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Some comics fans dislike superhero titles being shared by different people, but these legacy heroes have proven themselves. Heroes can share the same name, which shouldn’t prevent anyone from liking a character. Having multiple Spider-Men, Wolverines, and so forth is what makes Marvel great.
10) Carol Danvers – Captain Marvel
Carol Danvers taking the Captain Marvel moniker was long overdue. Even though she was great as Ms. Marvel for many years, having her be Captain Marvel always felt like a natural step for the character. Monica Rambeu and Genis-Vell were also great Captain Marvels, but Carol has become the premier title-holder. Unlike most other attempts of characters taking the Captain Marvel title, Carol as Captain Marvel is the one that’s sticking.
9) Sam Alexander – Nova
Sam Alexander had a weird introduction, with his first story being part of the Avengers vs. X-Men event. Nonetheless, the character quickly came into his own, earning the title of Earth’s Nova Corps member when Richard Rider was MIA. Sam would soon develop his own relationship with Rider, proving the two can remain Nova and help protect Earth. Sam would later become a founding member of the modern-day Champions, his biggest contribution to the Marvel Universe in the last decade.
8) Nadia Pym – Wasp
Nadia only exists to tie in with the MCU’s version of the Wasp, who was initially the daughter of Ant-Man, named Hope, rather than Janet Van Dyne. However, Janet would later be integrated into the MCU as well. Nevertheless, Nadia actually has very few in common with her cinematic counterpart. The comics created Nadia to be a bubbly teen scientist rather than the no-nonsense businesswoman she was in the films. Her backstory of being raised as a Red Room assassin and the child of Hank Pym’s deceased first wife also makes her a more unique character that doesn’t have the burden of an MCU synergy.
7) Daniel Ketch/Robbie Reyes – Ghost Rider
Most of the main Marvel legacy characters came to prominence in the 2000s and 2010s. However, Ghost Rider had been dealing with legacy characters for decades. Johnny Blaze is arguably a legacy character himself, having taken the Ghost Rider name from a separate Western hero who would later be renamed the Phantom Rider. Daniel Ketch’s run as Ghost Rider, taking the moniker directly from Blaze, is still one of the most celebrated Ghost Rider comics of all time. Robbie Reyes, the most recent person to take the Ghost Rider name, is now a fan favorite, with many lauding the character’s youthful energy and flame car.
6) Jane Foster – Thor
Jason Aaron’s Thor run is one of the greatest Marvel comics of the 2010s, and Jane Foster plays a huge role in those stories. Foster is a character who has existed since Thor’s inception, yet it wasn’t until Aaron evolved her into a superhero that she was finally able to shine. Aaron made Foster a cancer patient, infusing the Thor comics with a groundedness and melancholy that helped elevate the stories. Foster wasn’t born into greatness like Odinson, but seeing her growing into her role as Thor made her endearing. We continue to be grateful that Marvel has continued Foster’s superhero journey as a Valkyrie.
