For over 80 years now, Marvel Comics has captivated many generations of fans with its ever-growing world of amazing superheroes. Famous characters like Spider-Man and Iron Man are very popular, but Marvel also has newer heroes people love like Black Panther and Captain Marvel. With so many heroic characters to pick from, how do you decide which ones are the absolute best of the best?
To make this big choice, we looked at a few important things for each hero. We thought about how important and well-known they are in the whole Marvel universe. We also considered how popular they’ve stayed with readers over many decades. Plus, we looked at which heroes played key roles in important comic storylines. And we saw how much each character developed and changed over time.
The heroes that scored highest across all these areas really stand out as some of the most impactful and meaningful Marvel heroes ever. With such great champions to choose from, finally picking favorites came down to passionate discussions and careful thought about each hero’s lasting influence. Stay tuned for Gazettely’s pick of 15 best Marvel heroes ever!
#15. Nick Fury
Who better to bring together a team of heroes than Nick Fury, the ultimate spy? Fury began his story fighting in World War 2 against enemies like HYDRA. After the war, he worked for the CIA and later led SHIELD, an organization that keeps world peace. Through SHIELD, Fury learned about growing threats from super-powered people and aliens. This led him to start the Avengers Initiative to unite Earth’s champions. Fury’s secretive leadership and putting the team together make him a key part of the Avengers.
Fury is Marvel’s top spy, coordinating special people and assets, assessing dangers, and working in secret to defend freedom. Some important things Fury did include having Tony Stark join the superhero world, having Black Widow watch potential Avengers, working sometimes with the X-Men, finding HYDRA members inside SHIELD, and responding to shape-shifting Skrulls posing as others.
Samuel L. Jackson’s exciting version of Fury in the movies made the character even more famous. Whether reporting to a hidden committee or just listening to his conscience, Fury’s involvement connects all of Marvel’s champions over time.
#14. Jean Grey
Few Marvel heroes have risen from defeat as often as Jean Grey, whose powerful mind and energy control make her one of mutants’ best fighters. Jean learned at a young age that she could read and influence minds, so Professor X made her his first student. As Marvel Girl, she helped start the X-Men and work for humans and mutants to get along. But it was the cosmic Phoenix Force that truly made Jean a legend.
When Jean took on the Phoenix Force, it gave her god-like powers over life and a special crystal – powers that eventually corrupted her into the Dark Phoenix. This important story saw Jean sacrifice herself to save everything, though she was reborn again. Key times include leading the X-Men with Cyclops who she married, teaching young mutants at Xavier’s school as a kind teacher, and trying to control the unpredictable Phoenix Force inside her.
Some important Jean Grey stories over time include being one of the original X-Men, joining with the cosmic Phoenix, giving in to darkness as Dark Phoenix, starting X-Factor after returning from death, bringing together varied past versions into one true Jean, and mentoring time-lost original X-Men. Her deaths, rebirths and growth into White Phoenix of the Crown show her endless struggle for a normal life. Sophie Turner’s conflicted Jean in the X-Men movies resonated with fans. Jean’s perseverance through constant upheaval makes her one of Marvel’s most enduring figures.
#13. Black Bolt
As ruler of the alien Inhumans, Black Bolt has perhaps the most dangerous power in the Marvel universe – his voice. Blackagar Boltagon leads the secretive Inhumans with care, but cannot speak at all. Even the smallest sound from Black Bolt’s special vocal cords could level mountains with explosive force. He must stay forever quiet to avoid catastrophe, communicating with his wife Medusa silently or through signs. This isolation defines his lonely life.
Blackagar’s incredible ability also brings fear and bias from humans, who see him as a ticking bomb. Yet Black Bolt’s rules of right and wrong, respect for history, and care for fellow Inhumans make him a noble leader. He tries to keep cherished Inhuman traditions while guiding them in an increasingly troubled world. Key times for Black Bolt include when his destructive voice first emerged and he vowed silence, spreading the transformative Terrigen mist, warring with the evil Titan Thanos, and facing betrayal from his own royal family.
