This past year was a great one for Marvel fans. Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War drew millions of fans to the box office, several of the Netflix shows released new seasons (before getting cancelled) and Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse also generated a lot of buzz. Despite this wide-ranging success, 2019 is set to be an even better year. Believe it, Marvelites. Some would argue that Avengers: Endgame will be even more significant than Infinity War. Beyond that, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will begin its shift into the future with Captain Marvel and Spider-Man: Far From Home (these characters are expected to lead the post-Endgame MCU). The remaining Netflix shows are expected to drop new seasons, too. Let’s not forget about Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which will return in the summer. Outside the MCU, fans can also look forward to Dark Phoenix and New Mutants. Fans can rest assured that Marvel will produce a lot of exciting content in the new year.
There's a lot to look forward to in the comics, too. The Avengers will battle vampires, deal with Voyager (again) and, possibly, fight the Squadron Supreme. That’s not even mentioning War of the Realms, which could be Marvel’s most notable crossover in years. Additionally, Conan the Barbarian will return and the X-Men will continue their renewed run in the spotlight. It’s a great time to be a Marvel fan and listing everything fans can look forward to this year would take all day. Instead, here’s a look at 20 of the top things Marvel fans are excited for in 2019.
20 JESSICA JONES SEASON 3
Just a short while ago, Marvel fans enjoyed a robust line of shows on Netflix; Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Jessica Jones formed a separate corner of the MCU. The heroes came together in The Defenders before they went their separate ways again. But, after multiple cancellations, Jessica is the only Defender who still has a show.
It's unclear how Marvel will handle these characters going forward but Jessica Jones Season 3 is expected to premiere on Netflix in 2019. The second season left a few loose threads, like Trish Walker’s acquisition of powers and Jeryn Hogarth’s creation of a new firm.
19 THE PUNISHER SEASON 2
Like Jessica Jones, The Punisher is in a precarious position given the other cancellations but it’s slated to return in 2019. After debuting in the second season of Daredevil, Frank Castle quickly got his own show on Netflix. Fans loved Jon Bernthal’s portrayal of the character and Marvel capitalized on this popularity.
After fans and critics responded positively to the first season of The Punisher, Marvel quickly began working on the show’s second season, which will premiere in January 2019. The new season remains shrouded in mystery but it’ll likely feature a continuation of the rivalry between Frank and Billy Russo.
18 CAPTAIN MARVEL
In March 2019, for the first time since Ant-Man and the Wasp, Marvel fans will flock to the theaters once again. This time around, Captain Marvel will be the star of her own film in what is expected to be another important installment of the MCU. The post-credits scene in Infinity War set up the debut of Carol Danvers and, after a long wait, fans are excited to see the hero Marvel is touting as its next big star.
Captain Marvel is set in the '90s and it will include the early days of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Nick Fury and Phil Coulson. The film will also feature the Skrulls, one of Marvel’s most famous alien races.
17 AVENGERS: ENDGAME
It doesn’t get bigger than this. Yes, Avengers: Endgame will be even more significant than Infinity War because it is expected to be the true ending, in some ways, of the current MCU. Some of the major players, like Captain America and/or Iron Man, are expected to leave the picture. When the heroes try to reverse the devastating impacts of Thanos' snap, even if they are successful, fans can expect more heartbreak.
This film should also set the stage for the MCU’s future. Endgame will likely emphasize the new leaders of the Avengers and it could introduce the next major threat, too.
16 SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME
During Infinity War, when Spider-Man became a victim of the Snap (or the Decimation) many fans knew that, more than other heroes, the Webslinger was practically guaranteed to survive; the sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming had already been announced. Granted, Spider-Man: Far From Home could feature Spider-Man without using Peter Parker but the safe bet is to predict Parker’s return.
Far From Home is rumored to chronologically begin minutes after Endgame so it will likely be tied to that monumental film. Regardless, the next Spider-Man film is poised to capitalize on the success of Homecoming, which is widely viewed as one of the best films ever made about the Webhead.
15 DARK PHOENIX
After multiple delays, the X-Men will return to the big screen when Dark Phoenix finally premieres on June 7, 2019. In late September, Marvel released the first trailer for the film, which had been slated to hit theaters in February. Shortly thereafter, the release date was pushed back to June in the hopes of maximizing its box office potential.
