10 Biggest Fourth-Wall Breaks in Marvel History

Breaking the fourth wall is a trope that is deeply rooted in Marvel lore, especially for characters like Deadpool and She-Hulk. The fourth wall is best described as the imaginary, invisible, hypothetical barrier separating the audience in real life from the characters in their fictional universe. To break it would be for a character to address the audience directly or acknowledge that they are not a real person and, instead, are in a fictional story.

Some of Marvel’s most popular superheroes today are either capable of breaking the fourth wall or they have appeared in stories with some form of meta-ness to them. This list is about celebrating and chronicling some of the most notable wall-breaking moments in the history of Marvel Comics. These are not necessarily the best or most memorable, but the moments that created a significant domino effect for the characters, universe, and their lore.

10 Roxxon Takes on Thor as an MCU Parody

The Immortal Thor #9 by Al Ewing, Ibrahaim Roberson, Matthew Wilson, and VC’s Joe Sabino

The evil corporation Roxxon resurfaces at the end of The Immortal Thor #4, immediately making an impact with Dario “Minotaur” Agger grasping a copy of a classic Thor comic and proclaiming, “Make mine Marvel!” Each subsequent issue teases Agger’s plans to attack the God of Thunder using his own Marvel Comics adventures. Things reach their pinnacle in Immortal Thor #9, soon leading to the debut of Roxxon’s own corporate-sponsored Thor.

It’s apparent that Roxxon is being portrayed as an in-universe parody of Marvel itself, or at least how some fans perceive the company (particularly Marvel Studios) to be: a soulless, shameless, corporate bastardization of the comics that came before it. Right down to the original Thor feeling compelled to mindlessly quip, the comic is taking jabs at the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the state of modern superhero “content” in the most scathing, meta way possible.

9 She-Hulk Tears Apart Her Own Comic

The Sensational She-Hulk #9 by Richard Starkings, Gregory Wright, Bryan Hitch, Al Milgrom, Walt Simonson, Bob Wiacek, Jim Novak, and Glynis Oliver

When She-Hulk’s MCU show first started airing, there was controversy from some fans surrounding how similar Jennifer’s self-aware fourth wall breaking was to Deadpool’s. However, what those same fans don’t realize is that back in the day, She-Hulk was Deadpool before Deadpool in the comics. Jennifer Walters would frequently break the fourth wall in her stories, with this being a standout moment.

An exhausting encounter with an equally self-aware Madcap wears out She-Hulk to the point that she just rips the story apart, demanding that the writer start penning something more favorable. This extra-meta moment by She-Hulk would later serve as inspiration for the finale of her MCU show. Breaking the fourth wall was always old hat for Marvel’s most sensational attorney at law, but when it came to arguing with her creative team, that would become a frequent recurring gag in her comics.

8 Mother Eats the Narrator

Young Avengers (2013) #10 by Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie, Mike Norton, Matthew Wilson, and VC’s Clayton Cowles

The Mother holds a place in Marvel history as one of the more underrated villains in the canon, as well as one of the most dangerous. An attempt by Wiccan to bring Hulkling’s late mother back to life accidentally awakens The Mother, an interdimensional parasite who feeds on powerful characters and entire realities within the multiverse.

The true power of The Mother is on display when she proves that she’s powerful enough to see through reality, through the fourth wall. She’s able to notice as the comic’s narrator speaks through text boxes. By grabbing those same boxes, she’s able to devour and kill the story’s narrator. The blood oozing out of the text boxes and onto the next page makes for some unexpectedly horrifying imagery. The Mother hasn’t been seen since that 2013 series, but if she returns, no one is safe.

7 Sentry Originated in an Actual In-Universe Comic Book

New Avengers #7 by Brian Michael Bendis, Steve McNiven, Mark Morales, Morry Hollowell, Richard Starkings, and Comicraft’s Albert Deschesne

On top of having an incredibly complicated backstory, Sentry’s background is also incredibly meta, as Sentry is fully aware he is comic book character. His knowledge is almost like a manifest destiny of sorts, as once upon a time, the hero recognized how dangerous the Void he was harboring was becoming, and to spare the world, he wiped the planet’s memory of the Sentry and his deeds as a hero. He even wipes his own memory, opting to become slothful citizen Robert Reynolds. His memories are so warped that he thinks the Void forced him to kill his wife when in reality, she’s still alive.

As for memories of the Sentry as a superhero, he inserts those memories into the mind of a comic book writer named Paul Jenkins, the name of Sentry’s real-life creator. Jenkins used those memories to create comic books all about Sentry and his adventures.

6 Jack Kirby Meets The Fantastic Four

Fantastic Four #511 by Mark Waid, Mike Wieringo, Karl Kesel, Paul Mounts, and Randy Gentile

Both Stan Lee and Jack Kirby are considered to be the godfathers of the Marvel Universe, but this comic solidifies Kirby as an actual god. When the Fantastic Four find themselves in the afterlife, a series of strange events lead them to the path of The Almighty himself – who ends up being Marvel’s Jack Kirby.

