The Great Lakes Avengers
The #1 superheroes of the Midwest!
Created in 1989, the Great Lakes Avengers are the top superhero team of the Midwest! They've (technically) defeated Thanos, Dr Doom, MODOK, Maelstrom, Asbtestos Man, and their arch nemesis Dr Tannenbaum! Orignally headquartered in Milwuakee, WI, they are now set up in Detroit, MI.
Members
Mr. Immortal
Craig Hollis
Founding member and leader
Powers: immortalityDiscovering his powers after many, many failed suicide attempts, Mr. Immortal decided to pursue a life of heroism. He placed an ad in the paper and assembled his brand new team of unofficial Avengers.
Membership: active
Flatman
Dr Val Ventura, Matt
Founding member
Powers: elasticity as long as he's flatFlatman originally used his powers for hired impersonations of Mr. Fantastic. However, he was motivated to use his powers for good and left the entertainment business behind.
Membership: active
Big Bertha
Ashley Crawford
Founding member
Powers: manipulation of body mass and strengthA successful model, Bertha is the main source of funding for the GLA. She uses her original identity of Ashley as her secret identity, but she feels more connected to Bertha.
Membership: active
Doorman
DeMarr Davis
Founding member
Powers: body is a portalAfter death, in addition to his regular superheroing, he took on the responsibility of Angel of Dead for Oblivion. This gave him apparent teleportation abilities for job-related duties.
Membership: active
Good Boy
Goodness Silva
Founding member
Powers: wolf, strengthHer wolf is a reflection of her fursona, a blue wolf dude. Her brother, Lucky, also transforms into his own pink wolf.
Membership: active
Dinah Soar
Founding member
Powers: flight, razor sharp wingDinah is from an alien planet and cannot speak without forming a permanent bond. This can only be done once in her lifetime, and she chooses to share that with Mr. Immortal, who can then understand her speech.
Membership: inactive (deceased)
Leather Boy
Gene Lorrene
Powers: none
After realizing he had no powers, the GLA retracted Leather Boy's membership. He returned later for revenge upon hearing recruitment was reopened without and invitation for him.
Membership: inactive
Squirrel Girl + Monkey Joe and Tippy Toe
Doreen Green
Powers: prehensile tail, strong buck teeth, strength, agility, claws, communication with squirrels
Squirrel Girl is the most accomplished hero of the GLA, responsible for the majority of their successful missions.
Membership: active
Grasshopper
various identities
Powers: mech suit
Several individuals have taken up the Grasshopper mantle, though none have lasted longer than a few weeks.
Membership: inactive (deceased?)
Gravity
Greg Willis
Powers: gravity manipulation
Originally from Wisconsin, Gravity was uninterested in joining his homestate team. However, he was placed with them for some time after being kicked off his own team.
Membership: inactive
Deadpool
Wade Wilson
Powers: regeneration
Deadpool seems to be entertained by killing Mr. Immortal as often as possible. He is also responsible for the death of one of the Grasshoppers.
After being invited to move into GLA headquarters, the team eventually kicked him out for being too annoying and disruptive.
Membership: inactive
Hawkeye + Mockingbird
Clint Barton and Bobbi Morse
Powers: skilled in combat
Hawkeye and Mockingbird discovered the GLA and took them under their wings (pun intended) in training as official Avengers. The team lost contact with them after their deaths(?).
Membership: inactive (deceased?)
History
West Coast Avengers #46, first appearance of the GLA
The Great Lakes Avengers were assembled by Mr. Immortal, who placed an ad in the paper for a superheroes to join his new team.
Along with Dinah Soar, Big Bertha, Flatman, and Doorman, the GLA was formed, headquartered in Milwaukee, WI.
They were then discovered by Avengers Hawkeye and Mockingbird, who agreed to take them on in training.
After removing "Avengers" from their name, they became the Lighting Rods, inspired by the Thunderbolts.
The same Thunderbolts that fought against and impersonate them.
After an encounter with warping time travel, Deadpool was invited to the team.
They then called themselves Avengers again, losing a few members (Dinah Soar, Grasshopper) and recruiting a few more (Squirrel Girl, Monkey Joe, Grasshopper), before deciding GLX-Men suits them better.
They cycled through a few more names (Great Lakes Defenders, Great Lakes Champions), won a poker tournament, and fought their nemesis Dr. Tannenbaum.
Deadpool moved into HQ but got kicked out for being disruptive and annoying.
After some time disbanded, the team joined up again!
