10 Comic Storylines I'd Love To See In The MCU

Marvel Comics, in some form or fashion, has been creating comics since 1939. Originally under the name Timely Comics before switching to Atlas Comics and then finally Marvel in 1961, they have decades and decades of history to pull from. From characters to events to worlds to storylines that have existed solely on the pages of comics.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe, or MCU as it is more commonly called, has become the biggest franchise in the history of media. Multiple movies that have grossed over a billion dollars each, creative world wide megastars, and sort of creating the idea of connected movies and crossovers that had never really been attempted to such a massive scale since the Universal Monsters all the way back in the early days of film. Many other studios and universes have tried and failed, with the MCU being the undisputed KING of this idea.

But with the trend of MCU movies and shows underperforming, the fatigue of multiple movies and programs all coming out in the same year, and for cancelled plans throughout the years...what can Marvel do to bring back lapsed fans?

The Multiverse was the next logical step following the Infinity Sage ending with Avengers Endgame, especially since they are now FINALLY able to include the likes of the X-Men and Fantastic Four after decades of not having the rights to them...but that just as quickly became bloated and uninteresting. Fan service being treated with more importance then geniune storytelling and advancing the narrative that they have struggled to even set in stone.

The Infinity Sage was all about the creation of the Avengers and fighting Thanos. 3 Phrases with dozens of movies coming together. But...what is the Multiverse Sage about? Exploring different Universes? Is that it? There are countless stories and characters that they can introduce to truly jumpstart the future of the movies and shows. Adding more and more intrigue and possible directions for the creators to go in. Infinite paths to take that could be just as big events as they need right now. No more constant crossovers, but building stories to culminate in major ways.

When could these take place? Probably not until after Doomsday and Secret Wars. But it can still be built to in a fun, engaging way.

1. The House of M

   

The House of M was a comic book storyline that ran from June to November 2005, but it had various lead ups in titles such as Excalibur and X-Men. Many people that are more casual fans may know House of M as the "No More Mutants" storyline, but there is much more to it then that.

Wanda Maximoff, also known as the Scarlet Witch, is living on the devastated island of Genosha under the care of her father Magneto and Professor Charles Xavier. Xavier informs Magneto that his telepathic powers will no longer be enough to hold back Wanda's reality-warping abilities and that a permanent solution must be found.

Xavier secretly arranges a meeting of the Avengers, the X-Men, and several lone heroes at Avengers Tower to decide the fate of Wanda. Emma Frost is the first to suggest that killing Wanda is the only way to end her destructive magic. Captain America argues that the group should seek alternate methods of dealing with Wanda, not wishing to resort to violence or killing. The X-Men argue that if word gets out that a mutant with the ability to change reality went insane, it would "send human-mutant relations back to the stone age." As the conversation progresses, it is revealed that Xavier asked Doctor Strange to help Wanda, but unfortunately neither was strong enough to combat her magic. Wolverine speaks up, saying that there is no other way—Wanda must be killed.

Back in Genosha, Quicksilver rushes to Magneto to reveal that he was in New York City and heard that the X-Men and Avengers are planning on killing Wanda.

Xavier takes the two groups to Genosha only to discover that Wanda is missing. Suddenly, the members of the group start to disappear one by one. Spider-Man is soon the only one left and becomes engulfed by a white light.

When the light departs, the world has changed: Spider-Man is a celebrity married to Gwen Stacy; Cyclops and Emma Frost are married; Doctor Strange is a psychologist; Carol Danvers is Captain Marvel, America's most beloved superhero; Gambit is a criminal; and Steve Rogers is an aged veteran. Wolverine is the only one who seems to know that his isn't the "real" world. He learns that Magento planned this, giving all of the heroes a world where their biggest wishes and deepest desires have all come true. Distracting them from trying to defeat or kill Wanda, living in a paradise.

A massive battle between Magento's forces and an army of heroes gathered by Wolverine follows suit, where Doctor Strange confronts Wanda. Learning that she created the world so she would be safe.

This then leads to Wanda stating the infamous "No More Mutants" line, where the world is returned to normal. Except instead of millions of mutants around the world, there are only a few hundred. Everyone continues to have the memories of their past lives, yet they are no longer reality. People like Spider-Man grow angry, while others just try to fix everything by confronting Magneto and Wanda once again.

