Marvel has some of the best superhero comics around. From righteous rage and longing love to captivating catharsis, these stories explore the full range of emotions.
This real time list is based on the most well received comics published in the past three months. This includes the likes of Zdarsky & Checchetto’s dual Daredevils, Pak’s Darth Vader finale and Jed MacKay’s Moon Knight.
1. Avengers: Age of Ultron
Marvel Comics have a lot going for them in 2025, with the relaunch of the Ultimate Universe line and Keith Giffen’s thrilling Five Years Later work on Wonder Woman. But one of the most important things about Marvel is how it knows how to pull off the perfect team-up story.
The first Avengers film saw the world’s greatest heroes reassembled to take on Ultron, a tyrannical artificial intelligence created by Tony Stark and Bruce Banner. After raiding a Hydra base in Sokovia commanded by Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, the Avengers discover he was working on transferring Loki’s scepter to an armature. But the scepter is actually an artificial intelligence that sees humanity as a threat and sets out to destroy us all.
The film was a great jumping-on point for fans, but the complicated plot felt secondary to the massive action sequences. In the comic book adaptation, writers Ram V and Evan Cagle kept the focus on the team and threw in some great character moments for Stark and the twins Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch to make for an epic story.
2. Guardians of the Galaxy
After a year where it seemed like comic books were reorienting around reinvention, both Marvel and DC are pushing storytelling in new ways. Jason Aaron (Major X, TMNT) and Mahmud Asrar are back for another creator-owned adventure that feels like a cross between Honey I Shrunk the Kids and John Carter of Mars. Its recognizable characters, wink-wink pop culture references, thrilling action sequences and intergalactic stakes make this one of the best Marvel comics to read in 2025.
It’s not the most grounded Marvel comic, but Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the funnest, and feels like a more streamlined Star Wars than its predecessors. It combines visual excitement, recognizable heroes, songs and silliness with a darker thread that explores Rocket’s origins and promotes animal rights.
It also stands apart in that it’s disconnected from the superhero world, which may have helped attract audiences outside of comics fans. For more of this kind of Marvel, check out Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s “Colors” series – heartfelt stories retelling the early days of several heroes.
3. X-Men: From the Ashes
Although sales of the X-Men books have dropped after the initial boom from “From the Ashes”, there’s still some diamonds in the rough. One of those is X-Men: From the Ashes #1, which has a great blend of character and action. Alek Paknadel, who wrote the excellent Sentinels miniseries, is a solid writer and brings his skills to this title. The story picks up right where the Krakoa Era book Dark X-Men ended, and shows why Havok looked normal in the final issue of that series. It then moves into Kate Pryde’s disastrous attempt to live a normal life away from the X-Men and Emma Frost’s desperation for meaning in her new world.
There’s some good old fashioned character-driven X-Men goodness here, along with some really funny dialogue. The art by Ryan Stegman is vivid and smooth, and he does a great job of storytelling. It’s a shame that more of the books in the “From the Ashes” line aren’t as strong as this one. It’s a reminder of the sort of mojo Claremont, Cockrum and Byrne brought to Marvel’s mutant heroes.
4. Spider-Man: Homecoming
Once upon a time, Spider-Man was the poster boy for Marvel Studios: a brand that was able to churn out movie after movie without ever losing its creative momentum. But the last decade has seen the character become a sadly symbolic shill, the face of an industry that’s content to sell superhero merch while crushing any creativity and hammering out mindless committee-made movies.
Homecoming marks a fresh start for the web-slinger. It’s a joyfully entertaining film that temporarily cures any Marvel Cinematic Universe fatigue with its wit and smarts. It also avoids the tiresome repetition of backstory that plagues many comic book adaptations by taking advantage of its young-adult setting.
Families can use the movie to discuss teen issues such as bullying and social media. They can also talk about the film’s use of violence and how it compares to other movies in the genre. They can also discuss the theme of responsibility, something that Peter Parker struggles with throughout the movie. For more Marvel fun, check out the relaunch of X-Men: From the Ashes, or Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s Colors series featuring the early adventures of Captain America, Hulk, and more.
5. Fantastic Four
There was a time when superhero comics were a purely pulp genre designed to entertain youngsters looking for heroes. But, over the last few decades, Marvel’s superheroes have become a symbol of a more diverse world that even adults can relate to and admire.
From the classics to the new releases, 2025 was an impressive year for both Marvel and DC with many series redefining what it means to be a hero.
Whether it’s a relaunch or a continuation of an existing title, these comics all have something special to offer.
Nick Spencer’s take on a team book is an example of the cleverness that is at the heart of the Marvel NOW era. His wry, humorous approach made for a highly-recommended read.
Charles Soule’s She-Hulk focused on Jennifer Walter’s strength of character over her physical power, crafting a compelling, well-rounded, and surprisingly touching story that deserved to be as successful as it was.
What if Genis-Vell lost control of his cosmic awareness and went completely off the rails? Ram V and Evan Cagle’s brilliant relaunch of the New Gods explored that idea with thought-provoking and entertaining results.