The Avengers Roster: A New Era of Solo Adventures
The Avengers have long been the pinnacle of Marvel’s superhero roster, showcasing the publisher’s most iconic characters. However, as the Marvel Universe evolves, it’s time for some of these legendary heroes to step back and explore their solo careers. This shift could not only rejuvenate their individual stories but also pave the way for new A-listers to emerge.
Scarlet Witch: Embracing Her Mutant Roots
Scarlet Witch, though not an original Avenger, has been a significant part of the team since her debut in 1964’s X-Men #4 as a member of Magneto’s Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. She and her brother Quicksilver were later converted to hero status, joining the Avengers in Avengers #16. Her journey with the team has been anything but smooth.
Wanda has experienced both high points and low points as an Avenger, including her infamous turn against the team during the Avengers: Disassembled arc, which led to her depowering 98% of Marvel’s mutant population. Despite reclaiming her heroic status multiple times, she has never quite fit into the Avengers the same way again.
Many fans believe that Wanda should focus more on the X-Men franchise, even if it means stepping back from the Avengers. Her solo adventures also offer great potential. While her latest solo series fell victim to Marvel’s ten-issue curse, another volume is likely to start soon.
Captain America (Sam Wilson): Breaking Free from Steve Rogers’ Shadow
Sam Wilson finds himself in a challenging position as a Marvel hero. In the comic book version, he is the successor to Captain America, coexisting alongside the original Cap, Steve Rogers. This shared spotlight can be tough for Sam, who deserves to shine on his own.
Sam has proven himself as both a solo hero and an Avenger, but his presence in the Avengers often leads him to get lost in the shuffle. With the team juggling numerous characters and stories, Sam needs a sustained push from Marvel to truly stand out. His long tenure as the Falcon and his ascension to Captain America have been marked by a stop-and-start journey, and he is due for a paradigm-shifting story or another overhaul.
Black Panther: T’Challa’s Interstellar Ascent
At the end of Marvel’s Imperial miniseries, T’Challa reclaimed his Wakandan throne, becoming the leader of the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda. This makes him one of the most powerful characters in Marvel Comics, not just in terms of superpowers, but as a political superpower. His resources far exceed those of a terrestrial billionaire like Tony Stark.
T’Challa’s vast scope of potential conflicts as a solo character makes him feel like an afterthought in his Avengers appearances. With Marvel’s upcoming Black Panther: Intergalactic series following up on Imperial, it might be time for the hero to take a step back from the Avengers.
Iron Man: A Major Reset Needed
Iron Man is a founding Avenger, having founded multiple Avengers squads. He owned Avengers Mansion, the team’s iconic headquarters, and later refitted Manhattan’s Stark Tower as Avengers Tower. Aside from brief breaks, or periods when Stark was dead in canon, Iron Man has been a stalwart since day one.
Marvel’s current Ultimates series, which envisions an alternate continuity version of the team, has highlighted everything that makes Tony Stark great as a Marvel hero and Avengers leader. This has thrown into sharp relief how much the mainstream version of Iron Man needs a serious reset to be relevant as a top Marvel Comics hero again.
Vision: A New Chapter in 2026
Vision joined the team in 1968, approaching the 60-year benchmark as a Marvel hero. His complicated history includes his tragic relationship with Scarlet Witch, which became integral to MCU lore with their on-screen romance. Wanda was subsequently killed off in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, but now Vision is returning for a new Disney+ show, VisionQuest, slated for a 2026 release.
This renewed buzz surrounding the character means Marvel Comics will want to capitalize on it, potentially leading to a new solo series for Vision. A Vision solo series is a natural companion to the TV show. While he has had solo books before, he is overdue for a more impactful independent adventure. This could mean a leave of absence from the Avengers if the story is going to fully devote itself to this underrated hero.
