Random Most Depressing Future Versions Of Superheroes (12 items)

• 

  (#12) Hulk

  • The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Ultimate Avengers 2, Hulk Vs, Ultimate Avengers, Planet Hulk, The Incredible Hulk, The Death of the Incredible Hulk, The Avengers, Hulk, The Incredible Hulk Returns, The Avengers: Age of Ultron, The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, Marvel Universe

  The Hulk is one of the most dangerous beings in the Marvel Universe, and that's when he's being a good guy. In the comic series Future Imperfect, set roughly a century in the future, Hulk is one of the few survivors of an atomic conflict that nearly wiped out humanity.

  The intense barrage of radiation makes the Hulk even more powerful and intelligent, but it also drives him mad. He takes on a new persona, Maestro, and sets about building and ruling his own empire, Dystopia. When a Hulk from the past is sent forward to battle Maestro, Maestro breaks his neck.

  Maestro keeps his past self alive for days, taunting him for his powerlessness. However, his younger self heals quicker than expected, and the two once again battle. Though weaker than his older, post-apocalyptic doppelganger, the younger Hulk is able to lure Maestro into a time machine and send him hurtling back to the moment they were first transformed into the Hulk. Maestro is atomized by the blast of gamma radiation.
• 

  (#9) Dick Grayson

  • Young Justice, The Batman, Batman & Robin, Batman, DC Universe

  In The Dark Knight Strikes Again, a new Joker has arisen after the demise of the original. This Joker targets superheroes without mercy. He manages to slay Martian Manhunter, the Guardian, and the Creeper before revealing himself to Batman as none other than Dick Grayson, his former Robin.

  Grayson was obsessed with Batman, but he succumbed to madness after the Dark Knight rejected him as his Robin. Now having genetically modified himself to be nearly indestructible, he engages in combat with Batman. He is ultimately slain when he is thrown into a pit of lava by Batman. 
• 

  (#7) Flash

  • Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, Daddy Day Care, DC Universe

  About 20 years in the future, the Flash is a very different person than we know today. After the demise of Wally West, Barry Allen becomes an unhinged slayer that starts offing villains in a misguided attempt to save Wally.

  Flash believes that slaying villains will allow him to gain the energy to travel back in time and prevent West's demise, but the plan backfires. While he succeeds in going back in time, his actions lead him into conflict with his past self. Future Flash ends up not only slaying his past self, but Wally West, as well. 
• 

  (#11) Captain Marvel

  • Justice League, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection, Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam, DC Universe

  Back when Shazam was known as Captain Marvel, he appeared in the Kingdom Come miniseries as a brainwashed and twisted version of himself. He is presented as one of the only real threats to Superman, as their strength levels are similar and Marvel's powers are magical in nature - a particular weakness of the Kryptonian's.

  In this timeline, Billy Batson grows up manipulated by Lex Luthor. Using brainwashing worms created by Marvel's nemesis, Dr. Sivana, Luthor convinces Batson that all superheroes are actually villains, including his Captain Marvel alter ego. Batson joins Luthor's crusade against superheroes, committing all sorts of atrocities due to his twisted new mindset. He is eventually brought back into the light by Superman as they duke it out, but he ends up sacrificing himself shortly afterward. 
• 

  (#10) Superman

  • Smallville, Superboy, Adventures of Superman, Justice League Unlimited, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Superman Returns, Superman, Superman IV: The Quest For Peace, Superman: Brainiac Attacks, The Bulleteers, Hindsight Is 20/20, A Uniform Used to Mean Something..., Justice League: Doom, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2, The Lego Movie, Superman III, Superman: Doomsday, Volcano, Superman vs. The Elite, Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam, Justice League: New Frontier, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, Superman, Superman and the Mole Men, Hot Shots!, Batman vs. Superman, Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics, A Man Who Was Superman, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut, Man of Steel, Superman II, Superman

  While there are quite a few timelines where Superman goes bad, this one stands out for how powerless the strongest man in the universe feels. In The Dark Knight Returns, Superman has been co-opted by the United States government and turned into a government agent.

  Superman performs covert operations against the Soviet Union, suppresses communist ideologies in developing nations, and assists in fighting against Soviet-allied countries. On government orders, he ends up going head to head against Batman. Weakened by a previous encounter with a nuke and a well-aimed Kryptonite arrow, he is brought to his knees by the geriatric Batman - only to be heartbroken when he believes Bruce has perished of a heart attack. 
• 

  (#8) Juggernaut

  • X-Men: The Last Stand, Marvel Universe

  The Juggernaut isn't a friendly guy, but it's not like he wants everyone in the world to perish. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happens after he slays the X-Men and leaves the world vulnerable to a Sentinel attack. Years in the future, Juggernaut has successfully terminated every last Sentinel, but finds himself alone in the world. He eventually stumbles upon Magneto, who blames Juggernaut for the state of the world before he, too, meets his end. 

  Juggernaut then breaks into an underground facility where the last mutants are hiding out. He begins to apologize to the survivors, but Quicksilver interrupts him to point out that he's doomed them all. He reminds Juggernaut that the atmosphere has been poisoned by the Sentinels, and now they are all being exposed to toxic gases. As they all perish, Juggernaut realizes he has once again slain everyone alive and truly is the last person on Earth. 

New Random Displays    Display All By Ranking