Five Characters Missing from All New, All Different Marvel NOW!

Last month, Marvel announced a new slate of 45 titles branded as the “All New, All Different Marvel NOW!” line. While not a “reboot” like DC’s New 52 in 2011, the All New, All Different Marvel Universe will introduce a slew of new characters from alternate universes to the “main” Marvel Universe and put existing characters in strange, unfamiliar settings. While much of the Marvel Universe is accounted for, a few prominent superheroes have yet to appear in any of Marvel’s previews. Here’s five characters still missing from the All New, All Different Marvel Universe, along with our best guesses for where they might pop up:

Cyclops

  

Cyclops, the only mutant from “our” universe to make it into Secret Wars‘ Battleworld, is also one of the few missing mutants in Marvel’s new wave of X-Men books. Of course, that might have something to do with Dr. Doom snapping his neck in Secret Wars #4. But once Battleworld collapeses, there’s no telling how reality may rewrite itself, and bring deceased character back along the way. 

However, Extraordinary X-Men writer Jeff Lemire hinted that Cyclops’ absence might have something to do with the Terrigen Mists’ deadly effect on mutants, which doesn’t exactly bode well for the leader of the X-Men turned revolutionary. Considering that a teenaged version of Jean Grey and an even more ancient version of Wolverine are both on the team roster of Extraordinary X-Men, I’m guessing that Cyclops will eventually appear in the X-Men’s new flagship series, hopefully to lead the X-Men to some sort of promised land.

If you’re a hardcore Cyclops fanatic like me (and there are dozens of us! Dozens!), you can get your Scott Summers fix with All New X-Men, which stars the teenage time traveling version of the character.

Reed Richards

  

 While Johnny Storm and the Thing have both popped up in unexpected Marvel titles (Inhumans and Guardians of the Galaxy respectively), Reed Richards is still missing from the All New, All Different Marvel NOW! slate of books. His fate could be tied to the end of Secret Wars, considering the event is really a Fantastic Four story in disguise. Of course, considering that Secret Wars writer Jonathan Hickman has spent years building to Secret Wars, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s dropped a hint or two about Reed’s ultimate fate somewhere in one of his past books. Once Secret Wars #9 comes out in December, expect Reed’s fate to be revealed. 

Mockingbird

  

SHIELD super-agent Mockingbird has bounced from title to title over the last few years, appearing mainly as a team member of various Avengers squads. While the character departed SHIELD to recover from AIM’s torture and brainwashing, All New, All Different Marvel NOW! seems like a perfect time for her return. Mockingbird’s recent appearance in a one-shot promoting SHIELD’s fiftieth anniversary, and her rising television profile (ABC ordered a pilot episode featuring Mockingbird and her television ex-husband Lance Hunter) makes her a prime candidate for a solo series in the new Marvel Universe. 

Heroes for Hire

  

 While the Heroes for Hire haven’t had their own series since 2010, Luke Cage briefly reopened the business just before Infinity, which formed the foundation of a new Mighty Avengers squad. The Mighty Avengers have shown up in Marvel’s relaunched superhero line, but Luke Cage, his wife Jessica Jones and his best friend Iron Fist are all absent so far. With the Netflix Jessica Jones and Luke Cage series set to air in the next twelve months, don’t be surprised to see a revamped Heroes for Hire book announced in the next couple of months.  

Winter Soldier

  

 We last saw Bucky Barnes taking over Nick Fury’s place as the man who protected Earth from cosmic threats too strange and savage for Marvel’s heroes. That was a really cool direction post-Original Sin, but I’m willing to bet that Bucky’s major role in Captain America: Civil War will cause Marvel to bring him back to Earth. Whether Marvel decides to pair Bucky up with the new Captain America or have him assist Steve Rogers in Uncanny Avengers, the Winter Soldier is poised to make a big comeback in the next few months.  

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Which missing characters are you still holding out for in All-New, All-Different Marvel? Let us know in the comments!