Judge Dredd

• From: Rebellion Developments (previously IPC Media)

Judge Dredd is likely more popular from his movies than from his time in the comic book world, yet this is where he started. If there is one character that screams the word “antihero,” it is most certainly this man. Dredd is a law enforcement and judicial official that lives and operates in the distant future within a city known as Mega-City One. The city surely fits its name, as it covers most of the eastern coastline of the United States. Known as a “street judge,” Dredd’s job is to find those who have done wrong and arrest them. Yet he is also given the freedom to not only convict, but also sentence people. More than that, if he believes a person has done something horrible or irredeemable, he can also execute the criminals as he sees fit.

Of course, this presents a huge set of problems that makes Mega-City One come across as a police state, run by authoritarian leadership. Since the Justice Department has so much power, they act as the government itself. Thus, Judges are ruling class citizens. This is also now a common system in the years following 2070. He is one of the best comic book antiheroes, but the system that gives him such power is seen as a top issue for readers. This is why Dredd has been written to not always trust other Judges from other territories, nor those inside his own. He’s also not always willing to back the Justice Department, giving him some separation from the terrible world around him.

Deadshot

• From: DC Comics

Floyd Lawton is an assassin who is hired by several criminal and sometimes government officials to take out one or more people. Yet he might also be employed to steal something off and on too. He’s considered a pretty safe bet for most to employ because, well, this man does not tend to miss his target. He earned the name of “Deadshot” as a result of this ability. While he was initially written to just be a brilliant sniper, his character was expanded more to also never really miss a shot on people from mid to close range too. Deadshot is not exactly a bad person, however. He does these jobs because the pay is terrific and he’s quite good at the work.

He cares about his family and usually is depicted to have either a wife and daughter or just a daughter that he is trying to provide for. Of course, his actions are still illegal in most places, which is why he’s had run-ins with the likes of Batman and Green Arrow over the years. That landed him in prison where he, like Harley Quinn, was added to the Suicide Squad. Due to his excellent leadership and assassination skills, he has often been used as the leader of most missions the Squad is sent on. Due to his role in the Squad, he’s often been considered a hero. Which makes him one of the best comic book antiheroes in our book.

Elektra

• From: Marvel Comics

We request that you try to not think about Elektra’s appearances in movie form. Perhaps you could think of her use in the Daredevil and Defenders show though. In those shows, like in the comics, Elektra is often portrayed as a well-trained assassin. She often wields a twin pair of sai as her primary weapons but is known to use several others. She does appear first as the primary love interest of Matt Murdock (Daredevil), but they are usually portrayed as romantic partners that simply do not work. There is an attraction due to both being gifted, well-trained fighters. Along with their shared history as kids.

However, Daredevil might be willing to beat down thugs to near death. Yet Elektra does not mind ending lives at all. Her overly violent nature makes working with her nearly impossible for Daredevil. Yet it also sometimes puts them in direct conflict with one another. Elektra is also someone who uses her gifts to take on odd mercenary jobs too. This routinely puts her in the crosshairs of many powerful people but also results in death wherever she goes. Of course, she is not a monster and does do a lot of good. How she goes about it is the problem, which is why she ranks as one of the best comic book antiheroes in comic book history.

Rorschach

• From: DC Comics

Rorschach is most known for his work within the Watchmen series. However, he became such a standout that DC Comics ended up using him in various other storylines off and on. In fact, throughout most of the Watchmen series, most feel Rorschach is the main protagonist. As he is the main driver of the plots and stories, often acting as the narrator. Within the world he was originally part of, he’s first introduced as the only masked vigilante to remain active on his own terms. Laws were passed that outlawed masked heroes from operating outside the United States Government. This leads to some conflict with the police/government for Rorschach.

What makes Rorschach one of the best comic book antiheroes is that he believes simply in moral absolutism. There is good and evil, without any shade of grey or potential issues that caused someone to do something bad. This is why he will ruthlessly punish anyone he believes is doing something bad. His name is also connected to the mask he wears, which uses constantly morphing inkblots based on the Rorschach inkblot test. The mask will morph based on his issue with “splitting” or seeing things in extremes. As the ink shows how he’s unable to see the dichotomy of both positive and negative qualities within himself or in others.