Some important Black Bolt stories include helping the Illuminati protect Earth, being imprisoned and losing control of his powerful voice to Mister Sinister, finding the lost Inhuman city of Orollan, and battling his crazy clone. Through it all, Black Bolt has stayed supreme as one of Marvel’s most mysterious figures – an all-powerful being of near-divine greatness, alone due to his own immense strength. His thunderous legacy is a warning tale about the burdens of endless might.
#12. Ant-Man
Scott Lang proves that even ex-criminals can become top superheroes when fate calls them. An electronics expert fired by Stark Industries after jail time, Lang went back to crime as a reluctant burglar to help his family money. But when Lang broke into Dr. Hank Pym’s home and stole his Ant-Man suit, Pym let him keep it to fight his former student, the unstable Yellowjacket. Using particles to shrink to bug size while gaining beetle strength, flying, and bug mind control, Lang’s skills proved key to the Avengers while also being funny.
What makes Lang likeable is his optimism and kind heart despite his criminal past and lack of real powers. He’s the ultimate underdog who never stops trying to redeem himself as both hero and dad. Stories that showed Lang’s growth include becoming a single father, joining the Fantastic Four, running an security agency, and founding the Avengers. But his greatest triumph was using Quantum Realm control to enable time travel reversing Thanos’ destruction in Endgame.
Important Ant-Man tales include stealing Pym’s suit to rescue his daughter, beating unstable successors like Yellowjacket, exploring the microscopic Quantum Realm, joining the Avengers as their shrinking funnyman, and mentoring successors like his daughter Stature. Paul Rudd’s earnest and comedic take on Lang in the movies made Ant-Man a household name. With his bug abilities and bravery in tough spots, this ex-thief keeps striving for the Ant-Man name.
#11. Doctor Strange
Few Marvel heroes have changed forms as much as Doctor Strange, who went from a cocky surgeon to Earth’s Magic Master after a car wreck hurt his hands. Looking for a cure, Strange instead found magic and the supernatural under the Ancient One. Now Doctor Strange protects reality from scary threats from places like the Dark Dimension, using powerful spells, soul projection, and relics like the Eye of Agamotto.
What defines Doctor Strange are his mind-bending visuals and stories exploring deep parts of Marvel magic, horror, and psychedelic corners. His amazing adventures open up thrilling new worlds of imagination. Key Strange tales include his trippy 60s debut by Steve Ditko that set his start, team-ups blending science with magic, guarding against evils as the magical sentinel, and serving as the Avengers’ magician through cosmic events like Infinity War.
Important Strange storylines cover his transformational studies with the Ancient One, will-testing fights against Baron Mordo, reality-warping battles with Dormammu, investigating spooky mysteries around Earth, mentoring other magic learners like Clea and Brother Voodoo, and warring against chaos through the Illuminati. Benedict Cumberbatch perfectly captured Strange’s quirky pride in the movies. Now more than ever, the ex-surgeon turned Sorcerer Supreme stands watch against threats from beyond mortal thought.
#10. Black Widow
Former Russian spy Natasha Romanoff has come a long way from her early days as a KGB agent and assassin to become one of the Avengers’ most trusted heroes. Trained harshly in the secret Red Room program from a young age to be the deadly Black Widow, Natasha was a ruthless covert operative for the USSR. But after fighting the expert marksman Hawkeye, she rebelled against her handlers and defected to join SHIELD and eventually the Avengers, using her spy skills to defend democracy.
Black Widow represents the murky gray area between heroes and villains in the Marvel Universe. Her past as a unmerciful vigilante willing to kill still affects her choices today. But key stories like befriending young heroes like the Winter Soldier, working to take down the organization that enslaved her in the Red Room, and sacrificing herself for her new family in Endgame highlight Natasha’s long road to redemption.
Some enduring Black Widow storylines over 50+ years include her defection from Russia and early Avengers membership, bonding with Daredevil over shared pain, mentoring the Winter Soldier, leading the Champions and SHIELD at times, going underground after Civil War to support Captain America, and finding closure regarding the Red Room that created her. Scarlett Johansson’s nuanced showing of Natasha’s complexity and search for purpose in the MCU made Black Widow a star. Whether working solo or with friends, Black Widow remains one of Marvel’s most multifaceted champions.