With the Disney-Fox deal nearing completion, the immediate future of the X-Men is unclear. Dark Phoenix could be the end of the team as viewers know it or the film could pave the way for the characters jump to the MCU. Either way, many fans are excited to see the next installment of the X-Men franchise adapt the classic storyline, "The Dark Phoenix Saga."
14 THE NEW MUTANTS
When 20th Century Fox released a trailer for The New Mutants, the company caught the interest of many fans. The film seemed to be a combination of the horror genre with superhero movies. This fresh take would be a change of pace from its contemporaries, which would have been a welcome development in an arguably saturated genre.
Then, like Dark Phoenix, New Mutants was pushed back. The film required lengthy reshoots in order to make it scarier. The delay has somewhat softened the buzz around the once-promising movie. Still, when New Mutants finally comes out in August 2019, fans can expect to see something different.
13 LAUNCH OF DISNEY PLUS
For multiple reasons, Marvel fans should be excited for the Disney Plus streaming service. First, it will be the home for several original Marvel shows that will feature some of the MCU's stars. Plus, the service is expected to include a library of Marvel’s content, which will give fans the chance to rewatch their favorite shows and movies.
There has been some speculation that the cancelled Marvel Netflix shows could gain new life on Disney Plus but, in the short term, that appears unlikely. At the end of the day, Disney Plus will make it easier than ever for Marvel fans to enjoy content because it’ll all be in the same place.
12 DISNEY PLUS ORIGINAL SHOWS
Many fans are excited to see the original shows that will be on Disney Plus. Marvel will produce a Loki limited series, a show featuring Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson and Vision and the Scarlet Witch. Unlike other expansions to the small screen, these shows will feature the same actors from the MCU movies.
These projects remain mysterious; among other uncertainties, and it’s unknown when they take place. Given the status of these characters after Infinity War, fans are anxious to know the answer to that question. Whenever these stories are set, fans can’t wait to see more adventures with these beloved characters. It’s certainly possible one of the shows will premiere alongside the launch of Disney Plus in late 2019.
11 RETURN OF CONAN
Younger fans may not realize it but Conan the Barbarian is one of Marvel’s most popular characters. Robert E. Howard introduced the world to Conan in 1932 and the barbarian made his way to Marvel in 1970. Once there, he became an icon; Savage Sword of Conan is considered one of the most famous comics of the '70s. This success was followed by two big screen adventures, where Arnold Schwarzenegger played the hero.
The character’s popularity has faded in recent years. But, after 15 years with Dark Horse, Conan has returned to Marvel and they’ll be giving him the spotlight again in 2019. In March, the barbarian will join the Avengers during No Road Home.
10 NEW GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
Recently, the Guardians of the Galaxy have been tied up in Infinity Wars. The event just came to a close and, subsequently, the team experienced some drastic changes. In different ways, Drax and Gamora are gone. The Guardians will never be the same again. At the very least, a new team will rise from the ashes in January 2019.
Cosmic Ghost Rider, Beta Ray Bill and Nova are some of the notable additions to the Guardians. Groot, Silver Surfer, Adam Warlock, Peter Quill, Moondragon and others will begin the series as members of the team. However, only six of them will serve as core members. It’s a motley crew of characters and fans are excited to see how they all interact with each other.
9 "AGE OF X-MAN"
The "Age of X-Man" is nearly here; after "X-Men: Disassembled", the team will experience additional changes in the pages of six new miniseries under the "Age of X-Man" banner. Marvel has been tight-lipped about the event but it seems somewhat similar to "Age of Apocalypse."
Nate Grey and his Horseman of Salvation, who have been introduced in Uncanny X-Men, will likely be at the center of this event. January’s Age of X-Man Alpha will provide more clarity about the upcoming story but fans are already counting the days to see the reunion between Cyclops and Wolverine, which is featured on the cover of Uncanny X-Men #12 (the issue will be released during the "Age of X-Man").
8 RETURN OF CYCLOPS
During Death of X, when Cyclops was seemingly one of the most significant casualties of the event, the X-Men changed drastically. The team lost its leader and, at times, its heart and soul. Now, after over two years away, the original Scott Summers is back, which will have wide-ranging ramifications on Charles' students.
