Ryan Reynolds’Deadpoolhas become a modern classic of superhero filmmaking, and fans are eagerly anticipating the release of the third film in the series. Given the fact thatDeadpool 3will be the character’s official debut in theMarvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios seems to be more willing to pull from its darker comic storylines. With that in mind, here are 15 of Marvel’s best adult comic books that should be adapted into the MCU. Some aren’t expressly aimed at adult audiences, but their content has the potential to inspire powerful stories that break from the MCU’s more family-friendly fare.
Howard the Duck MAX (2002)
Written by the character’s creator, Steve Gerber,Howard the Duck MAXwas one of the first stories published under the adult MAX imprint. The series sees Howard and his girlfriend Beverly living in a junkyard shack when Beverly gets a job from a marketing firm creating the perfect boy band. Literally, as the company and its owner, Dr. Bong, are using cloning to achieve their ends. When the villainous Dr. Bong takes Beverly hostage, Howard goes to her rescue, only to fall into some chemicals and change into an anthropomorphic rat. The series then sees Beverly and Howard trying to find a way to restore Howard’s typical avian form.
What the MCU Could Take from Howard the Duck MAX’s Insanity
Howard the Duck MAXis zany, twisted, and unrestrained from the very first page. Beverly and Howard are forced to confront everything from talk-show hosts and Sigmund Freud to pure existential dread, with Howard even visiting the afterlife. Marvel let Gerber loose in the best possible way, and the social commentary is scathing for a comic about a talking rat-duck. While the MCU will likely avoid the more direct cultural references, this MAX series would be a perfect inspiration for a film or series about the beloved character. We’ve already seen Howard make three minor MCU appearances.Maybe it’s time to rectify the mistakes of the 1986 film.
The Punisher: Born (2003)
Punisher: Bornis a four-issue miniseries written by Garth Ennis (The Boys, Preacher) and released in 2003. Set during the Vietnam War, the story is largely told from the perspective of Marine Stevie Goodwin. Assigned to the unit of Captain Frank Castle, a man “in love with war,” Stevie and his fellow Marines are tasked with defending Firebase Valley Forge, a crucial outpost. Despite the impending closure of Valley Forge, Frank Castle continues his units' routine patrols, confronting Viet Cong forces over the course of four-days. However, a final confrontation with enemy forces is looming, one that will force Castle to confront his inner darkness.
What Punisher: Born’s Bleak View of War Could Bring to the MCU
Very fewPunishercomics focus on the character’s origins. They point the camera at the loss of his wife and daughter, the impetus for his bloody vigilantism, but few look at the man’s time at war.Punisher: Bornis a bleak, brutal view of the horrors of war, and it is wholly grounded in a dark reality. The events within are painted with a touch of superhero extremism, but there are no true superheroes. These are real people, and that could inspire a wholly unique Marvel Cinematic Universe series. With Jon Bernthal reprising his role, a miniseries could perfectly showcase this chilling origin, and help us understand the man behind the skull.
Ultimatum (2009)
Beginning in 2000, the Ultimate universe line was meant to reintroduce fan-favorites and give new readers a new launching point. In 2009, Marvel released theUltimatumevent. After the deaths of his children, Magneto vows revenge on those he deems responsible: the Ultimates and humanity itself. Using his magnetic powers, he reverses the magnetic polarity of Earth, causing extreme natural disasters that kill millions. While Magneto continues his genocidal terrorism from a floating citadel, the heroes scramble to rescue those affected and plan a counterattack, dealing with the gruesome loss of a number of their own.
How Ultimatum Could Signal a Brutal Confrontation With Mutantkind in the MCU
While the Ultimate universe took a number of chances, adding some gritty brutalism to Marvel’s content,Ultimatumis the pinnacle. It is pure extremism, and while many fans and critics agree that a number of mistakes were made, few can deny the potential in its story. Will the MCU brutally kill off a number of its main characters for shock value? Likely not, but with the mutants' slow introduction to the MCU, a confrontation between them and the other heroes is likely on the horizon. The MCU could take some real inspiration from this dark story, combining elements of it with more family-friendly tales likeAvengers Vs. X-Men.
