Every week, a secret cabal of Marvel staffers gathers to discuss the best of the best when it comes to the House of Ideas.
In a decade that has seen the Avengers Disassembled, Civil War break out, a Secret Invasion thwarted, and a Dark Reign fall and much more, the Marvel Universe's stalwart heroes have stood strong, doing whatever it takes to see that justice ultimately prevails.
This week, the Secret Cabal pays tribute to Marvel's greatest heroes from 2000 to 2009.
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. DEADPOOL
First Appearance: NEW MUTANTS #98 (1990)
Learn More About Him...here
Decade Highlights: Helped to save New York City from an invasion of symbiotic-possessed Savage Land creatures; Provided Nick Fury with key information to help thwart the Skrull invasion; Defeated Bullseye and forced him to pay him in order to stay away from Norman Osborn
Why He Makes the List: Yeah, we're a bit confused as to how Wade Wilson weaseled his way onto this list too, but the fact is, the guy has spent the better part of the past 10 years trying to do the right thing and discover the hero within...when he's not bumping off targets for cash. Deadpool formed a friendship with Cable that inspired him to try harder at doing the right thing, though his attempts often went more than awry. Still, 'Pool did help stop the Skrull invasion and has been a constant thorn in Norman Osborn's side, so give him credit for that.
Spotlight Comic: CABLE & DEADPOOL #45-The Merc With a Mouth heads back in time for a team-up with Captain America!
9. LUKE CAGE
First Appearance: HERO FOR HIRE #1 (1972)
Learn More About Him...here
Decade Highlights: Joins the Avengers; Marries Jessica Jones shortly after gives birth to their daughter; Assumes unofficial leadership of the Avengers for a period following Civil War
Why He Makes the List: At the dawn of this decade, nobody thought too long about Luke Cage, the former Power Man who had distinguished himself as a self-proclaimed "Hero for Hire," doing good at a price. Luke's life changed when he met Jessica Jones, the damaged super-powered private investigator who won his heart, as both made each other better people. Cage's inner nobility showed through as he earned a place among Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the Avengers, even leading the team for a period, and the respect of all those around him.
Spotlight Comic: NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL #1-The marriage of Luke Cage and Jessica Jones!
8. WOLVERINE
First Appearance: INCREDIBLE HULK #180 (1974)
Learn More About Him...here
Decade Highlights: Joins the Avengers; Regains his full memories following the House of M event; Founds and leads the new covert X-Force strike team at Cyclops' behest
Why He Makes the List: Wolverine struggled through a pivotal and painful decade that saw the revelation of his true origins as well as the discovery of an unknown son who wanted to kill him, but through all the hardships, Logan carried on, maintaining more than a full-time schedule. Working alongside both the X-Men and Avengers as well as leading the new X-Force, Wolverine went wherever the action was and did his best to balance the scales of a long and bloody past. As always, what he did wasn't always nice, but the ol' Canucklehead still does it best.
Spotlight Comic: WOLVERINE: MANIFEST DESTINY #1-Logan returns to San Francisco's Chinatown to settle a decades-old debt!
7. NOVA
First Appearance: NOVA #1 (1976)
Learn More About Him...here
Decade Highlights: Defeats Annihilus, nearly single-handedly halting his Annihilation Wave; Fights off a Phalanx infection and manages to recruit Warlock in the battle against Ultron; Re-forms the Nova Corps
Why He Makes the List: As he put it when visiting Earth post-Civil War and confronting Iron Man, while most of our heroes were fighting amongst themselves, Nova was busy saving the universe. Prior to the events of Annihilation, Richard Rider was a young man still looking to find his place in the universe, but after surviving the destruction of the Nova Corps, leading a war against Annihilus and ultimately defeating the Negative Zone tyrant one-on-one, the Human Rocket found himself more powerful than ever, but with even more to prove.
