View source for Secret Avengers

{{short description|Fictional comic book group}}
{{For|the team created during the Civil War|Civil War (comics)}}
{{Infobox comics team and title <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
<!-- Group section -->
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|caption =
|team_name =The Secret Avengers
|publisher = [[Marvel Comics]]
|debuthead =
|debut = ''Secret Avengers'' #1
|debutmo = July
|debutyr = 2010
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|type = Team
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|team =The Secret Avengers
|base =
|owners =[[Maria Hill]]<br/>[[Nick Fury Jr.]]<br/>[[Phil Coulson#Comic books|Phil Coulson]]
|employees =
|fullroster = [[Secret Avengers#Roster|below]]

<!-- Series section -->
|cvr_image = Secret avengers.jpg
|cvr_caption = Cover to ''Secret Avengers'', #1 (May 2010). Art by [[Marko Djurdjević]].
|schedule = Monthly
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|writers = [[Ed Brubaker]]<br />[[Nick Spencer]]<br />[[Warren Ellis]]<br />[[Rick Remender]]
|artists = [[Mike Deodato]]<br />[[David Aja]]<br />[[Michael Lark]]<br />Stefano Gaudiano<br />Will Conrad<br />[[Scot Eaton]]<br />[[Jamie McKelvie]]<br />[[Kev Walker]]<br />[[Alex Maleev]]<br />[[John Cassaday]]<br />Gabriel Hardman
|pencillers =
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|editors = [[Tom Brevoort]]<br />[[Joe Quesada]]<br />Lauren Sankovitch
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'''''Secret Avengers''''' is an American [[comic book]] [[Ongoing series|series]] published by [[Marvel Comics]] featuring a [[fiction]]al [[black operation|black ops]] [[superhero]] team of the same name. The series started with [[Ed Brubaker]] on writing duties, depicting a black-ops sect of Marvel's premier super hero team, the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]], which operates under the guidance and leadership of [[Captain America|Captain Steve Rogers]] (the former Captain America).<ref name="Siege4">{{Cite comic|Writer = [[Brian Michael Bendis|Bendis, Brian Michael]]|Title = [[Siege (comics)|Siege]]|Volume = 1|Issue = 4|Date = May 2010|Publisher = Marvel Comics}}</ref><ref name="Number1">{{Cite comic|Writer = [[Ed Brubaker|Brubaker, Ed]]|Title = Secret Avengers|Volume = 1|Issue = 1|Date = May 2010|Publisher = Marvel Comics}}</ref> The series is part of the ''Avengers''-line relaunch as part of the "[[Heroic Age (comics)|Heroic Age]]".

==Publication history==
Writer [[Ed Brubaker]] and artist [[Mike Deodato]] were announced as the creative team for the ''Secret Avengers'' title. A series of teaser images were released by Marvel to promote the upcoming series in February 2010, which slowly revealed the team's roster over the course of two months.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Newsarama staff--> |url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/Secret-Avengers-Marvel-100208.html |title=SECRET AVENGERS Teaser 6: I LEAD BY EXAMPLE |work=[[Newsarama]] |date=February 8, 2010 |access-date=February 19, 2010 }}</ref> The series started in late May 2010 ([[cover date]] July 2010).

As of the first issue, the roster includes [[Beast (comics)|Beast]], [[War Machine]], [[Valkyrie (Marvel Comics)|Valkyrie]], [[Moon Knight]], [[Nova (Richard Rider)|Nova]], [[Black Widow (Natalia Romanova)|Black Widow]], [[Sharon Carter]] and [[Ant-Man (Eric O'Grady)|Ant-Man]] and the team is led by [[Captain America|Captain Steve Rogers]].<ref name="Number1" /> In regards to the tone of the new title, Brubaker has said:

{{blockquote|Secret Avengers is definitely going to have a lot of the espionage plots and the [[Jim Steranko|Steranko]] influence, and the crazy [[Jack Kirby|Kirby]] technology, but I don't think there's going to be much soap opera. I hope it feels different than any Avengers team, ever.<ref name=newsarama100209>{{cite news |first=Vaneta |last=Rogers |url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/secret-avengers-ed-brubaker-100209.html |title=Ed Brubaker Tries to Keep the SECRET AVENGERS' Secrets |work=[[Newsarama]] |date=February 9, 2010 |access-date=February 16, 2010 }}</ref>}}

