Marvel Comics' Avengers are frequently called Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, but there are more than a few avenging alumni who take that moniker quite seriously. With powerhouses like Wonder Man and Hercules having claimed Avengers hip at one point or another, the title of “Strongest Avenger” is quite frequently a subject of debate.
More than a few Marvel icons have claimed to be the most powerful heroes around, and considering the firepower at their disposal, it wouldn’t be hard to see why. But at the end of the day, only one can be the strongest Avenger there is, but who that is might surprise some fans.
15 Namor
Created by Bill Everett
The Scion of Atlantis is one of Marvel’s oldest characters, as well as one of its most powerful. Though he’s fought against the Avengers more times than fans can count in a villain-like role, he’s also counted himself among their number on just as many occasions.
The longer he’s away from water, the weaker Namor gets...
With his hybrid physiology, Namor’s already incredible strength is greatly enhanced when submerged beneath the waves or in with water. He's more than a match for the likes of the Thing, Red Hulk, and even Thor. But the longer he’s away from water, the weaker Namor gets, preventing the Sub-Mariner from truly claiming the top spot as the strongest Avenger.
14 The Thing
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Though he’s more commonly known as a member of the Fantastic Four, the Ever-Lovin’ Blue-Eyed Thing has served with the Avengers more than once and is automatically one of their strongest heroes ever. Roughly on par with the Fantastic Four's longtime rival, Namor, in of raw power, the4 Thing has the upper hand against the Atlantean in that his strength is relatively consistent, and he's not dependent on his surroundings to empower him.
While not the most physically powerful hero on this list, Ben Grimm’s determination and endurance are second-to-none, oftentimes allowing him to survive and succeed against much more powerful opponents like the Hulk himself when all others fall.
13 Iron Man
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
On his own, Tony Stark is definitely one of the smartest Avengers, but depending on which armor he’s chosen to wear that day, he’s also one of the strongest. At its base level, Iron Man’s standard armor allows him to lift up to one hundred tons, immediately making him one of the strongest in most Avengers rosters.
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With all the variations and upgrades that Stark is constantly making, his armor is always evolving and always getting stronger with each change. Unfortunately, since this strength is so dependent on the tools that Tony has at hand, Iron Man is still a long way from being the Avengers’ heaviest hitter.
12 The Mighty Thor
Created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Jason Aaron
Jane Foster’s time as Thor was temporary, but the legacy of power that she left behind is undeniable. Imbued with the power of Mjolnir, the Mighty Thor automatically became one of the Avengers’ strongest as soon as she ed their ranks.
Capable of easily lifting at least one hundred tons so long as she’s in her Thor form, Foster’s Goddess of Thunder outclassed practically every Asgardian save for the Odinson himself, so long as she wielded Mjolnir. Though her current Valkyrie incarnation isn’t on the same level as her previous heroic identity, Jane Foster is no pushover in any guise.
11 Wonder Man
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Fueled by ionic energy, Wonder Man has been considered one of the most powerful heroes on Earth more than once. Easily able to lift over one hundred tons, Simon Williams has strength enough to outclass beings like the Abomination or the Thing and has proven himself stronger than most iterations of Iron Man’s armor.
Though he’s often mentioned in comparison to other heavy hitters like Thor or the Sentry, Wonder Man himself has acknowledged that he’s definitely far below the God of Thunder in of raw strength. But Williams still ranks among Earth’s Mightiest, even if he isn’t the strongest of them all.
10 Captain Marvel
Created by Roy Thomas and Gene Colan
Carol Danvers’ strength has fluctuated throughout the years, but these days, she’s about as strong as she’s ever been. Resting at a strength level capable of lifting in excess of one hundred tons, Carol’s real advantage is her ability to absorb energy to temporarily boost her strength.
The more potent the energy source, the more powerful Captain Marvel becomes...
The more potent the energy source, the more powerful Captain Marvel becomes, having even knocked out the Sentry at one point after absorbing a nuclear explosion. And though knocking out the Sentry is a feat in and of itself, with a sufficiently powerful enough energy source, Carol Danvers can likely do much more than that.
9 She-Hulk
Created by Stan Lee and John Buscema
Jennifer Walters has been one of the Avengers’ most consistent heavy hitters for decades, and with her Gamma-fueled musculature, it’s not hard to see why. Having grown in strength since her initial transformation, She-Hulk can now lift well over one hundred tons at her base strength levels – easily double what she was originally capable of handling.
Even the otherworldly Beyonder has noted how impressive Jennifer’s strength really is, and the maintained intelligence not shared by her more savage cousin definitely gives her an added advantage in applying that considerable strength in more tactical situations. Walters isn’t the strongest Hulk, but she’s still more than earned her place as one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
8 Gilgamesh
Created by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer
By far the physically strongest of all the Eternals, the being called Gilgamesh is also one of the strongest that the Avengers have ever inducted. The upper limits of his strength haven’t been defined, but his feats speak for themselves, considering that he’s strong enough to regularly kill his fellow Eternals whenever they step out of line.
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In ancient times, he even completed more than one of Hercules’ fabled Twelve Labors, including temporarily taking Atlas’ place at the foundation of the world, and he was often even mistaken for the Lion of Olympus himself. These days, the Eternal rarely fights alongside the Avengers, but this ancient hero is still one of their most powerful alumni.
7 Hercules
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
The literal Olympian God of Strength from ancient myth, Hercules is not only the strongest Olympian but one of the strongest Avengers ever. A being of legend, Herc’s strength has long been compared to his fellow Avenging deity, Thor, and their combined power was such that a battle between the two threatened to destroy the heavens.
On more than one occasion, Hercules has even managed to overpower the Hulk – a much more daunting feat than ing the Earth on his very shoulders in place of Atlas. Truly living up to his heritage, this ancient Avenger’s strength is truly godlike.
6 Red Hulk
Created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Jeph Loeb, and Ed McGuinness
The Hulk’s old foe, Thunderbolt Ross, may have become what he hated most by turning into the Red Hulk, but he also became one of the strongest in Avengers history. Able to lift over one hundred tons at the very least, Ross’ strength can further be enhanced by absorbing radiation.
Anyone guileless enough to go against Thunderbolt Ross will be seeing red.
As Red Hulk, Ross has gone up against Beta Ray Bill, Rick Jones’ Abomination, Banner’s Hulk, and even Thor and managed to walk away victorious. Ross' Gamma powers were suppressed and removed for a time, and since their return, it’s not clear if he’s as strong as he once was. But anyone guileless enough to go against Thunderbolt Ross will be seeing red.
