New Age of Heroes

• Core Identity: While the “New Age of Heroes” is the official branding for a 2018 DC Comics publishing initiative, the term is frequently used by fans to describe the concurrent period at Marvel Comics, specifically the Marvel Legacy (2017) and Fresh Start (2018) initiatives, which collectively aimed to revitalize the Marvel Universe by returning to core character principles while empowering top-tier creators to forge bold new directions.
• Key Takeaways:
  • Role in the Universe: This era served as a major course correction for Marvel after a period of controversial events and character shake-ups (like Civil War II and Secret Empire). Its goal was to restore reader trust by focusing on beloved characters, simplifying continuity, and providing accessible entry points for new and lapsed fans. marvel_legacy, fresh_start.
  • Primary Impact: The “Fresh Start” relaunch, in particular, was a massive creative success, launching several critically acclaimed and commercially successful series that would define Marvel storytelling for years to come. This includes Al Ewing's genre-bending Immortal Hulk, Donny Cates's universe-expanding work on Venom and Thor, and Jonathan Hickman's revolutionary relaunch of the x-men with House of X and Powers of X.
  • Key Distinction (Marvel vs. DC): The core strategic difference is crucial: DC's “New Age of Heroes” focused on creating entirely new, largely unconnected characters (like The Silencer, Sideways, Damage). Marvel's approach, conversely, was to take their established, iconic characters (Hulk, Thor, Avengers, Venom) and give them radical, fresh creative takes that honored their history while pushing them into new territory.

The period of 2017-2018 was a time of intense competition and strategic recalibration in the American comics industry. DC Comics had found significant success with its DC Rebirth initiative in 2016, which was praised for bringing back a sense of optimism and legacy to its universe. Following the major crossover event Dark Nights: Metal, DC launched the “New Age of Heroes” (initially announced as “Dark Matter”) in 2018. This line was heavily promoted as an artist-first initiative, giving prominent artists like Jim Lee, Andy Kubert, and John Romita Jr. the chance to co-create and launch brand-new characters. Simultaneously, Marvel Comics was navigating the aftermath of several years of line-wide events that, while often commercially successful, had left some readers feeling fatigued and alienated. Events like Civil War II resulted in the death of Bruce Banner and the sidelining of Tony Stark, while Secret Empire saw a fascist captain_america take over the United States. In response to this reader sentiment and the competitive landscape, Marvel architected a two-pronged relaunch strategy designed to stabilize their line and then propel it into a new era of creative excellence. This strategy manifested as “Marvel Legacy” in late 2017, followed by the much more comprehensive “Fresh Start” in mid-2018. Together, they represent Marvel's “New Age of Heroes.”

As these are real-world publishing initiatives, they do not have a singular, in-universe origin story. Instead, their “origin” is rooted in the narrative threads left dangling by preceding major events and the creative decisions made to address them.

The narrative groundwork for this era was laid in the final pages of Secret Empire (2017). After the heroic, original Steve Rogers defeated his Hydra counterpart, the Marvel Universe was left in a state of disarray and mistrust. The public's faith in its heroes was shaken, and the heroes themselves were scattered and demoralized. This set the stage for Marvel Legacy #1, a giant-sized one-shot by writer Jason Aaron and artist Esad Ribić. This single issue served as the foundational text for the entire initiative. It acted as a narrative bridge, re-establishing a sense of deep, timeless history and mystery within the Marvel Universe. Its most significant contribution was the introduction of the Avengers of 1,000,000 BC. This prehistoric team—consisting of Odin, Agamotto, the first Phoenix, the first Black Panther, a Star Brand-wielding caveman, a Ghost Rider who rode a flaming mammoth, and an Iron Fist—revealed that the legacy of heroes on Earth was far older and more profound than previously known. Their battle against a fallen Celestial buried deep within the planet created a central engine of conflict and power that would fuel numerous storylines for years to come, most notably in the subsequent Avengers series. Marvel Legacy #1 also touched on the status of numerous other characters, teasing the return of Wolverine (Logan) and the original Jean Grey, setting up the search for the Infinity Stones, and establishing a thematic through-line: the idea that every corner of the Marvel Universe, from its ancient past to its far future, was interconnected by a grand, heroic legacy.

