Marvel has created comic book heroes unlike any others. They're heroes of the highest order, yet they're also relatable. This has set them apart from the heroes of their Distinguished Competition. One of the great parts about Marvel's heroes is that, sometimes, characters no one expects to be that big become superstars. They grow from rather humble beginnings and take over the Marvel Universe, becoming household names.

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These heroes not only exceeded expectations, they shattered them. They've become something special, going far beyond what anyone would have expected of them. Their humble beginnings belied their status, becoming icons.

10 The Punisher Is An Accidental Icon

The Punisher holding swords

The Punisher debuted as a vigilante who targeted Spider-Man because he thought the Wall-Crawler was evil. It was the kind of debut that could have been a one-and-done. The character was interesting, playing into the grim and gritty tropes of the '70s, but no one would have predicted just how big he would get in the ensuing decades.

The '80s would see the Punisher's popularity skyrocket, and the '90s would compound that. Punisher's skull symbol would become iconic, although some people in recent years definitely missed the point of the character and what he means. The Punisher is an accidental icon, one that no one who read his first appearance assumed would rise so high.

9 Deadpool Morphed Into Something Special

An image of Deadpool vaulting away from an explosion

Deadpool has gone through massive changes over the years. The character first debuted as a one-dimensional mouthy killer who fit into the tropes of the early '90s well. He was "cool," wielded swords and guns, and had a great costume. The Merc with a Mouth would start to change when he was given his first miniseries, starting on the road to who he is today.

Deadpool's late '90s solo series would flesh him out into a multidimensional character, his popularity slowly rising. The late-'00s Deadpool series was the character's biggest break. He became huge, crossing over from comic stores to Hot Topic. Since then, Deadpool has become a pop culture icon, something no one would have expected.

8 Scarlet Witch Started Out As A C-List Villain

Scarlet Witch reading the Darkhold in Marvel Comics.

Scarlet Witch has joined the ranks of Marvel's most recognizable heroes in recent years, with the MCU making her a household name. However, even in the comics, no one would have guessed that Scarlet Witch would have risen so high. In the Silver Age, the X-Men weren't a hot ticket, so her debuting there as a villain wasn't a guarantee of her success.

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Even moving to the Avengers wasn't a star-making moment for Scarlet Witch, as the roster she joined only had one A-lister, Captain America. However, Scarlet Witch became a mainstay of the team when it expanded and she starred in fan favorite stories. Her popularity skyrocketed, leading her to the MCU, which made her even bigger.

7 Hank Pym Stays Around Despite Being Overshadowed

Hank Pym holding Ultron's head in Marvel Comics

Hank Pym is a founding Avenger and was among the first heroes ever created at Silver Age Marvel. He's gone through costumes and identities like nobody's business and has been overshadowed by nearly every other Avenger out there. Hank Pym should have disappeared years ago, as the character's history is full of problematic moments and a lack of any solo success.

However, Pym has become a fixture of the Marvel Universe. There's nothing really special about the character, as he's just a super scientist with powers that aren't the greatest, yet he perseveres. Everyone expected Pym to fade away years ago, but it never happens.

6 The Wasp Rose Higher In The Avengers Than Anyone Would Have Expected

Marvel Wasp Janet van Dyne Comics

The Wasp isn't the most powerful Avenger, but she's definitely exceeded expectations. Women in Silver Age Marvel books weren't exactly written the best, but the Wasp was able to overcome this as the years went on. She became an Avengers icon and was the first woman to ever lead the team. Comparing Wasp's arc with the team to her boyfriend, Hank Pym, reveals just how great she's done over the years.

The Wasp's importance to the team definitely belies her origins. Janet Van Dyne became a great hero and leader, something that no Silver Age reader ever would have guessed. She rose to the highest levels of Marvel's greatest team when all the odds were against her.

5 The Vision Got The Spock Treatment

Vision scowling in Marvel Comics

The Avengers has produced many icons, some of whom no one would have guessed. The Vision falls into that category. Created by Ultron to destroy the team, Vision ended up joining the team and became a big part of it. He was the team's Spock - the outsider trying to discover what it meant to be human - and his popularity increased.

Reformed villains can easily fall through the cracks, but the Vision never did. He became an Avengers mainstay and his relationship with Scarlet Witch played a big role in his popularity. The Vision becoming as big as he did has always been quite surprising.

4 Luke Cage Went From A Nobody To An A-List Avenger

Luke Cage leading Marvel's Mighty Avengers

Luke Cage has had a storied history. His '70s heyday saw Marvel tapping into the popularity of blaxploitation cinema and Cage became a fan favorite. His star would fade in the '80s, with several aborted attempts to make the character popular again in the '90s. It wasn't until the '00s, when he starred in a mature readers Marvel MAX book, that readers remembered him again.

Luke Cage joined the cast of Alias, but his big break would be in New Avengers, joining the most powerful and popular heroes in the Marvel Universe. Cage would rise to the leader of that team, reaching an A-list status that had long eluded him.

3 Storm Rose To The Highest Heights Of Marvel's Biggest Team

An image of Storm with the Fantastic Four

Storm had humble beginnings with the X-Men, but has since become a beloved member of the group. She's a character who has always gotten better, rising through the ranks until she became the leader of the team. Storm's tenure as leader lasted throughout the '80s, the team's biggest boom period, and made her the team's second most popular member after Wolverine.

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Storm had always been a powerhouse, but she became more than just a great set of powers. She's a great character and leader, a regal presence on the team unlike any other. Storm proved that she deserved her goddess nickname.

2 Spider-Man's Success Surprised Everyone

Marvel Comics' Spider-Man in the pouring rain, drawn by John Romita Jr

A lot of Marvel characters are celebrating milestones in 2022, but none are as big as Spider-Man's debut. Calling Spider-Man Marvel's most successful character of all time wouldn't be too far from the mark; the character became a pop culture icon before any other Marvel character did. The irony of that is that no one thought that Spider-Man would succeed; he was thought to be too creepy for all of that.

However, co-creators Stan Lee and Steve Ditko made a character that the teens who read Marvel books could relate to. It didn't matter that he was sort of creepy at times, fans loved him and that love grew and grew. Spider-Man surprised the world with his popularity and longevity.

1 Wolverine Jumped To The Front Of The Pack

Marvel Comics' Wolverine surrounded by Hellbride's monster from the Judgment Day tie-in

Wolverine is the best there is at what he does, and that's gain popularity. Debuting in The Incredible Hulk #181, he seemed destined for obscurity. However, his next appearance was in Giant-Size X-Men #1, a book that would reintroduce the mutant team to the world and make Wolverine into Marvel's fastest-rising star. Soon, Wolverine would rival Spider-Man in popularity.

Wolverine's attitude, look, and mysterious past pulled readers in, and he's never let go. He's outpaced the popularity of Marvel's greats, his solo book outselling icons like Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor. He's been a member of every major Marvel team and has made a name for himself that no one would have expected.

NEXT: Marvel's 10 Luckiest Villains