When it comes to comic book universes, everyone has one or more favorite characters. This is especially true for the Marvel Universe, which is chock-full of larger-than-life characters. The only downside to this situation is that, because there are so many characters in the Marvel Universe, not all of them get the same chance to shine.
Most of Marvel's heavy hitters have had many ongoing series over the years, but other characters only have one or a few ongoing series to their names. It would be nice for other residents of the Marvel Universe – who perhaps haven't been seen in a while or featured as heavily – to get their time in the spotlight.
10 The Rawhide Kid Should Get Back In The Saddle
Marvel has gotten in on the Western genre with some of their heroes, including the Rawhide Kid. The Rawhide Kid enjoyed success in two solo series – one in the 1950s and one in 1985 before being revived with two more solo series in 2003 and 2010 respectively. The character was actually written as a gay man in those last two series, but writer Ron Zimmerman's portrayal of his sexuality was offensive, to say the least.
The Kid hasn't been seen much since then, but it's about time he gets another shot at a solo series. The treatment of LGBTQ+ characters in comics has been much more positive since, and a series that treats Johnny Bart's sexuality respectively while making him a compelling do-gooder of the Wild West would be a treat.
9 Blonde Phantom Taking On Crime Would Be A Blast
The Blonde Phantom (real name Louise Grant) was a popular 1940s-era crimefighter, but it wasn't until 1986 in John Byrne's run on Sensational She-Hulk that she was brought back to the Marvel Universe proper. She became a friend and sidekick to She-Hulk and went on all sorts of adventures, including one where Louise was restored to a younger version of herself.
While the circumstances regarding Louise's change in appearance are no doubt controversial, it opens up the opportunity for a new ongoing series. A fun, modern mix of the superhero and detective genres that has Louise frequently break the fourth wall – as she did in Sensational She-Hulk – would be great.
8 A Darker Slapstick Series Could Be Just What The Doctor Ordered
Slapstick hasn't gotten as much attention as he probably deserves, as he's essentially a living cartoon character who isn't bound by the normal laws of physics. Despite this, he's had only two solo series and was featured in the Mercs for Money series.
However, it was in Mercs for Money where Slapstick was a much darker character. He suffered from emotional issues and more rage-filled acts of violence because he was unable to change back to his human form. This new direction for the character could lend itself well to an ongoing series that explores his mental state in more detail, whilst also not shying away from over-the-top cartoon antics.
7 The Spectacular Spider-Ham Is A Fan Favorite
It's been too long without an ongoing series starring Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham. Everyone's favorite spider bitten by a radioactive pig has only gotten more famous since his film debut in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and while he's not lacking in terms of memorable comic appearances, they feel too brief for a character like him.
What Spider-Ham deserves is a longer ongoing series that mainly takes place on Earth-8311. It should explore more of his adventures in fun ways that poke fun at the regular Earth-616 universe. As long as it's zany and cartoonish fun, it should be a slam dunk.
6 Hercules Is Another Heroic God In The Marvel Universe
Hercules started out as a rival to Thor before becoming a member of the Champions, the Avengers, and most recently teaming up with the Guardians of the Galaxy. However, a new solo series has eclipsed his mighty grasp in recent years.
His latest adventure, featuring the Guardians, could work as a springboard for a new series. It would be fun to see Hercules and his current love interest, Noh-Varr, explore both familiar and undiscovered locations in the depths of space. And with Hercules involved, trouble and excitement are never too far away.
5 Blade Is Marvel's Go-To Vampire Slayer
With a role in the upcoming Marvel's Midnight Suns video game and an MCU film on the horizon, there's no better time to be a fan of Marvel's vampire slayer Eric Brooks/Blade. This is why it's surprising that, despite starring in a one-shot comic called Blade: Vampire Nation from writer Mark Russell and artist Mico Suayan, which is set to be released in November, he hasn't had an actual ongoing series of his own since 2007.
Hopefully, this one-shot is just the first in a new series of adventures for the infamous dhampir. It has the potential to take Blade in an interesting new direction for a full-on series, as long as it also leans more fully into the horror side of things than previous appearances of the character.
4 Adam Warlock's Adventures Are Iconic
Adam Warlock is an iconic figure in the Marvel Universe, playing large roles in events like Infinity Gauntlet, as well as serving with the Guardians of the Galaxy on several occasions. With Adam set to make his live-action debut in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the time feels right for him to get a new solo series.
Writer Jim Starlin's run on the character is defining for a reason, as it introduced Adam's evil future self known as The Magus and his sinister religious empire known as the Universal Church of Truth. A new ongoing series should take a page from Starlin by focusing on Adam's continual fight against these foes and how it affects him, while not skimping on dazzling sci-fi visuals and concepts.
3 Death's Head Should Find More Fans
First appearing in Marvel's licensed Transformers comics in the UK, Death's Head is a robotic bounty hunter (or "freelance peacekeeping agent"). He has a deadpan sense of humor, a single-minded focus on making money, and he squared off with the Autobots before making his way into the Marvel Universe. He's crossed over with the likes of She-Hulk and The Thing (among others), although his appearances have dwindled in number over the years.
Seeing how much success Marvel has enjoyed with another violent, funny mercenary in Deadpool, it's not hard to imagine Death's Head getting the same kind of attention. In the hands of a writer like Chip Zdarsky, a new Death's Head series could be a darkly funny, explosively violent thrill ride throughout the Marvel Universe.
2 Howard The Duck Has Always Been About Social Commentary
Everyone’s favorite wisecracking waterfowl, Howard, is still a constant presence. His last ongoing series follows him as a private investigator, and while these and other developments for Howard in recent years have been fun, it'd be nice to see him go back to his original roots as a satirical character.
Writer Steve Gerber’s original run on Howard the Duck is hailed as iconic thanks to its blend of existentialism and surrealism with social commentary on human nature, pop culture, politics, and the medium of comics overall. Given the last decade or so, there’s certainly more than enough material to mine for a new Howard the Duck ongoing series.
1 Man-Thing Is Marvel's Answer To DC's Swamp Thing
When it comes to iconic swamp monsters, DC's Swamp Thing is usually the first character that comes to mind. However, Marvel has their own in the form of Man-Thing. Even though Man-Thing was created before Swamp Thing, Marvel's character has never quite managed to reach the same level of popularity as his DC counterpart.
Much like how Alan Moore reinvigorated Swamp Thing in the 1980s, Man-Thing is long overdue for a new ongoing series that takes his character in a different and subversive direction. While the character has mainly been associated with the horror genre, it would be interesting to explore the more fantastical side of Man-Thing. For example, his powers and role as the guardian of the Nexus of All Realities open the door for several possibilities. All he needs is the right writer to unlock them.