The Avengers Daemons
I’ve fallen off the Marvel bandwagon a fair bit so I will not do all the characters because I’m not confident enough in their personalities. However, I will cover all the original six Avengers, plus a few bonus characters I feel I know well. If anyone has head-canons for any of the people I don’t do, let me know your opinion! (Some spoilers ahead, as I talk about character arcs).
-
Tony Stark - Ring-tailed lemur. Tony always felt like a primate type of person to me, and the species I’ve selected is an iconic and unforgettable lemur - much like the iconic and unforgettable Stark. Lemurs are a social animal and often form tight knit family groups, which is very reminiscent of the small bundles of people Tony collects and often pretends he doesn’t like. Lemurs are also a very vocal and communicative animal, which matches with Tony’s never ending witty comebacks and overall blunt snarky and sassy form of communication. He is a competitive person, which is a very big trait in primates with their social hierarchies, and yet is very adaptable as well. Overall, I think a flashy, dramatic ‘King Julian’-type lemur in his youth growing and maturing into a caring leader and team member would match Tony’s overall story arc well.
Steve Rogers - Musk Ox. The enormous horned musk ox likely looked out of place with pre-serum Steve Rogers, but he grows into it. Musk ox are a herd animal and are very social at their core - their life is dedicated around taking care of their people. Steve is often on his own for things, but I think that’s a skill he’s learned through necessity - he seems most content and most effective when he has team support (ex The Commandos, the Avengers, or even when he just had Bucky backing him up). Musk ox are also infamous for their defensiveness and strength - they stand up for their people and will go head on with any danger. They do not suffer bullies and pushy predators. They’re a little stubborn, but these arctic animals are hardy and tenacious and patient - and a steady, patient work ethic creates a hell of a planner which pairs with the renowned ‘man with a plan’ strategist. Steve always seemed larger than life, so I figured he had to have a daemon to match.
Natasha Romanoff - American Marten. As a mustelid, related to weasels, martens are incredibly smart, sneaky predators. Highly skilled hunters, these animals are adept at climbing trees and adapt to a variety of weather conditions to survive anything they face. They’re tough little creatures entirely capable of taking on animals larger than them, which matches with Natasha’s proficiency and skill as a fighter. Functionally a marten can easily be disguised/mistaken as many of the others in the mustelid family which would be appropriate for a spy as well. However, much like the redhead, martens are known to be curious, playful and silly well into adulthood. I think that throughout her story arc, her marten would thaw from a cautious, guarded, distant killer to a more open and goofy and affectionate creature. And symbolically a marten fits Natasha’s story beautifully: “In woodland Native American folklore, marten are generally depicted as brave heroes... For one tribe, the Mi’Kmaq, a legend says that a marten was the first animal to sacrifice itself for the human race...“
Clint Barton - Black-billed Magpie. Magpies are social animals and thrive on living and working with large groups of others. Clint is a very friendly person, and is very team and family oriented - people matter a lot to him. He cares a lot about people and magpies as a corvid can be very devoted to their chosen people and protective of them. As a corvid, magpies also are fierce and a bit trickster-like with their tail-pulling behaviours and willingness to stand up to predators. Clint is a goofy and funny sort of person who plays tricks and makes jokes and is entirely willing to throw down against bad guys with crazy powerful magic and weapons. Furthermore, a magpie is a scavenger animal, which matches with the tenacity, adaptability and opportunism Clint shows in a lot of his spy work. And lastly, magpies are an incredibly sharp and intelligent bird, which pairs well with the sharp-eyed observation skills of a talented sniper.
Bruce Banner - Bull Snake. Like most snake species, Bull snakes are solitary people. They can tolerate others and spend time with them but usually prefer being on their own. Snakes can be persistent and patient, but are also opportunistic - translating to someone who will dedicate themselves to steady hard work when it’s required, but will take advantage of a good opportunity when it arrives. They’re also tough, hardy and generally unflappable. They are non-confrontational and not super aggressive, which matches with Bruce’s meek unobtrusive behaviour and ability to manage in any situation. However, Bull snakes are known in the snake community as being an incredibly angry, defensive snake and I think it’s hilarious to match with the ‘I’m always angry’ Bruce. So on the surface we see a calm, non-aggressive recluse, but underneath is someone entirely willing and able to snap at any given moment.