After Brubaker left the title, author [[Nick Spencer]] wrote the first Secret Avengers "Point One" issue (#12.1) and three ''[[Fear Itself (comics)|Fear Itself]]'' tie-in one-shots. Secret Avengers was then written by [[Warren Ellis]] from issues #16-21 and scribe [[Rick Remender]] picked up at #21.1 with former [[Hulk]] artist, Gabriel Hardman.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ching|first=Albert|title=NYCC 2011 Exclusive: Rick Remender Joins SECRET AVENGERS|url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/secret-avengers-rick-remender-111015.html|work=Newsarama}}</ref> Remender confirmed that his final issue of Secret Avengers will be with issue #37.<ref>{{cite web|last=Esposito|first=Joey|title=Remender Confirms Exit from Uncanny X-Force, Secret Avengers|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/09/10/remender-confirms-exit-from-uncanny-x-force-secret-avengers|website=IGN|date=10 September 2012 }}</ref>

At New York ComiCon 2012 it was announced that the title would be relaunched as part of the Marvel NOW! initiative, with Nick Spencer returning as writer.<ref name="Secret Avengers">{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/13/nycc-secret-avengers-getting-a-relaunch?abthid=5079fac24feb735f55000278 |title=Secret Avengers Getting a Relaunch |date=13 October 2012 |publisher=ign.com |access-date=14 October 2012}}</ref> Spencer said, "This really is a S.H.I.E.L.D. book. I think it's something we've been long suffering for and is long overdue. This gave us a nice excuse to get a proper S.H.I.E.L.D. comic going. This Avengers initiative within S.H.I.E.L.D. is obviously a big focal point of the book, but it still is a S.H.I.E.L.D initiative so everything originates there. So Nick Fury and Agent Coulson are very much involved in the missions. Nick will be in the field with the team. That's his role. He's the S.H.I.E.L.D agent that goes with these characters on the missions. Coulson has a fun role in that he's backup and support. He's the guy who makes the pitch, and brings in the team. So they're a big part of every issue and in some ways they're even our leads.<ref name="SecretAvengers">{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=41551 |title=NYCC: Spencer's "Secret Avengers" are the Newest Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. |date=14 October 2012 |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=1 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110060229/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=41551 |archive-date=10 November 2012 }}</ref>

The third volume was cancelled with #15 in April, 2015.

==History==

===Volume 1===
After the events of "[[Dark Reign (comics)|Dark Reign]]" and ''[[Siege (comics)|Siege]]'', [[Norman Osborn]] was deposed as America's "top cop" and his organization [[H.A.M.M.E.R.]] was disbanded. In response to his hand in reforming the original [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] and staving off the Siege of Asgard, [[President of the United States|The President]] appointed former [[Captain America]] Steve Rogers as America's new foremost law enforcement agent, as well as dissolving the [[Registration acts (comics)#2006 Superhuman Registration Act|Superhuman Registration Act]] at Rogers' request.<ref name="Siege4" /> Captain Rogers then forms the Secret Avengers as a group of [[superhero]]es to operate under a veil of secrecy, in addition to the main Avengers team.

The opening issues show the team being proactive about known threats and cleaning them up, black ops style. They are in direct opposition to a group called the "[[Shadow Council]]" seemingly led by Nick Fury. In one such plot they find a dangerous artifact, the "Tentacle Crown". After some research the group finds a link to the [[Roxxon Energy Corporation|Roxxon Corporation]], which leads to investigations of a mining site on Mars. [[Nova (Richard Rider)|Richard Rider]] is on the case, and in his investigations he finds another crown, the "[[Serpent Crown]]." The crown possesses Nova, but he is pursued by a guardian of the crown claiming to be a collective named the "Archon" who was created by the [[Watcher (comics)|Watchers]]. The possessed Nova directs Shadow Council agents into unearthing a primordial evil. Steve Rogers, with the help of the [[Xandar|Xandarian Worldmind]], temporarily gains the Nova Force to take out the Serpent Crown/Nova.

