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The main things Marvel fans loved about the Netflix/Marvel shows were how gritty, violent, and grounded they were, especially when compared to what the MCU was releasing in theaters at the time. The Netflix/Marvel shows like Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist (as well as the crossover miniseries, The Defenders) were being released at the same time as the start of the MCU’s Phase 3, while Phase 2 was still fresh in fans’ minds.
So, while moviegoers were enjoying the quippy, soft PG-13 adventures of Marvel’s greatest heroes in movies like Ant-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and Avengers: Age of Ultron, the streaming fans were watching the hardcore violence and adult subject matter of the Netflix/Marvel shows. Daredevil rescuing a kidnapped little boy (after his iconic single-shot ‘hallway fight scene’), Jessica Jones dealing with PTSD while being forced to confront her abuser, Luke Cage experiencing racism while on the run from the police for a crime he didn’t commit, and Iron Fist learning the truth about his parents’ murder.
The way these stories are told in the Netflix/Marvel shows perfectly conveyed just how gritty and serious these stories were. That is something the MCU didn’t have at the time, which is why many fans loved the Netflix/Marvel shows, and still miss them to this day. But, thankfully, the characters, tones, and overall feeling of the Netflix/Marvel shows have been done in Marvel Comics many times over. Some of the comics even inspired the Netflix/Marvel shows, while others merely have the same energy. Either way, any fan who misses Netflix’s Marvel Universe should check out these 10 comics.
10
Frank Miller’s Daredevil
Frank Miller Started the Dark Tone that Would Become a Staple in Daredevil Lore
Frank Miller may not have been the one who created Daredevil, but honestly, he might as well have, especially when considering how the character was portrayed in his Netflix/Marvel series (and how he continues to be in the MCU’s Daredevil: Born Again). Miller wrote the Daredevil comics that came out in the late ’70s, early ’80s, and while the storylines themselves were phenomenal, it was the tone that really set Miller’s work apart from Daredevil writers of the past – even Stan Lee himself.
The gritty, street-level superhero fans of the Netflix/Marvel series know and love originated in these comic books, making them the perfect read for someone who wants to not only experience the same type of Daredevil story they got from the 2015 show, but also see how it all started.
9
Alias
Alias Inspired the First Season of Jessica Jones’ Netflix/Marvel Show
Marvel fans are well aware of who Jessica Jones is today, and that’s mostly thanks to her Netflix/Marvel series. However, they had no idea who she was when her debut comic book miniseries, Alias, first dropped. That comic series was a major ‘trust fall’ for Marvel Comics, and showed how much faith the publisher had in the writer of the series, Brian Michael Bendis, as it was an entire series centered around an original character. Luckily, it paid off, as Alias proved to be absolutely phenomenal.
In fact, Alias seemingly inspired the first season of Jessica Jones, as it was about Jessica leaving her life as a superhero behind to focus on her PI career after encountering Kilgrave aka the Purple Man (Killgrave in the show) – and the subject matter is just as hard-hitting in the comic as it was in the show, if not more so.
8
Avengers Origin: Luke Cage
Luke Cage’s Character is Updated, and His Past Fully Explored
Avengers Origin: Luke Cage is the first comic to really take a deep-dive into Luke Cage’s past, which gave his character a level of depth and realness that most other stories just gloss right over. While there isn’t as much ‘Power Man Action’ as other Luke Cage stories, this one focuses on character development over anything else – and it’s absolutely fantastic.
The best part about Luke Cage’s Netflix/Marvel show wasn’t the action (though Luke Cage’s many fight scenes were admittedly awesome), but rather Luke’s character development, which includes how the mysteries of his past (before being wrongly incarcerated and experimented on) further impacted his future, and that’s exactly what Avengers Origin: Luke Cage provides.
7
The Immortal Iron Fist
Iron Fist’s ‘06-’09 Comic Run Arguably Saved the Character
Before The Immortal Iron Fist (a Marvel Comics series that ran from 2006-2009), Danny Rand was considered a pretty lame character. The Iron Fist books didn’t sell very well, and even upon partnering with Luke Cage in the Heroes for Hire title, fans still didn’t really care for Iron Fist. However, that changed completely with The Immortal Iron Fist, which fleshed out the character in ways other books never had, and provided epic action and excellent storytelling to keep fans captivated on every page.
Looking back, Iron Fist’s classic adventures – from partnering with Luke Cage to fighting Sabretooth (who actually debuted as an Iron Fist villain long before tangling with Wolverine) – really aren’t that bad, and contributed to his Netflix/Marvel series. However, for top-quality Iron Fist storytelling, fans of the show should look no further than The Immortal Iron Fist.
