Marvel: 10 Alternate Universes That Deserve To Be Onscreen

3. 1930s Pulp Fiction (Marvel Noir)

Marvel Noir
Marvel Comics

This particular work spanned multiple titles and series, a credit to how intriguing the concept was to so many readers. The style alone is enough to warrant adaptation, and with shows like Agent Carter, Marvel has done well with more historical settings.

Marvel Noir reimagines iconic Marvel characters into heroes of pulp magazines, sometimes even within the story - with heroes such as the adventurer Tony Stark having his tales published to an in-universe magazine called Marvels: A Magazine of Men's Adventure.

One of the most famous of these heroes is Spider-Man Noir - whose title, ironically, did not even focus on Peter Parker, at first.

Instead, respected reporter Ben Urich, aka "The Spider", uncovers secrets about The Goblin that Urich uses to blackmail Goblin for money for his drug habit. It's later that Ben takes Peter under his wing, Peter accidentally receives spider powers from a magical spider bite, and soon finds out that Urich isn't the hero he thought he was - so he becomes one himself.

Other noir titles include Luke Cage Noir, a bullet proof man in a heavily segregated Prohibition Era Harlem; and Wolverine Noir, following private detective James Logan, among many others.

Contributor
Contributor

Writer, artist, professional animator. Indie comics and Hi Nay podcast creator. Queer Filipino storyteller || @MotzieD on Twitter || Originally from Quezon City, The Philippines. Currently based in Toronto, Canada || motziedapul.com || hinaypod.com