Even if I hate to admit that I’m getting older by the day, one thing I feel fortunate about was to have lived through the golden age of comic books – the eighties. And I certainly made the best of it, devouring comic after comic, in what felt endless nights with just my books by myself. Ups, school next day…
As a grown-up man, I’m not ashamed to say I’m still a comic book nerd and collector. While I love the typical action-packed super-hero stuff, I have a particular penchant for those stories with unconventional narratives and psychedelic artwork.
As a tribute to all those unforgettable stories, and out of a certain nostalgia for those precious moments of my childhood and teenage years, I decided to compile a list of some of the most bizarre Marvel stories I have ever read.
Bear in mind it’s not an exhaustive list; honestly, one could make dozes of such lists with Doctor Strange stories alone. I aimed for a bit of superhero variety and a good range of bizarreness, from mildly weird to full-blown surreal.
So, if you are a fan of Marvel and the bizarre, check out the list below. Feel free to share your thoughts or suggest even weirder Marvel stories in the comments section!
10. Silver Surfer: Parable
Read: Silver Surfer (1988) #1-2: Parable
Demigod Galactus wreaks havoc on planet Earth after converting humans into his followers, leading them into a path of chaos and self-destruction. An exiled Silver Surfer finds valour and a sense of justice to face mighty Galactus in a battle which is just as physical as it is philosophical.
Despite not being a really weird tale, Parable is a departure from the typical Silver Surfer stories. It draws heavily on philosophical themes of loneliness, truth, faith and morality. The superb art and colouring highlight the story’s religious and solitude undertones.
Do we follow gods because we feel lost and alone without them? Is blind faith really better than having no faith at all? Are humans so desperate for order and leadership in their lives that they’ll obey even a destroyer of worlds? These are the sort of uncomfortable questions that earned Silver Surfer: Parable a spot in this list.
9. Fantastic Four: Full Circle
Read: Fantastic Four: Full Circle (2022)
The FF4 headquarters is invaded by parasitic creatures from the Negative Zone. To uncover the source of the invasion and prevent further attacks, the team travels right into the heart of the Negative Zone, a hostile and lawless dimension, where they encounter the embodiment of negative energy – the Nega-Man.
While the story itself is relatively simple, the psychedelic visuals and atmosphere, as well as subtle allusions to older FF4 stories, more than make up for it. The main foe, Nega-Man, conjures all sorts of fantastically nightmarish weirdlings, and bends reality in visually gripping ways. Also, as with many FF4 stories, Reed Richards’ nerdspeak is mind-bending in its own right.
The story isn’t particularly bizarre, and, frankly, I even considered not including it on this list. But then, Mister Fantastic has an epiphany that made my jaw drop: the Negative Zone they experienced might be manifestations of their fears and imaginings. Mindf**k!
8. Doctor Strange: What is it that disturbs you, Stephen?
Read Doctor Strange: What is it that disturbs you, Stephen? (1996)
In search of his kidnapped friend Wong, Doctor Strange is lured into the surreal realm of Ditkopolis where he faces a powerful foe named Electra (not related to the Marvel superhero Elektra). Soon, he realises he is in the middle of a family conflict fueled by obsession, jealousy, and egoism. Doctor Strange must overcome Electra’s delusions in order to save, not only himself, but also the entire realm of Ditkopolis from annihilation.
Even though this reprint of an earlier Doctor Strange issue isn’t the weirdest I have read, it has its share of strange elements. Particularly interesting was the combination of themes of love obsession and unrequited love with surreal elements, which gave me the feel of a Shakespearean tragedy. The surprising ending was an added bonus.
This particular issue doesn’t deviate much from standard Doctor Strange weirdness, which, granted, is already weird enough. The portal Demons, the surreal Ditkopolis plane, and the madness of Electra are sufficiently bizarre to grant Doctor Strange: What is it That Disturbs You Stephen a solid place in this list.
7. Warlock
Read: Strange Tales #178-181, Warlock #9-15, Avengers Annual #7, Marvel Two-In-One Annual 2 (1970-72)
Adam Warlock, empowered by a Soul Gem, possesses incredible powers such as quantum precognition, self-resurrection and the ability to steal souls. As a result, the original 70’s arcs are not short of bizarre and existentialist moments.
Warlock must battle a future evil version of himself, the Magus, who’s imposing his oppressive Universal Church of Truth on the universe, while Warlock’s Soul Gem attempts to suck his soul into itself. A complex multi-layered story with time warps, psychic spaces and dreamlike worlds, Warlock’s journey is mostly one of introspection and self-sacrifice.
Is Warlock’s transformation into the Magus inevitably? Will he be able to defeat himself without destroying himself? Is suicide the only viable way for him? Warlock’s existential crisis and time-warped journey are strange enough to justify its inclusion in this list.
6. Spider-Man: Fever
Read: Spider-Man: Fever (2010) #1-3
After a mishap from Doctor Strange, Spidey’s soul is abducted by a tribe of spider-demons, and their king plans to feast on it. Doctor Strange ventures into bizarre realms with bizarre beings on a race to save Spider-Man from being eaten.
This 3-issue series is sooooo trippy. The main story isn’t too bizarre, but it is page after page after page of colourful and surreal imagery, with a lot going on visually. Just imagine wandering bizarre realms on a swan-looking pedal boat, meeting an oversized talking pug, helping a cursed man-turned-fly, and fighting spiders with straw hats and tarot decks. And don’t forget Spider-Man’s delirium and feverish experiences. You’ll love it!
