7 Marvel Comics Moments I’m Still Not Over

In a more straightforward fashion, it could be said that while Marvel didn’t invent superheroes, they’ve significantly improved upon the concept. They’ve made their characters more relatable by adding a touch of realism, enabling readers to identify with their favorite heroes. Although DC Comics might have produced more total excellent comics, Marvel has delivered some of the most memorable moments in comic history. Marvel has given us incredible superheroes and villains whose stories have altered our perception of superheroes. Marvel has created iconic moments in comic book lore that are yet to be equaled, and these moments have become a part of broader pop culture due to shows like “X-Men: The Animated Series” and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Through the passage of time, I’ve been fortunate enough to observe numerous striking occurrences within Marvel comics. Many instances from these years have left an indelible impression on me, and I suspect fellow readers have experienced similar feelings. Marvel has managed to craft a myriad of unforgettable moments that have indelibly marked their readership. While some events are easier to move past, there have been instances within Marvel’s realm that have reverberated across the decades. There are occurrences that have touched every Marvel enthusiast in profound ways, and some we still haven’t fully recovered from. These seven moments continue to resonate with fans, leaving a mix of positive and negative memories.

7) The End of Peter and Mary Jane’s Marriage from “One More Day”

One More Day,” often criticized as Marvel’s worst story, introduced one of the most poignant moments in the Marvel Universe’s history. In this narrative, Aunt May was inadvertently shot by an assassin during Kingpin’s attempt to eliminate Spider-Man after his identity reveal in the Civil War saga. Desperate to save Aunt May, Peter sought help from Doctor Strange and Iron Man (who were no longer friends). Ultimately, he turned to Mephisto for aid, and the devil agreed, but at a steep price – the marriage of Peter and Mary Jane. This decision has been a source of contention among fans, as many, including myself, cherished their relationship. The marriage between Peter and MJ had been a symbol of hope for an unpopular character like Peter finding love with someone extraordinary like MJ. Marvel’s subsequent disdain for the union never seemed logical to me. To boost Spider-Man’s popularity, they decided it was best to return him to his former single, struggling persona. This move took away something dearly loved by fans, leaving a lasting impact on the series that can still be felt today. Fan backlash has been evident in the years following this decision.

6) The Death of Jean Grey in “The Dark Phoenix Saga”

In the iconic ‘Dark Phoenix Saga’, the X-Men achieved stardom as Jean Grey, due to manipulation by Mastermind and the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club, succumbed to darkness and transformed into the Dark Phoenix. This powerful entity caused destruction on a cosmic scale, annihilating a star and killing billions, including her teammates. Desperate to save their friend, the X-Men devised a plan to restore Jean. Upon her return, they managed to bring her back from darkness. However, she was brought before the Shi’Ar Empire for trial due to her crimes. In a fierce battle, the X-Men lost and were forced to witness Jean face justice. Knowing that the return of the Phoenix could mean universal destruction, she ended her life to save everything. This act, filled with intense emotion, is one of the saddest moments in the Marvel Universe history. It remains unparalleled even after over 40 years. Jean Grey has been resurrected and died multiple times since then, but this moment continues to stand out as a unique and poignant chapter.

5) Ultimatum

You might have observed that not every moment in here will be heartwarming or emotional. Let’s shift our focus towards “Ultimatum”, penned by Jeph Loeb and David Finch. “Ultimatum” is a grim tale filled with death and devastation, and there are numerous tragic deaths within its pages. However, that’s not why it still resonates. It’s because of the poor choice made in Marvel comics history – the decisions portrayed in “Ultimatum” were disastrous. The original Ultimate Universe had its flaws and arguably ventured too far into gritty violence, but “Ultimatum” took it to an extreme level. It was incredibly harsh, essentially squandering the potential of many characters. While rebooting superhero universes can be acceptable, a story like this one is not. It’s unfortunate and disheartening that such a story could ever emerge from Marvel Comics, and it makes me wonder about the leadership in late 2000s Marvel.

4) The Depowering of the Mutant Race from House of M

In simpler terms, the comic book “House of M” – penned by Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel – is often criticized for its lengthy and tedious narrative. Set in an alternate universe, this story revolves around mutants as the dominant species due to the actions of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, who were attempting to protect Scarlet Witch from being killed by heroes. During a confrontation with Magneto, Scarlet Witch, rightfully blaming him for many of her issues, utters the fateful words, “No more mutants.” This event marked a significant moment in Marvel Universe history as it led to the de-powering of most mutants. For X-Men fans, this is a pivotal point that signified the decline of the X-Men within the Marvel universe. Despite being reversed over a decade ago, this incident remains etched in the memory of fans and is still viewed with resentment.

3) Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver No Longer Being Magneto’s Children

As a die-hard movie enthusiast, let’s delve into the intriguing enigma surrounding the siblings, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. You might recall that the identity of their parents was shrouded in mystery for quite some time, only to be unraveled as Magneto being their father. This revelation added an unusual layer to their characters within the Marvel Universe.

However, the complications stemming from the limited film rights for the X-Men and Marvel’s underutilization of mutants, along with Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver’s introduction in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, led Marvel to make a regrettable choice. They decided to disavow the connection between these characters and Magneto, stripping away a significant aspect of their individual stories without offering an equally captivating replacement narrative.

It’s hard not to ponder why they didn’t devise a more compelling alternate backstory instead of leaving fans in a state of bewilderment. The fervent desire among fans is for Marvel to rectify this choice, as they have regained the film rights and there seems to be no valid reason for this retcon to persist. Yet, this controversial decision remains stubbornly canon, much to the dismay of many Marvel enthusiasts like myself.

2) Jonathan Hickman Leaving the X-Men Books

Although it’s not a light-hearted event, I can’t help but feel disappointed that Jonathan Hickman departed from the X-Men comics series. The Krakoa era was remarkable, rekindling enthusiasm among fans for these books once more. Hickman had a vision for the X-Men titles, yet as other writers collaborated with him, adjustments were made to his original plan. Unfortunately, Hickman’s ideas ultimately became incompatible, leading to his departure from the series. At first, it was said that this parting was amicable, but more recent interviews with Hickman have suggested otherwise. The issue would not have been a problem if Marvel had concluded the Krakoa era satisfactorily, but they fell short. Despite the commendable work of creators like Kieron Gillen, Al Ewing, Simon Spurrier, and Benjamin Percy, the conclusion of the Krakoa era was dismal. We’ll never know what might have been, and it remains a source of continued frustration for me.

1) Iron Man’s Betrayal in Civil War

The Civil War significantly altered the Marvel Universe, primarily marked by the confrontation between Iron Man and Captain America. While Iron Man stood in support of the U.S government’s Superhero Registration Act, Captain America went against it. Iron Man’s actions veered towards authoritarianism, relentlessly pursuing his allies who opposed him with underhanded tactics. The character Bill Foster, also known as Goliath, was tragically lost, and his friendship with Captain America was irreparably damaged. In my opinion, Iron Man has never truly atoned for this betrayal. Instead of collaborating with Captain America to find a compromise, Iron Man opted for aggression. In essence, Iron Man did something no villain had ever achieved – he shattered the unity of the superhero community.

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2025-08-19 19:21