Marvel Comicsexperienced a surge in popularity in the 1990s that the publisher had never quite seen before. Now that comic books had become a staple industry worldwide, Marvel invested in a sea of new writers, artists, stories, and promotions that changed the company’s approach to its product forever. However, it was Marvel’s collection of brand-new heroes that truly solidified the company’s power in the ’90s.
In the 1990s, Marvel Comics was unafraid to explore. For the previous thirty years, comics had often consisted of short plots with short-term impacts and generically rounded characters to appeal to most audiences. But in the 1990s, Marvel’s creators took chances to introduce numerous new characters to refresh the stale pool of classic characters. Fortunately,many of Marvel’s ’90s-era additions became instant classics, solidifying these characters as lifelong staples.
15Deadpool (Wade Wilson)
Debut:The New Mutants#98 by Fabian Nicieza, Rob Liefeld, Steve Buccellato, Ifansyah Noor, and Joe Rosen
The 1990s set the tone for a darker, edgier, and more violent standard in Marvel Comics. There is no character who demonstrates this change better than Deadpool. The Merc with a Mouth is violently unhinged and often uncaring of the consequences of his own actions,a far cry from the publisher’s previous standard for “heroes.”
But Deadpool has stuck around because he’s timeless. In every way, Wade Wilson is the effective opposite of most heroes; he’s loud, chaotic, and frequently selfish, yet he gets the job done. Despite most of the superhero community’s disapproval of Deadpool’s tactics and personality, boththe Avengers and X-Forcehave begrudgingly accepted Wilson’s aid in their fight for freedom.
14Spider-Man 2099 (Miguel O’Hara)
Debut:TheAmazing Spider-Man#365by Peter David, Rick Leonardi, Al Williamson, Steve Buccellato, and Rick Parker
Miguel O’Hara, alongside the rest of the original “2099” universe, isa direct product of the decade’s growing obsession with dark dystopias.In his relatively far-future reality, Spider-Man 2099’s world had fallen to corrupt political oligopolies and become a slave to large corporations’ inhumane greed. While Peter Parker has always been just too good of a guy, Miguel is more than willing to cross a line if it means protecting the bigger picture.
Marvel Previews Its Next Big War As the Spider-Verse and Venom-Verse Collide: “Push Both Sides to the Breaking Point”
Marvel Comics is setting its Spider-Verse and Venom-Verse characters on a collision course, leading to a crossover that will change both forever.
Miguel is a nihilist who refuses to quit but serves to inspire those today who resonate with the hero’s original plight against corporate avarice. Today, Spider-Man 2099 has become one of the leading faces of Marvel’s growingSpider-Verse franchise. While the current Spider-Man 2099 isn’t the exact same character as the ’90s original, his tough demeanor and unwavering sense of justice remain just the same.
13Darkhawk (Chris Powell)
Debut:Darkhawk#1by Danny Fingeroth, Mike Manley, Joe Rosas, and Joe Rosen
As a child, Chris Powell idolized his father and his work as a police officer. However, after discovering that his father was a dirty cop and after a chance encounter with a mystical Shi’ar amulet, Chris wastransformed into the Darkhawkand vowed to stop crime where his father couldn’t. When Chris activates the amulet, his body is replaced with a high-tech alien android.
As Darkhawk, Chris possesses numerous weapons, the ability to fly, force fields, and the power to transform his robotic body as needed. Admittedly, Chris himself is a simple character,driven by his undying sense of goodnessand emboldened by the responsibility of possessing the Darkhawk’s powers. While Darkhawk may not be seen as much today, the hero valiantly sacrificed his life to pass on his powers and experience so that a new hero could follow in his footsteps.
12Gambit (Remy LeBeau)
Marvel’s most charismatic mutant to date, Remy LeBeau began his story as many other ’90s heroes began theirs - as a villain. Marvel characters were becoming more well-rounded, and the publisher began using dark and villainous backstories to emphasize a character’s lifelong drive to become good. Followinga chance encounter with Storm, Gambit took an opportunity to turn his life around.
Gambit’s quick charm, beguiling attitude, and often underestimated yet versatile power make him an entertaining read for all audiences.
Since then, Gambit has, more or less, remainedone of the X-Men’s most prolifically popular characters.His quick charm, beguiling attitude, and often underestimated yet versatile power make him an entertaining read for all audiences. Decades after his initial debut, Gambit is finally stepping up to lead the X-Men and prove he’s more than a pretty face.
11Carnage
Debut:TheAmazing Spider-Man#345by David Michelinie, Mark Bagley, Erik Larsen, Randy Emberlin, Bob Sharen, and Rick Parker
When the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man first swung through Manhattan, no one would have expected that his franchise would later give birth to Marvel’s most unhinged monster of all time. When Carnage first spawned and evolved within the blood of the notorious serial killer Cletus Kasady, the two forgeda lifelong bond christened in blood and horror.The pair have become an unmatched menace with the tenacity to slay gods.
Carnage has by far transcended his original role as “a scarier Venom” and become a threat so powerful that the Multiverse itself shutters under the weight of his future self:the King in Crimson. This character does not understand pain and will push anything aside to gain the power it seeks. Carnage and Kasady are both dual natural disasters that have been tearing apart Marvel Comics for over thirty years straight.
