Underrated Marvel Comics Characters

Since its inception, Marvel Comics has had a wide array of unique and interesting characters. However, some do not get the attention that many might feel they deserve. Today, I will look over my top three underrated characters (These ratings will be separate from their impact in the MCU).

CHARACTER ONE: LEGION

In a previous blog post (Top 3 Short Marvel Runs That You Should Read), I mentioned just how much I enjoyed the series X-Men Legacy: Legion. Although Legion (aka David Haller) doesn’t have many comics featuring him as a main character, this run stood out to me due to the well-written story by Simon Spurrier. Legion follows the titular character (AKA David Haller), who is Charles Xavier’s son. David suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder, which creates a multitude of split identities in his head, each with their own mutant ability. He is also able to absorb the powers of others around him. In order to “unlock” new abilities, David must “defeat” the personality in his mind. David must learn how to navigate the world with his unique powers, even after the untimely death of his father.

This (admittedly) very cool concept was also turned into a somewhat successful TV show. However, neither the original comic series nor the TV show truly caught on with audiences. I think either version of the story is worth reading/watching, and I hope that David shows up in future MCU projects.

CHARACTER TWO: BISHOP

This one might be considered a “weird” take by some, but I’ve personally felt like Bishop is one of the most underutilized members of the X-Men. Lucas Bishop comes from a dystopian future for mutants, in which they are generally oppressed and enslaved. In order to change the events of the future, Bishop uses a time machine to travel in the past to team up with the X-Men. Bishop’s main power is the ability to absorb all types of energy to fire them as concussive blasts. Usually, he fires these blasts using a phasma gun he brought from the future.

Personally, I always thought Bishop’s backstory, powers, and design were very unique and interesting. However, the character was barely used outside of a few key stories (such as some key appearances from the 90s Uncanny X-Men series, as well as his solo run). He also plays a decently sized role in the X-Men 97 show. However, I would definitely love to see the character in more modern comics. Additionally, I really hope Marvel introduces Bishop on the big screen whenever they get around to doing new X-Men films.

CHARACTER THREE: MOON KNIGHT

This one might be cheating because of the character’s relevance in the MCU. However, I’m still including him due to his comics still generally being underrated. As most people know, a near-death Marc Spector receives a deal from the Egyptian god Khonshu to become his Earthly avatar. He then becomes the Moon Knight, with each of Marc’s different personalities having a different costume and fighting style.

I was personally introduced to the character of Moon Knight through the MCU show. Although I definitely enjoyed it, I wanted more insight into the character. This is where the comics came into play. I highly recommend Ellis and Lemiere’s runs on the characters, as they are generally considered to be great for new readers/those who liked the show. Additionally, they both feature great art, as well as playing into the psychological factor of Marc’s character. I am definitely hoping we see more of Moon Knight in the MCU going forward (ESPECIALLY in a Midnight Suns movie!).