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The Avengers are often considered to be the most elite team in the Marvel Universe. It is the core unit that many of Earth-616's adventures are based around, and a true sign of success, both in terms of sales and critical response for any character, is to eventually appear as one of the Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Yet, not every major character has appeared in the team. Some have been left out, playing pivotal roles in alternative areas of the Marvel Universe. Indeed, some of those characters may never be included in the official lineup.
Now, when discussing this topic, it must be made clear that not every character fits into The Avengers and what they stand for. Equally, there have been multiple versions of The Avengers over the years, and while the focus is primarily on the main teams, like The New Avengers, Avengers, and Mighty Avengers, there are spin-off groups like the West Coast Avengers, Secret Avengers, and Uncanny Avengers that may have a more appropriate place for these kinds of characters.
Cyclops' Allegiance Is To The X-Men
Even when the Uncanny Avengers were formed, a team consisting of key members of both the X-Men and The Avengers, Cyclops was nowhere to be found on the roster. While a young Cyclops has flirted with membership with the Young Avengers and more prominently, the Champions, the main version of the character has never appeared in any Avengers ensemble and never should.
Cyclops is too heavily associated with the X-Men and the Mutant cause, and while other members of the team, like Wolverine, have served in The Avengers in the past, Cyclops is simply too committed to what the X-Men stand for to ever leave the unit. In fact, he is one of their most iconic leaders and likely wouldn't sit well within a group dynamic where he would no longer be viewed as a senior member.
The Phoenix Brings Even More Powerful Threats
Much like Cyclops, Jean Grey is also heavily associated with the X-Men. She has played a major part in the team's early origins, and while her erratic nature as the Phoenix may have put the group in danger, they largely harness that cosmic force as the ultimate weapon, allowing the team to push back the Mutants' worst enemies. In The Avengers, though, Phoenix would encourage worse threats.
Power like this ends up attracting more power, as larger, more frightening enemies step up. The Phoenix is so often out in space, constantly moving forward and looking for cosmic problems to solve. In The Avengers, she would be too grounded, with too many enemies endangering the team on another level. Echo may have used the Phoenix Force in The Avengers, as did a hero in The Avengers of 1,000,000 BC, but Jean Grey is on another level.
Khonshu Cannot Be Trusted Like Other Deities
A couple of Gods and Demi-Gods have served on The Avengers in years gone by. Ares was famously a roster member for The Dark Avengers, while Hercules and Thor have served on The Avengers for some time. Even Odin played a part in the prehistoric Avengers. Friend or foe, Khonshu should simply never join the squad.
Not only has he acted as an antagonist to The Avengers in the past, using Moon Knight as his conduit, but he is also too controlling and manipulative. Even when trying to serve justice, he is manipulative and driven by ego. Khonshu might be a mighty force to have on-side, but in the heat of battle, he could not be trusted. Equally, Moon Knight seems to have been denied membership for the long-term.
The Punisher Is Too Unpredictable To Be Trusted
The Punisher has served as part of The Thunderbolts, worked alongside The Defenders, and even briefly allied with the anti-registration forces led by Captain America. But The Punisher has always truly been a solo act and should remain as such. His methods are simply too violent and brutal for any other major Avengers to be able to accept.
The Punisher is unpredictable, obsessive, and a terrible team member to have on the front lines. His addiction to battle makes him a terrible hero, but a good vigilante, but The Avengers must be represented by those who can walk the lines of the law and serve as an inspiration to all. The controversy around Punisher means he will never be allowed to join the team.
Gamora's Methods Are Too Lethal For The Avengers
While characters like The Punisher might be deemed too lethal for The Avengers, cosmic heroes like Gamora tread a very similar path. The assassin is no stranger to violence in her own right, and while The Guardians of the Galaxy is made up of thieves and warriors from other worlds, Gamora seems right at home among that often criminal mix.
Gamora has the heart of a hero, truly, but it is often misplaced. She can seem isolated even within her own team, and to drop that dynamic into The Avengers would be to potentially tear the team apart. Her interests, alliances, and reputation are all up there, in space, and it would be a difficult transition for her to remain on Earth full-time.
Black Bolt Has A Kingdom To Represent On His Own
Kings and Queens have served as part of The Avengers before. From Namor to Black Panther, the dynamic works if these heroes accept the changing roles. However, for Black Bolt, it might be a much harder concept to get around. As the leader of the Inhumans and king of his people, he has often felt that the world has shied away from the tragedies that have befallen them.
Black Bolt still has a kingdom to represent, with his role pertaining more to the cosmic realms than anything happening on Earth right now. There's also the issue of his power. The Avengers need abilities that can be quickly and safely relied upon to get the job done, but Black Bolt's skills are so great that it would be difficult to harness that strength in the correct capacity when facing street-level foes.
Silver Surfer's Interests Are Further Afield
In the case of characters like Gamora and Black Bolt, who are more associated with the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe, it can be hard to fathom grounding those figures on Earth and forcing them into a new kind of team. The same can be said for Silver Surfer, who has been more strongly associated with The Fantastic Four than he ever has with The Avengers.
Silver Surfer is perfect as a powerful ally to call upon when threats come from above, but as a mainstay, it simply wouldn't work. Silver Surfer is a loner, often powered forward by a sense of guilt. He doesn't always play well with others and can be distant at times. The Avengers have a military approach to their operations, and Radd just wouldn't be able to fall in line.
Spider-Boy Needs To Go On His Own Path
Spider-Man has joined The Avengers, as has Spider-Woman. Indeed, the characters have a long history with the team and, from Miles Morales to Venom, critical characters from the Spider-Verse have been a part of known rosters. Spider-Boy might be one of the newest Spider-Heroes on the block, but he needs to be kept far away from The Avengers.
While a spot on the Champions might feel promising, Spider-Boy cannot simply follow in the footsteps of his predecessors. He has to walk his own path, which means stepping away from the notion of ever being an Avenger. Sure, he's too young as of this writing anyway, but the team needs fresh experience from elsewhere in the Marvel Universe.
White Queen Is A Known Manipulator
Emma Frost has been a member of the Cosmic Avengers and has been considered an honorary member of the main unit, but the X-Man, Mutant, and Hellfire leader cannot be trusted enough to ever serve as a permanent part of the ensemble. White Queen is a known manipulator and, in a team full of secrets, it would be very hard to keep them from her.
Emma Frost may be pure of heart, or so it seems, but even if correctly performing her duties, no one would trust the Mutant. The X-Men already have an uneasy relationship with The White Queen built on years of loyalty and betrayal, but that history doesn't exist with The Avengers, meaning her selection would be an unusual risk even if Stark were to vouch for her.
Misty Knight Is Best When She's Independent
Misty Knight is a fantastic solo operative, and though she might team up with the Heroes for Hire and other street-level vigilantes on occasion, she is best off working independently. She can run rings around so many other heroes due to her investigative prowess and her years of experience. Even Miles Morales learned a thing or two from Knight not that long ago.
Knight is far more likely to stick to her Daughters of the Dragon duo with Colleen Wing, where she is allowed the freedom to operate however she wants. If she were to join The Avengers, she would likely go off-book one too many times, ignoring commands and walking her own path. She is definitely most effective in her current roles.
