MARVEL & DC UNIVERSE – MOVIE WATCHLIST
Work through 120 live-action Marvel and DC films in theatrical release order, from Superman and the Mole Men to the latest Marvel and DC cinematic universes. Tick off each film as you watch and discover the comic issues, series and storylines connected to every entry.
1950s
Superman protects a subterranean people from frightened townsfolk after deep drilling disturbs them.
Comic connections: Action Comics #1; Superman #1; original film story
Connection: Character premise; original plot
1960s
Batman and Robin battle four united villains who plan to dehydrate world leaders.
Comic connections: Batman #73; Batman #171; Detective Comics #359; TV-series continuity
Connection: Character/camp-era synthesis
1970s
Kal-El comes to Earth, becomes Superman and faces Lex Luthor’s deadly land scheme.
Comic connections: Action Comics #1; Superman #1; Superman #53; Action Comics #242
Connection: Definitive origin synthesis
1980s
Superman sacrifices his powers for Lois as three Kryptonian criminals conquer Earth.
Comic connections: Adventure Comics #283; Superman #233–238; Action Comics #471–473
Connection: Phantom Zone villains synthesis
Scientist Alec Holland becomes a swamp creature and battles Anton Arcane.
Comic connections: Swamp Thing #1–10 (1972); House of Secrets #92
Connection: Early Wein/Wrightson adaptation
Superman is corrupted by synthetic kryptonite while a computer genius is exploited by a tycoon.
Comic connections: Superman #125; World’s Finest #202; Action Comics #333
Connection: Character concepts; original plot
Kara travels to Earth to recover a powerful artefact and confronts the sorceress Selena.
Comic connections: Action Comics #252; Adventure Comics #381; Supergirl #1 (1972)
Connection: Origin/character synthesis
Howard is pulled from Duckworld to Earth and battles the Dark Overlord.
Comic connections: Howard the Duck #1–3 (1976); Adventure into Fear #19; Howard the Duck magazine #1
Connection: Character/origin; largely original plot
Superman tries to rid Earth of nuclear weapons and battles Lex Luthor’s Nuclear Man.
Comic connections: Superman #129; DC Comics Presents #57; original film story
Connection: Anti-nuclear themes; original villain/plot
Frank Castle wages a one-man war on organised crime and reluctantly confronts the Yakuza.
Comic connections: The Amazing Spider-Man #129; Punisher #1–5 (1986); Punisher War Journal #1
Connection: Character and early solo-series influence
Swamp Thing protects Abby Arcane from her stepfather’s monstrous experiments.
Comic connections: Swamp Thing #3–10 (1972); Saga of the Swamp Thing #21–27
Connection: Character synthesis with lighter tone
Batman confronts the Joker while Gotham learns of its mysterious vigilante.
Comic connections: Detective Comics #27; Batman #1; The Killing Joke; The Dark Knight Returns
Connection: Golden Age plus 1980s tonal influence
1990s
Steve Rogers awakens decades after fighting the Red Skull and must stop his former enemy’s global scheme.
Comic connections: Captain America Comics #1; Tales of Suspense #63–71; Captain America #255
Connection: Origin synthesis
Batman faces the Penguin’s political revenge and Catwoman’s campaign against Max Shreck.
Comic connections: Detective Comics #58; Batman #1; Batman #62; Catwoman stories by Kane/Finger
Connection: Character synthesis; original plot
Batman battles Two-Face and the Riddler while taking orphaned Dick Grayson as Robin.
Comic connections: Detective Comics #38, #66, #140; Batman #234; Robin: Year One #1–4
Connection: Origin/character synthesis
Batman, Robin and Batgirl oppose Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy and Bane.
Comic connections: Batman #121; Batman #181; Detective Comics #359; Knightfall (Batman #491–500)
Connection: Villain and Batgirl synthesis
Weapons engineer John Henry Irons builds armour to stop gangs using technology he designed.
Comic connections: Adventures of Superman #500; Steel #1–5; Reign of the Supermen
Connection: Steel origin adaptation without Superman
A half-vampire hunter battles Deacon Frost, who plans to awaken an ancient blood god.
