Marvel Power Rankings: 10 Most Popular Characters in Marvel Trading Cards Today
Marvel trading cards have been popular for decades. The annual lineup of sets and releases rivals that of some sports. Also like sports, some characters command top-tier star power and premium prices. Others are relegated to ʻcommonʼ status.
Like the secondary market for comics, movies and cinematic speculation often contribute to many charactersʼ rise in popularity and relevancy—even when itʼs for comic-based trading cards.
With all things being equal in a particular product, these are the 10 biggest Marvel stars when it comes to trading cards.
10. Carnage
Every hero needs a great villain. Spider-Man has a rogues gallery rivaled only by Batman. Carnage brings a horror edge that, visually, goes further than Venom. Carnage’s introduction into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (or Multiverse) in last year’s Ve n o m sequel might not have been as dark and chaotic as some may have hoped but it still elevated the character’s prominence in the hobby. With Spider-Man cards as a whole seeing a spike of late, it has also meant more interest as collectors look to cornerstone characters.
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9. Black Widow
Natasha Romanoff is a complex character filled with espionage, globetrotting, mystery and a deadly set of skills. For a decade, she was also the female face of the big screen Avengers, including the 2021 solo film. There’s some uncertainty over where the character goes from here as far as the movies go—at least with Scarlett Johansson’s Romanoff holding the Black Widow mantle.
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8. Captain Marvel
The Marvel movies might be starting to move on from Black Widow, but Captain Marvel is just getting started. Not only that, but she has played a prominent role in some major comic storylines and crossovers in the last several years. Don’t be surprised if Carol Danvers continues her trading card ascension in the years to come.
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7. Black Panther
Black Panther has been a major Marvel player for a long time. His story and that of Wakanda is steeped in lore with identity and technology at the forefront. That said, until recently, one could argue the character was in the second tier of popular Marvel heroes. That changed when the late Chadwick Boseman brought him to the big screen, first in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War and then for a solo film two years later. Black Panther was a phenomenon, vaulting the character to the Marvel A-list where he still remains.
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6. Deadpool
Never underestimate the power of laughter, especially when it’s accompanied by lots of over-the-top action and weird friends and enemies. While Deadpool brings plenty of comedy, he also breaks down the fourth wall, offering some comic commentary along the way. In an industry where a lot of characters act, sound and even look familiar, the Merc with a Mouth is a one-of-a-kind. And it’s unlikely anyone wants it any other way.
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5. Venom
Whether he’s inhabit-ing Eddie Brock or Flash Thompson, Venom has been on some epic adventures over the years. Spinning out as essentially Spider-Man’s dark side, the character has been in several major storylines done by some of the industry’s biggest creators. He’s swung back and forth between villain and hero, o en landing now somewhere in the realm of gray. Of course, a couple of blockbuster films have certainly helped keep Venom at the Marvel forefront—and this is before any potential cinematic Spider-Man crossover.
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4. Iron Man
Iron Man has long been one of the major Marvel players. But as, arguably, the heart and soul of the big screen Infinity saga, he has been on another level for more than a decade. Tony Stark doesn’t appear to be a major part of the movies going forward, at least directly, but he has still been a catalyst in the fallout of Avengers: Endgame. Still, in this modern era of Marvel trading cards, landing anything Iron Man is considered a big win by most.
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3. Captain America
In a lot of ways, Captain America isn’t as cool as a lot of other super-heroes. But he’s the role model—the one we aspire to be. Captain America might not be perfect but he’s good. That’s gone a long way over the decades, even with some different interpretations. Alongside Iron Man, Cap was another key part of making Marvel movies the behemoth it is today. Unlike Iron Man, there’s a path forward for name and shield, even if they’ve been bestowed to someone else.
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2. Wolverine
He looks cool, he talks tough and he has blades that shoot out of his hands. Wolverine is like the good guy version of Freddy Krueger. As far as Marvel goes, he has been one of the company’s undisputed kings since the mid 1980s. When comics and comic cards exploded by the end of the decade, there he was front and center. Should the iconic X-Man make the jump to the official Marvel Cinematic Universe, expect his popularity to explode once again. Even if he doesn’t make his way back to the big screen anytime soon, Wolverine’s place in the hobby is still strong.
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1. Spider-Man
When it comes to all superheroes, not just Marvel, Spider-Man is one of the no-brainer entries for the Mount Rushmore of characters. The only names who might approach him are Batman and Superman. Spider-Man’s greatest strength has always been his relatability. That’s translated well on the page, on TV and, now, in film. Perhaps the only place Peter Parker hasn’t resonated is the ill-fated trip to the Broadway stage.
Although a lot of high-end Marvel cards have been soaring of late, some key Spider-Man cards are approaching premium levels normally reserved for top sports superstars. For example, a 2013 Fleer Retro Marvel Metal Precious Metal Gems Green Spider-Man, numbered to 10 and graded BGS 9 Mint, sold for $168,000 through a Goldin auction.
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