The Avengers are Earth’s Mightiest Heroes — but not every member lived up to that title. Some were unstable, some were ethically questionable, and some just… didn’t belong. Here are 10 of the worst Avengers from Marvel Comics, based on poor performance, questionable morality, weak powers, or simply bizarre storylines. Each entry includes a specific comic scene and a detailed explanation of why they’re considered among the worst Avengers:
1. Jack of Hearts
Scene: Avengers Vol. 3 #62 (2003)
Why Worst: Jack of Hearts is emotionally unstable and constantly radiates deadly energy, making it nearly impossible for him to be around teammates safely. He literally has to live in isolation, only to explode in the mansion during Avengers: Disassembled, killing Scott Lang (Ant-Man) and himself.
Comic Scene: His unexpected return and explosion are key in Wanda Maximoff’s breakdown.
2. D-Man (Demolition Man)
Scene: Captain America #344 (1988)
Why Worst: Originally a wrestler-turned-hero, D-Man has strength but lacks skill or mental stability. His outdated costume and frequent mental breakdowns made him more of a liability than a help. He even lived homeless for years.
Comic Scene: His breakdown during missions forced Avengers to sideline him.
3. Gilgamesh (The Forgotten One)
Scene: Avengers #300 (1989)
Why Worst: Despite being an Eternal, Gilgamesh’s presence was so dull and underwhelming that fans and the team literally forgot him. He was injured in battle and left the Avengers without leaving much of an impression.
Comic Scene: His time with the team during Inferno event was ineffective and forgettable.
4. Rage
Scene: Avengers #329 (1991)
Why Worst: Rage was only 13 when he became a full-grown powerhouse due to chemicals, and lied to join the Avengers. Once they found out, they kicked him off the main team. His inexperience and immaturity got him into trouble.
Comic Scene: The Avengers scolding and demoting Rage after discovering his real age.
5. Doctor Druid
Scene: Avengers #297–300 (1989)
Why Worst: Doctor Druid manipulated and betrayed his teammates under mind control from the villainess Terminatrix. He lacked charisma, and his magical abilities were weak compared to Strange or Wanda.
Comic Scene: Druid brainwashes the team and then is easily defeated when the spell breaks.
6. Triathlon / 3-D Man
Scene: Avengers Vol. 3 #8–#49 (1998–2002)
Why Worst: Introduced as a politically correct response to team diversity, he was disliked for being arrogant and condescending. His powers were confusing, and his story arcs didn’t stick.
Comic Scene: His tension with Wonder Man and other core Avengers in every mission.
7. Silverclaw
Scene: Avengers Annual 2000
Why Worst: A young recruit with animal transformation powers, Silverclaw never had significant moments. Her limited combat training and forgettable stories made her feel unnecessary.
Comic Scene: Her awkward missions where she gets overwhelmed or sidelined by stronger Avengers.
8. Sentry (Robert Reynolds)
Scene: New Avengers #1–#24 (2005–2006)
Why Worst: A mentally unstable godlike hero with a dark split personality (The Void). Sentry’s immense power should have made him unstoppable, but his constant emotional meltdowns endangered the team more than any villain.
Comic Scene: Sentry brutally kills Ares and rips him in half during Siege – shocking even villains.
9. Hellcat (Patsy Walker)
Scene: Avengers #141 (1975)
Why Worst: While skilled in hand-to-hand combat and having psychic senses, Hellcat often served as comic relief. She didn’t bring much strategic or combat value to the Avengers lineup.
Comic Scene: Her naive attitude and cheerleader vibe clashed with serious Avengers arcs.
10. Living Lightning
Scene: Avengers West Coast #63 (1990)
Why Worst: Although he had lightning powers, he was underdeveloped and often outclassed. He didn’t contribute meaningfully in big arcs and vanished from most Avengers stories later.
Comic Scene: Repeatedly overshadowed during the fight against Ultron and Zodiac enemies.
These characters weren’t bad because they were villains—they just didn’t fit with the Avengers’ high expectations, lacked development, or posed a threat to their own teammates. Some had potential, but poor writing or awkward placement on the team doomed them.