Catwoman

• From: DC Comics

Selina Kyle is a gifted cat burglar, capable of likely stealing anything from anyone. Known as Catwoman due to her impressive acrobatic skills and burglary prowess, she actually does not have superpowers. In spite of all of her impressive abilities, everything she is was taught/learned. Naturally, due to being a comic book female, she was given a “catsuit” one might wear on a heist. Except her’s is usually a tight, one-piece outfit. To protect herself, she tends to use a bullwhip that is capable of impressive extensions. Thus, she can use it to protect herself or for scaling across buildings, and much more.

Her use and design were not exactly well-liked by the Comics Code Authority. This led to her disappearing from Batman comics from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s. Of course, she did come back and was even featured on the Adam West, live-action Batman television show. Due to her infatuation with Batman and eventually Bruce Wayne, Selina decided to often work with the Dark Knight as one of his trusted allies. Eventually, they became romantic partners and have been off and on for decades now. However, she’d often still operate as a criminal who did not mind crossing lines Batman wouldn’t. Making her one of the better comic book antiheroes to us.

Ghost Rider

• From: Marvel Comics

We should first make you aware that there are quite a few Ghost Riders, with three main versions being worth mentioning. However, we’ll mostly be referring to Johnny Blaze, the original Ghost Rider. Blaze was initially a stunt motorcyclist who agreed to give his soul to Satan to save the life of his father. It is later revealed “Satan” was actually the arch-demon Mephisto. When around evil at night, Blaze’s flesh is consumed by hellfire, which causes his head to become a flaming skull. Of course, he rides a flaming motorcycle and can wild blasts of hellfire. The hellfire overall is a weapon for Ghost Rider that he can do several things with.

One thing it can do is “burn the soul.” This will not leave any physical injuries on a victim but affects them greatly. His newer Penance Stare is considered almost worst than death. Ghost Rider will lock eyes with someone and induce self-mortification. This gives that person the feelings or pain others felt for their every negative action, behavior, sensation, and sins the person was responsible for causing in their lifetime. While Blaze protects the innocent, he acts as a literal executioner for most of his opponents. This is what makes him one of the best comic book antiheroes. If one does not do wrong, they have nothing to worry about. If they do, no one from Heaven or Hell can protect you from the Ghost Rider.

Jonah Hex

• From: DC Comics

There is a lot to Jonah Hex that is, quite frankly, surprising to most. Of course, most know that Hex is a bounty hunter that is usually based somewhere in the Old West. Often, he is based around a small town but he travels all over to capture bounties. He is horribly scarred on his right side, which is usually the first thing people recall about the character. It happened several different ways, depending on the storyline or universe he’s in. The original way it occurred was from an Apache Chief giving him the “mark of the demon” for cheating in a trial by combat against an Apache warrior. Hex was taken in by the Apache as a youth, after being sold into slavery by his father. He grew attached to an Apache woman named White Fawn who he planned to marry upon returning from war.

But his Apache brother did that instead, resulting in their trial by combat. Jonah Hex might have a cynical, often destructive personality that is hard to deal with. However, he has a code to protect and avenge innocent people that he does not ever back away from. During the Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline, Hex is transported into the distant future. While it is presented as a post-apocalyptic timeline, it was still just the 21st Century. Yet that separated him roughly 200 years from his own time. This resulted in his obvious future knowledge and even made him aware of time travelers who happened to end up in his Old West time off and on. Thus, Hex is usually presented as an interesting character that can often surprise people. Especially those who do not know of his future trip.

The Hulk

• From: Marvel Comics

On the surface, many will likely disagree with this. Claiming the Incredible Hulk is not one of the best comic book antiheroes because he is not really even an antihero at all. However, those people would be VERY wrong. Bruce Banner is a brilliant scientist who is overexposed to gamma energy, giving him a Jekyll and Hyde issue, where he transforms into the Hulk. Of course, Banner often cannot help when he transforms into the big green guy. Usually, it takes getting angry to do this. This is often why those around Bruce try to keep him in a zen state.

