Heroes switching sides

[Aeon]

Hello everyone,

Lately I was thinking about how some heroes/allies have been handled in comics, to turn them into enemies permanently or on a long term.

I don’t mean a short brainwashing/hypnosis stint, but really being turned evil or neutral because of different reasons. Misunderstandings, personal crisis, disagreements, accidents or illnesses, betrayal, being sidelined by others.


So far, I came up with a few characters who to this date have either turned neutral or evil because of a reason.

Sharon Ventura: Was called out a traitor by the FF, after Reed couldn’t give her original body back, she turned to Dr. Doom for help. Minor appearances later as prisoner and one time cannon fodder for the FF.

Donald Blake: a being created just for Thor to have a mortal body for years. Was kept in a fake reality after his „service“ to the Agards ended.

Arno Stark: Supporter and Brother to Tony. Seems that his medical condition influenced his mind to turn into heartless obsessed „right doer“, which resulted in him turning crazy.

I would add Ben Reilly too, but it’s been only a short time since his moral axis has been switched.

[Android 17]

There was that time Colossus joined Magneto’s Acolytes after Ilyana died from the Legacy Virus.

[K7P5V]

Hawkeye switched sides during The Avengers/Defenders War

[Digifiend]

There was that time Colossus joined Magneto’s Acolytes after Ilyana died from the Legacy Virus.

Colossus has turned heel twice, then. He was controlled by his brother through most of the Krakoa era, and joined X-Force when the Quiet Council wanted someone to keep an eye on them after Beast's villainy came to light. He ended up keeping most of X-Force away from the Gala, thus letting Orchis get away with their plans. They only just got him free in the last couple of issues, and that required help from Doctor Strange.

[shooshoomanjoe]

There was the time when it was revealed that Iron Man was working for Kang for years during The Crossing. Shouldn't teen Tony still be running around the 616 universe somewhere?

Skids and Rusty Collins also joined the Acolytes around the time Colossus did.

[The Cool Thatguy]

Poor Atlas from Thunderbolts seems to switch sides depending on the day of the week, though he started as a villain.

[Frontier]

Finesse from Avengers Academy has seemingly turned full criminal.

[ChrisIII]

Madelyne Pryor was kind of "good" for about five years before Inferno rolled around.

Although I think she's sort of a "good guy" again, or at least has a truce, with the X-men now.

In a sense both Professor X and Cyclops have been sort of "Magneto-lite" since the early 2000s IMO.

Also Ultimate Reed Richards/Maker.

[Digifiend]

Finesse from Avengers Academy has seemingly turned full criminal.

You forgot how Unstoppable Wasp ended? Yes, Finesse appeared in that book as a member of AIM - but by the end she'd defected to GIRL, she's a hero again now.

[Digifiend]

There was the time when it was revealed that Iron Man was working for Kang for years during The Crossing. Shouldn't teen Tony still be running around the 616 universe somewhere?

Teen Tony's era ended with Heroes Reborn, remember. He was killed by Onslaught and the version restored by Franklin Richards was an older one as he remembered him. Same reason why Janet van Dyne isn't a wasp monster any more.

[The Cool Thatguy]

You forgot how Unstoppable Wasp ended? Yes, Finesse appeared in that book as a member of AIM - but by the end she'd defected to GIRL, she's a hero again now.

Actually, Finesse popped up again in Punisher, working for a shady broker alongside some criminal types (like Bushwacker).

So she's not too far over the edge, but idiot writers are pushing her there

[Triniking1234]

Remember when Wonder Man started the Revengers?

Good times.

[Digifiend]

Actually, Finesse popped up again in Punisher, working for a shady broker alongside some criminal types (like Bushwacker).

So she's not too far over the edge, but idiot writers are pushing her there

Didn't know about that one - any reason they couldn't have just used Taskmaster, whose powers are the same?

[The Cool Thatguy]

Didn't know about that one - any reason they couldn't have just used Taskmaster, whose powers are the same?

Probably because his rep would have mandated a longer fight (Finesse survived, if you were wondering)

[The Cool Thatguy]

Remember when Wonder Man started the Revengers?

Good times.

The Heavens weep when Bendis tries to do meta