The 20 Darkest Superhero Comic Books We Can't Believe Were Written For Kids
The World Of Superheroes Isn't All Kicking Butts And Saving People
In superhero universes, good doesn't always prevail over evil. Comic books have always grappled with grim themes like moral ambiguity, corruption, and cruelty, holding a mirror to humankind and acting as social criticism. Here are 20 of the darkest comic books ever written.
1. Spider-Man: The Death of Jean DeWolff
The Death of Jean DeWolff marks a turning point in Spider-Man's journey toward some more serious and adult themes. After the death of Jean DeWolff, Spider-Man almost completely loses his upbeat demeanor and goes into full rage mode.
2. Avengers: Twilight
Avengers: Twilight takes place in an alternate future directly after many of the Avengers get killed by Ultron and the Red Skull. The remaining Avengers retire after losing the public's support and the US becomes an authoritarian state.
3. Wolverine: The Beast Agenda
Wolverine is no stranger to tragedy. Add to the list a trusted old friend trying to turn him into his own personal weapon as we see happening in The Beast Agenda.
4. The Dark Knight Returns
Batman is known for its dark storylines and general vibe, turning an ethical mirror on humanity. The Dark Knight Returns is the epitome of dark comics, exploring themes of corruption, the decay of society, and thankless sacrifice.
5. Batman: The Killing Joke
Yet another dark Batman comic, The Killing Joke is a grim psychological exploration of the Joker and Batman. It features the Joker's descent into madness.
6. Kingdom Come
Kingdom Come sees the struggle between the golden age superheroes and the imagined new generation of vigilante antiheroes. Moral dilemmas and catastrophic consequences ensue.
7. Sins Of Sinister
The X-Men series have seen many dark plots, but Sins Of Sinister takes the cake. It features Sinister killing members of the Quiet Council to take control of the world and ruthlessly destroying anyone in his way.
8. Weapon X
Weapon X is about a man being turned into a weapon. It's told largely through narration from the perspective of the scientists experimenting on Logan who eventually breaks free and slaughters everyone in his way of escape. It's about as dark as they come.
9. Batman: Arkham Asylum
Arkham Asylum is comic book-meets-psychological thriller. Set in a nightmarish asylum, it sees Batman confronting his biggest fears and explores the thin line between sanity and madness, good and evil.
10. Daredevil: Born Again
Born Again sees the near end of Daredevil as he goes through some of the most rigorous tests of his life. It sees his life torn apart by his biggest enemies and Hell's Kitchen almost completely destroyed.
11. Punisher MAX
Punisher MAX is a hyper-violent, realistic series surrounding vigilante antihero, The Punisher. The comic book delves into his psychological traumas as he fights against corruption and merciless criminals.
12. Superman: Red Son
Red Son re-imagines Superman in an alternate reality where his spaceship lands in the USSR instead of Kansas. Set during the Cold War, it explores the frightening implications of Superman's power in the hands of the Soviets.
13. The Punisher: The End
The Punisher: The End is comic book meets nihilism. It sees a hopeless Punisher confronting a grim post-World War III world. He makes it his mission to bring a violent end to the last shreds of humanity before succumbing to radiation poisoning.
14. The Ultimates
The Ultimates is a dark reimagining of The Avengers where superheroes are government-funded. It features ego clashes, moral dilemmas, and, most frightening of all, real-world politics.
15. Old Man Logan
In Old Man Logan, we're confronted with a grim world where the heroes lost. A retired Wolverine is navigating a post-apocalyptic world where Hulk is a cannibal and Red Skull is president of the world.
16. Injustice: Gods Among Us
Injustice: Gods Among Us delves into an alternate universe where Superman becomes a tyrant following a personal tragedy. Batman leads a rebellion against Superman's regime and a bloody civil war between superheroes ensues.
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17. Marvel Zombies
Marvel Zombies is exactly how it sounds: superheroes reimagined as undead monsters. In this horrendous alternate universe, every superhero was turned into a flesh-eating zombie thanks to a cosmic virus.
18. Hulk: The End
Hulk: The End sees Bruce Banner living a tragic and lonely existence as the last human left on earth after a nuclear holocaust. The sad and morbid story sees the eventual end of the beloved character.
19. Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do
As the name implies, The Evil That Men Do explores the ghastly and immoral things humans do. It grapples with very real topics like sexual assault, overdose, and addiction while touching on some shocking details of Black Cat's past.
20. Ruins
Ruins is the perfect comic book for when you really want to feel hopeless. It sees beloved Marvel characters being destroyed by their mutations instead of gaining superpowers.
