14 Lesser-Known Marvel Stories That Could Be the Next Big Hit
DALL-E
Marvel stories hit the collective fandom consciousness in electrifying ways when adapted for film properly. Popular, decades-old, and well-known stories, like Iron Man’s struggles with alcoholism, inspired your favorite MCU films and shows.
But many lesser-known comic book stories deserve recognition and consideration for film adaptation too. Have you ever read “The Trial of Reed Richards,” where the leader of the Fantastic Four is tried for saving the life of a world-devouring alien? Ever heard of the Squadron Supreme, a fascistic super team who forced a failed utopia on their world?
Here are 14 lesser-known Marvel stories that could be the next big hit if properly adapted for the MCU.
1. Immortal Iron Fist Lineage
DALL-E
Iron Fist is a martial arts hero developed by Marvel in the 1970s during the height of kung fu mania. Danny Rand is a master of the Iron Fist style, a fighting style where he channels his chi into his fist as a weapon. Iron Fist has a cult following but was never a major hit. In 2006, the first 16 issues of Immortal Iron Fist reimagined Rand’s powers as part of a previously unknown mythical lineage that existed long before Rand began training.
Aided by Orson Randall, an older Iron Fist who channels his chi into his gun ammunition, Rand has to fight in a tournament when he is thrust into a dark conspiracy. Great Marvel stories hit the nostalgia brain centers of fans when done right, and this one succeeded. The MCU can make this a throwback, ’70s-inspired kung fu epic without the cliched superhero tropes it’s known for now.
2. Thunderbolts 1997 Shock Reveal
DALL-E
In 1997, an event called “Onslaught,” caused the presumed deaths of the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and other heroes. The Thunderbolts filled the void. The final page of Thunderbolts #1 revealed that the team was really the Master of Evil in disguise pretending to be heroes. Even in pre-internet 1997, great Marvel stories hit fan communities like a shockwave. This reveal is still revered by fans now. The upcoming MCU Thunderbolts film is inspired by this comic. There is no proof yet that the iconic reveal will be used in the story.
3. Superior Foes of Spider-Man
DALL-E
Superior Foes of Spider-Man is a series from 2013 that focused on six C-list Spider-Man villains, didn’t feature Spider-Man, and was critically acclaimed. Villains like the Shocker, Boomerang, Overdrive, and others are portrayed as everyday people trying to succeed in crime, gain respect, and get out of Spider-Man’s shadow.
Sony, which owns the exclusive film rights to Spider-Man and all related characters, should research how Marvel stories hit fan expectations so dramatically. This series can creatively inspire all of their Spider-Man-inspired films that don’t feature Spider-Man.
4. Superior Spider-Man
DALL-E
This is a 2013 series that reimagined Spider-Man’s status quo. Instead of being a broke science genius and always down on his luck, Peter Parker became a tech industry genius. He launched Parker Industries and became rich. He redesigned his costume, incorporated more tech in his crime-fighting, and adopted a more brutal vigilante attitude.
Unfortunately, Peter was temporarily dead at this time. Dr. Octopus uploaded his mind into Peter’s body and became the Superior Spider-Man. It became a fan-favorite series. The MCU or Sony should adapt this series to help MCU Spider-Man escape the shadow of his MCU mentor, Iron Man.
5. Rogue Permanently Absorbs Carol Danvels Powers
DALL-E
Rogue is a famous X-Men who can fly, has super strength, and is very powerful. Anna Paquin portrayed the character in the Fox-era X-Men films. Rogue is a fan-favorite in the animated series. In the comic books, Rogue can absorb a person’s life essence, memories, or superpowers through skin contact. In 1992’s Marvel Super-Heroes #11, Rogue permanently absorbed the powers of the future Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers. This moment would be a great plot point and help incorporate mutants into the MCU.
6. Excalibur (X-Men Team)
DALL-E
Captain Britain is a superhero created in the 1970s as a part of a line of UK-centric Marvel Comics. Captain Britain is a Superman-analogue character empowered by the Merlin of Arthurian legend to protect the British Isles. The character was added to a U.K.-based X-Men team called Excalibur in the late 1980s. The team also featured Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde, and Rachel Summer, the daughter of Cyclops and Jean Grey from a dystopian future timeline. This series can be a great inspiration to spread out mutants worldwide in the MCU, and with a British flair.
7. Alpha Flight
DALL-E
Alpha Flight is a Canadian superhero team that debuted in 1979’s The Uncanny X-Men #120 as mistaken foes. They are the Canadian equivalent of the Avengers. The team features the superpowered Sasquatch, an Indigenous Canadian mystic named Shaman, an Inuit goddess named Snowbird, and more. The first 28 issues of Alpha Flight from the 1980s are cult-revered for having a Canadian sensibility related to superheroics. Marvel stories hit big with fans whenever the publisher takes chances, and the MCU should bring Alpha Flight to the big screen.
