Original run (1984–1994) The team is founded by the Avenger
Hawkeye in response to a suggestion by fellow Avenger, the
Vision, who at the time (as team chairman) wished to expand the Avengers' influence. Hawkeye recruits
Mockingbird,
Wonder Man,
Tigra, and
Iron Man, with the last actually being
Jim Rhodes as opposed to
Tony Stark, a fact initially unknown to the team. Together, the team defeat a petty criminal called the Blank and later the Avengers foe
Graviton. The team would later take on
Hank Pym as a scientific advisor and compound manager and battle a range of both old foes – including the
Grim Reaper,
Ultron, Graviton, and
Zodiac – and new opponents such as
Master Pandemonium. Former
Fantastic Four member
Thing and the heroine
Firebird and the adventurer
Moon Knight formally join, while Iron Man is expelled for his actions during the
Armor Wars. The "Lost in Space-Time" storyline began in issue #17 (February 1987) when
Dominus sent the team back in time. The marriage of Hawkeye and Mockingbird is placed in jeopardy when, during this arc, she allows the
Old West hero the
Phantom Rider to die in a fall for deceiving and raping her. After a trip to
Hungary to investigate a report on Pym's second wife, the
Wasp, the
Scarlet Witch, and the
Vision assist the team. Mockingbird, Tigra and Moon Knight leave the team together as a new short lived team called the Ex-WACOs over the Avengers rule of not killing in regards to Mockingbird's encounter with Phantom Rider. The Vision and the Scarlet Witch join the team as to not leave it short handed. Former Avenger ally
Mantis makes a brief appearance. Agents from multiple governments then abduct the Vision and dismantle him due to his return to the team. The Avengers recover the parts and Dr. Pym rebuilds the Vision but with a chalk-white complexion. Wonder Man, however, does not allow his brain patterns to be used again to provide a matrix for the Vision's emotions, explaining that the original process, done without his consent, had "ripped out his soul". Although Wonder Man's own love for the Scarlet Witch leads him to feel guilt, he justifies his actions by claiming the Vision was never anything but a copy of him, a claim that a number of other Avengers, including the Wasp, accept. This, along with damage to the Vision's synthetic skin when he was dismantled, results in the synthezoid's resurrection as a colorless and emotionless artificial human. The unstable
U.S. Agent is assigned to the team as a watchdog by the US government to monitor the team's activities. A group of odd super-humans decide to mimic the Avengers and become the
Great Lakes Avengers, while the
original Human Torch returns from his own apparent demise. This casts doubt on the Vision's identity, who was previously believed to have been created from the Torch's body. The Vision and the Scarlet Witch's children conceived via the Scarlet Witch's hex powers are then revealed to be fragments of the soul of the
demon Mephisto, who had been broken apart by
Franklin Richards shortly before the birth of the twins. The twins were absorbed back into Mephisto, which temporarily drives the Scarlet Witch insane. Although she eventually recovers, the Scarlet Witch and the Vision separate, each operating on a different Avengers team. Iron Man rejoins, and the mutant
Quicksilver assists the team when the Scarlet Witch aligns herself with their father
Magneto during a period in which she suffers from a mental breakdown. Immortus is finally confronted and revealed to be the cause of much of the team's misfortune, and is finally defeated. Hank Pym, the Wasp and Quicksilver then leave the team, with
Machine Man becoming reservists and
Spider-Woman and the
Living Lightning joining as full-time members.
Spider-Man guest-stars in issues #84–86. The team battle Ultron and his new creation
Alkhema several times, and Hawkeye assumes his old identity of
Goliath, during the
Avengers crossover Operation: Galactic Storm, and reconciles with Mockingbird. Iron Man and Wonder Man leave the team, and are replaced by
War Machine (Jim Rhodes, one of the founding West Coast Avengers) and
Darkhawk, with the latter acting as a reservist. During a battle with the demons Mephisto and
Satannish, Mockingbird is killed. Due to constant in-fighting and a general lack of organization,
Captain America intervenes and disbands the team. Several members of the West Coast team—including a returned Iron Man—are unhappy about the decision and leave to form another team, called
Force Works. This team, however, has several setbacks and quickly disbands, with the members returning to the main Avengers team. Years later, the West Coast Avengers compound would be reopened as the new campus for the
Avengers Academy following the destruction of the Infinite Avengers Mansion as seen in the
Fear Itself storyline.
Volume 3 (2018 series) During the
Fresh Start relaunch, both Hawkeyes – team founder Clint Barton and his successor
Kate Bishop – decided to revive the West Coast Avengers following an attack by land sharks in
Santa Monica. Clint and Kate recruited America Chavez and Kate's boyfriend Johnny "Fuse" Watts, who helped in the mission, and were eventually joined by
Gwenpool and
Quentin Quire. Given their lack of funds, the newly formed team tried to get financiers by starring in a
reality show following their exploits. The West Coast Avengers later went up against
Madame Masque and her West Coast incarnation of the
Masters of Evil which consists of
Eel, Graviton,
Lady Bullseye,
MODOK Superior,
Satana, and Kate's parents
Derek Bishop and
Eleanor Bishop. Gwen adopts a baby land shark which she names
Jeff – Barton allowing Jeff to stay as long as he does not bite anyone besides supervillains.
Volume 4 (2024 series) Iron Man and War Machine later reform the West Coast Avengers as part of a plot to rehabilitate some supervillains. With Spider-Woman and ex-criminal Blue Bolt joining the group, they start with Ultron.
Firestar later joined the West Coast Avengers when it comes to fighting the Sovereign Sons. The West Coast Avengers go up against the Gospel of Ultrons that is led by an Ultron called The One as they are the results of Ultron continuing to split himself after separating from Hank Pym. ==Other versions==