Top 20 Greatest Superhero Teams of All Time
#20: The Umbrella Academy
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The only way a superhero team could get any more dysfunctional is if they were a broken family, and that’s essentially what the Umbrella Academy is. Each member of the Umbrella Academy was born to a random woman across the world that showed no signs of pregnancy and subsequently adopted and raised as superheroes by the eccentric Sir Reginald Hargreeves. Although the team would later split up, they are brought back together following their adoptive father's death to take on a new threat to the world.
#19: The Authority
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Comprising heroes created by Warren Ellis from Stormwatch, this Superhero team takes a very different angle to most when it comes to solving its problems. Following the destruction of StormWatch, Jenny Sparks founded the Authority with some of its remaining members. This team of extra-dimension heroes take a more hardline stance than many, caring little for politics and going above the law in order to get the job done. To put things simply they’re killing people and aren’t making any attempt to hide it.
#18: Legion of Super-Heroes
Featuring one of the largest rosters in superhero history, the Legion of Super-Heroes features mainly teenage and young adult heroes from the distant future. Originally intended as a one shot story with Superboy, the concept proved so popular that they’ve grown into the intergalactic team we know today. Founded by Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl, this team has gone through many different incarnations due to the ever changing future in the DC Comic universe.
#17: Heroes for Hire
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The Heroes for Hire are exactly what their name implies, a group of superheroes that do their work for a fee. The hero for hire concept originally came from Luke Cage, but it did not become a full business operation until he entered a partnership with the martial artist Iron Fist. While they often end up working pro-bono, the team has proved to be a very successful business venture, lasting over four decades and featuring some of the biggest names in Marvel Comics.
#16: The Watchmen
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Who watches the Watchmen? While it may be optimistic to call this band of heroes a team, there's no denying their standing in comic book history. Composed of members of varying moral fiber, from the seemingly innocent Nite Owl to the far muddier Comedian, it's truly hard to gauge whether these vigilantes have done more harm or good. One thing's for certain, they were certainly not low on fire-power with the nigh unstoppable Dr. Manhattan in their ranks.
#15: Justice League Dark
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Featuring characters from DC Comics Vertigo imprint, the Justice League Dark is a division of the Justice League that focuses on supernatural threats. This paranormal group was formed by the powerful sorceress known as Madame Xanadu, when she foretells an oncoming nightmarish threat. The team features some of the most out of this world characters such as Swamp Thing, John Constantine and even the legendary Frankenstein. With the DC Rebirth, the comic now features Wonder Woman taking on the role of leader of this mystical group.
#14: Doom Patrol
Preceding the X-Men as a group of heroes whose powers have left them isolated and shunned by the world, the Doom Patrol are also brought together by a wheelchair-bound genius. Each dealing with their own trauma and issues, the team is often at odds with each other, something that was very novel at the time for DC Comics. And it may be one of the earliest instances of mental health awareness in comics, with these super-powered beings seeking group therapy. The series remains known for its absurd high-concept adventures, especially at the helm of legendary writer, Grant Morrison.
#13: Birds of Prey
Founded by original Batgirl Barbara Gordon and Black Canary, this team of vivacious supervixens is all about girl power. Following Barb’s run-in with the Joker, she was left paralyzed and decided to form a group capable of working behind the scenes. Featuring some of the most prominent female superheroes in the DC universe such as Huntress and Lady Blackhawk, this team of vigilantes has certainly made its mark over the last two decades. The comic series was popular enough that it received both a TV show and a well received movie in 2020.
#12: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
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Co-created by legendary writer Alan Moore and artist Kevin O’Neill, this Victorian era superhero team is composed of legendary literary figures from that time. The individuals, from Dr. Jekyll to Captain Nemo, to the Invisible Man, are recruited and charged by the British government to uncover a sprawling criminal conspiracy. The 2003 live-action adaptation notwithstanding, the team was well received by fans and critics alike.
#11: Guardians of the Galaxy
On the fringe of the mainstream Marvel superhero teams, this space travelling band of vigilantes solves problems before they happen. Team leader Star-Lord opted to form a squad of unusual super-powered heroes, which includes a gun toting raccoon and tree-like alien. Though the Guardians are a relatively new team compared to the rest on this list, they have already made quite the impact on the comic book world and have garnered two highly rated live action movies.
#10: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
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Not every team can live in a satellite orbiting the Earth or a fancy mansion, but these heroes on the half-shell prove you can still protect the world even if your digs are in the sewers. Four normal turtles mutated by a chemical spill and taught martial arts by a similarly mutated rat, this awesome foursome took pop culture by storm in the 1990s thanks to their mix of attitude and martial arts mayhem. Throw in one of the catchiest cartoon theme songs ever and it’s no wonder that Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael are still one of the most beloved crime-fighting forces on the block. Or under it, in this case.
