Marvel continued its domination of the sales charts in 2022. The publisher put out a lot of comics, some great and some not so great, having one of the best years it’s had in a long time. Fans got to see many of their favorite characters, with big names like Spider-Man, Wolverine, Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson, Cyclops, and more, all getting places in the spotlight.
However, there are some Marvel characters who don’t get the love that they deserve. Many fan-favorite characters didn’t get the chance they deserved in 2022. That should definitely change in 2023. Marvel has a treasure trove of characters who can make 2023 marvelous.
10/10 America Chavez Rarely Gets A Fair Shake
America Chavez is a formidable hero that should be a big name. Debuting with the Young Avengers, she got a push from Marvel that stalled due to low sales, something that plagued her Marvel NOW! 2.0 books. Since then, she’s mostly appeared in B-list team books like The Ultimates, something that continued in 2022 with her time in Defenders Beyond.
2022 should have been a banner year for Chavez, as she debuted in the MCU. Most of the time, Marvel will give characters making their first MCU appearance a bump, but this didn’t happen with Chavez. 2023 should rectify that, perhaps by giving her a berth in the Avengers.
9/10 Fantomex Has Been Noticeably Absent From The X-Books
Mutants have been experiencing a huge comeback since 2019, with pretty much every A-list and most B-list mutants having a home in one X-book or another. Even C-list characters have gotten their share of the spotlight. A noticeable exception is Fantomex. Other than a Giant-Size X-Men special, Fantomex hasn’t even been seen on Krakoa.
Fantomex was one of Grant Morrison’s best Marvel creations. He’s great in a fight and has an amazing personality. There are multiple characters in the X-books right now who Fantomex is much better than. 2023 should be the year when he gets a chance to prove that.
8/10 Noh-Varr Deserves Better Than He’s Gotten
Noh-Varr was introduced in 2000’s Marvel Boy by writer Grant Morrison and artist J.G. Jones. After that, he fell off the map, although there was an attempt to bring him back, starting with The Illuminati and Secret Invasion. He had disappointing stints in the Dark Avengers and Avengers, the latter of which saw him using the terrible superhero alias “the Protector.”
Since then, things have gotten better, with Noh-Varr joining the Young Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy. Noh-Varr is a versatile character, and he’ll soon be making his MCU debut, so 2023 is the time to start giving him the push he’s long deserved.
7/10 Ares’s Return In 2022 Should Bode Well For 2023
In the pantheon of scary Avengers, Ares always has a special place. Joining the team post-Civil War, the God of War added muscle that Iron Man needed at the time. He stayed with the team during the Dark Avengers years, a move that cost him his life. He’s had sporadic appearances since then, and 2022 saw him return in a big way, battling the Punisher.
Ares is known for being gruff and simple. He likes to fight, and he doesn’t care what anyone thinks. He’s great in all kinds of team settings and is always a lively character. If there’s any Marvel character who can make 2023 more fun, it’s Ares.
6/10 Monica Rambeau’s Time Is Now
Monica Rambeau has a long superheroic history. She was the second Captain Marvel, fighting alongside the Avengers and eventually leading the team. Since then, her name has changed a few times, using monikers like Photon and Spectrum, but she’s still a great hero, working with the Ultimates and other teams.
Monica got her MCU first appearance in WandaVision and is set to appear in The Marvels. 2022 ended with her getting her first solo book, so 2023 is definitely the year when she should shine. Rambeau has a lot of fans out there, and putting her in more comics will make many of them very happy.
5/10 Black Bolt’s Return Could Herald An Inhumans Renaissance
Black Bolt is the most powerful Inhuman. A former member of the Illuminati, Black Bolt has always held an important position in the hierarchy of the Marvel Universe. However, he’s been absent for years now, banished with the rest of the Inhumans because of the failure of their 2013-2017 push. With Black Bolt’s recent MCU appearance, that should definitely change.
Although it was brief, Black Bolt’s appearance in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness redeemed him in many ways, and it’s time for the comic version to get the same treatment. Black Bolt is a great character, and 2023 should be the year Marvel remembers that.
4/10 Quicksilver Is Always The Bridesmaid And Never The Bride
Marvel has many underrated heroes, with Quicksilver being among the most popular. The character has a venerable history in the Marvel Universe, but recent years have seen him playing second fiddle to his sister Scarlet Witch. While she gets forgiven for every terrible act she’s committed, including killing teammates and destroying the mutant race, everyone hates Quicksilver because he’s rude.
Scarlet Witch is getting a solo book in 2023, so Quicksilver could definitely show up there. However, that shouldn’t be the only place he appears. Quicksilver can easily have a big 2023, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t.
3/10 Scout Is A Ray Of Sunshine
Scout was once known as Honey Badger, working with her sister Laura when the elder Kinney was Wolverine. She’s since changed her codename and joined up with the New Mutants once she came to Krakoa. Murdered by the Shadow King, she was eventually resurrected, and she has stayed with the team since then.
Scout looks to be taking a backseat in New Mutants, which is a tragedy. She is an awesome character and adds a lot of fun to every comic she’s in. With there being so many books in the X-Men line, there are multiple places for her to show up. Scout can make even the most violent and depressing story fun, so there should be more of her, not less.
2/10 Cannonball Rarely, If Ever, Shows Up
The New Mutants have grown a lot since their debut. Of all of them, Cannonball is probably the most accomplished. He led X-Force after Cable left, was the first New Mutant to join the X-Men, and became an Avenger alongside his friend Sunspot. He married his Avengers teammate and Imperial Guardsman Smasher, and the two have a child.
Unlike the rest of his fellow original New Mutants, Cannonball hasn’t appeared much in the Krakoa Era. He’s a beloved character, so him being left out of things so much is strange. 2023 will hopefully find him showing up to help his friends on Krakoa more.
1/10 There’s No Such Thing As Too Much Storm
Storm is a Marvel legend, having been a member of every major team in the Marvel Universe — the X-Men, Fantastic Four, and the Avengers. She’s currently the regent of Arakko and a member of the Quiet Council, appearing in X-Men Red and Immortal X-Men. That may seem like a lot of Storm, but the great thing about Storm is that there is never too much of her.
Ororo Munroe has been a fan favorite for decades. She’s going to play a role in Sins Of Sinister and could easily helm a solo book if Marvel let her. Storm can literally appear in every X-Men book every month in 2023, and it still wouldn’t be enough.