The “Marvel Legacy” and “Fresh Start” initiatives are exclusive to the Earth-616 comic book continuity and have no direct equivalent in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU operates on a different production and release schedule, structured around cinematic “Phases” rather than annual publishing imprints. However, one can draw thematic parallels. The period following Avengers: Endgame (2019) in the MCU can be seen as a form of “Fresh Start.” Much like the comics, the universe had just concluded a massive, status-quo-altering event. Endgame saw the departure of foundational characters like Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, creating a vacuum that needed to be filled. The subsequent “Phase Four” of the MCU focused on passing the torch and exploring the concept of legacy. Sam Wilson became the new Captain America, Yelena Belova took on the Black Widow mantle, and new heroes like Shang-Chi and the Eternals were introduced. This thematic focus on “what comes next?” and the exploration of legacy in a post-foundational era mirrors the core goals of Marvel's comic book initiatives from the same period, albeit executed through a different medium and for a different audience.

The two-stage relaunch was a deliberate strategy. “Legacy” was meant to be a stabilizing force, reassuring long-time readers, while “Fresh Start” was the dynamic, forward-looking engine for creative renewal.

The mandate of Marvel Legacy was to honor the rich history of Marvel Comics and restore a “back to basics” feel for its core titles, providing a comforting sense of familiarity after years of upheaval.

• Structure and Philosophy:
  • Dual Numbering: The most visible change was the return to “legacy numbering.” For example, the new Captain America series by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee was labeled with a large #695 on the cover, reflecting its original, uninterrupted numbering, while also featuring a smaller #1 to denote the new creative team. This was a direct appeal to long-time collectors and a symbolic rejection of the constant re-numbering that had become common.
  • Return of Classic Elements: The initiative saw the return of classic characters (like the original Wolverine), classic relationships, and familiar settings. It was a conscious effort to undo some of the more controversial changes from the preceding years.
  • Thematic Focus: The central theme was “legacy” itself—how the heroes of today connect to the heroes of the past and inspire the heroes of the future. The Marvel Legacy #1 one-shot was the mission statement for this theme.
• Key Titles and Storylines:
  • Marvel Legacy #1: The cornerstone of the entire initiative, introducing the 1,000,000 BC Avengers and setting up dozens of future plot threads.
  • Captain America (#695): Mark Waid and Chris Samnee's run was a deliberate return to a classic, hopeful vision of Captain America, taking him on a road trip across America to reconnect with the people he protects.
  • The Mighty Thor (#700): Jason Aaron's epic saga continued with the “Death of the Mighty Thor” storyline, a powerful and emotional arc for Jane Foster as she battled cancer while wielding Mjolnir.
  • Invincible Iron Man (#593): Brian Michael Bendis began the “Search for Tony Stark” storyline, paving the way for the original Armored Avenger's return.

If Legacy was about looking back, Fresh Start was about rocketing forward. Under the new leadership of Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski, this was a full-scale, line-wide relaunch. It kept the spirit of honoring the past but prioritized giving A-list creative teams the freedom to tell bold, innovative, and highly accessible stories.

• Structure and Philosophy:
  • New #1 Issues: The dual-numbering system was largely abandoned in favor of clean, new #1 issues for almost every major title. This was designed to be the ultimate jumping-on point for new readers.
  • Creator-Driven Vision: The emphasis was on unique creative voices. Marvel paired top writers and artists and gave them the latitude to redefine characters and their worlds. The result was a diverse array of tones and genres, from cosmic horror to street-level noir.
  • Accessibility: While continuity was not ignored, the new series were crafted so that a reader could pick up issue #1 and understand everything they needed to know. The goal was to remove barriers to entry.
• Key Titles and Storylines:
  • Avengers (by Jason Aaron & Ed McGuinness): Picking up the threads from Legacy #1, this series established a new core Avengers team and delved deep into the mystery of the Celestials and the prehistoric Avengers.
  • The Immortal Hulk (by Al Ewing & Joe Bennett): Widely considered the masterpiece of the Fresh Start era, this series re-imagined the Hulk not as a superhero, but as a creature of body horror and psychological terror, exploring themes of death, identity, and the monstrous.
  • Venom (by Donny Cates & Ryan Stegman): This series completely redefined the character of Eddie Brock and the symbiotes. It introduced Knull, the Symbiote God, and a vast cosmic history for the Klyntar, transforming a street-level anti-hero into a major cosmic player.
  • Thor (by Donny Cates & Nic Klein): Following Jason Aaron's legendary run, Cates took Thor in a new direction, making him the King of Asgard and the Herald of Galactus in a bombastic, heavy-metal-inspired cosmic epic.
  • House of X & Powers of X (by Jonathan Hickman, Pepe Larraz, & R.B. Silva): Though it launched in 2019, this revolutionary relaunch of the entire X-Men line was the ultimate expression of the Fresh Start philosophy. It established a new status quo for mutantkind on the living island of Krakoa, introducing radical new concepts like the Resurrection Protocols and fundamentally changing the X-Men's place in the Marvel Universe.

