Anti-heroes will stop at nothing to see justice done, even if that means killing their foes. While there have always been heroes who killed in comics, even going back to the Golden Age, they were never as prevalent as they have been in the last forty years.
These characters have been riding a wave of violence from the darker pop culture of the late '70s to the present day. Marvel, with its mature characters and real-world concepts, boasts various anti-heroes. Some of them are among the publisher's most popular anti-hero characters.
Update on October 30th, 2023 by David Harth: Marvel made the anti-hero in comics what they are today, taking harder edged heroes who followed their own rules and making them into stars. Over the years, many heroes have become anti-heroes, leaving behind the morality of the past in order to do what they perceive as the right thing. They'll go to any lengths to ensure their version of justice is achieved.
30 Professor X Believes He's A Hero But He's Definitely An Anti-Hero
Professor X has changed a lot over the years, becoming more and more like an anti-hero. While Xavier is not a violent man, it's impossible to argue that he's still the kind-hearted mentor figure he started out as. Professor X possesses many secrets, and many of those secrets revolve around him committing rather terrible crimes, all in the name of mutant survival.
If an anti-hero is someone who believes the ends justify the means, then Charles Xavier is definitely an anti-hero. Professor X will do anything to make sure mutants survive, and he's gone pretty far down that road on numerous occasions. He may act like he's a moral person, but Xavier left that behind a long time ago.
29 Loki Has Grown Into An Anti-Hero
Loki may be a liar, but they're no longer a villain. The success of the MCU's Loki, who became less and less villainous as time went on, spurred Marvel to take the God of Mischief on another path. Slowly but surely, Loki left behind their villainous ways, even giving up their role as the God of Mischief and becoming the God of Stories. Loki always has a motive, but they're mostly doing good now.
The only thing that hasn't really changed about Loki is their methods. Loki will still use their magic, Frost Troll strength, and years of fighting experience to destroy their enemies. However, they're doing it to help Thor and the Ten Realms for the first time in ages. While it remains to be seen if Loki remains altruistic, it has been quite an exciting change for them.
28 Mystique Has Long Walked The Line Between The Hero And Villain
Mystique is an interesting example of an anti-hero. For years, she was called a villain, yet she was basically doing the same thing as the X-Men were doing, especially more violent members of the team like Wolverine. Mystique was always fighting for mutant rights, but she was vilified because she took the fight directly to the people who were victimizing mutants: humanity. However, even that was mostly in her early days as a villain.
Eventually, Mystique went back and forth between being a member of the X-Men, an associate of the X-Men, or fighting against the team specifically.
In the Krakoa Era, Mystique was manipulated by the Magneto/Xavier regime until she took matters into her own hands and resurrected her wife Destiny. The two of them formed a power block on the Quiet Council and always fought for the good of Krakoa. Mystique hasn't always been a good person, but her battle has often been waged against worst people than her.
27 Beast Has Crept Over To The Anti-Hero Side
Beast has become a monster, but it's hard to blame him. The formerly happy-go-lucky bouncing hero spent much of the '90s failing to cure the Legacy Virus. Then he had to go through a traumatic secondary mutation that made his longtime girlfriend Trish Tilby leave him. Beast was beaten into a coma by a mind-controlled favorite student, discovered the extinction sequence in humanity, watched Jean Grey die again, lived through the Decimation, and couldn't restore mutantkind with his science. Things only got worse after he watched Cyclops slip into dark territory before becoming Dark Phoenix and killing their mentor.
Beast later jeopardized time and space to fix Cyclops by bringing the teenage original five X-Men to the present. He also joined the Illuminati and did terrible things to save the Earth, only to watch his people almost become extinct again because of the Terrigen mists. That's a lot to go through, and it broke him. By the time Beast became head of X-Force on Krakoa, a team whose existence he had railed against in earlier years, he had decided he would commit any atrocity to save his people. Beast did terrible things as head of X-Force, but he did them to save mutantkind.
26 Superior Spider-Man Revealed What A Villain Could Do As A Hero
Otto Octavious taking over Spider-Man's body led to something unique. Instead of running wild in the Wall-Crawler's young, powerful body, Doctor Octopus was swayed by Peter Parker's memories to become the Superior Spider-Man. Trying to be a hero, Octavious did whatever needed to be done in order to make New York City safer. This caused Superior Spider-Man to commit some actions that were firmly in the anti-hero camp.
While Doctor Octopus didn't go around killing people as Spider-Man, he did things that Peter never would have done, like lying and manipulating others to achieve his goals. Superior Spider-Man didn't follow the rules of conventional superheroes. The irony is that he was wildly successful as Spider-Man, even though his methods weren't the nicest.
