5 Nostalgic Marvel Events That Aren’t As Great As You Remember

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Marvel has truly mastered the large-scale, interconnected storyline – often called “event comics.” While DC Comics had similar stories earlier on, Marvel established the now-familiar format with books like Marvel Super Heroes Contest of Champions and Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars in the 1980s. These events have become a regular part of Marvel’s publishing plan, and fans often tease the company for releasing so many each year. Despite some criticism, many of these event stories remain fan favorites.

It’s easy to feel fondly about these classic comics, especially because many of us grew up reading them. But revisiting them now shows that they haven’t aged well. These five Marvel events aren’t as impressive as you might remember, and nostalgia often hides their weaknesses.

5) “Fatal Attractions”

“Fatal Attractions” was a major X-Men storyline from the 1990s, where the X-Men clashed with Magneto and his followers, the Acolytes. Magneto seized control of Cable’s enormous space station, turning it into a haven called Avalon, and began gathering mutants he deemed worthy, preparing them for a coming catastrophe – one he actually planned himself. This forced the X-Men to get involved, leading to two significant moments in Marvel history: Magneto ripping the adamantium from Wolverine’s skeleton, and Xavier erasing Magneto’s memories. While this story is highly influential, it’s often remembered for just a few key issues – Uncanny X-Men #304, X-Men (Vol. 2) #25, and Wolverine (Vol. 2) #75 – and people tend to overlook the many related issues in titles like X-Force, X-Factor, and Excalibur. Overall, the story is a mix of brilliant moments and weaker parts, and fans usually focus on the highlights while forgetting the rest.

4) The 1991 X-Men Reboot

As a longtime comic book reader, I have a lot of nostalgia for the X-Men of the early ’90s. It felt like a real turning point! Chris Claremont was stepping away, titles were ending, and the original X-Men were coming back together – it was a big shake-up. We got a ton of new #1 issues, and all the main books got revamped with new creative teams. But honestly? Revisiting those comics now is a little disappointing. While they definitely drew in a lot of new fans – and I was one of them! – they often prioritized flashy artwork over solid storytelling, which was a common problem at Marvel back then. There are a couple of gems – X-Factor #71 and Excalibur #42 really hold up – but the rest are just okay, and X-Force #1… well, let’s just say it hasn’t aged well. It’s a bittersweet revisit; the memories are great, but the comics themselves don’t quite live up to the hype.

3) Secret Invasion

Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Yu’s Secret Invasion generated a lot of excitement, especially since fans knew something big was coming from the Skrulls. The first issue revealed the scope of their plans, but ultimately, the series didn’t live up to the hype. It’s a lengthy, slow-paced event that feels surprisingly dull. While Leinil Yu’s artwork looks great, the few action sequences lack his signature dynamic style. The series is mostly remembered for its strong marketing campaign – Marvel’s advertising was excellent at the time – and reading a collected edition (which costs a hefty $50!) confirms that. Honestly, Secret Invasion wasn’t a very good comic book.

2) House Of M

Many consider House of M to be the weakest major event comic of the 2000s, even worse than Amazons Attack! This eight-part series by Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel followed the aftermath of “Avengers Disassembled,” focusing on the Avengers and X-Men trying to determine what to do with Scarlet Witch. But Wanda intervenes, reshaping reality into a world dominated by mutants, ultimately stripping most of them of their powers. While undeniably significant to Marvel’s history, House of M feels slow-paced and surprisingly dull. Though the artwork is strong and its impact is clear, it doesn’t hold up well upon revisiting.

1) Infinity Gauntlet

The Infinity Gauntlet is highly regarded, and rightfully so. This six-part story, created by Jim Starlin, George Perez, and Ron Lim, features Thanos wielding the Infinity Gauntlet and using his immense power to wreak havoc across the universe. It boasts some truly spectacular battle sequences and a satisfying conclusion. While the first three issues are a little slow and don’t quite match the energy of the rest of the series, it’s still a fantastic comic – just not the flawless masterpiece some claim it to be.

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2025-11-29 18:18