Top New Avengers Lineups

When the Avengers fell apart in Avengers: Disassembled, Marvel didn’t just rebuild—they reimagined. What came next was The New Avengers—a rotating, unpredictable, and often edgier team of heroes that gave us some of the boldest stories in modern Marvel history.

Here are the best New Avengers lineups you absolutely need to check out (and why they’re worth your time):

1. The Original New Avengers (2005)

Start with: New Avengers Vol. 1: Breakout by Brian Michael Bendis & David Finch

Lineup: Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Luke Cage, Wolverine, and the Sentry (with Doctor Strange occasionally jumping in)

Why it rocks: This is where it all began. After the classic team crumbled, Cap and Iron Man pulled together a dream (and nightmare) team with some serious attitude. Wolverine and Spider-Man on the Avengers? Unthinkable at the time—but Bendis made it work, blending street-level grit with world-shaking stakes. Throw in some big secrets (looking at you, Spider-Woman) and this team changed the game.

Amazon➡️ https://amzn.to/3S9mLSE

2. The Street-Level Avengers (2010, Heroic Age)

Start with: New Avengers Vol. 1: Revolution by Brian Michael Bendis & Stuart Immonen

Lineup: Luke Cage (leader), Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, Ms. Marvel, The Thing, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Mockingbird, Doctor Strange

Why it rocks: While the “main” Avengers tackled cosmic threats, this team stayed grounded. Literally. These were the heroes protecting the streets, families, and cities from being torn apart. With Luke Cage stepping up as leader, and his wife Jessica Jones navigating new motherhood while still being a badass—it’s got real heart. Plus, The Thing on the Avengers? YES PLEASE.

Amazon➡️ https://amzn.to/3HdQWWp

3. The Illuminati Era (2013)

Start with: New Avengers Vol. 1: Everything Dies by Jonathan Hickman & Steve Epting

Lineup: Black Panther, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Namor, Reed Richards, Beast, Captain Britain

Why it rocks: This isn’t your typical Avengers team. It’s darker. Smarter. More desperate. Hickman took the concept of the secretive Illuminati and turned it into one of the most epic, philosophical, and morally gray stories in modern comics. The threat? The end of the multiverse. The solution? Destroy other worlds before they destroy ours. No easy choices. Just brilliant storytelling.

Amazon➡️ https://amzn.to/3F7cJi5

4. Sunspot’s A.I.M. Avengers (2015 – All-New, All-Different Marvel)

Start with: New Avengers Vol. 1: Everything is New by Al Ewing & Gerardo Sandoval

Lineup: Sunspot (leader), Songbird, Hawkeye, Wiccan, Hulkling, Squirrel Girl, White Tiger, Power Man (Victor Alvarez)

Why it rocks: This one's wild in the best way. Former X-Man Sunspot buys A.I.M. (yes, that A.I.M.) and turns it into a force for good. It's corporate espionage meets super team hijinks with a diverse, younger roster and a ton of heart. You get Squirrel Girl saving the day and deep cut characters like White Tiger and Power Man getting the spotlight. Underrated gem with tons of personality.

Amazon➡️ https://amzn.to/3SFpUtx

5. The Secret Avengers – The Covert Cousins of the New Avengers

Start with: Secret Avengers Vol. 1: Mission to Mars by Ed Brubaker & Mike Deodato

Lineup: Captain America (Steve Rogers), Black Widow, Moon Knight, Valkyrie, Beast, War Machine, Sharon Carter, and Ant-Man (Eric O’Grady)

Why it rocks: Technically not branded as New Avengers, but trust me—if you’re into stealth missions, moral ambiguity, and a darker flavor of heroics, this is the perfect companion read. The Secret Avengers are the off-the-books squad tackling threats the public can’t know about. Think espionage meets superpowers. You’ve got Black Widow doing spy stuff, Moon Knight being...well, Moon Knight, and Steve Rogers playing Nick Fury before it was cool.

Amazon➡️ https://amzn.to/4k3YgCK

The beauty of the New Avengers isn’t just in the action—it’s in the shake-up. These are the lineups that challenged what it meant to be an Avenger, pulled heroes out of their comfort zones, and gave us some of the boldest Marvel stories in years.

Whether you're into ground-level grit, cosmic dilemmas, or quirky underdogs saving the world—there's a New Avengers era for you.

NerdCanvas

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