Comic connections: Tomb of Dracula #10, #13, #25; Blade: The Vampire-Hunter #1
Connection: Character/origin; original plot
2000s
Mutants caught between Xavier’s coexistence and Magneto’s militancy race to stop forced mutation.
Comic connections: X-Men #1; Uncanny X-Men #150; X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills
Connection: Broad thematic synthesis
Blade joins an uneasy vampire strike team against the Reapers, a lethal new strain.
Comic connections: Blade #1–10 (1994); Nightstalkers #1; Tomb of Dracula #45–53
Connection: Character/world influence; original plot
Peter Parker gains spider-powers, faces the Green Goblin and learns the cost of responsibility.
Comic connections: Amazing Fantasy #15; The Amazing Spider-Man #14, #39–40, #121–122
Connection: Origin and Goblin-story synthesis
Blind lawyer Matt Murdock battles Kingpin and Bullseye while protecting Elektra.
Comic connections: Daredevil #1; #168–181; #227–233 (Born Again)
Connection: Frank Miller era synthesis
Mutants unite against William Stryker, who plans to use Xavier to eradicate mutantkind.
Comic connections: Marvel Graphic Novel #5: God Loves, Man Kills; Uncanny X-Men #161; Weapon X (Marvel Comics Presents #72–84)
Connection: Close thematic adaptation/synthesis
Bruce Banner’s trauma and gamma transformation collide with his estranged father’s experiments.
Comic connections: Incredible Hulk #1; #312; #377; Hulk: Gray #1–6
Connection: Origin and psychological-run influence
After his family is murdered, Frank Castle dismantles crime boss Howard Saint’s empire.
Comic connections: The Amazing Spider-Man #129; Punisher: Year One #1–4; Welcome Back, Frank #1–12
Connection: Origin plus story elements
Peter’s powers falter as Doctor Octopus’s fusion experiment threatens New York.
Comic connections: The Amazing Spider-Man #3, #11–12, #50; Spider-Man No More!
Connection: Close character/story synthesis
Blade is framed and joins younger hunters to stop Dracula and the vampire nation.
Comic connections: Tomb of Dracula #1, #10; Nightstalkers #1; Blade: Trinity tie-in #1
Connection: Character synthesis; original plot
Patience Phillips is resurrected with feline powers and exposes a deadly cosmetics conspiracy.
Comic connections: Batman #1; Detective Comics #569–570; Catwoman #1–4 (1993)
Connection: Name/concept only; largely original character
Resurrected assassin Elektra protects a gifted girl from the Hand.
Comic connections: Daredevil #168–181; Elektra: Assassin #1–8; Elektra Lives Again
Connection: Character/Hand influence
Four astronauts gain powers and must stop Victor Von Doom after a cosmic accident.
Comic connections: Fantastic Four #1, #5, #57–60; Ultimate Fantastic Four #1–6
Connection: Origin synthesis, strongly Ultimate-influenced
Occult detective John Constantine investigates a supernatural conspiracy threatening Los Angeles.
Comic connections: Saga of the Swamp Thing #37–50; Hellblazer #1–9; Dangerous Habits #41–46
Connection: Hellblazer character synthesis
Bruce Wayne trains abroad, becomes Batman and confronts Ra’s al Ghul’s attack on Gotham.
Comic connections: Batman: Year One #404–407; The Man Who Falls; Detective Comics #235; Batman #232
Connection: Origin synthesis
A mutant “cure” divides the X-Men as Jean Grey returns with destructive Phoenix power.
Comic connections: Uncanny X-Men #101–108 and #129–137 (Dark Phoenix Saga); Astonishing X-Men #1–6 (Gifted)
Connection: Two major arcs combined
Superman returns after years away and stops Lex Luthor’s continent-building scheme.
Comic connections: Superman #1; Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? #423/Action #583; Kingdom Come #1–4
Connection: Reeve-film sequel with comics influence
Stunt rider Johnny Blaze becomes the Devil’s bounty hunter and fights Blackheart.
Comic connections: Marvel Spotlight #5–11; Ghost Rider #1 (1973); Ghost Rider #68–81
Connection: Origin/character synthesis
Peter’s alien suit amplifies his anger while Sandman and Venom threaten his life.