#9. Scarlet Witch
Not many magic users in Marvel are as deep yet dangerous as the Scarlet Witch. She can change what is real, but that power often helps heroes or causes problems. Wanda Maximoff first showed up as a bad guy with Magneto and her twin brother Quicksilver. Later, she joined the Avengers and tried to use her magic bolts and spells to make up for the past. But Wanda’s unmatched Chaos Magic is hard to control. It caused big troubles like changing all of reality in House of M and taking away mutants’ powers worldwide. Still, she keeps trying to use her gifts for good as an Avenger and X-Man.
What makes Scarlet Witch interesting is that she keeps going despite not being able to control her powers or her mind issues. This often puts her in an unpredictable place. She has been both friend and foe to the heroes over the years. But important parts of her story, like marrying Vision and learning magic from Agatha Harkness, show Wanda’s desire to leave her past behind and find stability. She is a long-time Avenger, but as Magneto’s daughter she also helps the X-Men’s fight for peace.
Key events in Scarlet Witch’s story include starting the Avengers with Quicksilver, losing control under Immortus leading to disaster, marrying Vision and having twin sons, causing the reality-changing House of M, taking away mutants’ powers worldwide, and most recently awakening chaos magic that could destroy all worlds. Elizabeth Olsen’s empathetic performance of Wanda in the MCU has resonated with fans. As both hero and threat, Scarlet Witch’s journey to understand her powers and place remains an unfinished and interesting story.
#8. Deadpool
No Marvel hero is quite like Deadpool, the “Merc with a Mouth” who makes fun of how superheroes usually act. When mercenary Wade Wilson was diagnosed with cancer, he left his girlfriend Vanessa and joined the Weapon X program. This gave him a healing power based on Wolverine’s DNA. But the process left Wade disfigured under his full body costume and messed with his mind too. Now he acts crazy and breaks the rules, calling himself Deadpool. He likes to joke around and mess with how Marvel usually does their biggest heroes.
What makes Deadpool special is that he knows he’s in a comic book. He often talks to us and cracks jokes during fights. This makes him fun to watch, unlike Marvel’s usual gloomy heroes. But his backstory tied to the mutant world keeps him part of the bigger universe too. Joe Kelly, who first wrote Deadpool well, set up how he helps others for money in a flexible way. Later writers built on this to make Deadpool a famous part of our culture.
Key Deadpool stories include when he first showed up in New Mutants, his early solo adventures with crazy action and sadness mixed in, falling for Death herself, teaming with time-traveler Cable as a great duo, joining the X-Force team, and always teasing Wolverine. Ryan Reynolds perfectly captured Wade’s fast talking mayhem in the hit R-rated Deadpool movies, taking the “Merc with a Mouth” to new levels of antihero fame.
#7. Wolverine
Few heroes have made such a strong, tough place for themselves like Wolverine, the grumpy X-Man with a murky past and claws to back it up. He was first introduced as a Hulk villain but quickly became one of the mutants fans loved the most. Abused and trained into a weapon without memories by the Weapon X program, Logan has spent decades trying to understand his immortal life and who he was before. With super senses and healing plus metal claws that come out of his hands, Wolverine slices through foes with unmatched fierceness. But below his dangerous shell lies an honorable protector, as he joined the X-Men due to a buried wish to do good things.
Chris Claremont helped shape Wolverine into the complex loner that fans have loved for a long time. Claremont defined Wolverine’s code of honor, his big rivalry with Sabretooth, his history with Black Widow, and his failed training as a samurai in Japan. Just as alluring are Wolverine’s solo adventures getting caught up in morally grey spy missions away from the X-Men.
Key Wolverine storylines include learning his Weapon X beginning, his intense rivalry with Sabretooth, his forbidden love with Jean Grey, going wild yet overcoming that regression, mentoring Jubilee and Kitty Pryde, losing his metal to Magneto, discovering his forgotten past as a samurai in Japan, and dying only to come back without his healing. Hugh Jackman’s strong commitment to playing Wolverine for 17 years further immortalized Marvel’s toughest and unkillable hero.
