The Avengers haven’t “disappeared,” but in the Marvel universe (and in the movies) the classic team is basically broken up, retired, or dead, while Marvel is setting up a new lineup and new mega-events.

Where the Avengers Stand After Endgame

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe:

  • Iron Man is dead after sacrificing himself to stop Thanos.
  • Black Widow is dead on Vormir after giving her life for the Soul Stone.
  • Captain America is effectively retired, having gone back in time and then grown old before passing the shield to Sam Wilson.
  • Thor leaves Earth with the Guardians for a while, drifting between groups rather than leading the Avengers.
  • Hawkeye steps back to focus on his family, with Kate Bishop being set up as a successor-type hero.
  • Hulk is injured and semi-retired, acting more as a mentor/scientist than a frontline Avenger.

So “what happened to the Avengers” in the MCU is: the original team fractured after Endgame , with some dead, some retired, and others operating separately while the world shifts toward new teams like the Thunderbolts and “New Avengers.”

Behind the Scenes: Movies and Future Plans

From the studio side, Marvel slowed down after mixed reactions to the Multiverse Saga and delays in production, which made it feel like the Avengers were gone for a while. But they’re coming back in a big way:

  • A new event film titled Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled as the next big Avengers movie, positioned as a major follow‑up to Endgame.
  • It has been paired with Avengers: Secret Wars , planned as the direct sequel releasing about a year later.
  • Plans include using Endgame ’s re‑release and story threads (like Steve staying in the past) as setup for the conflict in Doomsday.

So on the big‑screen timeline, the Avengers haven’t ended; the franchise is in a “rebuild” phase, aiming at the next two huge crossover movies.

In the Comics: Big Shake-Ups, Not a Disappearance

In Marvel Comics, the Avengers frequently “end,” reform, or change rosters after big events. They’ve disbanded during storylines like Avengers Disassembled and then returned in new forms. Right now:

  • A new event called Avengers: Armageddon is billed as changing the face of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and leading into a “new era” for the team.
  • These kinds of events usually mean major roster changes, status‑quo shifts, and sometimes the team temporarily breaking apart before re‑forming.

So in the comics, “what happened to the Avengers” usually means: big crisis, team breaks, a few heroes die or leave, then a rebranded Avengers lineup emerges.

Fan And Forum View: “Are They Just Gone?”

On fan forums and theory discussions:

  • Many people say the “original Avengers are pretty much gone” because the core six from 2012 are mostly dead, retired, or sidelined.
  • Others argue the Avengers as an idea are still alive, with newer heroes (Sam’s Cap, Shang‑Chi, Captain Marvel, etc.) being the spiritual continuation of the team.

A common fan take is: the Avengers you grew up with are gone, but Marvel is slowly building toward a “next‑gen” Avengers era to replace them.

Quick TL;DR

  • In‑story (MCU): Key Avengers died or retired after Endgame , and the classic team disbanded.
  • In movies: Marvel paused big team‑ups but is gearing up for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars as the next huge events.
  • In comics: They’re in yet another big shake‑up era, with Avengers: Armageddon leading into a new status quo.
  • In fandom: Most agree the “OG” Avengers are gone, but a new generation and new mega‑movies are on the horizon.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.