Comic connections: The Amazing Spider-Man #4; Secret Wars #8; The Amazing Spider-Man #252–259, #300
Connection: Sandman and symbiote arcs combined
The Four confront the Silver Surfer and a world-consuming cosmic threat while Doom returns.
Comic connections: Fantastic Four #48–50 (Galactus Trilogy); #57–60
Connection: Close Galactus Trilogy adaptation, heavily altered
Captive weapons maker Tony Stark builds armour, escapes and turns against his own company’s abuses.
Comic connections: Tales of Suspense #39; Iron Man #200; Ultimate Iron Man #1–5; Iron Man: Extremis #1–6
Connection: Modernised origin synthesis
Bruce Banner seeks a cure while General Ross and the Abomination hunt him.
Comic connections: Incredible Hulk #1; Tales to Astonish #90–91; Incredible Hulk #25 (2001)
Connection: Origin and Abomination synthesis
Frank Castle targets mobster Billy Russoti, transformed into the disfigured Jigsaw.
Comic connections: The Amazing Spider-Man #129; Punisher #1–5 (2000); Punisher MAX #1–12
Connection: MAX-era tone; character synthesis
Batman, Gordon and Harvey Dent face the Joker’s campaign to corrupt Gotham.
Comic connections: The Long Halloween #1–13; Batman #1; The Killing Joke; The Man Who Laughs
Connection: Crime-saga synthesis
Logan’s violent history with Victor Creed leads him into Stryker’s Weapon X programme.
Comic connections: Origin #1–6; Weapon X (Marvel Comics Presents #72–84); Wolverine #10
Connection: Backstory synthesis
Former masked heroes investigate a murder and uncover a plot meant to reshape world history.
Comic connections: Watchmen #1–12
Connection: Direct/close adaptation
2010s
Tony faces government pressure, poisoning and Ivan Vanko’s revenge while building a new element.
Comic connections: Iron Man #120–128 (Demon in a Bottle); #225–232 (Armor Wars); Tales of Suspense #97–99
Connection: Loose synthesis
A scarred bounty hunter with supernatural abilities hunts the terrorist who murdered his family.
Comic connections: All-Star Western #10; Weird Western Tales #14–38; Jonah Hex: Two-Gun Mojo #1–5
Connection: Character synthesis; original plot
The arrogant Thor is exiled to Earth and must become worthy before Loki seizes Asgard.
Comic connections: Journey into Mystery #83–85; Thor #159; Thor #364–366
Connection: Origin synthesis
Young Xavier and Magneto form the first X-Men during the Cuban Missile Crisis, then fracture ideologically.
Comic connections: X-Men #1; X-Men: First Class #1–8; Uncanny X-Men #161
Connection: Character/history synthesis
Steve Rogers becomes a super-soldier and fights Hydra during the Second World War.
Comic connections: Captain America Comics #1; Tales of Suspense #63–71; Captain America #255
Connection: Origin synthesis
Johnny Blaze tries to save a boy from becoming the Devil’s vessel.
Comic connections: Marvel Spotlight #5; Ghost Rider #68–81; Spirits of Vengeance #1
Connection: Character/world influence
Test pilot Hal Jordan joins an intergalactic corps and faces the fear entity Parallax.
Comic connections: Showcase #22; Green Lantern: Secret Origin #29–35; Emerald Twilight #48–50
Connection: Origin synthesis
Earth’s new heroes unite when Loki uses the Tesseract to invade New York.
Comic connections: Avengers #1; Ultimates #1–6; Ultimates 2 #1–13
Connection: Team formation, heavily Ultimate-influenced
Peter investigates his parents’ disappearance, gains powers and battles the Lizard.
Comic connections: Amazing Fantasy #15; The Amazing Spider-Man #6; Ultimate Spider-Man #1–13
Connection: Origin synthesis
A broken Bruce Wayne returns when Bane seizes Gotham and exposes its buried lies.
Comic connections: Knightfall (Batman #491–500); No Man’s Land; The Dark Knight Returns
Connection: Major Batman arcs synthesized
Tony confronts trauma, the Mandarin myth and Extremis-enhanced soldiers.
