Sam Wilson’s new superhero team in Avengers: Doomsday has been officially revealed. After Earth’s Mightiest Heroes disbanded in Avengers: Endgame, Wilson was persuaded to reform the team after the events of Captain America: Brave New World. But, with brand-new teams like the New Avengers joining the MCU, it was unclear until now exactly who would be a part of the upcoming Avengers roster.
At a recent Disney showcase in Italy, the full lineup for Sam Wilson’s Avengers team in Doomsday. Six members of the team were unveiled, including heroes from every era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While some of these new Avengers are still at the beginning of their careers, others are among the most powerful characters in the entire franchise–and one used to be the team’s mortal enemy.
Falcon Is Still New to the Superhero Game
Danny Ramirez stares at a laptop screen in The Falcon and the Winter SoldierImage via Marvel Studios/Everett Collection
After taking over the mantle of Captain America from Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson selected Air Force fighter pilot Joaquin Torres to replace him as Falcon. Serving as the new Captain America’s sidekick and wingman, the Falcon is most likely Wilson’s first selection to join the next iteration of the Avengers. When audiences last saw Torres in Captain America: Brave New World, he was still recovering from injuries sustained during a battle orchestrated by the villainous Leader. It seems that he has fully recovered by the events of Avengers: Doomsday, joining in the fight against Doctor Doom.
The Falcon has never been one of the more powerful members of the Avengers, using weaponry and a flight suit to make up for his lack of natural superpowers. However, the Joaquin Torres iteration of Falcon is even lower on the power scale, given his lack of experience. Torres has only been the Falcon for a short time and is still learning how to properly operate his flight suit. However, Doomsday is a chance for Torres to prove himself as the new Falcon, earning the mantle passed down by Sam Wilson.
Captain America Will Lead the Next Era of the Avengers
Captain America will lead the Avengers in Doomsday, with Sam Wilson finally stepping into his predecessor’s shoes as a natural leader. Wilson has been serving alongside the Avengers for years, first joining them in the Battle of Sokovia to help defeat Ultron and his sentries. Since then, he also fought in the Battles of Wakanda and Earth, helping to save the universe from Thanos and his armies. Now, the time has come for Sam to take a leadership position as he puts together the latest iteration of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
Sam Wilson may be a skilled fighter and a capable leader, but he is still much lower on the power scale than his fellow Avengers. Unlike Steve Rogers, Wilson does not have super soldier serum running through his veins, forcing him to make up for his lesser strength with enhanced technology, including a vibranium-laced power suit from the Wakandans. Although Sam can hold his own in fights against enemies far stronger than he, the true strength that he brings to the table is his strong leadership.
Ant-Man Has Honed His Abilities to Become a Powerful Superhero
Ant-Man is one of only three former Avengers returning to join the team in Doomsday. Scott Lang and Sam Wilson have a long history in the MCU, first encountering one another during the events of the first Ant-Man movie. It was Wilson who first suggested Lang as a potential final member of Captain America’s team during the superhero civil war. Ant-Man later became a crucial part of the Avengers’ final ploy to defeat the Mad Titan Thanos.
Ant-Man may not be the most powerful superhero in the MCU, but he brings certain specific abilities to the table that shouldn’t be overlooked. His power to shrink or grow anything at will has been extremely helpful in the past, and also gives the Avengers the ability to travel through time. Lang also proved his merit when he fought and defeated Kang the Conqueror in the Quantum Realm during the events of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. With his experience and unique skill set, Ant-Man will be a major asset to the Avengers in their fight against Doctor Doom.
Shang-Chi’s Full Powers Are About to Be Revealed
Simu Liu stars in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten RingsImage via Marvel Studios/Everett Collection
Simu Liu finally returns in Avengers: Doomsday, more than five years after his MCU debut in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Shang-Chi is one of the MCU’s newest heroes, a master of kung fu and now empowered with the might of the mysterious Ten Rings once worn by his father, Xu Wenwu. Shang-Chi was first recruited to join the Avengers in the post-credits scene of his debut film, when Wong invited him to the Sanctum Sanctorum to study the Ten Rings. Now, he finally gets a chance to fight alongside Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
Shang-Chi may not have innate abilities, but his Ten Rings are far more powerful than the MCU has revealed so far. The post-credits scene of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings hinted that the mysterious alien artifacts are connected to some cosmic source somewhere in the universe. This inspires many theories that suggest Doctor Doom will be looking for the Ten Rings when he finally arrives on Earth-616. This could hint that Shang-Chi wields a power of near-cosmic levels, the likes of which even he doesn’t understand.
Thor Is Stronger Than Ever Before
Thor is the only member of the original Avengers team to join Sam Wilson’s new lineup. As a founding member, Thor previously fought in the Battles of New York, Sokovia, Wakanda, and Earth, acting as one of the Avengers’ leading generals in each conflict. The god of thunder has only grown more powerful since his last team-up with the Avengers, unlocking the full strength of his Asgardian powers and reclaiming his lost hammer, Mjolnir. He is also one of the few members of the new Avengers lineup to have served alongside another prominent MCU team, having traveled with the Guardians of the Galaxy between the events of Endgame and Thor: Love and Thunder.
As the most senior member of the Avengers, Thor adds an extra layer of experience and foreknowledge to the new team, which includes several brand-new superheroes. While he may not be the team’s leader, Thor certainly carries a tremendous weight of respect for his long history with the team. The god of thunder has also proven himself to be one of the most powerful characters in the MCU, holding his own against dangerous enemies like Hela, the Mad Titan Thanos, and Gorr the God Butcher. Now, Thor gets the chance to prove his strength against an even more dangerous enemy: Doctor Victor von Doom.
Loki Is the All-Powerful God of Stories
Tom Hiddleston weaving the multiverse together in LokiDisney+/ Marvel Studios / Courtesy Everett Collection
The most surprising member of Sam Wilson’s new Avengers team is Loki Laufeyson. Ironically, Tom Hiddleston’s beloved character was the first MCU villain to fight the Avengers, leading an army of Chitauri in the Battle of New York. Now, he gets the chance to join the team that foiled his plan to take over Earth, completing his long-gestating redemptive arc. This version of Loki is not the same as viewers have seen in previous MCU films, but rather hails from a different timeline where he escaped capture after the Battle of New York (as seen in the Loki Disney+ series).
At the end of his spinoff series, Loki attained far greater power than he had ever possessed before. Braving the cosmic energy of He Who Remains’s imploding Temporal Loom, Loki finally achieved his glorious purpose. Now, he bears the burden of holding together Yggdrasil, the Worlds Tree, and sustaining all of the branching timelines as the “god of stories.” This newfound power not only makes him the most powerful member of Sam Wilson’s Avengers team, but perhaps the strongest individual in the entire MCU. As such, Loki will be the deciding factor between victory and defeat for the Avengers in their upcoming battle with Doctor Doom.