7 Exact Comic Moments that Ruined Great Characters (& One that Ruined an MCU Debut)

Many comic book characters have existed for decades, with some from DC and Marvel dating back over ninety years. Over such a long lifespan, numerous writers have contributed to their stories. While each writer brings a unique perspective, these characters generally maintain a consistent core personality. For instance, Superman and the Punisher, despite being reimagined by different teams, would always feel distinctly different. Minor variations are normal, but occasionally a writer will introduce a change so significant that it becomes permanently associated with the character, shaping how fans perceive them.

Today, we’re examining some of the most damaging decisions and plot points that negatively impacted beloved characters. These moments are well-known, but they’ve permanently tarnished the characters’ reputations, making their actions and relationships feel worse or more complicated. Some characters haven’t been able to overcome this damage. Let’s dive into seven instances that truly ruined great characters.

7) Why Batman Doesn’t Kill

This pivotal moment happened in *Batman* #650 and remains one of the most quoted—and misinterpreted—lines in Batman history. Red Hood challenged Batman’s refusal to kill the Joker, and Batman responded that doing so would be too simple and would fundamentally change him. This statement can be understood in a few ways: either Batman believes killing would violate his core principles, or he fears that once he starts killing, he’ll become a more dangerous hero, always willing to resort to it. However, it’s important to note that this quote doesn’t suggest Batman is a psychopath on the verge of becoming a killer; that’s a misreading of his statement.

However, many people misinterpret this scene as evidence that Batman is actually more monstrous than the criminals he fights, often using it in disingenuous arguments. While “Under the Red Hood” is a well-written story that delves into the complex relationship between Batman and Jason, this one moment has led countless viewers to believe Batman has a dangerously short temper and lacks control.

6) Wonder Woman Kills Maxwell Lord

Leading up to the *Infinite Crisis* storyline, Maxwell Lord used mind control to make Superman attack people. While bound by Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth, Lord confessed that the only way to stop Superman was to kill him, and Wonder Woman tragically did so in *Wonder Woman* (1987) #219. Although Diana is prepared to use lethal force as a last resort, this single act has led many to view her primarily as a fierce warrior rather than an advocate for peace. While the Amazons are skilled fighters trained for battle, they strongly prioritize peace and always attempt to resolve conflicts without violence. They exhaust every possible peaceful solution before resorting to weapons, and even then, they strive to subdue opponents without killing them unless absolutely necessary.

As a critic, I’ve noticed a troubling trend in how Wonder Woman is often portrayed. A single, somewhat forced scene has unfortunately paved the way for interpretations that lean heavily into violence, despite the fact that Diana actively *avoids* killing and consistently seeks peaceful resolutions. It’s a real disservice to her character to reduce her to just another warrior; she’s so much more than that. This particular moment is always wheeled out by those who want to see her as purely a fighter, but honestly, it feels like a completely artificial plot point designed solely to create drama and fracture the DC Trinity leading into the *Infinite Crisis* storyline. It just doesn’t ring true to who she is at her core.

5) Professor X’s First Krakoan Rescue Attempt

The comic *X-Men: Deadly Genesis* revealed a dark secret: before forming the new X-Men team, Professor X sent an earlier group into danger. These young mutants, including Cyclops’s forgotten brother, all seemingly died on the mission. To protect Cyclops, Xavier erased the memory of this team from his mind and even misled everyone about the island of Krakoa, initially pretending it wasn’t sentient. (This was later changed to make Krakoa truly alive.) This story portrays Xavier as manipulative, willing to lie to his students and cover up the deaths of children, and it set a precedent for similar questionable actions in future storylines.

For a long time, Charles Xavier was presented as a flawed but ultimately well-intentioned leader of the X-Men. While he could be controlling and difficult, he was the emotional core and clear moral compass of the team. However, a particular storyline changed everything, retroactively portraying him as a villain who secretly manipulated those closest to him. This period in Marvel comics seemed focused on turning heroes into monsters, and Professor X suffered the most from this shift. Now, it’s more common to see him viewed as a villain than a hero.

4) “No More Mutants.”

