In most superhero comic books, the heroes usually emerge victorious in the end. This is a key element that holds true for more than ninety percent of their narratives. Superheroes are typically portrayed as beneficial forces in society, helping people and saving the day. Consequently, if the day hasn’t been saved yet, it means the story isn’t concluded. In DC comics, in particular, heroes often triumph, which I appreciate, but this consistency might sometimes make one question whether they are winning too frequently. Some of the most compelling stories in comic books occur when villains temporarily succeed, but since DC seldom allows this to happen, it seems as though they’re limiting their potential for creating some of the greatest stories ever.
Frequently occurring events can become monotonous, leading to boredom. To prevent this, it’s beneficial to introduce changes occasionally to keep things interesting. If DC allowed their villains to triumph occasionally, I assure you that this would significantly enhance audience anticipation, involvement, and enjoyment like never before.
Why Villains Need to Win… Sometimes
As a dedicated fan of superhero comics, I’ve come to realize that the villains triumphing is, quite ironically, the antithesis of what we fervently hope and anticipate in these tales. Superheroes are meant to prevail, but when their victory seems inevitable, it strips away much of the narrative’s tension. We know that, statistically speaking, the hero will emerge victorious ninety-nine percent of the time. However, if we’ve grown so accustomed to this pattern, then we can no longer feign any doubt about something going awry. This lack of uncertainty can make many of the presented conflicts seem unnecessary.
The consequences of this are far-reaching, such as the assumption that Superman is dull due to his invincibility, or how the notion of an invincible Batman has been memeified and left a negative imprint on his character, fostering the Bat-God misconception. A constant heroic victory can weaken the storyline’s overall strength. When the villains take charge, it throws the status quo off balance, but that’s precisely what makes it so potent.
By placing our heroes in challenging situations where they experience defeat, we open up a vast array of compelling narratives that aren’t often explored. Iconic DC stories like “The Dark Knight Returns” and “Kingdom Come,” which revolve around fallen heroes fighting back to demonstrate the power of resilience and optimism, are prime examples of this narrative strategy. The idea is that a hero can’t rise without first falling, and everyone enjoys a heartwarming underdog story. Typically, it’s difficult to present heroes as underdogs because they’re usually victorious; however, their defeat makes their eventual victory more significant and thus more impactful. By showing them struggle and overcome adversity, we are inspired to persevere in the face of our own challenges, which is a crucial message that superhero media aims to convey. This approach becomes even more potent when the heroes have experienced defeat themselves.
When superheroes emerge victorious, things revert to normal, but if supervillains prevail, they can alter everything significantly. Consider instances where villains emerged triumphant in battles, leading to profound transformations within the comic book universe, and creating an exhilarating sense of anticipation. For instance, when Lex Luthor was elected president, it sparked a series of captivating tales, showcasing Superman’s unparalleled anger. Similarly, the entirety of the Absolute Universe and DC’s All-In era revolves around Darkseid’s victory, with the heroes’ battles against his inexorable rise making these stories particularly impactful and unique. Remarkably, even in the epic tale of Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Anti-Monitor didn’t suffer a complete defeat; instead, almost all of the multiverse was wiped out. Allowing villains to win only to see heroes tenaciously fight back, undeterred and filled with hope, forms the foundation for some of the most compelling stories ever crafted.
In simpler terms, it’s occasionally disappointing when DC Comics doesn’t allow villains to inflict long-lasting effects in their stories. A never-ending heroic status quo is a separate issue, but having villains win battles can make the narratives more engaging and believable. Occasionally allowing villains to snatch victories from the heroes creates suspense and adds credibility. After all, we know that even if heroes lose a battle, they’ll eventually win the war. However, the doubts sown by previous losses keep us eagerly anticipating each new development, making for an exciting reading experience.
https://comicbook.com/comics/news/7-villains-more-popular-than-the-heroes-they-fought/embed/#
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2025-08-31 02:10