CBR's Top Fifty Avengers (2008)

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Voting has ended.

Remember, each voter picked their ten favorite Avengers and ranked them from 1-10 (1 being most favorite, 10 being least favorite). For first place the character was given 10 points; for second 9 points; for third 8 points; and so on. All points were then added up, and ranked in order of points received. The results will be staggered over the next several days. Next to each ranking will be the total points and the number of first place votes, if any, the character received.

Feel free to discuss CBR's Top Fifty Avengers (2008) here.

Characters receiving votes but not making the top fifty will revealed throughout:

71 (tie) . Aleta, Charlie-27, Darkhawk, Doctor Druid, Human Torch (Hammond), Major Victory, Marrina, Martinex, Masque, Nikki, Sandman, Starhawk, Whizzer, Yellowjacket (DeMara), Yondu - 0 points each

69 (tie) . Rage, Thunderstrike - 1 point each

66 (tie) . 3-D Man (Garrett), Gilgamesh, Swordsman (Duquesne) - 2 points each

64 (tie) . Demolition Man, Two-Gun Kid - 3 points each

62 (tie) . Stingray, Swordsman (Javert) - 5 points each

61. Deathcry - 7 points

59 (tie) . Living Lightning, Magdalene - 8 points each

57 (tie) . Machine Man, Moira Brandon - 9 points each

56. Silverclaw - 10 points

55. Echo - 11 points

54. Invisible Woman - 13 points (1 first place vote)

52 (tie) . War Machine, Rick Jones - 14 points each)

51. Captain Marvel - 15 points

Now, here are your Top Fifty Avengers!

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The Eternal of Titan known as Eros first fought alongside the Avengers with Captain Marvel when the heroes provided the first major defeat to Eros' mad brother, Thanos. Eros later joined the team after Mar-Vell's death, and was given the codename Starfox. While an Avenger he helped them vanquish such menaces as the Wizard, Terminus and Maelstrom, but ultimately left to pursue the space pirate Nebula, who claimed to be Thanos' granddaughter.

He often returned to help the Avengers, serving during the Terminus crisis and Operation: Galactic Storm and as part of the post-Heroes Reborn re-gathering of Avengers. After the Avengers defeated Morgan LeFay, Starfox left Earth with Tigra, planning to head towards a known pleasure planet.

Starfox was later put on trial for sexual assault, during which time his former teammate She-Hulk came to suspect that he had used his powers on her during their time in the Avengers to influence a sexual encounter. It was eventually revealed that he had not used his powers on She-Hulk, though he had used his powers in such regard before.
Unbeknownst to Eros, this erratic behavior is the result of a false memory implanted by Thanos. Unwilling to risk hurting anyone else, Starfox agreed to have Moondragon shut his empathic powers off. Whether or not he is still considered a fugitive by the U.S. federal and New York state governments is unknown.

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Jack Hart's father was a human scientist, but his mother was an alien Contraxian! After being exposed to a vat of Zero Fluid, Jack mutated and gained the ability to project massive amounts of concussive energy from his body. Now with the power to do so, Jack sought vengeance against the Corporation that killed his father. This led to Jack fighting other superheroes such as the Sons of the Tiger and the Hulk. Eventually Jack got over it and became a true superhero and worked with other heroes, and was even mentored for a time by Iron Man.

For whatever reason, Jack left Earth for space for an extended period of time, encountering other cosmic types like Quasar and the Silver Surfer. He eventually returned to Earth alongside a group of Avengers he had met in space and had helped stop the Infinites from displacing the Milky Way galaxy.

With nothing better to do, Jack joined the Avengers. Unfortunately he had to live in containment for 14 hours per day otherwise he'd blow up. This kind of bugged him. A lot. So, when a murderer abducted Cassie Lang, the daughter of Ant-Man, Jack caught him and flew into space and exploded, killing both of them. But wait! Jack was apparently resurrected as a zombie by a crazy Scarlet Witch and she made him blow himself up, along with most of Avengers mansion and Scott Lang.

