Marvel's heroes are the most popular superheroes around. While the MCU plays a big role in this, Marvel has long controlled the top sales spot in the superhero comic industry. The great thing about the publisher's heroes is how different they are. From science heroes to patriotic ones, the most popular Marvel heroes also achieve epic wins.
The greatest Marvel heroes all have wracked up impressive wins against a variety of foes, proving that they're the cream of the crop. Wins against threats like the Phoenix Force, Apocalypse and even Galactus stand out more than others, though.
10 Scarlet Witch
Greatest Victory: Defeating Dark Phoenix Cyclops Alongside Hope Summer In Avengers Vs. X-Men #12
Scarlet Witch has been a Marvel staple for years, fighting alongside the Avengers. She hasn't had many solo adventures, and most of her victories either come as a member of that group or as a villain. In fact, her most well-known act - the genocide of the mutant race - is often what many fans think of first when they hear her name.
However, she also helped undo that terrible thing. In Avengers vs. X-Men #12, by writer Jason Aaron and artist Adam Kubert, Scarlet Witch was instrumental in helping Hope Summers strip Cyclops of the Phoenix Force. Then, the two of them combined their powers to rekindle the mutant race.
9 Jean Grey
Greatest Victory: Overcoming The Phoenix Force In Phoenix Resurrection: The Return Of Jean Grey #5
Jean Grey is an iconic X-Man, but she's more known for dying than winning. Her last death was her longest, and she returned in Phoenix Resurrection: The Return of Jean Grey, where the Phoenix Force brought her back as its perfect host. Issue five, by writer Matthew Rosenberg and artists Leinil Yu and Joe Bennet, saw her fighting a familiar battle - trying to overcome the Phoenix Force.
This wasn't a physical battle, but it was still a fight for her soul. Jean had been able to control the Phoenix Force before, but her resurrection saw the Phoenix try to tailor her to what it needed. Jean was able to overcome it, remembering who she was and denying the Phoenix and its power.
8 Cyclops
Greatest Victory: Destroying Apocalypse In X-Factor (Vol. 1) #68
Cyclops has been the leader of the X-Men since he was a teenager. After Jean Grey's return to life, he came back from retirement and formed X-Factor, reuniting the five original X-Men. The team often fought Apocalypse, a battle that was made intensely personal when the ancient mutant kidnapped Cyclops's son Nathan and gave him a techno-organic virus.
The team went to rescue the boy in X-Factor (Vol. 1) #68, by writers Jim Lee, Whilce Potracio, and Chris Claremont and artist Potracio. After fighting their way to Apocalypse, who wanted to use the boy to gain more power, Cyclops unleashed a superlatively powerful optic blast, destroying Apocalypse.
7 The Hulk
Greatest Victory: Defeating The One Below All In The Immortal Hulk #50
The Hulk is the self-proclaimed strongest there is, but even his power came from somewhere. The Immortal Hulk saw him struggle through a new gamma mutation, before discovering the true source of his power - the One Below All. A twisted mirror of the One Above All, this entity existed to throw down all that existed, trying to bring it all into the Below Place.
The Hulk - along with Bruce Banner and Joe Fixit - and reporter Jackie McGee found themselves in the Below Place, trying to figure out a way to stop the One Below All. It wasn't a battle they could win with their fists, but their wits, and after defeating the Leader, they were able to hold off the One Below All long enough for the One Above All to end his threat.
6 Thor
Greatest Victory: Killing Galactus In The Mighty Thor: Herald Of None
At the beginning of The Mighty Thor: Herald of None, by writer Donny Cates and artist Nic Klein, Thor had already gained the power of the Odin Force, as he was leader of Asgard. He'd gain another upgrade when Galactus came to him for help, becoming the World Devourer's Herald and getting the Power Cosmic.
It turned out the threat Galactus warned them off wasn't that bad. Thor, incensed at being forced to work with Galactus, lashed out at the cosmic giant. With his combined power enhancements, he was able to destroy Galactus.
5 Daredevil
Greatest Victory: Defeating Kingpin In Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil and Kingpin's war has led to many battles. The most desperate the fight ever got for Daredevil was in Daredevil: Born Again, by writer Frank Miller and artist David Mazzucchelli. Kingpin learned Daredevil's secret identity from his drug addicted ex-girlfriend, Karen Page, and set out to destroy Matt Murdock's life.
However, losing everything just made Daredevil more dangerous. He was able to come back from the brink, save Page, and finally went after Kingpin. In a brutal, no-holds barred battle, Daredevil showed Kingpin that a man with nothing left to lose was the most dangerous man of all.
4 Wolverine
Greatest Victory: Defeating Shingen Yashida In Wolverine (Vol. 1) #1-4
Wolverine is Marvel's toughest mutant, and has had many big victories over the years, even saving the X-Men and Avengers. However, his biggest victory is much smaller scale. In 1982's Wolverine (Vol. 1) #1-4, by writer Chris Claremont and artist Frank Miller, Wolverine found himself in Japan facing off against Shingen Yashida in order to save his girlfriend - and Shingen's daughter - Mariko.
Shingen wiped the floor with Wolverine the first time they fought, because Wolverine fought him like an animal. After training with the wild ninja Yukio, Wolverine came back and fought Shingen again. This time, he fought smart and won. He proved that he could be more than a berserker, both to Shingen and himself.
3 Iron Man
Greatest Victory: Defeating Mallen In Iron Man: Extremis
Iron Man: Extremis, by writer Warren Ellis and artist Adi Granov, saw Iron Man face his greatest challenge. The Extremis virus, secretly created by Maya Hansen and Adrian Killian, made humans into powerful weapons of war. The most powerful of the infected was known as Mallen, and he trounced Iron Man in their first fight.
Even Stark's best technology couldn't help him in the battle. He had to infect himself with Extremis, which allowed him to interface with his armor better, and only then was he able to defeat Mallen. It was a harrowing victory and proved how far Stark would go to win.
2 Captain America
Greatest Victory: Saving The Winter Soldier
Captain America's greatest victory is less about winning a fight and more about saving his friend. In Captain America: Winter Soldier, by writer Ed Brubaker and artists Steve Epting and Mike Perkins, Captain America found him face to face with the Winter Soldier, the Soviet Union's greatest assassin. However, he made a terrible - and wonderful - discovery: the Winter Soldier was Bucky.
Cap made it his business to help his old friend, doing his best to break the Soviet programming that controlled his old partner. He was eventually able to save his old friend, allowing him to reform. Cap got his oldest friend back, which was a greater triumph than winning any fight.
1 Spider-Man
Greatest Victory: Defeating Morlun And The Inheritors In Spider-Verse
In his 60-year existence, Spider-Man has had many amazing victories. Spider-Man is known for punching above his weight class, but one villain he had a problem with was Morlun. He was terrible enough on his own, but Morlun was just one of Inheritors, a multiversal group of energy vampires who hunted Spider-Men and Women.
This was the set-up for Spider-Verse, a massive Spider-Man event book. Teaming up with Spiders from around the multiverse, Spider-Man defeated Morlun and the Inheritors.