Miles Morales

Few characters in recent Marvel history have made an entrance quite like Miles Morales, who burst onto the scene in 2011 during the Modern Age and almost immediately became one of the most celebrated new figures in comics. Debuting in the wake of a seismic moment in the Ultimate Universe, Miles stepped into a legacy so enormous it could have swallowed a lesser character whole — yet he carved out a space entirely his own, anchored by his flagship series and accumulating over 550 catalog appearances across fifteen years of storytelling. With eight key issues to his name, collectors have taken notice in a big way, and the fact that he regularly shares the page with titans like Peter Parker, Captain America, Tony Stark, and Thor speaks to just how central Miles has become to Marvel's modern mythology. If you're looking for a character who defines what the 21st century can do with superhero comics, this is exactly where you start.