7 Old School Marvel Comics that Deserve a Second Look

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For years, Marvel has been the leading name in superheroes, especially in recent decades. While they’ve recently faced some competition in sales, they continue to deliver consistently high-quality stories every month. Certain Marvel titles are universally beloved and feature the most iconic characters, with ongoing publication and occasional fresh starts. Books like Avengers, X-Men, The Amazing Spider-Man, Wolverine, The Mighty Thor, and The Incredible Hulk are prime examples of Marvel’s success, but they represent only a small fraction of the incredible stories the publisher offers.

Marvel has a long history of launching and ending comic book series. While some forgotten titles later gain a dedicated fanbase, many older Marvel books remain underappreciated. Here are seven classic series that deserve another chance, as they were better than people generally remember.

7) Generation X

While always a strong X-Men title, Generation X hasn’t received the same attention as books like New Mutants, X-Force, and New X-Men (vol. 2). The original series, which ran for 75 issues from 1994 to 2001, started incredibly strong thanks to creators Scott Lobdell, Chris Bachalo, Tom Grummet, and James Robinson. The first 32 issues, along with the Generation Next tie-in to the Age of Apocalypse, are considered some of the best in the teen hero genre. It perfectly captured the challenges and victories of being a young mutant, delivering truly memorable stories. Plus, the 2017 reboot of Generation X (Vol. 2) successfully updated the team concept for modern readers. Overall, the book introduced some fantastic characters who deserve more recognition.

6) Alan Davis’s Excalibur (Vol. 1) Run

As a longtime X-Men fan, I’ve seen a lot of teams come and go, but one that consistently gets overlooked is the classic Excalibur – especially if you’re talking about anything after the ’90s, which… let’s just say weren’t the high point. Created by Chris Claremont and Alan Davis, this iteration brought together favorites like Kitty Pryde, Nightcrawler, and Phoenix II with Captain Britain and Meggan, tasking them with protecting the UK. But it was when Davis took over as both writer and artist – issues #42-52, #54-58, and #61-67 of the first volume – that Excalibur truly shined. He took everything the book did well – the action, the humor, the wonderfully strange scenarios blending fantasy and sci-fi – and cranked it up to maximum. Honestly, it’s the definitive Excalibur run, and if you haven’t experienced it, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Seriously, go find it.

5) Ron Marz’s Silver Surfer (Vol. 3)

Cosmic Marvel has a long history of excellent comics. While many now associate it with the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Silver Surfer (Vol. 3) was once the flagship cosmic title. The series gained momentum when Jim Starlin used it as a foundation for Infinity Gauntlet, but it was Ron Marz’s extended run that truly made it special. Marz initially filled in with three issues (#42-43 and #49) before taking over with issue #51, and continued writing until #102. A skilled cosmic storyteller – he also worked on Green Lantern at the time – Marz consistently delivered thrilling adventures for the Surfer. The issues illustrated by Ron Lim, a remarkably talented but often overlooked artist, were particularly memorable, though the entire run is consistently strong.

4) X-Man

The “Age of Apocalypse” storyline was a huge success, launching the X-Men into a completely different universe. It reimagined Cable as X-Man, offering a fresh take on the character. While most of the related books ended, X-Man continued, delivering some of the most compelling young superhero stories of the 1990s. Nate Grey, this version of Cable, faced the challenges of a strange new world and immense power, all while being targeted for manipulation by villains like Madelyne Pryor, Mister Sinister, and Onslaught. Talented creators like Jeph Loeb, John Ostrander, Steve Skroce, and others crafted exciting, dramatic stories for the series. It’s a fantastic comic from the ’90s that deserves more recognition.

3) Mark Gruenwald/Greg Capullo’s Quasar

I’ve been a fan of Quasar for a while, even though he’s always been a bit of a lower-tier Marvel hero. He did get to be an Avenger, but he’s not super well-known now. He actually had his own comic book series back in the early ’90s, and it was pretty standard superhero stuff at first. But then things changed with issue #18! Artist Greg Capullo teamed up with writer Mark Gruenwald, and they really made the book special. They worked together on a fantastic run – issues #18 through #26, then #27-29, #31-31, and finally #35-39. Honestly, it was some of the most fun, exciting cosmic Marvel I’ve ever read, and it was a real standout title back then. It’s a bit forgotten now, but I truly think it’s a classic that deserves a look.

2) X-Factor (Vol. 1) #71-150

X-Factor has a long and interesting history as one of the many X-Men teams. The comic initially featured the original five X-Men, but took a major turn with issue #71. New writer Peter David transformed the team into a government-sponsored mutant group, fundamentally changing the series. Though Peter David’s run is widely celebrated, the comic was consistently good even after he left, lasting until issue #150. Issues written by Howard Mackie are particularly noteworthy. This era of X-Factor also showcased the work of talented artists like Larry Stroman, Steve Epting, and Jeff Matsuda. Overall, this run is a real gem for fans of mutants and deserves more attention.

1) Power Pack (Vol. 1)

Many comic book fans have overlooked Power Pack, but it’s a truly special series. Debuting in the 1980s, it featured the first team of pre-teen superheroes: Alex, Julie, Jack, and Katie Power, sometimes joined by their friend Franklin Richards. These four kids gained powers from a dying alien scientist named Whitey, who entrusted them with saving Earth from alien invaders called the Zn’rx, launching them into a life of adventure. The series ran for 62 issues between 1984 and 1990. Created by Louise Simonson and June Biralta, Power Pack benefited from having Louise Simonson as its sole writer throughout its entire run, allowing it to explore surprisingly mature themes. It’s a Marvel classic that deserves to be rediscovered.

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2025-12-31 00:18