Best Marvel Isekai Comic Stories, Ranked

Important takeaways

• Fan favorite Isekai Marvel Comics include Exiles, Old Man Logan and Planet Hulk.
• Exiles 2001 features X-Men from alternate realities hopping universes to solve problems.
• Marvel Isekai gems like Days of Future Past and Doctor Strange & Doctor Doom provide exciting, world-blending experiences.

Isekai is one of the most popular anime genres today. The genre is about characters who find themselves in new worlds or dimensions and must survive there. Thanks to the popularity of light novels and webcomics, creators were given the tools to publish their unique stories. Comics giant Marvel Comics has done some incredible isekai stories over the years, before the isekai name itself was in the public consciousness.

New worlds, dimensions, and multiverses are a big part of Marvel Comics' history, so readers can bet there are some isekai gems in their catalog.

8 Exiles (2001)

Mutants who jump the universe to solve problems

• Author: Judd Winick
• Artist: Mike McKone
• Publication date: August 2001

The Exile 2001 run is a 100-issue series that follows a group of characters, each from different realities, who unite into a collapsing universe and fix problems. Throughout the series, they visit various alternate worlds, many of which die-hard Marvel Comics fans will recognize.

Exile is written by author Judd Winick and illustrated by Mike McKone, and it even includes a chapter written by X-Men veteran Chris Claremont. What readers love about this series is that plot armor doesn't exist. Characters you think are mainstays get killed early in the run. This keeps readers on edge, as they never quite know what to expect.

7 Old Man Logan (2008)

With an old wolverine in an alternate timeline

• Author: Mark Millar
• Artist: Steve McNiven
• Publication date: August 2008

IN Old man Loganan aged version of Wolverine/Logan thrives in an alternate timeline. It was a refreshing take on one of Marvel's flagship characters, Wolverine, who is known for doing impressive things. Writer Mark Millar and artist Steve McNiven's 2008 collaboration gave readers some of the most gruesome diversions from Marvel canon ever seen.

In this timeline, supervillains have overthrown the Marvel superheroes, and they X-Men have all been murdered. After these events, Logan becomes a pacifist who no longer fights or pulls out his claws. While struggling to pay his rent, Logan has no choice but to accept a job from Hawkeye, who asks him to deliver a shady package. This sets off a captivating journey through the wasteland of the Marvel Universe, where readers discover strange alternatives to popular characters. The story includes appearances by the Hulk Gang (the grandchildren of Hulk) and Spider-Man's daughter and granddaughter.

The Old man Logan character would become an iconic version of Wolverine, inspiring the 2017 film Logan.

6 Planet Hulk (2006)

Hulk overthrows an emperor after being sent to a new world

• Author: Greg Pak
• Artist(s): Carlo Pagulayan, Jeffrey Huet, Chris Sotomayor
• Publication date: April 2006
• Serial number: Incredible Hulk #92–105 Giant size Hulk #1

Written by Greg Pak, Planet Hulk is a popular Hulk series in which the Green Titan's fellow Marvel Heroes send the Hulk off to another planet. Hulk finds himself on Sakaar, and the story then follows Hulk's path to overthrowing the planet's emperor to become its new king.

The series is a fan favorite because readers get to enjoy watching Hulk do what Hulk does best. The idea behind it Planet Hulk is to send him into an environment where he can fight monsters like a gladiator, the perfect outlet for him to shine as a devastating force. Planet Hulk goes on to put up another amazing series called World War Hulk.

5 The Unbelievable Gwenpool (2016)

A Marvel fan from the real world is sent into the Marvel Universe

• Author: Christopher Hastings
• Artist(s): Gurihiru, Irene Strychalski, Alti Firmansyah, Danilo Beyruth, Myisha Haynes
• Publication date: June 2016

Published in 2016, writer Christopher Hastings and illustrator Gurihiru set out to create a fun, anime-influenced comic series. The Unbelievable Gwenpool sees Gwen Poole transported from the real world to the Marvel Universe. It's a story set that leads to a lot of tension, as Gwenpool encounters countless Marvel heroes, such as Miles Morales, Blade, Deadpool, and Ghost Rider.