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Crystalia Amaquelin is a member of the genetically-advanced race called the Inhumans. The Inhumans encountered and befriended the Fantastic Four early in their careers and Crystal became the girlfriend of Jonathan Storm, the Human Torch, despite the fact that the Inhumans were trapped behind an impenetrable barrier for much of that time. She eventually met, fell in love with, and married Pietro Maximoff, the mutant called Quicksilver. Relocating to New Attilan on the moon, Crystal soon gave birth to their daughter, Luna. But their marriage was rocky. Pietro, in an effort to prove himself, ignored his wife in order to manage the Inhumans unnecessary militia. This drove Crystal to have an affair with a human real estate salesman and leave her husband and daughter. Afterward she tried to renew her romance with the Torch, who was already married to a Skrull posing as Alicia Masters, and joined the Fantastic Four during a time when Reed and Sue Richards had left the group. But she eventually returned to Quicksilver and Luna at the urging of the Inhuman Royal Family; though Quicksilver was not quick to forgive, and he himself soon left to resume his former superhero ways.

Crystal, lonely and guilty and seeking a sense of purpose, offered her services to the Avengers after assisting them against the alien Brethren. She served actively for a lengthy term, though her membership was complicated by another affair with Dane Whitman, the Black Knight, and Quicksilver's subsequent return to the Avengers and wish for reconciliation. Sadly, just a Crystal and Pietro had started to begin rebuilding their marriage Crystal was among the Avengers who "died" in the final battle with Onslaught. After her eventual return, she reunited with Quicksilver and Luna, but they quickly splintered again. Quicksilver and the Black Knight fought over her affections and she was so disgusted that she renounced them both, leaving Quicksilver again and devoting herself to Luna and the Inhumans.

Again residing on the moon with the Inhumans, Crystal was recently reunited with Quicksilver when she saved him after out of depression, he attempted to kill himself. Bringing him to Attilan to recover, he soon betrayed the Inhumans by stealing their Terrigen Mists, coercing his daughter into returning to Earth with him, and exposing them both to the mists, granting each of them new powers. The US government attempted to take the Mists, but was stopped by the Inhuman ruler, Black Bolt, who declared war on the United States. The Inhumans located Quicksilver, who allowed Black Bolt to beat him, in response to his betrayal. Crystal and Quicksilver's marriage was then annulled.

Most recently, the Inhuman royal family traveled into Kree space, seeking an alliance against the invading Skrulls. Ronan the Accuser welcomed this alliance, but only on the condition that Crystal become his bride. Medusa agreed, much to Crystal's chagrin.

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As a founding member of the Fantastic Four, Reed Richards was a long-time ally of the Avengers. During a time when he and his wife were on leave from the FF, New York City became overrun by demons and their son was endangered. Captain America led them and other heroes through the crisis and in saving Franklin. As there was no Avengers team at the time (thanks a lot, Doctor Druid!) Cap invited them to join his new Avengers team. God only knows why, but they did, serving briefly before returning to the Fantastic Four. Which was good because Reed kept trying to assert leadership. He's since gone on to work with the Avengers as needed, and was instrumental in working with Tony Stark and Henry Pym in introducing the SHRA and the Fifty States Initiative to the superhuman community.

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One-time hoodlum Samuel "Snap" Wilson crash-landed on Exile Island while on his way to Rio de Janeiro. The Red Skull found him and, as part of one of his schemes, used the Cosmic Cube to turn him into an effective partner for Captain America. Captain America and Wilson, as the Falcon, defeated the Skull, and Wilson became Cap's crime-fighting partner for quite some time. Wilson later received help from T'Challa, the Black Panther, in the form of a harness that allowed him to fly. The Falcon was soon named leader of the SHIELD Super Agents and left as Cap's partner.

The Falcon was soon drafted into the Avengers by Henry Peter Gyrich in order to fill a minority quota. Wilson resented this and resigned at the earliest opportunity. Though he occasionally worked with the Avengers afterward, sometimes as a reservist, he's devoted most of his time to solo heroing and social work to better Harlem.

