By Zack Quaintance — We’ve reached (roughly) the 1/4 through the year mark (very roughly), and as such, we’re starting our annual tradition: ranking the best comics of 2022 (so far). Each Friday through the end of the month, we’ll have a new list. Today’s is the best comics of 2022 — Marvel Comics. On the Fridays to come, we’ll soon have lists as well for DC Comics, Image Comics, and just generally indie comics.

And hey, we’re also doing things just a little bit differently this year. I’m going to stick with these lists and update them in real time as more books arrive, right up through October. So if you like what you find here, make sure to bookmark it and check back periodically through the rest of the year.

Anyway! The best comics of 2022 Marvel are below…enjoy!

The Best Comics of 2022 (So Far): Marvel Comics

1. Iron Man
Writer: Christopher Cantwell
Primary Artist: Cafu
Most Recent Trade: Iron Man, Vol. 2 - Books of Korvac II
Why This Is So Good: Holy cow, where to start? This current run of Iron Man — which is a manageable two trades long at the time of this writing — is the ideal of what I want from my superhero comics. First and foremost, it’s character driven, like all of Christopher Cantwell’s comics tend to be. Rather than deploying a quip machine Tony Stark like we see in the movies, this book really looks at Tony’s psychology, drawing it instead from his long history in the comics. It tackles his roots as Iron Man, his drinking problem, his troubles with relationships, and it tackles it well. There’s plenty of big superhero fighting (we’ll get into it) and sci-fi hi jinx (we’ll get into that too) in these pages, but it’s all driven by emotional complexity.
That said, in between that intense examination, it’s also a total romp of a sci-fi superhero adventure comic that draws from deep cuts in Marvel continuity. We see Tony assembling a B (or C…or even D) list team of superheroes, we see him taking them to space, and we see him squaring off with an equally-matched villain from the Avengers past in ways that will give you vibes of Star Trek: The Original Series. It’s really smart and hard to predict, and it’s the best use of Iron Man I’ve seen in a comic in years, if not decades.
Finally, it’s all brought to life by Cafu, who has a true knack for nailing the big moments here, the giant explosions, and larger-than-life squaring off between titans. Cafu can do that stuff, for sure, but in this comic he’s also demonstrated a real knack for action storytelling choreography, making big fights clear in a way that heightens the stakes. Simply put, this is just a very good comic, one that delivers an experience with superhero characters that’s so complex and steeped in ideas, it would be hard to pull off in any other medium. Please please please read this book.
Other Relevant Trades: Iron Man, Vol. 1 TPB

2. The Thing
Writer: Walter Mosley
Primary Artist: Tom Reilly
Most Recent Trade: Pre-order The Thing: Next Big Thing, due out August 23, 2022
Why This Is So Good: The first thing that is likely to grab you in this six-part story centered on the Fantastic Four’s The Thing, is the artwork. Tom Reilly (who is getting ready to do a similar limited series starring Ant Man Men) has some of the cleanest linework in all of superhero comics. There’s something in both his character designs and storytelling that is likely to remind you of The Thing’s creator, Jack Kirby. Just an excellent love of the medium and the creative eye to do it justice. It’s really astounding work.
And when paired with novelist Walter Mosley’s clear love for the character? Well, the results are fantastic. This series is an absolute blast from start to finish, one that captures the self-aware absurdity of superhero comics perfectly, without at all looking down on them and instead preferring to just have some fun (although not without the conflict and drama). That’s what this book delivers. It’s smart, it’s funny, it’s engaging, and it feels truly special. I can’t recommend it enough.
Other Relevant Trades: The Thing Classic, Vol. 1 - Digital / Physical; The Thing Classic, Vol. 2 - Digital / Physical

