7 Most Pure Good Heroes in Marvel

Superheroes are Marvel’s first and greatest defense against the forces of evil, but they are so much more than empowered cops or firefighters. They are symbols of the best parts of ourselves given form, idealized people who use their great power exclusively for the benefit of others. Superheroes are power fantasies about good people doing good things, especially when those good things look very, very cool. Of course, this is not to say that all superheroes are infallible, far from it. In fact, pure good superheroes who never face corruption are actually fairly rare, which makes the ones who are all the more indispensable.

Today, we’re going to give all those symbols of hope their due by taking a look at seven superheroes who stand head and shoulders above the rest in terms of incorruptibility. Nobody is perfect, and all of them have faced trials, but they will always stick to that goodness inside their hearts. Each has a light inside them that can never be put out, even if it’s buried for a time. So, without further ado, let’s dig into the hearts of some heroes.

7) Classic Professor X

The modern interpretation of Professor Charles Xavier is a very complex man. It seems like a new revelation about some dark sin or atrocity he’s committed is revealed every other year, with some jaded fans even calling him the X-Men’s real villain. While it’s impossible to see today, for most of the X-Men’s careers, Charles was the most incorruptible of them all. He imagined a world where prejudice was a thing of the past, where man and mutant could live in harmony. His dream, his hope, guided an entire community out of the shadow and into the light of a new day.

Charles was an eternal optimist who believed even the most evil soul was capable of redemption and worthy of love. It’s no mistake that his dream is integral to the heart of the mutant community. The modern Charles can’t hold a candle to the paragon that the classic version was, but there’s some evidence that this interpretation of him might be returning. Along with the synergy of wanting the likely classically-inspired version that will appear in Avengers: Doomsday to match his comic counterpartart, Uncanny X-Men (2024) revealed that Charles was suffering from a brain tumor that affected his decision-making. This could mean that classic Charles is on his way back, which is something the X-Men desperately need.

6) Thor

Thor is not a god, but not even he is perfect. His origin famously recounts his journey to become worthy when Odin created the identity of Donald Blake and enchanted Mjolnir to require worthiness. Thor used to be arrogant and quick to anger, but now he’s become one of the kindest and staunchest souls in the Marvel Universe. Thor came from a society structured around battle and death, but has become one of the most understanding people in all the world. Shown especially well in Immortal Thor, the God of Thunder will always put others first and go to any lengths to help anyone who needs it. When Thor is on your side, you know that your cause is just.

5) Invisible Woman

Sue Storm has been the heart of the Fantastic Four since they were forged. They are a team that is always lost in some kind of crisis, either with Reed going too far into his science, Johnny losing his cool, or Ben’s self-doubts getting the better of him. Sue always pulls everyone back together, acting as the team’s anchor and emotional center. She has dark thoughts she buries deep, deep down, brought out by mind control in her Malice persona, but she’s repeatedly overcome those emotions and embraced her failings, and those of the ones she loves. Sue has faced the darkest of horrors and held onto her optimism and sense of purpose, which is a gold star in the pure heart department.

4) Spider-Man

Peter Parker is the poster child for heroism. He’s never been perfect, especially with his anger issues back in the day, but Peter has always tried to live up to an ideal of doing more because he has the ability. Spider-Man’s life is famously tragic, constantly facing ruthless enemies, personal struggles he can never explain, and plain bad luck. Yet, even though he wants to quit some days, Peter never lets his anger or grief be an excuse to not do the right thing. Spider-Man is an inspiration in his world and ours, and it’s all thanks to his endlessly heroic heart.

3) Captain America

While Sam Wilson could also easily qualify for this list, Steve Rogers stands as the purest example of a hero in the world. He’s an idealist through and through, whose only goal has ever been to help people however he can. Steve is truly incorruptible, and when the world or universe needs a symbol to unite them, they always turn to Captain America. Steve is the living embodiment of the peak of American ideals, meaning that he genuinely believes in making the world a better place by being a good person and fighting for what’s right. He’s the American Dream given form in the best ways possible, and he will never stop saving people.

2) Silver Surfer

When Norrin Radd’s planet was endangered by the Planet-Eater Galactus, he agreed to serve the tyrant to spare his home. Ever since, he fought to save as many lives as he could while keeping Galactus’s necessary evil in check, even while his nobility was suppressed. When innocent lives were at risk, he rebelled against a literal cosmic entity to save a planet he knew nothing about, and his heroism has only grown from there. He’s traveled the universe, saving what lives he could whenever he could. The gentle purity of his heart is constantly acknowledged in the universe. Whenever a pure soul is needed for whatever reason, or someone who can resist even the darkest of temptations, the Silver Surfer is always the first one called.

1) Captain Marvel

Specifically, this refers to the original Captain Marvel, Mar-Vell. He was designed as the universe’s ultimate hero, and he more than lived up to that role. Much like the Silver Surfer, his pure heart was consistently acknowledged during his life, and he routinely stood as the universe’s last line of defence for peace against cosmic threats like Thanos. His heroism inspired countless others to take his name after he passed, all of whom rose to the occasion and kept his legacy alive to this day. Mar-Vell was a true hero whom everyone looked up to, and his passing is still felt in the superhero community. He was a hero through and through.

What other pure-hearted heroes do you think deserve a spot on this list? My other options include legends like Nightcrawler and the Thing. Leave a comment in the comment section below and join the conversation on the ComicBook Forums!

5 Best Marvel Character Arcs in the Last 10 Years