During a recent re-partnering with Captain America, and a re-association with the Avengers, a crazy Scarlet Witch destabilized Falcon's mind, pushing him back into his "Snap" personality. His relationship with Cap became strained, to the point that Cap had to stop working with Falcon. Cap was shot in the back by a man that Wilson had confronted earlier, and Wilson felt responsible. Thinking Cap dead, Falcon went after the Anti-Cap, who had been causing both Cap and Falcon problems. Once Cap recovered he spent several weeks looking for both Anti-Cap and Falcon, but once he caught up with Anti-Cap he told Cap that he had killed Falcon, and then Anti-Cap committed suicide.

However, with no explanation, Falcon resurfaced, joining Captain America and other anti-registration activists during the Civil War. When the Captain became incapacitated, Falcon temporarily assumed leadership of the "Secret Avengers" rebel group. Following Captain America's assassination by the machinations of the Red Skull, the Falcon registered with the government and was made responsible for Harlem, although he continued to be in contact with the underground New Avengers. Falcon was one of the pallbearers carrying Captain America's coffin, and gave an inspirational speech at the funeral. Afterward, S.H.I.E.L.D. recruited the Falcon and agent Sharon Carter to investigate the Captain's assassination by locating the Winter Soldier and tracking down the Red Skull.

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Doctor Strange, the Earth's Sorcerer Supreme, was a long-time ally of the Avengers and was a member of the Illuminati, a secret alliance of several prominent superheroes, since just after the Kree-Skrull War. He was among the members of the Illuminati who, alarmed at the continuing destruction caused by the Hulk, agreed to exile the Hulk into space.

In the final known meeting of the group, Strange vehemently opposed the proposed Superhuman Registration Act, and informed Iron Man and Mister Fantastic that they were never to call on him again. Some time later, Wong told Hank Pym and the Wasp that Strange had no intention of supporting the Act and was in seclusion in the Arctic. The government declared Dr. Strange exempt from registration.

Following the Civil War, Doctor Strange joined the renegade New Avengers, and housed the team in his Sanctum Sanctorum under the guise of a Starbucks under construction. The team was dedicated to finding out who was behind the recent events that had turned the world upside down. When the New Avengers went to Japan to retrieve Maya Lopez he was stabbed by her. He then contacted Wong through the Orb of Agamotto, who helped him release his Astral Form from the Hand's dark magic. He then used his Astral Form to free Maya from the Hand's brainwashing. After the team had returned to the Sanctum Sanctorum, he cast a spell to reveal the true natures of the team to their teammates, apparently confirming that none of the current New Avengers team were Skrulls.

Upon the Hulk's return to Earth, Strange declined Iron Man's request to use magic to again banish the Hulk, arguing the Hulk would simply return again. Entering Hulk's mind, Strange attempted to reason with the Bruce Banner persona. Using this as a distraction, the Hulk crushed Strange's hands. His ability to cast spells hindered, a desperate Strange invoked the highly powerful demon Zom. In semi-demonic form, Strange battled the Hulk but was defeated and held captive.

Although Strange and the other Illuminati members survived, Strange's use of darker magic than he would normally call upon — made even worse when he did so again during the New Avengers' rematch with the Hood — prompted him to temporarily depart this plane to heal himself. If and when he returns remains to be seen.

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John Walker, the Super-Patriot, was called on by the US government to replace Steve Rogers as Captain America when Rogers wouldn't play ball. But Walker didn't do so well and he gave up the title and the government faked his death and gave him the new identity of US Agent. As US Agent Walker was forced onto the West Coast Avengers by the government, causing Hawkeye to resign. During a later reorganization the Agent was demoted to reserve status and he beat up Hawkeye and was expelled altogether, but later rejoined to help against the Pacific Overlords. But then the West Coast branch was shut down so he helped form Force Works, which also disbanded.