This being adapted to the movies would be perfect since we now have the X-Men and Mutants as part of the Universe. Sure it has a massive cast of characters and all sorts of things being retconned or realities being changed into new things, but for a story it works out well. It gives characters a chance to be new and refreshed into brand new stories that can carry over for multiple solo films. Giving them brand new starts, even recasting them if necessary. A great way to move forward and create smaller scale stories. Almost like a big reset that can be reversed later down the line if needed.

Because a problem that the MCU has struggled with recently is needing to keep going more and more and more. After Endgame, where do you go? They realised that their best success comes in smaller scale stories, but it took them a while to come to that conclusion. This would be a great way to truly reset back to the beginning in a way that benefits the stories and characters.

2. Dark Reign/Dark Avengers

   

This is a storyline that becomes slightly complicated due to the MCU taking a different route with its villains and heroes, but in premise it can still work with the characters that they do have. Or can introduce the characters from the comics into this role.

Following the aftermath of Secret Invasion, Norman Osborn leverages his success in defeating the Skrulls to replace Tony Stark as director of S.H.I.E.L.D. He then uses this power to replace S.H.I.E.L.D with his own H.A.M.M.E.R and creates a brand new team of "Dark Avengers" to help the world. With a initial cast consisting of Osborn himself as Iron Patriot, former Thunderbolts members and new recruits, including the Sentry, Ares, Noh-Varr (now Captain Marvel) as well as disguised super-villains Moonstone (portraying Ms. Marvel), Venom (Mac Gargan portraying Spider-Man after being given a formula that resets the symbiote to the size it was when it possessed Spider-Man), Bullseye (portraying Hawkeye) and Wolverine's disgruntled son Daken taking on the Wolverine mantle. After creating this team, Norman sets up his own team of X-Men consisting of Cloak and Dagger, Mimic, Emma Frost, Namor the Sub-Mariner, Daken, Weapon Omega and Mystique (posing as Professor X) that he can control...even if only briefly.

This eventually leads into a storyline of Osborne leading an invasion against Asgard, which could easily be replaced with New Asgard in the MCU.

But this idea of having a team of villains taking over after the Avengers have "disbanded" could work incredibly well. A nearly government sanctioned form run by a corrupt leader, similar to the Amazon Prime series The Boys and their superhero team called The Seven. It would be a great way to introduce multiple, long term villains the MCU can use to progress more and more stories. A brand new team to focus on that can bring The Avengers back together to fight in what would be sure to be epic battle scenes and great dynamics.

A perfect way to get a lot of characters a lot of direction and reasons to be around for multiple films. A great way to progress forward and should make things a lot simpler for the creative team.

3. The Evolutionary War

   

The High Evolutionary from the recent Guardians of The Galaxy Vol 3 was one of the greatest characters introduced in the entirety of the MCU. Not just villains, but characters. The performance from Chukwudi Iwuji was incredible, and deserves to be seen more. It would even be easy to say that Rocket didn't actually kill him, or that he would've been able to heal himself from his wounds.

In the comics storyline, The High Evolutionary is revealed to have survived his suicide attempt, and has rededicated himself to guiding and enhancing the evolution of humanity so that his race may one day be supreme to all others. To this end he initiates several concurrent efforts to accelerate human evolution and eliminate perceived threats to mankind's genetic purity.

This does tend to play a bit of eugenic/racist or more controversial then Marvel and Disney might want to play into, but it can easily be adapted into more of a family friendly type of plotline.

Much like Dark Reign, it is a great way that can introduce multiple villains, as well as High Evolutionary as a villain that goes across multiple movies. A villain who motivates every character and can be the reason for one off villains to show up in each film, once again creating a great way of writing simple, smaller films that all build together to the final showdown.

This is also a storyline that would be perfect to bring back the Eternals, since the comics show the High Evolutionary visiting the Eternals and persuades them aid his cause by mapping the genetic code of the Silver Surfer. The Surfer refuses to cooperate, and convinces the Eternals to let him be. A great way to connect multiple films together to show the sheer scale of this event and the MCU as a whole.

