10 More Most Inappropriate Marvel Comics Storylines Ever

Those bewildering and offensive Marvel story arcs that unbelievably happened.

by Andrew Pollard
The Punisher Black
Marvel Comics

Created by Martin Goodman back in 1939 as Timely Comics, Marvel Comics is a true powerhouse of the industry and beyond. Formally changed to the Marvel name in 1961 - following a stint as Atlas Comics - this world of superheroes and supervillains has forever caught the attention and interest of generation after generation.

While the pages of the Marvel books over the decades have largely seen those heroes fighting the good fight, doing what's right, overcoming insurmountable odds, and being role models for youngsters around the globe, there have been those other times where the creative powers at this comic book juggernaut have delivered stories that are distasteful, disrespectful or downright stomach-turning in how unsuitable they are.

Given the title of this piece, this list serves as a sequel to 10 Most Inappropriate Marvel Comics Storylines Ever. As such that means that *deep breath* Shang-Chi's original backstory, Hank Pym's abuse of Janet van Dyne, Moon Knight's homophobic slurs, that infamous Spider-Woman cover, the incestuous Ultimate Maximoffs, the incestuous Hulks of Old Man Logan, Hulk's orgy, the sexual assault of Carol Danvers, Gwen Stacy and Norman Osborn's children, and the radioactive sperm of Peter Parker (yes, really) are all off the table.

With all of that in mind, then, here are ten other times that Marvel Comics left readers in bewilderment at what they'd just read.

10. How Angel And Husk Consummate Their Relationship

The Punisher Black
Marvel Comics

Chuck Austen's 2000s run on Uncanny X-Men is one that firmly split opinion amongst long-time fans of Charles Xavier's band of merry mutants. To make matters worse for Austen, his ham-fisted time on that title happened whilst Grant Morrison was wowing over on the New X-Men book.

Amongst the many, many questionable moments of Austin's run, was the relationship between Angel and Husk.

There are so many weird elements to this situation, which came to a head in Uncanny X-Men #440. There, when original X-Men member Warren Worthington III and the much younger Paige Guthrie become romantically entwined, Warren sits down to have a heart-to-heart with Paige's mother. Not just does Angel explain how he's afraid of having something horrible happen to yet another love interest, he also reveals how Husk had already died whilst under his supervision, and he managed to revive her.

Despite the age gap between Angel and 19-year-old Paige, her ma is all for Warren becoming an official item with her daughter. Not just that, but Husk berates Warren about how she is of "legal age to make my own mistakes in most states".

If all of that wasn't questionable enough, Angel and Husk fly up into the air and have sex above the head of Paige's mother - complete with one of her daughter's shoes falling onto the startled Lucinda Guthrie.

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Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.