25 Solo Is A Well-Trained Mercenary And Bodyguard Who Specializes In Counter-Terrorism
James Bourne was a soldier who lost the love of his life in a terrorist attack. He joined a special counter-terrorism unit where he honed his training and received cybernetic implants that allowed him to teleport at will. After his unit was betrayed, Bourne struck out on his own. He developed his Solo identity and began a one-man war against terrorists.
As one of Marvel's best hand-to-hand fighters, Solo used brutal methods along with his combat skills. He proved he was more than capable of killing his enemies, which put Solo at odds with other Marvel heroes. He was known for his equally violent catchphrase: "While Solo lives, terror dies!"
24 Magneto Fought As Both A Hero And A Villain In Defense Of The Mutant Race
When Magneto first appeared, he was one of the X-Men's most ruthless villains. His upbringing during WWII's Holocaust gave him a tragic past that fueled his determination to protect his fellow mutants from the same atrocity. While he spent years fighting for mutant superiority, he occasionally tried to follow Xavier's dream of human and mutant harmony.
This recently led Magneto to explore more heroic endeavors, becoming one of the leaders of the new mutant nation on Krakoa. However, while Magneto tried working alongside mutantkind to launch a new dream, he still wasn't afraid to break the rules in order to protect his people.
23 Ares Is The Olympian God Of War Who Has Worked Both With And Against The Avengers
Fans have met a few different gods in the Marvel universe over the years, from Asgardian heroes like Thor to Olympian Avengers like Hercules. Another god who briefly worked with the Avengers was the Olympian Ares, God of War. Ares had abandoned his warmongering ways in order to lead a normal life, but he was soon pulled into battle by the Avengers.
Ares joined the Avengers, although his battle lust often overtook him. He later joined the Dark Avengers, who promised to supply him with even more violent battles. Ares' heroic side was brought out when he realized Norman Osborn was just using him, which led to his death at the hands of the Sentry. Since then, he's been resurrected and battled the Punisher, among other enemies.
22 Deathlok Is A Resurrected Cyborg From The Future Who Isn't Afraid To Get His Hands Dirty
There have been a few different characters who used the name Deathlok over the years, but they all shared a common origin. The first was a deceased soldier named Luther Manning from the future, who was transformed into a powerful cyborg and sent back in time.
As Deathlok, he used violent methods when necessary to protect the innocent, which even led to a few international incidents over the years. The other characters who became Deathlok struggled with both their programing and the alterations to their body, which sometimes made them a deadly enemy instead of an anti-hero.
21 Gambit Was A Member Of The Thieves Guild Who Worked With Mister Sinister Before Joining The X-Men
Known as Gambit, Remy LeBeau became a popular member of the X-Men. However, Gambit had a shady past that sometimes painted him as a villain. LeBeau was born into the New Orleans Thieves Guild, where he trained to become one of the world's greatest thieves.
Gambit also took on odd jobs as a mutant mercenary for a time, which brought him in league with Mr. Sinister. He was forced to help the Marauders during their massacre of the Morlocks — which he kept secret when he later joined the X-Men. Gambit knew he sometimes had to break rules to help his teammates, and he wasn't afraid to cross lines when needed.
20 Moon Knight Is A Street-Level Anti-Hero With Mental Issues And A Dark Connection To A God Of Vengeance
Marc Spector was a mercenary who was killed in action while protecting the ancient ruins of a temple devoted to the Moon-God Khonshu. Shortly after, Khonshu brought Marc back to life in order to serve as his avatar on Earth. Marc Spector became the costumed vigilante Moon Knight, and he used the alters created by his Dissociative Identity Disorder to help him fight crime.
Moon Knight has a unique reputation in the superhero community. He is respected for his contribution to protecting New York and the resources he's shared with other heroes like Daredevil over the years. However, his connection to Khonshu has led to increased brutality, causing his peers and authorities to frown upon some of his actions.
19 Blade Is Marvel's Vampire Hunter Who Is Willing To Do Things That Other Heroes Won't
The superheroes of the Marvel universe usually have their hands full handling world-ending events that sometimes overshadow the hidden threats. Thankfully, Blade the Vampire Hunter keeps his eyes on the alleyways to keep the threat of the undead off the streets. Blade is a human/vampire hybrid who can control his thirst for blood and walk in daylight.
Bladed's mission ends in violence, since he generally stakes or slices through every vampire he encounters. Blade usually maintains the same level of violence when dealing with any supervillain or criminal threat he may come across. He's toned it down when working alongside the Avengers, but quickly resorts to his anti-hero status when dealing with vampires.
18 Kaine Parker Never Wanted To Be A Hero When He First Donned His Scarlet Spider Suit
The Jackal created a few clones of Peter Parker/Spider-Man over the years. However, the original clone took the name Kaine and made his debut as a villain after his cloned body began to deteriorate. However, he was eventually cured and given a second chance by Spider-Man.
