11 Marvel and DC comics to read if you like spy thrillers

If you’re a fan of spy thrillers, there are some good comic books from DC and Marvel to check out!

Most associate DC and Marvel Comics with superheroes, for obvious reasons. If one wants spy thrillers, they may have to turn to other publishers like Dark Horse or Image. However, both DC and Marvel have used a lot of spy stuff as each has some major espionage agencies designed to handle the world of superpowered beings. There are also heroes who are more like spies and play into this world. For any casual comic book reader who wants a superpowered spy thriller, here are almost a dozen comics from DC and Marvel right up your alley!

DC Comics 

Suicide Squad

The comic’s concept always connects with readers. It’s the superhero version of The Dirty Dozen, as supervillains are offered clemency in exchange for taking part in top-secret missions. As the name implies, not all the villains come back alive and even if they do, they have to answer to the ruthless Amanda Waller. 

The original 1987-92 run remains fantastic reading with some political thrills amid superhero action. Later incarnations have shown Waller getting even darker yet still able to boss around all these twisted nutjobs. With regular characters like Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, Harley Quinn and others mixed with the cannon fodder, this comic still captivates. Just don’t get too attached to the Squad members…

Checkmate

It doesn’t get as much attention, but Checkmate is a top thriller spy comic. Originally published in 1988-1991, this spy organization is based on chess with their agents armored “knights.” Several issues are stand-alone tales of a different Knight getting into an adventure that can take place anywhere in the world. It also had some crossovers with Suicide Squad and other heroes.

The original comic ran 33 issues, with a later revival showing the agency becoming darker and dealing with the rising threat of superpowered conflicts. It’s interesting to show how human agents handle espionage in a world of superheroes, and it remains a fun “game” to read for fans. 

Grayson

Dick Grayson has gone from Robin to Nightwing to even a stint as Batman himself. So it can be forgotten that the former Boy Wonder was also a secret agent. In this 2014-16 series, with Nightwing believed dead by the world, Dick goes underground and joins the spy agency Spyral. Dick is really helping Batman figure out just what Spyral really wants.

It’s an intriguing direction with Dick trying not to break his no-killing rule even as he’s pulled further into this shadowy world. He gets help from fellow agent the Huntress as he realizes Spyral is up to no good. Even better is the writer. Tom King, is a former CIA agent himself, so he brings his experience into things. It’s a daring tale that shows even the former Robin has a hard time handling a spy world hidden beneath the surface in DC Comics. 

Sleeper

Written for DC’s Wildstorm imprint, this comic is like a TV show, complete with volumes divided into “seasons.” It’s written by acclaimed spy/crime writer Ed Brubaker, and the setup fits the genre: Holden Carver is a secret agent with superhuman abilities who is placed undercover in a criminal organization. Just one problem: His boss, John Lynch, the only person who knows Holden’s mission, has been put into a coma. Meaning everyone else thinks Carver really has turned bad.

The comic flows well with Brubaker’s gritty style as Carver has to balance his loyalties and keep his guard up. It takes a turn in “Season 2” as Carver has to turn villain for real and there's a dark ending. Even if you don’t know anything about the Wildstorm universe, you can enjoy this turn on a classic spy story setup.

Cinderella: From Fabletown With Love

Fables was a hit book for DC’s Vertigo imprint, in which classic fairy tale characters have lived for centuries in the real world. One of the most genius ideas was that Cinderella, rather than a flighty shoe store owner, is actually the greatest secret agent on the planet. This limited series has her hunting magical items sold on the black market.

This puts her in conflict with Aladdin, working for the Arabian Fables. So we get a bit straight out of any steamy spy thriller as the pair go from enemies to partners to lovers. The ultimate villain is a surprise and the action is frantic. A follow-up series, Fables Are Forever is as good as it’s simply the idea of this iconic princess turning into Sydney Bristow that makes this comic a hoot to read. 

Marvel Comics

Nick Fury, Agent of Shield

When the James Bond craze hit in the 1960s, Marvel wanted to capitalize on it. Thus, World War II soldier Nick Fury was brought back to head up the elite spy agency SHIELD. With tricks like a flying helicarrier and clashing with Hydra, Fury became a key part of the Marvel Universe. While supposedly one of the good guys, he’s willing to get dirty, and the eyepatch is a symbol of his compromised ethics. 

Fury has seen a lot of changes (including being killed off a few times), and recent comics have introduced his son, who resembles Samuel L. Jackson's Fury. Whether it’s on Fury himself or other SHIELD agents, anything involving this spy agency in the Marvel Universe is a terrific read. If you need to narrow it down, try the gorgeous Jim Steranko 1960s run or Jonathan Hickman’s mind-bending 2010s volume for a glorious spy spectacle.

Secret Warriors

This 2009-2011 series had a big turn as Nick Fury discovers the shocking truth that almost from the start, SHIELD has been controlled by Hydra. Going underground, Fury recruits a pack of renegades (including future SHIELD favorite Quake) to go after Hydra. It’s a thrilling ride with Fury going to extremes to take on his old foe, Baron Strucker, and some fantastic twists in the finale. At just 28 issues, it’s a fast read in collections and one of the better Fury stories. 

Black Widow

Natasha Romanoff has acknowledged she makes a better spy than Avenger. She’s had several series over the years, many limited ones, including a 1999 comic that introduced fellow Widow Yelena (played by Florence Pugh in the movies). The best comic series show Natasha easily slipping into her spy skills, willing to cross lines the other Avengers won’t, and facing her dark past. The 2020 series was unique, with Natasha briefly brainwashed to have a normal life before gaining new allies and finding out the truth. In any series, you get a terrific ride as Natasha proves herself as one of the best spies in all of comics. 

Winter Soldier

For years, Bucky Barnes was the one sure-fire death in comics. That changed in 2005 when Ed Brubaker revealed Bucky had survived the war and was brainwashed to become the Winter Soldier. Breaking free, Bucky has had a few books (even briefly substituting as Captain America for a time) yet works best as this black-ops soldier.

It’s a great story of Bucky haunted by all the damage he did in his past and wanting redemption yet knowing he fits better as someone outside the system. He has had runs with teams like the Thunderbolts and others and teaming with the Falcon, yet the Winter Soldier’s various adventures show the darker side of the Marvel Universe with a very compelling lead. 

Thunderbolts

The original concept of Thunderbolts was utter genius. With the Avengers and Fantastic Four believed dead, a brand-new team of heroes steps up to take their place. But in a shocking twist, the first issue ended by revealing these “heroes” were the Masters of Evil in disguise, and this whole thing was a scam to gain public trust to take over the world. It’s a thrilling read of the T-Bolts acting as heroes as leader Baron Zemo makes his own plots.

Things get more interesting as some of these people realize they like being heroes more than being crooks. The book was later shifted to a Marvel Suicide Squad with anti-heroes like the Punisher and Elektra among the other members. Either way, the Thunderbolts are all about “heroes” that aren’t what they seem which makes for great reading. 

Secret Avengers

The Avengers are usually upfront on their heroics. But this 2010-15 series offers a somewhat darker take. At a time when he wasn’t Captain America but a special commander, Steve Rogers gathered Avengers for missions under the radar. It’s a unique direction as we see Black Widow, Hawkeye, Shang-Chi, Spider-Woman and more doing missions not with the usual public appearances but under the radar. 

The mix of heroes shifts to keep things fresh and it’s fascinating to see Steve Rogers being tougher than just Captain America. The book changes to more supernatural threats and a later volume explores a more standard SHIELD team. It’s simply fun seeing how the Avengers could get dirty in the spy world. 

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