The Avengers legal team informed them they now owned the "Avengers" trademark and allowed them to operate as the GLA again.
They headed to a new HQ in Detroit, MI and invited shapeshifter Good Boy into their ranks.
Then, after saving the city, they were informed by Deadpool that they were fired from the Avengers.
Comics
Reading List
- West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #46 ----------------------------------- 1989
- Avengers West Coast #48-49 --------------------------------------- 1989
- Avengers #309 ------------------------------------------------------ 1989
- Avengers Annual #19 ----------------------------------------------- 1989
- Avengers West Coast #64 ------------------------------------------- 1990
- Deadpool (vol. 2) #10-11 -------------------------------------------- 1997
- Thunderbolts #15-17 ------------------------------------------------ 1998
- G.L.A. #1-4 ----------------------------------------------------------- 2005
- GLX-mas Special ----------------------------------------------------- 2005
- Thing (vol. 2) #8 ------------------------------------------------------ 2006
- Cable & Deadpool #30 ----------------------------------------------- 2006
- Deadpool / GLI: Summer Fun Spectacular ---------------------------- 2007
- Fear Itself: The Home Front #6 --------------------------------------- 2011
- Great Lakes Avengers #1-7 ------------------------------------------ 2016
- Avengers Unlimited Infinity Comic #26 ------------------------------ 2022
- Doorman Infinty Comic ----------------------------------------------- 2026
Other Appearances
- Quasar #18 ---------------------------------------------------------- 1989
- Avengers West Coast #60 ------------------------------------------- 1989
- West Coast Avengers Annual #6 ------------------------------------ 1991
- Gamer's Handbook of the Marvel Universe #7 ----------------------- 1991
- Encyclopaedia Deadpoolica ------------------------------------------ 1998
- Thunderbolts #25 ---------------------------------------------------- 1999
- Deadpool (vol. 2) #50 cover ------------------------------------------ 2001
- Deadpool (vol. 2) #61 ------------------------------------------------ 2001
- JLA / Avengers #3 cover ---------------------------------------------- 2003
- Avengers / JLA #4 ---------------------------------------------------- 2004
- I (heart) Marvel: Masked Intentions #1 ------------------------------- 2006
- X-Men: The 198 Files ------------------------------------------------ 2006
- Cable & Deadpool #31 ----------------------------------------------- 2006
- World War Hulk: Front Line #4 --------------------------------------- 2007
- Civil War: Battle Damage Report ------------------------------------- 2007
- Avengers: The Initiative #1 cover ------------------------------------- 2007
- Avengers: The Initiative #19 ------------------------------------------ 2008
- Avengers: The Initiative #25 ------------------------------------------ 2009
- Deadpool Corps: Rank and Foul -------------------------------------- 2010
- Age of Heroes #3 ----------------------------------------------------- 2010
- Heroic Age: Heroes #1 ------------------------------------------------ 2010
- Avengers: Roll Call ---------------------------------------------------- 2012
- Wolverine / Deadpool: The Decoy ------------------------------------- 2011
- Unbeatable Squirrel Girl and The Great Lakes Avengers --------------2016
- History of the Marvel Universe ----------------------------------------- 2019
- Marvel Avengers Ultimate Character Guide ---------------------------- 2015
- Avengers (vol. 9) #2 cover variant -------------------------------------- 2023
- Fantastic Four (vol. 6) #43 ---------------------------------------------- 2022
Characters' Other Appearances
Mr. Immortal
- Astonishing Avengers Infinity Comic #12-14 --------------------------- 2025
- The Mighty Avengers #1 ------------------------------------------------ 2007
Flatman
- Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (vol. 2) #29 ------------------------------------ 2018
- Ziggy Pig Silly Seal Comics (vol. 2) -------------------------------------- 2019
- Marvel's Voices ---------------------------------------------------------- 2020
- Marvel's Voices Pride ---------------------------------------------------- 2021
- The Mighty Avengers #1 ------------------------------------------------ 2007
Big Bertha
- Avengers Spotlight #27 ------------------------------------------------ 1989
- Women of Marvel: Celebrating Seven Decades ------------------------ 2010
- Deadpool (vol. 3) #1000 ----------------------------------------------- 2010
- Deadpool (vol. 3) #36 -------------------------------------------------- 2011
- Storm (vol. 5) #8-9 ----------------------------------------------------- 2025
Doorman
- Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (vol. 2) #37 ----------------------------------- 2018
Grasshopper
- Deadpool vs. Thanos #3 ------------------------------------------------ 2015