Five Times The Avengers Failed the World (And Times They Saved It)

The Avengers are Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, a team assembled to protect the world from
impossible threats. Whether they’re battling alien invasions or rogue gods, they’ve stood as a
symbol of courage and unity in the face of danger. But even the greatest hero’s stumble. Over
the decades, the Avengers have not only saved the world, but they’ve also failed it in devastating
ways.

From collapsing timelines to personal betrayals, here are five times the Avengers dropped the
ball, and five times they rose above the odds to save the day.

SAVED: Defeating Korvac (Avengers #167–177)

The Korvac Saga is one of the Avengers’ earliest and most cosmic-level threats. Michael
Korvac, a godlike being from the future, sought to reshape the universe in his image. Despite

his desire to create a “perfect” reality, his method involved the destruction of free will and
opposition.

The Avengers rallied every available member and fought a battle they were barely equipped
to survive. Many of them died during the fight, but their bravery forced Korvac to question
himself. In the end, he erased himself from existence. The world never knew how close it
came to being rewritten, all thanks to the Avengers’ resolve.

FAILED: The Trial of Hank Pym (Avengers 212–213)

One of the most personal and painful failures in Avengers history came not from a villain, but
from within the team. Hank Pym (Yellowjacket) was spiraling and emotionally unstable,
desperate to prove himself and growing increasingly violent. During a breakdown, he struck
his wife, Janet Van Dyne (the Wasp), in a moment that shocked readers.

The Avengers didn’t intervene early enough. They failed to notice the signs of Hank’s
decline or provide support when he needed it. This failure wasn’t about a lost battle, it was
about failing one of their own. Hank was expelled, but the damage to his reputation and the
team’s integrity lingered for years.

SAVED: Operation: Galactic Storm (Avengers 345–347)

When a war between the Kree and the Shi’ar empires threatened to spill into Earth’s solar
system, the Avengers were caught in a cosmic conflict. Splitting into teams, they worked to
stop the interstellar war while protecting Earth from being collateral damage.

They succeeded in preventing the destruction of Earth and ended the conflict, though not
without moral consequences. Some Avengers executed the Kree Supreme Intelligence,
causing internal debate. Still, the Avengers’ intervention stopped a war that could’ve wiped
out Earth and many other planets.

FAILED: Avengers Disassembled (Avengers 500–503)

In one of the darkest periods in Avengers history, the team fell apart from the inside out. A
mentally unstable Scarlet Witch, driven to the edge by grief and trauma, unleashed chaos on
her teammates. She manipulated reality, resulting in the deaths of Ant-Man (Scott Lang),
Hawkeye, and Vision.

The Avengers were completely blindsided. Their failure wasn’t in battle, it was in failing to
see the signs. They didn’t support Wanda when she needed help, and the result was

catastrophe. This storyline effectively ended the classic Avengers team and showed just how
fragile even the strongest alliances can be.

SAVED: Defeating Thanos With the Infinity
Gauntlet (Infinity Gauntlet #1–6)

When Thanos gathered the six Infinity Gems and wiped out half the universe with a snap of
his fingers, all hope seemed lost. Earth’s heroes, including many Avengers, teamed up with
cosmic forces to stop him.

Even though they were outmatched, their courage bought enough time for Nebula to turn the
tide. Eventually, Adam Warlock helped secure the Gauntlet and restore the universe. The
Avengers stood against a god and, against all odds, helped save all existence.

FAILED: Civil War (Civil War #1–7)

The Superhuman Registration Act split the Avengers into two factions. Iron Man led the pro-
registration side, while Captain America opposed it. What started as a debate turned into a
full-blown war between heroes.

Civilians were caught in the crossfire. Trust in superheroes crumbled. Goliath (Bill Foster)
was killed. And when Cap finally surrendered, it wasn’t because he lost, it was because he
realized how much damage they had caused. The Avengers’ failure here wasn’t losing to a
villain, it was failing to protect the very people they swore to defend.

SAVED: Defeating the X-Men in Avengers vs. X-
Men (AvX #1–12)

When the Phoenix Force returned to Earth, seeking a new host, the Avengers and the X-Men
clashed over what to do. The result was another civil war, this time with the fate of the
mutant race and the world at stake.

Eventually, the Phoenix Five lost control. It was the Avengers, with help from Hope
Summers and the Scarlet Witch, who brought peace back. Their intervention prevented Earth
from being reshaped or destroyed, even if the battle left both sides scarred.

FAILED: House of M (House of M #1–8)

Before reality was rewritten, the Avengers and X-Men gathered to decide Wanda Maximoff’s
fate. Her grief had already caused global destruction during Avengers Disassembled, and they
feared what she might do next. Instead of helping her heal, they debated killing her.

In response, Wanda created an alternate world where mutants ruled. When reality was
restored, she spoke the words “No more mutants,” depowering 90% of the mutant population.
The Avengers’ indecision and inability to support a teammate led to one of the most
devastating consequences in Marvel history.

SAVED: Stopping Kang the Conqueror
(Avengers #41–55, 2001)

Few villains challenge the Avengers across time and space like Kang the Conqueror. During
The Kang Dynasty, he conquered Earth, razed Washington D.C., and forced humanity to live
under his rule.

But the Avengers never gave up. Through strategy, sacrifice, and perseverance, they defeated
Kang and freed the planet. This story showcased the team’s resilience and global impact,
proving why they’re Earth’s last line of defense.