Marvel is the undisputed king of pop culture, and it all stems from the comics. Marvel's comics are at the top of the industry, and the best-known Marvel stories are considered among the best comics ever made. Over the years, the publisher's biggest stories have gotten all the plaudits they deserve, but there are plenty of Marvel comics that don't get the love they deserve.
Marvel's best, most underrated comics have taken readers to amazing and unexpected places. Their stories have formed the bedrock of the Marvel Universe, but many readers have no idea that they exist. They've flown under the radar, but their quality means that fans need to learn to appreciate these modern masterpieces.
10 X-Force Is An Extremely Underrated Series
Marvel has some amazing must-read comics. The X-Men books have gotten loads of attention in the Krakoa Era, but not X-title gets the love it deserves. X-Force, written by Benjamin Percy with art by Robert Gill, follows the black ops arm of Krakoa and is a masterpiece of long-term storytelling that fits its premise better than most readers realize.
X-Force gives readers everything they could want. The book has intriguing plots, great action, and digs into its wide cast of characters. It constantly flies under the radar, but it deserves Marvel's spotlight. It's a book that every X-fan should read.
9 Children Of The Atom Deserves More Love
The Krakoa Era has given fans all kinds of stories, but they haven't all received the success they deserved. Children Of The Atom, by writer Vita Ayala and artists Bernard Chang and Paco Medina, is the six-issue story of a group of human cosplayers obsessed with the X-Men, all developing powers based on their favorite mutants.
Characterization is key to Children of the Atom, as its diverse cast is the most charming group of teen heroes introduced in a long time. The book's action is top-notch, the writing is wonderful, and it has some great mysteries. It's an underrated gem.
8 Strange Is A Perfect Modern Retelling Of Doctor Strange's Origin
The 2000s were an interesting time for Marvel, full of iconic books. Some did slip through the cracks, though, despite the stature of the characters and creators. Strange, written by J. Michael Straczynski with art by Brandon Peterson, should have attracted more notice, as it takes the plot beats of the original Doctor Strange origin and modernizes it.
Starring familiar characters like Stephen Strange, Wong, Baron Mordo, and the Ancient One, the book set out to bring Strange into the 21st century. It succeeded beautifully, but the sales didn't warrant a complete series. This is a tragedy since Strange is brilliant from its first page to last.
7 Wolverine Is The Krakoa Era's Best Solo Series
Wolverine was one of Marvel's best comics of 2022. The first ongoing series for Wolverine since his return from death, the book is written by Benjamin Percy and currently drawn by Juan Jose Ryp. Much like the Percy-written X-Force, the book revolves around long-term plots, containing brilliant characterization and amazing action.
The current Wolverine is the most successful Wolverine comic in years. Percy understands the character like few other writers in recent years and gives the book's fans everything they could want. Wolverine understands its title character like few others, showing what other Marvel comics could be.
6 X-Men/Avengers: Utopia Is A Diamond In The Rough
The '00s featured some great X-Men books, but as the decade went on, the cracks started to show. However, the Dark Reign crossover X-Men/Avengers: Utopia, by writer Matt Fraction and artists Marc Silvestri, Luke Ross, Terry Dodson, and Mike Deodato Jr., closed out the decade perfectly. After riots and anti-mutant protests in the X-Men's new home of San Francisco, Norman Osborn's Dark Avengers take action against the team.
The book is an action-packed good time, full of great twists and turns throughout. Post-House Of M X-Men books have a depressing tone, but this book uses its dingy atmosphere well. The final battle alone is worth the price of admission, but this entire story is a banger.
5 The Sentry Is A Wonderful Psychological Marvel Tale
The Sentry, by writer Paul Jenkins and artist Jae Lee, introduced readers to Robert Reynolds, a man with multiple mental health issues who is having dreams about life as a superhero. These dreams reveal his secret. He is the forgotten superhero the Sentry, a hero who was forced to erase humanity's memories of him to avoid accidentally destroying the planet.
The book digs into the Sentry's history, revealing the danger he represents as a monstrous force called the Void returns. The book is a masterpiece throughout delving into the nature of humanity and heroism alike. The Sentry was meant to be a grittier Superman made to order for Marvel's world and this book established him beautifully.
4 Original Sin Is One Of Marvel's Most Underrated Events
Marvel events can be amazing, but some of the best don't get the praise they deserve. Original Sin, by writer Jason Aaron and artist Mike Deodato Jr., centered on the mystery of who killed The Watcher. With Doctor Midas, his daughter Oubliette, and the Orb running around with the Watcher's eye revealing terrible secrets, a group of heroes is drawn into a mystery that will change some of them forever.
Original Sin's biggest problem is that it never really delivered on its premise of revealing world-shaking secrets, but the main book is still a corker of a mystery. There are some great concepts in it and the art is amazing. The ending has some wonderful shocks, and it's a better event than most Marvel fans realize.
3 Earth X Details An Intriguing Marvel Future Based On Its Epic Past
Kingdom Come's look at a future DC Universe in the mid-'90s made Marvel fans want their own version. KC artist Alex Ross, working with writer Jim Krueger and the late great artist John Paul Leon, gave them that with Earth X. The series takes place in a dystopian Marvel future where everyone has superpowers. The Inhumans return to Earth with terrible news, as the heroes of yesteryear deal with a mysterious new threat called the Skull.
Earth X is both a lesson in Marvel history and an amazing view of its future. It's a love letter to the publisher's Silver Age while also being perfectly modern. It's everything anyone could love about the Marvel Universe in one wonderful package.
2 World War Hulk Is An Action-Packed Event Like No Other
World War Hulk stands apart as one of the '00s unheralded masterpieces. The Hulk and his alien Warbound return to Earth after the destruction of Sakaar, which they blame on the Illuminati. What follows is an action masterpiece pitting everyone against the Hulk.
Marvel events are built on other books, and sometimes fans need to read those to understand a new story. While it helps to read Planet Hulk, World War Hulk exists on its own terms. Hulk fighting the heroes is always awesome, and this book gives readers everything they need to understand what's going on without having to read its precursor. It's the best of the best.
1 Infinity War Is Overshadowed By Its Predecessor
Marvel has some brilliant six-issue series. Most people look at Infinity Gauntlet as the top of this heap, but they should include its sequel as well. Infinity War, by writer Jim Starlin and artist Ron Lim, gives readers the return of the Magus, an evil version of Adam Warlock, and his scheme to conquer the universe. It forces Warlock to team up with Thanos, as the heroes of Earth deal with their own problems.
Infinity War is full of great twists and turns. The plot is engaging and truly fits the book's epic scope. Starlin and Lim proved to be a great team on Infinity Gauntlet, and they deliver again here. It's much more interesting than its predecessor and deserves more love.