3. Daredevil
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Primary Artist: Marco Checchetto
Most Recent Trade: Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky, Vol. 7 Lockdown - Physical / Digital
Why This Is So Good: If there is one thing that Marvel Comics has consistently done well over the years, it’s to make sure that Daredevil is always a top-tier superhero comics reading experience. Often times, this means that the book is eliciting career-best work from its creative team (see Frank Miller, Ann Nocenti, Brian Michael Bendis & David Mack/Alex Maleev, Mark Waid & Chris Samnee, the list goes on…). This is certainly true of the current run of Daredevil.
The run by Chip Zdarsky (soon to be the writer of the flagship Batman title for DC Comics) and artist Marco Checcetto, has been a slow-burning and complex examination of the functions of laws, authorities, and power structures in a modern city. Checchetto’s artwork is moody and engaging, with more than subtle hints of classic noir. And Zdarsky is making plenty of excellent choices with the story, which centers thematically on the nature of accountability. It’s a long run, one of the longest on our Best Comics of 2022 - Marvel Comics list, but it’s well worth the investment to get caught up now. The seven trade collections that are currently available lead right into the currently-ongoing Devil’s Reign event story.
Other Relevant Trades: Vol 1 - Physical / Digital; Vol 2 - Physical / Digital; Vol 3 - Physical / Digital; Vol 4 - Physical / Digital; Vol 5 - Physical / Digital; and Vol 6 - Physical / Digital

4. Sabretooth
Writer: Victor LaValle
Primary Artist: Leonard Kirk
Most Recent Trade: Pre-order Sabretooth - The Adversary, due out August 9, 2022
Why This Is So Good: Novelist Victor LaValle brings his keen sensibility for horror that speaks to our times to the line of X-Men comics, and none too soon. As of this writing, the X-Men books are sort of stuck in an in-between place spanning the departure of House of X/Powers of X mastermind, Jonathan Hickman, and a new era that will spring from the ideas he and his collaborators have shaped over the past two years or so. Yet, as we await that new era, perhaps the best new comic of current era has arrived, in which LaValle and his collaborators take aim at a society that is striving to be a utopia…while still throwing its members into a prison, of sorts. Many writers have spun ideas out of the Krakoa concept that Hickman set up, but this is far and away the most intriguing. And all you need to jump into it is to have read House of X/Powers of X (see link below…).
Other Relevant Trades: House of X/Powers of X HC

5. Moon Knight
Writer: Jed MacKay
Primary Artist: Alessandro Cappuccio
Most Recent Trade: Moon Knight, Vol. 1 - The Midnight Mission - Digital / Physical
Why This Is So Good: If Daredevil is consistently the favorite, prestige son of Marvel Comics, Moon Knight is his more mysterious cousin, a place where creators have often gone to tell weirdo stories that challenge perceptions and maybe even deliberately confuse. This current run is not as disorienting as others have been as of late, but it’s still a really good use of the character to take a romp through the Marvel Universe’s street level instances of monsters and the occult. The artwork is suitably moody, and writer Jed MacKay is a natural at telling accessible and fast-moving superhero stories. If you have had your interest in this character sparked by the upcoming TV show, the current comic also has a lot to offer.
Other Relevant Trades: See our guide on where to start with Moon Knight

6. Miles Morales: Spider-Man
Writer: Saladin Ahmed
Primary Artist: Michele Bandini
Most Recent Trade: Miles Morales - Spider-Man Vol. 7 Beyond - Digital / Physical
Why This Is So Good: This is the best Spider-Man comic right now. Granted, we have a new Amazing Spider-Man #1 launching in April, but for the moment, Miles Morales: Spider-Man is definitely where you want to get your Spider-Man fix. It’s a Spider-Man comic that is taking risks and going to new places, adding characters and introducing villains that all feel fresh and interesting. It’s also liable to remind readers of the beloved teenage Spider-Man years, the struggles to date and go to school and balance being a hero with family. Like Daredevil, it’s one of the longer runs on the best comics of 2022 Marvel list, but the creative team expertly playing the long game with the ideas here makes this one well worth the lengthy trip.
Other Relevant Trades: Miles Morales - Spider-Man Vol. 1 Digital / Physical; Miles Morales - Spider-Man Vol. 2 Digital / Physical; Miles Morales - Spider-Man Vol. 3 Digital / Physical; Miles Morales - Spider-Man Vol. 4 Digital / Physical; Miles Morales - Spider-Man Vol. 5 Digital / Physical; Miles Morales - Spider-Man Vol. 6 Digital / Physical