Spotlight Comic: NOVA #1 (2007)-In the wake of the Annihilation War, Nova faces his new reality as the galaxy's number one lawman!
6. SPIDER-MAN
First Appearance: AMAZING FANTASY #15 (1962)
Learn More About Him...here
Decade Highlights: Fends off the threat of Morlun and temporarily gains new abilities; Joins the Avengers; Publicizes evidence helping to taint the image of long-time enemy Norman Osborn
Why He Makes the List: Spider-Man has never had it easy, and this decade proved no exception, as Peter Parker found himself caught in the center of a Civil War, sacrificed the memory of his marriage to save a loved one, and saw his most hated foe, Norman Osborn, rise to power. However, on the bright side, Spidey also joined the Avengers, learned more about his origin and powers than ever before, and walked his beloved Aunt May down the aisle. Moving forward, Spider-Man has already begun to plant the seeds he hopes will bring Osborn down, and through peaks and valleys alike will continue using his great power to answer his greater responsibility.
Spotlight Comic: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #500-Spidey must battle through an approximation of his greatest foes to help Doctor Strange save Earth!
5. MS. MARVEL
First Appearance: MARVEL SUPER-HEROES #13 (1967)
Learn More About Her...here
Decade Highlights: Emerges from the House of M reality with a new sense of dedication to being "the best of the best"; Named leader of the Mighty Avengers; Founds Operation: Lightning Storm, dedicated to stopping super villains before they become global threats
Why She Makes the List: It may have taken a side-trip to an alternate reality where she became Earth's greatest hero, but Carol Danvers chose to make herself all she could be this decade as Ms. Marvel, as an Avenger and as a hero. Not waiting for the good fight to come to her, Ms. Marvel proactively sought out threats and worked overtime proving she deserved to be counted among the Marvel Universe's most respected champions. Even mired in the murk of Norman Osborn's Dark Reign and ostensibly replaced by the villainous Moonstone, Carol struck back and refused to relinquish her hard-fought mantel without a fight.
Spotlight Comic: MIGHTY AVENGERS #1-Ms. Marvel leads her new Avengers team into their first mission!
4. CYCLOPS
First Appearance: UNCANNY X-MEN #1 (1963)
Learn More About Him...here
Decade Highlights: Following the death of Jean Grey, becomes co-headmaster of the Xavier Institute; Organizes the move of the X-Men to San Francisco; Outwits Norman Osborn and sets up the island of Utopia as a haven for mutants
Why He Makes the List: For years, Scott Summers served as the most devoted student and follower of Charles Xavier's dream, but this decade Cyclops became undoubtedly his own man and a dreamer in his own right. Gathering himself following the death of his wife, Jean Grey, Summers steeled himself with new love Emma Frost and steered through revelations that Professor X had kept harsh secrets from his X-Men by holding the team together and ultimately relocating them to San Francisco. Now the de factor spokesperson not only for the X-Men but the mutant race, Cyclops has secured the accepting home for his people even Xavier never could.
Spotlight Comic: UNCANNY X-MEN #498-Cyclops plunges into a psychedelic San Francisco in the hopes of saving the city and his X-Men teammates!
3. CAPTAIN AMERICA (Bucky Barnes)
First Appearance: CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #1 (1941)
Learn More About Him...here
Decade Highlights: With the help of Steve Rogers, shakes off his mental conditioning as the Winter Soldier; With Rogers presumed dead, becomes the new Captain America; Helps to fend off the Skrull invasion and joins the Avengers
Why He Makes the List: Arguably no greater legacy exists in the Marvel Universe than that of Captain America, a proud role embodied with perfection for years by Steve Rogers. However, when Rogers fell following Civil War, the shield needed to be picked up, and the onus fell on his one-time sidekick, Bucky Barnes. Only months removed from a decades-long hell as the mind-controlled Soviet assassin the Winter Soldier, Bucky nonetheless rose to the challenge and has done his best to make Steve proud. While his methods may not be the most traditional, Bucky Barnes has done the seeming impossible and shown that more than one man can lay claim to being Captain America.
