50 Marvel Monsters: A Gallery of Beasts

By Jesse Stillman The Page 10/21/2016

With Halloween now less than a fortnight away and with Marvel Comics‘ “Monsters Unleashed” looming on the horizon of their comic book universe, ready to strike, it seems a rather appropriate time to compile a list of monsters and creatures that have stalked the pages of comics for the past few decades now.

It was increasingly difficult as I approached 50 but did manage to find enough to make an easy semi-centennial compilation. This list of creatures is pulled from the many corners of the Marvel universe, some that are still around and some that haven’t seen a panel in decades.

The ranks of the people who created these characters are some of the best to have ever graced the pages of the funny books. Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Gil Kane, Neal Adams and Marv Wolfman are some of the names you will read below.

1. Werewolf By Night: 1st appearance – Marvel Spotlight # 2 This book came out in February of 1972 and features writing by Roy Thomas and art by Mike Ploog. The cover is by Neal Adams

2. Ghost Rider: 1st appearance – Marvel Spotlight # 5 From August of 1972, This is another Roy Thomas story. Mike Ploog did the interior and cover pencil work.

3. Blade: : 1st appearance – Tomb of Dracula # 10 ToD # 10 came out in July of 1973. Marv Wolfman wrote the story and Gene Colan did art. Gil Kane did this cover.

4. Dracula: 1st appearance- Tomb of Dracula # 1 April of 1972 is when this book came out. Roy Thomas and Gene Colan were the team on the book, with Neal Adams doing the cover art.

5. Lilith: 1st appearance – Giant-Size Chiller Ft. Curse of Dracula # 1 This book hit shelves in June of 1974, Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan being the creative team.

6. Hannibal King: 1st appearance – Tomb of Dracula # 25 October 1974, again Wolfman and Colan on the creative team. Gil Kane drew this cover.

7. The Thing: 1st appearance – Fantastic Four # 1 Debuting in November of 1961, this issue was written by Stan Lee, with Jack Kirby doing both cover and interior artwork.

8. Hulk: 1st appearance – The Incredible Hulk # 1 This book comes from May of 1962 and – like FF – features the iconic team of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee.

9. Fing Fang Foom: 1st appearance – Strange Tales # 89 October 1961 is when this book hit news stands. This issue was written by Stan Lee, with Jack Kirby doing both cover and interior artwork.

10. Giganto: 1st appearance – Fantastic Four # 1 Debuting in November of 1961, this issue was written by Stan Lee, with Jack Kirby doing both cover and interior artwork.

11. Gorgilla: 1st appearance – Tales To Astonish # 12 This issue came out in October of 1960. Once again, written by Stan Lee, with Jack Kirby doing both cover and interior artwork.

12. Groot: 1st appearance – Tales To Astonish # 13 The next issue after Gorgilla’s debut was in November of 1960. Kirby/Lee again on the team but Steve Ditko is credited along with Kirby for this cover.

13. Blip: 1st appearance – Tales To Astonish # 15 January 1961, with Kirby/Lee on the creative team. The cover is credited to both Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers.

14. Kraken: 1st appearance – Tales To Astonish # 93 This one came out in July of 1967. Roy Thomas did the writing while Dan Adkins handled the pencil work. Marie Severin did the cover art.

15. Taboo: 1st appearance – Strange Tales # 75 Release Date: June 1960 Writer: Stan Lee Art: Jack Kirby Cover Art: Jack Kirby

16. X-13: 1st appearance – Strange Tales # 93 Release Date: February 1962 Writer: Stan Lee Art: Jack Kirby Cover Art: Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko

17. Orrgo – Strange Tales # 90 Release Date: November 1951 Writer: Stan Lee Art: Jack Kirby Cover Art: Jack Kirby

18. Golem: 1st appearance – Strange Tales # 174 Release Date: June 1974 Writer: Len Wein Art: John Buscema Cover Art: Gil Kane, Tony DeZuniga and John Romita, Sr.

19. The Glob: 1st appearance – The Incredible Hulk # 121 Release Date: November 1969 Writer: Roy Thomas Art: Herb Trimpe Cover Art: Herb Trimpe

20. Skunk Ape: 1st appearance – Venom # 24 Release Date: September 201 Writer: Cullen Bunn Art: Tony Silas Cover Art: Patrick Zircher

21. Man-Thing: 1st appearance – Savage Tales # 1 Release Date: May 1971 Writer: Roy Thomas Art: Barry Smith Cover Art: John Buscema

22. Minotaur: 1st appearance – Avengers # 17 Release Date: June 1965 Writer: Stan Lee Art: Don Heck Cover Art: Jack Kirby

