“WITH GREAT POWER THERE MUST ALSO COME—GREAT RESPONSIBILITY!”
These famous words are far more than just the cornerstone of Spider-Man’s ethos. As with so many other quotes from Marvel Comics, it has surpassed the confines of comic book heroics to become a universal truth that guides people in their own lives.
From the moment Stan Lee and Jack Kirby cocreated the Fantastic Four in 1961, Marvel Comics embarked on an incredible journey that did far more than revolutionize comic book storytelling. Marvel became a leading force in pop culture, a global phenomenon that has enriched and advanced the entirety of modern culture and its surrounding discourse.
Filled with flawed, relatable, fun, and intriguing characters, Marvel Comics offers not just uncanny adventures and mysteries but also spectacular narratives that explore and question the human condition. Thanks to its brilliant writers, Marvel’s pantheon of iconic super heroes and villains, each imbued with their own distinct personalities and complex backstories, delivers lines that transcend the four-color panels of their fictional worlds to become ingrained in our everyday vernacular.
The unforgettable quotes from Marvel’s sprawling worlds and characters will resonate across generations. Team battle cries of “Avengers, Assemble!” and “Wakanda Forever!”; the thunderous proclamation, “Whosoever holds
this hammer...if they be worthy...shall possess the power of Thor”; individual catchphrases like “It’s Clobberin’ Time!” “I Am Groot,” and “Hulk Smash!”; poignant philosophies like Miles Morales’s “Change always comes. What matters is how you face it”; pivotal moments like Scarlet Witch’s “No more mutants”; or even hilarious meme-worthy lines like Sauron’s “But I don’t want to cure cancer! I want to turn people into dinosaurs!” are more than just throwaway bits of dialogue. They are all cultural touchstones that rival those of any storied poet, literary giant, or philosopher.
While it would be impossible to collect every meaningful quote, this curated compilation presents a selection from everyone’s favorite characters, including Captain America, Storm, Iron Man, Mister Fantastic, Ghost-Spider, Thor, Loki, Thanos, Captain Marvel, Deadpool, Black Panther, Black Widow, Jean Grey, and more. It serves as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the ability of Marvel Comics to inspire, entertain, and reflect the complexities of our shared experiences.
There’s a reason why, after more than eighty-five years of entertaining, impactful, and consistent storytelling, people still exclaim, “Make mine Marvel!”
—Robb Pearlman
“WITH GREAT POWER THERE MUST ALSO COME — GREAT RESPONSIBILITY!”
Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962)
“WHOSOEVER HOLDS THIS HAMMER... IF THEY BE WORTHY... SHALL POSSESS THE POWER OF THOR.”
JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #83 (1962)
“I’M THE GOD OF STORIES. I’M LOKI.”
Loki: Agent of Asgard #13 (2015)
“I AM GROOT.”
“I AM IRON MAN… WHAT NOW?”
Man Invincible Iron Man #23 (2010)
