10 Most Brutal Acts Of Revenge In Marvel Comics History

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The best revenge stories in Marvel comics focus on attacks against a character’s sense of self, rather than just physical harm. The comics become more mature when they show that consequences can’t be easily dismissed with humor, and that true justice requires understanding, not just retribution.

What makes Marvel’s take on revenge stand out is its exploration of whether revenge is truly worthwhile. Their strongest stories don’t portray revenge as a simple solution, but as something damaging that offers a sense of closure only by costing the hero something important. For example, Matt Murdock’s triumph over Kingpin feels empty because of the sacrifices he made, and Thor learns that ending a pattern of violence is more important than getting even. This nuanced approach makes Marvel’s revenge stories more meaningful than typical tales of power and retribution.

10. Daredevil’s Counter-Revenge Against Bullseye

The conflict between Daredevil and Bullseye is one of the most intensely hostile relationships in Marvel Comics. Bullseye has always been driven to demonstrate his superiority over Daredevil. Their rivalry reached a horrific low point in *Daredevil #181*, when Bullseye killed Elektra, Daredevil’s lover, by using her own weapon against her. This tragic event deeply traumatized Daredevil, who almost killed Bullseye in retaliation but ultimately held back. Because of his strong moral beliefs and Catholic upbringing, Daredevil is not one to seek revenge, making his slow descent into darkness all the more compelling.

9. Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe

The limited comic series *Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe*, written by Cullen Bunn and illustrated by Dalibor Talajić, starts with Deadpool being sent to a mental institution. While there, a psychiatrist – secretly the villain Psycho-Man – tries to control Deadpool’s mind and turn him into an assassin. However, the plan fails dramatically. Instead of being controlled, the treatment actually damages Deadpool’s already unstable mind.

Deadpool usually hears familiar voices, but they’re suddenly replaced by one that delivers a shocking revelation: all Marvel characters are just made-up creations, designed to entertain readers. They’re trapped in endless, repeating storylines, forced to suffer forever. This discovery fuels Deadpool’s quest for revenge against everyone in the Marvel Universe – and even the people who write and read their stories. He starts systematically killing off Marvel heroes, beginning with the Fantastic Four, then moving on to the Avengers and the X-Men.

8. Thanos vs. Half The Universe 

The story of Thanos wiping out half of all life began in the 1991 comic book series *Infinity Gauntlet*, created by Jim Starlin and George Pérez. In the comics, Thanos didn’t act out of concern for the environment, as seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Instead, he was driven by a dark and obsessive love for Death, a powerful cosmic being. To prove his devotion, he gathered all six Infinity Gems (which later became known as Stones), combined them into the Infinity Gauntlet, and with a single snap of his fingers, eliminated half of all living things in the universe. The devastation was immense – trillions of lives across countless planets vanished instantly.

7. The Sentry Destroys Asgard 

During the 2010 storyline *Siege*, written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Olivier Coipel, Asgard was destroyed. At the time, Norman Osborn was leading a team of Dark Avengers as part of his “Dark Reign,” and he ordered an attack on Asgard, which was floating above Oklahoma after Thor had resurrected it. Osborn exploited the Sentry’s fragile mental state to spearhead the assault. During the battle, the Sentry’s evil alter ego, the Void, took over completely. The Void brutally killed Ares, and then utterly destroyed Asgard, tearing the city from the sky and leaving it in ruins on Earth.

6. Magneto’s Retribution On The Nazis

Magneto’s backstory as Max Eisenhardt, later known as Erik Lehnsherr, was first revealed in 1981 in *Uncanny X-Men #150*. Born in Germany to a Jewish family, Erik experienced the atrocities of the Holocaust firsthand – he lost his family at Auschwitz and was subjected to cruel experiments while imprisoned. This deeply traumatic experience shaped his beliefs and fueled his strong stance on mutant rights. After discovering his own powers, he sought out Nazi war criminals, delivering his own harsh form of justice to those who had harmed him and his family.

5. Hawkeye’s Revenge in Old Man Hawkeye

Ethan Sacks and Marco Checchetto’s *Old Man Hawkeye* tells the story of what happened before the popular *Old Man Logan* saga. The 12-part series is set in a dark future where villains rule America and follows an older Clint Barton as he learns he’s going blind. He takes on one last, crucial mission: to track down the Thunderbolts, a former team of villains who turned back to evil and helped defeat the Avengers years ago. This series stands out as a well-structured revenge story because Hawkeye has a clear list of people to target and a sense of urgency created by his failing eyesight, all without relying on constant jokes.

4. Doctor Doom’s Revenge on Reed Richards 

Doctor Doom’s quest for revenge against Reed Richards isn’t a single act, but a lifelong obsession fueled by his belief that Richards doesn’t deserve the reputation as a greater intellect. Throughout Marvel’s history, this has played out in numerous elaborate plans. Doom has repeatedly kidnapped Sue Storm, shrunk the Fantastic Four to microscopic size, switched bodies with Richards, and even manipulated their son Franklin. He once attempted to claim Richards’ daughter, Valeria, as his own, assisting with her difficult birth. The peak of his vengeance came in the 2015 storyline *Secret Wars*, where Doom stole the power of gods to rebuild the universe in his own image, eliminating Richards from existence and taking Sue as his wife.

3. Green Goblin Murders Gwen Stacy 

The death of Gwen Stacy at the hands of the Green Goblin marked a turning point for Spider-Man, forcing him to confront the harsh reality that heroism couldn’t shield his personal life. Norman Osborn, seeking retribution for previous losses, kidnapped Peter Parker’s girlfriend, Gwen, and brought Spider-Man to the Brooklyn Bridge. During a fight, the Goblin threw Gwen from the bridge. Though Spider-Man tried to save her with a web, he found she had already died. This event, known as *The Night Gwen Stacy Died*, shattered the optimistic tone of earlier comics and ushered in an era of lasting consequences for superheroes. It directly influenced the grimmer, more complex storytelling found in Marvel and DC comics from the 1970s onward.

2. Wolverine Vs. The Hulk 

The comic *Old Man Logan* depicts a bleak future controlled by villains. Logan’s family is brutally murdered by the Hulk Gang, descendants of Bruce Banner. Instead of a traditional hero’s return, Logan gives in to his darkest impulses, breaking his vow never to kill. He systematically destroys the gang, then confronts Bruce Banner himself. Banner, weakened and deteriorated, transforms into the Hulk and attempts to consume Logan, a fatal mistake. Logan’s incredible healing ability allows him to regenerate from *inside* the Hulk and violently escape, resulting in one of the most horrific deaths ever shown for a prominent Marvel character.

1. Scarlet Witch Dismantles The Avengers 

Most comic book disasters are quickly fixed, but the fallout from Wanda’s actions had lasting effects on the Marvel universe. In *Avengers Disassembled*, the Avengers team dealt with a string of strange and devastating events: Tony Stark showed up intoxicated at the UN, She-Hulk lost control, Vision crashed a jet into their headquarters and unleashed Ultron robots, and the former Avenger Hawkeye died fighting these surprising new enemies.

The team eventually learned that Wanda Maximoff, also known as the Scarlet Witch, caused the problem. Her powers, which can alter reality, became unstable and out of control. This led to a major event called *House of M*, where Wanda, overwhelmed with grief, completely changed reality. When that new reality fell apart and the original world returned, Wanda spoke three words that dramatically altered the Marvel Universe: “No more mutants.” This caused the mutant population to plummet from millions to just a few hundred, an event known as “M-Day.”

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2025-10-14 02:42