Marvel is the best-selling comic company and the inspiration for the entertainment juggernaut known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since its Silver Age heyday, Marvel has created some of the greatest comic characters of all time, memorable heroes and villains who helped build the company into what it is today.
Marvel has been putting out comics for decades and in all that time it's put out some amazing stories, ones that have redefined the comic industry and the company's own characters. There's a reason Marvel has had the success it did — some of the greatest creators in the medium have made some truly wonderful stories for the publisher.
Updated on March 31, 2022 by Scoot Allan: With so many amazing comic series and graphic novels to choose from, it might be daunting trying to find the right series to read. For new fans wondering about the best marvel comic series — while it can be subjective based on individual tastes — there are a few comics from Marvel considered by some to be the greatest stories told by the comic publisher.
15 Kurt Busiek And Alex Ross Retold Events From A New Perspective In Marvels
1994 saw the release of Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross's Marvels, a beautifully painted exploration into the history of the Marvel universe. However, the most iconic events from the comics were re-explored from the perspective of a reporter on the ground named Phil Sheldon.
The series was celebrated by fans for its stunning artwork and the new take on some of the biggest moments included in some of Marvel's other stand-out comics. Fans looking for a similar exploration into darker territory should check out Warren Ellis, Terese Nielsen and Cliff Nielsen's unforgettable Ruins.
14 Annihilation Was An Epic Space Event Starring Marvel's Cosmic Heroes
While most of the best Marvel comic series featured more popular characters like the Avengers or the X-Men, the cosmic side of the Marvel universe was given a new life thanks to Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. The writing duo was behind the hit Annihilation event, which brought together cosmic heroes like Nova, Star-Lord, Gamora and others.
They fought to protect the universe from the Negative Zone's Annihilus and his Annihilation Wave. The event would lead to the launch of the modern Guardians of the Galaxy as well as a number of other series and events set in Marvel's cosmic side of the universe.
13 Wolverine #1-4 Was The Mutant's First Solo Starring Book And One Of His Best Stories
Wolverine was the breakout star of Uncanny X-Men and would go on to become one of the most popular Marvel heroes of all time. Eventually, Wolverine was given a chance to star in his own titular mini-series by writer Chris Claremont and artist Frank Miller. Taking Wolverine to Japan, it featured him battling the Yakuza for the hand of his beloved, Mariko Yashida.
This issue cemented Wolverine's place in the Marvel Universe as a solo star, depicting him battle against all the odds to seize the win. Wolverine #1-4 would be a herald of great things to come and one of Wolverine's best stories.
12 *Stan Lee Teamed With Legendary Artist Mœbius For Silver Surfer: Parable
As the only writer allowed to script the adventures of Norrin Radd, former herald of the World Devourer Galactus, Silver Surfer's co-creator Stan Lee kept the character close to his heart for years. Lee put his love for the character on display when he teamed with legendary artist Jean Giraud/Mœbius for the Silver Surfer: Parable mini-series.
Mœbius' unique and expansive art style served Lee's writing well, spinning a story where Silver Surfer was forced to defend his new home of Earth from his former master Galactus. The hardcover edition featured beautifully reprinted panels that will impress any comic fan.
11 Secret Wars Was Marvel's Second Event Book And Where They Perfected The Formula
Marvel was the first of the Big Two to publish an event book, the three-issue Contest Of Champions. Their next foray into the event arena would be Secret Wars, a groundbreaking twelve-issue mini-series by writer Jim Shooter and artist Mike Zeck. The heroes and villains of the Marvel Universe were pitted against each other by the mysterious One From Beyond.
While the winning side was promised the ultimate prize, the real winner was the readers. This book would set the formula for every event book published after it, featuring the biggest heroes and villains and crossing into books throughout Marvel's line. Without its example, the modern comic industry would be very different.
10 Civil War Expertly Subverted Expectations
Civil War, by writer Mark Millar and artist Steve McNiven, is one of the best Marvel stories of the last twenty years. After a disaster caused by a battle between the New Warriors and a group of villains, the government cracks down on superheroes — leading the heroes to take sides for and against the government's regulations.
Pitting Captain America against Iron Man in a battle of ideologies, Civil War used superheroes to talk about Bush-era topics, like freedom versus security, and was a different kind of Marvel event book. Despite being adapted into an inferior movie that completely missed the point of the story, it doesn't take away from how great the comic is.
9 The Infinity Gauntlet Is The Pinnacle Of Marvel Event Books
Most fans know of The Infinity Gauntlet, by writer Jim Starlin and artists George Perez and Ron Lim, because of its place as the inspiration for the first three Phases of the MCU. However, it's also the best event book Marvel ever put out, pitting the heroes and villains of the Marvel Universe against Thanos, armed with the godlike power of the Infinity Gauntlet.
It has just about everything a comic reader could want — great action, wonderful characterization, and one of the Marvel Universe's all-time greatest villains. As each issue raises the stakes from the one before it, the greatest heroes face down the most dangerous threat ever.