He got a new job as the leader of The Jury, but resigned after being forced to hunt down the Thunderbolts, now led by Hawkeye. Afterward his powers and weaponry were upgraded and he was made leader of the new Superhuman Tactical Activities Response Squad (STARS) by the Commission on Superhuman Activities. As leader of STARS he was instrumental in stopping alien criminals and Ego's absorption of Earth during Maximum Security.

More recently he served as "Captain America in the New Invaders, but that group disbanded after the apparent death of the original Human Torch. Walker then returned to the United States and registered under the SHRA. Walker was ordered to go operate in Canada, but he refused. Later, working with SHIELD, Walker came under fire by the agents he was working with when the Purple Man took control of them. Purple Man then took control of Walker and ordered him to leave his shield and jump out of the helicopter in which he was a passenger. Unable to refuse, Walker was severely injured. After recovering, Walker was informed that Purple Man had headed to Canada, and Walker begrudgingly agreed to join the new Omega Flight.

Arriving in Canada, Walker was reunited with Arachne on the new team. With the aid of Beta Ray Bill Omega Flight helped stop a rampage by the Wrecking Crew and free Sasquatch from the demonic Tanaraq's control. Walker then took revenge upon Purple Man and reclaimed his shield. Most recently, Walker aided his teammate Michael Pointer, aka Weapon Omega, who had been manipulated by the Canadian government.

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Namor Mackenzie is the mutant son of a human father and an Atlantean mother. He was raised in Atlantis and generally regarded surface people as the enemy. Except during WWII when he allied himself with the surface world against the Axis powers, even joining an early team of superheroes called the Invaders. After the war he continued his association in the All-Winners Squad, which soon disbanded. At some pint he was rendered amnesiac and wandered the surface world aimlessly as a vagrant. By pure coincidence his memory was restored by the modern-day Human Torch, upon which Namor renewed his war on the surface world.

For years Namor was divided between the Atlanteans' war against humanity and the good of all people, occasionally battling with and against the Avengers. He even once declined Avengers membership but became a founding member of the informal Defenders.

Namor was eventually recruited into the clandestine Illuminati shortly after the end of the first Kree-Skrull War.

Later, at a time when the Defenders had disbanded and Atlantis' throne was usurped by Attuma, Captain America again offered Avengers membership to Namor and he accepted, much to the outcry of the public. He even faced trial for his past misdeeds and was found not guilty by reason of temporary insanity due to an emotional imbalance inherent in his amphibious physiology. Namor took a leave of absence after he married the former Alphan Marrina, during which he took leadership of a group of dissident Atlanteans. He soon returned to the Avengers with Marrina after the Greek gods wrongfully scattered his undersea colony. When Marrina mutated into a gigantic, murderous sea monster that Namor was forced to slay, the Sub-Mariner left the group to mourn her.

He's been an occasional ally since, but has actually spent more time with the most recent incarnation of the Defenders, with whom he was cursed to be a member. With the curse broken Namor focused his attention on his Atlantean Kingdom. Around this time he was also the only member of the Illuminati to oppose the exile of the Hulk.

After the Stamford disaster, Namor was obsessed with gaining revenge on the death of his cousin Namorita. He activated sleeper agents of the Atlantean royal guard to search for Nitro, who was captured with the aid of Wolverine. And in the climactic battle between the pro- and anti-registration heroes, Namor brought an army of Atlanteans to aid Captain America's forces. After Captain America's assassination, Namor attended the private, Antarctic funeral, promising the few others present that no one would disturb the site.

Upon the Hulk's return to Earth, he was spared the Hulk's wrath and Namor's cousin, Namora, allied with Archangel and Hercules in an attempt to support the Hulk's plans.

Soon thereafter Namor discovered he had a long lost son, Kamar, who attempted to usurp his throne by forcing war with the United States. Namor was forced to evacuate Atlantis, ordering them to emigrate to the surface world to live within sleeper cells, and leaving an overcharged prisoner Nitro to explode within the empty city, also assassinating the captured Kamar. After this, Namor formed an alliance with Doctor Doom, leading a contingent of Atlantean soldiers to be based in Latveria.