As a huge comic book and movie fan, the ‘House of M’ storyline has always stuck with me. It’s basically the story of Scarlet Witch losing it and reshaping reality into a world where mutants ruled and her kids were still alive. The big twist? Her brother, Quicksilver, was secretly pulling the strings! That led to a really intense moment where Magneto killed Quicksilver, and Wanda, in a fit of despair, basically stripped powers from almost every mutant on Earth with the infamous ‘No More Mutants’ declaration. It’s something she’s *never* been able to fully escape, even though powers have been restored and she tries to redeem herself in other stories. The impact on her character just lingers, you know?

It’s frustrating that Wanda’s actions are being explained as the result of grief over losing her children, considering she dealt with that loss decades ago. Despite her complex history, she’s largely being portrayed as a villain, and that reputation has unfortunately followed her even into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where her character has now become villainous. This single act has severely damaged her reputation, making it hard to see her in a positive light.

3) Doctor Light’s Horrible Personality Change

Doctor Light started as a powerful enemy capable of battling the entire Justice League. But over the years, he became a less serious villain, often used as a simple opponent for the Teen Titans. This happened to many characters created in the older days of comics. However, DC Comics decided to restore Doctor Light’s menace, and they did so in a controversial way. The comic book event *Identity Crisis* heavily altered the personalities of several heroes, and it revealed that Doctor Light’s change from a dangerous villain to a comedic figure was actually caused by actions taken by some members of the Justice League.

Doctor Light committed a horrific act when he invaded the Watchtower and sexually assaulted Sue Dibny, the wife of the Elongated Man. In response, the Justice League magically altered his mind to neutralize him as a threat. This event fundamentally changed perceptions of Doctor Light, preventing him from ever being seen as a simple villain. The severity of his actions made him irredeemable in the eyes of many, effectively ending any possibility of a nuanced portrayal or future redemption in superhero stories, as the assault remained a central and disturbing aspect of his character.

2) Batman’s Unstoppable Prep Time

As a huge Batman fan, it doesn’t surprise me there are multiple entries! He’s *so* popular, which unfortunately means more opportunities for writers to really change what makes him, *him*. One story, *JLA: Tower of Babel*, really changed things. It revealed that Batman had secret plans to take down each member of the Justice League, just in case they ever went rogue. That’s become a huge part of his character now – the idea that with enough prep time, he can beat *anyone*. Honestly, it’s created a lot of debate among fans. You’ve got those who think he’s an all-powerful ‘Bat-God,’ those who insist he’s just a man, and then there’s the rest of us who are just tired of arguing about it!

When this story came out, Batman was well on his way to becoming the incredibly prepared and strategic hero he’s known as. However, it’s often misunderstood as a story *about* that persona, when it was actually meant to *critique* it. The story highlights Batman’s flaws – his paranoia and tendency to keep secrets – and shows him learning from them. He ultimately apologizes for his past actions and even reveals his identity to the Justice League as a gesture of trust. It’s a great story about Batman’s growth into a better person, but many readers get caught up in debates about who he could defeat in a fight, missing the larger point of his character development.

1) Captain Marvel in Civil War II

The *Civil War II* storyline was a disaster, largely due to how Captain Marvel was portrayed. After the Inhuman Ulysses Cain gained the power to see the future, Carol Danvers began preemptively arresting villains based on his visions. Instead of examining the ethics of this approach, the story turned Captain Marvel into a reckless character who blindly followed the visions, even when they proved unreliable. The story culminated in her fatally wounding Iron Man and putting him in a coma, after which she declared herself victorious and morally justified.

This is arguably the most damaging instance of character defamation in Marvel Comics, and it happened at a particularly unfortunate time – right before Captain Marvel entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Plans were already in place for Carol Danvers to become a major player in the MCU, but a storyline emerged where she nearly killed Iron Man, a hugely popular hero at the time. Fans reacted very negatively, and that resentment lingered. By the time Captain Marvel’s movie came out, a significant group of fans actively disliked the character, meaning the film would have needed to be flawless to win them over. Unfortunately, the movie didn’t change their minds, and Carol remained unpopular.

We’ve looked at seven key events that deeply affected some amazing characters. Which of these moments do you think had the biggest impact? Or is there another event we haven’t mentioned that you believe was even more significant?

2025-10-18 16:40