Marvel is arguably the most popular comics company in the world. Started in the 1930s, the company has grown over the years to include hundreds of superheroes in comic books, on television, and in films. As the Marvel superhero lineup has grown, the company has put several of these characters into teams to help save their universe.
All of these superhero teams have risen to the occasion over the years, but which superhero teams are the best? Is it the ones who work together regularly? Or is it the super groups made up solo heroes coming together to fight a common enemy?
10 Alpha Flight
Alpha Flight may not be as well known as other superhero groups, but Canada's strongest team of heroes is a force to be reckoned with. The team mixes powerhouses, muscle, and heroes who are jacks-of-all-trades to form the formidable group.
Featuring a lineup composed of Guardian, Vindicator, Shaman, Snowbird, Sasquatch and Puck, this team is a group of the best superheroes from Canada. They are one of the most underrated Marvel teams.
9 The Runaways
The Runaways are an unusual cross between DC's Teen Titans, the Thunderbolts or Suicide Squad, and Disney's Descendants. They are a team that started in 2003 of young heroes who have to face the most unusual team of villains.
The Runaways are the descendants of villains who have to take on their evil parents. It brought a new style of storytelling to Marvel, and made the young heroes sympathetic and relatable.
8 The Inhumans
Admittedly, the ABC show about this team didn't have viewers flocking to their TVs, but the Inhumans still made a powerful team in the Comics. Living on the moon, the Inhumans were an offshoot of humanity that the Kree decided to perform experiments on. It led to the society gaining powerful, yet horrible, abilities.
The Inhumans endure hardship and isolation during their time on the moon, but find a way to provide protection under the rule of Black Bolt, Medusa, Crystal, Karnak and Gorgon. Unfortunately, most viewers would not recommend the television show.
7 The Defenders
Taking several street level heroes and having them work together to protect the city they love is an easy story to tell. Each character in the Defenders is someone different, but they are all down to Earth, which makes them unique from teams set entirely in space or ones featuring a vast array of heroes.
Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and others are all interesting heroes on their own, but put them together in the comics, and they become the best team to protect New York City. If only their television show was as popular as their comic book.
6 The Eternals
Much like the Inhumans and the Defenders, just judging the Eternals by the film or show they were introduced in is a good way to undersell them. Their presence in the comics provides insight to a team with extraordinary powers that are nearly immortal.
In the comics, they are invested in doing what's best to protect the people of Earth. This team appears when needed, and then shrinks back into the shadows until necessary.
5 Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.
While the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. have few powers to speak of, they are one of the best teams at protecting the world. Much like James Bond, the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. use science and technology to prepare themselves for battle with a foe more powerful than them.
The team gained a lot of fans through the long-running television show, even if its exact place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is still debated. They are easily the most popular team that Marvel has brought to television, even if the individual members are not as popular as members of other teams.
4 Guardians of the Galaxy
While a lot of heroes have served as members of the Guardians of the Galaxy, the group is still known for its protection of more than just one planet. The Guardians are essentially the Cosmic Avengers as they go through space keeping everywhere safe.
The Guardians have taken down some of the greatest threats the galaxy has ever seen. While members have come and gone, the most famous heroes of the group include Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket Raccoon, Drax the Destroyer, and Groot.
3 The Fantastic Four
This team is a family both literally and figuratively, and that's why they work so well together. Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm gained powers during an experimental space flight that exposed them to cosmic rays. They become Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch, and the Thing.
Reed is married to Sue, Johnny is Sue's brother, and Ben is Reed's best friend. Together The Fantastic Four have taken on the likes of Dr. Doom and Galactus, and have explored the Negative Zone and the Microverse.
2 The Avengers
Thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, almost everybody in the world knows who the Avengers are, even if they have never read a comic book. Featuring several superheroes through differing iterations, the teams are almost always balanced between power, skill, and leadership.
On screen, the team has defeated Loki with the Chitauri, Ultron, and Thanos. They are expected to take on Kang and fight in the Secret Wars in the near future. This team is nearly unstoppable, especially with Hawkeye in the fold.
1 X-Men
Providing a wonderful metaphor for society, the X-Men always stand the test of time. The mutants gather at a school for gifted individuals, where they hone their skills to become an elite strike force that saves the world even when the world hates them.
The team does its best to foster a peaceful relationship between mutants and humankind, despite the work of Magneto and other mutants who have become disillusioned with humanity due to their mistreatment. Still, even Magneto can become a powerful ally in their ultimate fight.