Top 10 Best Marvel Superhero Teams
marvel, marvel comics, superhero, marvel cinematic universe, mcu, avengers, x-men, fantastic four, teams, superhero, super, hero, team-up, crossover, comics, comic books, top 10, list, rank, watch, mojo, watch mojo, watchmojo, watchmojo top 10,
Each and every one of these teams has their own mighty heroes, but which team is truly Earth’s Mightiest? Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our top ten Marvel superhero teams.
For this list, we’re looking at our very favorite superhero teams appearing in Marvel comics and ranking them based on popularity, longevity, and significance.
We all know and love them as the loveable rogues from the hit film series, but this team has been around a lot longer than you might think. Originally appearing in 1969, the first team to use the name were a group of freedom fighters from the distant future who stood up against the evil Badoon space empire, which by that point had conquered Earth. But the team that went on to inspire the movies were first formed in the wake of Marvel’s “Annihilation” events, two galactic crises which cemented the need for a team of cosmic heroes to keep the spaceways safe, a task they were more than up to.
Being an X-Man isn’t glamorous at the best of times, what with the whole “defending a world that hates and fears you” thing, but when Marvel’s Merry Mutants need to get their hands a little dirty, this is the team they assemble. Featuring characters like Cable, Deadpool, Wolverine, and Fantomex, this is the X-Men’s black ops team for missions that may get just a little bit murder-y. Of course, they get to wear awesome black and grey variants of their traditional uniforms, so I think we can agree it’s a fair trade-off. The X-Men are generally the good guys, but even good guys need to get rough sometimes.
If you think your parents are mean, spare a thought for this collection of teenaged heroes who find out that their folks are part of a secret cabal of super villains including aliens, time travelers and warlocks. Naturally, the teens go on the run to try and do whatever they can to stop their parents' nefarious schemes, and cope with the trauma of losing their homes at the same time. First appearing in 2003, this team and the comics they appear in have become a cult hit thanks to their relatable and nuanced characters. And besides, who doesn’t love a team with a pet velociraptor?
The Great White North isn’t all poutine and moose burgers. Canada is no stranger to supervillain threats, and when the True North Strong and Free is under attack, it’s up to this home-grown team to protect it. Led by the super-suited Vindicator and featuring Sasquatch, Aurora, Puck, Shaman, Snowbird and a whole roster of others, this team has been an underappreciated Marvel staple for years and was even Wolverine’s first team affiliation before joining up with the X-Men. They’ve had a storied history spread out over a number of ongoing series and miniseries, and we’re always happy to see Canada’s finest superhero team gracing comic store shelves.
Hey, superheroes gotta eat too! Originally formed by the enterprising duo of Luke Cage, aka Power Man, and Iron Fist, this group is sorta like what you’d get it you crossed the X-Men with the A-Team: a group of superpowered heroes who’ll help out anyone who can afford it. Of course, the team often works pro-bono to help out those in need who can’t afford their fees. With a rotating cast that included everyone from the Black Knight to Deadpool, the team is quite the formidable force and has gone through a number of iterations since their first appearance in 1978.
Millions of years ago, the alien Kree race came to Earth with the intention of using the indigenous population - that’s us - to engineer a race of super-soldiers to aid in their war against the shape-shifting Skrulls. The plan didn’t quite work out, and the Kree abandoned the project. But the descendants of those genetically altered by the Kree retained fantastic abilities, leading to this powerful group. Led by a Royal Family from a secret city on the dark side of the moon called Attilan, they’re some of the most powerful superhumans around. They’ve come to Earth’s defense before, so long as we stay on their good side.
You may be familiar with the street-level team from the Netflix series of the same name, but in the comics, this team has included some major heavy-hitters. Originally consisting of Doctor Strange, Namor, The Hulk and later the Silver Surfer, the group has since gone on to expand its roster to include a number of heroes like Valkyrie and Hercules. Yes, THE Hercules. They’re often considered one of the most powerful teams in Marvel, and with a roster including gods, mythical champions and a former Herald of Galactus, it isn’t hard to see why. This is one team of powerhouses you definitely don’t want to mess with.
We know, we know, Marvel’s First Family haven’t been treated too well when they’ve attempted to transition to the big screen. But there’s a reason the team has stuck around for over 50 years. Granted incredible powers by a dose of cosmic rays, this family of adventurers isn’t just about fighting supervillains and street crime. They’ve traveled to far-off galaxies, had time-traveling escapades a-plenty and even met God! No, really! Their roster has had a few shake-ups over the years, with heroes like Spider-Man and She-Hulk occasionally joining the team. But the true FF will always be Reed, Sue, Ben, and Johnny.
Assembled to fight the foes no single hero could withstand, this iconic team is the front-line of the Marvel Universe, the creme-de-la-creme of the superhero scene. Led most often by Captain America and featuring some of the Marvel Universe’s best and brightest, they’re the kinds of heroes legends, and popular film franchises, are made of. First brought together when Thor’s brother Loki took control of the Hulk’s mind, the group really found its footing when Captain America was found frozen and took over leadership of the team after a little defrosting. Since then, they’ve been the standard-bearers for the Marvel Universe through thick and thin.
True, they aren’t as shiny and mythic as the number 2 entry on our list but let’s face it, any team with this much Wolverine is automatically number 1 in our books. A group of outcasts forced to defend a world that hates and fears them, this team has been one of the dominant forces in comics history, setting industry trends since their first appearance in 1963. Their roster is in the hundreds and they’ve faced down robots, aliens, not-terribly-good film installments gods, and everything else the universe could throw at them. And if you need any more convincing, what other team has a theme song this good?