The ultimate battle revolves around the Genetic Bomb as it is called. A weapon of mass destruction that High Evolutionary plans on detonating in order to hyper accelerate all human evolution and create his dream civilisation. To me, that sounds like the perfect reason for the Avengers and even teaming alongside the X-Men and Fantastic Four sounds like a reasonable step. A reason for an Avengers movie to exist that can be built up like I said across multiple films.

4. Fear Itself

Admittedly, this storyline is perhaps the one that would have to be changed the most for the films, as it is tied into multiple stories from the comics with much different players. But the idea and plot of the storyline has always been a favorite of mine that sounds incredibly interesting.

Back during World War 2, Red Skull performs a ritual which causes the Hammer of Skadi to fall to Earth. Traveling to Antarctica, where the hammer landed, the Red Skull finds the hammer but is unable to lift it. Red Skull has Adolf Hitler's Thule Society seal it away and put it under their guard. Many years later, Red Skull's daughter Sin, with the help of Baron Zemo, retrieves the Book of the Skull that contains the location of the hammer.

Back to the modern day, Tony Stark holds a press conference announcing that his company, Stark Resilient, will help rebuild Asgard in Broxton, Oklahoma following the "Siege" storyline, the Sin finds the Hammer of Skadi, and after lifting it becomes Skadi, Herald of the Serpent. She then frees the Serpent from his underwater prison, after which seven celestial objects fall from the sky around the globe. Learning of the Serpent's escape, Odin withdraws his people from Earth against the protests of his son Thor. The seven celestial objects are revealed to be divine hammers that contain the essences of the Serpent's seven generals known as the Worthy.

Characters such as Juggernaut, Hulk, Titania, and Attuma find the hammers. They are turned into villains called the Worthy, leading a destructive rampage across the US aiming for DC and NYC. After them, Grey Gargoyle, the Thing, and the Absorbing Man find the other hammers, and are transformed into the remaining three Worthy. Creating 7 brand new villains who are immensely powerful and destructive.

As Thor convalesces in Asgard, Odin gives him his own battle armor and the Odinsword, for a last suicide mission against the Serpent. Iron Man and the dwarves of Svartalfheim present eight newly forged weapons, each designed for a specific Avenger and containing both his repulsor technology and uru (the same metal composing Thor's hammer Mjölnir). They throw them into a vat of boiling uru – into which Iron Man himself leaps – to receive Odin's enchantments. In Broxton, Captain America raises a militia of armed citizens who wish to remain to fight, and along with the Avengers, prepares for a final confrontation with the Serpent and the Worthy.

Iron Man returns to Earth, his armor coated with Asgardian uru enchanted by Odin, along with similarly enhanced weapons with which he arms Spider-Man, Black Widow, Iron Fist, Wolverine, Ms. Marvel, Hawkeye, Red She-Hulk, and Doctor Strange. They confront the Serpent's forces and are joined by the people of Broxton and Captain America, who wields Thor's hammer against Skadi.

This sounds like an incredibly epic war, with many factions and massive armies battling it out. And with Captain America (the Sam Wilson version due to the MCU's current cannon) being able to show that he is a symbol of hope and inspiration. A great way to show that normal citizens in the universe are also important and have their own point to existing rather then just background cannon fodder. You can even have Iron Man replaced with Ironheart and give her a new suit that she can keep for future movies, the death of Bucky Barnes (which does happen in the comic series) as well as the sacrifice of Thor to finally end his run in the MCU. A massive storyline that could lead to the death of various characters to show the stakes and give a new beginning to many more while showing a new side of combat and war in the MCU.

5. Secret Warriors

   

Marvel has, multiple times, spoken about wishing to return to the sheer highs and emotional similarities to Captain America: Winter Soldier. Espionage, anxiety, and spy warfare coming together perfectly.

Following his removal as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. on the heels of his Secret War in Latveria, Colonel Nick Fury was forced to go underground. Then, during Secret Invasion, Fury knew that Earth was being invaded by alien sleeper agents hidden among the society. Fury decided to assemble a team of Secret Warriors to defend it. Fury chose them not only for their competence, but also for their relative anonymity: he knew that obscure heroes would be ones least likely to be targeted for replacement by the Skrulls.

