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The moniker of anti-hero is something of a rarity in Marvel culture, at least compared to its DC Comics counterpart. DC is riddled with heroes who carry a morally gray attitude (i.e. Jason Todd’s Red Hood, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, etc.), but Marvel is home to more traditional superheroes. It doesn’t mean that one company’s approach carries less or more weight than the other, but it is a noticeable difference.
While Marvel isn’t without its layered storytelling and complex characters, they do carry traits that are more black and white, more often than not. The superheroes can usually be distinguished from the supervillains just as easily as a white-hat cowboy from a black-hatted outlaw. However, there are some exceptions in which an anti-hero exists to shake things up in the Marvel Universe. Some of the best anti-heroes in Marvel comics also happen to be the most overlooked. An argument can be made for why Marvel should revisit them sooner than later in bigger stories that spotlight them best.
8
Black Widow
The Claire Voyant Version
While the S.H.I.E.L.D. operative is a good example of an anti-hero, Marvel is giving her a deserving spotlight in their current run of comics, more recently enjoying a lead series with her own symbiote. However, one anti-hero overdue of a new spotlight is the forgotten original Black Widow, Claire Voyant. Pre-dating Natasha Romanoff (and Wonder Woman), Claire debuted in 1940 as a medium who finds herself possessed by Satan.
Once she’s killed, her soul is sent to Hell where with the power to kill someone with a single touch, she is rechristened the Black Widow. As such, she targets supervillains with the intention of bringing their souls to her underworld master. It’s surprising to think that a character with such a fascinating, yet dark backstory is seldom revisited by Marvel. Perhaps it’s to avoid any confusion between two starkly different Black Widows, but this one deserves another shot at superstardom.
7
Domino
The X-Force’s X-Factor
On paper, having luck as a superpower doesn’t rank among the more powerful powers in Marvel’s roster, but for Domino, it made her a major equalizer as a member of the X-Factor. It proved instrumental when she was still on the team, helping her uncover Colossus’ dark secret and murder plot by mere chance. Before that run of X-Factor ended, some would assume that Marvel’s next step would be to craft a story that delves into Domino’s mind frame as she copes from losing both her key team, and making peace with a former lover/friend becoming a tratior.
Instead, the next time readers see Domino is as Dazzler’s bodyguard in the songstress’ refreshing new comic series. It’s a solid supporting turn for Domino, but it wastes the character potential she has as a centerpiece.
6
Bucky Barnes
Needs a New Redemption Arc
2022 and 2023 saw Bucky Barnes be tricked into leading an evil organization called The Outer Circle. He was convinced that the only way to destroy it would be from within, but the Winter Soldier (re-dubbing himself The Revolution) did some questionable things to maintain his position in the group. This includes shooting his best friend, Steve Rogers, at point-blank range and colluding with Peggy Carter to kidnap Captain America’s son, Ian. Even when he eventually exited the Inner Circle, destroying it helped Red Skull rise again into power, making matters worse.
Steve may have forgiven Bucky, but their friendship is over, and a true redemption arc remains unexplored for Barnes. He hasn’t been seen since the end of his Thunderbolts four-part miniseries last March. Marvel hasn’t given Bucky ample time to atone for his sins, which is necessary for someone whose anti-heroism borders so closely to villainy.
5
Black Cat
Disappeared After Breakout Hero Turn
Some years back, notorious femme fatale Black Cat solidified her transition from sometimes-hero and infamous anti-hero into becoming a true, full-blown hero, even earning the respect of Captain America as his unofficial sidekick. Steve Rogers is practically the anchor of the Marvel Universe, and so gaining his respect is the best thing a character could have to boost their credibility.
Unfortunately, Marvel hasn’t done much to capitalize on her upgraded reputation, as Black Cat hasn’t been very prevalent since then within Earth-616. In fact, outside of 616, Marvel has gone backward with Black Cat by dubbing her a villain in the Ultimate Universe. Felicia Hardy has seen too much growth in the past few years for it to all be pushed to the wayside. It’s time to put Black Cat on the pedestal that she’s deserved since making her turn official.
4
Ben Reilly
A Complicated Anti-Hero Deserving of Redemption
Ben Reilly’s character arc (or lack there of, more appropriately) has been highly frustrating to watch for fans of the character. Coming out of the original “Clone Saga” story arc, the Peter Parker clone got his happy ending, allowed to ride off into the sunset, until it was ripped away from him. His brain has been manipulated and distorted to complicate his vision of heroism in his mind. It’s led to him becoming an outright supervillain, rechristened as Chasm.
Marvel’s attempts at dubbing Ben Reilly into an evil monster just has not been connecting with audiences like they’d hoped. The best route may just be to let Ben be the hero he always should have been. If not, he should at least be given a spotlight to attempt to redeem himself as a character.
3
Lady Deathstrike
At Her Best as an Unexpected Hero
During Alyssa Wong’s previous run with the Deadpool series, Lady Deathstrike was one of the book’s supporting players and there, working with Deadpool was enough to prove she was more than just one of Marvel’s deadliest villains. For starters, Deathstrike being forced to play hero and straight man to Deadpool’s goofiness always painted her at her most entertaining, but she was surprisingly at her most endearing whenever she had to babysit Wade Wilson’s daughter, Princess.
Princess paired in panels with Lady Deathstrike made for fun chemistry, but it also showed a side of her that readers have never seen before. Wong’s run ended before this side of Deathstrike could be further tapped into and, unfortunately, she’s been pretty much completely absent from major Marvel storylines since then.
2
Cardiac
A Forgotten, Yet Timely Superhero
Cardiac’s name might not ring any bells, but more than when he first debuted, he’s relevant to the landscape of current times. One of Spider-Man’s most underrated villains turned hero, Elias Wirtham was a surgeon who dedicated his life to saving lives the best he could, but due to the matters of health care and health insurance in America, his efforts often proved futile. His last straw came when his brother was killed not by his disease, but by his health insurance company not deeming it “profitable” to fund his surgery and medicine.
With the help of a Vibranium-powered reactor heart, Cardiac dedicates his life to punishing corrupt businessmen within the health industry. In light of recent events in the news, Cardiac’s plight is oddly relevant, making a complicated anti-hero all the more interesting. He’d be ripe for a revamp for the modern era.
1
Jessica Jones
Deserves Another Run
There was a time when the character’s boost in popularity and comic production increased when Netflix adapted her Alias chronicles into Jessica Jones, the critically acclaimed television series. Jones’ 15-minutes of fame have come and gone and now, her comics adventures are a little stagnant as a result. She enjoyed a fun Variants miniseries a couple of years back, but hasn’t been seen since her supporting appearance in last year’s Luke Cage: Gang War miniseries, where she was the only person in the universe who liked Cage’s ugly mask and costume.
Jones proved to be the breakout star of the MCU’s Netflix line-up, with a popularity that rivaled only that of Daredevil. Just as fans are clamoring for a new Daredevil season, they want a new Jessica Jones series, both onscreen and on-panel. It’s time that Marvel gives the people what they want, and that’s more of their favorite anti-hero.
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