Secret Invasion has finally premiered on Disney+ as the MCU's latest blockbuster TV series, playing on the shocking identity twists from the comic book source material. It's giving the likes of Samuel Jackson's Nick Fury and Cobie Smulders' Maria Hill a shot at the spotlight without Captain America or the Avengers, but the comics have a history of these plot revelations across its iconic roster.
Some identity twists have long since become common knowledge in pop culture but were groundbreaking for their time. Green Goblin's reveal is one example, while the new Daredevil's alter ego is much more niche.
10 The New Daredevil
Daredevil: End Of Days
Alongside Marvel contemporaries like Spider-Man, the Man Without Fear famously leads a grueling life. And while it's an alternate-timeline tale, End of Days is among Daredevil's darkest comics. In this bleak timeline, Daredevil is brutally murdered by Bullseye in the opening pages, but no one seems to care.
However, there's still a Devil running around Hell's Kitchen, and it's revealed to be the late reporter Ben Urich's adopted son. Alternate timeline or not, this was a shocking and somber reveal, as it builds on Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev's early run on the mainline Daredevil book.
9 The Woman In Red
Spider-Man: One More Day
Retcons and continuity contradictions are frustrating aspects of comics. However, many longtime fans are relieved that One More Day is non-canon to the mainline Spider-Man continuity. But as cruel as it was, the reveal of the woman in red's persona was a stunning revelation.
Peter struggles with his Aunt May dying, collaborating with Doctor Strange to try and save her. A woman in red claims to possess the power to solve his problem, revealing herself to be the demon Mephisto. In a "deal with the devil" turn of events, Peter sacrifices his marriage in exchange for saving May's life.
8 Spider-Man Clones
Spider-Man: Clone Saga
Though not as maligned as One More Day, the Clone Saga is still a divisive storyline in Spider-Man mythos. Its biggest surprise delivered on its title in a way, as polarizing as it was. Partway into the story arc, it's revealed that the main "Peter Parker" isn't truly Peter Parker.
Rather, it's revealed that he's a clone of Ben Reilly, with Peter having retired to live his life quietly with Mary Jane. While Ben Reilly has arguably been better received over the years, this was an equal parts shocking and controversial way to usher him in as Spider-Man.
7 Xorn's Identity
New X-Men: Planet X
Grant Morrison is among Batman's most accomplished writers, but they've lent their talents to milestone Marvel comics as well. That includes their iconic run in New X-Men, namely with the Planet X arc where a seemingly new hero named Xorn rises to prominence.
Alongside artist Phil Jimenez, Xorn was carefully and cleverly established as a major character, making his reveal as iconic X-Men rogue Magneto all the more shocking. Admittedly, though, a series of convoluted retcons after this run lessened the impact of this identity twist, changing it to be Xorn's twin brother impersonating Magneto.
6 Who Do You Trust?
Secret Invasion
The comics inspiring the MCU's Secret Invasion are a major source of Marvel's biggest identity twists. Brian Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu's storyline was another divisive point in Marvel's publication, though, the premise exciting.
Secret Invasion was a thriller where characters didn't know who to trust, with the Skrull invasion making everyone a suspect. The limited series and tie-ins that permeated the universe contained many surprises, with an increasing number of Avengers revealed to be Skrulls. However, Spider-Woman's reveal as Queen Veranke was one of the most noteworthy.
5 The Winter Soldier
Captain America
The success of the MCU's Captain America sequel made the Winter Soldier more mainstream. Ed Brubaker, Michael Lark, and more contributed to one of Cap's greatest runs, and the Winter Soldier twist was a major highlight in an overall celebrated tenure.
While it's ultimately another retcon, it's the rare example of a once-sacrosanct death being reversed and still servicing the greater story. It was a shockwave in the late 2000s, with Bucky returning from supposed death as a cyborg assassin and targeting his best friend.
4 Citizen V & The Masters Of Evil
Thunderbolts
Marvel's equivalent to DC's Suicide Squad, the Thunderbolts are a now well-known supervillain team to comic fans. But in the late '90s, they were introduced in a much different light. Initially, they were thought to be a team of heroes aiming to earn the public and Avengers' trust.
They were led by the masked Citizen V, who was revealed to be the villain Baron Zemo leading the new Masters of Evil. It was all an elaborate scheme to gain intel on the Avengers from within and sell it to bidding villainous entities.
3 Green Goblin's Identity
The Amazing Spider-Man
Green Goblin is undoubtedly Spider-Man's most iconic supervillain, with his identity practically common knowledge after Sam Raimi's 2002 movie. However, this twist was thrilling around the wall-crawler's inception in the '60s.
The villain debuted in The Amazing Spider-Man #14, with the Goblin's true identity being kept under wraps for a handful of issues. The plot twist finally came in issue #39, where Osborn is revealed as the man behind the mask. Given the context of the time, it was a devastating twist since it was well-established that his son was Peter Parker's best friend.
2 Namor's Revised Origins
X-Men
Namor is a classic character who's gained mainstream prominence as of late thanks to his adaptation in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. As classic Marvel characters go, however, the Sub-Mariner precedes the modern Marvel continuity.
His original backstory in 1939's Marvel Comics #1established him as half-human, half-Atlantean until the X-Men came along in the '60s. Namor was reintegrated in 1962 via Fantastic Four #4, but X-Men #6altered his history when Charles Xavier theorizes that he was a mutant. Though not as influential in scope, it's akin to Green Goblin's reveal as the publisher's earliest character-driven twists.
1 Captain America's Killer
The Death Of Captain America
Death, as a concept, is infamous for being a cheap fan-service device in several superhero comics. However, Ed Brubaker continues his acclaimed run with artist Steve Epting with The Death of Captain America arc to resonating effect. Admittedly, Steve Rodgers' death wouldn't take long to be reversed.
Nonetheless, the story was praised for Steve's genuinely surprising assassination and its riveting espionage-thriller atmosphere. After he's put into custody under the Superhero Registration Act following Civil War, he's shot from afar by Crossbones. But, tragically, it's later revealed that the killing blow was a gunshot from Steve's brainwashed girlfriend Sharon Carter.