You know what they say: crime never pays. These comic book anti-heroes aren’t exactly villains, but you wouldn’t call them heroes either. Sometimes they do things for their own benefit that happen to help people. Other times they fight for good, but believe the ends justify the means. In either case, there’s only one word for them: anti-heroes. Today, we’re looking at the ten coolest comic book anti-heroes.
Top Ten Comic Book Anti-Heroes
10. Harley Quinn
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Originally introduced as a pawn of the Joker and a straight-up villain, this character has undergone a bit of a metamorphosis. She’s been on the Suicide Squad, a team of villains that are compelled to work as heroes by bomb collars around their necks. Harley’s also been known to show something of a moral code, even if it is warped. That most tragic part of her story is how she became so unhinged. Originally, she was the Joker’s therapist at Arkham, but he warped her mind with his deranged ramblings.
9. Gambit
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The Louisiana-born Ragin’ Cajun is as much a charming rogue as he is a heroic X-Man. Gambit’s mutation allows him to imbue objects with kinetic energy and then detonate them. His preferred method of delivery for this power is playing cards. His Cajun accent and bad-boy swagger lend him a unique feel amongst X-Men characters. He was raised by the Thieves’ Guild and referred to as “the White Devil,” so anti-hero is a fitting title for him.
8. Elektra
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Well-known for her tumultuous past with Matt Murdock, Elektra is equal parts ninja, assassin and badass. Her background with the Hand and other dangerous elements in the Marvel Universe makes her a unique part of Daredevil’s mythos. She often clashes with Matt over his uncompromising morals. In the end, though, her heart is in the right place.
7. Red Hood
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Jason Todd was brutally murdered by the Joker. Some complicated stuff happened, and he was resurrected. Upon being brought back to life, Todd sought vengeance for his untimely and brutal death. Originally, he blamed Batman for not killing the Joker when he had the chance. In order to make sure no one suffers the same fate he did, Todd dons the mask of the Red Hood. As Red Hood, he brutally kills criminals to make the world a better place.
6. Spawn
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Spawn is a quintessential anti-hero. Originally a soldier, he is betrayed by his unit and killed by his own best friend. Upon reaching the afterlife, he finds he is damned to hell for killing innocents as a soldier. However, he is granted demonic powers and allowed back to earth to see his wife and family. When he returns to earth, he turns his wrath upon the wicked. And it is awesome.
5. Ghost Rider
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Another superhero powered by hellfire, Ghost Rider is the very spirit of vengeance. Johnny Blaze was given a choice by Mephistopheles: save his father’s soul in exchange for his own. Now empowered by hellish magic, Johnny rides through the night, meting out vengeance and generally looking awesome. If you’re a fan of demons and motorcycles, Ghost Rider might just be your jam. Johnny’s successors, Danny Ketch and Robbie Reyes, are also pretty awesome and you should check them out too.
4. Judge Dredd
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Originally appearing in the British anthology comic 2000 AD, Dredd is the foremost of a law enforcement agency known as Judges. In the dystopian nightmare that is Mega-City One, Dredd is the embodiment of totalitarian law. As judge, jury and executioner, Dredd rides through the sprawling metropolis, meting out justice and protecting the innocent. While he does technically save the day, his methods are unflinchingly brutal. We almost don’t want to call this guy a hero…
3. Venom
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Venom, the fusion of an alien symbiote and Eddie Brock, is a complex entity. Referring to itself as “we,” Venom thinks of itself as a hybrid of its constituent parts. The monstrous creature clashes with Peter Parker constantly, but that doesn’t mean he’s inherently a villain. In fact, Venom is something of a hero when the mood strikes him, as he has a strong sense of (warped) morality. If you’re in trouble and you see black tendrils ensnare your assailant, don’t ask questions. Just run, and be thankful Venom was feeling charitable.
2. Deadpool
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The Merc with the Mouth himself, Deadpool is the very definition of an anti-hero. Cursed with a combination of a powerful healing factor and debilitating cancer, Deadpool is horrendously ugly and endlessly witty. The red-clad mercenary is also absolutely insane, often breaking the fourth wall and addressing the audience directly. His cartoony shenanigans often lead to vicious, unneeded bloodshed, although he really does mean well. Well, sometimes. At the very least, he isn’t evil… we think.
1. Punisher
Photo Credit: MCU Wiki
The ultimate anti-hero, Frank Castle is a man possessed. Not literally, like Spawn and Ghost Rider, but figuratively. Frank’s an ex-marine who saw his family butchered in front of him by a random act of gang violence before being struck by a bullet. The bullet puts him into a coma, but when he awakens he finds that he has a thirst for vengeance. He dons a black outfit emblazoned with a white skull-head and goes to work punishing evil-doers.
Frank often comes into conflict with Daredevil, much like Elektra, as the two have completely opposite worldviews. While Frank really does mean to make the world a better place, his incessantly brutal methods make him a difficult man to root for.
