Teams and organizations of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on superhero films and other series starring various titular superheroes independently produced by Marvel Studios and based on characters that appear in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The shared universe, much like the original Marvel Universe in comic books, was established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast, and characters. Over the course of the films and related media, several teams and organizations have been formed, each with different aims and purposes.
Teams and factions
Avengers
The Avengers are the central team of protagonist superheroes of "The Infinity Saga" within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Created by Nick Fury and led primarily by Steve Rogers / Captain America, the team is a United States–based organization composed mainly of enhanced individuals committed to the world's protection from threats. The Avengers operate in New York State; beginning at Avengers Tower in Midtown Manhattan, and subsequently, from the Avengers Compound in Upstate New York.Children of Thanos
The Children of Thanos were an elite team of powerful people who served Thanos as generals and agents. Thanos adopted six known children—Ebony Maw, Proxima Midnight, Corvus Glaive, Cull Obsidian, Gamora, and Nebula—and trained them in the ways of combat, turning each of them into a deadly warrior. Over the years, Gamora and Nebula would turn on Thanos, while the rest of his children continued to serve him faithfully.In 2018, as Thanos began his crusade to acquire the six Infinity Stones, he sent his children to Earth to retrieve the Time and Mind Stones. Maw and Obsidian attempted to remove the former from Doctor Strange's Eye of Agamotto while Glaive and Midnight attempted to steal the latter from Vision. Five years later, alternate versions of the Children of Thanos from 2014 time-traveled to 2023 and participated in the battle between Thanos's forces and the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Masters of the Mystic Arts, and Ravagers. Obsidian and Glaive were killed during the battle, while Maw and Midnight disintegrated after Stark gathered the Infinity Stones and snapped his fingers. An alternate version shown in What If...? shows how Thanos lost the team to the Collector when he became good.
the group has appeared in three projects: the films Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame ; and the Disney+ animated series What If...?, in which they are referred to as the Black Order.
Dora Milaje
The Dora Milaje, also known simply as the Dora, are an elite organization of female bodyguards and Wakanda's special forces. The current general is Ayo. Florence Kasumba portrays Ayo, a member of the Dora Milaje, in Captain America: Civil War, as a guard of T'Challa. They next appear in Black Panther; Florence Kasumba reprises her role, Danai Gurira portrays Okoye, and Sydelle Noel portrays Xoliswa, while the unnamed Dora Milaje are portrayed by Marija Abney, Janeshia Adams-Ginyard, Maria Hippolyte, Marie Mouroum, Jénel Stevens, Zola Williams, Christine Hollingsworth, and Shaunette Renée Wilson. After Killmonger takes over Wakanda and seemingly kills T'Challa, the Dora Milaje reluctantly stand by him as they must remain loyal to the throne. After T'Challa returns, the Dora Milaje fight Killmonger, though Xoliswa is killed in the process.In 2018, the Dora Milaje join the Avengers in defending Wakanda from Thanos's forces, whilst they fight Thanos's forces again in 2023. In 2024, after Bucky Barnes breaks Helmut Zemo out of prison, the Dora Milaje pursue the latter, and eventually capture him before sending him to the Raft. Ayo advises Barnes not to return to Wakanda for some time, though he is able to ask them to create a suit for Sam Wilson.
the group has appeared in seven projects: the films Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ; and the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, What If...?, and Eyes of Wakanda.
