While the Distinguished Competiton was better known as the place to find legacy heroes, Marvel has caught up in recent years. Sidekicks were a thing of the past after the apparent death of Bucky, but there were still a few successors who stood out to fans. Inspired heroes who took over the roles of earlier generations but managed to do even better.

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Marvel heroes like Ironheart carried on after the loss of Iron Man, while brilliant young minds like Amadeus Cho discovered a way to control the Hulk’s gamma strength as Brawn. These heroes may still be only starting out when compared to their original inspirations, but they have already proven to be better than their predecessors in various ways.

10 Johnny Storm/Human Torch

First Appearance: Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) #1, by writer Stan Lee, penciler Jack Kirby, inkers George Klein & Christopher Rule, colorist Stan Goldberg, and letterer Artie Simek

Human Torch Flying in Fantastic Four Marvel Comics

The original Human Torch was one of Marvel’s very first superheroes. Jim Hammond was an advanced android who could burst into a living flame that was created by scientist Phineas Horton. Hammond fought alongside his sidekick Toro and the Invaders during World War II.

While Hammond still operates as the Human Torch, there is no denying that his successor became the more popular version of the character. Johnny Storm gained incredible powers from cosmic rays as a member of the Fantastic Four. He could also cover his body in flames, though he mastered his abilities which allowed the Human Torch to defeat incredibly powerful characters.

9 Robbie Reyes/All-New Ghost Rider

First Appearance: All-New Ghost Rider (Vol. 1) #1, by writer Felipe Smith, penciler/inker Tradd Moore, colorists Nelson Daniel & Val Staples, and letterer Joe Caramagna

Robbie Reyes as Ghost Rider

There have been a few different versions of Ghost Rider in the Marvel universe. Each version has been possessed by a Spirit of Vengeance to punish evil in various ways. Things changed slightly when Robbie Reyes was possessed to become the All-New Ghost Rider, as his Spirit of Vengeance was a murderous ghost with his own plans for Reyes' body.

While former Ghost Riders like Johnny Blaze and Danny Ketch became fan favorites in their time, only Robbie Reyes rose up the ranks in the superhuman community. Reyes eventually became a member of one of the strongest rosters of the Avengers and helped uncover Ghost Rider's connection to the team that dated back to the Stone Age.

8 Nadia Van Dyne/The Wasp

First Appearance: Free Comic Book Day 2016 (Civil War II) (Vol. 1) #1, by writer Mark Waid, penciler Alan Davis, inker Mark Farmer, colorist Matt Hollingsworth, and letterer Clayton Cowles

Nadia van Dyne flying as the Unstoppable Wasp in Marvel Comics

Janet van Dyne was the first Wasp and a founding member of the Avengers. Her contribution to the Avengers legacy and ongoing bravery continually showcase her effectiveness as a superhero. It's her legend as the Wasp that went on the inspire the secret daughter of Hank Pym to follow in her footsteps as the Unstoppable Wasp.

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After Nadia Pym escaped her Russian Red Room captors, she found a new mentor in the original Wasp. She even changed her name to Nadia van Dyne to further respect her predecessor. Nadia van Dyne is a brilliant young woman who has already started to inspire other young geniuses with her creation of the G.I.R.L. organization, and the original Wasp couldn't be prouder.

7 Scott Lang/Ant-Man

First Appearance: Avengers (Vol. 1) #181, by writer David Michelinie, penciler John Byrne, inker Gene Day, colorist Francoise Mouly, and letterers Gaspar Saladino & Elaine Heinl

Scott Lang as Ant-Man from Marvel Comics shrinking down

Hank Pym has used a few costumed identities over the years, beginning with Ant-Man. When he evolved into his more common Giant-Man role, he locked up his size-changing Ant-Man technology and waited for a new hero to take over. Scott Lang was that hero, though he initially acquired the Ant-Man suit during a heist to save his daughter’s life.

Pym decided to let Lang continue operating as Ant-Man. He made a name for himself in the role and joined teams like the Avengers and Fantastic Four. While Lang didn’t create the size-changing technology, he mastered the use of Pym Particles and earned his title as the best version of Ant-Man.

6 Laura Kinney/Wolverine

First Appearance: NYX (Vol. 1) #3, by writer Joe Quesada, penciler/inker/colorist Joshua Middleton, colorist Jean-François Beaulieu, and letterers Chris Eliopoulos & Randy Gentile

Laura Kinney's Wolverine runs into battle, claws extended, in Marvel Comics

Laura Kinney first appeared as a violent and abused clone of Wolverine known as X-23. However, she has grown over the years to find her own identity as Laura Kinney and discover her true origins as Logan's biological daughter. After the death of Logan, she successfully carried on his legacy as the All-New Wolverine.