Comic connections: Iron Man: Extremis #1–6; Iron Man #200; Tales of Suspense #50
Connection: Extremis adaptation with Mandarin reinvention
Haunted Logan travels to Japan and is offered mortality amid a clan war.
Comic connections: Wolverine #1–4 (1982); Uncanny X-Men #172–173
Connection: Close adaptation of Miller/Claremont Japan saga
Thor fights Malekith, who seeks to plunge the cosmos into darkness with the Aether.
Comic connections: Thor #344–349; Thor #363–366
Connection: Simonson-era character influence
Clark Kent reveals himself to defend Earth from General Zod’s Kryptonian invasion.
Comic connections: Action Comics #1; Superman: Birthright #1–12; Superman: Secret Origin #1–6; Earth One #1
Connection: Modern origin synthesis
Steve uncovers Hydra inside S.H.I.E.L.D. and learns the Winter Soldier’s identity.
Comic connections: Captain America #1–9, #11–14 (2005); Strange Tales #135–145; Secret Warriors #1–6
Connection: Winter Soldier plus S.H.I.E.L.D. conspiracy synthesis
Peter faces Electro, Harry Osborn and the consequences of the promise he made to Gwen’s father.
Comic connections: The Amazing Spider-Man #9; #121–122; Ultimate Spider-Man #74–85
Connection: Electro and Death of Gwen Stacy synthesis
Wolverine travels to 1973 to prevent an assassination that creates a Sentinel-ruled future.
Comic connections: Uncanny X-Men #141–142; Wolverine #73–74
Connection: Close adaptation with changed cast/time mechanics
Five cosmic misfits unite to stop Ronan from using an Infinity Stone to destroy Xandar.
Comic connections: Annihilation: Conquest #1–6; Guardians of the Galaxy #1–6 (2008); Marvel Super-Heroes #18
Connection: Team/Annihilation-era synthesis
Tony’s peacekeeping AI turns genocidal, forcing the Avengers to confront their own fractures.
Comic connections: Avengers #54–55; Avengers #57–58; Age of Ultron #1–10; Ultron Unlimited (Avengers #19–22)
Connection: Ultron character synthesis, not close to event comic
Thief Scott Lang uses Hank Pym’s shrinking suit to pull off a high-stakes heist.
Comic connections: Tales to Astonish #27, #35; Marvel Premiere #47–48; To Steal an Ant-Man!
Connection: Scott Lang origin adaptation
Young explorers enter another dimension, gain powers and confront their transformed colleague Doom.
Comic connections: Ultimate Fantastic Four #1–6; Fantastic Four #1; Ultimate Fantastic Four #21–23
Connection: Ultimate-origin influence
Mercenary Wade Wilson hunts the man who tortured him and triggered his mutant healing factor.
Comic connections: New Mutants #98; Deadpool: The Circle Chase #1–4; Deadpool #1–33 (1997)
Connection: Character/voice synthesis
The Avengers split over government oversight and Bucky’s alleged crimes.
Comic connections: Civil War #1–7; Captain America #1–14 (2005); Amazing Spider-Man #529–538
Connection: Loose Civil War adaptation plus Winter Soldier
The ancient mutant Apocalypse recruits Horsemen while the young X-Men rally to stop him.
Comic connections: X-Factor #5–6; X-Factor #24–25; Age of Apocalypse: X-Men Alpha #1
Connection: Apocalypse mythology synthesis
Injured surgeon Stephen Strange learns mystic arts and confronts Dormammu’s Dark Dimension.
Comic connections: Strange Tales #110–111, #114–146; Doctor Strange: The Oath #1–5
Connection: Origin synthesis
Batman targets Superman as Lex Luthor engineers their conflict and unleashes Doomsday.
Comic connections: The Dark Knight Returns #1–4; The Death of Superman (Superman #75); Superman: Birthright #1–12
Connection: Multiple landmark arcs synthesized
Imprisoned villains are recruited for a black-ops mission against a supernatural threat.
