What would the Marvel Universe be like if our favorite heroes decided to follow a different career path? It’s an interesting question to pose since heroes like the Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four help to keep the world safe. Marvel heroes come from all walks of life, from the uber successful to ordinary men and women. But they all share the same qualities of wanting to help others. However, that doesn’t mean that being a hero is the only option. You can do good in the world without putting on a flashy tight suit. And in some instances, it may even turn out to be the better option in the long run.
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The heroes we decided would be better off without being heroes come from all corners of the Marvel Universe. They are names you will recognize, and you will probably find yourselves agreeing with a lot of the choices. Even the ones you question will make sense when you stop and think about it.
7 ) Wolverine
It’s hard to tell someone as old as Wolverine that he should have looked into a different career path, but it may have saved him a lot of hard times in the long run. Wolverine has known nothing but pain and loss, especially when you consider how he was used as a guinea pig in the Weapon X program. But even though Logan comes across as a hardass and loner, one thing he’s been able to accomplish in his long life is mentoring the youth.
That has come across with Wolverine’s relationships with Kitty Pryde, Jubilee, and his daughter, Laura Kinney, Marvel’s other Wolverine. Logan was also the headmaster of the Jean Grey School in Wolverine and the X-Men. As unlikely as it appeared on the surface, Wolverine made for a pretty good teacher and leader of young mutants. It’s too bad we don’t see more of that from him.
6) Emma Frost
The former White Queen of the Hellfire Club had more opportunities than most people on this list. Emma Frost comes from wealth and influence, and has the natural beauty that many women would fantasize over. Yes, she originally used these gifts for evil purposes as an enemy of the X-Men, but eventually came to her senses and started working alongside them. However, all the qualities we mentioned above demonstrate how Emma Frost could accomplish anything she sets her mind to, even if it isn’t being a hero.
Though she’d probably hate it, Emma Frost would make for a successful politician if she ever so chose to pursue it. Or some other profession that wealthy, beautiful people tend to go after. She obviously doesn’t need to be a hero, and could make a difference in the world in other ways.
5) Mary Jane Watson
Mary Jane may be new to the superhero game as the All-New Venom, but she’s very familiar with it from her time dating and marrying Spider-Man. There was also Mary Jane’s time as Jackpot. It’s only natural that she would eventually become a full-fledged hero instead of standing on the sidelines, but Mary Jane has already proved that she can make a name for herself on the runway as a model.
Just think if Mary Jane continued her career as a model. She wouldn’t have to worry about supervillains coming to kill her. That’s an added bonus right there. Mary Jane has also successfully run nightclubs before becoming a personal assistant to Iron Man. She’s perfectly able to balance any task presented to her.
4) Storm
The X-Men’s resident weather witch is one of the most powerful mutants in the Marvel Universe. There’s never been any doubt about that. Storm has a commanding presence and has lately upgraded to Herald of Eternity. She’s an established leader and has basically become Earth’s Champion, so why couldn’t Storm be some kind of ambassador? It’s more likely that Storm could accomplish more as an ambassador for Earth and saving the planet than as an X-Man. You could argue that she would reach more minds and hearts without the whole “mutant” looming over her.
3) Iron Man
It’s safe to say that Tony Stark is rich enough that he doesn’t have to be bothered with being Iron Man. Yes, his iron suit helped save his life and showed him the error of his ways, as far as building weapons of mass destruction and selling them to the highest bidder goes. But with Stark Industries, Iron Man is capable of so much more. Why fly around in a suit of armor when you can use this massive company that you own to do the fighting for you? Tony Stark can run Stark Industries and fight the good fight from corporate boardrooms instead of duking it out with despots and mad titans.
Iron Man has such influence that it’s not out of the realm of possibility to see him run for President of the United States. There’s already a precedent for celebrities running for public offices, and while politics is a cutthroat business, it can’t be any worse for your health than being an Avenger.
2) Fantastic Four
Marvel’s First Family officially joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe later this month. I’m somewhat cheating by putting four heroes in the Number #2 slot, but it makes more sense to keep them grouped together. The Fantastic Four have taken the unorthodox route of having their secret identities be public knowledge, making them quasi-celebrities. Reed Richards’ intelligence paired with Sue Storm’s leadership, Johnny Storm’s burning personality, and Ben Grimm’s loyalty and determination means that the Fantastic Four would be good at whatever they set their sights on.
They already have the Future Foundation as the center of all their works. Reed can create inventions to help mankind, and we all know the world could use help in that regard. Even without being the Fantastic Four, it’s hard to think that the four characters couldn’t make names for themselves outside of their unstable molecule costumes.
1) The Punisher
Punisher may have a good reason for his war on criminal activity, but it doesn’t mean that it’s a healthy obsession. Frank Castle lost his entire family to gun violence, so he’s chosen to fight fire with fire, so to speak. Of course, violence isn’t always the best solution, but try telling that to The Punisher. If any Marvel character deserves another career path, it’s Frank Castle. There are better ways to harness that anger and rage than by becoming a gun-toting vigilante.
It’s hard to imagine Punisher being anything other than what he is. But just think if he turned that drive and passion towards healthier options? It’d be better for him in the long run, and it would make his deceased family proud. Plus, there would be a lot less bloodshed in the Marvel Universe.
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