Every week, a secret cabal of Marvel staffers gathers to discuss the best of the best when it comes to the House of Ideas.It's that time of year again, when Marvel Zombies, Green Goblins and Werewolves By Night can roam the streets unobtrusively seeking treats or looking to trick-it's Halloween!
This week, the Secret Cabal braved all locations from the hills of Transylvania to the depths of the underworld to bring you what promises to be the most terrifying Take 10 of them all!
For each character you get the quick rundown as well as a special spotlight comic courtesy of Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited.
As always, these picks reflect the personal choices of the Secret Cabal, not the official opinion of Marvel or Marvel.com, and can be considered subjective at best. Enjoy!
10. FRANKENSTEIN'S MONSTER
First Appearance: SILVER SURFER #7 (1969)
Why He Makes the List: Mary Shelley's most famous creation has had a colorful history in the Marvel Universe as both a hero and villain, teaming with the likes of Spider-Man and Iron Man, but also serving as a pawn against the Avengers in Kang's Legion of the Unliving. An intelligent clone of the Monster recently served in Nick Fury's Howling Commandos unit, showing a whole new side to the beast.
Spotlight Comic: UNCANNY X-MEN #40-The X-Men take on Frankenstein's Monster-or do they?
9. SALEM'S SEVEN
First Appearance: FANTASTIC FOUR #186 (1977)
Why They Make the List: The grandchildren of Agatha Harkness and children of Nicholas Scratch each by different mothers, the assorted and bizarre siblings of Salem's Seven comprise one of the Marvel Universe's strangest "teams." Based out of New Salem, Colorado, a hidden haven for witches, the Seven have attempted to use their shape-shifting abilities and other occult powers multiple times against their grandmother, but run up against tough opposition in the Fantastic Four, Vision and Scarlet Witch.
Spotlight Comic: 4 #25-Salem's Seven attempts to resurrect their father, Nicholas Scratch!
8. THE MARVEL ZOMBIES
First Appearance: ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #21 (2005)
Why They Make the List: Imagine a world where Spider-Man, the Hulk and Captain America don't want to save your life-they want to eat your brains! This is the world of Marvel Zombies, where a plague carried from another dimension by the Sentry has transformed the most beloved heroes and feared villains of the Marvel Universe into the insatiable undead, caught up in a never-ending war for any available fresh flesh.
Spotlight Comic: MARVEL ZOMBIES: DEAD DAYS #1-Witness the rise of the Marvel Zombies!
7. MAN-THING
First Appearance: SAVAGE TALES #1 (1971)
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: Betrayed by his wife to A.I.M. while working to recreate the Super Soldier Serum responsible for transforming Steve Rogers into Captain America, Ted Sallis injected himself with the only sample and crashed into a chemical-doused swamp in the Florida Everglades, emerging as the monstrous plant creature called the Man-Thing. Unable to speak, Man-Thing's sole form of communication is burning anybody around him who knows fear. Since his inception, Man-Thing has been involved in a series of bizarre mystical adventures, becoming guardian to the Nexus of All Realities and teaming with odd characters like the sorceress Jennifer Kale and Howard the Duck.
Spotlight Comic: LEGION OF MONSTERS: MAN-THING #1-A fear-filled thriller starring Man-Thing!
6. WEREWOLF BY NIGHT
First Appearance: MARVEL SPOTLIGHT #2 (1972)
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: The victim of a mystical curse extending far back into his family's lineage, Jack Russell wanders the Marvel Universe a helpless puppet to the feral creature who shares his body each full moon. Much like the Hulk, Werewolf By Night has tried to do heroic deeds, but his primary concern is keeping his uncontrollable alter ego away from his loved ones and any other innocents, not always succeeding.
Spotlight Comic: LEGION OF MONSTERS: WEREWOLF BY NIGHT #1-Jack Russell tears through the Marvel Universe!
5. MORBIUS
First Appearance: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #101 (1971)
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: Few monsters of Marvel have as tragic a story as that of Doctor Michael Morbius, a brilliant biochemist who attempted to cure himself of a rare blood disease and instead became transformed into a "Living Vampire," complete with pasty skin, nasty fangs, an inability to stomach light and an insatiable lust for blood. In his first appearance, Morbius savagely battled Spider-Man, but has since played hero, villain and every role in between, all the while seeking to reverse his affliction. Currently, Morbius leads the Midnight Sons team against supernatural menaces in another attempt to balance the scales for his past sins.
Spotlight Comic: VAMPIRE TALES #2-Night of the Living Vampire!
4. DRACULA
First Appearance: SUSPENSE #7 (1951)
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: Really we shouldn't have to sell you on why Dracula is cool given that he's, y'know, Dracula, but aside from his innate appeal, the original Lord of the Vampires has also made a great villain for the Marvel Universe. Drac has given the X-Men some of their most emotional battles, nearly seducing Storm along the way, and came extremely close to conquering all of Britain before being stopped just short by MI13. Whether he's teaming with Doctor Doom or making life hell for Blade, Dracula is ruthlessly relentless, a brilliant strategist, and a monster who never hesitates to exploit any weakness to gain what he wants, making him one of the most horrific threats our heroes can imagine.
Spotlight Comic: STOKER'S DRACULA #1-The Lord of the Vampires at his most menacing!
3. GHOST RIDER (Danny Ketch)
First Appearance: GHOST RIDER #1 (1990)
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: Many of the creatures on this list are cursed or tortured by forces beyond their own control, but Danny Ketch is very much a monster of his own making. Once upon a time, Ketch was just an average New Yorker, until the death of his sister led to his assuming the mantel of Ghost Rider and becoming one of the Marvel Universe's more unorthodox heroes. For years, Danny dreamed of being free from his responsibilities as the Spirit of Vengeance, but upon losing his connection, became an addict for his former power and a pawn for Zadkiel against his own brother and fellow Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze. A likeable everyman who rose high and fell hard, Danny Ketch is a tragic but compelling cautionary tale.
Spotlight Comic: GHOST RIDER: DANNY KETCH #1-The story behind Danny Ketch's fall from grace!
2. SON OF SATAN
First Appearance: GHOST RIDER #1 (1973)
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: The scion of the devil himself as a super hero? Yep, it's true; in the Marvel Universe, Daimon Hellstrom, Lucifer's little boy, put on a red and yellow costume to join the Defenders, romance Hellcat, and fight for the good of humanity. Since those innocent days, Daimon's existence has experienced twists and turns aplenty, from his mortal wife Patsy's suicide and resurrection, to his time displacing dear old dad in Hell, to his current role aiding the brothers Ghost Rider in opposing the rogue angel Zadkiel. Regardless of what he's up to or where his loyalties lie, the Son of Satan remains a curious figure who lives between worlds and outside conventional morality.
Spotlight Comic: MARVEL ZOMBIES 4 #1-Daimon Hellstrom joins the Midnight Sons!
1. BLADE
First Appearance: TOMB OF DRACULA #10 (1973)
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: Blade doesn't just hunt vampires, he makes hunting vampires bad ass on a whole new level. Yeah, slaying the undead has always been pretty cool, but this half-vampire, half-human, all-awesome bloodsucker-battling engine of justice brings a style and panache to the profession often imitated, but never duplicated. Eric Brooks' tale has plenty of tragedy-primarily the death of his mother during his own birth at the hands of the vampire Deacon Frost-but with his trademark leather and shades, he'll never let you see him shed a tear. Joining Captain Britain's MI13 team recently and romancing Spitfire has added a whole new dimension to the already complex Blade.
Spotlight Comic: BLADE #4 (2006)-The Daywalker hunts the most dangerous vampire of them all: Santa Claus!
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