After counting down the Top 5 Most Underrated DC Comics Characters, it seemed fitting to list Marvel's most underrated characters as well. Much like their rival, Marvel has many iconic heroines who have had the privilege of headlining books and appearing on the big screen. Even still, there are several amazing women who deserve more recognition.
Below is a list of the top 10 most underrated Marvel characters. With the right promotion, these superheroines can go from the D-list darlings to leading ladies.
10. Valkyrie
As the hero Valkyrie, the Asgardian Brunnhilde has saved the world many times over as a member of the Defenders and was eventually elected into the Avengers. She's a heroine of Amazonian proportions and has become a fan-favourite thanks to her stints in Secret Avengers and The Fearless Defenders.
Valkyrie has everything she needs to become a leading lady. Aside from the obvious "Lady Thor" look she has going, she's a relentless warrior whose escapades would make for a great solo title. Think: Asgardian Wonder Woman.
09. Silver Sable
Originally an ambiguous antagonist for Spider-Man, Silver Sable is an enterprising mercenary and businesswoman. This gun-toting badass headlined her own book in the 1990s for 35 issues, nearly qualifying her to be one of Marvel's longest-running female-led books. Since then, Silver Sable has been relegated to supporting appearances and was supposedly killed during Ends of the Earth.
Silver Sable has long been in the shadow of fellow platinum-haired femme fatale Black Cat. The two women have both appeared in cartoons and video games, but it is the Black Cat who receives recognition due to her romance with the Web Slinger. As such, a film role and a resurrection would go a long way in resuscitating Silver Sable's comic book career.
08. Songbird
Once known as the villain Screaming Mimi, Melissa Gold redeemed herself as a member of the Thunderbolts using the codename Songbird. Able to transform sound into solid objects, Songbird is one of the most versatile superheroines around.
In the alternate universe storyline Avengers Forever, Songbird is depicted as a member of the titular team. This potential has yet to be fully explored in the main universe and would be a fascinating avenue for the character to take.
07. Julia Carpenter
After an experiment granted her with superpowers, single mother Julia Carpenter became the costumed hero known as Spider-Woman. Following brief tenures on the West Coast branch of the Avengers and the Canadian super team Omega Flight, Julia gave up her life as a vigilante to become the new Madame Web.
As the second woman to use the moniker of Spider-Woman, Julia had big shoes to fill. She managed to carve out an identity for herself and even appeared in the Iron Man cartoon from the 1990s as a major supporting character. Even still, Marvel has struggled with what to do with her and have questionably kept her on the D-list. To make matters worse, her iconic costume has been passed down to someone else, making it quite clear that a return to superheroing isn't in the cards for Julia.
06. Karma
Xi'an Coy Manh, otherwise known as Karma, is a founding member of the New Mutants who possesses the ability of mind control. While she spends most of her time mentoring the new generation of mutants, Karma is one X-Man who shouldn't be taken lightly.
As a Vietnamese immigrant and out lesbian, Karma has been a continued symbol of Marvel's dedication to representing diversity amongst the X-Men titles. In recent years, the character made notable appearances in Uncanny X-Men, New Mutants, and Astonishing X-Men. Despite this, she continues to fly under the radar. Karma is a full-fledged X-Man, so it's high time that she be treated like one.
05. Misty Knight
Born out of the blaxploitation era, Misty Knight was one of the very first African-American heroines Marvel had. Part Foxy Brown and part Bionic Woman, Misty is a former police officer whose bionic enhancements grant her superhuman strength.
Over the years, Misty has been relegated to the role of love interest and guest star. Even still, she's squeezed in a few headlining appearances in Heroes for Hire and The Fearless Defenders. With her trademark sass and take-no-prisoners attitude, Misty Knight has the potential to crossover from cult sensation to A-list heroine. Toss her in a title with Colleen Wing and Jessica Jones, and you've got Marvel's answer to Charlie's Angels.
04. Monet St. Croix
Originating as a member of teen super team Generation X, Monet St. Croix is an aristocrat with as many mutant powers as she has clothing. Known for her signature catty remarks, Monet adds a touch of humour to any team she's on along with the muscle to back it up.
As a major player in both Generation X and X-Factor, Monet established herself within the fringes of the Marvel Universe. This powerhouse deserves the chance to shine and is finally getting a taste of the A-list now that she is an official member of the X-Men. Appearances in adaptations and further involvement with the X-Men should erase her from the D-list. Let's make that happen, shall we?
03. Hellcat
Patsy Walker is a former teen star who turned to the life of a superhero after the dissolution of her marriage to her high school sweetheart Buzz Baxter. A thrill-seeker at heart, Patsy has been a member of the Avengers and the Defenders as the feline-themed vigilante Hellcat.
As a creation of Marvel's precursor Timely Comics, Patsy Walker made her debut in 1944 and is technically one of the company's first heroines. Her teen humour comic ran for an astounding three decades. Even with this legacy behind her, most fans are blissfully unaware of her existence. Hellcat is actually a remarkably well-rounded character and is one of Marvel's most relatable heroines. Perhaps another stint with the Avengers is just what she needs to be spared from obscurity.
02. Monica Rambeau
Monica Rambeau is a spunky young woman who became a superheroine after being bombarded with extra-dimensional energy. Initially using the codename Captain Marvel, Monica was a member of the Avengers and even became the leader of the team during the late 1980s.
Monica was truly the Avengers' answer to the X-Men's Storm. She's a confident leader and powerful hero who has a penchant for wearing black and white outfits. Nevertheless, she's come nowhere near Storm's level of recognizability. Even with her current role in Mighty Avengers, Monica has yet to break into the mainstream consciousness. Truthfully, I think the Marvel Cinematic Universe is in dire need of a character like Monica Rambeau. After all, the filmic counterpart of the Avengers is horribly white-washed.
01. Dazzler
Alison Blaire is a mutant singer who has put her powers of light generation to use as the supeheroine known as Dazzler. She's fierce, fabulous, and totally badass. She's been a solo hero, a key member of the X-Men, and even spent some time kicking bad guy butt in England as part of Excalibur. More recently, she's taken up the role of mutant liaison for S.H.I.E.L.D.
Dazzler is the queen of Marvel's D-list. Despite having one of Marvel's longest running female-led comics under her belt and a lengthy stint as part of the X-Men, she's remained in the shadow of more well-known mutants for the better part of three decades. Beyond her Omega Level powers, Dazzler is known for her strong moral compass and keen sense of justice. She famously came out as a mutant at the height of the anti-mutant hysteria and spent years fighting for change in the Mojoverse. On top of that, her celebrity status makes her one of the most relevant characters in Marvel's wheelhouse. In our celebrity obsessed culture, you'd think the House of Ideas would want to capitalize on this. Dazzler deserves a chance to shine. Let's retire Rogue from the big screen and cartoons for a little while, let Dazzler dearest take over for a while.
