Best Marvel Characters That Have Been Around For 50+ Years

Highlights

Marvel’s oldest hero, Namor The Submariner, was an anti-hero born of Timely Comics in 1939.
Captain America, Marvel’s first Avenger, stood for more than just USA pride, supporting life, liberty, and happiness for all.
The Fantastic Four, introduced in 1961, offered readers more human vulnerabilities with drama, unlike DC’s typical superhero depictions.

As I delve deeper into the captivating world of Marvel Comics, I can’t help but marvel at the rich history and diversity these characters bring to the table. Each hero, each villain, each storyline has its unique charm, but some stand out as trailblazers in more ways than one.

For over nine decades, I’ve been captivated by the iconic figures of modern superheroes. Today, Superman stands tall at 86 years old, having dished out justice since 1938, followed closely by Batman at 85 and Wonder Woman at 83. Their influence has permeated countless other superheroes from various publishing houses, either directly or indirectly.

To put it simply, Marvel isn’t the only company with popular superheroes. While many of Marvel’s characters are relatively young, they’ve been captivating fans for almost six decades or more. Hence, these iconic figures from over 50 years ago, including those from the Golden and Silver Ages, have stood the test of time in the Marvel universe.

1 Namor The Submariner

A Marvel Before Marvel

Best Marvel Characters That Have Been Around For 50+ Years

Debut: Marvel Comics #1, April 1939
Created by: Bill Everett

It’s quite unexpected that Namor the Submariner, Marvel Comics’ longest-running superhero, carries the last name MacKenzie. This fact becomes even more peculiar when you consider that he was one of Timely Comics’ earliest heroes before Marvel became a household name. Technically speaking, Namor was more of an anti-hero, even in the 1930s and 1940s. He fought to protect the oppressed from Nazi atrocities and other villains, but his affection for the surface world was minimal.

Any individual who posed a threat to Atlantis would find themselves on his target list, and he’d take necessary actions to thwart them. This sarcastic tone, combined with his displays of power, probably prevented people from drawing parallels between him and DC’s Aquaman. The King of Atlantis has a reputation for being weak, but he’s actually more formidable than he appears. Namor has consistently shown strength, even against powerful opponents like the Hulk and Doctor Doom.

2 Captain America

The First Avenger

Debut: Captain America Comics #1, December 1940
Created by: Joe Simon, Jack Kirby

1940 found the United States on the brink of entering World War 2, but there were numerous individuals who would have gladly taken Captain America’s place in delivering a punch to Hitler. Despite only appearing on the cover, this character embodied his essence: defending the US and fighting Nazis. However, he was much more than just an extremely American anti-fascist.

1) He might appear traditionally conservative based on his attire, but in truth, he advocates for life, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness for all individuals, not just Americans. When alternate versions of him attempted to propagate extreme right-wing ideologies under a flag motif (“Even the ‘A’ stands for France?”), he stood against them, either by setting an example or using his shield. Without this contrast, he could have been overshadowed among other patriotic heroes from the Golden Age.

3 The Fantastic Four

The Heralds Of Marvel Comics

Debut: The Fantastic Four #1, November 1961
Created by: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby

During World War II, Captain America, Bucky Barnes, Namor, and the original Human Torch played crucial roles in keeping the company Timely afloat. However, once the Axis powers were defeated, they found themselves without a clear direction. Attempts by Captain America and Bucky to tackle Communism didn’t yield any significant results. Instead, the focus shifted towards futuristic technology and interstellar adventures with the advent of the Silver Age. This change in narrative provided Timely Comics and its successor, Marvel Comics, with an ideal platform to introduce the world to The Fantastic Four.

As a die-hard comic book fan, I’ve always found the Fantastic Four to be a breath of fresh air compared to other superhero teams. Reed Richards, Invisible Woman, The Thing, and the newest Human Torch took us on unforgettable space journeys, battled colossal robots, faced off against world-ending threats – all while tackling drama that was leagues ahead of what our competitors were dishing out at the time.

4 The Incredible Hulk

A Smash Hit

Debut: The Incredible Hulk #1, May 1962
Created by: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby

Not every hero starts fully formed. It took years for Batman to get his own car, let alone Alfred, Robin, and his Bat family. Even so, readers familiar with the Incredible Hulk might find his original strips odd. It’s the same story they know: Dr Banner gets caught in a gamma bomb explosion and turns into a giant muscle monster. Except he’s gray, speaks perfect if brusque English, and Banner only turns into him during a full moon.

In the aftermath, Banner’s efforts to rid himself of his Hulk persona would transform him into the powerful, green, rage-fueled character we all recognize. Instead of embodying heroism, the Hulk was often misconstrued. His outbursts instill fear in others, causing them to retaliate and provoke him when he merely desires solitude. Trust is scarce for him, and many wish him gone, even Banner himself. Similar to Namor, he could be considered an anti-hero. However, unlike Namor, the Hulk carries a more compassionate aspect, being a creature yearning for peace but unable to find it.

5 Spider-Man

Amazing, Spectacular, Superior

Debut: Amazing Fantasy #15, August 1962
Created by: Stan Lee, Steve Ditko

The Fantastic Four paved the way for Marvel’s fresh trajectory, and the Hulk further developed this with its Jekyll & Hyde/Frankenstein personality. However, their foremost emblematic hero is none other than Spider-Man. He is Marvel’s most renowned superhero, surpassing Superman, Batman, and the Avengers in combined merchandise sales. Although he has influenced subsequent heroes, such as Jaime Reyes’ Blue Beetle or his successor in Miles Morales’ Spider-Man, his roots hint at a connection to Superman. He started off as an ordinary, unpopular student who, ironically, was the strongest athlete on earth.