6
Punisher MAX
Punisher MAX is the Definitive Depiction of Frank Castle
Another member of the Netflix/Marvel catalog was the Punisher, who became a part of this continuity in Daredevil season 2 before getting his own two-season series. While not a ‘Defenders’ hero like the other Netflix/Marvel characters, the Punisher is still very much a part of this continuity, meaning fans of the Netflix/Marvel shows will likely want to get their fill of Punisher comics that match the vibe of his show. If that’s the case, then those fans must check out Punisher MAX.
Punisher MAX isn’t just one series, but rather a separate Marvel Comics imprint focused on more adult stories – and there’s no character in Marvel Comics more worthy of a “Mature” rating than the Punisher. Punisher MAX is brutal, gritty, and perfectly matches the tone and aesthetic of the Netflix/Marvel show.
5
Elektra: Assassin
Elektra’s Gritty Origin and God-Tier Ninja Skills are Put on Full Display
Like the Punisher, Elektra is another classic Marvel Comics character who was introduced in Daredevil season 2 (though, unlike the Punisher, she was a main character in The Defenders). In other words, she’s another one who isn’t exactly one of the main ‘Netflix/Marvel Heroes’ the way Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist are, but she’s still a major part of that continuity. Therefore, it would make sense for fans to want more Elektra just as she was on Netflix, and they’ll get that and more by reading Elektra: Assassin.
Elektra: Assassin goes over Elektra’s traumatic origin, it throws her into a government conspiracy that goes all the way up to the President of the United States, and it shows how truly threatening the Hand can be as a ninja cult. Plus, this comic features Elektra’s god-tier ninja skills like no other comic has before, making it perfect for fans who loved her in Daredevil.
4
Brian Michael Bendis’ Daredevil
Brian Michael Bendis Tonally Picked Up Where Frank Miller Left Off
Frank Miller might have introduced the idea of Daredevil being a dark and gritty superhero, but Brian Michael Bendis perfectly carried that proverbial torch into the modern day. In the early 2000s, Bendis took over writing Daredevil’s main series, and the tone of the stories as well as the artwork’s aesthetic cemented Daredevil’s standing as a gritty superhero, just as he’s portrayed in his Netflix/Marvel show.
While Bendis wouldn’t be the last Marvel Comics writer to effectively carry on Frank Miller’s depiction of Daredevil, the fact that he wrote Daredevil in this way further reinforced the fact that Daredevil’s stories should be darker and more serious than they were originally, which – in turn – helped shape who Daredevil is in live-action.
3
Marvel Knights
Marvel Knights Invented the Street-Level Grit Netflix/Marvel was Known For
Like the ‘Punisher MAX‘ example, Marvel Knights was both a comic and a Marvel Comics imprint, which featured characters in a more mature and serious tone. While Marvel’s MAX banner hit fans with a high level of violence and mature content, Marvel Knights simply decided to tell darker stories that were more grounded than the more fantastical adventures of other superheroes like Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four. And one team that came from this initiative was called Marvel Knights.
The Marvel Knights title (under the Marvel Knights imprint) featured the likes of Daredevil, Elektra, Punisher, Black Panther, and Moon Knight teaming up. This directly influenced Netflix/Marvel’s The Defenders, giving fans a street-level superhero group.
2
The Defenders
The Defenders Used the Netflix/Marvel Shows as Inspiration
Interestingly, the channels of inspiration between Marvel Comics and the Netflix/Marvel shows didn’t just flow one way, as the TV shows also influenced the comics. In August 2017, Marvel fans got two versions of the same Defenders, as the Netflix/Marvel miniseries dropped the same month as Marvel Comics’ The Defenders #1, and both versions of the team had the same cast of characters. This is significant because the Defenders team historically never involved any of these heroes, and it was cosmic in nature, with the likes of Doctor Strange and Silver Surfer taking a few spots on its roster.
However, once the Netflix/Marvel shows started building towards an all-new Defenders team (which was more reminiscent of Marvel Knights), the comics followed suit. So, if fans miss these heroes teaming up, they should absolutely grab this book, as it’s basically a continuation of the Netflix/Marvel shows while simultaneously telling its own original story unique to Marvel Comics.
1
Devil’s Reign
Devil’s Reign Feels Like the Netflix/Marvel Crossover Events Fans Didn’t Get On-Screen
Devil’s Reign is a more recent Marvel Comics event that acted as the culmination of a few different storylines, including the “Mayor Fisk” and “Doing Time” arcs. Basically, the Kingpin – Mayor of New York – makes being a superhero in New York City illegal, and deploys the Thunderbolts as well as deputizing other major villains to enforce this new law. What follows is a battle for New York’s soul, with the heroes on the other side of the law, and Daredevil playing the leading role alongside the likes of Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage.
Devil’s Reign ends with Luke Cage becoming the new Mayor of New York.
It’s as if Devil’s Reign was a Defenders story that fans of the Netflix/Marvel shows never got, making it a perfect comic for those fans to read.
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