Summary
Even the vibrant heroes ofMarvel Comicscan’t resist the allure of mysterious stories that deal with the grit and rough nature of life, with characters such as the Wolverine and The Punisher representing those who walk darker paths to ensure innocents never have to. However, these two figures and their fellow anti-heroes aren’t necessarily where Marvel ends their exploration of new genres in their stories. Marvel is no stranger to the appeal of solving mysterious crimes under the backdrop of less savory circumstances, as is the usual image associated with the noir genre.
Fans interested in seeing Marvel heroes and villains tackle the innate cynicism and darker tones of the noir genre could look at titles published within its Marvel Noir line for more straightforward tales. However, certain Marvel Comics also tread the line towards noir with its themes of fatalism, mystery, and a more downcast take on realism.
2009
Continuity
Marvel Noir
Set in the 1940s,X-Men Noirtransforms the high-octane action involvingthe X-Men of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngstersinto a whodunit murder mystery. When the washed-up body of Jean Grey reveals slash marks grouped in threes, NYPD Homicide Chief Eric Magnus takes a particular interest in the case. Unlike otherMarvel Noirentries, the “heroes” inX-Men Noirtrade showcases of superpowers with an alternate look into how their supposed powers in the main timeline may affect their overall psychology.
Despite its interesting premise,X-Men Noirsuffered from both confusing writing and art that further complicated its murder mystery. Regardless of middling reviews, fans of pulp fiction and the noir genre should consider picking upX-Men Noirfor its light exploration of eugenics and evolution from the perspective of psychology and behavioral science.
Technically third in line among titles released in Marvel’sMarvel Noircontinuity,Daredevil Noirtakes place in the 1920s where Hell’s Kitchen in the Prohibition Era remains fiercely loyal to the Kingpin. The only man opposing him isthe elusive Daredevil, whose penchant for a trademark tight-fitting red suit remains apparent in the story. Much ofDaredevil Noir’s narrative is seen from the eyes of private investigator Foggy Nelson and his assistant Matt Murdock, particularly when a new client paints gangster Orville Halloran as more than what he seems to be.
Daredevil Noirpitting Daredevil against the Kingpin is a tale as old as time, and exploring Hell’s Kitchen’s crime-ridden history in the Prohibition Era paints a thicker picture of the depth of corruption Daredevil has to face in today’s times. The four-issue limited series leaves much to be desired in terms of overall characterization, butDaredevil Noirserves as enough of a retelling of Murdock’s intentions as Daredevil in a new setting.
Despite the lukewarm reception towardsX-Men Noir, its depiction of Wolverine as a down-on-his-luck detective made him the perfect candidate for a noir story. Set in 1937,Wolverine Noirtells the story of private detective Jim Logan’s recent case, which leads him on a trip down memory lane. Continuing the trend established byX-Men Noir, Logan isn’tthe Adamantium-toting Wolverine of the X-Menand is instead Logan & Logan’s resident fighter, notable for his skill with knives.
The lack of his healing factor puts the still-brooding Logan into dangerous situations, with the atmospheric arc depicting the seasoned detective’s continuous struggles. Logan already being a lone wolf in the main timeline made it more convenient to integrate him into the darker world of noir stories, making his tale a worthwhile pick for fans who want an alternate Wolverine tale.
2009-2010
Frank Castle Sr. already having a tragic past as the backbone of his merciless crusade against criminals makes for a fittingMarvel Noirstory. However,Punisher Noiradds its own twist to the Punisher origin story whenskilled army veteran Frank Castle Sr.is brutally murdered by criminals, with his son Frank Castle Jr. taking up arms in a personal quest for vengeance.Set in Manhattan in 1935,Punisher Noirtones down the Punisher’s trademark use of firearms and instead gives him more opportunities for grittier and bloodier means of combat.
WhilePunisher Noirgives readers a personal revenge narrative fitting enough for a noir story, readers may find its storyline lacking with its Prohibition Era setting. However, despite crime families potentially paving the way for larger-than-life stories forPunisher Noir, it’s precisely Frank Castle Jr.’s insistence on fulfilling his vendetta that makes his journey a recognizable setup for an adequate noir story.
2010
While Iron Man’s exploits inIron Man Noirstylistically fit the pages of a pulp magazine, Tony Stark’s desperate attempt to healhis heart with a mysterious metalknown as Orichalcum fits squarely within the noir genre. Although Tony Stark inIron Man Noirremains a rich adventurer, his exploits taking place in the 1930s opens him up to both unknown frontiers and betrayals, with companions turning against him or the Nazis themselves pursuing him.