In a relatable, day-to-day manner, Spider-Man demonstrates that he’s an ordinary guy with extraordinary abilities. He’s a geek whether he has powers or not, and his relationships mirror this – some people appreciate him while others, like his boss J. Jonah Jameson, dislike him intensely. His journey to heroism was humbling; initially, he used his powers for personal gain, but later understood that doing so could have unintentionally saved his Uncle Ben from harm. This tragic realization marked the beginning of many challenging situations Spider-Man would find himself in, ranging from playfully outsmarting bank robbers to facing off against the Sinister Six.

6 Thor

Divinely Inspired

Debut: Journey into Mystery #83, August 1962
Created by: Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Larry Lieber

Stan Lee is often given the majority of recognition for crafting Marvel’s superheroes due to his unique writing style and character development. His distinctive language and personality made him just as integral to the company as characters like Spider-Man or The Thing, despite leaving the company. However, he didn’t entirely overshadow the co-creators of these characters. While Thor might have originated from Lee’s ambition to create a hero stronger than the Hulk or the Fantastic Four, it was Jack Kirby’s fascination with fantasy and mythology that truly brought him to life.

He creatively adapted the ancient Norse deities into contemporary superheroes for Marvel. His stories were marked by a blend of reality and fantasy, with each street-level crime fight interspersed with fantastical elements such as battles against gods, demigods, serpents, dragons, and other mythical beings. This unique approach distinguished him from others in the industry, paving the way for additional fantasy-inspired characters to emerge, such as Kirby’s New Gods when he shifted over to DC.

7 Iron Man

Second-Stringer Becomes Marvel’s Main Metal Man

Debut: Tales of Suspense #39, December 1962
Created by: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Don Heck, Larry Lieber

Prior to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I myself wasn’t viewing Iron Man as an A-list hero. Don’t get me wrong; he was significant to Marvel and his dedicated fanbase, being one of the founding Avengers and a key player in major storylines like “Civil War.” However, it seemed casual fans were more acquainted with characters like Spider-Man and the X-Men. Fast forward to today, thanks to his movie success, Iron Man (affectionately known as Shellhead) has become just as indispensable to Marvel and its spin-offs as Spidey and the Mutants.

Initially, they aimed to elicit sympathy from readers towards Tony Stark, who was initially detestable due to his arms manufacturing business. In his debut story, he came to understand the destructive impact of his technology on the world, and how it ultimately left him dependent on his armor and later a battery to save his life after a shrapnel injury close to his heart. Subsequent stories centered around Stark’s efforts to make amends for his past actions and navigating the obstacles he encountered along the way.

8 The X-Men

The Mutants’ First Stumble Towards Greatness

Debut: The X-Men #1, September 1963
Created by: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby

To put it simply, one might argue that the X-Men don’t quite fit the definition of iconic superhero teams. Although their initial group, which includes characters like Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Magneto, made their debut in the early 1960s, they didn’t exactly set the world on fire at the time. Their comic book was canceled by 1970. In comparison to other groundbreaking Marvel heroes created by Lee and Kirby, the X-Men might have been considered a bit of a flop. Some even saw them as Marvel’s version of DC’s Doom Patrol.

Back in the day, I wasn’t exactly a household name until Chris Claremont gave us a fresh start in 1975. But once Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, and the rest joined the team, things really took off! It was clear that our original concept – mutants struggling for equality amidst a world that despises us – had something special.

9 Black Widow

Enemy Spy Turned into Marvel’s First Individual Superheroine

Debut: Tales of Suspense #52, April 1964
Created by: Stan Lee, Don Heck, Don Rico

Although Captain America’s anti-Communist stance in the 1950s didn’t resonate widely doesn’t imply that anti-Communism wasn’t widespread during that period. The Silver Age comics were filled with villains who embodied or were inspired by the former Soviet Union or other Communist regimes. Initially, Black Widow was also portrayed as an antagonist, spying against Iron Man and using her charm to lead heroes into traps, frequently collaborating with other Soviet adversaries such as Crimson Dynamo, or future allies like Hawkeye.

Initially, Black Widow was portrayed as a villain or antagonist in Marvel comics, but later, they humanized her by revealing that she had been forced to become a Soviet supersoldier since childhood due to brainwashing. This allowed her to break free from her programming and eventually star in her own series of comics rather than sharing the limelight with teams like The Fantastic Four or X-Men. Characters like Supergirl or Batgirl served as female spin-offs of other heroes. While Black Widow wasn’t a perfect embodiment of feminism, she represented a significant progression in many ways.

10 Black Panther

The First Super-Powered Black Superhero

Debut:Fantastic Four #52, July 1966
Created by: Jack Kirby, Stan Lee.

Although it shares the same name, Black Panther doesn’t have any connection with the Black Panther Party (established three months later in October) or the all-black World War 2 Tank Battalion unit. Instead, the moniker was chosen as an appealing title for comics’ first black superhero with powers. Drawing inspiration from activists such as Marcus Garvey and the Mali sultan Mansa Musa, he showcased his prowess by outsmartly outmaneuvering The Fantastic Four in order to assess his capabilities.

Using his remarkable intelligence, formidable fighting abilities, and heightened physical prowess, this character joined forces with both the Four and the Avengers to combat global perils while safeguarding his realm of Wakanda. He served as a refutation to outdated (and some ongoing) stereotypes in comic books portraying black characters as solely intelligent or strong sidekicks or sources of humor. Consequently, he paved the way for other black superheroes such as John Stewart and Miles Morales, while also encouraging greater diversity within the comic book world.

2024-08-18 09:34