Most Unexpected Replacements For DC And Marvel Superheroes

When Otto Octavius...Otto Octavius.Doctor Octopus, better known as Otto Octavius, nears death. He uses brain-swapping technology, a classic sci-fi trope, to make a clever, diabolical move. Doc Ock swaps minds with his enemy, taking over Spider-Man's body and forcing Peter Parker to die in the body of a fat old supervillain.

Octavius uses his new powers differently. Parker's memories and personality influence him, teaching him about great power and responsibility. He vows to become the Superior Spider-Man. Otto briefly acts as a more effective—though less selfless—vigilante until his limits put New York City in danger.

Humbled by the experience, the Superior Spider-Man resets his brain to Peter Parker's mode. This erases him, letting the original Spidey return to save the day.

In 1978, when the Fantastic Four became a Hanna-Barbera cartoon, their lineup changed. Instead of the Human Torch, the rest of the FF featured H.E.R.B.I.E.H.E.R.B.I.E.H.E.R.B.I.E. is a tiny, mostly useless, non-flammable robot. An urban legend claims Johnny Storm was cut from the cartoon because he might make kids set themselves on fire. The reality is much simpler.

Stan Lee sold his rights for a solo movie, which never happened. This explains Johnny's absence, but replacing the Human Torch with H.E.R.B.I.E. remains an odd choice.

The infamousKnightfall.The Knightfall saga shows Bane cripples Bruce Wayne. This leaves Batman's role open, and Gotham City loses its main protector. Most expect Dick Grayson, the original Robin, to become the Dark Knight. Wayne chooses Jean-Paul Valley as the new Batman.Jean-Paul Valley.Azrael is a dangerous vigilante. He was raised in a religious cult from birth.

Valley could not escape his upbringing's brainwashing. He acts as a cruel, sadistic caped crusader, upgrading the Batsuit with aggressive tech that causes severe harm to villains. Bruce Wayne recovers from paralysis through questionable means. He returns to Gotham to fight Valley, defeats him, and takes back the cowl.

Hank Pym was the original Ant-Man, though Scott Lang, the second wearer, is arguably more famous. Both Pym and Lang served the role better than the third Ant-Man in Marvel Comics history.Eric O’Grady..

O’Grady, a low-level S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, uses an Ant-Man suit from his dead friend for petty theft and spying on women. O’Grady finds a heroic side when he joins the Secret Avengers and sacrifices himself saving a young boy from a robot city.

The events of Iron Man appear in the list of most unexpected replacements for DC and Marvel superheroes.The Crossing is featured in the list of most unexpected replacements for DC and Marvel superheroes.shows Tony Stark has been influenced by the time-traveling Immortus for much of his life. This manipulation made Iron Man break bad and attack many Avengers. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes respond with a different time-bending plan: they pull an uncorrupted teenage Stark from the past to stop his evil older self.

The plan works. The original Stark is inspired to sacrifice himself against Immortus. This leavesTeen Tony is listed among the most unexpected replacements for DC and Marvel superheroes.as the sole Iron Man. This status quo stays until Marvel Comics resets their continuity using theHeroes Return is in the list of most unexpected replacements for DC and Marvel superheroes.event to bring back the real Tony Stark.

When U.S. Agent appears, he is in the list of most unexpected replacements for DC and Marvel superheroes.The Red Skull is in the list of most unexpected replacements for DC and Marvel superheroes.uses the Commission on Superhuman Activities to fire Steve Rogers. Rogers must hand over his shield and Captain America's costume, choosing instead to fight crime as “The Captain.” The Commission seeks a replacement and finds John Walker, a former superpowered wrestler with aggressive, right-wing views.

Walker quickly disgraces theThe name of Captain America is in the list of most unexpected replacements for DC and Marvel superheroes.Walker attacks enemies with glee. Rogers returns to fight and defeat Walker. Rogers then shows the Red Skull's plans, and the two join forces to stop the villain. Rogers then takes his proper role, and Walker becomes the problematic vigilante known as the US Agent.

When Steve Rogers loses hisThe Super Soldier Serum is in the list of most unexpected replacements for DC and Marvel superheroes.and retires as Captain America, Sam Wilson takes the shield for a time. Joaquin Torres fills the Falcon role, though he took the job description too literally.

Karl Malus captures Torres and fuses him with a falcon, which is Wilson’s partner Redwing. Malus did not know Redwing had become a vampire bird. Torres gains bird wings and a healing factor, letting him serve as Captain America’s sidekick before joining the Champions when Wilson returns as the Falcon.

Artemis of Bana-Mighdall is in the list of most unexpected replacements for DC and Marvel superheroes.Artemis of Bana-Mighdall has a backstory making her a questionable Wonder Woman replacement. Her past includes a childhood in a hidden Egyptian queendom and battling demons in a hellish dimension. The reason Artemis fills Diana's role is even stranger.

When Hippolyta saw a vision of Wonder Woman dying, she rigged a contest. She wanted Artemis to win as the Amazon champion, believing Artemis would die instead of Diana. Artemis won and became the demon hunter of Bana-Mighdall.