The assumption is that Hulk is some mindless monster that is willing to hurt anyone and destroy whatever he feels like. This is not actually true, as Hulk usually always has a reason for what he does. He usually gets combative with supposed “good guys” due to them attacking him first. That is often the issue Hulk runs into. He’s an antihero because he will fight good guys, and he will also “smash” far too much. Thus causing great destruction wherever he goes. Essentially, he is not the kind of threat to the world some assume. However, he is still a monster that often struggles to know when enough is enough. Elevating his anger only makes this worse.

Lucifer Morningstar

• From: Vertigo (DC Comics)

We know, the Devil himself is somehow an antihero? Wouldn’t he be a villain entirely?!? Not exactly, as the Lucifer comic book series does not exactly follow the biblical stories of Lucifer. Rather, it mythologizes him as well as several major biblical characters like Adam and Eve, the Archangels, and God himself. We’re utilizing the “Lucifer Morningstar” name rather than simply Lucifer to distinguish the two. Initially, Morningstar rose to comic book popularity in a Vertigo comic book series from DC named “The Sandman.” Eventually, he would get his own spin-off title due to being so freaking interesting for fans. Lucifer is the ruler of Hell, a job God put him in. But he feels God sattled him with a role that did not fit him. Thus, he abandoned his role in favor of living among humans…which isn’t received very well.

The comic series centers on the issue of “free will.” Lucifer claims a person supposedly has willpower and uses himself as an example of that individualized willpower, which is in direct conflict with the Christian Church’s predestination concept. Lucifer’s words are blasphemous in Heaven’s eyes, but Lucifer retorts with the idea that rebellion, all sin, and damnation itself are then caused by the plans of their creator, God. Thus, he rejects God’s rule and moral philosophy as tyrannical and unjust. His beliefs and work among humanity often puts him in conflict with his angel brothers among other biblical and sometimes mythological characters. Lucifer does not often handle things as humans would, often ending criminal lives. Yet this man is one of the best comic book antiheroes ever created, without question.

Namor The Submariner

• From: Marvel Comics

While Aquaman might be the ruler of Atlantis in DC Comics, before he was ever created, Namor the Submariner was a big creation for Timely Comics. In fact, he happens to be the very first comic book series they created. Timely is of course the predecessor of what would be Marvel Comics. Namor obviously leads Atlantis and was technically seen as pretty cool initially. This all changed when Marvel Comics itself really kicked off. Namor was then forced to live in a world with several other newer characters. We’d later find out he is a mutant, which was not really a “thing” for Timely or Marvel early on. Namor is part human/part Atlantean yet favors his Atlantean heritage likely due to ruling this Kingdom.

He is known for his conflicts with the Wakandans, which would eventually result in battles with the Black Panther. He even once destroyed Wakanda. However, he often has an issue with any “surface-dweller,” especially those whom he feels committed any bad act against his kingdom. However, Namor has a very short fuse that results in cutting down anyone he feels deserves such actions. He has also invaded the surface to take vengeance against people that supposedly committed bad acts on the seas or his kingdom. On top of this, he has had particular issues with Reed Richards as the Submariner has a “thing” for Sue Storm, which is one-sided. Namor is a notable womanizer, which Richards despises and won’t let Storm fall victim to it. Yet Namor has also done a lot of good, making him a notable antihero.

Spawn

• From: Image Comics

Spawn is one of the few characters that has sort of been all over the place comic book-wise. He was created by former Marvel artist/writer Todd McFarlane for Image Comics. He has appeared in some DC Comics storylines over the years but tends to be separate for Image. Born Albert Francis Simmons, he eventually becomes a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marines, but eventually joins the Secret Service and CIA. He’s eventually asked to be part of a security group where he becomes an assassin for the nation. Yet Simmons is not a cold-blooded killer as he has an inner morality that tells him this team is overstepping. His commander hires Simmons’ friend and partner to kill him as a result.

Simmons is then burned to death and sent to hell, where he makes a deal with the Devil, Malebolgia. He claims he’ll become a Hellspawn as long as he is allowed to see his wife one las time. Malebolgia agrees but sends him back to the world of the living without most of his memories, along with being in a severely burned body accompanied by a bodyguard. After the resurrection, he’s now called “Spawn.” His powers are fueled by Necroplasm but once it is gone, he’ll be returned to Hell. To avoid this, Spawn uses as little power as he can as he begins to find a new purpose in life. This ends up being to stop criminals, where he often executes some of the worst offenders. All the while, trying to regain some of his memories and his overall past.