Namor was at the meeting of the Illuminati where it was revealed that the Elektra the New Avengers had fought had been a Skrull. When it turned out that Black Bold had also been replaced, the Illuminati fought him, the battle ending with Namor killing the Skrull and the Illuminati going their separate ways.

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Heather Douglas was left an orphan as a child when her parents were killed by Thanos, who had landed nearby in a spaceship. She was found by Thanos' father, Mentor, and taken to their homeworld, Titan. She was raised by them and gained their mental and physical powers. However while there she came under the influence of a powerful entity called the Dragon of the Moon. She believed she resisted it, filling her with pride, and she took the name Moondragon.

She returned to earth under the name "Madam McEvil" with the intent of developing a means to combat Thanos, though she eventually revealed her true identity and helped the Avengers in their first confrontation against the mad Titan. Among the Avengers was Hellcat, whom she took to Titan to train.

She was considered a candidate to be the Celestial Madonna, but was passed over for Mantis. She was also present when the Avengers battled Korvac, though she considered his goal to be noble.

Moondragon left Earth with her father, who had since been resurrected as Drax the Destroyer, and found a planet immersed in war. So she took mental control of all the inhabitants and made them live in peace. She believed herself a goddess. Drax confronted her but she killed him. The Avengers intervened and Thor took her to Odin to be judged, who sentenced her Brunnhilde the Valkyrie's custody, and made her wear a magical headband that would reduce her powers.

When Valkyrie rejoined the Defenders Moondragon was forced to come along. There she learned that the Dragon of the Moon had been influencing her all along. She finally managed to reject it fully and for the first time gained friends on the team and eventually the headband came loose by itself. However she soon was infected with mutated spores and started to die. The Dragon of the Moon appeared again with an offer to save her, but only if she became its host. She agreed and became an evil being, battling the Defenders until four of them sacrificed themselves to kill both her and the Dragon.

Her soul survived and, free of the Dragon, contacted her cousin. Through her she was able to obtain a new body, a clone created on Titan. Her cousin became Sundragon, and the two adventured throughout space together for a while. However, when Quasar was appointed Protector of the Universe, Moondragon was quick to latch on. She wanted to mate with him. Quasar wasn't interested and she eventually lost interest herself.

She was soon chosen by Adam Warlock to keep the Mind Gem and she joined his Infinity Watch, but she eventually lost the gem when it was stolen by the Ultraverse denizen, Rune.

The ever helpful Moondragon later decided to school Genis-Vell on cosmic awareness, during which time she fell in love with Rick Jones' wife, Marlo. The two shared a brief relationship, but Marlo realized her love was devoted to Rick. Moondragon lied, saying she must have caused the relationship telepathically, but only to make the break-up easier, and she left Earth with Phyla-Vell.

Moondragon was later kidnapped by Thanos, who used her to draw out Drax for some unknown purpose. Thanos' plan for revenge was cut short when Drax arrived to rescue his daughter and ripped out Thanos' heart, just as Thanos was about to save the universe from Annihilus. However, Drax and Moondragon managed to free the Silver Surfer, who in turn helped free Galactus, destroying Annihilus' plans. Galactus then teleported the two away, during which Moondragon lost track of Drax but was reunited with Phyla-Vell.

Most recently, as the Phalanx took over the Kree empire, Phyla-Vell was appointed by a voice in her head with finding a "savior" for the Kree race. They came across and battled the Phalanx-infected Adaptoid, during which Moondragon morphed into a dragon form. Unable to revert to her human form, Moondragon and Phyla followed the voice to find the "savior" was being attacked by the Phalanx. It turned out that the voice belonged to the Supreme Intelligence of the Kree, who directed the heroes to a cocoon, in which Adam Warlock was being restored. Upon the cocoon's opening, Moondragon and Phyla asked Warlock for help against the Phalanx. Soon, the Phalanx arrived, led by the murderous Ultron. Moondragon attempted to protect Phyla, but Ultron plunged his arms into her chest. Moondragon died shortly thereafter in Phyla's arms.

