The Supernatural Avengers Who Nearly Joined Marvel's Universe

Although the Dark Universe never managed to create a shared horror universe akin to Marvel’s Avengers, there was a time when Rick Remender envisioned a chilling twist for Marvel's heroes. Remender, known for his work on ‘Deadly Class’ and ‘Uncanny Avengers’, proposed a mini-series called ‘Hearts of Darkness’. This series would have introduced a supernatural twist to the Marvel Universe, set on an alternate Earth where the supernatural is the norm.

In Remender's pitch, the Avengers would have included supernatural versions of iconic heroes like Captain America, Wolverine, Iron Man, Thor, and Hawkeye, all part of a monster-centric team. Leading this team would be Ghost Rider, who has taken on the mantle of Captain America.

Image Courtesy: CBR

 Meanwhile, Steve Rogers is reimagined as a werewolf. The plot unfolds with Ghost Rider being killed, and his role as the Spirit of Vengeance is assumed by Franken-Castle, a reanimated Punisher who now reigns over a Mayan temple with a brutal hand. The story briefly shows Cap-Wolf battling a vampiric Wolverine, only to reveal that Franken-Castle is behind the chaos, marked by the Punisher’s skull symbol burned into the victims’ skin.

While the pitch remains unrealized, it does share some similarities with elements that have appeared in Marvel continuity, such as Frank Castle’s possession of the Spirit of Vengeance, which echoes the Cosmic Ghost Rider from Danny Cates’s ‘Thanos’ run. 

Image Courtesy: CBR

Marvel could potentially revisit this concept, especially with the darker themes explored in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’. A team of supernatural Avengers from an alternate reality could seamlessly integrate into Marvel’s expanding universe.

–Farheen Ali