The Must-Read Marvel Comics From Every Year of The 2010s

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Comics experienced a golden age during the 2010s, releasing some of the greatest comic book stories ever told. The publisher was at its peak, creating memorable and innovative storylines that redefined its characters. Readers saw beloved heroes become more complex, exciting new teams emerge, and events unfold that dramatically changed the comic book universe.

The 2010s were full of amazing Marvel Comics, but these ten stories are truly exceptional. They represent the best of Marvel from each year of the decade, and are essential reading for any fan.

2010’s Best Marvel Comic Is Siege

The 2010s began with Siege, a truly memorable Marvel event. The story centered on Norman Osborn’s attack on Asgard, a floating city that had appeared on Earth above Oklahoma. Asgard quickly became a target for various groups worldwide, and with Osborn in a position of power, he and his Dark Avengers tried to seize control of the magical city.

This event brought the Avengers back together to fight their evil counterparts in an all-out battle for their lives. The storyline, called Siege, concluded several ongoing plot threads from books like New Avengers and Dark Avengers, and it marked the first time in years that Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor teamed up again.

2011’s Best Marvel Comic Is Uncanny X-Force

Rick Remender’s Uncanny X-Force quickly became a favorite among Marvel fans, delivering one of the most memorable team rosters in recent years. The series focused on a covert team of mutants who handled dangerous and ethically questionable missions that the main X-Men couldn’t, and was praised for its compelling characters and exceptional artwork.

The series began in 2010, but really found its footing in 2011. Highlights like the conclusion of the “Apocalypse Solution” storyline, a memorable solo adventure featuring Magneto and Wolverine in Uncanny X-Force #9, and many other strong issues made this often-overlooked series the best Marvel comic of that year.

2012’s Best Marvel Comic Is Hawkeye

Hawkeye, also known as Clint Barton, hasn’t always been one of Marvel’s biggest solo stars. While he’s been a key member of the Avengers for years, he hadn’t previously had the opportunity to truly shine on his own like heroes such as Iron Man or Thor. That changed in 2012 with the release of the critically acclaimed comic book series, Hawkeye, created by writer Matt Fraction and artist David Aja.

Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye is a widely loved story that perfectly captures the essence of the iconic archer. It’s a rare gem in mainstream comics – funny, surprisingly emotional, and often shocking. This groundbreaking series is a must-read for any Marvel enthusiast.

2013’s Best Marvel Comic Is Daredevil

Following successful runs on Daredevil by writers like Brian Michael Bendis and Ed Brubaker, Mark Waid began his celebrated work on the series in 2011. Waid’s run lasted until 2015, with 2013 often considered its peak. He took Daredevil in a fresh direction, significantly revitalizing both the character and the comic book series.

Mark Waid’s run on Daredevil injected a much-needed dose of humor, lightness, and playfulness into Matt Murdock’s often-dark stories, without losing the core tragedy and realism. Starting in 2013, the series heavily focused on the dynamic between Matt and Foggy, and featured consistently beautiful artwork.

2014’s Best Marvel Comic Is New Avengers

When Jonathan Hickman became the writer for both The Avengers and New Avengers, Marvel fans anticipated something exceptional. They weren’t disappointed! Hickman’s New Avengers is widely considered one of the best superhero comics of the past two decades. It’s consistently surprising, incredibly engaging, and genuinely original – everything a fantastic comic book should be.

Man, the New Avengers run from 2014 was just incredible. Seriously, every single issue felt like a masterpiece. It was all building up to Secret Wars, and it was fascinating watching the Illuminati try to navigate these impossible situations. They were constantly wrestling with the idea of sacrificing entire worlds to save their own, and the way the story unfolded was genuinely shocking – it’s easily one of the most surprising Marvel series I’ve ever read.

2015’s Best Marvel Comic Is Secret Wars

Following a lengthy story arc in The Avengers and New Avengers, writer Jonathan Hickman delivered the epic Secret Wars. This incredible event combined heroes from the two last surviving Earths – Earth-616 and Earth-1610 – in a fight against Doctor Doom to determine the fate of reality itself. Secret Wars is a truly spectacular story that you have to experience to fully appreciate.

Featuring breathtaking art by Esad Ribic, a constantly engaging story full of unexpected twists, and an epic final battle, Secret Wars is easily the best Marvel comic of 2015 and ranks among the publisher’s greatest works.

2016’s Best Marvel Comic Is Moon Knight

While Moon Knight has existed for a while, the best version of the character came with Jeff Lemire and Greg Smallwood’s 2016 series. It’s a fascinating look inside the hero’s mind, and it’s one of the most creative and complicated superhero comics of recent years.

As a huge fan, I have to say this Moon Knight run is consistently breathtaking. The art is incredible, and the way Lemire writes these characters? It’s just phenomenal. But what really blew me away was how he completely changed things up with the main storyline – it was masterful! Honestly, Moon Knight has become one of my favorite heroes in the Marvel Universe, and a lot of that is down to the amazing work Jeff Lemire and Greg Smallwood did back in 2016.

2017’s Best Marvel Comic Is The Defenders

2017 was a really odd and uneven year for Marvel Comics. Many of their most popular titles weren’t resonating with fans, important parts of the Marvel Universe were being overlooked in favor of tie-ins with the movies, and it was hard to get a sense of the overall direction the universe was taking.

Despite a challenging year for the comic industry, Brian Michael Bendis and David Marquez quietly delivered one of Marvel’s best team-up books in recent memory: The Defenders. Inspired by the popular Netflix show, this series quickly became a standout street-level adventure, reminiscent of classic superhero tales. While it didn’t drastically change the Marvel universe, The Defenders solidified its heroes as truly iconic. Sadly, the book was canceled after only ten issues when Bendis moved to DC Comics, but it remains a beloved title almost ten years later.

2018’s Best Marvel Comic Is The Immortal Hulk

Al Ewing’s The Immortal Hulk is widely considered one of the best comic books of its time, and its 2018 debut made a huge splash. This horror-focused take on the classic superhero story quickly became essential reading, and it firmly established Bruce Banner, the Hulk, as a cornerstone character in the Marvel Universe.

Considered by many to be the best Marvel comic not just of 2018, but of all time, The Immortal Hulk is a truly groundbreaking series. It’s a deeply moving story that explores themes of identity, trauma, what it means to be a hero, and pure, terrifying fantasy. This is a comic you absolutely need to read – the first ten issues alone redefined what Marvel could achieve.

2019’s Best Marvel Comic Is House of X / Powers of X

Jonathan Hickman’s House of X and Powers of X are really two parts of one incredible X-Men story – arguably the best in the last twenty years. Together, these series revitalized the iconic X-Men and paved the way for some of the most innovative comic book narratives we’ve seen recently.

Jonathan Hickman is famous for reinventing superhero stories, and his work on Powers of X and House of X may be his greatest success. Before these comics, the X-Men were in a bit of a slump, and Powers of X and House of X provided the perfect revitalization for this important part of the Marvel Universe.

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2026-05-03 23:11