8. Strikeforce: Morituri
DALL-E
Strikeforce: Morituri is a late-1980s dystopian science fiction comic set in a bleak, non-superhero alternate reality. In 2069, savage aliens called the Horde are trying to enslave humanity, take over Earth, and are close to success. An experimental defense program, Strikeforce: Morituri, is greenlit to give humans superpowers to counterattack. Still, the process kills all enhanced humans within 12 months no matter their progress in the war. Marvel stories hit fandom consciousness hard with ideas like this, which was very experimental for Marvel at the time. It’s amazing that Marvel Studios has not adapted this story for an MCU trilogy yet.
9. Avengers 1 Miliion BC
DALL-E
The Avengers 1 Million BC is a prehistoric version of the Avengers that premiered in 2017s Marvel Legacy #1. Prehistoric versions of Iron First, Ghost Rider, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Hulk, and Lady Phoenix are led by Odin as they fight threats long before the Avengers existed. This story should be used as a cameo or subplot in a future MCU film.
10. Avengers Mountain
DALL-E
The Avengers have stationed their headquarters in many places. They have used a mansion, various skyscrapers, a space station, and even a Quantum Realm-type dimension as their headquarters. In the 2018 – 2023 run of Avengers comics, the Avengers called the frozen corpse of a Celestial, a towering cosmic being, at the North Pole their home. Since a dead Celestial was introduced in 2021’s Eternals, the MCU can still use this idea.
11. Squadron Supreme
DALL-E
Comic book companies imitate each other’s characters often. The Squadron Supreme debuted in Avengers #85 in 1971 and is Marvel’s version of DC’s Justice League. The Whizzer is the Flash, Power Princess is Wonder Woman, Hyperion is Superman, Doctor Spectrum is Green Lantern, and so on.
1985’s 12-issue Squadron Supreme series depicts how the team became benevolent fascists and forced a utopian regime on their alternate Earth, now ruined after a disaster. The team even created devices that brainwash people into not committing crimes. This underrated series debuted a year earlier than Watchmen and would make for a great MCU film.
12. The Visions
DALL-E
The Visions is a 2015 12-issue series about Vision, a synthetic life form, creating a family for himself. Vision buys a house in the suburbs with his new synthetic wife Virginia and kids Vin and Viv. The Visions desperate ploy to live human lives as non-human entities ends in a Shakespearian disaster. Marvel stories hit big when they take dramatic risks like this. Paul Bettany’s MCU character arc as Vision is well-known, but this story could have been a great way to send off the character after the tragic events in WandaVision.
13. The Trial of Reed Richards
DALL-E
In 1984’s Fantastic Four #262, Reed Richards is put on trial by the representatives of billions of alien races terrorized by Galactus, a celestial entity that consumes worlds. Richards, who saved Galactus’ life prior to the trial, argues that Galactus is a celestial force of nature that is part of an unseen plan for the universe. So, Richards had a duty to save him. This underrated story would make a great film idea in the upcoming MCU introduction of the team.
14. The Masters of Evil Invade Avengers Mansion
123RF
In Avengers issues #273 through #277 from 1987, the Masters of Evil, led by Baron Zemo, infiltrate Avengers Mansion, terrorize the Avengers, and destroy their HQ. Hercules is beaten into a coma. Jarvis, a human butler in the comics, is bound and savagely beaten. Captain America is tied up and forced to watch the horror. Cap’s priceless mementos from the past are destroyed in front of him for laughs.
It’s shocking this story has not been slowly built up in the MCU already for a future story. It would provide tons of drama and would not require many locations for shooting. Marvel stories hit fans hard, and this was a controversial tale that has been forgotten.
Marvel Stories Hit Fandoms Hard, So Start Reading Now
DALL-E
Marvel Comics has stories that go back to the 1940s, so the amount of stories the House of Ideas can mine for film is immense. Still, some stories connect with fans more than others. All of the stories on this list are not well-known compared to others but are cult favorites with hardcore readers. Check them out now before someone at the MCU uses them for the next film.
Read More
10 Reasons Comic Book Fans Fell Out of Love With Spider-Man
10 Cinematic Universe Attempts to Copy the MCU That Failed Miserably
Allen Francis is a full-time writer, prolific comic book investor and author of The Casual’s Guide: Why You Should Get Into Comic Book Investing. Allen holds a BA degree from Marymount Manhattan College. Before becoming a writer Allen was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including saving and investing in your own small business.