What follows proves to be a poignant tribute to the man who helped define the Marvel Universe, as well as an illustration of the power of storytelling. Kirby ends up bringing Marvel’s First Family back from the dead, simply because, as he puts it, “We’re all our own storytellers … and there are plenty of stories still left in you.” Considering the fact that the Fantastic Four remain active and relevant in the Marvel Universe today, Kirby couldn’t have been more right.

5 Stan Lee and Jack Kirby Attend Sue and Reed’s Wedding

Fantastic Four Annual #3 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

This issue marks what ranks as one of the most important weddings in Marvel history: the union between Sue Storm and Reed Richards. The moment was so important, in fact, that even the creators of the characters had to attend. And the moment was so important, even, that not even Stan Lee and Jack Kirby themselves could get proper invitations to the wedding.

In a moment that would be replicated in one of Stan Lee’s first movie cameos, two unseen figures (yet namedropped as “Stan” and “Jack”) attempt to join the festivities, but not even they have invitations to this star-studded event. The duo take it in stride though, as they plan to “show ’em” by getting “back to the bullpen [to] start writing the next ish!”

4 Doctor Doom Storms Into Jack Kirby and Stan Lee’s Office for Revenge

Fantastic Four #10 by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers, Stan Goldberg, and Artie Simek

Not all of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s interactions with the Fantastic Four family in the Marvel Universe have been pleasant or wholesome. The godfather of Reed and Sue’s daughter Valeria paid them an unpleasant visit in “The Return of Doctor Doom.” In this story, an unseen Stan Lee and Jack Kirby have licensed the Fantastic Four name to craft comics based on their adventures.

Suddenly, a returning Doctor Doom arrives in their office at Marvel, demanding the writer-artist duo to call Reed Richards into their office for a trap he wants to pull, or else. Lee and Kirby are so disturbed and disgusted at the sight of Doctor Doom’s face that they have no choice but to comply. Out of all of their strange cameos in the Marvel Universe, this one might be the most unconventional.

3 Deadpool Uses the Infinity Gauntlet to Address the Readers Who Enjoy Reading His Suffering

Deadpool #45 Brian Posehn, Gerry Duggan, Mike Hawthorn, Terry Pallot, Jordie Bellaire, and VC’s Joe Sabino

Deadpool is notoriously hyper-aware that he’s in a comic book, to the point that most of this list could be filled with his most self-aware fourth wall breaking moments. His comments are usually tongue in cheek, but this issue is different. After acquiring the Infinity Gauntlet, Deadpool uses it to orchestrate a roast battle against the Marvel Universe. It isn’t until he makes everyone laugh that he realizes how truly depressing his life is.

That’s when he turns to the readers themselves as his next target. He chastises them for using his torment as a source of entertainment, buying one comic issue after another just to see him struggle. It’s funny to see Deadpool crack jokes about comic book tropes in the middle of the story, but when he questions audiences about why they enjoy the main character’s suffering, that’s when it gets uncomfortable.

2 Rick Jones Has Comics Awareness

Captain Marvel #25 by Peter David and ChrisCross

“Cosmic awareness” refers to the consciousness that a select few characters display in being aware of cosmic events that take place across the multiverse. It’s especially common in the Marvel Universe. Many Marvel readers are familiar with the concept of “cosmic awareness”, but what about “comics awareness”? That phrase can be coined for numerous characters on this list, but especially for one Rick Jones.

As a cosmic entity known as the Entity explains to Captain Marvel’s best friend, Rick Jones knows he’s in a comic book, which can actually prove helpful to him. All Rick asks for is a happy ending, and the Entity tries to re-construct reality in a way that will suit them. In a bittersweet line, Rick acknowledges that he has been in a comic long enough to know it won’t last.

1 “The End” of Gwenpool

Final issues of the series, starting with The Unbelievable Gwenpool #16 by Christopher Hastings, Gurihiru, and VC’s Clayton Cowles

Much like Deadpool before her, Gwenpool has broken the fourth wall enough times that her instances are deserving of a list of their own. Her most significant fourth-wall-breaking moments may have come during the final issues of The Unbelievable Gwenpool, where Gwenpool discovers that her comic series has been canceled. She tries to keep her universe alive, but is only prolonging the inevitable.

Just when she’s given up, a future version of Gwenpool makes it clear to her that even though this series is ending, her legacy will live on. It proves to be a reminder that even a series’ cancelation isn’t always “the end,” but more of a “see you later” for legacy characters. This in itself puts Gwenpool on a pedestal for the popularity her character has manifested in a short time. It’s an oddly heartwarming way to close one chapter of Marvel’s resident superfan-turned-superhero.