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Kelsey Leigh was a single mother living in southeast England with her two young children when her family found themselves on the front line of a battle between the Avengers and the Wrecking Crew. Thunderball had knocked Captain America unconscious and Kelsey sustained mortal injuries while using Cap's shield to protect him and the Wasp. She died en route to the hospital.

But Kelsey awoke to find herself before Captain Britain and Meggan. To save Britain from Morgan le Fay, he passed the mantle of Captain Britain to her. Her bravery had earned her a second chance at life. Given the choice between the Sword of Might and the Amulet of Right Kelsey, desperate to see her children again, chose the sword. She was transformed into the new Captain Britain only to discover that her choice meant if she ever revealed her identity to her children they would die.

Kelsey returned to earth where she helped the Avengers defeat Morgan le Fay and her cronies. With her children now in the Avengers' care, she accepted an offer to join the team so that, if she could not be reunited with them, she could remain close and in their lives.

She remained a member of the Avengers until She-Hulk went Crazy after an attack by Ultron robots, instigated by a mad Scarlet Witch. Kelsey stepped up to rescue Captain America, but She-Hulk knocked her out and she spent the remainder of the unfolding events in critical status in the hospital. She left the disbanding Avengers, returning to England.

Now going by the codename of Lionheart she remained an active superhero in England, but soon attacked Captain Britain, blaming him for what happened to her and for not warning her of the consequences of her choice. Lionheart was manipulated by Albion, but, after Albion plunges Britain into a pre-industrial state, soon realizes the error of her ways. Kelsey joined with Excalibur and helped defeat Albion and his Shadow Captains, returning Britain to its right state. In acknowledgement of her help against Albion, the government gave her a second chance to work with them. Without explanation as to how it's now possible, Braddock reunites her with her children and mother.

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Barbara Morse was a scientist and freelance SHIELD agent turned costumed adventurer. Bobbi met and married the Avenger Hawkeye after a short courtship when they teamed to defeat Crossfire. As Hawkeye's wife and partner, Mockingbird began assisting in Avengers business, and accompanied Hawkeye when he was assigned to found and lead the new western Avengers division in California. She was his first recruit for the new western roster, and served a long, distinguished term as an active member until an ethical dispute broke up both her marriage and the team itself.

See, Mockingbird was kidnapped and raped by her crazed admirer, Lincoln Slade (the Phantom Rider). She hunted him down and let him fall to his death, after he tried to kill her. His ghost convinced Hawkeye that she had murdered him and he was outraged, largely because she concealed this from him. Mockingbird was equally angry that Clint didn't support her unconditionally so she left him, along with Tigra and Moon Knight who joined her in protest in their own splinter group.

Eventually Bobbi and Clint reconciled and helped to train the fledgling Great Lakes Avengers, an unofficial team of heroes located in Detroit. Both eventually resumed their positions as active West Coast Avengers, but she died in battle shortly before that team was disbanded, Mephisto claiming her soul.

She was briefly resurrected as a zombie by the Grim Reaper, but was able to shake his control and help save the Avengers. Before returning to the realm of the dead, though, Bobbi was able to pass on a message that eventually led to Hawkeye and the Thunderbolts helping Hellcat to be resurrected.

Recently, when a Skrull spaceship crash landed in the Savage Land, Mockingbird was among the host of heroes who emerged from the craft, alleging to be the genuine articles who had been captives of the Skrulls for years. Several of the heroes were revealed to be Skrulls who had disguised themselves using their shape-changing powers. At first it was not clear whether or not this Mockingbird was the genuine article, but she was able to tell her former husband, Clint, something that they both believed only she would know - that October 12th would have been the birth-date of their miscarried child, which convinced Clint that she was real. However, when all of the heroes on the ship were revealed to be Skrulls, Clint killed the false Mockingbird.

