10 Marvel Characters Who Keep Getting Younger

Marvel, the House of Ideas, has been around for 85 years. During this time, it has introduced thousands of different characters who have gone through a lot. Some of these characters have been around almost for decades at this point, but they haven’t aged a day. Instead, they have actually gotten younger as time passes.

Sometimes, it is because they were magically de-aged, like Agatha Harkness, or because their age simply doesn’t match their narrative anymore, like Madame Web; sometimes, it results from more modern artists taking a new approach to their design, like Thor. Whatever the reason, these Marvel heroes have returned younger and younger for a few years.

Since his debut in 1962, Thor has experienced a lot in the Marvel Universe. At some point in the last decade, he lost his hammer and title, which put him on the path to self-discovery with the help of alternate versions of himself. Thor: God of Thunder features a team-up with a younger, more violent version of this hero, Viking Thor, who hasn’t learned his lesson on humility yet. This version of Thor hasn’t been seen in a while.

This isn’t the only Thor run in which a younger God of Thunder takes center stage. Since Thor’s main trait is his worthiness, which he earned with time, many series that delve into his character development bring Young Thor back. Some examples are Thor: First Thunder, which focuses on his first days as a hero, and Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers, in which his naiveness and impulsivity are mostly played humorously.

9 Destiny Was Resurrected In A New Body

When Irene Adler, also known as Destiny, first appeared in comics, she and Mystique were depicted as mature, kind of middle-aged women. However, they’re now both quite young in the comics. For Mystique, it makes sense since she’s a shapeshifter, but Destiny’s story is a bit more complex.

Destiny died in Uncanny X-Men, only for her soul to be brought back and used as a seer during the Necrosha event. Finally, Mystique tricked the Five into resurrecting her completely during the Krakoa era in the Inferno series. At this time, she returned with her body as it was when she and Mystique met, so now this power couple can enjoy a new young life together.

One of the most important side characters in Spider-Man comics, Maybelle Parker, aka Aunt May, debuted simultaneously with Peter and has been a core member of his support group ever since. However, with time, she has become her own person too. Originally a fragile and senile figure, she evolved into a more rounded character. In the comics, she re-married and even fought cancer. In the MCU, she has a life of her own, a professional career in social services, and even a relationship with Happy Hogan.

As Aunt May became her own person—and not just Peter’s mother figure—the comics changed her character design, and the films included younger actresses in the roles who were stylized in a more modern manner. There are plenty of jokes in the fandom regarding Aunt May’s fast de-aging, but it makes way more sense for her to be only middle-aged, especially if Peter is a teenager.

7 Apocalypse De-Ages Himself To Achieve Immortality

One of the most powerful X-Men villains, Apocalypse has been on a decades-long journey to optimize himself, and becoming younger is one of the ways in which he achieves this. Although he’s incredibly old — considered the first mutant by many — he has used others as vessels for his soul, like Cyclops, Nate Grey, and even a body grown by himself through Celestial science.

If this wasn’t enough, a kid version of Apocalypse became central in X-Force comics. Known as Evan Sanah Nur, he was a clone created by Clan Akkaba that put Wolverine in a moral dilemma: kill him and end the threat of Apocalypse for good, or wait for him to commit a crime. Evan, who would become Genesis in the comics, is the youngest version of Apocalypse.

Cassandra Webb, also known as Madame Web, debuted in comics as an older woman in 1980. A clairvoyant dealing with myasthenia gravis, this illness gave her psychic abilities that allowed her to combat crime alongside Spider-Man and other Marvel superheroes.

Recently, Sony changed things up for the Madame Web movieby casting Dakota Johnson in the role. The 34-year-old actress portrayed Cassandra “Cassie” Webb, a paramedic who develops precognitive abilities. The comics haven’t adapted this change from the films, but a younger character took over the role of Madame Web, effectively reducing her age as well.

5 Loki Has Changed A Lot In Recent Years

Loki Laufeyson’s story has evolved a lot during his time in the Marvel Universe. Originally Thor’s most dangerous enemy, the first Loki died during Siege #4 in May 2010. However, he schemed to reincarnate and returned as Kid Loki, a way less villainous but just as impish version of Thor’s brother. Kid Loki also found an echo of his former self, ready for redemption. He freed this young adult version of Loki, leaving the Marvel Universe with two Lokis, each younger than the classical version.

The MCU highly influenced Loki’s change in the comics. Since Tom Hiddleston made this character one of the most popular figures in the franchise, it makes sense that Marvel changed the comics, too. With this character ranking high in popularity lists constantly, fans are excited to see what other changes will come Loki’s way in the future.

4 A Young Jean Grey Tried To Stop Herself From Becoming The Phoenix

Beast brought the X-Men’s first class into the present during All-New X-Men to help him put things back together after Professor Xavier died. Young Jean Grey joined the current Marvel universe during this event, but she stayed for way longer after it.

Forced to confront her history with the Phoenix, Young Jean was even tried by the Shi’ar Empire for her older self’s crimes. Additionally, she starred in a solo series, Jean Grey, written by Dennis Hopeless, in which she tries to prevent herself from becoming the Phoenix. The presence of a kid version of Jean Grey rounded the character, even in the future, as she struggled with her own identity and morality. Young Jean eventually returned to her own time, but her memories and experiences continue to impact her older self.

3 Kid Cable Tried To Do What Adult Cable Couldn’t

Born Nathan Summers, Cable is the biological son of Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor, a clone of Jean Grey created by Mr. Sinister to take down Apocalypse. The adult Cable comes from a future timeline where he was trained to become a warrior and then sent back into the present.

X-Force introduced Kid Cable, a younger version of Nathan who traveled in time to save the time-displaced X-Men — something his adult version couldn’t do. Kid Cable and Cable coexist, though they are currently in very different time periods. This character (and all his genealogic tree) proves how complicated things have gotten for the X-Men, time-traveling-wise.

2 Charles Xavier Was Resurrected In a Younger Body Before The Krakoa Era

Charles Xavier, aka Professor X, debuted in the ’60s and has been one of Marvel’s most important mentors, an older man always surrounded by youngsters who need his advice and experience. Funnily enough, this didn’t stop the House of Ideas from changing him completely in recent years.

During Astonishing X-Men, after Xavier’s body died and his mind was trapped in the Astral Plane, Fantomex donated his body so Professor X could return as a younger version of himself. Following this reborn, he requested to be known as X. Fans are still debating if this was the right move, but it’s undeniable that this character is now more powerful than ever.

1 The MCU Has Forever Changed Agatha Harkness

Agatha Harkness, a powerful witch with a mysterious upbringing, has both trained and antagonized Scarlet Witch for decades now. Harkness hit the mainstream recently when she debuted in the MCU during WandaVision as Agnes, Wanda’s nosy neighbor who turned out to be the show’s villain.

Portrayed by Kathryn Hahn, Harkness will now star in her own show, Agatha All Along. Since Hahn is only 50, Agatha Harkness isn’t an old, grey-haired woman anymore since her debut in the MCU. This change has already made it to the comics since Midnight Suns #2, where the villainess looks like she isn’t older than 40. Fans hope it means she will be more central in the comics from now on.