10 Marvel Heroes That Desperately Need a Comeback

Marvel Comics began publishing superhero comics during the Golden Age, but initially struggled to compete with other publishers, despite introducing characters who would later become popular, like Captain America, Bucky, and Namor. They found major success in the Silver Age by creating heroes who felt more relatable and connected to everyday life, revitalizing the comic book industry. Over time, characters like Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four became incredibly famous. While these characters are well-known, Marvel has also created thousands of other heroes who, though they gain a following, often fade into obscurity.

It’s unfair to ignore these characters. They’ve earned a dedicated fanbase and deserve another opportunity to shine within the Marvel Universe. These ten heroes are long overdue for a triumphant return to prominence.

10) The Inhumans

Marvel attempted to popularize the Inhumans in the 2010s, but it didn’t go well. They tried to position them as a replacement for the X-Men, but fans weren’t interested in a group with such a problematic history – specifically, their origins as a society built on slavery and eugenics. Despite this, the Inhumans are actually a fantastic group of heroes and deserve another shot at success. A recent comic, Imperial, which was slated for 2025, seemed like it might be that opportunity, but Marvel cancelled further development due to poor sales and negative reactions from readers. The Inhumans are an important part of the Marvel Universe and it’s time they had a chance to shine again.

9) Deathlok

As a huge Marvel fan, I’ve always been fascinated by their willingness to explore really bleak futures, and Deathlok is a prime example of that. There have been a lot of different versions of the character over the years, but the core idea is always the same: these are people who’ve died in the future, brought back to our time with cybernetic enhancements and a built-in computer. They’re either here to make that dark future happen, or to try and prevent it. Honestly, it’s been ages since we’ve seen Deathlok in action, and I think it’s about time Marvel brought this incredibly cool concept back for a fresh take.

8) Mr. Immortal

The Avengers are famous as Earth’s strongest heroes, and many different versions of the team have formed over time. But some teams are more successful than others, and that brings us to the Great Lakes Avengers. This group of lesser-known heroes tries its best, but they’re better known for their funny mishaps than their heroic deeds. The team is led by Mr. Immortal, a character who is virtually unkillable – he always recovers from any injury, and has even been shown existing at the very end of the universe, still waiting to see if he’ll finally die. Mr. Immortal has incredible potential and could become a major hero if he were to explore the implications of his immortality.

7) Impossible Man

Marvel has a lot of incredibly powerful characters, but they’re usually portrayed with a serious tone. One exception is Impossible Man – a hilariously powerful character who’s all about jokes. He’s similar to Superman’s mischievous foe, Mr. Mxyzptlk, with the ability to warp reality and playfully annoy both heroes and villains. He’s one of Marvel’s best comedic creations, yet many newer fans aren’t even aware of him. That’s a shame, and it’s time Marvel brought him back into the spotlight.

6) Hyperion of Earth-13034

Hyperion is a long-standing Marvel hero often compared to Superman, and he’s appeared in many comic books over the years. While different versions of him exist across the multiverse, the most compelling one debuted in Jonathan Hickman’s acclaimed Avengers series. This Hyperion, from Earth-13034, was rescued from the destruction of his home world by the organization A.I.M. and brought to Earth-616. He quickly became a key member of the Avengers, forming a close friendship with Thor. We last saw Hyperion fighting alongside Thor against the Beyonders, but Thor has since returned while Hyperion remains missing. This particular version of Hyperion is incredibly strong and with a little focus, Marvel could easily make him a major star.

5) Madrox

As a longtime comic book fan, I’ve always had a soft spot for Jamie Madrox, aka the Multiple Man. He always felt like a great character stuck in the B-list, you know? His power to create duplicates was cool, and he was genuinely funny. He really started to shine when he joined X-Factor, and then even led the team in their third volume, which was a really clever take – mutant detectives! That series did so much to develop him into a truly compelling character, but sadly, he’s been pretty much forgotten lately. His last appearance was in that…well, let’s just say X-Corp wasn’t his best moment. Honestly, he deserves another shot to show a new generation of fans why those of us who’ve been reading for years love him so much.

4) Death’s Head

Marvel UK nurtured British comic creators and allowed them to develop their own unique characters. In the 1990s, Marvel attempted to introduce some of these characters to American audiences, with Death’s Head being one example. Originally intended as a vessel for a powerful wizard, Death’s Head was unexpectedly brought to life and became a wandering, intergalactic mercenary, trying to escape his predetermined fate. He’s a visually striking character – a major asset for any hero. Because American readers aren’t familiar with his backstory, Death’s Head offers a fresh start and endless storytelling possibilities.

3) Sleepwalker

Sleepwalker is one of several characters Marvel created in the 1990s that didn’t quite become popular. He’s essentially a member of a dream police force, venturing into people’s minds while they sleep to fight nightmares. The comic feels like Marvel attempted to emulate The Sandman, but instead of exploring the concept in a new way, it ended up as a fairly typical superhero story. Despite this, the idea still has a lot of promise. Marvel doesn’t have many truly strong horror characters or comics, and Sleepwalker could fill that niche for them.

2) Star-Lord

As a huge Marvel fan, it’s always been a bit strange to me how popular Star-Lord became. He was a pretty obscure character in the comics, honestly, but the movies really blew him up. The comic book side tried to capitalize on that, rewriting Peter Quill to be more like the movie version, but the Guardians never reached the same level of popularity in the comics. So, he often feels like a minor character trying to hang out with the big guns. They gave him a really interesting new direction in the Imperial series, which I was excited about, but it looks like that storyline is just…ending. It’s a shame, because you can tell a lot of fans, myself included, really want to love the character.

1) Darkhawk

Darkhawk, similar to Sleepwalker, was intended to be Marvel’s next breakout hero in the 1990s. He possessed all the typical elements that made Marvel characters successful – a relatable everyday life balanced with heroic duties, and the challenge of mastering newfound abilities. However, he didn’t quite have the ‘edge’ that audiences of that era were looking for. Marvel has repeatedly attempted to establish Darkhawk as a major star, but each attempt has fallen short. After years of development, it feels like it’s time to revisit the character and try again.

2026-05-30 23:11