Marvel Comics, founded by Martin Goodman in 1939, dominates the superhero genre today, with the Marvel Cinematic Universe being the most successful franchise ever. Marvel has featured some incredible storylines written by extremely talented writers such as Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Frank Miller, Gail Simone, Mark Millar, and others since its inception.
Marvel superheroes such as Spider-Man, Daredevil, Wolverine, and the Hulk are well-known worldwide. Marvel Entertainment was purchased by the Walt Disney Company in 2009, and the Marvel universe has grown exponentially since then, with ventures into movies, TV series, additional comic storylines, and gaming.
Throughout its history, Marvel has created numerous popular storylines among its readers. We’ve compiled a list of the Top 10 Marvel Comic storylines that we believe are the best the company has written. You may recognise some or all of them, but rest assured that they are all deserving of their time in the spotlight. So, let’s get started.
Best Marvel Comic Storylines of All Time!
10. Secret Wars
The 12-issue story, published in 1984 and 1985, features the Beyonder, who transports Earth’s heroes to a planet called ‘Battleworld,’ which he created for a contest. The heroes, who were all drawn to Central Park by a mysterious entity, are transported to this world, along with a few villains. The Beyonder summons them to battle and promises them ultimate recompense. Earth 616’s heroes and villains have no choice but to square off and see who survives.
Secret Wars was Marvel’s first company-wide event. The story incorporated several Marvel properties, combining individual superhero arcs and presenting a sprawling story. Secret Wars was an instant success, selling more copies than Marvel had ever sold. This story was followed by a sequel in 1986 and a sequel in 2015.
Secret Wars features many heroes, including the Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Spider-Man, Deadpool, and others. It also features supervillains such as Galactus, Magneto, Doctor Doom, the Enchantress, Kang the Conqueror, and others.
9. House of X
Marvel’s X-Men have always been a powerhouse bestseller, with the magnificent mutants sharing massive storylines and bickering amongst themselves. X-Men was also a successful film franchise, with 13 films and two television series. Jonathan Hickman, the legendary writer, takes the mutant world to a whole new level with the House of X.
The plot begins with Professor X (Charles Xavier) proclaiming Krakoa as the new sovereign nation for mutants. Magneto serves as the nation’s ambassador, providing a safe haven for mutants. It has an economy that produces new varieties of flowers, each with unique characteristics such as teleporting or extending lifespan.
This is Charles Xavier’s master plan for rescuing mutants from the darkness that humanity has always cast upon them. In opposition, a group called Orchis begins planning to protect humanity from the mutants by preventing the mutants from annihilating humanity once and for all. The consequences of all parties lead to an epic war, and reading the entire storyline is a delight (this saga inspired the Days of Future Past movie).
8. X-Men: Age of Apocalypse
In the Age of Apocalypse storyline, Legion goes back in time to kill Magneto but accidentally kills his own father, Professor X, as an ode to a twisted variant of the Grandfather’s Paradox (more like the Father’s Paradox).
This allows En Sabah Nur, one of the oldest mutants, to reawaken and realise his dream of world conquest a decade earlier than he was supposed to (due to the now changed timeline). The rule of Apocalypse carves a path of slaughtering millions of humans and establishing mutants as the ruling class.
Magneto, who has changed as a result of Xavier’s death and formed the X Men, is the main antagonist in this saga. He leads the X Men in their fight against the super-powered mutant, while secretly assigning Bishop the task of restoring the timeline that Legion tampered with.
Age of Apocalypse was a huge success upon its initial release. It popularised the already fan-favorite X Men comics, and it is still regarded as the best X Men storyline to this day.
7. World War Hulk
With his crude yet effective antics, the Incredible Green Goliath – Hulk – has been immortalised among fans. Furthermore, Mark Ruffalo’s portrayal of the character has increased his popularity. In the comics, however, the Hulk has some pretty bleak storylines, with World War Hulk taking the cake.
Written by Greg Pak in 2007, it depicts the Hulk being made to feel like an outcast and a problem for Earth, which he has always painfully realised. The Hulk has vowed vengeance after being exiled from Earth by the Illuminati in a spacecraft that explodes and kills his pregnant wife.
He honed his Sakaar powers (unfortunately, this Sakaar does not have Jeff Goldblum) by absorbing radiation. He returns to Earth, more powerful than ever, and the rest is history – World War Hulk.
6. King in Black
The King in Black carves a niche for itself in the Marvel saga volumes by using an anti-hero as the main protagonist and assimilating the rest of the Marvel Universe around him.
Through cinema, Spider-Man 3 introduced everyone’s favourite symbiote, Venom, to the entire world. Venom has always been a sore spot for the Friendly Neighborhood Hero. In the King of Black, however, he takes centre stage as the world’s saviour. Eddie Brock at his finest!
A warning has been sent out into the universe that something far more sinister than Galactus is destroying worlds at an alarming rate. Knull, the God of Symbiotes, is on a mission, riding a symbiote dragon. Meanwhile, Eddie Brock on Earth senses the arrival of Knull.