The origin of Thunderstrike.Eric Masterson.Eric Masterson's story is complex. Thor tried civilian life as a construction worker and befriended Masterson, an architect. Their friendship ended when a supervillain killed Masterson. To save himself, Masterson merged with Thor, sharing a body temporarily.

Later, Thor was banished because people thought he killed Loki. Masterson took Thor's place on Midgard. Masterson fought hard against threats like Thanos but gave up when the original returned. Odin gave Masterson a weapon, and he became Thunderstrike before dying in battle years later.

Former Green Goblin Norman Osborn gained public praise after he beat the Skrull Queen on live TV duringSecret InvasionOsborn used his new fame to seize control of S.H.I.E.L.D. and carry out events inDark Reign.Osborn's world domination plan included hiding Earth's Mightiest Heroes and replacing them with his own team, theDark Avengers.Each member of the Dark Avengers represents the opposite of the hero they replace.

Osborn picked Venom for Spider-Man, Bullseye for Hawkeye, and the God of War for Thor. He also recruited Wolverine’s son Daken for the mutant role. Daken's hunt for the Punisher caused terrible results. Norman himself wore Tony Stark’s armor as the Iron Patriot. Osborn's pride caused his downfall when he attacked Asgard. The genuine Avengers defeated Osborn and his entire crew in Asgard.

Hank Pym used many superhero names: Ant-Man, Yellowjacket, and Giant-Man. When Pym stepped away from the Avengers, his power to grow huge was gone. An unlikely teammate filled that gap.

Clint Barton.Hawkeye gives up his arrows and the name to become Goliath, a size-changing hero who rarely uses his archery skills. Later, Barton takes a leave of absence from Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. He returns, and he is regular Hawkeye again.

DC Comics resets its own continuity multiple times with the New 52.The New 52 revamp offers DC a clean slate. This publishing move reinvented every DC property from scratch. Most updates proved popular; Lobo was one of them.Previously, the Main Man earned fans with his crude attitude and rough edges. A familiar Lobo appeared in the early days of the New 52.

However, Lobo later became an imposter and was killed by the 'real' Lobo. This version is the opposite of what made the previous character popular.The New 52 featured Lobo as slim and suave, clever instead of savage. Predictably, the new Lobo faded quickly, and the genuine article returned.Marvel Comics delivers what it promises with the Death of Wolverine.Death of Wolverine takes out the company’s most indestructible mutant. However, the company did not leave the role open long. Several replacement Wolverines appeared, including Logan’s evil son, his clone daughter, and his son from another dimension. Wolverine’s most popular replacement is the one that sounds strangest to comic book readers: an elderly version of himself from the future.The replacement Wolverine is an elderly version of himself from the future.New 52Lobo is slim and pretty—suave, not savage, and clever instead of crude. The new Lobo quickly faded, and the real Lobo returned.

Marvel Comics delivers what it promises withBeta Ray Bill reveals a backstory in which he accepted extreme genetic and cybernetic modifications to become a warrior capable of protecting his species from a horde of invading demons. With his origin once again proving Bill’s worth, Odin deems that he and Thor must battle for the right to wield Mjolnir - a fight that Bill wins, though he refuses to take the Thunder God’s life or his hammer.It takes out the company’s most indestructible mutant. Replacement Wolverines quickly appear, like Logan’s evil son, his clone daughter, and his son from another dimension. However, Wolverine’s most popular stand-in is the strangest to comic book outsiders: an elderly version of himself from the future who time travels.

From a popular post-apocalyptic tale set in a future without superheroes,Old Man LoganOld Man Logan carries deep trauma. He was manipulated into defeating all the X-Men and then his family was killed by inbred Hulk descendants. This happened duringSecret WarsOld Man Logan enters the mainstream 616 universe until the original Wolverine revives. Then, he goes back to the future.

When the storyline becomes known asThe Ballad of Beta Ray BillThor fights a horse-faced alien cyborg to open the story; this is nothing strange. The tale shifts when the being proves worthy of lifting Mjolnir and gets Thor’s power.

Odin recalls Beta Ray Bill to Asgard.Beta Ray BillBeta Ray Bill reveals he accepted extreme genetic and cybernetic changes to become a warrior. These mods let him protect his species from invading demons. Because Bill proves his worth again, Odin tells him and Thor must fight for Mjolnir. Bill wins the fight but refuses to kill Thor or take his hammer.

Odin impressed by the odd shape, he made a new weapon, Stormbreaker. It equals Mjolnir. Odin gave it to Beta Ray Bill. Bill and Thor then went to Bill's home world. They defeated the demon menace completely. They have stayed allies since then.

DC Comics' 1993 spectacle.The Death of Superman.This story delivers what it promised. Superheroes rarely ended their lives. The storyline followsReign of the Supermen.Four replacement Supermen appear in Metropolis. Each one is stranger than the last.

Among a crowd with a cyborg and a superpowered steelworker,Kon-ElSuperboy stands out as a strange substitute for Clark Kent. Initially, they pitched Kon-El as a younger clone of the Man of Steel. Kon-El turns out to be a hybrid. It combines the DNA of Superman and Lex Luthor!

Despite his evil genetics, Superboy stays good. He carves a notable spot in DC continuity. This happens even after the real Superman returns months after his supposed death.