5 Marvel Characters the World Needs to Remember (and 5 We’re Better Off Forgetting)

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For the better part of a century, Marvel Comics’ continuity has delighted fans with thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of beloved characters that have stood the test of time. But with so much continuity, and so many series, there are more than a few icons that the House of Ideas has let slip through the cracks.

In some cases, all Marvel really needs to make these forgotten fan-favorites stick is a little love and care. But there are also more than a few less-than-marvelous additions to the universe that everyone is better off forgetting.

10

Forget: Man-Wolf

Created by Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, Gerry Conway, & Gil Kane

Spider-Man’s corner of the Marvel Universe is filled with more heroes than many fans may realize, but one such hero, John Jonah Jameson III a.k.a. Man-Wolf, is one doglike do-gooder that Marvel is better off forgetting. Gaining lycanthropic powers from a bloodred gemstone he found on the moon, the astronaut heir to the Web-Slinger’s longtime enemy turned ally has gone through his share of super heroic escapades – both as Man-Wolf and using the Tony Stark designed Jupiter Suit.

Having later worked closely alongside his ex-girlfriend the She-Hulk, and as the personal pilot of Captain America, Jameson is no stranger to adventure outside of his own heroic endeavors as NASA’s youngest astronaut. But, ultimately, Jameson works much better as a supporting character as opposed to a hero in his own right.

9

Remember: Jack of Hearts

Created by Bill Mantlo & Keith Giffen

Jonathan Hart isn’t one most fans would consider to be an A-list Avenger, but that’s only because Jack of Hearts has hardly been given a chance to play his full hand. A human/alien hybrid exposed to experimental Zero Fluid, Hart is a living conduit for Zero Energy gifted with flight and a superhuman physiology, as well as energy blasts and limited absorption.

Overall, Hart’s time with the Avengers was relatively short-lived, and in recent years, Jonathan has embarked upon a romantic relationship with fellow Avenger, She-Hulk, after being brought back to life following his death prior to Avengers: Disassembled. Now, the stars have aligned once more, and Jack of Hearts is perfectly positioned to break big and claim a space amongst the Mightiest Heroes of the Marvel Universe once again.

8

Forget: 3-D Man

Created by Roy Thomas & Jim Craig

After his abduction at the hands of the Skrull Empire, NASA astronaut Chuck Chandler’s escape back to Earth results in his apparent demise and secret evolution into a living two-dimensional being within the glasses lenses of his younger brother, Hal. Able to be summoned forth for adventure by his younger brother, the newborn 3-D Man possessed approximately three times the physical, mental, and sensory capabilities of an ordinary peak human.

Overall, the Chandler brothers had a relatively uneventful and obscure superheroic career, occasionally crossing paths with the Incredible Hulk and using the last of their power to help the Avengers tackle Kang the Conqueror. The 3-D Man identity has since been taken up by Delroy Garrett Jr., the one-time Avenger formerly known as Triathlon, so there is really no space to revive the Chandlers’ 3-D legacy – and that’s probably for the best.

7

Remember: D-Man

Created by Mike Carlin & Ron Wilson

Dennis Dunphy began his career as a member of the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation – a superpowered wrestling league in which he found fame and glory as the Demolition Man – before becoming one of Captain America’s most loyal and most unlucky sidekicks. Originally empowered with superhuman strength D-Man fought alongside Captain America and his Avengers allies for years, though a series of mental breakdowns, deaths, and resurrections haven’t made things easy for Dennis.

Now gifted and cursed with a vampiric physiology, the former Demolition Man has more story potential than ever. And considering his history when he’s not the right-hand man of the Sentinel of Liberty, it’s fairly safe to assume that he doesn’t have much going on that would get in the way of adding a superhero revival to his schedule.

6

Forget: Woodgod

Created by Bill Mantlo & Keith Giffen

The genetically engineered changeling known as Woodgod is one of Marvel’s oddest heroes, and his relatively obscurity is a direct result of the strangeness surrounding the character. Genetically engineered by scientists seeking to splice human and animal DNA, Woodgod is a satyr-like superhuman wielding incredible strength, stamina, and senses, as well as a regenerative healing factor.

