7 Most Powerful Heroes Marvel Forgot About

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Marvel Comics has introduced a huge number of characters over the years – easily hundreds, if not thousands. With so many ongoing comic books, it’s impossible to feature them all, and new ones are always appearing. Marvel naturally focuses on characters that are popular with readers or that fit the company’s current goals. While this creates a substantial roster, it still leaves out many heroes. Sadly, too many compelling characters end up forgotten, which is a real loss.

Let’s shine a spotlight on seven Marvel heroes who deserve more recognition. There are tons of powerful characters in the Marvel universe, so we’ve chosen seven of the strongest who mostly appear in brief cameos. These heroes have the potential to be major players, but they’re rarely featured. It’s a real loss, because each one is fascinating and brings something different to the table, and we’re going to show you why.

7) Blue Marvel

Blue Marvel is among the most powerful heroes in the Marvel Universe. He gained incredible strength after an antimatter experiment went wrong, placing him in the same league as characters like Hulk and Thor. He has a wide range of abilities, including flight, energy manipulation, and near-invulnerability. Essentially, Blue Marvel is Marvel’s version of Superman, reimagined as an African American hero, and the story fully embraces that concept. He’s a compelling and immensely powerful character who deserves more attention, and arguably outperforms many other powerful heroes.

6) Smasher

Isabel Kane made history as the first human to join the Shi’ar Imperial Guard. She earned the position after discovering a strange alien device – a pair of goggles – in her backyard. These goggles gave her amazing abilities, including incredible strength, the power of flight, and enhanced vision. She’s strong enough to lift over a hundred tons, can travel through space on her own, and can even access new powers from the Shi’ar’s vast network when needed. Beyond her superhero life, Isabel is also in a relationship with the hero Cannonball, and they have a child together. She balances being a mother, a superhero, and a guard for an alien empire – a unique combination that deserves to be explored in more detail. She’s a complex character with a lot of potential.

5) Starbrand

The Star Brand is a powerful defense system built by a race called the Builders, capable of protecting entire planets. It gives whoever wields it incredible strength, the ability to shoot energy, and control over matter. While many people have been Starbrand, we’re focusing on Kevin Connor. He first appeared in Jonathan Hickman’s acclaimed Avengers comic in 2012, and his story is unique. Kevin wasn’t originally chosen to be Starbrand; he became one when the system started failing, and his transformation actually destroyed the school he was in. He’s often reckless and impulsive, but he genuinely wants to be a hero and do the right thing.

Starbrand was an incredibly powerful being, and it was compelling to watch Kevin, the person wielding that power, battle his own inner demons. It was a real shame when he was killed by Robbie Reyes, Ghost Rider, due to a mishap with the Penance Stare. In fact, that was the last time the Penance Stare functioned properly, and it’s a tragedy that it took down such a unique and engaging hero – arguably the biggest loss on this list.

4) Nightmask

Nightmask is the often-overlooked but incredibly powerful best friend of Starbrand. Created by Ex Nihilo as one of the first “perfect humans,” Adam gained powers from Nightmask, a companion of the Star Brand. These powers allow him to control and alter machines, teleport, and release powerful energy blasts. The two were close friends and a strong team until Starbrand’s death, after which Nightmask continued as a solo hero, deeply affected by the loss. There’s a lot of untapped potential in Nightmask’s story, especially considering his status as a “perfect human,” which could lead to many exciting developments. With a little more exploration, Nightmask could become a truly compelling character.

3) Hyperion

This Hyperion is from Earth-13034, and he’s a genuinely heroic figure – a stark contrast to some of the more villainous versions we’ve seen lately. He was once the greatest hero of his world, but he failed to prevent its destruction during a catastrophic event called an Incursion, which also wiped out another Earth. Driven by this loss, he joined the Avengers, determined to protect this reality. Like Marvel’s take on Superman, he possesses similar powers, though perhaps not quite as strong. Despite being incredibly powerful, this particular version of Hyperion has largely been overlooked, and with another clone now prominent, it’s doubtful he’ll be featured again anytime soon.

2) Sleepwalker

Sleepwalkers are like dream police, dedicated to shielding people across the universe from creatures that haunt their dreams. One Sleepwalker unexpectedly linked with a man named Rick Sheridan, allowing him to appear in the real world whenever Rick is asleep. This particular Sleepwalker is incredibly powerful, and his most dangerous ability is his ‘Warp Gaze’ – he can change anything he looks at into bizarre or amazing forms. He might turn a road into a giant spring or transform a pile of yarn into a Spider-Man costume. Because Sleepwalker operates using the strange rules of dreams and fights equally bizarre enemies, he boasts one of the most creative collections of villains in comic books – which makes it all the more frustrating that he isn’t featured more often.

1) Miracleman

Miracleman, initially known as Marvelman, was created to fill the void left when DC Comics gained the rights to Captain Marvel (now known as Shazam). He’s incredibly powerful, able to instantly transform into a superhero simply by saying the word “Kimota.” He has immense strength, can fly, and fires energy blasts, which he eventually discovers are powered by his mind. Miracleman is a complex and troubled character, constantly struggling with his inner demons, powers, and past – making his stories compelling and enjoyable. Though not frequently featured, his appearances are always impactful.

So, those are seven incredibly strong Marvel heroes that you might have forgotten about! Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments and share your thoughts on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-12 23:17