The Fresh Start era was defined by its transformative takes on established characters and the major new concepts it introduced into the canon.

First appearing in Marvel Legacy #1, this team became a central pillar of Jason Aaron's Avengers run. Their existence fundamentally re-contextualized the history of Earth-616, establishing that the planet has always been a focal point for cosmic forces and has always had heroes to defend it. The team—Odin, Phoenix, Agamotto, Star Brand, Ghost Rider, Black Panther, and Iron Fist—represented the primal forces and legacies that would eventually give rise to the modern age of heroes. Their conflict with a Celestial named Zgreb the Aspirant was revealed to be the reason for the emergence of super-powered beings on Earth.

Al Ewing's vision for the Hulk was a radical departure. He posited that the Hulk's power was linked to a metaphysical “Green Door,” making him truly immortal. Every time Bruce Banner died, the Hulk would resurrect at night, stronger and more terrifying than ever. The series delved into Banner's fractured psyche, treating his Dissociative Identity Disorder with narrative seriousness. The “Devil Hulk” persona emerged as a cunning, malevolent protector of Banner. This take transformed a classic superhero book into a critically acclaimed horror series, earning Eisner Award nominations and setting a new standard for creative reinvention.

Perhaps the most significant new character to emerge from this era was Knull, created by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman in their Venom series. Before this, the symbiotes' origin was loosely defined. Cates established a massive, terrifying new cosmology: Knull was a primordial entity of darkness who existed before the universe. When the Celestials brought light, he retaliated by forging the first symbiote, All-Black the Necrosword (a clever retcon of the weapon seen in Jason Aaron's Thor: God of Thunder run). He created the symbiote race as his army to consume all light and life. This elevated Venom from a Spider-Man villain to a key figure in a cosmic war against an elder god, a storyline that culminated in the line-wide event King in Black.

The reception to the two initiatives was markedly different.

• Marvel Legacy received a mixed-to-positive but somewhat lukewarm response. While fans appreciated the return to classic numbering and the focus on core characters, many critics viewed it as a superficial, temporary fix rather than a deep, meaningful change. It was seen as a necessary but unexciting course correction. The Marvel Legacy #1 one-shot itself, however, was widely praised for its ambition and scope.
• Fresh Start, on the other hand, was met with widespread critical acclaim and fan excitement. By empowering creators, Marvel unleashed a wave of innovation. Books like Immortal Hulk, Venom, and later House of X were not just considered good superhero comics; they were hailed as some of the best comics on the stands, period. The initiative was seen as a genuine creative renaissance for the publisher, successfully attracting new readers and re-energizing long-time fans. It proved that the most effective way to revitalize a line wasn't necessarily to invent new characters, but to find brilliant new things to say about the old ones.

The impact of the Fresh Start era is still being felt in the Marvel Universe today.

• New A-List Characters: Knull has become a major villain in the Marvel pantheon, on par with figures like thanos and Doctor Doom.
• Redefined Franchises: Jonathan Hickman's work on the X-Men established the “Krakoan Age,” a multi-year status quo that completely changed the franchise's direction and potential. Al Ewing's redefinition of the Hulk's powers as immortal and supernatural has become the new canon. Donny Cates's cosmic mythology for Venom and Thor set the stage for years of stories.
• A New Creative Benchmark: Fresh Start raised the bar for what a mainstream superhero comic could be, blending high-concept science fiction, genuine horror, and deep character psychology. It demonstrated the value of trusting creative vision, a lesson that continues to influence Marvel's publishing strategy.

While born from the same competitive environment, the two publishers' flagship initiatives of 2018 employed fundamentally different strategies to achieve a similar goal: capturing reader attention and generating excitement.

In essence, Marvel bet on the power of its established icons, trusting that a brilliant new take on a character readers already loved was a more reliable path to success than building a new hero from scratch. DC's experiment in creating new IP was ambitious, but the marketplace ultimately demonstrated a stronger appetite for the familiar, reinvented.

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• marvel_legacy
• immortal_hulk
• venom
• knull
• house_of_x
• Avengers of 1,000,000 BC
• donny_cates
• al_ewing
• jonathan_hickman

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