It is often underestimated just how dark Marvel can get with their comics sometimes. There’s a misconception in the public eye that the darkest moments are at DC Comics, while the more colorful and wholesome moments come from Marvel. On the contrary, Marvel doesn’t shy away from falling into bleak territory when the opportunity presents itself.
Because movies from the Marvel Cinematic Universe tend to be so lighthearted more often than not, that’s reason enough as to why this perception is created among audiences. While the MCU, too, can go from comedy to serious in an instant, it’s rarer to see. And Marvel Studios will need to think twice before adapting the following grim panels.
10
The Blob Eats The Wasp in ‘Ultimatum’
The Ultimate Universe’s Darkest Hour
The original Ultimate Universe of Earth-1610 was always viewed as Earth-616’s dark counterpart, but nothing from this world was darker than the “ULTIMATUM” event initiated by Magneto. With him leading one last onslaught against the world, villains like The Blob had full-range to unleash hell. For the X-Men icon, he enforced a cannibalistic attack on The Wasp.
Worse, in retaliation for his wife getting chomped to bits, Ant-Man bit off The Blob’s head. It’s debatable to say if this is the bloodiest the Ultimate Marvel Universe has gone, but it’s certainly the most stomach-churning. It honestly might be the most brutal page ever published from Marvel, main continuity comics included.
9
Sabretooth Says ‘Happy Birthday’ To Wolverine
Not the Birthday Wish Anyone Would Ask For
The rivalry between Wolverine and Sabretooth is more intense than fans realize if they don’t read the comics. Onscreen, their dynamic has always been violent, but on-panel, Sabretooth has dedicated his life to tormenting Logan every single year on the X-Man’s birthday. Sabretooth’s most egregious tactic came during the Sabretooth War.
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Sabretooth tears Wolverine’s son, Akhiro, apart and leaves his body parts in the snow for his father to find. Victor Creed is unapologetic in his desire to inflict pain, especially when Logan is his target. He takes his hatred for Wolverine and adds whimsy to create the cruelest possible moment imaginable to damper what should be a day of celebration.
8
Hulk’s Body Horror Transformations
Stories Find New Ways to Make Bruce Banner Excruciatingly Turn into the Hulk
Al Ewing’s Immortal Hulk series rebooted the character and his comics for the modern era, adding body horror into the mix. The body horror element puts a gross twist on Bruce Banner’s transformations into the Hulk, making each transformation as repulsive to look at as it is painful for the host to endure.
The highly detailed, yet bloody disgusting art work during Al Ewing’s run of Immortal Hulk was drawn by Joe Bennett.
When Phillip Kennedy Johnson took over as lead writer with Nic Klein as his artist, Hulk’s R-rated transformations only got worse. It was soon established that these transformations were made intentionally grotestque as the Hulk’s frustrations with his alter ego wanted him to make his transformations as brutal as possible for Bruce.
7
Nightcrawler Teleports A Shark Inside Blob
Arguably the Most Vicious Use of the Hellcrawler’s Powers
Although he’s no cannibal in Marvel’s main canon universe, he’s still a force to be reckoned with. Nightcrawler is well familiar with that fact by the time Uncanny X-Force #33 rolls around. Not only does Nightcrawler proceed with caution in their confrontation, but he comes up with a rather wicked means of neutralizing him.
When dealing with a villain as memorable as The Blob, Nightcrawler opts to use his abilities to its fullest potential. Rather than merely teleport, NIghtcrawler teleports something into The Blob – and that something is a 4,000lb shark. Not only does this moment showcase the extent of Kurt Wagner’s powers, but it shows his creativity in disposing of Blob under such unique circumstances.
6
Wolverine Kills an Innocent Mutant Child
Brutal Without Showing a Single Shred of Violence
Not every moment of brutality actually happens on-panel. Sometimes, a moment is brutal because of what’s left to the imagination, or even because of the emotional impact of it. Both are the case for Wolverine’s most tragic kill. “J’s” powers manifest, and when the teenage boy’s abilities are too deadly to contain, Wolverine is tasked with killing the child.
