With so many heroes and villains in the Marvel Universe today, it’s natural that some older, classic characters occasionally fade into the background before getting a chance to shine again. There just isn’t enough space for every Marvel character to be the main focus at the same time.
As a comic book fan, I’ve seen some amazing character returns over the years, especially with Marvel heroes. It’s awesome when a character who’s been sidelined for a while suddenly gets a big spotlight again. Even better is when they bring back someone who was thought to be gone for good, or totally reimagine a classic hero and give them a fresh start. Those are the comebacks that really get me hyped!
The Fantastic Four Triumphantly Returned After Secret Wars
The massive success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the late 2000s and early 2010s started to influence the comic books themselves. This meant characters and storylines in the comics began to resemble what audiences were seeing on screen. Unfortunately, this led to the Fantastic Four – a team Marvel Studios didn’t own the film rights to at the time – being largely ignored after the major Secret Wars storyline.
After a long absence – the first in decades – the Fantastic Four were missing from Marvel’s comic book roster, leaving a noticeable gap. Writer Dan Slott, known for his work on The Amazing Spider-Man (and sometimes criticized for it), brought the team back in 2018. While his take on the Fantastic Four wasn’t revolutionary, it was a well-executed return and a welcome sight for fans who had missed the First Family.
Moon Knight Became A Major Player After A Brilliant Revamp
Prior to the year 2000, Moon Knight was a relatively obscure hero, appearing mostly as a supporting character in titles like The West Coast Avengers and The Amazing Spider-Man. However, in the 2000s, there was a deliberate effort to elevate the character, resulting in his own solo series, a grittier and more violent style, and some very talented creative teams working on the book.
While Moon Knight had been around for a while, it wasn’t until 2014, when Warren Ellis and Declan Shalvey started writing and illustrating the comic, that he truly got the story he deserved. Brian Michael Bendis’s earlier run with the character was surprisingly disappointing, and Moon Knight needed a strong revival. Luckily, that’s exactly what happened, and every series featuring the hero since then has been captivating.
Cyclops’ Comeback Was A Bold Shift In The Wake of Avengers vs X-Men
Scott Summers, better known as Cyclops, is a surprisingly deep and intricate character in Marvel Comics, even though many casual fans don’t realize it. While often portrayed as the moral and upstanding leader of the X-Men, the events following the Avengers vs X-Men storyline dramatically changed him, setting him on a path toward becoming a determined revolutionary.
This new direction for Cyclops, leaning more towards Magneto’s philosophy than Professor X’s, could have felt like a cheap shock tactic. Instead, it became one of the most compelling and memorable moments for the character in years. It was a great way to redeem Cyclops after his low point in Avengers vs X-Men, and it continues to be a noteworthy – though sometimes debated – part of his story.
The New Avengers Reinvented The Team in The Aftermath of Tragedy
As a long-time comic fan, I’ve always appreciated Brian Michael Bendis. He’s really good at taking established characters and storylines and just… shaking things up when they need it, you know? He doesn’t just tell stories, he builds these amazing worlds and makes you really care about the characters. One of the best examples of this, in my opinion, was what he did with the Avengers. Avengers: Disassembled was a huge turning point, and then his New Avengers run really brought the team into a more modern feel. It was awesome!
I always loved the Avengers, but they felt a little…stuck in the past, you know? Like that mansion thing felt very old school, almost like the X-Men. But Brian Bendis totally shook things up! He broke the team apart and rebuilt it in a way that felt fresh and modern. He brought in heroes like Luke Cage, Wolverine, and Spider-Man to team up with the classics like Cap and Iron Man, and it just worked. It made the Avengers feel relevant again.
Hulk’s Spectacular Comeback Came From A Mediocre Event Book
As a huge Hulk fan, I honestly think Al Ewing’s The Immortal Hulk is the best Hulk story ever! But it’s wild to think that it all started with Civil War II. Seriously, the whole reason The Immortal Hulk is the way it is, with that specific storyline, is because Hawkeye apparently killed Bruce Banner during that event. It’s a pretty controversial connection, but it’s true – without Civil War II, we wouldn’t have this incredible Hulk run!
