The 15 Best Marvel Heroes You’ve Never Heard Of

[[{“value”:”

Since the 1930s, Marvel Comics has worked hard to create unforgettable and imaginative heroes for readers. However, many of these heroes have gotten lost in the mix, not getting the recognition they deserve. Some may have been lost to time, while others never picked up any speed during their initial runs. Regardless of the reason, these heroes are still amazing and deserve the loyal, if small, fanbase they have.

While it is unfortunate that there are too many Marvel heroes to keep track of, there is a good side to this problem. The sheer number of heroes in the comic industry ensures that there’s a hero out there for every reader, no matter who they’re looking for. Marvel Comics has everything from spacefaring heroes to heroes with dark pasts or surprising twists. And remember – the best part about finding a new hero is jumping into a new backlog of comics.

15

Jack of Hearts (Jonathan Hart)

Jonathan Hart Is a Hero With a Long and Complicated History

First appeared in Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #22 (1976)

Jack has historically had trouble controlling his powers

Jonathan Hart, aka Jack of Hearts, is one of many Marvel heroes who struggles to contain and control his powers. He also has an extremely long history in comics, first appearing in 1976. Jonathan’s powers are limitless, which is part of the problem. His abilities are largely based on energy absorption and manipulation, making it challenging to control. A more modern version of the hero portrays him as dependent on his iconic suit for control.

In the time he’s been around, Jack of Hearts has allied with several organizations, including S.H.I.E.L.D., the Avengers, and Defenders for a Day. Likewise, Jonathan has a long romantic history in the comics. After leaving Earth, he fell in love with Ganymede. More recently, Jack of Hearts returned to Earth and began a relationship with She-Hulk.

14

Boom Boom (Tabitha Smith)

Tabitha Smith Is a Mutant Who Can Create Plasma Bombs

First appeared in Secret Wars II #5 (1985)

Boom Boom has been a member of X-Men, Fallen Angels, X-Force, and X-Terminators

Tabitha Smith, aka Boom Boom, is a mutant with a flair for style and explosions. She’s gone through many name changes, including Boomer, Doctor Madame McSplode, Firecracker, Meltdown, and Time Bomb. Each name should drive home how much this hero enjoys her explosives. Boom Boom’s mutant ability enables her to create balls of plasma, which she has dubbed time bombs.

This charming and quirky mutant has a personality as explosive as her powers. She may struggle to settle on a consistent alias, but she’s always a fun addition to any series. Tabitha’s history is slightly more complicated, as she has worked with dozens of different X-Men teams throughout her tenure in Marvel Comics.

13

Dawkhawk (Christopher Powell)

Christopher Powell Is a Spacefaring Hero with a Unique Suit

First appeared in Darkhawk #1 (1991)

AKA Bucket-Head, Edge-Man, Falconer, The Powell

His Darkhawk Amulet lets him swap his body with the Darkhawk android armor

Christopher Powell is not the only hero to have held the Darkhawk mantle, though he is the most iconic. He first appeared in the ’90s after discovering a mysterious amulet. The amulet turned out to be a powerful artifact that swapped Chris’ body with the Darkhawk armor. Shortly after finding it, Chris pledged to do everything he could to fight crime in his area.

This commitment soon led him into the larger Marvel Universe, where Darkhawk teamed up with Spider-Man and later joined the New Warriors. During this time, he made many enemies, including Hobgoblin, Tombstone, and the U-Foes. After a series of events on Earth, Darkhawk eventually took his crime-fighting to space, where he found even more enemies and embarked on new adventures.

12

Singularity

A Sentient Quantum Singularity With a Kind Heart

First appeared in A-Force #1 (2015)

Created by Marguerite Bennett, G. Willow Wilson, and Jorge Molina

Singularity is a powerful yet endearingly naive hero in Marvel Comics. She first hit the scene in 2015 in A-Force, where she teamed up with Nico, Captain Marvel, and other members of the A-Force team. Her entrance was dramatic, as she was on a meteorite that crashed into Arcadia. It didn’t take long for the team to realize that there was something different about Singularity, as she unintentionally created a bit of havoc around her.

As her name suggests, Singularity is a sentient quantum singularity—a living pocket dimension. She can travel through time, create portals, and perform lots of other neat tricks. She is known for shielding others and has her own version of psionic tracking. Despite her sweet nature and immense power, Singularity doesn’t appear frequently in Marvel Comics.

