The last 12 months have seen many brilliant titles released by Marvel Comics from a host of incredible creative teams that have pushed the medium to a level of quality that will no doubt make this year one to remember. Whether it has been successful relaunches of titles or continuations of fan-favorite series, there has been something for everyone.
Readers have been treated to an unprecedented number of character-defining arcs throughout the whole Marvel Universe in 2021, countless surprises and twists and turns, as well as jaw-dropping artwork. With talent as strong as this working on their books, the future of Marvel looks bright indeed.
10 Fantastic Four Shows That The First Family In Comics Can Still Captivate Readers
Featuring the phenomenal talents of Dan Slott and Nico Leon, Fantastic Four has been a must-read entry into the canon of the long-running, fan-favorite series. Consistently one of the best books to mix the themes of family and super-heroics, the ongoing 60th Anniversary of the title has seen Slott at his best.
Seeing the family of heroes attempting to juggle their home and personal lives with saving the world is always a high point of the Fantastic Four, and the current status quo within this book has turned that up to eleven. A must-read for any fans of the team, as well as anyone thinking about dipping their toe into Fantastic Four for the first time.
9 The Death of Doctor Strange Sets The Stage For Massive Changes To The Marvel Universe
Jed Mackay's recent universe-spanning title The Death of Doctor Strange sets up ripples that are promising to vibrate across the entire roster of Marvel titles for years to come. It should be on the pull-list of anyone who wants to see the genesis of this status-quo-shattering implication.
With Doctor Strange dead and the fabrics between realities becoming weakened, the heroes of the Marvel Universe are once again forced to band together to defend the Earth against threats from across the multiverse. Hinting that readers may be seeing a new Sorcerer Supreme in the coming months, this is a tantalizing premise that has piqued the interest of many Marvel fans.
8 X-Men Legends Takes Readers Back To Their Childhoods
Bringing back iconic creators of X-Men titles from the 1980s and 1990s, X-Men Legends reunites the creative minds responsible for many fan-favorite runs of the era and lets them continue these tales in continuity with their own legacy stories. So far, readers have seen the return of such beloved writers and artists such as Brett Booth, Louise & Walter Simonson, Peter David, Larry Hama, and more.
A welcome return to an era that many fans still long for -- and a perfect jumping-in point for fans of X-Men who may have been out of the loop since the 90s -- X-Men Legends reminds the world why we fell in love with many of these characters in the first place.
7 Conan the Barbarian Brings The Ruckus Back To Marvel
A thrilling return of everyone's favorite sword-and-sorcery barbarian back to his original comic book home, Jim Zub and Cory Smith's run on Conan the Barbarian reminds readers everywhere why the character was such an important part of Marvel history.
A refreshing, violent, and barbaric change of pace to the usual output of the company, this title will delight fans of the character, his original pulp novels, the comic books, and movies. It also offers something different to Marvel readers seeking something other than capes and cowls.
6 Alien Is A Terrifying, Skin-Crawling Addition To The Famous Movie Franchise
Philip Kennedy Johnson and Salvador Larroca's terrifying new Alien title for Marvel -- the first since the company acquired the license from Dark Horse -- is a perfect, in-canon continuation of the lore first introduced in the original Alien movie. It features many new, horrific Xenomorph mutations, as well as interesting premises and locations guaranteed to please fans of the franchise.
With a new story arc starting in issue #8, now is the perfect time for readers to jump on board. With Weyland-Yutani up to their usual sinister tricks - and a whole community of technology-eschewing. off-world religious fundamentalists in danger -- this is one of the best extended Alien universe entries in decades.
5 Hellions Is A Wild Ride With The Most Despicable Mutants In X-History
Marvel's answer to The Suicide Squad, Hellions by Zeb Wells and Stephen Segovia has been one of the most consistent and entertaining X-Books for the last 12 months. Heck, it's been one of the standout titles of the entire Marvel line. Utilizing the mutant-resurrection facilitated by Krakoa, the book shows readers first-hand just how disposable the world's more unsavory mutants are considered by those in power.
A brilliant, funny, and emotionally engaging title, Hellions finds Wells exploring mutants who feel out of place among their own kind with the kind of sharp wit and explosive action that he has become renowned for.
4 Black Widow Has Some Of The Greatest Art Currently On Offer In Comics
A match seemingly made in comic book heaven, writer Kelly Thompson and artist Elena Casagrande have produced one of the most eye-popping and page-turning titles currently on shelves. The absolutely stellar panel-work of Casagrande is almost unparalleled in the landscape of modern comic books, and Thompson's writing sees Natasha put through an emotional rollercoaster that is destined to become defining.
There hasn't been a single stumble in quality throughout this book's entire run so far, and fans of both Black Widow and quality comics, in general, would do well to check it out.
3 Amazing Spider-Man Keeps Up The Consistency Expected From The Landmark Title
Arguably the flagship title of Marvel Comics, Amazing Spider-Man displays a quality and consistency that is often the basis for which all other Marvel books are judged. And with a new creative team on board, along with the return of fan-favorite Ben Reilly, things are already off to a highly promising start with the new run.
Featuring a Peter Parker out of action and replaced by his corporately-sponsored clone, this is a fresh take on Spider-Man that brings together decades of fan speculation and rumor. Patrick Gleason's art is, as always, fantastic, and the writing by Wells, Thompson, and MacKay has already received praise from fans across the globe.
2 Black Cat Gives A Fan Favorite Character The Most Important Role In The Universe
Jed MacKay has been slowly building up Felicia Hardy as one of the most important characters in the Marvel Universe for the last few years with his brilliant Black Cat title, the culmination of which has been the universe-shattering Infinity Score arc currently at play within the title.
In charge of locating the super-villains currently in possession of the Infinity Stones, Hardy has the most important role right now in Marvel. The fallout from this series has threatened to change the status quo of the Marvel universe for years to come -- with Black Cat front and center for all of it.
1 Daredevil Has Chip Zdarsky Working At His Absolute Best
Chip Zdarsky has been one of the most celebrated creators working in comics for the modern era, and there have been few better examples of his talent than his phenomenal run on Daredevil, which very well may go down as his magnum opus.
A highpoint for both Zdarsky's career and the character of Daredevil, this arc will sit side by side with Frank Miller's time with the comic as one of the most iconic runs of the title. From a man that seems unable to produce anything less than stellar work, the fact that this may be Zdarsky's best so far speaks volumes to its quality.