The Secret Avengers later have to deal with the fact that someone resembling [[Nick Fury]] is shown to be working for the Shadow Council. The real Fury confirms that what they are seeing is a [[Artificial intelligence|self aware]] [[Life Model Decoy|LMD]] modified by [[Scorpio (Marvel Comics)|Jake Fury]]. S.H.I.E.L.D. was going to destroy the LMD, but he was rescued by the Shadow Council and given the name Max.<ref name="Sec5">{{Cite comic| writer = [[Ed Brubaker|Brubaker, Ed]] | artist = [[David Aja|Aja, David]] | coartists = [[Michael Lark]], Stephano Guadiano | story = Secret Histories: Epilogue&nbsp;– The Secret Life of Max Fury | title = Secret Avengers | volume = | issue = 5 | date = November 2010 | publisher = Marvel | location = | page = [18-19] | panel = | id = [[International Standard Serial Number|ISSN]] 2153-9898}}</ref> Some other operatives in the "Shadow Council" are an immortal named Aloysius Thorndrake and former [[Golden Age of Comic Books|Golden Age]] hero [[John Steele (comics)|John Steele]].

[[Shang-Chi]] offers himself as bait in order to capture his immortal father, [[Zheng Zu]], who needs the blood of a relative to stay alive.<ref>Secret Avengers Issue # 7</ref> Ant-Man accidentally foils that plan, but later the team falls into a trap where Carter is kidnapped. Shang-chi volunteers to exchange himself for her, but during the exchange Moon Knight disguises himself as a Shadow Council guard. He is able to lead the team to stop the sacrificial ceremony.<ref>Secret Avengers Issue # 10</ref> John Steele is apprehended and Captain America is able to delve into his memories and figures out that because of his actions during a WW2 mission, John Steele ended up getting kidnapped and brain washed by the Shadow Council.<ref>Secret Avengers Issue # 12</ref>

During the [[Fear Itself (comics)|Fear Itself]] Crossover, the Secret Avengers are summoned to defend Washington DC. Beast meets with an old congressman friend, who turns out to be an Omega-level mutant, who can animate statues, then has Abraham Lincoln from the [[Lincoln Memorial]] and dinosaurs from the [[National Museum of Natural History]] fight off Nazis.<ref>Secret Avengers Issue # 13</ref> In issue 14 we get Valkyrie's origin story, about how she defended her love during a battle and Odin made her an immortal. She then leads a groups of soldiers in battle.<ref>Secret Avengers Issue # 14</ref>

The Secret Avengers then track the Shadow Council to an underground city,<ref>Secret Avengers Issue # 16</ref> to [[Serbia]] to stop a soul-stealing truck,<ref>Secret Avengers Issue # 17</ref> to a multiverse,<ref>Secret Avengers Issue # 18</ref> a fictional Eastern European arms dealer who has demonic super-soldier serum,<ref>Secret Avengers Issue # 19</ref> and an alien hybrid breeding lab<ref>Secret Avengers Issue # 21</ref>

During one battle the team gets killed, but Black Widow is able to teleport back in time. In order to save her team, but not disrupt the time continuum, she teleports back 44 years and creates the technology needed to stop the lasers that kill her team without them realizing she saved them.<ref>Secret Avengers Issue # 20</ref>

Max Fury and the Shadow Council form their incarnation of the [[Masters of Evil]] where its membership consists of [[Princess Python]] II, [[Vengeance (comics)|Vengeance]] II, and [[Whiplash (comics)|Whiplash]] IV. The Secret Avengers discover them during a mission run by Captain America, who is testing Hawkeye's leadership skills before making him the new team leader.<ref>''Secret Avengers'' #21.1</ref>

[[Hank Pym|Giant-Man]], [[Captain Britain]], and the original [[Human Torch (android)|Human Torch]] join the Secret Avengers with investigating a new threat called the Descendants, an army of [[Android (robot)|synthezoids]].<ref>''Secret Avengers'' #22</ref> During the battle it seems that Ant-Man is killed and Torch is severely damaged, but [[Flash Thompson|Agent Venom]] rescues the team. Ant-Man reappears uninjured.<ref>''Secret Avengers'' #25</ref>