Will Spider-Man succumb to the fever that is driving him into insanity? Can Doctor Strange save his friend before he suffers a terrible death at the hands of the Arachnid? Spider-Man: Fever stands out as one of Marvel’s tripiest and most hallucinatory stories ever written.
5. X-Men: Legacy Vol. 2
Read: X-Men Legacy Vol. 2 (2012 - 2014) #1-24
In X-Men: Legacy vol. 2, David Haller (aka Legion), son of legendary Charles Xavier, literally fights his own inner demons to regain control over his fractured psyche, while trying to stop an apocalypse that would pit him against his one and only friend.
X-Men Legacy vol. 2 is bizarre in its own special way. Legion is hands down the most powerful mutant of all… but he is also the most unstable. His subconscious “prison” (and the surreal beasts that dwell within) is absolute madness! What’s more, Legion can bring people into his fractured mind and effortlessly manipulate people’s minds, making them experience scenarios that exist only in their heads. All perfect ingredients for a superbly wacky tale!
I absolutely loved Legion – a surprisingly relatable figure in many respects. X-Men Legacy vol. 2 also has the appealing trait that the plot is super engaging and a tad poignant, and the story gets way weirder, more introspective and philosophical towards the final issues.
4. Silver-Surfer: Black
Read: Silver-Surfer: Black (2019) #1-5
After being pulled into a black hole, Silver Surfer travels back in time to the beginning of the universe. There he comes face-to-face with a younger version of Knull (the God of the Dark), who infects him with a darkness that begins to consume Surfer’s body. Barely escaping with his life, Silver Surfer embarks on a journey of self-discovery, where he must learn to accept his own darkness if he is to prevail against Knull.
Even though not my favourite story of our favourite surfer, Black is easily the weirdest Silver Surfer arc I have ever read. I was blown away by the artwork – psychedelic, mystical and surreal. The idea of bringing Silver Surfer into the past, witnessing a very early version of the universe, was really snappy, and allowed for some truly trippy visual storytelling.
Silver Surfer: Black was an interesting, if meandering, read. Credit to the creative team for pulling off such visually stunning and inventive artwork. Those last pages with Surfer’s transformation and the planting of the seed are so memorable that they will likely stay with you for days to come.
3. Moon Knight Vol. 8
Read: Moon Knight Vol. 8 (2016-2017) #1-14
Marc Spector wakes up in a psych ward, not knowing how or why he got there in the first place. Fragmentary flashbacks of his life as well as cryptic conversations with the Egyptian god of the Moon, Khonshu, convince Spector that he is Moon Knight, the enigmatic vigilante of the night. Determined to break out of the mental hospital, Spector realises that he must confront his own self in order to preserve his sanity.
In many such stories, where the main character is made to believe that they’re “crazy”, you soon find out that there is some sort of evil conspiracy behind it. But this collection has the peculiarity that you never really know if Spector is making it all up. The Egyptian mythology references add mystery and a certain surrealism to the story, as does the non-linear narrative. The mood is disturbing, dark and hallucinatory.
Being my first foray into Moon Knight comics, I absolutely adored the complete Lemire, Smallwood, and Bellaire collection. Not sure if the other Moon Knight volumes keep up the weirdness, but Volume 8 surely deserves a place on the podium of the most bizarre Marvel stories ever written.
2. Doctor Strange: Into Shamballa
Read: Doctor Strange: Into Shamballa (1982)
After the passing of his mentor, Doctor Strange travels to the mystical city of Shamballa to honour his legacy. There, he receives a mysterious gift, that sends the Sorcerer Supreme on a metaphysical odyssey through mystical realms. Tasked with bringing about a new golden age for humanity, at a steep price, Doctor Strange must confront the limits of his magic and the consequences of wielding it.
OK, even by Doctor Strange’s standards, Into Shamballa is incredibly weird. With hardly any dialogues, the book focuses on Doctor Strange’s complex and mystical thoughts and inner visions. It is full of surreal imagery and symbolism, teems with philosophical and moral questions, and contains exquisite, poetic writing. There is even an orgy thrown in the middle!
The writers have surely gone all in to deliver a truly bizarre Doctor Strange adventure. I was flummoxed to what I was reading from beginning to end. Did I get the story? Barely… but I absolutely loved it! Can there be a weirder Doctor Strange story than that?
1. Doctor Strange: Fall Sunrise
Read: Doctor Strange: Fall Sunrise (2022-2023) #1-4
So… huh… Doctor Strange finds himself in this weird world against his will. Weird things start to happen, and weird beings and objects crop up from everywhere. He has weird thoughts, and weird visions, and then more weird beings appear. Weirdness on every page… literally!
What the heck did I just read?!? Let me tell you, Fall Sunrise makes Into Shamballa look like a Nicholas Sparks novel you picked at the airport. The psychedelic and visual chaos is so extreme that it almost felt I was reading this on acid. Terrifying figures that seem taken straight from a Dali painting, an infernal city filled with Gaudi-like structures, complex checkerboard patterns and wormhole-like structures with mystical eyes protruding from the sky, Doctor Strange as a midwife, and Plato’s Theory of Forms – what?!?
I read this book twice: once front-to-back and once back-to-front. Hardly made any difference! It’s hard for me to imagine a Marvel super-hero comic that can get weirder than this. Awestruck! Utterly bizarre! Mind-blowing! Read it at your own peril!
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