Warning: Spoilers for Marvel’s Voices Infinity Comics and X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comics
The popular scrolling Marvel Unlimited Infinity Comics from Marvel Comics have been a fun and exciting way to engage new readers, but recent arcs in Marvel’s Voices Infinity Comic and X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic have proven that they are a great venue for bringing back deep cut, fan-favorite characters, making the digital-only comics a delight for established readers as well.
It can be incredibly hard for comics writers to bring back obscure characters from classic Marvel stories in current comics, with these characters usually being relegated to the background or seen in flashback series like the current X-Men Legends comic. Yet writers Steve Orlando, Anthony Oliveira, and Luciano Vecchio have all managed to incorporate these minor forgotten characters in big ways in their Infinity Comics, proving that these in-continuity yet not-mainstream comics are the perfect place to reintroduce beloved characters back to into the Marvel Universe.
Some Infinity Comics, like the Patsy Walker Infinity Comic - written by Trina Robbins with art by Derek Charm and Rico Renzi - are intrinsically “throwback” comics similar to X-Men Legends, but Patsy Walker is not set in current continuity. However other Infinity Comics like the current Marvel’s Voices Young Avengers run - written by Anthony Oliveira with art by Ramón Bachs and Michael Wiggam - or the incredibly fun X-Men Unlimited X-Men Green run - written by Steve Orlando with art by Emilio Laiso and Rachelle Rosenberg - have both masterfully brought back well-liked minor Marvel characters, much to the joy of longtime readers. Marvel’s Voices Infinity Comic #9 brought back a classic Avengers villain Master Pandemonium, but recast him as a confused old man (still with some demonic power) being taken care of by the Scarlet Witch’s son Speed, while the Marvel’s Voices Infinity Comic Iceman arc, written and illustrated by Luciano Vecchio, brought back young Bobby’s Inhuman lover Romeo in a major way.
The Infinity Comic that has perhaps featured the highest number of obscure but beloved Marvel characters is the current arc of X-Men Green in the pages of the X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic, with writer Steve Orlando bringing back the wildly obscure mutant Armageddon Man. Only appearing in three issues ever, 1999’s X-Force #88-90, Armageddon Man is an incredibly powerful mutant with the ability to create devastating natural disasters and who cannot control his powers. Orlando has now brought him back as a tool that Hordeculture and Nature Girl are hoping to use to wipeout humanity and save planet Earth. Orlando has also introduced a second Marauders team that includes X-Men staple Magik, as well as Triage, Birdy and Wind Dancer, three lesser used but well known characters. The team’s roster also includes Alchemist and Brutha Nature, two very obscure mutants. All these characters are deserving of their own stories in modern Marvel comics. The series has also reintroduced the classic villain Judas Traveller as a major member of the anti-mutant organization Orchis, making him the head of the agency’s “Narrative Petal.”
Bringing back obscure characters in flashbacks or reworked stories is enjoyable for long time fans on its own, but the fact that Steve Orlando, Anthony Oliveira, and Luciano Vecchio have managed to return these hilariously deep-cut villains and heroes to the spotlight in modern comics is a true testament to the power of Marvel Unlimited Infinity Comics, and the unending creativity and passion Marvel Comics writers have for characters both new and old.
More: The X-Men Go Back to Their Roots With a Modern, Queer, Twist
Marvel’s Voices Infinity Comic and X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic are both available exclusively on the Marvel Unlimited app.
