The Avengers are a fictional team of superheroes in the Marvel Universe comics books from Marvel Comics. The original team was comprised of characters created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Over the years, nearly every major character in the Marvel Universe has served as either an active duty or reserve member of the team.

The Avengers, though occasionally sanctioned by the United States government and trans-national peace-keeping organizations such as S.H.I.E.L.D and the United Nations Security Council, have a mandate that takes them all over the world and into space to battle threats beyond the capabilities of the individual members.

In their history, they have countered the machinations of the Norse god Loki, become embroiled in an attempt to involve the Earth in the galaxy-spanning Kree-Skrull War, the cosmic threat of Korvac, and the reality-bending powers of the Scarlet Witch, among others.