He began with seismic-wielding former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Daisy Johnson (Quake); Phobos (Alex) the 10-year old son of Ares; Yo-Yo Rodriguez, the super-fast daughter of The Griffin; Hellfire (J.T. Slade), the mystical mercenary grandson of the Phantom Rider (Carter Slade); the son of Dr. Druid, Sebastian Druid; and the muscle-bound Stonewall (Jerry Sledge).

Even if the team was not the same as the comics, wouldn't it be a perfect way to introduce the lesser remembered or obscure characters from the MCU? We could FINALLY see Quake return from Agents of Shield, a fan favorite that people have wanted to return for years. We could have Cloak & Dagger from the Hulu series, the cast of Runaways, and even other characters lost to the endless grind of MCU content. Giving them one last hoorah and celebration for long time fans as well as furthering more stories and introducing more dynamics.

A perfect way to give them something to do and return to the vast, expansive Universe while possibly coming back to the spy thriller things that fans have been craving for years. Secret Invasion was a let down to most fans, but continuing on with Skrulls infiltrating the world and government would be a perfect setting for Secret Warriors before they come out to help the Avengers in a much larger threat when needed.

6. One World Under Doom

As of now, Doctor Doom has yet to properly appear in the MCU since Robert Downey Jr. was announced as his casting. Yes he appears briefly in Fantastic Four (spoilers) but as if me writing this, we aren't 100% sure what the plans are for him. Perhaps we will one day get a One World Under Doom story, but until then I can only hope and dream.

Roughly six months following his ascension as Sorcerer Supreme (which is a thing that happens), Doom announces that all the world is now the global country of United Latveria and that he is enacting a welfare state agenda in which he declares war illegal, mandates free universal healthcare, and offers free public education to all people of the world. Sounds pretty great right?

Doom's actions have since pleased some of the people of Earth. The Fantastic Four are not convinced and plan to confront him. When Valeria (Reed and Sue's daughter) visits Doom to ask what he will get out of this, Doom states that he plans to get glory out of it. The next day, Doom has world borders opened up so that all the nations can work together. The Fantastic Four proceed to confront Doom, where they find that he is defended by civilians who are prepared to go down for him.

This does eventually lead into some more complicated stuff like a collapsing pocket dimension, Dormammu, and Doom having to work together with a massive conglomerate of the Avengers, X-Men, and more heroes to fight him. But that can be ignored for the movies.

Having Doom truly becoming a global leader through political means and not even needing to use his powers or technology adds a whole new layer to his danger and intelligence. Showing that he is more then just strength. A way to explore the ever changing dynamics of the Earth under Doom and the constantly changing political landscape that adds a whole new layer of intrigue and maturity to the MCU rather then just costumed people fighting.

Along with this, a subplot includes the Doom Academy, which used to be Doctor Strange's academy to learn the mystic arts. This is once again prime for a spinoff series to showcase much younger and newer characters as well as giving much more history and exploration of just how magic works in the MCU.

7. The Kree/Skrull War

   

This is perhaps much more wishful thinking rather then something that will realistically happen.

The Kree Skrull War is perhaps one of the biggest, most important storylines that Marvel Comics has had in its history. The effects and aftermath are still felt today.

The Kree hero Captain Marvel, arriving on Earth after an extended stay in the Negative Zone, is captured by several members of the superhero team the Avengers — Quicksilver, the Scarlet Witch, and the android hero the Vision — and Rick Jones. It is later revealed that he conceived a child with the Skrull princess Anelle during this period of time. This is necessary, as Mar-Vell has inadvertently absorbed a lethal amount of radiation from spending weeks in the Negative Zone, and it will prove fatal unless treated. With the aid of a scientist, Vision drains the excess radiation from Mar-Vell. Now, I am aware that at this point we really have 3 different Captain Marvels with Carol Danvers, Kamala Khan, and Monica Rambeau...but wouldn't it be interesting to see the original version appear at least once in the MCU? Especially with the usage of the Negative Zone being a perfect excuse as to why he hasn't appeared before.