Laura Kinney proved she was worthy of the identity by taking on some of Wolverine's strongest villains. However, it was her commitment to doing the right thing that really showed how much she improved in the role of Wolverine. Even after the return of her father, she kept the title of Wolverine and was selected to join Krakoa's official team of X-Men instead of Logan.

5 Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel

First Appearance: Marvel Super-Heroes (Vol. 1) #13, by writer Roy Thomas, penciler Gene Colan, inker Paul Reinman, colorist Stan Goldberg, and letterer Sam Rosen

Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel

When Carol Danvers first started her superhero career, she created the Ms. Marvel costumed identity. However, Carol Danvers used quite a few costumed identities over the years until she finally settled into the role of her first mentor. Danvers originally gained her powers helping the original Captain Mar-Vell in a battle against Yon-Rogg and his Psyche-Magnitron.

She eventually took over the role of Captain Marvel years after Mar-Vell's death at the urging of Captain America. Captain Marvel became a powerful member of the Avengers and one of the premier heroes of the Marvel universe whose reach extended far beyond Earth. Mar-Vell was an iconic hero, and Carol Danvers has furthered his legacy in the role of Captain Marvel.

4 Amadeus Cho/Brawn

First Appearance: Amazing Fantasy (Vol. 2) #15, by writer Greg Pak, penciler/inker Takeshi Miyazawa, colorist Christina Strain, and letterer Dave Lanphear

Amadeus Cho as Brawn with his jacket open

When the brilliant Amadeus Cho first appeared, he called himself Mastermind Excello. Cho befriended the Hulk and became his traveling partner after losing his family. He studied Hulk’s gamma transformation intensely during this time.

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Amadeus Cho eventually discovered how to cure Bruce Banner by siphoning off his gamma energy. He then used it to empower himself as the Totally Awesome Hulk, fully in control of his strength. After Banner regained his gamma energy, Cho was left in a powerful new form and took the name of Brawn. He uses his strength and his smarts to help the world with the Champions.

3 Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel

First Appearance: All-New Marvel NOW! Point One (Vol. 1) #1, by writer G. Willow Wilson, penciler/inker Adrian Alphona, colorist Ian Herring, and letterer Joe Caramagna

Ms. Marvel during Marvel Comics' Dark Web event

After Carol Danvers graduated to her new role as Captain Marvel, her original costumed identity was left vacant. Kamala Khan was a Captain Marvel superfan when the Terrigen Mists transformed her into a polymorph. She was inspired by her love of Carol Danvers to become her own superhero, and she took on the costumed identity of Ms. Marvel.

Unlike most heroes who were inspired by others that came before them, Kamala Khan was able to put her own spin on the Ms. Marvel identity. She used a similar insignia but was able to inject some of her own personality and culture into the costume as well. Ms. Marvel has become a major player in the Marvel universe, which is something Carol Danvers only dreamed of in her first role.

2 Riri Williams/Ironheart

First Appearance: Invincible Iron Man (Vol. 3) #7, by writer Brian Michael Bendis, penciler/inker Mike Deodato Jr., colorist Frank Martin Jr., and letterer Clayton Cowles

Riri Williams fighting in her Ironheart armor

An injured Tony Stark used his inventive genius to create his powerful Iron Man suit of armor to save his life. He used the armor to then free himself from his captors during the war. As Iron Man, he became a hero and an Avenger before he met his demise in Civil War II.

Just prior to his ill-fated encounter with Captain Marvel, Stark met young Riri Williams after she designed her own suit of armor to test her intelligence. He briefly took her under his wing before his death, though an A.I. based on Stark continued to guide her. Williams created her own armored identity as Ironheart and started saving people in a bold new way with the Champions.

1 Kate Bishop/Hawkeye

First Appearance: Young Avengers (Vol. 1) #1, by writer Allan Heinberg, penciler Jim Cheung, inker John Dell, colorist Justin Ponsor, and letterer Cory Petit

Kate Bishop as Hawkeye with the Young Avengers

Kate Bishop first met the Yong Avengers when they attempted to stop a robbery at her older sister’s wedding. However, she ended up saving them when their inexperience started a fire. Bishop tracked them down and joined the group, using old Avengers gear that included weaponry from Clint Barton's former costumed identity.

Bishop eventually proved herself to her mentor, Clint Barton. Captain America gave her the name Hawkeye after Barton’s death, which honored the original archer after his return. He asked her to keep using the name, and they started working together officially. Bishop has saved Barton’s life quite a few times and shown she more than deserves the role of Hawkeye.

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