Marvel spent 2022 at the top of the sales charts, but that doesn't mean everything is perfect. Sales don't equal quality and not every book is good. Many Marvel books can definitely use some work, even the ones that have traditionally been very good.
These Marvel comics have fallen from grace, and while they still boast the same level creatively, they could use a reset. Conversely, there are multiple terrible Marvel books that sell well, so they don't get changed. These books need to be overhauled from the ground up. Fixing both kinds of books would help the company out in many ways.
10 Marauders Fell Far And Hasn't Recovered
X-Men history is full of changes, with the Krakoa Era bringing the books back to the fore at Marvel. Early on, Marauders was a fan favorite comic, following the adventures of Kate Pryde and her team. Meanwhile, Sebastian Shaw and Emma Frost sparred for control of the Hellfire Trading Company.
However, the ending of Marauders' first volume disappointed fans. The book was relaunched with a new creative team and a new roster, but many fans weren't happy with it. Marauders already fell from grace and the second volume hasn't fixed that. Marvel really needs to rethink this book to bring it back to prominence.
9 Black Panther Hasn't Been Beloved Since Ta-Nehisi Coates Left
Black Panther was a beloved book when it was relaunched by writer Ta-Nehisi Coates around the time of the character's MCU debut. Fans loved the book back then, but Coates eventually left and Hollywood screenwriter John Ridley took over. Since then, the book has cooled off immensely.
Black Panther has become a big part of the Marvel Universe and this book isn't serving him or the fans well. Marvel needs to re-evaluate the book. A new creative team and status quo can help shake things up and get fans back on board.
8 Hulk Is In Major Trouble
The Immortal Hulk took the character to all new levels, and people loved it. Even if the last story arc was so-so, the Hulk became a prime commodity again. Hulk was relaunched by successful writer Donny Cates and artist Ryan Ottley. It felt like there was no way for that team to fail, but Hulk fans didn't like the direction of the book.
What Hulk fans wanted was a continuation of The Immortal Hulk. Instead, they got Bruce Banner flying the Hulk around like a starship. Fan reaction was toxic and Cates not only left Hulk, but also Marvel. Ottley is finishing it out, but he'll leave after issue fourteen. Marvel needs to do something drastic to save Hulk.
7 Captain Marvel Is Great But It Needs More Spotlight
Marvel has many well-written women, with Carol Danvers topping the list. A big reason for that is writer Kelly Thompson, who has been writing the book for years. Captain Marvel is a very good book; however, it's not a huge seller. With The Marvels coming out, the Marvel should do something to reignite the fans' interest.
A crossover with the X-Men is upcoming, but that particular X-book hasn't been well-liked even if sales are good. Captain Marvel doesn't need a new writer; it needs a higher profile. X-Men sells well even if readers don't love it, so that's a start, but Marvel needs to go further to support and elevate Captain Marvel.
6 Captain Britain Hasn't Even Started Yet But Marvel Needs To Think About Switching Things Up
Betsy Braddock has gone through many costumed identities. She's currently Captain Britain, and has starred in Excalibur and Knights of X. She's finally getting her own solo series, but there's a problem with that. Since the beginning of the Krakoa Era, writer Tini Howard has been writing Betsy's adventures.
Howard's track record as an X-writer and hasn't been stellar, and she helped create the worst book of the Krakoa Era, X-Corp. Captain Britain is Elizabeth Braddock's first solo series, becoming only the third solo series of the Krakoa Era. Marvel needs to evaluate all their resources and see what's needed to give Captain Britain the best chance possible.
5 New Mutants Lost An Amazing Writer And Dropped To Mediocrity
Marvel has done a lot for New Mutants over the years. Its return in the Krakoa Era has seen it written by Jonathan Hickman, Ed Brisson, and Vita Ayala. The book hit another level when Ayala took over. They knocked the book out of the park, digging into the characters like no one has in years, while giving readers an amazing story.
Ayala's run on the book ended, which has been a tragedy. Writer Charlie Jane Anders took over and the book's quality hasn't reached the same level as before. New Mutants has ended, but Anders is getting another crack at the team in New Mutants: Lethal Legion. It may turn out better, but Marvel should consider other options to ensure the book's success..
4 The Amazing Spider-Man Sells Well But Is Generally Hated
Being a Spider-Man fan is difficult, all because of Marvel's treatment of the character. The Amazing Spider-Man was relaunched in 2022, with writer Zeb Wells and regular artist John Romita Jr. The team started the story off months after a terrible event, one that made everyone hate Spider-Man, including Mary Jane, who was married to someone else.
Fans hated the mystery box storyline and even though there were some great individual stories, like the Tombstone one. The Amazing Spider-Man still sells well, so Marvel probably won't change a thing. However, they absolutely should. A book that sells as well as TASM should be a crowd pleaser.
3 Avengers Forever Could Be Awesome If It Stays Around
Avengers Forever dropped in December 2021. It was about Ghost Rider traveling into the Multiverse and trying to bring together a multiversal team of Avengers, in order to stop the Multiversal Masters Of Evil. Avengers isn't a beloved book anymore, so a spin-off of that book didn't have much hope for success. With Jason Aaron's Avengers saga ending soon, this book is probably drawing to a close.
However, Avengers Forever doesn't need to. Multiverses are huge right now, and transforming the book into a new Exiles-style comic is the way to go. The Avengers' role in the multiverse hasn't been as well explored as other Marvel teams, like the X-Men. This book can do that and give fans some fresh stories.
2 Avengers Needs To Be The Biggest Book At Marvel Again
The Avengers are Earth's Mightiest Heroes, but Avengers definitely doesn't sell like they are. Writer Jason Aaron's run with the book, which started in 2018, quickly lost fan esteem. While the X-Men roared back to the top of the charts, Avengers languished off in its own corner. No one really talks about the book, even if it does sell well enough not to get canceled.
Aaron's run is ending in 2023 and Timeless #1 (by Jed MacKay, Kev Walker, Greg Land, Mark Bagley, Jay Leisten, Andrew Hennessy, Marte Gracia, Ariana Maher) teased a massive new Kang story. Marvel needs to make that happen as soon as possible. Avengers needs new blood. It needs to feel like the biggest Marvel book. The publisher has to make that happen in 2023.
1 X-Men Needs A Complete Overhaul
Marvel missed a lot of opportunities in 2022. A huge one was not getting a new writer for X-Men. Duggan had written Marauders, which was popular until the book's terrible ending, and was given X-Men after Hickman left. However, he took a book that was the most important in the X-Men line and made it into a shallow comic.
X-Men has had great art since it started — Duggan can definitely work well with artists — but the stories have been lackluster and the characters uninteresting. Marvel needs to do something drastic with this book in 2023. The best-case scenario is a new writer. The worst is to cancel it and relaunch Uncanny X-Men.