The Hulk has historically been a challenging character for comic writers, particularly when featured in team-based stories, and he’d begun to feel a bit predictable. However, The Immortal Hulk revitalized Bruce Banner, establishing him as a truly compelling figure in the Marvel Universe. And surprisingly, fans of that fantastic run owe a debt to the Civil War II event.
Bucky Barnes Had An Incredible Comeback After Decades Away
In the early 2000s, writer Ed Brubaker created a memorable run on Captain America. A particularly brilliant and surprising move was bringing back Bucky Barnes, a long-time friend of Steve Rogers who was presumed dead. He reintroduced Bucky as the Winter Soldier, a dangerous and brainwashed assassin.
After overcoming his mind control with Steve Rogers’ help, Bucky Barnes has become a key figure in the Marvel Universe. He even briefly became Captain America when Steve was presumed dead. Bucky is a compelling character who has grown increasingly popular, especially after appearing prominently in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Got A Modern Revamp
The Guardians of the Galaxy have existed in Marvel comics since the 1960s. However, the popular team lineup – including Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Gamora, and Drax – wasn’t introduced until the mid-2000s.
As a huge fan, I have to say this team’s latest version is incredible – it’s honestly blown every previous iteration out of the water! Seeing them go from being considered one of the weakest teams to something truly special is amazing. The 2008 Guardians of the Galaxy comic run is easily one of Marvel’s best sci-fi stories in years, and it’s so cool to see how much it influenced the popular movie versions we all know and love.
Thor Returned With A Bang After Ragnarök
During the events of Disassembled, when the Avengers were facing internal conflict, Thor was absent. After experiencing the devastating events of Ragnarok with his fellow Asgardians, he was presumed dead by his Earth-based friends and teammates. His return in Thor #1 in 2007 was a joyous occasion for everyone.
Thor returned to a changed world, having been absent during many major events in modern Marvel history. He faced unfamiliar enemies, and one of his first battles was surprisingly against his former friend, Iron Man—a fight that’s considered one of the best hero-versus-hero clashes in comics.
Jean Grey Is The Comeback Master
No Marvel character has died and been resurrected quite as often as Jean Grey of the X-Men – it’s almost become her defining ability. While she’s been a core member of the X-Men since the beginning and has been reimagined several times, her very first return from death remains the most impactful.
After being presumed dead, Jean Grey was deeply mourned by the X-Men, and her partner, Scott Summers, appeared to be starting to move on. However, she dramatically returned when sailors discovered her encased in a cocoon beneath the ocean’s surface. This allowed her to rejoin her X-Men teammates and reunite with Scott. Though she would tragically die several more times, this first return was perhaps her most impactful and celebrated.
Captain America Has The Definitive Comeback In Marvel Comics
Captain America, first introduced in Captain America Comics #1 back in the 1940s, is known for having one of the most significant returns in Marvel Comics history. While characters like the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man propelled Marvel to success in the 1960s, Captain America initially faded from prominence during the early days of the comic book industry and wasn’t part of that initial surge.
You know, it’s kinda crazy, but Captain America wasn’t actually there at the beginning with the Avengers. I learned that he was frozen in ice and the team actually found him and thawed him out in The Avengers #4. After being out of action for almost twenty years, he came back swinging and has been a major player in Marvel stories ever since. It’s wild to think he wasn’t an original member!
Read More
- Clash Royale Best Boss Bandit Champion decks
- Mobile Legends November 2025 Leaks: Upcoming new heroes, skins, events and more
- The John Wick spinoff ‘Ballerina’ slays with style, but its dialogue has two left feet
- Delta Force Best Settings and Sensitivity Guide
- Stocks stay snoozy as Moody’s drops U.S. credit—guess we’re all just waiting for the crash
- Bentley Delivers Largest Fleet of Bespoke Flying Spurs to Galaxy Macau
- ‘Australia’s Most Sexually Active Woman’ Annie Knight reveals her shock plans for the future – after being hospitalised for sleeping with 583 men in a single day
- Steve McQueen on making WWII personal with ‘Blitz’: ‘It’s about us fighting ourselves’
- Kingdom Rush Battles Tower Tier List
- Clash of Clans: How to beat the Fully Staffed Challenge
2025-11-02 01:44