#6. Hulk
Few Marvel characters show raw, uncontrolled power like the Incredible Hulk. When scientist Bruce Banner tried to rescue a teen caught in a gamma bomb blast, he absorbed a huge dose of radiation. This caused unpredictable changes into the childlike yet hugely strong and angry green giant known as the Hulk. Banner struggled for years to control this monstrous other self, who came out whenever he got mad or hurt. But over time, he learned to use the Hulk’s strength for good.
The dynamic between Banner and Hulk provides an interesting Jekyll and Hyde story, as the mild scientist deals with this unpredictable force of fury and chaos. The Hulk’s personality has changed across versions – from simple child to cunning savage – but losing control remains his main problem. Key Hulk stories saw Banner try experimental ways to keep his smarts while Hulked out, merge his sides into more balance, or separate into distinct beings.
Defining Hulk storylines include his debut against the army, battling Leader and Abomination as early villains, his Planet Hulk space journey saga, and his recent Immortal Hulk comic exploring his gamma mutation’s mystical qualities. Lou Ferrigno famously played the green giant in the 1970s TV show. And after 17 MCU films building anticipation, Mark Ruffalo’s amazing take on Banner/Hulk paid off with his breakthrough in Avengers: Endgame. With endless strength and anger to spare, yet the troubled soul of Banner, Hulk stays one of Marvel’s most complex heroes.
#5. Thor
Few Marvel heroes have gone through more epic journeys of power and heroism than Thor, the famous God of Thunder from Asgard. As a brash prince under All-Father Odin, Thor liked adventure and fighting skills. But his proud ways led Odin to send Thor away to Earth as the disabled doctor Donald Blake to teach him humility. When aliens threatened Earth, Blake changed back into Thor to fight them off, starting his time as an Avenger. Though Blake and Thor were the same, Thor worked for decades to build his own heroic identity separate from the throne.
Thor has unmatched abilities as a god, with Mjolnir giving him weather control and flight, but his time with Earth’s heroes has helped him use such might responsibly. Early Thor stories had exciting drama centering on Asgard and Thor’s love for Jane Foster. But big changes like leading Earth-based Asgardians, losing his ability to wield Mjolnir, and becoming a more cosmic champion kept the character important through the ages.
Key Thor storylines include discovering he was Donald Blake, the iconic Ragnarok saga where he helps restart Asgard’s cycle of death and rebirth, taking over as King of Asgard after his father Odin, and his time bonded to everyman Jake Olson to learn about heroism. Chris Hemsworth’s charismatic take on Thor in the MCU balances the character’s godly grandeur and charmingly clumsy personality perfectly. Now more than ever, Thor stands tall as one of Marvel’s most powerfully awesome yet sincerely noble heroes.
#4. Black Panther
As both superhero and king of the isolationist utopia Wakanda, Black Panther’s dual role makes him one of Marvel’s most unique champions. When his father King T’Chaka was killed in battle with Ulysses Klaw, Prince T’Challa took over as Wakanda’s protector as the sacred Black Panther. Empowered by the panther god Bast, T’Challa gained enhanced strength, speed, and senses through the mystical Heart-Shaped Herb, donning a vibranium suit that makes him nearly unstoppable. As a wise ruler, T’Challa brought Wakanda onto the global stage, using its advanced Vibranium tech to aid the Avengers and others worldwide.
T’Challa broke new ground by bringing respectful Afrofuturistic representation into mainstream comics in the 1960s, showing the potential of an unconquered African nation. Black Panther’s famous battles defending Wakanda from supremacist forces offer layered commentary on colonialism and oppression. But T’Challa is far from perfect, with humbling losses against rivals like Killmonger teaching him painful lessons in empathy and outreach that make him a wiser king. Ta-Nehisi Coates’ influential Black Panther run brought T’Challa new moral challenges as king and avenger.
Key Black Panther storylines include battling Klaw and his family’s foe Ulysses, joining the Avengers, seeing visions of past panthers with Bashenga, losing his powers after fighting Iron Man, and defeating arch-foes like Killmonger and Man-Ape. But Black Panther’s most culturally impactful chapter came in the 2018 blockbuster film, as Chadwick Boseman perfectly embodied T’Challa with regal weight. Boseman’s passing was devastating, but his landmark performance as the first lead Black superhero underlined Black Panther’s icon status. T’Challa’s legacy is eternally tied to Boseman’s, ensuring Marvel’s king will reign forever.
