Marvel Comics creators don’t have the freedom they used to. When nostalgic fans look back at earlier eras of Marvel storytelling, they’re not wrong to notice a vibe shift. That is because Marvel has become more finely tuned as a product over the years, at the expense of the greater creative liberties it used to afford authors and artists.

Arguably, the 1990s and early 2000s were the last great period of creative freedom for Marvel Comics.

1990s X-Men, with Cyclops front and center, surrounded by characters including Storm, Gambit,& more.

Especially in the ‘90s, Marvel wasn’t afraid to get weird, and to experiment with different styles, tones, and themes. Today, Marvel’s “house” style is much more uniform across its various franchises and titles.

Marvel's Approach To Superhero Storyt

See Full Page