The New Avengers is a team that is as versatile as it is volatile. Unlike the primary Avengers, this team was formed as a means to act without governmental approval or oversight. Originally formed by Captain America and Iron Man, the New Avengers has since evolved to include numerous powerful heroes. However, some New Avengers are far more underrated than the rest.

First officially established in New Avengers #3 (2005), by Brian Michael Bendis and David Finch, the New Avengers formed in reaction to a monumental breakout at the superhuman prison known as “The Raft.” Founded during an era when the Avengers had officially disbanded, the New Avengers were originally formed to hunt down the escaped convicts without bureaucratic tape holding them back. Now, decades later, Marvel has introduced a new team of New Avengers formed of some of Marvel’s deadliest heroes. In celebration of the series, here are the eight most underrated of the New Avengers, ranked by strength.

8 Ronin (Clint Barton)

ed In: New Avengers #29 (2007)

While Clint Barton may not have any superpowers of his own, his natural athletic abilities and decades of training are nothing to scoff at. After turning away from his villainous past, Hawkeye has proven himself to be a valuable ally and leader for numerous superhero teams. However, during his time with the New Avengers, Barton relinquished his “Hawkeye” persona to become the Ronin, a masterless Samurai instead, following the apparent death of Captain America.

Clint Barton has the physical aptitude of an Olympic-level athlete, easily showcasing the strength to lift a few hundred pounds. Likewise, his endurance is beyond peak human standards, previously having trained for 42 uninterrupted hours straight. But, most impressively, are his archery, sword, and acrobatic skills. As the Ronin, Barton is especially nimble; However, without his bow and arrows, he lacks one of his greatest assets in battle. Still, with or without his archery gear, Clint Barton is a near-superhuman force to be reckoned with.

7 Mockingbird (Bobbi Morse)

ed In: New Avengers #48 (2009)

Before ing the New Avengers, Mockingbird spent years in Skrull captivity. However, Bobbi Morse is as cunning and intelligent as she is physically fit. Finding an opportunity to escape, Mockingbird waited in hiding until the end of the Secret Invasion event, when she returned to Earth and ed the New Avengers. Alongside Clint Barton as Ronin, Mockingbird spent most of her new life on Earth hunting down the remaining Skrull impostors.

While Bobbi was born an ordinary human, during her time with the New Avengers, Mockingbird was severely injured, only to be saved by a drug cocktail comprised of the Super Soldier Serum and the Infinity Formula. Now imbued with the powers gifted to Steve Rogers and the godly immortality granted by the Infinity Serum, Bobbi Morse has become exponentially more powerful than she ever was before. In addition, Mockingbird also unlocked latent psychic abilities thanks to the artificial enhancements.

6 Cannonball (Sam Guthrie)

ed In: Avengers #39 (2015)

While Cannonball is more commonly associated with the X-Men, the hero has served alongside both the primary Avengers and the New Avengers. Sam Guthrie has the mutant ability to generate thermochemical energy and release it from his body. In doing so, Cannonball skyrockets through the air at Mach speeds but remains agile enough to maintain his maneuverability. The X-Man can also use this energy as a temporary shield around his body, protecting him from the dangers of hitting something or someone at high speeds.

Cannonball can also use his powers to create indestructible “blast fields,” which he can extend to others, either to protect or temporarily imprison him. Guthrie’s near-invulnerability is also coupled with his potential External status. In X-Men lore, Externals are a subspecies of mutants, like Apocalypse, who are effectively immortal. However, there has been some confusion regarding the truth of this status. Given his younger age, Cannonball won’t truly know until some time later.

5 Pod (Aikku Jokinen)

ed In: Avengers #39 (2015)

Pod is easily the most underrated member of the New Avengers on this list. Aikku Jokinen was once an ordinary girl until one of Ex Nihilo’s inventions crash-landed near her. Soon, the alien creation, known as the Pod System Armor, bonded with the young child, transforming her into a massive metal biped. During an era of strife between the primary Avengers and the Illuminati, a new band of New Avengers was formed to help end the conflict.