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Veranke is a Skrull extremist who believes the empire must take "a world of blue" as their new home in order to survive a prophesied destruction of the Skrull homeworld. Branded a fanatic and traitor, she was banished to a prison planet by King Dorrek VII.

Years later, after the Skrull throneworld was destroyed by Galactus, Veranke was elevated by the Skrulls as Empress of the Skrull Empire. She declared the scriptures foretold Earth as the new Skrull homeland and led a major operation to infiltrate Earth, particularly its superhuman community, volunteering herself as a mole.

On Earth, when Jessica Drew went to HYDRA to regain her lost powers, she was placed under sedation and ambushed by the Skrulls and replaced by Veranke. As Spider-Woman, Veranke joined the New Avengers and served as a spy for Nick Fury, meanwhile planning to mine Vibranium from the Savage Land.

During on adventure with the New Avengers, Veranke unintentionally learned of a possible threat to her rule: that the Young Avengers Hulkling was truly Dorrek VIII, the son of Captain Marvel and the Skrull princess Anelle and rightful heir to the throne. Veranke ordered him to be executed, but kept his identity secret.

During the House of M, she and the other undercover Skrulls knew that reality had been altered. After reality reverted to normal she learned of the distressing news that the Annihilation Wave had killed billions of her fellow Skrulls.

Just as the superhero Civil War was set into motion, Iron Man disclosed "Spider-Woman's" triple agent status to acting SHIELD director Maria Hill, who ordered her apprehended. Veranke was captured, but was rescued by a HYDRA, who tried to convincer her to take up the mantle of Madame Hydra in an effort to overthrow Viper. She declined and escapes and makes her way to one of Nick Fury's safe houses, where she finds Captain America's Secret Avengers, which she joins.

After the Civil War, Veranke traveled to Tokyo with the New Avengers where they fought Elektra and the Hand, and was unable to prevent Echo from killing Elektra, revealing her to be a Skrull imposter. As the team pondered its next move, Veranke attacked Wolverine and took the Skrull corpse, delivering it to Tony Stark in a move designed to instill further distrust among the superhero community. Afterwards she joined the Mighty Avengers.

Iron Man informed "Jessica Drew" of the Skrull transport ship that crash-landed in the Savage Land. Veranke tipped off Luke Cage with this information, setting up a conflict between the two Avengers teams as the first wave of the Skrull invasion of Earth began. While in the Savage Land, Veranke insinuated that Tony Stark was a Skrull sleeper agent, which he denied. She escaped just as Black Widow tries to attack her. Veranke later arrived at Camp Hammond where, after Thor made his presence known, she assembled her troops for the final battle, in the name of her god, against the New, Mighty and Young Avengers, Nick Fury and his Secret Warriors, the Initiative, the Hood's crew, the new Captain America, and the Thunderbolts.

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James Howlett was born in the 19th century in Canada. The onset of his mutation traumatized him, however his natural healing factor caused him to repress most traumatic memories over the ensuing years. After most of his family is killed, he is blamed for their deaths and he and his caretaker Rose were exiled. However James accidentally killed her, after which, grief-stricken, he became feral and lived in the woods with wolves.

He did return civilization, calling himself Logan, and worked with the Canadian military during World War I and World War II. Afterward he joined the Canadian Army, spent some time spying for the Allies, and even spent time in a concentration camp. Years later, Logan resurfaced as a federal agent working on Team X, which was eventually disbanded. After drifting for some time he was kidnapped and made the subject of the Weapon X program where his skeleton was laced with Adamantium and he was brainwashed to be a killing machine. He escaped, killing most everyone, and fled into the wild where he was later found by James and Heather Hudson, who help Logan recover before enrolling him into Department H and becoming the leader of an early Alpha Flight.

Soon, though, Professor X came calling and Wolverine abandoned Department H to become an X-Man. Wolverine eventually learned the truth about the Weapon X, and the larger Weapon Plus, programs, and even regained his memories as a result of the House of M. And only recently, as the New Avengers was forming, Wolverine was offered membership by Iron Man, which he accepted.