The team then crosses over into the [[Avengers vs. X-Men]] event. They attempt to intercept the Phoenix Force, but fail to stop it, even with Thor's help. They land in Kree home world Hala, but Protector and Carol Danvers are subdued by the Kree Hive-mind, which is being manipulated into inviting the Phoenix Force, which is heading for Hala since [[Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell)|Mar-Vell]] adsorbed some of the force during a reincarnation ceremony. Vision is able to break the control and Mar-Vell sacrifices himself into the Phoenix, then it spares Hala.<ref>''Secret Avengers'' #28</ref>

The Masters of Evil realize [[John Steele (comics)|John Steele]] is a double agent, but are able to keep the mystic crowns and even steal the third from [[Taskmaster (character)|Taskmaster]], then unleash an evil force called '''The Abyss''' on Bagalia, that controls the minds of the Masters and the Avengers. [[Flash Thompson|Venom]] and [[Ant-Man (Eric O'Grady)|Ant-Man]] were immune and are able to separate the three crowns. Black Widow suspects that Ant-Man is a LMD, since he wasn't affected by The Abyss, but her suspicions are dismissed by Hawkeye due to Grady's heroic actions, causing her to quit in protest.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Remender|first=Rick|author2=Scalera, Matteo |title=Secret Avengers #32|date=2012-10-10}}</ref>

The Descendants (with the addition of the Human Torch who was reprogrammed to serve them) launched a massive attack on the main cities of the world, starting an invasion to take it and launched a nano-mist, which slowly started turning every human into Descendants.<ref>''Secret Avengers'' #35</ref> The Secret Avengers fought them, and Human Torch {who Captain Britain made come into his senses} managed to destroy the Orb of Necromancy, which killed every single one of the Descendants of the High-Breed and eliminated the nano-mist from any human. Before dying, the Father told Captain Britain he still felt the presence of another Descendant who didn't die. In the aftermath, the Secret Avengers reunited with Captain America to tell him what happened. Time later, Hawkeye decided to disassemble the unit.<ref>''Secret Avengers'' #37</ref>

===Volume 2===
As part of the ''[[Marvel NOW!]]'' event, a new version of the Secret Avengers is formed under the jurisdiction of [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]] A mysterious traveler from the future attacks a battalion of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents before he is killed. Following the attack, [[Maria Hill]] decides to form S.H.I.E.L.D.'s version of the Secret Avengers. Maria Hill is able to recruit Hawkeye, Black Widow, [[Nick Fury Jr.]], and [[Phil Coulson]]. Their first operation is to foil a plan of the terrorist group [[Al-Qaeda]] from using teleportation knowledge given by Andras Bertesy to execute a terrorist attack on the United States. The Secret Avengers follow the terrorist group to Budapest, where they get the coordinates of the attack from one of their members. After Hawkeye is left to be rescued by Black Widow, Nick Fury Jr. sets a trap for the Al-Qaeda member who was going to perform the attack, by waiting him in the Oval Office to kill him.<ref>''Secret Avengers'' vol. 2 #1</ref>

In the second mission, the Secret Avengers raid Bagalia and fight through the Masters of Evil, in order to free [[Taskmaster (character)|Taskmaster]], who is going to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. [[Mockingbird (Marvel Comics)|Mockingbird]] joins up with them, using S.H.I.E.L.D. Camo-Tech to masquerade as Aloysius Thorndrake of the Shadow Council. Nick Fury Jr. pays Crossfire to let Taskmaster out of his cell. After Taskmaster agrees to join the Secret Avengers, he goes on a mission to infiltrate A.I.M.'s new High Council (consisting of [[Andrew Forson]], [[Graviton (comics)|Graviton]], Jude the Entropic Man, [[Mentallo]], [[Superia]], and [[Black Widow (Yelena Belova)|Yelena Belova]]).<ref>''Secret Avengers'' vol. 2 #2</ref>

When Daisy Johnson and Nick Fury Jr. were attending the weapons expo, they meet up with Senator [[Rebel Ralston|Robert Ralston]]. Daisy notices that one of the items at the expo is the [[Iron Patriot]] armor. A.I.M. then attacks the weapons expo which leads to the supposed death of Senator Robert Ralston during A.I.M.'s fight with the Secret Avengers. During the fight, Andrew Forson takes the opportunity to steal the Iron Patriot armor.<ref>''Secret Avengers'' vol. 2 #3</ref>