In her Pod form, Aikku is equipped with a powerful arsenal of highly advanced technology, crafted by one of the Multiverse’s most profound creators. The Pod Armor can launch numerous forms of energy blasts and laser beams strong enough to push back gods like Thor. Additionally, the armor is near-invulnerable and automatically generates a shield around Aikku. Most impressively, the Pod Armor adapts its strength and abilities to counteract any threat Aikku faces, once proving itself strong enough to singlehandedly defeat the Avengers.

4 Power Woman (Jessica Jones)

ed In: New Avengers #48 (2009)

Alongside Mockingbird, Jessica Jones ed the New Avengers during the aftermath of the Secret Invasion event. Just prior, Luke Cage had re-ed the New Avengers shortly before Jessica gave birth to their daughter Danielle. To be the role model her daughter deserves, Jones took on the name “Power Woman,” partially to honor the unshakable love that she has for her husband. However, Jones wouldn’t last long on the team as she actively feared the New Avengers’ exploits would put her daughter at risk.

Power Woman first gained her powers when she was caught in a car crash with a truck carrying mysterious chemicals. When she awoke from a coma, she discovered that she had gained extraordinary superhuman strength, powerful enough to lift multiple tons and leap several stories high. Likewise, Jones gained an incredible healing factor and superhuman durability. In addition to her superhuman enhancements, Power Woman has also gained the power to fly and, thanks to Jean Grey, has mild telepathic resistance against telepaths like Purple Man.

3 Power Man (Victor Alvarez)

ed In: New Avengers #1 (2015)

Victor Alvarez is a Hell’s Kitchen native who, after a monstrous explosion that took the lives of 107 people, absorbed his father’s bio-electric technology and the chi of the explosion’s victims. Now calling himself “Power Man,” Victor quickly garnered the attention of both Luke Cage and Iron Fist, who took the young hero under their tutelage. Having previously served on the Mighty Avengers, Power Man ed AIM’s New Avengers sometime after the X-Man Sunspot purchased the previously villainous company.

More like Iron Fist than Luke Cage, Power Man can draw upon the chi and the various energies around him to bolster his strength and durability. In addition to the raw power that his overwhelming chi gifts him, the young hero also gained the 107 victims’ experiences and skills, including that of Javier de Paz, one of Iron Fist’s students. However, if Victor experiences any form of bioelectric interference, he could temporarily lose his powers without the remnants of his father’s device to harness Power Man’s stored-up energy.

2 Iron Fist (Danny Rand)

ed In: New Avengers #29 (2007)

Following the climax of the first Superhuman Civil War, remnants of Captain America’s Secret Avengers continued their work as the New Avengers. Among its newest , Iron Fist proved to be one of the most powerfully diverse and well-disciplined of the superheroic team. While Iron Fist isn’t underrated as a Marvel character, he’s not often considered a staple New Avengers character, thus landing him a spot on this list.

After being orphaned at a young age, Danny spent years training in martial arts in the mystical city of K’un-Lun, where he proved himself to the immortal dragon Shou-Lao and was gifted the powers of the Iron Fist. Using his powers, Danny can harness and manipulate his chi into monumentally powerful attacks as well as numerous other random effects such as hypnotism, energy tracking, hyper-regeneration, and, on rare occasions, interdimensional travel. But of course, Iron Fist’s powers only bolster his mastery over all forms of martial arts, proving this hero to be this list’s most versatile hero.

1 Smasher (Isabel Kane)

ed In: Avengers #39 (2015)

Smasher, aka “Izzy” Kane, grew up on a rural farm when, one day, Izzy found the Exospex from a Shi’ar Smasher. When the young teen put the visor on, she was instantly connected to the Shi’ar Empire’s digitized collection of superpowers, which she can effectively and use for herself. After being formally recognized as a new Smasher, Izzy went on to lead an incredible superheroic career both on Earth and in space. She later ed Sunspot’s New Avengers to help halt the conflict between the main Avengers and the Illuminati.

Thanks to her Exospex, Smasher can unlock numerous superpowers, although she can only do so one at a time. In addition to the standard collection of enhanced superhuman abilities, the Exospex can harness and fire blasts of energy, imbue its owner with mild telepathy, protect its owner from the desolate vacuum of space, and transport its owner through hyperspace. While Izzy may not have any powers of her own, the Exospex easily transforms her into this list’s most powerful New Avenger.