Marvel fans who want more “classic” versions of Iron Man’s suits should pick upIron Man Noirwith its blend of steampunk and techno-arcane visuals. Characters such as James Rhodes, Pepper Potts, Jarvis, Baron Zemo, and even Namor are reimagined in the 1930s, assing a dash of color to Tony Stark’s mission. While not as “dark” as its otherMarvel Noircounterparts,Iron Man Noirprovides a gritty enough contrast to anIron Manstory contrary to Tony’s usual vibrant adventures.
Goodreads: 4.00
Writer, Artist
David Hine, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Lee Weeks, Fabrice Sapolsky, Roger Stern, Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Nilah Magruder, Travel Foreman, Eric Gapstur
2019
Marvel Noir, Spider-Verse
Fans delighted with Nicolas Cage’s portrayal of Spider-Man Noir in theSpider-Versefilms should consider picking up his character’s original appearance, particularlySpider-Man Noir: The Complete Collection,which compiles both Spider-Man Noir’s origin story but also his subsequent adventures. While his adventures beyond the 1930s would see him meet various Spider-Men, a particular highlight ofSpider-Man Noirwould bethe alternate timeline that started it all.
Set in the Great Depression, Peter Parker remains a reporter eager to make a name for himself in the field. As with most of his counterparts, a fated spider bite would encourage him to adopt the Spider-Man persona after gaining newfound powers. WhileSpider-Man Noirremains an entertaining take on Spider-Man squaring off against grittier versions of his rogues, pulp-era incarnations of Norman Osborn as a crime lord or a reimagining of Doctor Octopus prove noir can still become the realm of the weird and the odd when Spider-Man is involved.
2023
Earth-616
Seeing six dead bodies instead of immediate superheroics is a first when dealing with the Avengers, and yet this is exactly the premise ofAvengers, Inc. Set in modern times, Mayor Luke Cage of New York tasks Janet Van Dyne with solving the deaths of six villains, and accompanying her is Vision under the alias of Victor Shade.
While the current storyline is still ongoing, it’s a refreshing sight to see Avengers' founding member Wasp finally step back into the limelight under the backdrop of a murder mystery. Seeing the Avengers tackle a smaller-scale task gives readers a chance to re-explore the current superhero meta, especially with a detective-style mystery at hand.
2001-2003
Published under the adult-oriented MAX Imprint of Marvel Comics,Aliasdepicts the exploits of Jessica Jones as she pursues a career as a private investigator after quitting a brief superhero stint as Jewel. As with detective noir comics,Aliasstories are set under the backdrop of various cases whileJessica Jones starts coping with events of her past. While Jessica Jones is revealed to have connections with other superheroes, her career keeps her grounded and tackling more “street-level” crimes.
Aliasfits its R-rated classification with its exploration of rather dark themes concerning Jessica’s past, with her cases becoming much more than they seem to be. While set in modern times,Alias’s more serious depiction of a harsher life amid Marvel’s world of superheroes fits the noir genre to a T.
2005
Earth-616, post-House of M
After becoming a reality show millionnaire, Jamie Madrox, or Multiple Man, recruits his former colleagues from X-Corporation into a detective agency, X-Factor Investigations. Set just after Wanda Maximoff eliminates the majority of mutants in theHouse of Mstoryline,X-Factor: The Longest Nightelaborates on the formation of XF Investigations, their initial rivalry with Singularity Investigations, and their plans on discovering what led to the events ofDecimation.
Even under the backdrop of a straightforward mystery,The Longest Nightshines in the way it provides depth to a cast of otherwise B- and C-List mutants outside the purview of the traditional X-Men. Madrox providing the occasional comic relief and the rest of his friends having clashing personalities adds surprising depth to their cases.
2004
As with the popular Marvel Cinematic Universe film,Captain America: Winter Soldierrevisits Captain America’s past and marks thereappearance of Bucky Barnes as the deadly Winter Soldier. While the film counterpart maintains some similarity to the comic book as a spy thriller, the overall darker mood of 2004’sWinter Soldierplunges this run ofCaptain Americainto the depths of modern noir. Here, he comes to grips with the prospect of fighting his former comrade amid a conspiracy, with thousands of lives at stake in a plot by the Red Skull.
Such was the tonal shift ofWinter Soldierthat it was released not just as separate Volumes 1 and 2 of the 2004Captain Americarun, but also as an “Ultimate Collection” TPB. Despite being set under the backdrop of superheroes,Winter Soldierjuxtaposes Cap and Bucky’s struggle with historical events, double agents of spy-flick flair, and surprising character depth.
