasn't helped their struggling career. Though they may not be taken as seriously, the Great Lake Avengers remain Marvel's number one weird team.