Being a Marvel fan in the 1990s was a rollercoaster. While the company achieved huge hits, it nearly failed when the collectible card market crashed. Despite the ups and downs, Marvel introduced many new characters during that decade, and some have become incredibly popular. Deadpool is arguably the biggest success story – he’s become a household name even for people who don’t read comics and is often hailed as the best character created in the ’90s. However, many other characters from that era are actually more compelling.
Marvel created many of its most popular characters in the 1990s, even before Deadpool became famous. These characters have become incredibly well-loved and have starred in countless great stories. In fact, these seven characters from the ’90s are arguably even more impressive than Deadpool.
7) Carnage
Venom first appeared in 1988 and sparked a lot of interest in symbiotes – creatures that bond with hosts. Seeing Venom’s popularity, Marvel created more symbiote-based villains, the most notable being Carnage. Carnage is a straightforward character – a serial killer combined with a symbiote – and quickly became a fan-favorite Spider-Man villain. While his stories often follow a simple pattern of escape, regaining his symbiote, or returning from the dead to cause chaos, they remain incredibly popular with readers. The character’s versatility has allowed him to appear in various forms of media beyond comics. Recently, former Venom host Eddie Brock even became the new Carnage, proving the character’s core concept is adaptable and continues to resonate with fans who can’t get enough of this symbiotic villain.
6) Domino
The X-Force is Marvel’s most lethal team of mutants, and Domino is a standout member who deserves more recognition. Her mutant ability gives her incredible luck, helping her overcome any challenge, and she’s always been known for her striking appearance. Over the years, Domino has evolved into a more complex character, particularly with her recent storyline exploring PTSD on Krakoa, which is surprisingly nuanced and compelling. She’s moved beyond being simply a mysterious, tough fighter and is now capable of leading a wider range of stories.
5) Ghost Rider (Danny Ketch)
Ghost Rider first gained popularity in the 1970s, largely inspired by motorcycle stunt performer Evel Knievel. But the character’s fame eventually waned. In the 1990s, a completely new Ghost Rider emerged – Danny Ketch – and quickly became one of Marvel’s most popular heroes. Driven by a desire to avenge his sister Barbara’s death, Danny bonded with the demon Zarathros. Fans embraced Danny’s intense, vengeance-fueled rides (the Ghost Rider comics illustrated by Mark Texeira are particularly noteworthy and deliver some of the best superhero/horror comics of the decade). This renewed popularity encouraged Marvel to revive its horror characters with titles like “Rise of the Midnight Sons.” While Danny Ketch has faced challenges since the ’90s, he remains a compelling character with plenty of potential for future stories.
4) War Machine
James Rhodes, a character who first appeared in the 1980s, initially stepped in as Iron Man when Tony Stark was unavailable. However, it wasn’t until 1992 that he officially became known as War Machine in Iron Man (Vol. 1) #284. While it’s a slight technicality, it counts! The War Machine armor was a powerful upgrade to the Iron Man suit, perfectly suited to Rhodey’s military experience and skillset. This transformation made Tony Stark’s former pilot and bodyguard even more effective. He’s since become a valued member of the Avengers, starred in his own comic series, and played an important role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ultimately becoming a fan-favorite character.
3) Gambit
Gambit was one of the last major characters created by Chris Claremont, and he quickly became a fan favorite. He filled a similar mysterious role to Wolverine within the X-Men, becoming a central figure in the team’s adventures. Over the years, Gambit has become incredibly popular, starring in his own comic series, joining various teams, and even leading the X-Men. His appearance on X-Men: The Animated Series boosted his popularity even further, and he’s currently a key character in the latest Uncanny X-Men comic, proving that decades of development have been worthwhile. He’s grown a lot as a character, and many fans are eager to see him finally get his own movie.
2) Ben Reilly
The Clone Saga gets a lot of criticism, and much of it is deserved. But one thing that isn’t true is that Ben Reilly was a bad character, despite Marvel’s attempts to diminish him over time. From the start, the original Spider-Clone was a really engaging hero, and he had one of the most stylish costumes of the 90s. Some Spider-Man fans actually preferred Ben to Peter (like me!). He was a great character, and even those who agree the plot twist about him being the ‘real’ Spider-Man was a mistake can still appreciate how cool he was. Honestly, check out Spider-Man: The Lost Years – created by Spider-Man legends J.M. DeMatteis and John Romita Jr. – and tell me he isn’t amazing and spectacular.
1) Cable
Cable’s history is a bit unusual – he’s rooted in both the ’80s and ’90s of Marvel comics. While his story began with a mention in an older X-Men issue, the character as we know him first appeared in New Mutants. Initially, it wasn’t clear he was a future version of himself, but he quickly became very popular. Some fans dislike Cable, seeing him as a product of everything that was excessive about ’90s comics – the cybernetics, the large weapons, his intense look, and his association with artist Rob Liefeld. However, this overlooks the many strong storylines he’s been involved in – the original Cable series was particularly well-written for much of its run – and how well-developed he’s become. When handled by talented creators, Cable is a fantastic character and has earned his place as a comic book legend.
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2025-11-14 22:14