Best Comic Superheroes Who Aren’t From Marvel Or DC

On April 28, the world (or, at least the Internet) celebrates National Superhero Day. This causes people from around the globe to tweet about their favorite Marvel and DC character, and get into heated debates about whose character could be someone else’s.

What some may not know, is that there are a ton of other heroes out there. Plenty of other comic brands have produced numerous heroes that fans have come to enjoy over the years.

On Nation Superhero Day this year, we decided to give a special shout-out to some of these lesser-known heroes, who we feel deserve just as much attention as the big guys.

So check out some of the best superheroes that didn’t come from Marvel or DC, and maybe give one of their comics a read this year!

X-O Manowar

If we’re being honest here, X-O Manowar is one of the coolest heroes around. Think about the possibilities of Thor getting Iron Man’s armor, but the armor was actually a lot like Venom’s symbiote. 

Yes, X-O is that cool.

Valiant’s most popular character was a warrior in the dark ages. After being abducted by a superior alien race, he inherits a set of sacred armor that has a life of its own. 

The book just began a new series, so it’s a good time to jump on and start reading.

 

Spawn

Spawn helped launch the Image brand a number of years ago, and the character is still one of the industry’s most popular today.

Created by Todd McFarlane, Spawn is the reincarnation of Al Simmons, a former Marine who was killed by his former best friend. Now, armed with demonic powers, Simmons has returned from the dead to fight for justice.

This is a wild and dark tale, and there is plenty of universe to dive into with this series.

 

Rondel

This one character that many people aren’t familiar with, but he’s definitely one worth looking into.

Rondel is the star of Hillbilly, the latest book from legendary writer/artist Eric Powell. Many aren’t familiar with the book because Powell has published it through his independent print label, Albatross Exploding Funnybooks.

Hillbilly takes place in the hills of the Appalachian Mountains, but in a version of the world that’s full of magic and mysticism. Rondel was cursed at a young age, and roams the hills with the devil’s cleaver, fighting off the evils that plague the innocent.

Seriously, you should find a copy of this book. It’s an awesome read, with some phenomenal art.

 

Invincible

You probably know Robert Kirkman as the creator of The Walking Dead. While that’s true, he’s also known for another long-running comic; Invincible.

This series follows the title character as he navigates his super powers, while also struggling with a realistic family life.

Over the course of the comic’s 140+ issue run, Invincible has grown into an awesome superhero universe that’s well-worth diving into.

 

Quantum & Woody

Another entry from the Valiant Universe, Quantum & Woody bring some of the most fun you’ll read in a superhero book.

The adopted brothers end falling into a major accident, and both get fused with some incredible powers. However, they need to rely on each other, and the bracelets they’re attached to, in order to save the day.

These brothers will remind of Deadpool quite a bit, as their humor is a little edgier, and they’re known to break the fourth wall on occasion.

 

Witchblade

Witchblade was one of the most bad-ass women in comics, plain and simple. 

Sara, a New York homicide detective, was bonded with a supernatural gauntlet called the Witchblade. Once wielding the piece, she was able to harness its power, and fight off the evils hiding in the city.

If you’re really into Witchblade, you’ll be happy to know that a TV show was announced in the early part of 2017.

 

Hellboy

Hellboy is a demon, who was brought up from Hell by the Nazis in 1944. He was originally supposed to be used for evil purposes, but became a hero who hated everything the Nazi regime stood for.

Once fully grown, Hellboy became a part of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, or BRPD. He used his power to fight the dark forces that lurked in the shadows, and has become one of the most recognizable heroes that didn’t stem from the Marvel or DC brands. 

In addition to the character’s long run at Dark Horse Comics, he’s also been the focus of two feature films.