11

Night Thrasher (Dwayne Michael Taylor)

Dwayne Taylor Is a Vigilante With a Determination to Keep the Peace

First appeared in Mighty Thor #411 (1989)

AKA Thrash and Mirror-Brother

Dwayne Michael Taylor, aka Night Thrasher, has a backstory that many readers will find familiar. As a child, his parents were killed, prompting him to vow to avenge their deaths by fighting crime. Night Thrasher spent years training for this mission and eventually formed his own superhero team, the New Warriors, a group of six teenagers, including himself.

Like many young heroes, Night Thrasher entered the world with high expectations but often confronted harsh realities. During the events of the first Marvel Civil War, Night Thrasher’s team faced off against a character called Nitro, who activated and created a massive explosion, killing dozens. Night Thrasher was believed to be dead for a long time, and his younger brother carried the mantle for a time.

10

Hazmat (Jennifer Takeda)

Jennifer Takeda Must Wear a Hazmat Suit for the Safety of Others

First appeared in Avengers Academy #1 (2010)

Her body leaks radiation

Jennifer Takeda, aka Hazmat, has a tragic backstory. One day, she was an ordinary teenage girl spending time with her boyfriend. The next, he was in a coma, and she discovered it was her fault. Tests revealed that Jennifer was leaking radiation, slowly poisoning those around her. To protect those around her, Hazmat must wear a containment suit at all times.

Hazmat’s origin story is similar to Rogue’s in that she can’t let herself be around those she loves, but she found a way to turn her horrible ability into something positive. In addition to working on her control, Hazmat can release bursts of radiation. During an event in Captain Marvel, Hazmat was called upon to unleash as much radiation as possible against a Brood hive. The team would not have survived without her.

9

Namorita Prentiss

Nita Is a Half-Human Hero Related to Atlantis Royalty

First appeared in Sub-Mariner #50 (1972)

AKA Nita and Kymaera

Namorita Prentiss is a member of the Atlantean Royal Family with a long history in Marvel Comics, despite not being a widely known character. Half human and half Atlantean, she possesses a unique combination of abilities. Namorita is amphibious, has accelerated healing, and is far more durable than most humans, in addition to being stronger and faster.

Her first foray into the world of superheroes was with the New Warriors.She even took charge of the team when the original leader, Night Thrasher, abandoned it for a time. Namorita has also worked with several other Marvel teams, including the Secret Defenders, The Fantastic Four, and the Soldiers of Misfortune, and frequently teams up with her cousin, Namor.

8

Stingray (Walter Newell)

Walter Newell Is an Oceanographer Turned Hero

First appeared as Walter Newell in Tales to Astonish #95 (1967)

First Stingray appearance was in Sub-Mariner #19 (1969)

He’s been a member of Avengers Unity Division, Mercs for Money, Avengers, Secret Avengers, and Deep Six

Walter Newell, aka Stingray, is yet another aquatic superhero. However, that wasn’t the path he originally set to follow. Walter was originally an oceanographer and a famous one at that. Having always been obsessed with the deep sea, he happily took many jobs that brought him to the bottom of the ocean. One such project was designing a domed undersea city that the Plunderer later attacked and destroyed.

Not long after this, Walter Newell developed a special suit for deep sea exploration, which he dubbed the Stingray. Around this time, he began working more with Namor, eventually becoming a bit of a hero in his own right. Since then, Stingray has found himself, willingly or not, involved in several major Marvel events. These events include Armor Wars, Civil War, and Fear Itself.

7

Prodigy (David Alleyne)

David Alleyne Is a Mutant Genius with a Long History in Marvel Comics

First appeared in New Mutants #4 (2003)

AKA Brain Boy, Brainiac, Judgmental

David Alleyne, aka Prodigy, is one of the smartest X-Men around. His mutant ability is called psychomimetic, which is essentially a form of limited telepathy that lets him mimic the knowledge and skills of those around him. This let Prodigy accumulate vast knowledge over time, which, combined with his genius-level intellect, made him a dangerous individual.

Prodigy has been a part of the Marvel Comics universe for a little over twenty years now and has been involved in many major events. He was there for the events of M-Day, losing his powers in the process. Likewise, Prodigy was around during the Krakoa era. Even more recently, David Alleyne has been working hard to bridge the divide between humans and mutants. He’s trying to do things his way, getting grief from both sides of the line.

6

Karnak (Karnak Mander-Azur)

A Talented Member of the Inhuman Royal Family

First appeared in Fantastic Four #45 (1965)

AKA Kar’Nak or The Shatterer

He’s an Inhuman with autonomic function control and stress point detection

Karnak is a member of the Inhuman Royal Family and one of their most skilled hand-to-hand fighters, having defeated many renowned fighters in the Marvel Universe. However, Karnak is also well known for his other abilities, including precognition and psychological intuition. Additionally, his expertise as a contortionist proves useful for sneaking into challenging spaces or situations.