Skipping ahead quite a bit in the story, Mar-Vell is taken to the heart of the Skrull Empire and, after being advised that the captive Avengers will be executed, is forced to build a Omni-Wave Projector (basically a device which can enable communication across hyperspace)/ The Avengers arrive in Skrull space, and hold off the alien fleet while Mar-Vell is forced to use the Projector, which casts a temporarily freed Rick Jones back into the Negative Zone. Jones is rescued from the Zone by the Kree ruler the Supreme Intelligence, who unlocks hidden mental powers (the Destiny Force) in Rick himself, Rick then sends a wave of Golden Age heroes with the Avengers against the Skrulls, ending the war. The Destiny Force also reverts Senator Craddock on Earth to his true Skrull form, revealing he was the fourth Skrull from the Earth expedition, and he is subsequently killed by an angered mob. The heroes return to Earth to discover that the real Craddock has been found, and the Avengers' reputation has been restored.

The secret superhero group the Illuminati are eventually revealed to have visited both the Kree and Skrull Empires and advised the aliens that involving Earth in their war would not be tolerated.

This can be altered but it does so much for fleshing out the cosmic world of Marvel and giving a massive amount of history to the Universe. Adding more reasons for the Skrull and Kree to be including in the MCU onwards, since they are really some of the most important species and things in all of Marvel Comics.

8. Annihilation

   

This is a storyline that I have personally wanted for years. One of my favorite ones in all of Marvel comics history.

The Annihilation Wave, a large armada of warships under the control of Annihilus, enters this universe where they annex and destroy various star systems. The Nova Corps, an intergalactic police force, immediately calls in all Nova Centurions for a top level briefing in Xandar, the Nova Corps home world. During the briefing, The Annihilation Wave invades and successfully destroys the planet, including all Nova Corp members save for Richard Rider, the lone human Nova Corps member.

After the Skrulls learn that their own planet is being targeted, the Skrulls and Nova must work together to even hope of fighting Annihilus. Nova Prime, along with Drax and Cammi, leaves what remains of Xandar and speeds to the next star system. Once there, they find Quasar, wielder of the Quantum Bands, assisting in the exodus of one of its star system planets. The Annihilation Wave arrives and Nova Prime and Quasar attack in order to give the exodus enough time to succeed. In the ensuing battle, Quasar is consumed by Annihilus, who now wields the Quantum Bands.

As the storu progresses, it's just Annihilus conquering and destroying world after world, taking more and more weaponry and technology for himself and his armada. Continuing on into what is seemingly an impossible to defeat or end conquest. Showing that he is truly one of the most dangerous and powerful villains in Marvel history.

It takes a LOT for Annihilus to eventually be deafated, including Galactus unleashing a massive energy blast, being betrayed by Thanos, as well as the quantum bands being removed by Phyla, finally being slain by Nova. A epic and very complicated way to defeat an incredibly powerful villain in the most perfect way, truly showing his strength.

Sure, it wouldn't go down like it did in the comics with perhaps different characters, different artifacts, and different series of events...but it would still be perfect for having such an incredibly dominant and powerful villain leading the charge once again.

9. The Spider-Man Clone Saga

   

This is going to be a very controversial take.

The original comic series of the Clone Saga is long seen as one of the biggest wasted opportunities. Running for YEARS without a clear plan or plans being changed by editorial multiple times. But with the Spider-Man movies already doing the storyline of Peter Parker being "forgotten" I think this is actually a perfect time to introduce at least some form of it.

In my mind it would work more like the Reign of Superman storyline following the Death of Superman, where multiple people take on the mantle. But it can still work out similar to the comics if done right.

The Jackal was the villain identity of Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker's biology professor Miles Warren, who could not cope with the death of Gwen, with whom he had a secret infatuation. As an expert on cloning, he creates clones of both Gwen and Peter, discovering Peter is Spider-Man as a result. The Jackal blames Spider-Man for Gwen's death and wants to kill him. The Jackal kidnaps Spider-Man and forces him to fight his clone. Both men believe they are the real Peter Parker. The two Spider-Men soon decide to work together, but one is seemingly killed by the same bomb that kills the Jackal. The surviving Spider-Man determines he is the original because he is in love with Mary Jane Watson, which did not happen until after Warren created the clone. Spider-Man drops the body of the clone into an incinerator. The original Clone Saga, leaves it ambiguous whether it is the original Spider-Man or his clone who perishes in the bomb explosion.