8 "Ultron Unlimited" Is The Greatest Ultron Story Of Them All
The Avengers is Marvel's biggest team and one of their greatest villains is Ultron. Created by Avenger Hank Pym, the genocidal android has clashed with the team numerous times. The best story starring the villain is writer Kurt Busiek and artist George Perez's "Ultron Unlimited".
Featuring Ultron committing his most heinous act — destroying the country of Slorenia in minutes — Ultron Unlimited was one of the Avenger's most desperate hours and was full of amazing art and characterization. While it's unfortunately out of print, it's worth hunting down and is one of the quintessential Avengers stories.
7 New X-Men: E Is For Extinction Brought The X-Men Into The New Millennium
The X-Men had been Marvel's biggest seller for years but the twenty-first century was a different time and called for a different approach. Marvel brought in superstar writer Grant Morrison and their frequent collaborator Frank Quitely and rechristened X-Men into New X-Men. Their first story arc, E Is For Extinction, was a revolution which changed things for the team.
Pitting the mutants against new villain Cassandra Nova, this story changed the status quo of the team. The X-Men needed a shot in the arm and E Is For Extinction gave it one. Even twenty years later, it remains one of the best X-Men stories of modern times.
6 Squadron Supreme Is An Unsung Masterpiece
Watchmen gets all the credit for using superheroes in new and mature ways but Squadron Supreme, by writer Mark Gruenwald and artists Paul Ryan and John Buscema, did it first. The Squadron Supreme was Marvel's Justice League pastiche and existed on their own Earth. This story depicted the Squadron taking control of the world to save it from itself, using superheroes to ask lots of interesting questions about the nature of power and control.
Squadron Supreme hit a few months before Watchmen and was one of the first mainstream books to use superheroes in a mature, nuanced way. On top of that, it's a great superhero story. More people need to pick this one up.
5 The X-Men Explored A Dark Reality During The Age of Apocalypse Event
While X-Men storylines like "Days of Future Past" have become iconic due to their exploration of a dark future timeline, the 90s saw an even darker world develop after a time-traveling mutant named Legion accidentally killed his father, Professor X. This resulted in the Age of Apocalypse timeline — a world without Xavier where Apocalypse rose to take over the world.
The hellish alternate reality still stands as one of Marvel's best and darkest storylines that introduced a few exciting new takes on established characters as they fought to restore the timeline before the end of their world.
4 "The Kree-Skrull War" Brought The Avengers To The Next Level
"The Kree-Skrull War", by writer Roy Thomas and artists Neal Adams, Sal Buscema, and John Buscema, took place in Avengers #89-97 and saw the Avengers get embroiled in the war between the Kree and Skrull races. It was one of the first times the Avengers went to space and showed just what the team could do.
One of the team's must-read stories, "The Kree-Skrull War" is a monumental moment in Avengers history. It was the first time that the Avengers really cemented their place as the most important team in the Marvel Universe and is a bonafide classic.
3 Daredevil: Born Again Brought The Man Without Fear To His Lowest Point
Frank Miller returned to the title he'd made a hit alongside artist David Mazzucchelli for Daredevil's "Born Again" storyline, which brought the character to a new all-time low. After The Kingpin learned Daredevil's secret identity, he set about tearing his enemy down by attacking his personal life, ruining his career, and destroying his home.
The storyline explored Matt Murdock's faith and revealed long-hidden truths about his family before putting Daredevil in the fight of his life against powerful enemies. The art and storytelling of "Born Again" made this one of the best Daredevil storylines as well as one of the best Marvel comics ever.
2 "The Night Gwen Stacy Died" Is One Of The Most Heartbreaking Spider-Man Tales Of Them All
Amazing Spider-Man #121- 122, by writer Stan Lee and artist John Romita, is one of the most important Spider-Man stories. Featuring the deaths of both Gwen Stacy and Green Goblin, it was one of the most impactful Spider-Man stories of all time and beyond that, just a big deal in general. At the time, it was rare for a character's love interest and greatest villain to die and these two issues delivered that.
Full of action and pathos, this story marked a turning point in Spider-Man's life. It's one of the highlights of Lee and Romita's time on Spider-Man and would have repercussions that echoed through the years.
1 "The Dark Phoenix Saga" Was One Of The X-Men's Most Desperate Hours
"The Dark Phoenix Saga", by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Byrne, took place in Uncanny X-Men #129-138 and is still considered one of the greatest X-Men stories of all time. By now everyone knows the story — Jean Grey, possessing the power of the Phoenix Force, goes crazy and becomes a danger to the entire universe and it's up to the X-Men to stop their beloved friend before it's too late.
Claremont and Byrne's run on Uncanny X-Men is the one that put the team on the map and "The Dark Phoenix Saga" is considered its pinnacle. Claremont's poetic style, expertly combining drama, sci-fi, and superhero action, combined with Byrne's detailed and kinetic pencils make this one a story for the ages — one that every Marvel fan should read.