Director Daisy Johnson gave Nick Fury, Hawkeye, and Black Widow the Protocol D which is the assassination of the A.I.M. Scientist Supreme. [[Hulk]] was recruited to help with the mission when A.I.M. duplicates the technology of the Iron Patriot Armor to create an army of sentient drones that A.I.M. would use to incriminate the United States in numerous international attacks. Hulk was able to destroy the Iron Patriot drones that were attacking Iran. Meanwhile, Phil Coulson talks to [[War Machine]] about the Iron Patriot armor.<ref>''Secret Avengers'' vol. 2 #4</ref>

The Secret Avengers raided A.I.M. Island and seemingly killed Andrew Forson. Daisy Johnson ended up suspended for breaking protocol and Maria Hill is put in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D. again. As Andrew Forson was revealed to be alive all along, the news of A.I.M. being a new permanent member of the Security Council is known.<ref>''Secret Avengers'' vol. 2 #5</ref>

Using holographic communication, S.H.I.E.L.D. hacked into A.I.M.'s network and allowed Rhodes to talk to the suits, who recognized him as "the Pilot", along Tony Stark being "the Maker". Rhodey managed to make the Iron Patriot army understand their actions of abruptly attacking tactical points of enemies of the US was unacceptable, and stated he could teach them better if he could show them, for what the androids sent Rhodes a different version of Iron Patriot armor.<ref>''Secret Avengers'' vol. 2 #6</ref>

MODOK Superior and some rogue A.I.M. Agents allied with S.H.I.E.L.D. in order to make a deal to take down Andrew Forson.<ref>''Secret Avengers'' Vol. 2 #12</ref>

After the mission goes south and Mockingbird is left stranded on A.I.M. Island, Taskmaster works undercover to free her. But when he gets the chance to get her off the island, she doesn't respond to anything he says until both are captured. Later while being interrogated, Taskmaster is shot and seemingly killed by Mockingbird who is now under the control of Andrew Forsen.<ref name="Secret Avengers Vol. 2 #13">''Secret Avengers'' Vol. 2 #13</ref>

Andrew Forson revealed that Mockingbird was secretly working for Forson years ago, and that he used Mockingbird to "get [[Victorius (comics)|Victorius]] out of the way" so that he could take over the Cult of Entropy.<ref name="Secret Avengers Vol. 2 #13"/>

===Volume 3===
In the ''All-New Marvel NOW!'', a new Secret Avengers team was assembled consisting of Nick Fury Jr., Black Widow, Phil Coulson, and [[Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)|Spider-Woman]].<ref>"Secret Avengers" Vol. 3</ref> Hawkeye rejoins the team, sometime later.<ref>"Secret Avengers" Vol. 3 #3</ref> The series was cancelled in 2015, after 15 issues.

==Roster==

===Original Team (2010–2013)===
{{See also|List of Avengers members}}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;"
! scope="col" | Character
! scope="col" | Real Name
! scope="col" | Joined In
! scope="col" | Notes
|-
| [[Captain America|Commander Steve Rogers]]
| Steven Rogers
| rowspan="9" | ''Secret Avengers'' #1<br/>(May 2010)
| Current leader of the main [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] team (as Captain America). Left this team in ''Secret Avengers'' #22
|-
| [[Black Widow (Natalia Romanova)|Black Widow]]
| Natalia Alianovna Romanova<br/>(a.k.a. Natasha Romanoff)
| Left team in ''Secret Avengers'' #32 due to suspicions about Eric O'Grady. Rejoins team in ''Secret Avengers'' #34
|-
| [[Beast (comics)|Beast]]
| Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy
| rowspan="2" |Left team in ''Secret Avengers'' #37
|-
| [[Valkyrie (Marvel Comics)|Valkyrie]]
| Brunnhilde
|-
| [[Moon Knight]]
| Marc Spector
| rowspan="3"|Last appeared as members in ''Secret Avengers'' #21
|-
| [[Sharon Carter|Agent 13]]
| Sharon Carter
|-
| [[War Machine]]
| James Rupert "Rhodey" Rhodes
|-
| [[Eric O'Grady|Ant-Man]]
| Eric O'Grady
| Suggested killed in ''Secret Avengers'' #23. Revealed alive in ''Secret Avengers'' #24. Hinted at secretly being replaced with a robot in ''Secret Avengers'' #25. The circumstances over whether or not O'Grady is dead remain unclear. Confirmed in #30 as being a double agent controlled by "The Father".
|-
| [[Nova (Richard Rider)|Nova]]
| Richard Rider
| Left in ''Secret Avengers'' #5. Died during the events of ''[[The Thanos Imperative]]''.
|-
|}

