As a brand,Marvelhas become a superpower in itself in the comic book culture. The Marvel Cinematic Universe alone has helped elevate the Marvel brand to what it is today, but the company’s presence in the actual comics realm can’t be overlooked. The current Marvel Comics continues to innovate through storylines and new characters.
Character-wise, Marvel is coming off the heels of a tremendous 2023 that introduced some of thebest heroes of the year, as well aslore-changing villains who continue to impactthe Marvel Universe. Now, 2024 is on course to deliver the same kind of impact, but truthfully,Marvel has been consistent in introducing new, extraordinary elements and characters to its universe across the past decade. The last 10 years have offered Marvel some of the best superheroes that any comic book company could ask for.
10Bloodline
Debuts inFree Comic Book Day 2022: Avengers/X-Men’s"Bloodline" by Danny Lore, Karen S. Darboe, Ian Herring, and VC’s Cory Petit
As the daughter of Blade, Bloodline’s biggest issue is that she is immensely powerful, but simply has yet to harness full control over that power. She’s still relatively new to being a superhero, as Brielle Brooks didn’t start her training until herDaughter of Blademiniseries. That being said, in a short amount of time, that training has already paid off astheBlood Huntstoryline saw herjoin forces with the Avengersand evenhelp save the day, all while still being in her rookie year as a superhero.
Still, though, it was theBlood Huntarc that showcased how powerful Brielle really could be. Not by way of her accomplishments, but because of how much power she wielded while the sun was blotted and how much stronger she became. HerDaughter of Bladeseries established how powerful she can be once she lets her bloodlust run ravenous under the nightfall. She just doesn’t know how to reach that full power potential without going intofull, feral vamp mode.As Bloodline continues to improve with time, there will come a time when she understands her power enough to fully control it, and when that time comes, that’s when she’ll really reach her powerful potential.
9Spider-Gwen
Debuts inEdge of Spider-Verse#2 by Jason Latour, Robbi Rodriguez, Rico Renzi, and Clayton Cowles
There have been numerous Spider-Men and Spider-Man variants to emerge in the last decade, especially following theSpider-Versefranchise (both that of the comics and the movies of the same name),but by far the most popular variant to come out of the lot is Spider-Gwen. Or, more appropriately, the Ghost-Spider, as she’s technically named (but Spider-Gwen rolls off the tongue a whole lot better). The popularity of Earth-65’s alternate universe Gwen Stacy has skyrocketed enough to justifyher inclusion into Earth-616, the main canon universe in Marvel’s multiverse.
It’s in joining Earth-616 where new powers are manifesting for the Ghost Spider.Gwen is still learning about those powers as they are slowly manifesting followingSpider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider#3, where she finds herself bursting with electricity in fury. Being a Spider-hero already makes her incredibly powerful, but adding abilities to her repertoire peaks her even higher up the power rankings than she already is.
8Solarus
Debuts inSentry#1 by Jason Loo, Luigi Zagaria, Arthur Hesli, and Joe Caramagna
There was a time when Sentry was universally recognized asMarvel’s most powerful hero.Now that Robert Reynolds is gone, his powers are transferred over to a crop of random individuals, among them being Mallory Gibbs. After averting a crisis that sees one of the Sentries killing off the others to become a supervillain, Mallory becomes the sole Sentry. In the process, Malloryadopts the name Solarusonce she jumpstarts her official superhero career. In the same breath, she takes on the tutelage of Misty Knight, only sharpening her skills as a hero.
Readers have yet to see Mallory on-panel since the conclusion of theSentryminiseries, butshe’s too powerful right now for Marvel to keep Solarus a secret for too long. If 2024 was her coming out party, 2025 is bound to be her breakout that progresses her rise up the Marvel ladder.
7Princess
Debuts inDeadpool #5by Alyssa Wong and Martin Coccolo
There have been countless variations of symbiote characters who have hit the Marvel scene over the years, but one of the strangest by far - and oddly endearing - to hit the scene yetis Deadpool’s daughter, Princess. A piece of Carnage symbiote that busts out of Deadpool’s chest manifests as a giant symbiote dog. However,because that symbiote has been infused with some of Deadpool’s DNA, that means she’s justas dangerously funny as he is, along with being just plain dangerous.
Princess' presence has endeared her to Deadpool enough for Wade to accept her as a daughter and a sidekick who still tags along in his adventures. She’s effectivelyto Deadpool what Kon is to HayakawainChainsaw Man.Power-wise, she’s just as powerful as Carnage himself.
6Eve Warlock
Debuts inWarlock: Rebirth#1 by Ron Marz, Ron Lim, Don Ho, Romulo Fajardo Jr., and Joe Sabino
Warlock: Rebirthintroduces a sister to Adam Warlock, who himself is one of Marvel’s most powerful heroes. Yet, in one of her first appearances,Eve decisively defeats him, which not only immediately establishes her asmore powerful than her brotherAdam, but asa Thanos-level threat worth taking seriously. As someone created by and manipulated by the High Evolutionary, Eve is initially introduced as a villain, or at the very least, a misguided antagonist.