It’s safe to say that Karnak’s life in Marvel Comics has been complicated at best. As a member of the Inhumans, he’s had plenty of conflicts brought to his door. Likewise, he’s faced many shattering events in Marvel history, including Secret Invasion, the War of Kings, the Secret Empire, and Death of the Inhumans.

5

Dakota North

Dakora Is a Trained Fighter and Agent

First appeared in Dakota North #1 (1986)

She started as a freelance P.I.

Currently works for Dakota North Investigations

Dakota North is one of many non-powered agents running around the Marvel Universe. After all, not all superheroes wear capes—or pack hefty powers. Dakota is a determined individual and a talented investigator who has solved many cases in Marvel’s history. She’s even been hired to guard iconic characters such as Mary Jane Watson.

Over the years, Dakota North has worked hard to earn a reputation for herself. She’s worked with dozens of heroes, from Wasp to the Inhumans and pretty much everyone in between. Currently, Dakota runs Dakota North Investigations. Given how popular the Netflix version of Jessica Jones was, now is the time to give another investigator the limelight.

4

Ricochet (Jonathan Gallo)

Johnny Gallo Is a Vigilante with a Tragic Past

First appeared in Slingers #0 (1998)

Ricochet has superhuman agility and reflexes, plus a danger sense

Jonathan “Johnny” Gallo, aka Ricochet, is a dedicated hero with a sad backstory. His mother was murdered around the same time that his abilities first began to emerge, which resulted in him trying to hide his abilities from his father and best friend. The habit of keeping secrets is something he’s never quite shaken. When Johnny went off to college, he got pulled into a group called the Slingers. Here, he was given a costume and a mantle—the Ricochet.

The life of Ricochet was perfect for Johnny, allowing him to use his powers while keeping his secret safe. However, life in costume was far from easy. He moved between several teams, including the Loners, Avengers Academy, and the Initiative.

3

Mister Immortal (Craig Hollis)

Craig Hollis Can Recover From Any Injury, Even Death

First appeared in West Coast Avengers #46 (1989)

He’s a member of the Great Lakes Avengers

Craig Hollis can’t die. That’s not a brag but a simple fact. He is what is called Homo-Supreme, a different subset of evolution than humans or mutants. As for his ability, it’s retroactive immortality, meaning that while something can kill him, it is much harder to actually keep him dead. This is because he’ll resurrect from the dead, usually right away.

What makes Mister Immortal’s character so compelling is his gift, which, while seen as a blessing, could also be considered a curse. Deathurge once said that Mister Immortal would survive to see the rest of the universe fall, and that is likely true. Likewise, Mister Immortal doesn’t resurrect without cost, as he frequently wakes up in a rage. Death is not a painless process, not even for an immortal.

2

White Tiger (Ava Ayala)

Ava Ayala Is an Avatar of the White Tiger With Great Powers

First appeared in Avengers Academy #20 (2011)

She inherited the mantle of White Tiger from her brother

Ava Ayala, aka the White Tiger, is a Marvel Comics hero who deserves more recognition. Ava never expected to carry the White Tiger mantle—that duty originally belonged to her brother, Hector Ayala. After his death, the Jade Tiger amulets passed to a few other characters before they eventually made their way to Ava. While the amulets give her significant power, Ava was able to refine her skills and abilities by training with Tigra.

Like many young Marvel heroes, Ava attended Avengers Academy. She later joined the Heroes for Hire, which eventually led to her becoming part of the Mighty Avengers. Since then, White Tiger has joined several other teams, including the New Avengers, the Defenders, and the Daughters of Liberty.

1

Miracleman (Michael Moran)

Michael Moran Is a Psionic Hero From Another Earth

First appeared in Marvelman #25 (1954)

He’s a member of New Gods and the Miracleman Family

Michael Moran, aka Miracleman, formerly known as Marvelman, is one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe, which may explain his infrequent appearances. His presence significantly tips the scales, often drawing larger and more formidable threats into the narrative. Miracleman possesses superhuman strength, stamina, and speed. He is also invulnerable, capable of regeneration, and has access to psionic abilities.

While Miracleman is exceptional powerful, he does have a weakness: a post-hypnotic keyword implanted by Doctor Gargunza. If this word is said out loud, Miracleman temporarily loses the ability to transform. The character was first introduced to replace the loss of the original Captain Marvel. Miracleman was popular for a long time, but this began to wane during the ’80s as new heroes rose up to take his place.

“}]] Marvel Comics has been producing new heroes since the 1930s, but countless heroes have fallen by the wayside and become severely underrated.  Read More