Blade

• From: Marvel Comics

Blade is quite an interesting character, as he is one of the comic book antiheroes that most kind of understand. He is actually a Dhampir, which is a union between a human and vampire. Though rare, mortal humans have mated with female vampires to produce dhampirs. There are real-world legends of dhampirs, who tend to operate as normal members of their community. They have similar vampire-like powers, allowing them to sense supernatural creatures, have super-hearing and sight, regeneration abilities, and immortality. Best of all, they can walk in the sunlight where normal Vampires cannot.

Blade can technically die, but he is immune to any vampire bites or hypnosis. He also ages very slowly and could have the body of a 30-year-old for 50 years or so potentially. Due to his abilities, Blade becomes a vampire hunter as well as a hunter of other supernatural threats. He’ll do this solo or on various teams within the Marvel Universe. Seeing as Blade’s entire job is to remove supernatural threats, he ends their lives often. A lot of those threats are part of the undead, to be fair. In spite of this, he might attack normal humans in a similar way which can be a big problem. Often putting him in the crosshairs of other superheroes.

John Constantine

• From: DC Comics

John Constantine, like others within the supernatural territory, will often face threats on that same supernatural level. Those creatures or beings must be ended, so Constantine’s actions against those types are often just. The “Hellblazer” is considered an occult detective and working-class warlock, but also often a con man. His cons do tend to be done for a purpose. For example, he frequently has run-ins with supernatural beings that he willingly claims he’ll sell his soul to for either assistance or as a wager for something. Yet he does this with several beings, so it will cause huge problems upon his death. Something John finds hilarious.

Constantine has an endlessly cynical attitude, is as smart-aleck as they come, and chain-smokes more than a 1920’s English chimney. Yet for all of his faults, he is driven by a truly heartfelt desire to do at least a little good with his life. If that means removing supernatural threats from the mortal plane, he happily does it. Of course, Constantine is known quite well among other supernatural characters in DC. Most tend to hate his guts, likely over being cheated by him or simply for his attitude overall. That includes Swamp Thing among many others. In spite of this, John is certainly one of the best comic book antiheroes ever created.

Wolverine

• From: Marvel Comics

He’s the best there is at what he does, but what he does is not very nice. Wolverine is a mutant with incredible regeneration and healing abilities, who also has bones that can pop out of his hands around the knuckles. Born James Howlett around Alberta, Canada in the late 19th Century, he is the son of John and Elizabeth Howlett. It is then revealed, however, he is the illegitimate son of their groundskeeper, Thomas Logan. The Howletts throw him off their property when his son attempts to sexually assault Liz. Thomas returns to end John, which causes James to end Thomas. He then flees, going on to grow up in a mining colony under the name “Logan.”

Eventually, Logan goes on to take part in many wars and battles, including World War II alongside Captain America. He is then kidnapped and taken into the Weapon X program which results in his entire skeleton being fused with adamantium. This is a powerful metal within the Marvel Universe. This allows his bone claws to now be fused with the same substance, making them nearly indestructible. Logan escapes then joins up with the Canadian Government’s Department H, an intelligence program. Which would one day lead to a run-in with the Incredible Hulk. After this, he is actually sent on a mission to execute Charles Xavier, which Professor X finds out about. He then removes this from his mind and convinces Logan to join the X-Men.

Deadpool

• From: Marvel Comics

The Merc with a Mouth is likely one of the most famous superheroes in the world right now. Interestingly, Deadpool was really sort of separated from other mutants in the X-Men universe initially. This is likely due to his mercenary status. Wade Wilson was part of the armed forces and acted sort of as a mercenary for hire before finding out he had severe cancer. Willing to do anything to remove it, he joins up with an organization that gives him the super-power of regenerative healing. It is actually far more advanced than the healing factor other characters like Wolverine are known to have. Wade can have his entire head sliced off and it’ll either grow back or can be reattached. In fact, Wade only needs a microscopic portion of himself to be present in order to regenerate entirely.