===Shattered Heroes recruits===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;"
! scope="col" | Character
! scope="col" | Real Name
! scope="col" | Joined In
! scope="col" | Notes
|-
| [[Hawkeye (Clint Barton)|Hawkeye]]
| Clint Barton
| ''Secret Avengers'' #21.1<br/>(January 2012)
| Former leader of Secret Avengers.  Leaves Team in  ''Secret Avengers'' Vol. 2 #16. Rejoins team in ''Secret Avengers'' Vol. 3 #3.
|-
| [[Captain Britain]]
| Brian Braddock
| rowspan="3" | ''Secret Avengers'' #22<br/>(February 2012)
| rowspan="4" | Left team in Secret Avengers #37
|-
| [[Human Torch (android)|Human Torch]]
| Jim Hammond <small>(alias)</small>
|-
| [[Hank Pym|Giant-Man]]
| Henry "Hank" Pym
|-
| [[Flash Thompson|Agent Venom]]
| Flash Thompson
| ''Secret Avengers'' #23<br/>(February 2012)
|-
|}

===Marvel NOW! recruits===
Following the ''[[Avengers vs. X-Men]]'' storyline and the fight against the Descendants, S.H.I.E.L.D. takes direct control of the Secret Avengers' operations.<ref name="SecretAvengers"/>

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;"
! scope="col" | Character
! scope="col" | Real Name
! scope="col" | Joined In
! scope="col" | Notes
|-
| '''[[Maria Hill]]'''
| Maria Hill
| rowspan="3"| ''Secret Avengers'' Vol. 2 #1 <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/nick-spencer-secret-avengers-marvel-now.html|title = Newsarama &#124; GamesRadar+}}</ref><br/>(February 2013)
| rowspan="3"|[[S.H.I.E.L.D.]] leadership.
|-
| '''[[Nick Fury Jr.|Marcus Johnson]]'''
| Nick Fury Jr.
|-
| '''[[Phil Coulson|Phil "Cheese" Coulson]]'''
| Phil Coulson
|-
| [[Mockingbird (Marvel Comics)|Mockingbird]]
| Barbara "Bobbi" Morse
| rowspan="2" | ''Secret Avengers'' Vol. 2 #2
| Leaves Team in ''Secret Avengers'' Vol. 2 #16
|-
| [[Taskmaster (character)|Taskmaster]]
| Tony Masters
|
|-
| [[Hulk]]
| Dr. Robert "Bruce" Banner
| ''Secret Avengers'' Vol. 2 #4
| Last seen as member in ''Secret Avengers'' Vol. 2 #15
|-
| [[Iron Patriot]]
| James "Rhodey" Rhodes
| ''Secret Avengers'' Vol. 2 #6
| Leaves Team in  ''Secret Avengers'' Vol. 2 #16
|-
| Agent Sarah Garza 
| Sarah Garza 
| ''Secret Avengers'' Vol. 2 #10
| Leaves Team in  ''Secret Avengers'' Vol. 2 #11
|}

===All-New Marvel NOW! recruits===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;"
! scope="col" | Character
! scope="col" | Real Name
! scope="col" | Joined In
! scope="col" | Notes
|-
| '''[[Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)|Spider-Woman]]'''
| Jessica Drew
| ''Secret Avengers'' Vol. 3 #1<ref>"Secret Avengers" Vol. 3 #1</ref>
|
|}

===Honorary===
These characters temporary joined the team to help on that particular mission.

