25 Years Ago, This Amazing Miniseries Brought DC’s Greatest Writer to Marvel

by

Grant Morrison began their career writing comics in the UK in the late 1970s, briefly pausing to pursue music as a punk rocker. They returned to comics in the 1980s, contributing to several British anthology magazines before being hired by DC Comics. Their first significant American project was Animal Man in 1988, and they quickly became a celebrated writer for DC, known for their work on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, The Invisibles, JLA, and many short stories and limited series within the Vertigo imprint. But as the 20th century drew to a close, everything shifted.

Grant Morrison discovered the Wachowskis had drawn heavily from his work on The Invisibles for The Matrix, even directly lifting designs and concepts he owned, not DC Comics. This angered DC (owned by Warner Brothers) as they hadn’t received any credit or compensation for their ideas being used in a film. Coupled with the cancellation of Morrison’s “Superman 2000” pitch, he decided to leave DC and move to Marvel. He began his time at Marvel with a critically acclaimed miniseries, Marvel Boy, which often goes underappreciated.

Marvel Boy Was Morrison Madness in the Mighty Marvel Manner

Grant Morrison’s first Marvel comic, Marvel Boy, seemed like an unusual pick, but it actually fit well. It was a Marvel Knights title, and that line focused on grittier, more realistic stories – a style Morrison was known for from his work at Vertigo. Marvel Knights was also the most popular part of Marvel at the time, so it made sense for Morrison to start there instead of with a more famous character. Additionally, the major Marvel titles he might have written were already assigned to other writers.

Marvel Comics actually had multiple characters called Marvel Boy. The first appeared in the 1950s – a boy who fled Nazi Germany with his family, landed on Uranus, and eventually came to Earth with special energy bracelets. Another Marvel Boy, Vance Astrovik, debuted in the 1990s with the New Warriors. However, the Marvel Boy comic book featured a completely new character, Noh-Varr. He drew on established Marvel history but presented it in a fresh and innovative way, which became a hallmark of writer Grant Morrison’s work for the company.

Noh-Varr was a super-soldier from another universe, created by the Kree and designed to withstand any danger. He was aboard the Marvel, a ship that could travel between different realities, when it was attacked and destroyed by Dr. Midas while passing through Earth’s universe. Noh-Varr was the sole survivor and, after escaping Midas, vowed to dismantle what he saw as humanity’s broken system and avenge his crewmates. A six-part comic series detailed his quest, which involved attacking New York City and confronting Midas, while Midas’s daughter, Oubliette, pursued him.

Grant Morrison’s Marvel Boy is considered one of their most impressive comic book creations. The series was visually striking thanks to the dynamic and detailed artwork of J.G. Jones. Morrison infused the book with their signature blend of imaginative superhero concepts – including the memorable villain Hexus, a corporation born from a virus that consumed worlds, offering a sharp commentary on capitalism – and a rebellious attitude common in their 1990s work. This venture into the Marvel Universe captivated readers and ultimately paved the way for their acclaimed run on New X-Men.

Grant Morrison’s Marvel Boy is largely overlooked, which is a shame. While it doesn’t reach the heights of their work on titles like Batman or the X-Men, it’s still a fantastic comic – better than most you’ll find. If you haven’t read it, it’s well worth seeking out; it’s a truly mind-bending story that will leave you wanting more from Morrison’s time with Marvel.

https://comicbook.com/comics/news/10-greatest-marvel-stories-of-the-2020s/embed/#

Read More

2026-01-04 00:13