Yet the cancer cells are equally unable to die, meaning he keeps his cancer but it simply cannot kill him. Thus, they take over his body to disfigure him. They’ll always regenerate with everything else. Cancer in his brain actually causes him to be slightly crazy, which is why he’ll often talk to himself or to others that are not there. That allows him to “break the 4th wall” for readers, as we are essentially one of the things not “truly there.” Naturally, Deadpool is one of the best comic book antiheroes, because he is certainly fine ending lives. He’ll even torture people to get information and do whatever he must to achieve his goal or finish his mission. Yet he does not just end people to end them, no matter how nuts he is. He usually has a purpose for it that most can understand.

Venom

• From: Marvel Comics

Technically, we should reference the “Venom Symbiote” here. However, it is also worth mentioning that it is from a race of symbiotes that seek to find hosts that they can perfectly bond with. While a symbiote can bond with anyone, it can only be for a limited time unless that bond is perfect for the symbiote itself. Venom essentially first bonds with Peter Parker, and due to being a super-powered individual, the bond works. Peter eventually removes the symbiote only for it to attach to Eddie Brock. Of course, Venom might be a symbiote with its own beliefs but it also bonds with a person’s mind just as much as their body.

Thus, it will help its host accomplish their deepest desires or act on random emotions their host has. Since it cannot understand anything about emotion, that can lead its host into conflict. Eddie manages to get Venom under control, allowing Venom to become a hero. But he is not always able to do this. The same happens with Flash Thompson, who bonds perfectly with Venom. He adopts the “Agent Venom” name to become mostly a hero, but this symbiote is not capable of being controlled entirely. It is also quite dangerous when in use by evil people. All of that leads to Venom’s antihero status. As it is truly important to know who its host is.

Deathstroke

• From: DC Comics

Deadpool’s invention was actually done in response to Deathstroke, as it was a deliberate copy. Deadpool only developed a proper character after that. Deathstroke was, at the time, a major villain that was the main antagonist for the Teen Titans. He’d also go on to have conflicts with other DC Superheroes, including Batman and many more. Slade Wilson is simply a mercenary for hire, which happened after he spent time in the U.S. Armed Forces. He is eventually chosen for a secret experiment by the Army, who gave him a drug that allowed him to use far more of his brain but also enhanced his physical kills, giving him near master control of his body too. That also included an accelerated healing factor with heightened senses.

Though he has had repeated conflicts with superheroes, most would claim that Deathstroke merely did his job usually. He has been written to be more villainous for a lot of TV shows, but in the comics, he is often sort of in the middle. Slade has always chosen humanity when it came to aliens or supernatural beings trying to conquer the Earth. He even ended the life of his son Jericho, who was taken over by the Souls of Azarath. Resulting in him losing control. Not to mention, most of the time Deathstroke has been capable of ending the lives of some heroes both young and old. Yet unless he is contracted to end them, he tends to avoid more bloodshed than what is required. He might not be a hero or villain but tends to make him one of the best comic book antiheroes ever to us.

The Punisher

• From: Marvel Comics

Frank Castle, like Deathstroke, served in the Armed Forces where he was able to do some very impressive things. He was a skilled marksman and leader, often known for his incredible sniping skills. He is also a skilled hand-to-hand fighter too, which means gun or not, Castle will take you down. When he returned home, his wife and two children are killed by the mob for witnessing another killing in Central Park. Frank then decides to go on a one-man war on New York’s criminal empire, dropping bodies left and right. The first on the list are those who ended the lives of his family. He eventually works with The Hand as well, in an attempt to resurrect his family. Although, this does not exactly go as he planned.

Castle’s beliefs are simple, if you did something horrible then your life must be ended. If you’re around those who did wrong and get hit in the crossfire, so be it. This is the issue with Frank. He often has trouble controlling his rage and realizing people have some redeeming qualities or goodness. Along with the fact that innocent people could be affected by his actions just as much as the guilty. Due to his war on crime, meant to punish those who did wrong, he takes on the name of “The Punisher.” Which strikes fear into the hearts of all who hear it. Castle is one of the best comic book antiheroes because, in spite of being willing to go to extremes to take people out, his war is often against very bad people.

Sources:

Marvel Comics

DC Comics

Image Comics

Rebellion Developments