While the time-displaced Scott Summers had been roaming the pages of Marvel Comics in his counterpart's absence, Extermination returned young Cyclops to the past. Now there’s only one Scott in the present day. As one of the most iconic X-Men of all time, Scott’s return will surely shake up the X-Men and fans can’t wait to see how Summers, and his team, will respond.
7 "WAR OF THE REALMS"
The most notable Thor story in recent memory is on the horizon. Jason Aaron has been building to "War of the Realms" throughout his current Thor run, if not longer, and it’s about to come to fruition. The event is expected to feature a magical battle the likes of which fans have never seen. Best of all, "War of the Realms" won’t just be a Thor story; it will allow the Earth's Mightiest Heroes and other characters to work alongside Thor and his allies.
"War of the Realms" will also incorporate various Thor antagonists but it will be accessible to all readers, even those unfamiliar with the background of Asgard and its enemies.
6 AVENGERS: NO ROAD HOME
"No Surrender" gave fans a thrilling 16-part event that reset the comic-book version of the Avengers, who had separated into several disparate lineups. Now, as one primary team (with the West Coast Avengers acting as a mostly unaffiliated group) the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are set to battle various threats in 2019. In No Road Home, the heroes will have to save the universe once again.
Voyager, one of the stars of "No Surrender", will return and the event will feature heroes who haven’t been emphasized lately. Of these characters, none looms larger than Conan the Barbarian. Plus, everyone’s favorite trash panda, Rocket Raccoon, will join the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
5 LOGAN'S FUTURE
With Return of Wolverine nearing its end, Logan is, for all intents and purposes, back in the Marvel Universe. So, what's next? Marvel: Legacy showed the character with an Infinity Stone, a storyline that was never fully developed. Wolverine: Infinity Watch, which begins in February 2019, will explore Logan's cosmic connections and it’ll also deal with the fallout of Infinity Wars.
Beyond that, fans are excited to see how Logan will interact with the X-Men and other friends/foes, including X-23. Old Man Logan is on the way out, so fans can’t wait to see how the original Wolverine will respond as he regains his mantle.
4 SPIDER-MAN: LIFE STORY
One of the bittersweet truths about comic books is that, for the most part, the characters don’t age realistically. Some characters age very slowly while others don’t age at all. This lack of aging allows the characters to stay young but it deprives them of some storytelling flexibility. While some stories look at older versions of characters, most of them feature heroes (and villains) with a set age.
Spider-Man: Life Story will offer readers a chance to see a story where the hero ages as he would in real life. Set in the '60s, Life Story will take Peter Parker through the years of the Vietnam War and the decades that followed.
3 COSMIC GHOST RIDER DESTROYS MARVEL HISTORY
Over the years, fans have seen a few series in which a character destroys the Marvel Universe (who could possibly forget Fred Hembeck Destroys the Marvel Universe?). Now, the company is getting ready for another destructive event. This time around, Cosmic Ghost Rider will be the culprit.
This alternate version of Frank Castle has become quite popular after debuting in "Thanos Wins". The character got his own miniseries and he’ll be a member of the new Guardians of the Galaxy. This miniseries, set to begin in March, will feature the Rider making significant changes to the Marvel Universe and, possibly, destroying it altogether.
2 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: "HUNTED"
Kraven the Hunter has become one of Spider-Man's most famous villains and, in 2019, the Webhead will, once again, be hunted by his classic adversary. In a follow-up to "Kraven’s Last Hunt", this story, appropriately titled "Hunted", is expected to be the most notable Spider-Man comic event of the year.
Kraven and Spider-Man have fought each other several times throughout the years and, now, Kraven looks ready to finally defeat his prey. Here, the hunter seems ready for his most ambitious mission ever; his focus will be on all animal-themed characters. The story will begin in Amazing Spider-Man #17, which will come out on March 13, 2019.
1 AVENGERS: "WAR OF THE VAMPIRES"
When Blade returned in Avengers #700, fans knew that something special was on the way. Eric Brooks hasn’t been seen in the few issues of the series since that return but, in early 2019, Blade will be back in the spotlight.
"War of the Vampires," as the title suggests, will bring the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes into conflict with the creatures Blade is famous for hunting (this development was teased Avengers #700 shortly before Blade’s return). Marvel, at least in the comics, looks like its embracing the horror genre, and this event will allow the company to do so in grand fashion.