East or West? Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Avengers

In this first Avengers story, the catalyst for bringing the team together originated with Thor Odinson, the Asgardian God of Thunder. It was through the maniacal mischief of Thor's brother Loki that the team was brought together, to face his threat.

Thor's first appearance was in "Journey into Mystery" #83, which was released in August, 1962.

Answer: The Avengers

The Avengers were actually brought together through Rick Jones who was the teenager responsible for Bruce Banner's transformation into the Hulk in "The Incredible Hulk" #1 (May, 1962). In saving Jones' life from his gamma bomb test, Banner took the brunt of the explosion, and became the Hulk.

Loki's plan involved making the Hulk rampage, and as a result, Jones sends for help through the Teen Brigade's ham radio network (Jones established the Teen Brigade in issue #6).

In "The Avengers" #1, Loki interfered with their ham radio transmissions, and instead of reaching the Fantastic Four, as they intended, the message went to Iron Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and along with Thor they came to fight the Hulk to bring him under control. In the aftermath of Loki's defeat, they decided to form a new team.

Answer: The Avengers

Iron Man (Anthony Stark) made his first appearance in "Tales of Suspense" #39 in March of 1963, just half a year ahead of the September release of "The Avengers" #1.

The original group of five would not stay together very long, with the Hulk departing almost immediately, but Iron Man would become a mainstay of the team, using his wealth and resources to supply a home base (Avengers Mansion) in New York, along with various technologies.

Answer: The Avengers

Biochemist Dr. Henry "Hank" Pym made his first appearance in "Tales to Astonish" #27, which came out in January of 1962, but didn't appear as Ant-Man until issue #35 in September. In a later story (issue #44), Pym helped Janet van Dyne become the Wasp through the use of his 'Pym particles.'

In "The Avengers" #1, Ant-Man and the Wasp both helped fight the Hulk, and then joined with him, Thor and Iron Man to defeat Loki. At the conclusion, it was Ant-Man who made the suggestion that the five of them make a new team.

Answer: The Avengers

Janet van Dyne (Wasp) made her first appearance in Tales to Astonish #44 (June, 1963), just three months before the release of "The Avengers" #1. When her father (Dr. Vernon van Dyne) was killed by an alien, she went to Dr. Hank Pym for help, and he helped her become the Wasp through his Pym particles. Together they avenged her father's death.

After taking on Loki with Ant-Man and the others, it was the Wasp who came up with the name 'The Avengers' for their new superhero team.

Answer: The West Coast Avengers

When Avengers team chairman Vision suggested that the team should expand its sphere of influence, Hawkeye (Clint Barton) recruited Mockingbird, Wonder Man, Tigra, and Iron Man to join him in Los Angeles. Unbeknownst to him at the time, Iron Man was not actually Tony Stark, but was James "Rhodey" Rhodes pretending to be Iron Man.

Hawkeye made his first appearance in "Tales of Suspense" #57 way back in September of 1964. He first joined the Avengers in "The Avengers" #16 (May, 1965).

Answer: The West Coast Avengers

When the West Coast Avengers formed, James "Rhodey" Rhodes was masquerading as Tony Stark in the Iron Man suit. Stark had relapsed into alcoholism, and Rhodey helped keep Iron Man doing what he needed to be doing as a part of the Avengers.

While Rhodey was never actually Iron Man, the name War Machine did not come into the picture until much later (in "Avengers West Coast" #94 (May, 1993)), when he got his own suit, designed specifically for him.

As a character, Rhodey made his first appearance in "Iron Man" #118 (January, 1979), and first donned the Iron Man suit in "Iron Man" #170 (May, 1983).

Answer: The West Coast Avengers

Wonder Man (Simon Williams) was introduced in "The Avengers" #9 in October of 1964. He originally joined the Avengers as a 'double agent' plant sent by Baron Zemo, but instead of betraying the Avengers, he betrayed Zemo, and (apparently) died in the process. As some superheroes are wont to do, he eventually returned (his brainwave patterns had been preserved), and joined the Avengers in truth in issue #154 (December, 1976).

But eventually, Williams wanted to make his own way in the world, and not rely on the Avengers for financial support. He moved to Los Angeles and found work as a movie stuntman. When Hawkeye came to town to start a new chapter of the Avengers, he was able to successfully recruit Wonder Man to the job.

Answer: The West Coast Avengers

Barbara "Bobbi" Morse first appeared in "Astonishing Tales" #6 in June of 1971, getting established as a S.H.I.E.L.D. scientist and spy before moving into a costumed role as "Huntress" in the Marvel Super Action #1 (January, 1976). It wasn't until July of 1980 that she appeared as Mockingbird (in "Marvel Team-Up" #95).

Morse met Clint Barton (Hawkeye) in the "Hawkeye" mini-series (Sept-Dec, 1983) and after a whirlwind romance, they married. Shortly after they moved in together at the Avengers mansion, Vision sent them both off to Los Angeles to start the West Coast Avengers.

Answer: The West Coast Avengers

Tigra (Greer Nelson) first appeared in the comics as a solo crimefighter in "The Claws of the Cat" #1 (November, 1972). Soon afterwards (July, 1974), she underwent a transformation to a half tigress/half woman in Giant-Size Creatures #1. With newfound powers, she made many guest appearances in other comic titles before being recruited by the Avengers in "The Avengers" #211 (September, 1981).

But, it didn't last long and she quit the team (in issue #216 (February, 1982), and moved to Los Angeles to return to her (pre-Cat persona) life as a model. When Hawkeye started up the West Coast Avengers she, like Wonder Man, was recruited into the new team.