23. Living Mummy: 1st appearance – Supernatural Thrillers # 5 Release Date: August 1973 Writer: Steve Gerber Art: Rich Buckler Cover Art: Rich Buckler

24. Marvel Zombies: 1st appearance – Ultimate Fantastic Four # 21 Release Date: September 2005 Writer: Mark Millar Art: Greg Land Cover Art: Greg Land

25. Godzilla: 1st appearance – Godzilla # 1 Release Date: August 1977 Writer: Doug Moench Art: Herb Trimpe Cover Art: Herb Trimpe

26. Devil Dinosaur: 1st appearance – Devil Dinosaur # 1 Release Date: April 1978 Writer: Jack Kirby Art: Jack Kirby Cover Art: Jack Kirby

27. Sauron: 1st appearance – X-Men # 60 Release Date: September 1969 Writer: Stan Lee Art: Neal Adams Cover Art: Neal Adams

28. The Molten Man-Thing: 1st appearance – Tales of Suspense # 7 Release Date: January 1960 Writer: Stan Lee Art: Steve Ditko Cover Art: Jack Kirby

29. Diablo: 1st appearance – Tales of Suspense # 9 Release Date: May 1960 Writer: Stan Lee Art: Cover Art: Jack Kirby

30. It the Living Colossus: 1st appearance – Tales of Suspense # 14 Release Date: February 1961 Writer: Stan Lee Art: Jack Kirby Cover Art: Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers

31. Stegron: 1st appearance – Marvel Team-Up # 19 Release Date: March 1974 Writer: Len Wein Art: Gil Kane Cover Art: Gil Kane

32. Man-Wolf: 1st appearance – Amazing Spider-Man # 124 Release Date: September 1973 Writer: Gerry Conway Art: Gil Kane Cover Art: John Romita, Sr.

33. Morbius: 1st appearance – Amazing Spider-Man # 101 Release Date: October 1971 Writer: Roy Thomas Art: Gil Kane Cover Art: Gil Kane

34. The Lizard: 1st appearance – Amazing Spider-Man # 6 Release Date: November 1963 Writer: Stan Lee Art: Steve Ditko Cover Art: Steve Ditko

35. Satana: 1st appearance – Vampire Tales # 2 Release Date: October 1973 Writer: Don McGregor Art: Rich Buckler Cover Art: Jose Domingo

36. Son of Satan: 1st appearance – Ghost Rider # 1 Release Date: September 1973 Writer: Roy Thomas Art: Gil Kane Cover Art: Gil Kane and Joe Sinnot

37. Garth: 1st appearance – Menace # 5 Release Date: July 1953 Writer: Stan Lee Art: Bill Everett Cover Art: Bill Everett

38. Frankenstein’s Monster: 1st appearance – Silver Surfer # 7 Release Date: August 1969 Writer: Stan Lee Art: John Buscema Cover Art: John Buscema

39. Franken-Castle: 1st appearance – Punisher # 17 Release Date: June 2010 Writer: Rick Remender Art: Roland Boschi Cover Art: Roland Boschi

40. Scarecrow: 1st appearance – Dead of Night # 11 Release Date: August 1975 Writer: Scott Edelman Art: Rico Rival Cover Art: Gil Kane and Bernie Wrightson

41. Mephisto: 1st appearance – Silver Surfer # 3 Release Date: December 1968 Writer: Stan Lee Art: John Buscema Cover Art: John Buscema

42. Manphibian: 1st appearance – Legion of Monsters # 1 Release Date: September 1975 Writer: Doug Moenich Art: Val Mayerik Cover Art: Neal Adam

43. Titan: 1st appearance – Journey Into Mystery # 62 Release Date: November 1960 Writer: Stan Lee Art: Jack Kirby Cover Art: Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and Artie Simek

44. Mr Hyde: 1st appearance – Journey Into Mystery # 99 Release Date: December 1963 Writer: Stan Lee Art: Don Heck Cover Art: Jack Kirby

45. Swarm: 1st appearance – Champions # 14 Release Date: July 1977 Writer: Bill Mantlo Art: John Byrne Cover Art: Gil Kane and Al Milgrom

46. The Morlocks: 1st appearance – Uncanny X-Men # 169 Release Date: May 1983 Writer: Chris Claremont Art: Paul Smith Cover Art: Paul Smith and Danny Crespi

47. N’Kantu: 1st appearance – Supernatural Thrillers # 5 Release Date: August 1973 Writer: Steve Gerber Art: Rich Buckler Cover Art: Rich Buckler

48. Xzax: 1st appearance – Deapool: The Gauntlet Infinite Comic # 8 Release Date: February 2014 Writer: Gerry Duggan Art: Reilly Brown Cover Art: Reilly Brown