Supreme Power (2003)
In 2003, J. Michael Straczynski and Gary Frank reintroduced the ’80s superhero team Squadron Supreme to Marvel’s MAX imprint inSupreme Power. A mysterious spaceship crash lands on Earth, and an alien infant is found within. The US Government takes the boy in, training him as their perfect American secret weapon, and using his DNA and spaceship for experimentation. When Hyperion comes of age, they reveal him as their own personal superhero, inspiring other heroes to reveal themselves. Coming together as the Squadron Supreme, this new team of heroes battles terrorists, supervillains, and the results of government corruption.
How Supreme Power’s Dark Take on the Justice League Could Benefit the MCU
The Squadron Supreme would be extremely difficult to bring to the big screen. Given their role as Marvel’s darker analogue to DC’s Justice League, there would be a number of legal hurdles to overcome. That said,Supreme Poweris a fascinating look at superheroics, one that echoes elements ofThe Boys. The MAX Imprint allowed this super team to go to twisted extremes. However, there are a number of Squadron Supreme stories that have a less adult edge to them, many set in the main Marvel universe, and the introduction of this team in any form would be a great way to allow fora Marvel vs. DC-style conflict in a future event film.
Marvel 1602 (2003)
Marvel 1602,written by Neil Gaiman, is set in an alternate Marvel universe where our familiar heroes were born 400 years early. Court physician Stephen Strange, Sir Nicholas Fury, and several others are drawn into the political machinations of Count Otto von Doom. As Elizabeth I is assassinated and James VI rises to power, the feared Witchbreed become the target of the Spanish Inquisition, and a mysterious artifact of the Knights Templar is transported to England. However, mysterious energies are tearing their world apart, and the reason why may just rest with Rojhaz, the mysterious Native American tasked with protecting Virginia Dare.
How Marvel 1602 Could Introduce a New Corner of the MCU’s Multiverse
Neil Gaiman masterfully brings this time-shifted superhero story to life. This is far from the most explicit story on this list, making it a possible candidate for a future MCU multiversal tale. That said, the story is a dense fantasy tale not unlikeGame of Thrones,and there are a number of darker story elements that the right director could amplify to make a more adult series. Capturing this new world would require an entire television series, but this would allow Marvel to expand on their multiversal world-building, moving past the one-shots ofWhat If…in favor of more expansive and original storytelling.
Deadpool Killogy (2012-2013)
Consisting ofDeadpool Kills the Marvel Universe, Deadpool Killustrated,andDeadpool Kills Deadpool,theDeadpool Killogysees Wade Wilson become completely self-aware. Realizing that his suffering is for the sick entertainment of readers, he goes on a rampage to eliminate every Marvel hero, so writers have nothing to work with. When that doesn’t fix the problem, he ventures into the source of storytelling, killing characters from across literature, but even that doesn’t solve anything. Realizing that the concept of DEADPOOL is the problem, he takes his murderous campaign across the multiverse to hunt down the infinite incarnations of himself.
What the Deadpool Killogy’s Brutal Multiversal Hunt Could Provide to the MCU
Put simply, theDeadpool Killogyis just pure fun. The meta-commentary of the violence in comic books and the suffering inflicted on the heroes is a fun secondary narrative, but the real reason you come to these books is Deadpool’s growing insanity and his brutally creative kills. A series or film inspired by this story would be a great next step for Reynolds' Wade Wilson, allowing the character to provide an enticing meta-narrative. It would also allow the actor to go as unhinged with the character as he wanted, especially as the story progresses toDeadpool Kills Deadpooland the multiversal armies of warring Wade Wilsons.
The Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe (1995)
Set in an alternate universe,The Punisher Kills the Marvel Universeis a one-shot story focused on a very different Frank Castle. During a battle between alien invaders and Earth’s superheroes, Frank’s family is killed in the crossfire. Enraged by their carelessness, Frank kills three of the heroes and is sentenced to life in prison. However, his prison van instead drops him off at a mansion, owned by a man named Kesselring. Kesselring and his associates were all victims of battles between heroes and villains, and using their vast resources, they equip Frank Castle with the tools he needs to enact vengeance for them all.