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;"
! scope="col" | Character
! scope="col" | Real Name
! scope="col" | Joined In
! scope="col" | Notes
|-
| [[Amazing-Man (Centaur Publications)|Prince of Orphans]]
| John Aman
| ''Secret Avengers'' #6<br/>(October 2010)
| Turned to villainy to oppose the Defenders in ''Defenders'' vol. 4 #6 (July 2012).
|-
| [[Shang-Chi]]
| Shang-Chi
| ''Secret Avengers'' #10<br/>(February 2011)
|Left after believing he had adequately repaid the favor he owed Steve Rogers in Secret Avengers #18 (December 2011).
|-
| [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]]
| Thor Odinson
| rowspan="4" | ''Secret Avengers'' #26<br/>(June 2012)
| rowspan="4" align="left" | Temporarily joined as part of a strike team against the Phoenix Force.
|-
| [[Carol Danvers|Ms. Marvel]]
| Carol Danvers
|-
| [[Noh-Varr|The Protector]]
| Noh-Varr
|-
| [[Vision (Marvel Comics)|Vision]]
| Victor Shade <small>(alias)</small>
|-
| [[Winter Soldier (comics)|Winter Soldier]]
| James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes
| ''Secret Avengers'' vol. 2 #1<br/>(January 2013)
| Ally of the Secret Avengers during the Marvel NOW! new series. It has been hinted that not being an official member, Barnes takes issue with how S.H.I.E.L.D. erases the team's memories after missions; given how his lover and teammate Black Widow had her memory of him erased after an altercation in which she was brainwashed by one of his enemies.
|}

==Collected editions==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Title !! Material Collected !! Publication Date!! ISBN 
|-
! colspan="4" | Volume 1
|-
| ''Secret Avengers, Vol. 1: Mission to Mars'' 
| ''Secret Avengers'' #1–5 
| January 19, 2011
| {{ISBNT|978-0785146001}}
|-
| ''Secret Avengers, Vol. 2: Eyes of the Dragon'' 
| ''Secret Avengers'' #6–12 
| July 6, 2011
| {{ISBNT|978-0785166894}}
|-
|''Secret Avengers by Ed Brubaker: The Complete Collection''
|''Secret Avengers'' #1-12
|{{DTS|June 12, 2018}}
|{{ISBNT|978-1302912192}}
|-
| ''Fear Itself: Secret Avengers''
| ''Secret Avengers'' #12.1, 13–15; ''Fear Itself: Black Widow'' #1 
| February 22, 2012
|{{ISBNT|978-0785151777}}
|-
| ''Secret Avengers, Vol. 3: Run the Mission, Don't Get Seen, Save the World''
| ''Secret Avengers'' #16–21 
| April 11, 2012
| {{ISBNT|978-0785152569}}
|-
|''Secret Avengers by Rick Remender Vol. 1: The Descendants''
|''Secret Avengers'' #21.1, 22–25
|{{Dts|2012-8-8}}
|{{Isbnt|978-0785161189}}
|-
|''Secret Avengers by Rick Remender Vol. 2: Avengers vs. X-Men''
|''Secret Avengers'' #26–32
| {{dts |2012-12-5}}
|{{ISBNT|978-0785161202}}
|-
|''Secret Avengers by Rick Remender Vol. 3: Rise of the Descendants''
|''Secret Avengers'' #33-37
| {{dts |2013-4-2}}
|{{ISBNT|978-0785161226}}
|-
|''Secret Avengers by Rick Remender: The Complete Collection''
|''Secret Avengers'' #21.1, 22-37
|{{DTS|April 9, 2019}}
|{{ISBNT|978-1302916435}}
|-
! colspan="4" | Volume 2
|-
|''Secret Avengers Vol. 1: Reverie''
|''Secret Avengers'' (vol. 2) #1-5, material from ''Marvel Now ! Point One''
|{{dts|2013-9-17}}
|{{ISBNT|978-0785166887}}
|-
| ''Secret Avengers Vol. 2: Iliad''
| ''Secret Avengers'' (vol. 2) #6-11
|{{dts|2014-3-11}}
| {{ISBNT|978-0785166894}}
|-
| ''Secret Avengers Vol. 3: How to MA.I.M. a Mockingbird''
| ''Secret Avengers'' (vol. 2)#12-16
|{{dts|2014-5-6}}
| {{ISBNT|978-0785184829}}
|-
! colspan="4" | Volume 3
|-
| ''Secret Avengers Vol. 1: Let's Have a Problem''
| ''Secret Avengers'' (vol. 3) #1-5, ''Original Sin: Secret Avengers Infinite Comic'' #1-2
|{{dts|2014-11-11}}
| {{ISBNT|978-0785190523}}
|-
| ''Secret Avengers Vol. 2: The Labyrinth''
|  ''Secret Avengers'' (vol. 3) #6-10
|{{dts|2015-4-7}}
| {{ISBNT| 978-0785190530}}
|-
| ''Secret Avengers Vol. 3: God Level''
| ''Secret Avengers'' (vol. 3) #11-15
|{{dts|2015-7-7}}
| {{ISBNT|978-0785197102}}
|}