By the series' end, she sees the light and works alongside her brother to defeat the High Evolutionary, forcing him to retreat. Adam offers her the opportunity to join his adventures on Monster Isle and even join the Infinity Watch.Eve considers this, but wants to prioritize tracking down the HIgh Evolutionary and finishing their business together for good. With a cosmic prowess that’s as great as - if not, greater than - that of Adam,Eve Warlock’s potential in the Marvel Universe is immense.
5Lifebringer
Debuts inUltimates#2 by Al Ewing, Kenneth Rocafort, Dan Brown, and Joe Sabino
Galactus spent decades devouring worlds, butduring Al Ewing’sUltimatesrun in 2016, he changed Galactus forever by turning him into the Lifebringer.The series sees Galactus kept in an incubator by the Ultimate Avengers. By doing so, they completely alter his mindset and physiology, turning him into an entity who needs to and is capable of restoring the planets that he devoured. That quickly becomes his life’s mission statement, to rebuild dead planets using new life energy.
It’s a complete inversion of what Galactus has always been about, but what remains is still an all-powerful being. He’s just no longer a being who wants to use that power to destroy. Instead, he uses the overwhelming power and fortitude he has always had to revive instead of decimate.
4Robbie Reyes Ghost Rider
Debuts inAll-New Ghost Rider#1 by Felipe Smith, Tradd Moore, Nelson Daniel, Val Staples, and Joe Caramagna
Stepping into the role of Ghost Rider, Robbie Reyes had big shoes to fill, as previous hosts of the Spirit of Vengeance, Johnny Blaze and Danny Ketch, are interchangeably name-dropped as the best Ghost Rider. Having to follow a pair of such iconic characters is not an easy feat, but Reyes more than lives up to those expectations.
While his time as the Ghost Rider is critically acclaimed, it’s his ascent into becoming the All-Rider that launches him into becomingthe most powerful Ghost Rider.The All-Rider is an upgraded Ghost Rider whose powers exist beyond space and time with little to no limitations. He basically becomes the Ghost Rider of the multiverse and, by the same sword, the most powerful Ghost Rider in the multiverse. Under this guise, Reyes is unstoppable as one of the most powerful heroes imaginable in the Marvel Universe.
3Suzanne Selby’s Starbrand
Debuts inAvengers#29 by Jason Aaron, Ed McGuinness, Paco Medina, Mark Morales, Jason Keith, and Cory Petit
There have been many people to carry the Starbrand mantle, but the latest to do so would be Suzanne Selby. After Suzanne’s mother died during childbirth,Marvel’s most powerful weaponfell into her reach. Suzanne would not take her newfound power for granted, asshe would become one of the greatest Avengers who ever lived in her time as Starbrand.
That isn’t hyperbole either, as her sacrifice to save the multiverse would immediately dub her as one of themost revered heroes in Avengers history.Starbrand isn’t a hero who gets name-dropped a lot among the Marvel Comics fan community, but given her impact and accomplishments, she deserves more credit than what is usually afforded to her.
2Firehair and the Avengers of 1,000,000 BC
Debuts inGenerations: The Unworthy Thor & The Mighty Thorby Jason Aaaron, Mahmud Asrar, Jordie Bellaire, and Joe Sabino
Marvel’s take on the 1,000,000,000 BC era introduced an all-powerful,all-new line-up of prehistoric Avengersinto the universe’s lore. Millenia ago, Earth’s first group of mighty heroes all banded together bythe original host for the Phoenix Force. That host is Firehair aka Lady Phoenix, someone who changes the course of Marvel history entirely, as her efforts during the prehistoric to recruit her teamofficially deems her the first Avenger.
The Phoenix Force ranks among themost powerful beings in all of Marvel, and Lady Phoenix was the one to set the tone for a bevy of future hosts. In addition to kickstarting centuries' worth of hosts carrying this cosmic force,Lady Phoenix is also the mother of Thor, meaning she already comes from a powerful lineage without the need of the Phoenix.
1Ultimate Thor and Sif
Debut inUltimate Universe#1 by Jonathan Hickman and Stefano Caselli
Moments after debuting in the revamped Ultimate Universe, Ultimate Thor gets stabbed through his chest inperhaps 2023’s most shocking scene. Miraculously, though, he survives being impaled by Captain Britain’s sword. He needs medical attention immediately, butthe fact that he survives a stabbing that would kill lesser men is a testament to his strength. It’s no wonder he is recruited for the Ultimate Avengers, as is the woman who previously imprisoned him, Lady Sif.
Thor Gets a New Costume to Match Twisted Change to His Origin
As Thor officially debuts as a hero in the new Ultimate Universe #1, he gets a dark, modernized costume to go with his twisted backstory.
The introduction of Earth-1610 into themultiverse has provided all-powerful reinventions of classic characters, but the story wastes no time in establishing these new Ultimates recruits as forces to be reckoned with, and among the most powerful heroes thatMarvel Comicshas introduced in the last decade.
