Marvel Is Finally Doing Right By the MCU’s Trinity (& It Could Be the Key to Future Success)

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For the first time in a long time, Marvel Comics isn’t leading in comic book sales. Several factors are contributing to this shift. DC Comics’ high-end ‘Absolute’ series is performing very well, with readers preferring them over Marvel’s ‘Ultimate’ line. Popular Marvel franchises like Spider-Man and X-Men aren’t selling as well as the company hopes, the Avengers have been struggling for years, and even the Hulk’s popularity has declined. While it’s a tough time to be a Marvel fan, there’s some good news: the comics featuring Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor are surprisingly strong performers.

As a long-time Marvel fan, I wasn’t shocked to see Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor become so central in the movies – they were always the big draws! Even in the comics, they were presented as the top heroes, like DC’s Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. But honestly, they weren’t always the most popular characters overall. Right now, Marvel seems to be struggling a bit with sales, and I think focusing on what made those three so successful – the approach they’re taking with the Captain America, Iron Man, and Mortal Thor comics – could be exactly what they need to get back on top.

Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor Are Each Going in the Perfect Direction

Let’s start with Thor, as he’s generally had more success in recent years compared to Captain America or Iron Man. His comic series received a significant boost in 2020 when acclaimed writer Donny Cates took over, but unfortunately, a car accident forced Cates to leave the project. Torunn Gronbek then continued the story, and later, Al Ewing joined with Immortal Thor, really leaning into the character’s Norse mythology roots – and it was very popular. After 25 issues, the series ended and was relaunched as the equally strong Mortal Thor, which explored what happened to the god after he died.

The current run of Mortal Thor is refreshing the character by building on familiar themes while also exploring new territory. This same strategy has proven successful with Captain America and Iron Man. Captain America, written by Chip Zdarsky, is consistently excellent, revisiting the story of Steve Rogers’ initial reawakening and connecting it to a major upcoming Marvel event. Meanwhile, Iron Man, under writer Josh Williamson, is embracing a more traditional style, drawing inspiration from classic storylines that haven’t been explored in a long time.

These three books are all exploring fresh takes on familiar characters. Mortal Thor offers a unique spin on the classic Thor storyline of death and rebirth. The new Captain America focuses on the hero’s relationship with the military and other superheroes, drawing inspiration from current events. And Iron Man delivers a return to classic superhero storytelling, focusing on strong character work without relying on gimmicks. Each book also features top-tier creative teams.

Marvel Comics is facing some challenges lately, and a major reason is a lack of innovation. Many of their flagship titles, like X-Men and Spider-Man, feel stuck in a rut, and even the Avengers are repeating familiar storylines. Many of the lesser-known titles simply aren’t making much of an impact. However, books like Captain America, Iron Man, and Mortal Thor are successfully taking their characters in fresh and exciting directions. Fans are eager to see more of this kind of dynamic storytelling, rather than waiting for the next connection to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. These three titles strike a good balance, honoring the characters’ history while also exploring new possibilities.

Marvel Needs More Books Like These Three

While Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor weren’t always the most popular comic book characters, they were consistently central figures in the Marvel universe. Though the Marvel Cinematic Universe made them household names, they historically sold fewer comics than characters like Spider-Man, Hulk, Wolverine, and the X-Men. They weren’t typically featured as the main focus of Marvel’s publications and often didn’t receive the most prominent creative teams, though the creators they did have were talented – their books just weren’t usually prioritized with the biggest names.

These three superhero titles are currently Marvel’s strongest, boasting fantastic creative teams. They’re revitalizing the characters by building on their core foundations and taking them in fresh, innovative directions. This has brought a level of excitement back to these books that’s noticeably absent elsewhere in Marvel’s lineup. Marvel could really benefit from more titles like these – this ‘trinity’ of books is performing exceptionally well and represents a high point for the publisher.

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2026-04-13 17:10