7. Ghost Rider
Writer: Benjamin Percy
Primary Artist: Cory Smith
Most Recent Trade: Ghost Rider
Why This Is So Good: You can read all about it in my recent Ghost Rider #1 review, but I was caught off guard with how much I ended up liking this comic. In brief, it’s a simple and chilling horror comic with touches of the characters mythos throughout. From page one, this book is doing so many interesting things with tone and minimalism and ambiance, and it really carries throughout the entirety of the over-sized first chapter. If this comic continues to be this good as it gets deeper into its run (be forewarned, we so far only have the first issue), than I can definitely see it’s position changing (and for the better) later in the year on this very list of the best comics of 2022 Marvel edition. Anyway, highly recommend checking out Ghost Rider #1, which you just might enjoy even if you’re not traditionally a fan of the character.

8. Captain Marvel
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Primary Artist: Jacopo Camagni
Most Recent Trade: Captain Marvel Vol. 7 Last of the Marvels - Digital / Physical
Why This Is So Good: The third (and final) long run on our list, Captain Marvel has been a sneakily (is that a word?) excellent title since its start, actually (for my money) getting better after it found its footing with its earliest arcs. It’s doing a lot of interesting things with its supporting cast, and, increasingly, with the Marvel cosmic mythos that surrounds Carol Danvers. If you’re interested in this character, it’s a great book to really sink your teeth into, and I think one that’s relatively friendly for folks who haven’t read too many other Captain Marvel comics.
Other Relevant Trades: Captain Marvel Vol. 1 - Digital / Physical; Captain Marvel Vol. 2 - Digital / Physical; Captain Marvel Vol. 3 - Digital / Physical; Captain Marvel Vol. 4 - Digital / Physical; Captain Marvel Vol. 5 - Digital / Physical; Captain Marvel Vol. 6 - Digital / Physical

Best Marvel Trade Collections for 2022

This section is dedicated to recent trade collections newly available in 2022. I highly recommend this entire list, almost all of which can be picked up by new or lapsed readers and enjoyed on its own merits. Each entry below goes back to the start of its given run, although some are ongoing. At any rate, so far these are the best Marvel Comics trade collections of 2022 (so far)…enjoy!

Beta Ray Bill: Digital / Physical

Black Panther by Ta-Nehisi Coates Omnibus: Physical

Captain America: Truth TP: Digital / Physical

Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky Hardcovers
Book 1: Digital / Physical
Book 2: Digital / Physical
Book 3: Digital / Physical

Demon Days: Treasury Edition: Digital / Physical

Doctor Strange by Aaron and Bachalo Omnibus: Physical

Hellions
Vol. 1: Digital / Physical
Vol. 2: Digital / Physical
Vol. 3: Digital / Physical
Hardcover: Physical

Immortal Hulk, Omnibuses (Omnibi?)
Vol. 1: Physical
Vol. 2: Physical
Vol. 3: Physical
Vol. 4: Physical

Inferno by Jonathan Hickman: Digital / Physical

Marvel: June 1962 Omnibus:
Physical

The Marvel Comics Library, Spider-Man Vol. 1:
Physical

The United States of Captain America: Digital / Physical

Big X-Men Books
Hellfire Gala
House of X/Powers of X HC
X of Swords

Read more great graphic novel and comics reviews!

Check out the Best Comics of 2022 — DC Comics list!

Zack Quaintance is a tech reporter by day and freelance writer by night/weekend. He has written about comics for The Beat and NPR Books, among others. He Tweets compulsively about storytelling and comics as Comics Bookcase.