The Avengers comic book issues that MCU can take cues from and already has in some cases.
With nearly sixty years of history, the Avengers span the entire Marvel Comics story from the beginning to the present. The 80s represented a period of great flux for the team, and also one of major ramifications for some characters like the Scarlet Witch. In some ways, those stories are still reverberating through the comics and the MCU to this day.
West Coast Avengers #1
West Coast Avengers #1 is a significant issue in the history of the franchise for introducing the first spin-off team of the Avengers. Written by Roger Stern and drawn by Bob Hall, the issue brings together a new team under the leadership of Hawkeye and Mockingbird, one of the most important Marvel spies.
The issue could be of interest to fans of the MCU, should the franchise bring the team to the screen. Some of its , like the White Vision and U.S. Agent, are already in the MCU, and more are bound to appear sooner rather than later.
Avengers #257
MCU fans might be interested in Avengers #257, which is significant for introducing the character of Nebula. While the story in the issue isn't all that important in the grand scheme of things, it's important for the debut of such an important character in the comics and MCU.
Again written by Roger Stern, the story also takes place in the Savage Land, a major location in the comics that has yet to be explored on screen, though it's bound to be at some point.
Avengers #311
Comic book fans know Loki has many powers, making him very dangerous to the Avengers. In Avengers #311, Loki becomes even more of a threat by conspiring to bring together many of the greatest Marvel Comics supervillains including Magneto, Doctor Doom, and the Red Skull.
This issue, the first in the Acts Of Vengeance crossover event, is a major moment in the late 80s Avengers run. Their Hydrobase is destroyed and sunk, and the combined forces of the villains launch a number of attacks against the Avengers individually.
Fantastic Four #337
Fantastic Four #337 is a great issue for a number of reasons. It kicks off a storyline that brings the team into with the Time Variance Authority, all orchestrated in part by Nebula, who is actually Ravonna Renslayer in disguise. The potential for future MCU speculation is rich in the issue, but it's also a kind of Avengers issue.
Writer and artist Walt Simonson had intended to use Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman on his Avengers run but wasn't able to. This storyline gives fans a version of that amazing Avengers roster by having Iron Man and Thor coming along for the ride into the time stream.
West Coast Avengers #45
Comic fans know the "Vision Quest" storyline had a major impact on WandaVision. West Coast Avengers #45 is key for introducing the White Vision in the comics after the android's body and mind had been dismantled by the government in an earlier story.
Written and drawn by John Byrne, famous for other landmark runs on the X-Men and Fantastic Four, the story provides a lot of drama and character work. Vision is suddenly cold and indifferent to the Scarlet Witch, which would contribute to a series of future tragic events.
Avengers West Coast #52
One of those events, taking place in the rebranded Avengers West Coast #52, was the revelation that the Vision and Scarlet Witch's children weren't real. This major event would have repercussions in Marvel Comics for decades, and arguably is still influencing current events in the comics like the murder of the Scarlet Witch.
The reveal that Tommy and Billy Maximoff were created through fragments of Mephisto's soul spawned endless theories in the MCU and still does, given this storyline is likely to continue to play out in the movies and series.
Avengers #279
The leadership of the Avengers is a constantly shifting position, but issue #279 introduces one of its most important leaders: Monica Rambeau. After being nominated to take over the role by Captain America, Monica (at this time a version of Captain Marvel) begins a long and consequential stint as leader of the team.
Not only is it a great issue that serves as an exploration of her character and potential, but it could be key for the future of the MCU. Monica is now part of the MCU and could very well end up not only as an Avenger but one of its leaders in future movies.
Avengers #277
Issue #277 of the series features one of the biggest battles in Avengers history and one of the most devastating. A new Masters of Evil team led by Baron Zemo leads a surprise attack on Avengers Mansion in New York City and in the process, completely destroys the home base of the Avengers.
The issue, featuring an iconic cover by longtime Avengers artist John Buscema, would have lasting consequences for the team well into the next decade.
X-Men Vs. Avengers #1
Avengers Vs. X-Men was one of the biggest comic book events of the 2010s, but there was a previous version in the 80s that was just as consequential. X-Men Vs. Avengers #1 casts the two teams against each other after fragments of Magneto's orbital base Asteroid M fall to Earth. At the time, Magneto is on the side of the X-Men.
With great art by Marc Silverstri, it's a dynamic issue full of great battles, and some potential for the MCU should the franchise decide to explore different ways of introducing the major X-Men characters into the established world of the movies.
The Vision And The Scarlet Witch #12
As much as issues of West Coast Avengers were critical to the long-running storyline of The Vision and the Scarlet Witch, issue #12 of their 1986 eponymous limited series might be even more important.
It's in this issue, written by Steve Englehart and drawn by Richard Howell, that Wanda gives birth to her twin sons Tommy and Billy. This event would have dramatic consequences for the comics for decades to come, including the House Of M and Young Avengers storylines, and are more than likely going to influence the future of the MCU as well.