For this list, we’re looking at our very favorite superhero teams appearing in Marvel comics and ranking them based on popularity, longevity, and significance.
#10: The Guardians of the Galaxy
We all know and love them as the loveable rogues from the hit film series, but this team has been around a lot longer than you might think. Originally appearing in 1969, the first team to use the name were a group of freedom fighters from the distant future who stood up against the evil Badoon space empire, which by that point had conquered Earth. But the team that went on to inspire the movies were first formed in the wake of Marvel’s “Annihilation” events, two galactic crises which cemented the need for a team of cosmic heroes to keep the spaceways safe, a task they were more than up to.
#9: X-Force
Being an X-Man isn’t glamorous at the best of times, what with the whole “defending a world that hates and fears you” thing, but when Marvel’s Merry Mutants need to get their hands a little dirty, this is the team they assemble. Featuring characters like Cable, Deadpool, Wolverine, and Fantomex, this is the X-Men’s black ops team for missions that may get just a little bit murder-y. Of course, they get to wear awesome black and grey variants of their traditional uniforms, so I think we can agree it’s a fair trade-off. The X-Men are generally the good guys, but even good guys need to get rough sometimes.
#8: Runaways
If you think your parents are mean, spare a thought for this collection of teenaged heroes who find out that their folks are part of a secret cabal of super villains including aliens, time travelers and warlocks. Naturally, the teens go on the run to try and do whatever they can to stop their parents' nefarious schemes, and cope with the trauma of losing their homes at the same time. First appearing in 2003, this team and the comics they appear in have become a cult hit thanks to their relatable and nuanced characters. And besides, who doesn’t love a team with a pet velociraptor?
#7: Alpha Flight
The Great White North isn’t all poutine and moose burgers. Canada is no stranger to supervillain threats, and when the True North Strong and Free is under attack, it’s up to this home-grown team to protect it. Led by the super-suited Vindicator and featuring Sasquatch, Aurora, Puck, Shaman, Snowbird and a whole roster of others, this team has been an underappreciated Marvel staple for years and was even Wolverine’s first team affiliation before joining up with the X-Men. They’ve had a storied history spread out over a number of ongoing series and miniseries, and we’re always happy to see Canada’s finest superhero team gracing comic store shelves.
#6: Heroes for Hire
Hey, superheroes gotta eat too! Originally formed by the enterprising duo of Luke Cage, aka Power Man, and Iron Fist, this group is sorta like what you’d get it you crossed the X-Men with the A-Team: a group of superpowered heroes who’ll help out anyone who can afford it. Of course, the team often works pro-bono to help out those in need who can’t afford their fees. With a rotating cast that included everyone from the Black Knight to Deadpool, the team is quite the formidable force and has gone through a number of iterations since their first appearance in 1978.
#5: The Inhuman Royal Family
Millions of years ago, the alien Kree race came to Earth with the intention of using the indigenous population - that’s us - to engineer a race of super-soldiers to aid in their war against the shape-shifting Skrulls. The plan didn’t quite work out, and the Kree abandoned the project. But the descendants of those genetically altered by the Kree retained fantastic abilities, leading to this powerful group. Led by a Royal Family from a secret city on the dark side of the moon called Attilan, they’re some of the most powerful superhumans around. They’ve come to Earth’s defense before, so long as we stay on their good side.
#4: The Defenders
You may be familiar with the street-level team from the Netflix series of the same name, but in the comics, this team has included some major heavy-hitters. Originally consisting of Doctor Strange, Namor, The Hulk and later the Silver Surfer, the group has since gone on to expand its roster to include a number of heroes like Valkyrie and Hercules. Yes, THE Hercules. They’re often considered one of the most powerful teams in Marvel, and with a roster including gods, mythical champions and a former Herald of Galactus, it isn’t hard to see why. This is one team of powerhouses you definitely don’t want to mess with.
#3: The Fantastic Four
We know, we know, Marvel’s First Family haven’t been treated too well when they’ve attempted to transition to the big screen. But there’s a reason the team has stuck around for over 50 years. Granted incredible powers by a dose of cosmic rays, this family of adventurers isn’t just about fighting supervillains and street crime. They’ve traveled to far-off galaxies, had time-traveling escapades a-plenty and even met God! No, really! Their roster has had a few shake-ups over the years, with heroes like Spider-Man and She-Hulk occasionally joining the team. But the true FF will always be Reed, Sue, Ben, and Johnny.
#2: The Avengers
Assembled to fight the foes no single hero could withstand, this iconic team is the front-line of the Marvel Universe, the creme-de-la-creme of the superhero scene. Led most often by Captain America and featuring some of the Marvel Universe’s best and brightest, they’re the kinds of heroes legends, and popular film franchises, are made of. First brought together when Thor’s brother Loki took control of the Hulk’s mind, the group really found its footing when Captain America was found frozen and took over leadership of the team after a little defrosting. Since then, they’ve been the standard-bearers for the Marvel Universe through thick and thin.
#1: The X-Men
True, they aren’t as shiny and mythic as the number 2 entry on our list but let’s face it, any team with this much Wolverine is automatically number 1 in our books. A group of outcasts forced to defend a world that hates and fears them, this team has been one of the dominant forces in comics history, setting industry trends since their first appearance in 1963. Their roster is in the hundreds and they’ve faced down robots, aliens, not-terribly-good film installments gods, and everything else the universe could throw at them. And if you need any more convincing, what other team has a theme song this good?
Have an idea you want to see made into a WatchMojo video? Check out our suggest page and submit your idea.
Step up your quiz game by answering fun trivia questions! Love games with friends? Challenge friends and family in our leaderboard! Play Now!