Comic connections: Legends #3; Suicide Squad #1–8 (1987); New 52 Suicide Squad #1–7
Connection: Team synthesis
An ageing, poisoned Wolverine escorts a young mutant across a hostile near-future.
Comic connections: Wolverine #66–72 and Giant-Size Old Man Logan #1; X-23 #1–6; Death of Wolverine #1–4
Connection: Loose Old Man Logan premise; X-23 influence
Peter meets his celestial father as the Guardians test what family means.
Comic connections: Marvel Preview #4, #11; Guardians of the Galaxy #1–6 (2008); Ego stories in Thor #132–133
Connection: Character synthesis; original plot
Teenage Peter balances school and heroism while pursuing the Vulture’s weapons ring.
Comic connections: The Amazing Spider-Man #2; Ultimate Spider-Man #1–13; Amazing Spider-Man #271
Connection: Character synthesis
Thor, Hulk and Valkyrie escape Sakaar to stop Hela and the destruction of Asgard.
Comic connections: Thor #337–382; Incredible Hulk #92–105 (Planet Hulk); Thor #127–128 (Ragnarok)
Connection: Planet Hulk and Ragnarok synthesis
Diana leaves Themyscira during the First World War to stop Ares’s influence on humanity.
Comic connections: All Star Comics #8; Wonder Woman #1; Gods and Mortals #1–7; The Legend of Wonder Woman #1–9
Connection: Origin synthesis
Batman and Wonder Woman assemble heroes to stop Steppenwolf after Superman’s death.
Comic connections: Justice League of America #1; New 52 Justice League #1–6 (Origin); Fourth World/New Gods #1
Connection: Team and Fourth World synthesis
T’Challa’s rule is challenged by Killmonger, who seeks to weaponise Wakanda’s power.
Comic connections: Fantastic Four #52–53; Jungle Action #6–18; Black Panther #1–12 (1998)
Connection: Origin and Killmonger synthesis
Thanos hunts the Infinity Stones while divided heroes try to stop universal annihilation.
Comic connections: Infinity Gauntlet #1–6; Thanos Quest #1–2; Infinity #1–6
Connection: Major event synthesis
Wade protects a mutant boy from time-travelling soldier Cable and forms X-Force.
Comic connections: New Mutants #87, #98; Cable #1–4; X-Force #1; Uncanny X-Force #1–4
Connection: Character/team synthesis
Scott helps Hope and Hank rescue Janet from the Quantum Realm while pursued by Ghost.
Comic connections: Tales to Astonish #44; Avengers #195–196; Iron Man #219–221
Connection: Character synthesis; original rescue plot
Reporter Eddie Brock bonds with an alien symbiote and fights a more violent offspring.
Comic connections: The Amazing Spider-Man #300; Venom: Lethal Protector #1–6; Planet of the Symbiotes #1–5
Connection: Lethal Protector-inspired
Arthur must claim Atlantis’s throne and stop Orm from waging war on the surface.
Comic connections: Adventure Comics #260; Aquaman #1–6 (2011, The Trench); Throne of Atlantis (Aquaman #14–16, Justice League #15–17)
Connection: New 52 Aquaman synthesis
Vers discovers her human past and the truth behind a Kree–Skrull war.
Comic connections: Marvel Super-Heroes #12–13; Ms. Marvel #1; Captain Marvel #1–6 (2012); The Kree-Skrull War (Avengers #89–97)
Connection: Carol origin and cosmic-war synthesis
The surviving Avengers attempt a time-travel heist to reverse Thanos’s victory.
Comic connections: Infinity Gauntlet #1–6; Avengers Forever #1–12; Infinity #1–6
Connection: Original sequel drawing on event concepts
Jean Grey’s cosmic power destabilises her and divides the X-Men.
Comic connections: Uncanny X-Men #101–108, #129–137 (Dark Phoenix Saga)
Connection: Direct/close adaptation, substantially compressed
Peter’s European trip is hijacked by Mysterio and elemental threats after Tony Stark’s death.
Comic connections: The Amazing Spider-Man #13; Amazing Spider-Man #311; Spider-Men #1–5
Connection: Mysterio character synthesis
Teen Billy Batson gains magical powers and learns heroism through his foster family.
