The Fantasy Review’s list of 7 Awesome Monster Teams in Marvel Comics, Ranked. We are using the word “teams” to include groups who might not always work together, but are linked in some way.
#7 – Leviathons
Well Known Members:
- Leviathon Mother
- Eggplant
- Furnax
- Giant Gorn
- Glob-zilla
Main Base/Location:
- Desecrated Nest
First Appearance:
- Monsters Unleashed #1 (2017) by Cullen Bunn
These massive creatures descend upon a different planet every thousand years to destroy everything. These monsters are all unique, with different, incredibly powerful abilities, such as acidic blood, and energy tentacles.
They communicate with one another through shrieks, coordinating their attacks on Earth, which is their latest potential victim. They aim to annihilate the population of the Earth and prepare it for the Leviathon Mother, who will then come to the planet and create a new nest, moving from the Desecrated Nest, which is located in an unknown galaxy.
#6 – Undead Avengers
Well-Known Members:
- Steve Rogers
- Hawkeye
- Wolverine
- Daredevil
- Thor the Accursed
- Black Widow
- Spider-Man
Main Base/Location:
- Earth-666
First Appearance:
- Secret Avengers #33 (2012) by Rick Remender and Andy Kuhn
On the planet Earth-666, all beings are monsters, so all our favorite heroes are vampires, ghosts, werewolves, and all kinds of creatures! Want to see Steve Rogers as a werewolf, or Daredevil as a demon? Earth-666 is the place!
#5 – Kid Kaiju
Well-Known Members:
- Kei Kawade
- Aegis
- Hi-Vo
- Mekara
- Scragg
- Slizzik
- Smasher
- Fireclaw
Main Base/Location:
- Earth
First Appearance:
- Monsters Unleashed Vol. 2 #1 (2017) by Cullen Bunn and Steve McNiven
The downfall of the Leviathons is a kid called Kei Kawade! He’s an inhuman who can summon monsters by drawing them, and this also allows him to communicate with them telepathically too. These monsters then helped the Super Heroes of Earth defeat the Leviathons, even those who had once had their minds set on destroying the planet themselves.
#4 – Marvel Zombies
Well-Known Members:
- The superpowered beings who are infected by the Hunger disease
Main Base/Location:
- All Earths
First Appearance:
- Ultimate Fantastic Four #21 (2005) by Mark Millar and Greg Land
The Hunger disease, a sentient infection, is released into Earth-1610 by Reed Richards (accidentally!) and it spread across the whole world. Then, it turned its focus on Earth-2149 and the superpowered heroes there.
Then begins a series of zombified superpowered beings (heroes and villains) devouring worlds, until the only one left alive and free of the infection is Spider-Man from Earth-616.
#3 – Hulks
Well-Known Members:
- Bruce Banner (Hulk)
- Amadeus Cho (Totally Awesome Hulk)
- Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk)
- Thaddeus Ross (Red Hulk)
- Betty Ross (Red She-Hulk)
Main Base/Location:
- Earth-616
First Appearance:
- Incredible Hulk #1 (1962) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
There are many Hulks, but none so well known as Bruce Banner. They might all be monsters, but they are heroes too, fighting to protect the common people of Earth. The Hulks get their powers from gamma radiation, and have allied themselves with other large, very strong beings before, like A-Bomb, Skaar, and more.
#2 – Howling Commandos
Well-Known Members:
- Nick Fury
- Frankenstein’s Monster
- Warwolf
- Vampire by Night
- The Living Mummy
- Gorilla-Man
Main Base/Location:
- Area 13
First Appearance:
- Nick Fury’s Howling Commandos #1 (2005) by Keith Giffen and Eduardo Franscisco
Nick Fury’s Howling Commandos are a team put together by Sgt. Fury during World War II to combat the worst villains from the Axis Powers of the time, including the Red Skull and Baron von Strucker.
A new team was put together decades later, called The Howling Commandos of S.H.I.E.L.D, as part of the S.T.A.K.E division (Supernatural Threat Analysis for Known Extranormalities). The first appearance of this team is in Howling Commandos of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 (2015).
#1 – Legion of Monsters
Well-Known Members:
- Originals: Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, Morbius, Werewolf by Night
- Second Incarnation: Living Mummy, Morbius, Werewolf by Night, Man-Thing, Manphibian
Main Base/Location:
- Earth: Chipperfield, UK; or, Tunnels below New York
First Appearance:
- Marvel Premiere #28 (1976) by Bill Mantlo and Frank Robbins
The Legion of Monsters is a terrifying group of superpowered beings, but they fight for the little guys and are good at heart… we promise…! This group of outcasts works together to protect other innocent outcasts, but they also work with other heroes, such as Red Hulk, and Spider-Woman.