Spotlight Comic: CAPTAIN AMERICA #35 (2008)-Bucky Barnes undertakes his first mission as the new Captain America!
2. CAPTAIN AMERICA (Steve Rogers)
First Appearance: CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #1 (1941)
Learn More About Him...here
Decade Highlights: Following the disbanding of the Avengers, rallies a new team; Restores the Winter Soldier's memories as Bucky; After being presumed dead, escapes being stranded in the timestream by the Red Skull
Why He Makes the List: Steve Rogers' ideals were tested perhaps like never before this decade, and ultimately he stood by them with his very life. Despite best friend Iron Man and many others standing up for Super Human Registration, Captain America refused to fall in line, feeling the act violated civil liberties, and organized an underground movement against his former allies. However, proving himself a true man of the people, Rogers gave up his end of the Civil War and surrendered despite still believing himself in the right when the common man spoke out in favor of Registration. Tragically, it seemed Rogers was struck down by an assassin's bullet following his capitulation, but he recently escaped what turned out to be a trap by archenemy the Red Skull and one of the Marvel Universe's greatest heroes has returned to action.
Spotlight Comic: CAPTAIN AMERICA #5 (2005)-Steve Rogers relives a decades-old mission with the Invaders in hopes of unlocking mysteries in the present!
1. IRON MAN
First Appearance: TALES OF SUSPENSE #39 (1963)
Learn More About Him...here
Decade Highlights: Appointed United States Secretary of Defense; "Wins" Civil War, institutes Super Hero Registration, establishes the 50 State Initiative and becomes Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.; Founds the Mighty Avengers
Why He Makes the List: The truest of heroes are the ones who sacrifice at all cost for the greater good, and that's what Tony Stark at least believed in his heart he did this decade. Despite his actions turning many of his longtime friends and colleagues against him, Iron Man chose to enforce the divisive Super Human Registration Act at the behest of public opinion and took on massive responsibilities as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. When Dark Reign fell upon the Marvel Universe and Norman Osborn tore S.H.I.E.L.D. apart, Tony chose to sacrifices his own amazing mind rather than give up the information on other heroes' civilian identities entrusted to him. Though he may end the day alone, deprived even of his own genius, Iron Man can rest knowing he did all he could to protect the innocent.
Spotlight Comic: IRON MAN #4 (2005)-Tony Stark unlocks the secrets of Extremis!
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Nova should be #1. he saved the universe
:02a8fe2b36="thause77"]Nova rules!Recognize!word.I guess thats all I had to say, sorry.I am going to stop typing now.go nova.later[/quote:02a8fe2b36]Look at that..Nova made the list!!!!!!!!!
Nick Fury should be on the list without question. If he hadn't been there to train the secret warriors and organize the rest of the avengers after the skrulls attacked new york, the skrulls probably would have won overall in secret invasion. Stark and richards were totally incapacitated. Fury was the only one who held it together and kept everyone on the same page. Also, if Fury hadn't ...
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Nick Fury should be on the list without question. If he hadn't been there to train the secret warriors and organize the rest of the avengers after the skrulls attacked new york, the skrulls probably would have won overall in secret invasion. Stark and richards were totally incapacitated. Fury was the only one who held it together and kept everyone on the same page. Also, if Fury hadn't started the secret war and gone underground, no one probably would have discovered the skrull infiltration of shield, and the subsequent control of shield by Hydra. He's basically the man with the plan.
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I seem to remember Tony originally going against the proposed SHRA. Right until Mr. Fantastic convinced him otherwise with his math. If only he could've stopped listening to the math, and listened to the feeling behind Cap, pretty much the entire decade would've been different. While I completely agree that Tony's stubborness and willingness to sacrifice for what he believes in is truly ...