The God wishes to abduct Eddie’s son, Dylan, who possesses the Symbiote Codex. Knull confronts Earth’s heroes on his quest and either kills or possesses them all. The universe has only one hope left: Venom. So far, the saga has received mostly positive feedback.
5. Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe
With the Merc-with-a-attitude Mouth’s and the mess he always finds himself in, it was inevitable that he would end up killing the Marvel Universe. But the way he does it is a sight to behold.
After being admitted to Ravencroft (Marvel’s version of Arkham Asylum) by the X Men, Deadpool falls into the hands of Psycho-Man, who smirks with delight at the prospect of brainwashing Deadpool into doing his bidding.
However, the methods cause Deadpool to become aware of new, darker voices in his head, and he begins a murder spree across the globe, with Psycho-Man as his first victim. As he rips apart the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and several other heroes, Deadpool transforms into Dreadpool (pun intended). He even manages to exterminate the Watcher.
Readers of Deadpool comics are accustomed to extreme insanity, but this comic saga redefines insanity and takes the Marvel universe to a dark and gruesome place (while maintaining the comic relief persona of the merc).
4. Civil War
Before the Russo brothers solidified the Civil War storyline in our minds, the comic saga of the same name dared to pit Captain America and Iron Man against each other, thereby fracturing the Avengers. The only distinction between the film and the comics is that the comic storyline is much larger in scope and destruction.
Instead of a Wakanda embassy, an elementary school is bombed, killing both children and adults. This results in the passage of the Superhero Regislation Act, which requires all superpowered individuals to be registered and regulated by SHIELD.
Two philosophies emerge as a result of this action, separating long-time friends Steve Rogers and Tony Stark, resulting in them taking opposing positions. Factions form, and the heroes begin to fight each other.
Spider-Man, who plays an important role in the story, is right in the middle of it all. During the war, there is also some divine thunder. Civil War was also accompanied by a Prelude to Civil War comic book, which depicted the events leading up to the war.
3. Daredevil: Born Again
What distinguishes Marvel is its relatable stories – stories that are dear to the hearts of ordinary people. This is why Marvel has some great vigilantes like Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and others. One such story is Daredevil: Born Again.
It deserves this high ranking for the incredible storytelling it achieves while keeping the narrative on a small scale (not planetary or universal). In this story, Matt Murdock, a lawyer by trade and vigilante by choice, is tested to his core. His humanity and vulnerability are clearly visible here. The hero’s carefully managed double-identity is shattered when Wilson Fisk reveals that Matt Murdock is Daredevil.
All of his enemies now know who he is, and they are out for vengeance. Battered, bruised, exhausted, and pushed to his human limits, he must protect those he loves and cares about. Daredevil: Born Again depicts a low point for the Hell’s Kitchen vigilante in a way never seen before, and it is the saga’s best-selling point.
2. Dark Phoenix
For the X Men, Jean Grey has always been a ticking time bomb. She is one of, if not the, most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe due to her access to the Phoenix Force. She has stood by the X Men through thick and thin, shedding blood and sweat alongside them and sharing some romantic chemistry with Cyclops and Wolverine.
There is no doubt that Jean Grey is powerful, but this storyline reveals just how powerful she can be. Jean Grey gains access to the Dark Phoenix Force after coming into contact with the Hellfire Club, a lethal destructive force that even she cannot control. While the X Men battle the supervillain Mastermind (the mastermind behind the Dark Phoenix’s release), they witness Jean Grey’s maniacal rampage.
She goes on to absorb an entire sun, annihilating all life on the orbiting planet, and committing general genocide. The Dark Phoenix is a watershed moment in X-Men and Marvel history. Remember to bring tissues for the end.
1. Infinity Gauntlet
The Gauntlet, which holds all six Infinity Stones and is made of the powerful Dwarven Uru, is well known to fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The idea of the Mad Titan wielding the Infinity Gauntlet and shaping the universe to his vision comes from the Infinity Gauntlet comic storyline.
Thanos reclaims the Infinity Stones after defeating the Elders of the Universe and the In-Betweener, and sets out to complete the mission for which he was resurrected: to restore balance between life and death.
Thanos has an additional incentive to complete this mission: his intense love for Mistress Death, whom he intends to woo. He is opposed by heroes led by Adam Warlock who want to restore life to the universe after decimating half of it.
The Infinity Gauntlet is the most well-known Marvel saga in the world. With Infinity War and Endgame, the MCU immortalised the saga, bringing excitement and joy to many fans and laying down a massive legacy for future storylines.
Final Thoughts!
That concludes the list of the ten best Marvel comic storylines of all time. Every year, Marvel has amazed us with its spectacular comic storylines and amazing live action adaptations.
So, what are your thoughts on the list? Are you in agreement with the list? Or do you have any other ideas for titles? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
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