The Avengers, a team of superheroes from Marvel Comics, was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. They first appeared in The Avengers #1 in 1963. Lee and Kirby wanted to bring together several of Marvel’s most popular heroes, similar to DC’s Justice League. The original lineup featured Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Ant-Man, and Wasp, who joined forces to stop the villain Loki. Over the years, the team expanded to include iconic heroes like Captain America, Spider-Man, and Black Panther. The concept was to unite heroes who could handle threats too large for any one of them, creating a dynamic and powerful team that evolved into one of Marvel’s most successful franchises.