10Cable (Nathaniel Summers)
Debut:TheNew Mutants#87by Louise Simonson, Rob Liefeld, Bob Wiacek, Mike Rockwitz, and Joe Rosen
Cable is probably the most “1990s” character on this list. Everything about his chrome-coated, gun-toting, time-traveling, and machismo physiqueis iconographic of the biggest trends in superhero comics of the era.Despite his dated aesthetic, Cable is far from being out of fashion.
Deadpool’s Rob Liefeld Closes His Marvel Career With the Greatest Tribute We Could’ve Asked For
Rob Liefeld may be saying goodbye to Marvel, but his last series for the publisher is full of the idiosyncracies comic fans love, and love to hate.
Because of his extreme design and over-the-top gruff demeanor, Cable has become a 1990s time capsule and a nostalgic icon for fans and readers who are at least as old as the character. As the child ofCyclops and Madelyne Pryor, Cable possesses an otherworldly power that could easily outclass both of his legendary parents. This hero does not need to rest when there are endless timelines in need of his explosive justice.
9Echo (Maya Lopez)
Debut:Daredevil#9by David Mack, Joe Quesada, Jimmy Palmiotti, Richard Isanove, Richard Starkings, and Liz Agraphiotis
Maya Lopez isone of Marvel’s most authentically diverse and inspiring heroes. As the company’s first deaf and Indigenous character (and later the MCU’s first amputee character), Echo became the first face that thousands who had never seen themselves in Marvel’s comics could finally identify with. Besides her photogenic reflexes, Maya may not possess powers in the strictest sense, but her endurance sets her apart.
Echo has never let her physical limitations hold her back, even impressing the Phoenix Force enough to resurrect the hero as its temporary avatar. Echo may not be as flashy as other ’90s characters, but her status as a pioneer is more than deserved for all the accomplishments the character has garnered. Today, Maya Lopez has found her niche inside the MCU and plays an integral role inDaredevil: Born Againon Disney+.
8Scarlet Spider (Ben Reilly)
Debut:Web of Spider-Man#118 by Terry Kavanagh, Steven Butler, Randy Emberlin, Kevin Tinsley, and Steve Dutro
While Ben Reilly technically made his first appearance in 1975 as Spider-Man’s nameless clone, his return in 1994 as the Scarlet Spider officially marked the spider-clone’s debut as an independent hero. Despite his current villainous status,Ben Reilly was originally introduced as a “better” version of Spider-Manwhile Peter was deeply entrenched in a quarter-life crisis.
Until his later dive into villainy, Ben was an authentically and endearingly good person who inspired Peter Parker to become a better hero.
Meanwhile, despite knowing he never had an Uncle Ben and never truly lived through Spider-Man’s proverbial birth, Ben chose to become a hero anyway. Until his later dive into villainy, Ben was an authentically and endearingly good person who inspired Peter Parker to become a better hero. Ben’s ultimate role has been to guide Peter’s journey toward becomingthe best Spider-Man possible. Today, Ben Reilly unfortunately represents how fickle Peter’s superheroism can be when he becomes too embroiled in his past traumas.
7Scarlet Spider (Kaine Parker)
Debut:Web of Spider-Man#119by Terry Kavanagh, Steven Butler, Randy Emberlin, Kevin Tinsley, and Steve Dutro
Kaine Parker is effectively Ben Reilly’s opposite. Where Ben was originally the refined characterization ofPeter Parker’s best attributes,Kaine was the reflection of the worst. This Scarlet Spider showed how physically brutish Spider-Man could have become, and he often terrorized others in retaliation for his life’s horrific circumstances. However, as Ben Reilly fell towards evil, Kaine Parker ascended past his violent beginnings.
Now, Kaine has become the hero Ben used to be and serves as the embodiment ofhow Spider-Man embraces redemption. On his own, Peter Parker is supposed to be an idyllic hero, which is why a character like Kaine has remained important past his ’90s debut. As Spider-Man constantly struggles with his morality, Kaine Parker is a living reminder of the darkest yet most forgiving portions of Peter’s mind.
6Ghost Rider (Danny Ketch)
Debut:Ghost Rider#1by Howard Mackie, Javier Saltares, Mark Texeira, Gregory Wright, and Michael Heisler
Danny Ketch may not bethe first Ghost Riderto hit the highway to Hell, but he did solidify the franchise’s staying power. Before Danny Ketch adopted his Spirit of Vengeance, Johnny Blaze had been considered a relic of the past, and there was little interest in the character from the 1990s comic book market. However, Danny Ketch quickly enflamed himself with hellfire and praise, eventually paving the way for Marvel’s other supernatural heroes to regain significant traction in an oversaturated superhero market.
Few Marvel Characters Stay Dead, And Ghost Rider Just Revived One of Them Out of Nowhere
It’s no secret that most comic characters never stay dead, but until now, this Ghost Rider character had been the exception. Things just got wild.
Without Danny Ketch,the Ghost Rider franchise might never have survived past the 1980s.Johnny Blaze may still be more recognizable, but Danny has long outclassed his brother. Comparatively, Ketch is a level-headed hero who has rarely conflicted with his inner demon. Instead, this Ghost Rider paved the way for others like him to accept their powers and reject the inner turmoil that frequently holds the characters back.
