7 Comics That Get Way More Hate than They Deserve

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I’ve always been blown away by the incredible stories Marvel and DC have given us over the years. Looking back at their history, you really see how they’ve taken the superhero idea and explored it in countless ways. Sometimes, a story comes along that everyone immediately loves and becomes a classic. Other times, a really bold idea doesn’t quite catch on at first, but people rediscover it later. And let’s be real, there are also those stories that fans just can’t stand – and some of those feelings seem to last forever!

Many unpopular stories are disliked for good reason – they often have significant flaws. However, sometimes these stories are actually much better than people give them credit for. These seven comics have received a lot of criticism, but they’re not nearly as bad as their reputation suggests.

7) Doomsday Clock

The story Doomsday Clock often receives criticism due to its connection to Watchmen. Because Alan Moore, the creator of Watchmen, doesn’t approve of any continuation of his work, many of his fans feel the same way. While that’s understandable, Doomsday Clock did appeal to a lot of readers and largely delivered on its promise. It’s not flawless, but Geoff Johns and Gary Frank crafted a compelling story about Doctor Manhattan and Superman that successfully blended nostalgia with a fresh DC narrative. It may not be a legendary comic, but it’s a genuinely good story that’s best experienced as a complete work.

6) Spider-Man: Reign

The comic book series Spider-Man: Reign is widely disliked. Writer and artist Kaare Andrews aimed for a *Dark Knight Returnsstyle story for Spider-Man, but it received a lot of negative feedback, largely due to a controversial plot point involving Mary Jane Watson. It was revealed that Peter Parker’s bodily fluids were radioactive, and this had caused Mary Jane to develop cancer. However, beyond that shocking reveal, the story is actually a strong Spider-Man tale that clearly draws inspiration from the classic Batman story, and features many compelling moments. In fact, the Mary Jane storyline, while controversial, feels like a natural extension of the long-running theme of ‘Parker luck.’ Overall, it’s a genuinely good story that has been unfairly criticized by some.

5) Final Crisis

Final Crisis is a divisive comic book – some fans consider it a masterpiece, while others strongly dislike it. Created by Grant Morrison and artists J.G. Jones, Carlos Pacheco, and Doug Mahnke, the story depicts an incredibly complex conflict between good and evil. Darkseid launches an attack on Earth using the Anti-Life Equation, and the Monitors confront a threat to all of existence. Though dense and challenging to understand, Final Crisis offers a rewarding experience for those who are willing to engage with its ambitious scope. It’s not for every reader, but it’s a great choice for fans open to bold and innovative storytelling.

4) Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths

While not a masterpiece, Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths is a surprisingly enjoyable event series. It largely follows the formula of past ‘Crisis’ stories like Crisis on Infinite Earths and Infinite Crisis, offering a fun, fast-paced experience similar to a blockbuster movie. Though it relies on familiar DC tropes that some readers may find predictable, the main series and its tie-in comics offer a lot of cool world-building and story extensions. It gets a bad rap from some fans, but it’s really just a solid, if somewhat conventional, DC event.

3) Identity Crisis

Brad Meltzer and Rags Morales’ Identity Crisis is a controversial story that stands out in DC Comics, even though the overall period it’s from was generally well-received. It’s infamous for two particularly upsetting plot points: the ‘fridging’ of a character and the sexual assault of Sue Dibney. Despite this, the story had some strong ideas – the concept of the Justice League having their memories altered was clever, the storyline with Captain Boomerang and his son was well-done, and the exploration of the Robin character worked surprisingly well. It really captured the feel of the DC universe, and the artwork was fantastic. While it definitely has flaws (the reveal of the murderer wasn’t a highlight), the final issue is still impressive. It’s a story with both significant problems and genuine strengths.

2) John Byrne’s Superman and Action Comics

After the Crisis on Infinite Earths event, John Byrne took over Superman, essentially restarting the character and his backstory for a new generation in the late 1980s. While Byrne’s Superman looked fantastic, he drastically altered everything around him. He reimagined Krypton as a cold, technologically advanced world. Superman wasn’t born traditionally; he was created in a birthing matrix and sent to Kansas, removing his immigrant origins. This version was designed as the ultimate all-American boy, with no Superboy phase or other surviving Kryptonians. He was even portrayed as a typical young professional of the Reagan era – though a controversial story involving Jack Kirby’s characters also surfaced. This era’s Superman is remarkably different and has its flaws, but it still contains some excellent stories and creative ideas.

1) The Amazing Spider-Man Since “One More Day”

Let’s be honest, most fans dislike the “One More Day” storyline, and it wasn’t a great idea. However, the negative reaction to The Amazing Spider-Man after that event has been exaggerated. The “Brand New Day” period was actually quite popular, with the comic being released three times a month and fans enjoying it. Complaints really took off when Dan Slott became the writer, and his work received a lot of criticism, particularly later on. While the current Zeb Wells run isn’t fantastic, it’s not as bad as many people claim. The current run by Joe Kelly is actually quite good, but it often gets overlooked. Ultimately, the negativity surrounding the book feels overblown; it’s become trendy to dislike it.

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2026-02-26 18:19