#9: The Green Lantern Corps
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Some teams get by with a handful of members, but when you’re tasked with defending the entire universe you’re gonna need a pretty expansive roster. This interplanetary police force has thousands of members from across the DC Comics universe, each one chosen for their ability to overcome great fear and armed with a power ring that grants them a number of abilities. Most prominent among these is the power to generate glowing green energy constructs shaped and reinforced by the user’s willpower, an incredibly versatile ability that allows Lanterns to overcome almost any threat so long as their will holds out. And they’ve even got their very own oath!
#8: The Inhuman Royal Family
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Millions of years in Earth’s past, the alien race known as the Kree arrived on our young planet and began experimenting on early humans. Their goal in this endeavor was to create a new race of super-soldiers to finally end their centuries-long war with another alien race, the Skrulls. The project was eventually abandoned, but the descendants of the augmented humans retained their fantastical abilities, and eventually fled the Earth to create a new society on the moon. This incredible group are the rulers of this secret society, each one possessed of powerful abilities. Their leader, King Black Bolt, can even level entire mountains with his voice alone.
#7: The Defenders
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This name has been used by a number of heroic teams from Marvel comics, first appearing as the chosen moniker of a team composed of Doctor Strange, The Silver Surfer, The Incredible Hulk and Namor. As time went on this lineup expanded to include a number of other heroes, turning the once-small team into a well-stocked powerhouse. More recently, the team has been revamped yet again as a mostly non-costumed group of street-level crime fighters intent on keeping New York safe for ordinary citizens. No matter the roster or how much spandex is involved, they’re one of the most stalwart teams out there.
#6: The Justice Society of America
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The very first super-team to ever be formed in comics, this auspicious group was formed during World War 2 under the orders of none other than Franklin D. Roosevelt. Boasting legendary Silver-Age crimebusters like Doctor Fate, The Sandman and Hawkman, the team also included early versions of The Flash and Green Lantern. As the years have gone by and newer groups have stepped up, this venerated team has stayed in action and helped to mentor a whole new generation of heroes by passing on their years of wisdom and experience. They say you should respect your elders, and that goes double in cases like this.
#5: The Teen Titans
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From a team of aging heroes to one powered by the passion of youth, this group began when the teen sidekicks of famous heroes, including Robin, Wonder Girl and Kid Flash, struck out on their own to prove themselves. Eventually a whole slew of newcomers were brought in to fill the team’s ranks, introducing mainstays like Cyborg, Starfire and Beast Boy. In the years since their formation, these young heroes have seen victory and heartache in equal measure, having been betrayed from within by one of their own in perhaps their most famous story. But through it all the group has endured and even thrived.
#4: The Fantastic Four
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A family of explorers and adventurers granted incredible powers thanks to a dose of cosmic rays, Marvel’s First Family have become one of the most iconic teams in the Marvel Universe. While the roster has shifted on occasion, the core lineup of Mr Fantastic, The Invisible Woman, The Human Torch and The Thing has always been a regular sight on comics stands ever since they first appeared over fifty years ago. The team spends as much time bickering amongst themselves as they do saving the day, but what family doesn’t? There are few teams that we can rightly call an institution, but this is definitely one of them.
#3: The Justice League
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This iconic team has been the front line of defense for the DC universe ever since their inception, and with a roster including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and more, we’d say the DCU is in safe hands. Whether it’s the classic lineup, the International team or any of the other countless iterations of the group, few teams in comics have left a lasting impact like this one. They’ve gone up against the biggest threats the DCU has to offer, defending the Earth and they’ll keep on doing so for years to come. At the end of the day, what else could we ask of a super-team?
#2: The Avengers
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You don’t get to be called “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” for nothing. When a threat arises that no single superhero could withstand, the cry goes out for the greatest heroes of the Marvel Universe to assemble. After an initial roster including Iron Man, The Hulk, Thor and others, this team has since expanded to include almost every Marvel character out there. Be they a street-level crime fighter with a scrappy attitude or a literal ancient god, heroes of every conceivable sort have been counted among this group’s ranks, ensuring the peace and safety of the Marvel Universe for years. At least when they aren’t fighting amongst themselves that is.
#1: The X-Men
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When your unique genetic makeup makes you feared and hated by most of the world, the idea of fighting to defend the Earth might seem crazy. But sometimes crazy works. Assembled by the noble Professor X, this band of mutants are dedicated to furthering their mentor’s mission of peace between mutants and humans, even if that means fighting mutants who would much rather subjugate humanity. It’s this element that makes them number one in our eyes: their unwavering dedication to protecting a world that would sooner throw them in jail than throw them a parade. When it comes to heroism, it doesn’t get more selfless than that.
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