Kaine adopted a new costume and followed in the footsteps of his clone brother Ben Reilly as the new Scarlet Spider. However, he never wanted to be a hero and actively avoided it. When he was forced into battle, Kaine's methods against criminals were often brutal and final. He lobotomized Cletus Kasady with his stingers, ending the threat of Carnage.
17 Paladin Is A Mercenary Who Will Turn On His Fellow Heroes If He's Been Paid Enough
The mysterious mercenary named Paladin isn't someone who's often called a hero, but he isn't treated as a villain by most of the superhuman community either. He's a reliable mercenary who can be counted on to follow his wallet. Paladin has worked alongside several other anti-heroes over the years and joined teams like the Heroes for hire.
While he has his own morals that govern his various missions, Paladin has also betrayed his closest allies. Paladin has been criticized by heroes like Spider-Man and Daredevil for his violent methods and untrustworthy behavior.
16 War Machine Was Given A Powerful Weaponized Suit Of Armor To Tackle Crime in His Own Way
Tony Stark's closest friend and former pilot Col. James Rhodes was one of the few people who have stood in for Stark, the armored Avenger Iron Man. Stark eventually gave Rhodes a new advanced suit of armor known as the Variable Threat Response UnitBattle Suit, Rhodey gave it a more fitting name: War Machine.
The powerful armor was heavily weaponized, and Rhodey used it to involve himself in what he felt were unjust wars. War Machine was a soldier who wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty if the cause was worth it. Over the years, he became involved in a few tense situations that nearly caused international incidents.
15 Silver Sable Is A Trained Nazi Hunter Who Formed The Mercenary Team Known As The Wild Pack
After witnessing the murder of her mother, young Silvija Sablinova’s hair turned white, and she vowed revenge. Growing up, Sablinova became Silver Sable, a highly trained mercenary trained by her nazi-hunting father, Ernst Sablinova.
Silver Sable used her mercenary team, the Wild Pack, to get heroes (like Spider-Man) and reformed villains (like Sandman) paid for their good work. However, she is still a killer and isn’t exactly a villain or a hero — making her a notable anti-hero in the Marvel universe.
14 Cloak & Dagger Walked A Dangerous Path Of Revenge After They Were First Transformed
Originally appearing in Peter Parker, Spectacular Spider-Man, Cloak and Dagger were teenage runaways, Ty and Tandy, who were experimented on with synthetic heroin, After the drug gave them superpowers, the two become murderous vigilantes who sought revenge on the man who drugged them, Simon Marshall, as well as the drug dealers under his control.
The duo also killed the Cyborg Silvermane. However, their vengeful tendencies haven’t kept them from teaming up with superheroes like Spider-Man or Captain America against a greater threat when needed.
13 Elektra Is A Highly Trained Ninja Assassin Who Took Over As Daredevil
Elektra was a born anti-hero. A ninja assassin with ties to Matt Murdock, Elektra fought against Daredevil before dying at the hands of Bullseye. After her resurrection, Elektra would go to war with the evil ninja clan, the Hand, and use her deadly skills to fight evil. She sometimes worked with S.H.I.E.L.D. but usually worked on her own.
Elektra has long been playing the role of an anti-hero. She does good, but she doesn't let the consequences of her actions stop her. Elektra will stick a sai through a bad guy's brain if she thinks that's what it takes. Her recent takeover of the Daredevil identity forced her to follow Matt Murdock's rules, but the anti-hero still exists within her.
12 Ghost Rider Is A Spirit Of Vengeance Who Isn't Afraid To Send Criminals Back To Hell
There have been multiple Ghost Riders over the years, and they all have a few things in common: Flaming skull heads, leather and chains, a cool vehicle of some kind, and a heaping helping of the good old ultra-violence — especially the Johnny Blaze and Danny Ketch iterations of the character.
As the Spirit of Vengeance, Ghost Rider's whole deal is enacting penance from those who have transgressed against the innocent. This is usually done with a heaping helping of violence. Ghost Rider has never minded that sort of thing at all, doing his part in the war against evil with extreme prejudice.
11 Felicia Hardy Was A Thief Known As Black Cat Before She Started Fighting Crime Alongside Spider-Man
Felicia Hardy’s father was a cat burglar and the beautiful acrobat decided to follow in his footsteps, adopting the moniker Black Cat. At first an enemy and adversary of Spider-Man, she eventually fell in love with the Wall-Crawler and became his crime-fighting partner.
However, Felicia couldn’t help but cause trouble. At one point, she got “bad luck” powers from Kingpin and even betrayed Spider-Man. While she’s not as evil as Spider-Man’s other rogues, Black Cat is still a hard one to trust. She has occasionally switched back to the role of villain over the years, but she almost always returns to her own brand of heroism.