10 Biggest Betrayals in The History of Comics

10 Biggest Betrayals in The History of Comics: Comics have been entertaining us for decades and have given us some of the most memorable and iconic characters in popular culture. However, along with the heroes and villains, there have also been moments of betrayal that have left a lasting impact on the comics industry. From characters turning on their friends to shocking twists that have left fans stunned, the history of comics is full of betrayals that have shaped the genre and left an indelible mark on the collective consciousness of readers.

Wally West Frames Booster Gold And Harley Quinn

Heroes In Crisis has become one of the most criticized events in DC Comics history, with many fans perceiving DC as the betrayer rather than the formerly beloved character, Wally West, also known as Kid Flash. The return of Wally West in the comic reboot, Rebirth, was initially met with great excitement by fans. However, when Wally sought help for his mental instability caused by being erased in the Flashpoint event, things took a disastrous turn. In a moment of mental breakdown, Wally unleashed a catastrophic burst of energy that resulted in the deaths of many heroes who were in the process of recovering. To cover up his actions, Wally staged his own death and falsely accused Booster Gold and Harley Quinn of the murders, betraying the trust of his close friend, Barry Allen. However, DC Comics has taken steps to rectify this situation, bringing Wally back into the spotlight as a hero in the Infinite Frontier storyline.

Tony Stark Puts A Target On Unregistered Heroes

One of the primary reasons why fans have a negative opinion of the Civil War comic is due to Tony Stark’s actions. While Tony Stark is widely regarded as a hero in the MCU, in the Marvel Universe, he sided with the government against his own team. This led to the persecution of unregistered heroes and Tony even enlisted the help of villains in imprisoning his fellow heroes. He also convinced Spider-Man to reveal his identity, resulting in Aunt May getting shot and the events of One More Day.

Captain America Hails Hydra

Over the years, Marvel has made numerous decisions that have been met with criticism from fans. These decisions range from the alteration of character motivations to unsatisfying endings of arcs, such as the shock of Captain America’s infamous utterance of “Hail Hydra”. This revelation of a Hydra-affiliated version of Steve Rogers, known as “Stevil”, was a disappointment to both the characters and readers. However, the return of the original Captain America through the use of the cosmic cube did bring some closure to the situation, but the impact of Secret Empire had already left its mark. On a lighter note, the event did provide some humorous Captain America memes.

Black Widow Frames Thor And Tortures Tony Stark

The Ultimate universe, Earth-1610, was known for its darker tone compared to other universes. When the Ultimate version of Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff, was introduced, fans were thrilled to see her join the Ultimates. However, their excitement quickly turned to shock when Widow betrayed Hawkeye by killing his family. Natasha’s treachery didn’t stop there. She set up Thor as the culprit in the murder and took the life of Tony Stark’s butler Jarvis. To add insult to injury, she even subjected her own fiancé, Tony, to torture. Her reign of terror came to an end when she was finally taken down by Hawkeye, but the aftermath of her actions left a lasting impact. The events serve as a cautionary tale, reminding us that in the Ultimate universe, you can never truly trust the dark and twisted version of the Russian super-spy.

Doctor Strange Erases Captain America’s Memory

It’s not surprising that a secret organization would misuse their authority. Initially, the Illuminati in the Marvel universe consisted of brilliant individuals such as Tony Stark, Black Panther, and Doctor Strange. When faced with the imminent collision of Earth-616 and 1610, they made the controversial decision to destroy one of the planets. Captain America, Steve Rogers, was opposed to their actions. To prevent Rogers from disrupting their plan, Doctor Strange wiped his memory of the incident. Unfortunately, their efforts were for naught as the characters all met their demise in Johnathan Hickman’s Secret Wars event.

Atomica Double-Crosses Everyone

The New 52 featured a mix of classic heroes with fresh twists and new characters, such as Atomica. This female take on the Atom was a member of the Justice League and simultaneously worked for two other organizations. However, as the League posed a growing threat, Atomica found herself working with Amanda Waller to bring them down. It was later revealed that Atomica was actually from Earth-3 and played a crucial role in the Trinity War. She stabbed Superman with a piece of kryptonite, allowing The Outsider to bring in the evil Crime Syndicate and reuniting with her lover, Johnny Quick. Unfortunately, Atomica’s actions had devastating consequences, and despite her eventual defeat by Lex Luthor, the damage had already been done.

Batman And The Tower Of Babel

Batman, a founding member of the Justice League, is widely regarded as the best hero for good reason. He consistently demonstrates his strategic thinking by coming up with backup plans for both villains and fellow heroes. Unfortunately, this resulted in a catastrophe known as The Tower Of Babel. Batman’s plans, intended to neutralize the Justice League should they ever turn against society, were stolen by the villain Ra’s Al Ghul and used against the League, nearly leading to their demise. As a result, the League’s trust in Batman was severely damaged, leading him to leave the group. Despite the harm caused by his actions, Batman showed little remorse and continued to create contingency plans.

Quicksilver Starts House Of M

Quicksilver, known for his heroic deeds, has a questionable past with a long history of shady actions. Despite his past heroism, he has been involved in several treacherous acts, including aiding his father, Magneto, and the Brotherhood of Mutants, as well as betraying his wife, the Inhuman, Crystal. One of his most devastating backstabbing was starting the House of M. Though many hold Wanda accountable for the consequences of the House of M, it was actually Quicksilver who planted the idea in her mind and acted behind Magneto’s back. As a result, Wanda altered reality, wiping out half of the mutant population, all because of her brother’s scheme.

Jason Todd’s Mom Gives Him Up To The Joker

DC has a history of breaking families apart. One of the most memorable examples is in the comic Death In The Family where Batman and Robin, Jason Todd, embark on a journey to locate Jason’s missing mother. Although they are able to find her, they also come across the Joker, who has manipulated her into giving up Jason. The Joker then proceeds to savagely beat Jason and later blows up both him and his mother, leading to a devastating and unforgettable death in the Batman comics. This tragedy sets Jason on the path towards becoming the Red Hood.

Zatanna and Others Erase Batman’s Memory

Amongst the numerous shocking discoveries, Jean Loring’s insanity was one of the most significant. Prior to Jean taking Sue’s life, she was subjected to a brutal attack by the notorious villain, Dr. Light. To protect her, a group of heroes decided to use magic to modify Dr. Light’s behavior, making him passive. But not all heroes were on board with this decision, with Batman being one of the key dissenters. He felt that tampering with someone’s mind, even a criminal like Dr. Light, was morally wrong. The heroes and Zatanna were aware of this, so they chose to erase Batman’s memory of the event. Unfortunately, they kept this a secret from Bruce, even after the tragedy with Jean occurred.

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