Comic connections: Whiz Comics #2; Shazam! #1–6 (2013); Superman/Shazam!: First Thunder #1–4
Connection: New 52 origin adaptation
Isolated Arthur Fleck descends into violence and becomes a symbol of Gotham’s unrest.
Comic connections: Batman #1; The Killing Joke; The Dark Knight Returns #1–4
Connection: Character/tonal influence; original origin
2020s
Five young mutants trapped in a facility confront manifestations of their fears.
Comic connections: Marvel Graphic Novel #4; New Mutants #18–20 (Demon Bear Saga)
Connection: Demon Bear adaptation
Harley Quinn joins several women against crime boss Roman Sionis.
Comic connections: Birds of Prey #1–8 (1999); Harley Quinn #1–8 (2014); Batman #386–387 (Black Mask)
Connection: Team/character synthesis
Diana confronts Maxwell Lord and Cheetah after a wish-granting artefact distorts reality.
Comic connections: Wonder Woman #7 (Cheetah); Justice League #1 (1987, Maxwell Lord); Wonder Woman #170–176
Connection: Villain/character synthesis
Natasha confronts the Red Room and the surrogate family she left behind.
Comic connections: Black Widow: Deadly Origin #1–4; Black Widow #1–6 (2016); Inhumans #5 (Yelena debut)
Connection: Backstory/character synthesis
Shang-Chi returns to his hidden family world and confronts his father’s dangerous quest.
Comic connections: Special Marvel Edition #15–16; Master of Kung Fu #17–19; Secret Avengers #6–10
Connection: Origin/character synthesis with major reinvention
Eddie and Venom face serial killer Cletus Kasady after he bonds with Carnage.
Comic connections: The Amazing Spider-Man #361–363; Maximum Carnage #1–14; Venom: Carnage Unleashed #1–4
Connection: Carnage-origin synthesis
Immortal beings reunite after centuries to stop Deviants and uncover their true purpose.
Comic connections: Eternals #1–19 and Annual #1 (1976); Eternals #1–12 (2006)
Connection: Kirby/Gaiman mythology synthesis
A failed spell exposes Peter’s identity crisis to villains and heroes from other universes.
Comic connections: Amazing Spider-Man #24; One More Day (#544–545, Friendly Neighborhood #24, Sensational #41); Spider-Verse #1–2
Connection: Loose identity-reset and multiverse synthesis
Batman and Wonder Woman unite Earth’s heroes against Steppenwolf and Darkseid’s invasion.
Comic connections: Justice League #1–6 (2011, Origin); New Gods #1; Final Crisis #1–7; The Death of Superman
Connection: Team/Fourth World synthesis
A new Task Force X invades Corto Maltese and uncovers Project Starfish.
Comic connections: The Brave and the Bold #25; Suicide Squad #1–8 (1987); JLA #22–23 (Starro)
Connection: Silver Age mission plus Ostrander-era team
A doctor’s cure for a blood disease turns him into a living vampire.
Comic connections: The Amazing Spider-Man #101–102; Adventure into Fear #20–31; Morbius #1–9 (1992)
Connection: Origin synthesis
Strange protects America Chavez from a corrupted Wanda across collapsing realities.
Comic connections: Doctor Strange #48–53; Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #1–9; Young Avengers Presents #3
Connection: Character/multiverse synthesis
Thor reunites with Jane Foster, now the Mighty Thor, against the god-killer Gorr.
Comic connections: Thor: God of Thunder #1–11; Mighty Thor #1–23 (2015); Thor #1–8 (2014)
Connection: Two Jason Aaron arcs combined
Wakanda grieves T’Challa and clashes with Namor’s hidden undersea nation.
Comic connections: Fantastic Four #4; Black Panther: World of Wakanda #1–6; Doomwar #1–6
Connection: Namor/Wakanda character synthesis
A second-year Batman hunts the Riddler through a conspiracy rooted in Gotham’s elite.
Comic connections: Batman: Year One #404–407; The Long Halloween #1–13; Batman: Ego; Zero Year #21–27
Connection: Detective-noir synthesis
Ancient champion Teth-Adam awakens and violently challenges foreign control of Kahndaq.