Wolverine learned more of his past, including the fact that he has a son he never knew existed. However, before Wolverine can begin searching for Daken, Nitro murdered over 600 Stamford, Connecticut residents, setting off the superhuman Civil War. Wolverine embarked on a mission to bring Nitro to justice, coming up against Namor and a group of his sleeper agents.

After the Civil War, Wolverine remained a member of the renegade New Avengers and the X-Men and finally encountered his son and also seemingly killed Sabretooth.

Later, after the apparent birth of a new mutant baby sparked all-out mutant war, Cyclops ordered Wolverine to assemble a new X-Force team to permanently eliminate threats to surviving mutants.

More recently, Wolverine was with the New Avengers when the Elektra leading the Hand was killed and revealed to be a Skrull, and later accompanied the team to the Savage Land to investigate a downed Skrull ship as the first wave of the Skrull invasion commenced.

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Daniel Rand is the son of American businessman who discovered the mystical city of K'un-L'un, which only appears on Earth every ten years. Daniel and his mother accompanied his father on an expedition to again seek out K'un L'un, but both parents are killed on the trip. The orphan Daniel was welcomed by the kingdom's ruler and taught the martial arts. Daniel proved to be the most gifted of students and survived the rite of passage and became the Iron Fist.

When K'un L'un next appeared on Earth, Daniel left the city to find his father's killer and eventually becoming a superhero, often aided by his friends Colleen Wing and Misty Knight, the latter of whom he fell in love with.

Soon, Rand met Luke Cage and the two became partners and friends, forming Heroes for Hire. Rand also reassumed control of his parents' fortune and business. However, the partnership ended when, amidst the plots of evil men, Rand developed cancer and inadvertently died at the hands of a duplicitous Super Skrull, leaving Cage as a suspect and fugitive.

Some time later, though, it was revealed that it was a doppelganger that had been killed and that Rand had been kidnapped and was being held captive in stasis in K'un L'un. Rescued by Namor and Misty Knight, it's revealed that Rand managed to cure his cancer by focusing his chi while in stasis.

Returning to Earth, Rand and Cage reformed Heroes for Hire, now working for Namor's Oracle Corporation, but the team was soon dissolved when Oracle was sold.

Later, when Matt Murdock was in prison, Iron Fist disguised himself as Daredevil to convince the media and the public that Murdock and Daredevil are two different people.

During the Civil War, Iron Fist opposed the SHRA and joined Captain America's Secret Avengers while still pretending to be Daredevil. He was eventually captured by the pro-registration forces, but was later freed from the Negative Zone prison, joining Captain America's team for the final battle against Iron Man's forces.

Only recently has Rand learned that he is the latest in a legacy of Iron Fists, with forty-six heroes having held the title before him. Rand encountered the previous Iron Fist, Orson Randall, and was given the Book of the Iron Fist in preparation of the coming tournament of the Seven Champions.

Randall was soon killed by the Steel Serpent, but passed his chi to Rand, just prior to Rand's participation in the tournament. Corruption was revealed, however, in the leaders of the Seven Cities and Iron Fist organized a revolution at the same time he learned that HYDRA planned to destroy K'un L'un. Upon learning this, Steel Serpent joined Iron Fist's revolt to save K'un L'un. The revolution was also a success, but Rand learned of an Eighty City of Heaven and returned to Earth with his friends, suggesting Steel Serpent become the new ruler of K'un L'un.

Returning to Earth, Rand transformed his company into a non-profit organization, dedicated to helping the poor, even buying back the old Heroes for Hire building to serve as headquarters for the new Rand International. He offered Luke Cage a position in the company and offered space to the displaced New Avengers, himself joining the team.

Now, as Rand celebrates his thirty-third birthday, he has learned that every previous Iron Fist, except Orson Randall, has died at the age of 33. And he's soon threatened by a mysterious assassin. Will Danny live to see thirty-four?