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a world-famous team of four superheroes on Earth-828, consisting of Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic, Sue Storm / Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm / Human Torch and Ben Grimm / The Thing. The team was originally a group of four astronauts who ventured into outer space and were exposed to cosmic rays, granting them superpowers.the group has appeared in one project: the film The Fantastic Four: First Steps. They will return in the films Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
Freedom Fighters
The Freedom Fighters is a rebel group against Kang the Conqueror's oppression of the communities in the Quantum Realm.the group has appeared in one project: the film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Guardians of the Galaxy
The Guardians of the Galaxy are a band of outlaws who joined to protect the galaxy from threats. The group's founding members are Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot. The team's membership is later expanded with the addition of Yondu Udonta and Mantis while temporarily aided by Nebula in their fight against Ego. Kraglin also assists the team in the final confrontation. Four years later, they aid Thor and the Avengers in confronting Thanos in his attempt to collect the six Infinity Stones. Thanos succeeds in collecting all of Stones, murdering Gamora in the process, and disintegrates half of all life in the universe, with Star-Lord, Drax, Mantis, and Groot among his victims, with only Rocket and Nebula spared. After Thanos has destroyed the Stones and is executed by Thor, Rocket and Nebula become members of the Avengers. In 2023, they use the Quantum Realm to travel to alternate universes to retrieve Infinity Stones. They are successful, but an alternate 2014 Thanos variant becomes aware of the presence of this other Nebula, and has her captured, sending his Nebula to the present in the former's place. The alternate Nebula brings the alternate Thanos and his army to the main universe, where he destroys the Avengers Compound in order to acquire the Stones to kill the entire universe. Nebula successfully convinces an alternate Gamora to join her in opposing Thanos, and kills her alternate counterpart. The combined forces of the Avengers, the Guardians and all of their allies succeed in repelling his forces, and eliminating the alternate Thanos and his army. Afterwards, Nebula and Thor joins the Guardians, quipping that they are now the "Asgardians of the Galaxy", and jokingly argues with Quill over command of the team.In 2024, the team help Thor get back into his fit and are joined by Kraglin, now sporting the late Yondu's "fin & yaka arrow". They go on several adventures throughout the galaxy. On the planet Indigarr, they are met by Korg. There, Thor decides to leave the Guardians in search for answers upon learning of gods being murdered across the universe. In 2025, as depicted in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, the team has gained a large amount of money and resources by saving the universe and buy the former home of Knowhere from the Collector, to be used as their base of operations. Cosmo the Spacedog then joins the team and helps them rebuild Knowhere. Mantis and Drax hold a Christmas celebration for Quill with the help of the other Guardians and residents of Knowhere. In 2026, Quill frequently gets drunk due to grieving Gamora, while the team has successfully built their headquarters. One night, they are attacked by Adam Warlock, who seriously injures Rocket, and is defeated by Nebula. The team leave in their new ship, tasking Cosmo and Kraglin to keep watch over Knowhere. They head to Orgocorp and are stopped by the Ravagers, where the alternate version of Gamora is tasked to help them. They retrieve Rocket's file and depart for Counter-Earth. Quill and Groot leave to meet with the High Evolutionary, while Nebula is forced to stay outside. Quill and Groot make their escape with one of the High Evolutionary's men and retrieve the code to save Rocket. Nebula, joined by Mantis and Drax, enter the ship to save Quill and Groot, but get captured instead. Gamora protects Rocket and picks up Quill and Groot. Quill provides the code, but Rocket flatlines, however he is resuscitated by Quill. After learning that the others are captured, Quill asks Kraglin to bring Knowhere to the High Evolutionary's ship. The team defeats the High Evolutionary and Cosmo uses her powers to stop the ship from crashing into Knowhere and provide a safe escape for the captured animals and children. Quill almost dies but is rescued by Warlock. Afterwards, Quill says goodbye to Gamora and tells the team he is leaving for Earth. Mantis announces she is leaving for self discovery, and Nebula asks Drax to help her raise the children on Knowhere. Quill then gives Rocket the title of Captain and lets him keep his Zune.
Sometime later, Rocket, leading a new team consisting of a massively grown Groot, Cosmo, Kraglin, Warlock, Warlock's pet Blurp, and Phyla, one of the rescued children, go on a mission on Krylor.
the group has appeared in eight projects: the films Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ; the Disney+ animated series What If...?; and the Disney+ television special The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.
Guardians of the Multiverse
The Guardians of the Multiverse, also known as the Exiles, is a group consisted of superheroes and supervillains from across the Multiverse. The group was assembled by the Watcher with the goal of stopping an alternate version of Ultron from destroying the Multiverse. The group's members are Peggy Carter / Captain Carter, T'Challa / Star-Lord, Thor, Erik "Killmonger" Stevens, Gamora, Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow, and Stephen Strange / Doctor Strange Supreme. After a lengthy battle, the team defeats Ultron, but Killmonger enters into a duel with Arnim Zola over the Infinity Stones. Strange Supreme then casts a spell which imprisons the two inside a pocket dimension before the team is disbanded, returning to their universes by the Watcher. However, Romanoff is transported to another universe, as her own universe was destroyed by Ultron. Sometime later, the surviving members of the team briefly reunited alongside Kahhori, Byrdie the Duck, and Ororo Munroe / Storm the Goddess of Thunder.the group has appeared in one project: the Disney+ animated series What If...?.