Comic connections: The Marvel Family #1; JSA #21–25; 52 #1–52; Black Adam: The Dark Age #1–6
Connection: Modern antihero/Kahndaq synthesis
The Ant-family is trapped in the Quantum Realm and confronts Kang the Conqueror.
Comic connections: Avengers #8; Fantastic Four #19; Young Avengers #1–6; Kang Dynasty (Avengers #41–55)
Connection: Kang character synthesis
The Guardians race to save Rocket and confront the creator who engineered him.
Comic connections: Rocket Raccoon #1–4 (1985); Annihilators #1–4; Guardians of the Galaxy #1–6 (2008)
Connection: Rocket backstory synthesis
Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan become entangled and must stop a Kree revolutionary.
Comic connections: Ms. Marvel #1 (1977); Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16; Captain Marvel #14–17 (2013); Ms. Marvel #1–5 (2014)
Connection: Three-hero character synthesis
Billy’s foster-family heroes battle the daughters of Atlas over stolen divine power.
Comic connections: Shazam! #1–6 (2013); The Power of Shazam! #1–4; original daughters of Atlas
Connection: Character/family continuation; mostly original plot
Barry alters the past to save his mother and creates a collapsing alternate reality.
Comic connections: Flashpoint #1–5; The Flash #275–284; Batman #21 (The Button)
Connection: Loose Flashpoint adaptation
Jaime Reyes bonds with an alien scarab and defends his family from its corporate owners.
Comic connections: Infinite Crisis #3–5; Blue Beetle #1–6 (2006); Blue Beetle #0–4 (2011)
Connection: Jaime origin adaptation
Arthur allies with Orm to stop Black Manta using a cursed ancient power.
Comic connections: Aquaman #35 (Black Manta); Aquaman #7–13 (2016, Black Manta); Aquaman #0–6 (2011)
Connection: Villain/Atlantis synthesis
A paramedic with clairvoyant powers protects three young women from a future-seeing killer.
Comic connections: The Amazing Spider-Man #210; #229–230; Spider-Woman #1–4 (2020)
Connection: Character synthesis; largely original plot
Deadpool recruits a broken Wolverine to save his timeline from erasure.
Comic connections: Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe #1–4; Old Man Logan #1–5 (2015); Deadpool #27 (2014)
Connection: Multiverse/character synthesis
Eddie and Venom flee human and alien pursuers as their bond becomes the key to a cosmic threat.
Comic connections: Venom #1–6 (2018); King in Black #1–5; Venom: The End #1
Connection: Knull mythology, heavily altered
Sergei Kravinoff becomes a superhuman hunter and turns on his criminal father’s empire.
Comic connections: The Amazing Spider-Man #15; Kraven’s Last Hunt (Web #31–32, ASM #293–294, Spectacular #131–132); Kraven #1–6 (2023)
Connection: Origin reinvention; character influence
Arthur faces trial and a volatile relationship with fellow patient Lee Quinzel.
Comic connections: Batman Adventures #12; The Batman Adventures: Mad Love; Joker (2008 graphic novel)
Connection: Character influence; original sequel
Sam Wilson uncovers a conspiracy around President Ross and a race for a powerful resource.
Comic connections: Captain America #25 (2014); All-New Captain America #1–6; Hulk #1–6 (2008)
Connection: Sam-as-Cap and Red Hulk synthesis
A group of damaged antiheroes is trapped together and forced to confront a government-created superhuman crisis.
Comic connections: Thunderbolts #1–12 (1997); Dark Avengers #1–6; Sentry #1–5 (2000)
Connection: Team/character synthesis; not original team premise
A celebrated superhero family defends its retro-futurist world from the Silver Surfer and Galactus.
Comic connections: Fantastic Four #1; #48–50 (Galactus Trilogy); #242–244; Marvels #2
Connection: Galactus-era synthesis
Superman’s compassion is tested as Lex Luthor exploits global conflict and unleashes engineered threats.
Comic connections: All-Star Superman #1–12; Superman for All Seasons #1–4; Action Comics #775; Superman #4 (Krypto)
Connection: Thematic/character synthesis