==In other media==
===Television===
The Secret Avengers appear in ''[[Avengers Assemble (TV series)|Avengers Assemble]]''. In the episode "Avengers Disassembled", [[Captain America]] leaves the Avengers, joins [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]], and forms the Secret Avengers with [[Black Widow (Natasha Romanova)|Black Widow]], the [[Falcon (comics)|Falcon]], and the [[Hulk]]. In their self-titled episode, the Secret Avengers are charged with recovering a power source from [[Hydra (comics)|HYDRA]], though they inadvertently clash with the [[Winter Guard]] before discovering the power source in question is the [[Radioactive Man (comics)|Radioactive Man]]. In the following episode "The Ultron Outbreak", the Secret Avengers rejoin the original Avengers to defeat [[Ultron]].

===Film===
The Secret Avengers serve as inspiration for films set in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] (MCU):
* In ''[[Captain America: The Winter Soldier]]'' (2014), [[Steve Rogers (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Captain America]] wears a suit based on the "Super Soldier" suit worn by Steve Rogers in ''Secret Avengers'' Vol. 1.
* While not directly referred to as such in ''[[Avengers: Infinity War]]'' (2018), Captain America, [[Natasha Romanoff (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Black Widow]], [[Wanda Maximoff (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Wanda Maximoff]], and the [[Sam Wilson (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Falcon]] are depicted as an independent group following their separation from the [[Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Avengers]] in the preceding film ''[[Captain America: Civil War]]''. Co-director [[Russo brothers|Joe Russo]] confirmed on the audio commentary for ''Infinity War'' that this team is the MCU incarnation of the Secret Avengers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/infinity-war-captain-america-team-secret-avengers/|title=Captain America's Infinity War Team Was Secret Avengers|website=Screen Rant|last=Hood|first=Cooper|date=July 31, 2018|access-date=July 31, 2018}}</ref><!--PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WANDA MAXIMOFF'S NAME TO "SCARLET WITCH". THE MCU VERSION DOES NOT OFFICIALLY TAKE ON THE NAME UNTIL WandaVision, WHICH TAKES PLACE AFTER INFINITY WAR.-->

===Video games===
* Captain America's "Super Soldier" suit from ''Secret Avengers'' Vol. 1 appears as a DLC costume for Captain America in ''[[Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds]]''.
* Captain America's "Super Soldier" suit from ''Secret Avengers'' Vol. 1 appears as an unlockable costume for Captain America in ''[[Marvel's Avengers (video game)|Marvel's Avengers]]''.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://marvel.wikia.com/Secret_Avengers_%28Black_Ops_Unit%29_%28Earth-616%29 Secret Avengers (Black Ops version)] at Marvel Wiki
* [http://marvel.wikia.com/Secret_Avengers_%28S.H.I.E.L.D.%29_%28Earth-616%29 Secret Avengers (S.H.I.E.L.D. version)] at Marvel Wiki
* [http://marvel.com/universe/Secret_Avengers Secret Avengers] at Marvel.com
* {{gcdb series|id=49024|title=''Secret Avengers''}}
* {{comicbookdb|type=title|id=28785|title=''Secret Avengers''}}

===Reviews===
<!-- For "reception" section -->
* [http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/05/27/secret-avengers-1-review/ ''Secret Avengers'' #1 Review], [[Comic Book Resources]]

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