Tonally, the series mixes the humor of Deadpool, with the level of charm of Spider-Gwen, hence the convenient name. There are many gripping story arcs to accompany Gwen's journey through the Marvel Universe, such as when Gwen becomes disgusted with the thought of harming Marvel characters she grew up loving, and instead tries to wipe herself out of existence. Readers often go into Incredible Gwenpool expect some mindless low-stakes fun but are surprised by how much the story invests in her character.

4 Days of Future Past (1981)

Katy Pryde must travel to the past to prevent an anti-mutant revolution

• Author: Chris Claremont
• Artist: John Byrne Inker: Terry Austin
• Publication date: January 1981
• Serial number: The Uncanny X-Men Issues #141–142

Days of Future Past is an iconic X-Men story written by writers Chris Claremont, John Byrne and Terry Austin.

The story depicts a dystopian future where mutants are imprisoned by an anti-mutant regime. Mutant-hating robots called Sentinels rule the United States and force mutants into internment camps. In this era, we are presented with a reformed version of Magneto who is confined to a wheelchair, ironic considering he once opposed Professor Xavier.

With the help of Rachel Summers, Katy Pryde transfers her consciousness back 30 years to warn everyone of this future so they can prevent it from happening. Katy then has to help X-Men from the past prevent the assassination of Professor Xavier and Senator Robert Kelly as this is the event that caused the anti-mutant hysteria.

Days of Future Past is one of Marvel's best comic books, and it was the inspiration behind the 2014 film of the same name. Unfortunately, the film did not feature a Katy Pryde story arc.

3 Secret Wars (2015)

Marvel heroes from different worlds fight against each other to save their own universe

• Author: Jonathan Hickman
• Artist(s): Esad Ribić, Ive Svorcina
• Publication date: May 2015

Secret Wars is a sprawling Marvel event where readers' favorite Marvel characters battle each other to save the fate of their own world. An intrusion settles Earth-616 and that The ultimate universe earth on a collision course with each other, which will cause the universe to end when it does.

Desperate to save who he can, Reed Richards tries to lead everyone onto a life raft, but he struggles to prevent the inevitable death and destruction. Secret Wars (2015) often hailed as the best Marvel Comics event, its world-blending qualities make it perfect for those who crave Marvel Isekai experiences. There's a reason fans have been waiting for Secret Wars to be adapted for the MCU.

2 Only Myself Left To Conquer (2022)

Marvel's most infamous time traveler gets his definitive solo story

• Writers: Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing
• Artist: Carlos Magno
• Publication date: February 2022

Another famous Marvel world jumper is Kang the Conquerer. Those familiar with the character know that Kang's story is ideal for Isekai, but until Only myself left to conquerhe rarely had his own stand-alone story.

Released in 2022, Only Myself Left To Conquer is designed to tell the definitive Kang story. The story sees the time traveler caught in a cycle of destruction of his own making. This paradox begins and ends with an older Kang sending his younger self down a dark path. This series portrays Kang like never before. Kang's entire existence is based on conquering all of time and existence, and this story goes deep into his motives for doing so.

1 Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment (1989)

Doctor Doom sets out to rescue his mother from the demon realm

• Author: Roger Stern
• Artist(s): Mike Mignola, Mark Badger, Mark Badger, Jim Novak
• Publication date: June 1987

Doctor Doom is not only one of Marvel's greatest villains, but he is also one of its most frequent travelers between worlds and dimensions. IN Triumph and agonyDoom battles Mephisto in an attempt to free his mother's soul. But he can't do it without the help of the Master of the Mystic Arts, Doctor Strange.

The story sees them enter an evil demon world where the two are pushed beyond their limits. Doom's inner turmoil makes readers adore him, even though he has an evil side that makes him double-check Strange. But Doom ends up needing Strange more than he'd like to admit, as this story forces Doom to expand his knowledge of the arcane arts thanks to Strange.

Triumph and agony often referred to as the best Doctor Doom story arc, especially for newcomers.