10 Comic Masterpieces from the ’90s You Forgot Existed

People often remember the 1990s for its flaws – things like edgy, unlikeable characters and overly elaborate costumes that fans still joke about. But the decade also produced some truly great comics that are still popular today, such as Grant Morrison’s JLA and Kurt Busiek’s Avengers.

Many incredible comics from the ’90s have been overlooked, whether because of shifting storylines or simply because time has passed. Regardless of the reason, these comics are still fantastic and well worth revisiting for any fan of that era.

Kurt Busiek’s Thunderbolts Has One Of The Greatest Twists In Comics History

The Thunderbolts have been reimagined so many times that many people have forgotten about the very first team. It originally formed after a huge battle involving the Avengers and Fantastic Four against a villain called Onslaught, stepping in to fill the void left by the heroes who were missing.

Following a strong debut issue, Thunderbolts surprised readers with a major reveal: these seemingly heroic figures were actually the villainous Masters of Evil. Kurt Busiek’s run on Thunderbolts is considered some of the best superhero writing of the 1990s and provided a significant boost to Marvel during that era.

The Thunderbolts were originally planned as a deceptive scheme, but as the public starts to admire them, the team members find it increasingly difficult to return to their criminal ways. The series is interesting because it explores which of these characters will ultimately choose to become genuine heroes, setting it apart from typical superhero stories.

Leave It To Chance Is An All-Ages Supernatural Adventure Series

Leave It To Chance was a highly successful independent comic book series from the 1990s, winning several prestigious awards including Eisner and Harvey Awards. Unfortunately, the series was short-lived, running for only twelve issues, though a thirteenth issue was eventually released three years later to provide some resolution for readers.

This comic tells the story of Chance Falconer, a teen eager to become a supernatural investigator like her father, Lucas. When Lucas won’t teach her, Chance strikes out on her own, using everything she’s learned from watching him to solve mysteries.

Alan Moore’s Supreme Offered Modernized Silver Age Superman Stories

Few people recall Supreme, so many don’t know that Alan Moore created a truly exceptional “Superman”-style story in the mid-1990s. Supreme started as a Superman imitation by Rob Liefeld, designed to match the action-packed style popular in comics at the time.

Alan Moore was eventually allowed to fully develop the character, working with artists Joe Bennett, Rick Veitch, and Chris Sprouse. The resulting series foreshadowed many of the themes and ideas later seen in All-Star Superman.

Moore cleverly used the shifting history of Supreme to reimagine the character, creating a version much like the classic Superman from the Silver Age. This new take offered readers a heroic and inspiring story.

Strangers in Paradise Was One Of The Biggest Indie Comics Of All Time

Terry Moore’s Strangers in Paradise was once incredibly popular. It was a major comic book title in the 1990s and early 2000s, but with so many changes in the comics world, it’s not talked about as much now.

Unlike many superhero comics, Strangers in Paradise focuses on realistic, relatable characters with all their imperfections. These characters don’t always do what’s right; they act as people often do – making choices based on the situation and then facing the consequences.

At first glance, Strangers in Paradise seems like a typical everyday story, but those who continue reading will discover it surprisingly evolves into other types of genres.

Flex Mentallo Shows Love For Every Age Of Superheroes

Flex Mentallo is a fantastic, but often overlooked, comic book series created by the acclaimed Grant Morrison. The character first appeared in Morrison’s Doom Patrol, and later starred in a short, four-issue series of his own in the 1990s that was truly exceptional.

Flex Mentallo starts with a seemingly straightforward case, but it quickly expands into a mission to help his creator and ultimately save both of their worlds. While anyone who enjoys comics can appreciate this story, it’s particularly rewarding for dedicated fans.

Each issue of Flex Mentallo playfully revisits different periods in comic book history, spanning from the early days of superheroes to the grittier styles of the late 80s and early 90s. The series is a clear love letter to the superhero genre, and it’s known for having one of the most optimistic and uplifting conclusions in comics.

The Golden Age Presented The Justice Society In A Modern Light

Before the Justice Society of America regained its popularity, DC Comics released The Golden Age, a four-part series by James Robinson and Paul Smith. This series reimagined the team’s classic, cheerful adventures with a more serious and dramatic tone.

Published early in DC’s Elseworlds series, The Golden Age is still considered a standout story. It explores the lives of DC’s heroes – both well-known and lesser-known – as they adjust to postwar life and the growing fear of McCarthyism.

Even with a darker feel, the series still portrays the main JSA characters as heroes, even when dealing with the negativity of the 1950s. Plus, it includes one of the most exciting battles in JSA history, showing newer fans what makes these characters so popular.

Supergirl Was Different From Kara Zor-El For A Time

As a huge DC fan, it always frustrated me that we didn’t get Supergirl – Kara Zor-El – for most of the ’90s! Apparently, some choices were made behind the scenes that prevented her from appearing. Instead, we got Matrix, who was basically a clone of Superman made from his DNA. It wasn’t the Supergirl story I was hoping for, honestly.

During the period after the ‘Crisis’ event in DC Comics, the character Matrix initially portrayed Supergirl. However, the comic truly excelled when writer Peter David combined Matrix with the human character Linda Danvers. This new version of Supergirl, set in the suburban town of Leesburg, uniquely blended the charm of small-town life with traditional superhero stories, resulting in a critically acclaimed and exceptionally well-written series.

This recent take on Supergirl explored her human history and allowed her to grow as a character, quickly making her popular with fans. Despite the consistently high quality of the comic series, it wasn’t remembered for very long after Supergirl was brought back into the main DC Universe.

Post-Zero Hour Legion of Super-Heroes Is The Most Approachable Version Of The Team

The Legion of Super-Heroes can be tricky for new fans because there are so many characters and the series has been restarted multiple times. But if you’re looking for a good place to start, the version of the Legion that came out after the “Zero Hour” event is ideal.

This Legion comic differs from many others by introducing characters slowly. Instead of overwhelming readers with a large cast immediately, it shows how new members fit in with the existing team before adding more.

Building on the rich history of the original Legion, the Legion of Super-Heroes comics of the 1990s successfully reinvented the team, making it popular again by bringing back classic characters and storylines.

The Untold Tales of Spider-Man Offered More Classic Era Spider-Man Comics

In the late 1990s, Marvel wanted to make Spider-Man more accessible to new and old fans alike. They achieved this with Kurt Busiek and Pat Olliffe’s The Untold Tales of Spider-Man, a series that expanded the character’s history without rewriting existing storylines or creating a separate universe.

Published early in Spider-Man’s run, The Untold Tales felt like a fresh take on the classic Silver Age stories. Because the main Spider-Man comics were so difficult to follow back then, The Untold Tales would have been successful even if they hadn’t been particularly great.

These comics still hold up incredibly well, feeling just as fresh now as they did in the 1990s. Featuring the familiar crew from the Daily Bugle and a great combination of well-known and new villains, The Untold Tales perfectly captures the spirit of a classic, young Spider-Man story.

Martian Manhunter Was J’onn’s First Solo Comic

Martian Manhunter has consistently been a difficult character to feature in his own comic book series. While he’s a central and vital member of the Justice League, J’onn J’onzz hasn’t often been able to capture readers’ attention for an extended period.

The 1998 ongoing Martian Manhunter comic series was the most popular solo title the character ever had. It really helped define what sets J’onn apart from heroes like Superman who share similar abilities.

The story shows J’onn using his ability to change appearance to create different identities all over the world. It portrays him as a powerful and essential member of the Justice League, sending him on exciting adventures across the globe.

2025-12-19 01:47