The 10 Characters that were affected by Brian Michael Bendis’ Avengers run

By: Jacob Elyachar

When New Avengers, Vol. 2 issue 34 hits the shelves on Wednesday, it will be the final Brian Michael Bendis Avengers issue.

Last week, I discussed the most memorable and shocking moments on Bendis’ eight-year run and this week, I will be discussing the 10 characters that have either benefited or made a mark on this incredible storyline.

10. Iron Fist

Danny Rand first came into the Avengers fold as he assisted his best friend, Luke Cage, when several of the Avengers were on the run thanks to Tony Stark and the Superhero Registration Act.    Iron Fist has become a valuable member of the Avengers and has been there in several crucial moments from the Skrull reveal to training Hope in Avengers vs. X-Men.

Best moment: Iron Fist and his legal team stand up to Iron Man and the Mighty Avengers at Rand Corporate Headquarters. (New Avengers, Vol.1 #29)

 

9. Victoria Hand

The former S.H.I.E.L.D. accountant turned H.A.M.M.E.R. second in command was a force to reckoned with throughout her four-year existence.   From dealing with the deadly Dark Avengers on a daily basis to assisting and proving herself worthy to the Avengers, when they tackled Norman Osborn and the combined forces of AIM, H.A.M.M.E.R., the Hand and HYDRA, Hand’s snarkiness and no-nonsense personality was always made an Avengers comic more enjoyable.

Best moment: Victoria Hand proves that she is useful to Captain America after the Siege of Asgard. (Dark Avengers, Vol. 1 #16)

8. Jewel

Jessica Jones-Cage has rotated over Bendis’ story arc from supporting cast member to Avenger.  In addition to taking care of her daughter, Danielle, Jewel has been in intricial part of the team’s dynamic which included questioning motives of Victoria Hand to dealing with the public backlash after Fear Itself.

Best moment: Jewel returns to the superhero game when she joins Ms. Marvel, Spider-Woman and Mockingbird and saved Hawkeye from H.A.M.M.E.R.   (New Avengers Annual, Vol. 1 #3)

7. The Sentry

Seven years ago, readers were re-introduced to the Sentry, the House of Ideas’ answer to Superman.   However, this was an extremely flawed take on the Man of Steel as Robert Reynolds struggled to control his malevolent personality the Void that Tony Stark tried to suppress but was allowed to run free thanks to Norman Osborn.

Best moment: Sentry saves Daredevil, Foggy Nelson and company from Carnage during the Raft breakout. (The New Avengers, Vol. 1 #2)

6. The Skrulls

Decades ago, these green-skinned aliens were just pests but thanks to Brian Michael Bendis, the Skrulls became forces to be reckoned with.   Under the rule of Queen Veranke, the Skrulls infiltrated every single superhero and government organization and almost brought the world to its knees.

Best moment: Queen Veranke as Spider-Woman tries to convince Tony Stark that he is a Skrull.  (Secret Invasion #3)

5. The Hood

One villain that benefited from Brian Michael Bendis’ run was the Hood.  Parker Robbins was a two-time crook that fluctuated from being a villain and an anti-hero.   Under Bendis’ pen, the Hood became a major force in the Underworld as he sought himself to become the Kingpin of all super-villains and almost became an unstoppable force when he hunted the Infinity Gems.

Best moment: The Hood nearly bested the Avengers in a fight for control of the Infinity Gems.  (Avengers Vol. 4 #7-12)

 

4. Norman Osborn

For decades, the Green Goblin has been Spider-Man’s arch-foe but more recently, Osborn has become a true menace to the Earth Mightiest Heroes after he took the Keys of the Kingdom away from Iron Man as a result of Secret Invasion.   Recently, he assumed the powers of the Super-Adaptoid and it took two teams of Avengers to defeat him.

Best moment: Osborn laid down the law in the presence of several of Marvel’s most dangerous villains and anti-heroes. (Secret Invasion: Dark Reign one-shot)

 

3. Scarlet Witch

If there were a character that has suffered the most under Bendis’ regime on the Avengers, it would have to be the Scarlet Witch.  From destroying her own team in Avengers: Disassembled to warping the world in her father’s image and nearly wiping out the world’s mutants in House of M, Bendis turned Wanda Maximoff into one of Marvel’s greatest weapons of mass destruction.

Best moment: Wanda begins the long road to redemption in Avengers vs. X-Men when she rescues Hope and the Avengers from a deranged and Phoenix-powered Cyclops. (Avengers vs. X-Men #6)

2. Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)

There are two characters that experienced the most growth under Bendis’ pen and one of them is Jessica Drew.   Despite being the face of the Skrull Invasion, Spider-Woman has rebuilt her life as an Avenger and participated in several high stakes battles with the team including the Siege of Asgard and the Avengers/X-Men war.

Best moment: Spider-Woman humiliates two Z-list super villains who tried to take control of her.  (New Avengers, Vol. 1 #62)

 

1. Luke Cage

The former Hero for Hire has really grown under Bendis’ pen.  From confronting his arch foe: the Purple Man during the Raft breakout to organizing the Avengers Underground activities during the events of The Initiative, Secret Invasion and Dark Reign, Luke Cage has gone from laughable C-list hero to Avengers leader and a MVP in the Marvel Universe.

Best moment: Luke Cage uses the Wrecker’s crowbar to rough up Venom and Bullseye after recusing his daughter, Danielle, from a rogue Skrull.  (New Avengers, Vol. 1 #49)

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