More years passed before Spider-Man's clone reappeared. He had survived the battle and for five years had lived an existence under the name Ben Reilly (a combination of Peter's Uncle Ben's first name and Aunt May's maiden name), and develops a superhero identity of his own as the Scarlet Spider after returning to New York City. A series of chaotic events followed, in which Peter and Ben were plagued by both a resurrected Jackal and by Kaine, who was an unsuccessful first clone of Spider-Man. In the process, another clone of Spider-Man became the villain Spidercide.

Medical tests indicated Peter was actually the clone and Ben the original. Peter temporarily retired as Spider-Man, leaving the mantle of Spider-Man to Ben while he prepared for his new role as a father after the discovery that Mary Jane was pregnant; Peter even lost his powers for a time during his 'retirement', although they eventually came back after a near-death experience.

In this original stories with the clones, it creates a variety of new heroes or villains that can be explored in detail while also adding lots of intrigue to the character of Spider-Man. If we have various clones who all claim to be real, then it can add a massive layer of intrigue to whenever Spider-Man shows up. Which version is it?

And if they are wanting to keep things cheaper, then they could easily have other actors take on the role rather then just filming it with multiple Tom Hollands...if that is indeed cheaper. Sure they're clones, but it could easily be used to have different actors with different appearances, just say the cloning process wasn't totally perfect. But adding more heroes who could even help or assist Peter while also giving him a nice ending, even if only briefly, is a great way to continue on the story of the hero and not necessarily the story of Peter himself. Passing down the mantle like what happens with countless comic book heroes and villains.

10. Kraven's Last Hunt

By far the smallest scale story in this entire list, but a story that I think is just as important and high quality as it gets.

Spider-Man reflects on his own mortality after the deaths of Ned Leeds and common criminal acquaintance Joe Face. Having grown old and increasingly bitter at the thought of no longer being physically capable of "the hunt", Kraven decides to settle things between him and his old nemesis. Kraven hunts down Spider-Man, shoots him with a rifle, and buries him. That isn't really a spoiler, as it's the inciting incident of the rest of the story.

Kraven dresses as Spider-Man to prove himself superior at his adversary's former activities, thus shattering Spider-Man as the only foe to have ever bested him. The city takes notice as Kraven brutalizes and kills criminals. Kraven culminates his crusade with the unarmed capture of the cannibal Vermin, who Spider-Man needed the help of Captain America to defeat.

After two weeks, Spider-Man revives from the effects of Kraven's bullet (a potent tranquilizer) and digs his way out of the grave. He reunites with his wife Mary Jane Watson, then insists on confronting Kraven despite having not fully recovered. When Spider-Man attacks Kraven, the hunter does not fight back, considering himself the victor for having already beaten and replaced Spider-Man.

This story is much more personal then others. It is about the realtionship between Spider-Man and Kraven specifically. About their dynamics as hunter and hunted. Rivals for years.

While Spider-Man goes after Vermin, Kraven concludes he has conquered his inner demons and finally achieved happiness. After reminiscing about his past and the peace he now feels, Kraven commits suicide with his prize rifle. He leaves a confession of his burying and impersonating Spider-Man for the police to find, complete with photographic proof; the publication of these materials clearing Spider-Man of Kraven's crimes.

Now...this ending is definitely not going to happen in the MCU, but my goodness is it beautiful and potent. The comic run itself is written more like a novel then a comic. Much more mature and well written than other comics you have seen. It is absolutely beautiful, and seeing it adapted to the big screen would be beautiful and heart breaking. The most contemplative and psychological a comic movie could ever imagine being.

These are all of the storylines and long running plots that I think could do wonders for the MCU. Giving a lot of ideas that could help guide entire sagas on their own or work better as smaller stories, yet they are some of my personal favorite comic runs. I hope you enjoy the list and these help motivate you to read these stories or even comics in general. They are incredible and something I have been passionate about for years.