He also is a master geneticist, creating his own race of Changeling hybrids, and leading their hidden society as a benevolent creator. Having crossed paths with the Incredible Hulk and Spider-Man, Woodgod’s not exactly well known even amongst Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and he’s arguably too outlandish to find a place even amongst the Avengers. And given their fears of discovery, the best thing for both Woodgod, his people, and fans, is his overall obscurity.

5

Remember: Longshot

Created by Ann Nocenti, Arthur Adams, & Carl Potts

Though not a mutant, the X-Man known as Longshot has long been one of Marvel Comics’ most fortunate fan-favorites, and a steadfast ally for the Children of the Atom. Hailing from the alternate dimension known as Mojoworld, Longshot was created as a humanoid slave and entertainment for the race known as the Spineless Ones before rebelling and making his way to Earth.

Eventually joining the X-Men, Longshot stayed with the team for years, becoming a banner member during their fan-favorite Outback Era and striking a romance with Dazzler before being written out of the franchise. In more recent years, Longshot’s affiliation with mutantdom has been downplayed, but considering the X-Men’s current status quo after the Fall of Krakoa, it’s likely that the Children of the Atom could use all the luck Longshot can muster.

4

Forget: Big Bertha

Created by John Byrne

A mutant born with the ability to alter the size and mass of her body to gigantic proportions, the Great Lakes Avenger called Big Bertha is one hero that Marvel Comics is better off forgetting if not retooling. Given total control the distribution of mass when her powers are activated, Crawford gains superhuman strength and durability at will, but she can only reduce her size by vomiting the excess mass.

Body positivity is undoubtedly an area of representation in which the comics industry could clearly improve upon, but tying a character named Big Bertha to an ability set potentially reflecting real-life eating disorders is questionable at best. These days, Bertha earns a living as a plus-sized model in her personal life, and for now, that’s probably the best thing for her and for Marvel Comics.

3

Remember: Nova(s)

Created by Marv Wolfman, John Buscema, Jeph Loeb, & Ed McGuinness

Both Richard Rider and Sam Alexander have their fair share of fans, but these Human Rockets have fallen by the wayside in recent years. After saving the universe in the pages of the beloved Marvel event, Annihilation, Rider was re-established as one of Marvel’s premiere cosmic champions. Likewise, it was Sam Alexander who got a real push during the Marvel NOW era, standing out alongside Miles Morales and Kamala Khan as the Big Three for a new generation of young heroes.

With such strong publishing histories under their respective belts, it would be expected that both Novas would consistently be in circulation, but barring some recent appearances of Rider in the X-Men corner of the universe over the last few years, the Human Rockets are largely missing in action – and with an upcoming Nova adaptation set in the MCU, that desperately needs to change.

2

Forget: SuperPro

Created by Fabian Nicieza

A former football player turned sports reporter after injuring himself saving a small child from a terrible accident, Phil Grayfield, a.k.a. the SuperPro was developed in collaboration with the real-life NFL and debuted in a comic that is widely considered to be one of the worst in Marvel history, the self-titled, NFL SuperPro. Donning an indestructible football uniform, Grayfield dedicates his life to fighting crime, stops a gang of thieves from stealing a van full of NFL merchandise, and that’s about all there is to his entire history.

The series and the character were so poorly received that SuperPro hasn’t appeared again since his solo series ended in 1992. Thirty years later, and the SuperPro is an all but forgotten piece of licensing lore, and Marvel Comics desperately needs to keep it that way.

1

Remember: Cloak & Dagger

Created by Bill Mantlo & Ed Hannigan

Tied together by their respective connections to the Darkforce and Lightforce dimensions, Tyrone Johnson and Tandy Johnson are an inseparable pair of heroes and fan-favorites in their own right. Cloak and Dagger have been mainstays within the Marvel Universe for years, fighting alongside icons like Spider-Man, the X-Men, and Captain America’s Secret Avengers, but they rarely receive the necessary push that could take them to the major leagues of Marvel fame.

The duo has made a few appearances in recent years during events such as Fall of X and even Blood Hunt, but they’ve not consistently headlined their own series in years. And with a surge in mainstream popularity thanks to their presences in Marvel Rivals, now is the perfect time to bring Cloak and Dagger’s comic book counterparts back out of the shadows and into the Marvel Comics limelight.

“}]] Some Marvel icons are more memorable than others.  Read More