How The Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe Could Put a New Perspective on the MCU’s Superheroics
Interestingly, there are some parallels betweenThe Punisher Kills the Marvel Universeand Helmut Zemo’s campaign inCaptain America: Civil War,showing that Marvel isn’t afraid of some meta-criticism. That said, the studio could easily expand on this theme. While it is unlikely that they will truly kill off a number of their most popular superheroes, Marvel has the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the lives of those affected by these world-threatening events. They’ve touched on this theme with the exploration of the “Snap” victims, but an adaptation ofThe Punisher Kills the Marvel Universewould be a great way to delve deeper.
Related:Jon Bernthal’s 12 Best Movies, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes
Earth X (1999-2003)
Seen by many as Marvel’sKingdom Come,Earth Xis set in an alternate future. Black Bolt has released the Terrigen Mists, resulting in a worldwide explosion of superhumans. Captain America has retired after killing the Red Skull. Norman Osborn is President of the United States, and a mind-controlling youth called Skull has built an army of unwilling soldiers. In the midst of this chaos, Loki has discovered the machinations of the Celestials. The Earth is little more than an egg, bearing the embryo of a new Celestial, and the god of mischief will need the aid of the world’s superhumans to stop those looking to make it hatch.
What Earth X’s Dark Future Could Mean for the MCU
Marvel has played with alternate futures in the past withDays of Future Past, though the MCU has shied away from the subject. That said,Earth Xwould be a brilliant way to expand on the history of the Marvel universe. Perhaps it could be a time-travel story where a modern hero is brought to this twisted future, or maybe it is a completely standalone property. Either way, an adaptation ofEarth Xwould be a great step forward for the brand. It would allow Marvel to explore how the view of superheroics have changed over the decades, and give viewers a chance to witness a fascinating new world unlike any they’ve seen before.
One Month to Live (2010)
Written through the collaboration of Rick Remender, Stuart Moore, John Ostrander, and Rob Williams,One Month to Liveis the story of Dennis Sykes. While attempting to stop a mugging, Sykes is exposed to toxic materials, giving him incredible superpowers at an incredible cost. Given a month to live due to an aggressive cancer, Sykes decides to use his remaining time to help the world as much as possible. With the use of his powers only shortening the time he has left, Sykes works alongside Marvel’s greatest heroes, becoming a source of inspiration to all those who witness his valiant battle.
How One Month to Live Could Inject the MCU With More Humanity
One Month to Liveisn’t adult in the sense of explicit materials or extreme violence. In fact, compared to some of the stories on this list, it is incredibly tame. However, the nuanced story and poignant themes make this one of the most powerful works of literature in Marvel’s long history. It isn’t always an easy or fun story to read, but it is essential for fans of the brand. A film starring Dennis Sykes may be difficult to make. It’s hard to market a character that will only be on-screen for one film or television series. That said, the impact an adaptation like this could leave on viewers cannot be overlooked.
Marvels (1994)
Photographer and reporter Phil Sheldon is the focus ofMarvels.Sheldon isn’t a superhero. He’s just a man with a camera, paying witness to the birth of the heroic age and the rise of the superhuman. Throughout his career, Sheldon is present for the reveal of the original Human Torch, reports on Allied forces (and Captain America) in World War II, witnesses the formation of the Avengers, and sees both sides of the prejudice aimed at the X-Men. Sheldon is on the front lines of every major event of the Marvel Universe, and readers are invited along with him as he captures it all.
How Marvels' Down-to-Earth Perspective Could Impact the MCU
While not directed at adults,Marvelsis a deep and mature look at the Marvel universe. It is a love letter to the company’s long history and the major events therein. The perspective of the lone photographer is brilliant, as it allows us to see these characters from a much more human place. We get to see them as we would if we lived in the Marvel Universe, and that storytelling choice is incredible. While a film adaptation or television adaptation would be difficult to pull off, potentially feeling monotonous or tedious in the grand scheme of the action franchise, this worm’s-eye view of the universe’s superheroics would nonetheless be invaluable.