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The book never shows Logan stabbing or striking the child. All readers see is “J” instructing Wolverine to “just do it” before the latter exits a cave alone. The gravity of the situation is far more heartbreaking than actually seeing the boy’s murder could have been. Readers feel remorse for “J” and Wolverine’s burden of having to kill him.
5
The Death & Crucifixion of Captain America
One of Marvel’s Forgotten Moments with a Forgotten Captain America
The most brutal moments in Marvel history aren’t just shrouded in violence, but, for religious readers, sacrilege. The oft-forgotten Captain America, Roscoe Simons, took the original’s place when Steve Rogers became so disheartened by the U.S.A. that he abandoned the mantle in favor of becoming Nomad, a title that would later be passed down to his son.
This took place between Steve Englehart and Frank Robbins’ Captain America #182 and #183.
Simons would be captured and tortured by The Red Skull, leaving him dead and crucified for Steve to find on a rooftop in the middle of New York. The shocking use of Christian imagery would ironically rechristen Steve himself, convincing him to become Captain America again after seeing his fallen friend, who he personally endorsed as the new Cap.
4
Sandman Explodes Spider-Man From The Inside
An Unexpected Foe Kills Spider-Man in an Unexpected Way
The Sandman is far from being regarded as an A-tier villain in Spider-Man’s rogue’s gallery, but he did something that some of Spidey’s enemies can only dream of doing: kill Spider-Man. In the world of Marvel Zombies Return #1, Peter Parker has become a ravenous member of the undead. Flint Marko decides there’s only one way to put a stop to Pete’s reign of evil.
Materializing into his sand form, The Sandman forces his way into Spider-Man’s intestines before forcing the superhero to burst from the inside. It’s a surprising, but nonetheless ferocious, way for anyone to go out. Most shocking, it positions The Sandman as a hero when Spidey is the villainous force of zombified evil.
3
Sentry Tears The God Ares in Half (The Long Way)
Easily Sentry’s Most Devastating Feat of Strength
It may sound superfluous to call Sentry an evil Superman, but when it comes to pure power, there is no better comparison in the Marvel Universe. Every ounce of strength is on display during the “Siege” event. Sentry is still reeling from the death of his wife (who, unbeknownst to Bob Reynolds, was killed by his Dark Avengers teammate Bullseye on orders of Norman Osborn).
Angry and in mourning over the mystery of Lindy Lee’s death, Sentry just wants to take his aggression out on anyone in his path, so when Ares forces his way into his path, Sentry forces his opposition’s body apart. The original panel depicts the ordeal in such harsh fashion, it needs to be censored. The MCU couldn’t adapt this without heavy censorship of their own.
2
Doctor Strange is Squeezed To Death By Dormammu
Ultimate Marvel’s Worst Tragedy Gets Worse
The Wasp wasn’t the only casualty stemming from the aforementioned “ULTIMATUM” event. Doctor Strange found himself interlocked in a confrontation with longtime rival, Dormammu, but unlike past encounters, the good doctor doesn’t come out on top, nor with a good head on his shoulders. In fact, Doctor Strange literally loses his head once Dormammu gets ahold of him.
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Readers are well aware that the good guys don’t always win in the Marvel Universe, as there are more than a few examples of the matter. In this case, though, and with “ULTIMATUM” as a whole, no fan could have ever possibly predicted things ending so stomach-churning for certain heroes. No readers imagined seeing their favorite hero have their head squeezed to smithereens, that’s for sure.
1
Hulk Turns Evil, Tears Tigra Apart
He Cracks Her in Half Like a Wishbone
One of the biggest fears on every superhero or Avenger’s mind is the thought of Hulk going evil. Readers have caught glimpses of the notion in stories like “World War Hulk” where he becomes an all-out wrecking machine against the Earth, but The Last Avengers Story #1 shows the hostile reality of a situation like that. Heroes aren’t just defenseless against evil Hulk – they’re doomed.
For a thorough guide on “World War Hulk” and everything that led to it (namely “Planet Hulk”), click here.
None more so than Tigra at this moment as the Hulk pulls her body in half, not unlike what Sentry once does to Ares. The difference is that the comic doesn’t show what happens. It only focuses on the horrified looks of each hero’s face watching, leaving the terror to the reader’s imagination. Marvel has never been darker, and the MCU could never dream to follow suit.
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