#3. Captain America
Captain America’s journey is central to Marvel’s big stories. When skinny art student Steve Rogers was too weak for WWII, he volunteered for the Super Soldier project. Dr. Erskine’s serum changed Steve into peak human strength and speed. As Captain America in a red, white and blue costume, he used his new abilities to battle Red Skull and the Nazis. After stopping a bomb plane, Cap was trapped frozen in Arctic ice until the Avengers revived him in modern times.
While sometimes seen as just a propaganda character, Cap has grown into a deeper symbol of Marvel’s ideals. His struggle adjusting to today’s world from WWII highlighted Cap’s firm commitment to justice and responsibility. Cap often guides the Avengers with his unwavering morals, calling out wrongs by allies and enemies alike. This led to conflicts like Civil War, offering complex looks at tough issues.
Key Captain America arcs include adjusting to the 1960s as a “Man Out of Time,” losing faith and ditching his identity for a time, confronting his former sidekick Bucky in Winter Soldier, and Sam Wilson’s evolution as the new Captain America. Though Steve Rogers hangs up his shield in comics, he stays one of Marvel’s most influential leaders, immortalized for new fans through the movies. Captain America represents heroic ethics at their best – doing what’s right no matter what.
#2. Iron Man
When he first appeared, Tony Stark was a very different hero – an unlikable arms dealer who only becomes good after his own weapons hurt him. But over decades, Tony’s flaws and big ego have become key parts of why fans love Iron Man. When shrapnel near his heart threatened Tony’s life while kidnapped, he built an arc reactor and the first Iron Man suit to escape. Vowing to stop war weapons, Tony refined his amazing armor tech against threats as Iron Man, a founding Avenger.
Tony’s fun personality and drinking at first made him unique in Marvel as a very human hero beneath Iron Man’s cool armor. But his battles with ego, relationships, alcoholism and more led to compelling stories about overcoming inner demons to truly be a hero. Tony’s smooth confidence and joke-telling in action made him an instant fan favorite. But the man underneath the armor gave Iron Man his staying power.
Key Iron Man arcs that defined Tony as a hero include the truthful look at his alcohol abuse in Demon in a Bottle, Armor Wars’ depiction of Tony sticking to weapon ethics, and Civil War’s divisive conflict testing Tony’s responsibility as a hero. But Tony’s defining moment came with his ultimate sacrifice play in Avengers: Endgame. Carrying the guilt of past failures, Tony gave his life wielding the Stones against Thanos to save everyone. It was a perfect end showing Tony had evolved past his ego and flaws to become Earth’s greatest defender.
#1. Spider-Man
Of all Marvel’s many superheroes, none show the simpler, caring heroism at Marvel’s core better than the amazing, spectacular, sensational, and ultimately friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. When bookish high schooler Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider, gaining incredible strength, speed, spider-sense and webs, he was at first just out for himself.
But after his beloved Uncle Ben was killed partly due to Peter not stopping a crook earlier, the guilty teen vowed to use his new gifts responsibly. As Spider-Man, Peter battles an entertaining group of villains, but he’s always pulled back down to earth by problems – romance troubles, money issues, family concerns, and the everyday challenges of being a good-hearted young person finding their way.
Spider-Man’s underdog status as a working-class youth making mistakes makes him hugely relatable. Readers watch Peter Parker grow up over decades of comics, learning tough lessons about responsibility as he evolves from shy teen to experienced veteran hero. He shows the core Marvel belief – that true heroism comes not from privilege or perfection, but overcoming real flaws and failures to be your best self. Fans will always find inspiration in Spidey’s example of an imperfect average person earnestly trying to do what’s right.
Key Spidey stories that captured imaginations include his origin, early fights with villains like Green Goblin, iconic romantic drama with Mary Jane Watson, his vengeance attacks on Burglar and later Uncle Ben’s true killer, and mentoring successors like Miles Morales. Spider-Man has starred in countless beloved comics and versions over the years, arguably becoming Marvel’s most popular hero. But it’s Peter Parker’s heart and humor as a hero that makes him Marvel’s greatest webhead.