The unusual suspects

As the Avengers re-assemble with a new line up, we meet the refreshed super team launching us into Phase Three.

1 War Machine (Don Cheadle)

First apearance : Iron Man #282 (September 1992) Special skils : Top pilot; combat specialist; flies the War Machine suit of armour. Origins: Tony Stark is many things – genius, lothario, Iron Man – but he is also something of a booze hound, which means best buddy James Rhodes occasionally has to take the reins. War Machine is Rhodey’s heavily armoured Iron Man alternative, and now a hero in his own right. What ’s next? The Avengers just wouldn’t be the same without somebody stepping into a metal suit, and with Iron Man on sabbatical it’s down to War Machine to join Marvels’ mightiest heroes.

2 Vision (Paul Betany )

First apearance : The Avengers #57 (October 1968) Special skils : Density control; flight; can use Mind Infinity Stone to cause all manner of chaos.

Origins: A combination of a synthetic body built by Ultron and Tony Stark’s J.A.R.V.I.S. A.I., Vision is the Tin Man of the new Avengers, albeit a tin man with one of the most powerful objects in the universe stapled to his forehead.

What ’s next? As one of the most formidable of the new Avengers, Vision will be at the heart of all and any action. He’s got the mind of a genius, an all-but-indestructible body and can even wield Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir.

3 Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen )

First apearance : X-Men #4 (March 1964) Special skils : Telepathy; mind control; can shoot energy bolts from her hands.

Origins: Alongside her brother Quicksilver/Pietro, Scarlet Witch/Wanda was experimented on by Hydra, resulting in the development of crazy mind powers.

What ’s next? Now that – spoiler alert! – she’s all alone in the world after the events of Age Of Ultron, the Avengers are all Scarlet Witch has left. With a past as traumatic as hers, and powers as unruly, expect her to bring the pain to anyone who messes with her new family.

4 Falcon (Anthony Mackie )

First apearance : Captain America #117 (September 1969) Special skils : Special forces training; weapons specialist; suit that allows him to fly through the goddamn air.

Origins: A former test pilot for the EXO-7 Falcon flight suit and running mate of Captain America, Falcon helped Cap with his Winter Soldier problem, and has since become firm friends with the first Avenger.

What ’s next? Now a fully fledged member of the Avengers, he’ll be Cap’s right hand man and go-to man-bird. A handy guy to have around in a fight, as well as after thanks to his experience helping soldiers deal with PTSD.

5 Captain America (Chris Evans )

First apearance : Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941) Special skils : Super strength, agility and endurance; leadership; shield tossing.

Origins: You know the drill by now – super serum, World War II, frozen in the Arctic, resurrected in the 21st Century and now the Avengers’ all-American leader. What ’s next? Cap’s next solo movie Captain

America: Civil War [ see p24] will see the Avengers split right down the middle, and he’s going to need that shield of his to sort out Iron Man, an ever-increasing line up of bad guys, and anyone else that takes a swing at him.

6 Black Widow (Scarlett johanson)

First apearance : Tales Of Suspense #52 (April 1964) Special skils : Espionage; unarmed combat; maximum sass.

Origins: A former KGB operative and assassin who joined S.H.I.E.L.D. and went to work taking out Hydra operatives the world over. She’s pretty good at it.

What ’s next? Her burgeoning romance with Bruce Banner is on hold while the Hulk goes off-grid, and she’s got some issues from her past to deal with while she waits for Marvel to give her that solo movie she surely deserves. In the mean time, there’s little else for her to do other than train the new Avengers, and continue kicking ass and taking names.