Spider-Man confirms which Avenger was never worthy of membership. While the Avengers were born as a small squad of five superheroes, they soon grew into Marvel’s biggest team. Throughout the years, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes have welcomed former loners like Hawkeye, X-Men members such as Beast, and obscure heroes like Deathcry.
The Avengers have been so open to recruiting fresh faces that they’ve had no problem with receiving villains. Red Hulk, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, and Black Widow have played key roles in the team despite their dark past. Venom, Loki, and even Ultron have also earned the title of Avenger, at least through different subdivisions.
One of the earliest and most notable villain members of the Avengers was always a bad choice, and Spider-Man knows it better than anybody else.
Sandman Proves He Never Deserved An Avengers Membership
The Amazing Spider-Man: Torn #1; Written by J. Michael Straczynski; Art by Pere Perez & Guru eFX
Spidey’s daily struggles continue to keep him on the edge in The Amazing Spider-Man: Torn. In between college classes, Peter Parker has to stop a raging Sandman. Despite his status as a former Avenger, Sandman prefers to commit serious crimes like attacking the United Nations.
Back in Avengers #329, the United Nations took formal control of the Avengers, giving the global body authority over their membership and missions. Seeking to rehabilitate himself after years of villainy, Sandman accepted Captain America’s invitation, becoming a reserve member. But after only a few half-hearted attempts to do things right, Sandman returned to his villainous ways.
Sandman’s attack on the United Nations showcases a full-circle moment that shatters what little remained of his redemption arc. Not only does Sandman not display any remorse over throwing away his chance at being a hero, but he also attacks the one organization that gave him that opportunity, all over money. While Sandman isn’t the cruelest of Spider-Man’s rogues, he’s definitely beyond redemption.
The Avengers Haven’t Always Had The Best Of Luck Recruiting New Members
Earth’s Mightiest Heroes Haven’t Always Done Their Name Justice
Due to their immense roster, there are many Avengers who never quite earned their spot in the team. For instance, Gilgamesh disappeared almost immediately after joining the Avengers. Swordsman couldn’t gain his teammates’ trust after attempting to blow them up in their first encounter. Captain America’s forgotten sidekick, D-Man, struggled to prove he could handle global-scale threats.
Other Avengers simply performed terribly once given the opportunity. Doctor Druid, for example, let his arrogance lead to the team’s near-collapse. Triathlon and Silverclaw, introduced in the early 2000s, never stood out in battle or personality. Meanwhile, Sentry’s unstable psyche made him a liability more than an asset, despite his immense power. Certainly, not everyone is built for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
Amazing Spider-Man: Torn #1 is available from Marvel Comics
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