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I seem to remember Tony originally going against the proposed SHRA. Right until Mr. Fantastic convinced him otherwise with his math. If only he could've stopped listening to the math, and listened to the feeling behind Cap, pretty much the entire decade would've been different. While I completely agree that Tony's stubborness and willingness to sacrifice for what he believes in is truly commendable and demands respect, his unwillingness to listen and back down because of his ego is truly damaging to his character. (Not story character, but personable character) Cap, beyond a shadow of a doubt in my mind, should be the number 1 hero of the decade because, more than any other fictional character, he relates to real life. The entire Civil War story arc was based on and designed to show the real debate of the Partiot Act in America after the aftermath of the Twin Towers. The debate between protection and personal freedom, privacy and independence. Caps side is the one of freedom, privacy and independence, and Iron Man's is the one of protection and safety. This is a debate of opinion and will always be such, and as such must always be a balance. Cap was advocating that balance, and Iron Man was advocating to much of his side. I made a post in the MUA board that I'll quote because I'm lazy and don't feel like typing it all over again::17f81ba623]One of the most prominent reasons is simply because having powers forces you to be a government employee, and worse under a militaristic rule, that is to say, if you disagree with your boss, you get courtmartialed. You have no choice in this matter. To me, that instantly equates slavery. Correlating this to gun ownership is flawed. A gun can be taken away, a genetic mutation, or changes in physiology cannot. You can't simply decide to not use your abilities under the SHRA, you are FORCED to work for the government, regardless if you wanted to just live your life normally or not. Second, this country was truly founded on personal freedom, no personal safety. If it was founded on safety we would never have gone to war for our freedom, because war obviously isn't safe. Third, the explosion was not caused by a hero, it was caused by Nitro. No matter how it's twisted and turned, those people were killed by Nitro. Not Speedball, not Namorita, not the other new warriors, they were killed by Nitro. Don't place the blame on anyone but him. The SHRA is the philosophically the same as forcing all african-americans to be cops because african-americans are genetically inclined to be faster, stronger and more physically capable. Regardless of whether they choose to be cops or not, they would be forced to simply because they're better at it? Also, to say that the heroes families are safe because only the government and military know their identities is extremely false. The government is RIDDLED with holes in terms of information security. What's to stop a disgruntled S.H.I.E.L.D. or S.W.O.R.D. or FBI or CIA agent or even a simple cop from figuring out that Thing's girl is a blind chick named Alicia Masters who lives in NYC and stopping by to put a bullet in her? Not much, because there are any number of supervillians that can easily buy or hack that information if it was spread into the governments infrastructure. When you add in the wonderful cake of imprisoning heroes without trial in a place that's not even in this dimension, something that is incredibly unconstitutional, it's beyond glaringly obvious how wrong the registration act is to me.[/quote:17f81ba623]This is my reasoning against the SHRA that Tony so fervently enforced. I agree that he should be on this list, but Cap IS number 1. His prominence is showing why America fought for it's own indepence, and how that act is in direct opposition to it. And he did not give up until he saw that it was simply costing to much. To me, giving up one of your strongest ideals only because you saw it leading to less loss of life than standing up for them is both incredibly noble and sad. Yet, stooping to the means that Tony did to enforce his beliefs regardless of the loss of life or morality is using the statement, the ends justify the means, and when your means completely destroy the ends, then it's wrong.I do agree with most of the rest of the list though I would put Cable on it somewhere, what with the whole trying to save the world from itself thing. Probably above Wolvie and right below Deadpool.
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:3e330f5b84="JerryLee"]And now seriously, we are going to give the real list:1. Thor2. Captain America (Steve Rogers)3. Iron Man4. Captain America (Bucky)5. Dare Devil6. Ciclope7. The Thing8. Spiderman9. Wolverine10.Hulk (Malver also can be wrong) :twisted:[/quote:3e330f5b84]I agree with this, except cyclops. I would put Punisher in his place