(As a side-note I think his daemon would change when he turns into Hulk; most likely into some giant crocodile/dinosaur type reptile that could match up with the strength the gamma rays gave Banner. Double side-note: Professor Hulk’s daemon would be a Komodo dragon.)
Thor - African Lion. A little cliched, but if Thor were to have a daemon (I sometimes headcanon him without because he’s a god/alien) it would have to be the lion. A lot of the other big, kingly sort of animals are very independent and unsocial - and Thor is a people’s person. I do think a lion would fit his arc, starting as a spoiled prince and learning how to be a leader would create a very lion-king type growth from Thor’s lion. Lions are highly social, work as a team, but are also very hierarchical and aware of leadership positions. They are strong and can be very clever in setting up ambushes, but also spend a lot of time conserving energy and just laying around - which pairs with the fact Thor can definitely be prone to laziness/indulgence as we see post-snap. But lions are very good caregivers, they are protective of their families and circle of people, and once they get past the ‘teenaged’ jockey-for-position phase of showboating and short tempered aggression, a lot of older lions really mellow out into sturdy dependable defenders.
James Rhodes - Northern Cardinal. As a bird from the northern region, it’s a hardier animal that is resourceful and tougher than it appears - yet it’s also adaptable enough to survive both the harsh winters and the hot summers. Many birds are naturally more social, and the cardinal is also monogamous which translates to extreme loyalty. Rhodey is both a social person but also has a small close knit group he’s incredibly loyal to and takes very good care of. Cardinals can be a little pushy about their territory - they can definitely hold their own - and while they will occasionally start up a scuff, they aren’t the most aggressive birds in the world. They are hardworking birds, always on the go, but they’re also rather flashy with their loud calls and bright red colour - and Rhodey has never been one to shy away from the spotlight. Overall the northern cardinal is an adaptable, resourceful, tough little stubborn bird that works well for his character.
Sam Wilson - Northern Gannet. The Northern Gannet is a seabird built for the very specific skill of plunge-diving to hunt fish, and this makes them a very specialized, very tough bird. Sam is very good and what he does and knows - and he can be adaptable and adjust to situations as they arise, but I believe he takes a very fastidious and studied course in learning new skills. He is very determined and focused, which pairs with the high focus of this advanced hunting bird. He also has that fighting spirit to protect what and who he cares about that is very strong in a seabird like this - particularly one who is loyal to a single mate, showing his strong sense of loyalty and dedication to ‘his’ people. Gannets are social birds and Sam does best in a group. Like Steve I believe he’s learned through necessity how to manage on his own but thrives when he has a team or partner. Lastly, Gannets are very vocal and expressive birds, using many sounds and body language to communicate both affection towards their chosen mate and aggression towards people who cross their boundaries. Sam is very outspoken and a little blunt and brash in his sarcastic humour - he lets people know what he’s thinking and you will know if he likes you or doesn’t like you.
Peter Parker - Northern Flying Squirrel. Super social, a little prone to twitchy nerves and stress, and prone to getting themselves in dangerous situations. Squirrels are very social, and this species of squirrel in particular is very non-aggressive compared to other types. While Peter does fight fairly regularly, he is strictly non-lethal and is not a naturally aggressive or overly competitive person. He can be very single-minded and focused one moment than scatterbrained the next, which matches a squirrels dedication to their task yet their ability to be sidetracked by outside stressors. This type of squirrel also doesn’t hibernate in the winter, and will often put itself at risk foraging on the ground where it is less agile - creating a sort of self-sacrificing/lack of self-preservation energy which...I mean it’s Peter Parker in a nutshell. High energy, most agile and comfortable at a height versus on the ground, clever, resourceful, adaptable, and yet not aggressive: A northern flying squirrel is my chosen form for Peter Parker.
