Controversial comic book stories are nothing new when it comes to the comics industry. Controversy sells. However, some controversies only create a lot of bad press and angry comic book fans. At that point, the controversy is sometimes not worth the press it generates, but it is too late. It can then take years to undo the damage. Sometimes publishers have to do retcons, or undo and pretend the controversial story never even happened.
Sometimes, the controversy has no effect on sales at all. Here are 10 comic book controversies you may not remember.
Controversial Comic Book Stories
Have you ever read the story where Captain America became a Hydra agent, or Marvel’s version of a Nazi? Do you know about the Rudolph the Reindeer ripoff comic about a homicidal reindeer? How about the comic book where the Punisher became a black man for several issues in a purposefully forgotten storyline?
There are some controversial comic book stories that Marvel, DC, and independent publishers want you to pretend never took place. Here are ten such stories.
1. Chainsaw Reindeer
Action Lab Comics is an independent comic book publisher. They usually publish content for all ages. The company also publishes content with mature themes, and one of the most controversial comic book stories they released was 2019’s Chainsaw Reindeer. Santa Claus is evil and enjoys verbally and physically abusing his reindeer.
One of his reindeer snaps and murders Santa with a chainsaw. The reindeer then goes on a global killing spree and murders half the planet with his chainsaw. This is a gory comic book that was designed to offend and insult. So, if you cherish Christmas themes or the concept of world peace, this is not the comic for you.
Buy the 26-page comic for $1.99 on Kindle now. Or you can buy the first issue for $16.99 on Amazon.
2. Batman: Damned
Batman Damned is one of the most controversial comic book stories of 2019. The comic made headlines for only one panel scene; many don’t even know what the comic is about. The story is a mature take on Batman; Batman has amnesia after the Joker’s death and must investigate an occult conspiracy in the aftermath.
One panel of the comic shows Batman’s manhood and implies Bruce Wayne is always naked in his batsuit. That panel made headlines and was a pop culture comedy reference for a while. DC Comics altered the scene in later editions of the comic.
The 176-page hardcover collects all three issues of the series. Buy it for $17 at Amazon now.
3. Spider-Man: Reign
This is one of the most controversial comic book stories ever because it deconstructs the Spider-Man fans always knew. The story takes place in an alternate universe where Peter Parker is an old man, a florist, and New York City is now a police state. Mary Jane is dead; in fact, Peter still obsesses about her and hallucinates about her regularly.
Old Man Peter has to get it together to fight the corrupt state government and supervillains of this darker New York City. Critics call it the Dark Knight Returns version of Spider-Man, and not in a good way. There is a scene where Spider-Man’s enemies lock him in a coffin with MJ’s body.
Worse, readers find out that the spider bite that gave Peter his powers made his bodily fluids radioactive. Mary Jane dies from radiation poisoning slowly because of the unprotected intercourse she had with Peter.
This 160-page paperback collects all four issues of the 2006 series. Buy it now for $15 at Amazon.
4. What If Miles Morales #4
This comic book created a cultural and political firestorm online in 2022. The story imagines Miles Morales as Thor. The story, written by a non-Black person, is full of blatant and insulting racial stereotypes. Thor wears basketball sneakers and has a fresh haircut.
The Frost Giants have dreadlocks and gold chains. Mjolnir and the Rainbow Bridge have graffiti on them. Asgard resembles a disadvantaged “‘Hood” of New York City, one sees in crime dramas. The comic was criticized as being written by someone who knew nothing of Black culture and learned their concept of it solely from outlandish rap videos.
You can read this story for free or buy it on Kindle for $1.99.
5. Batman: A Death in the Family
This comic was probably one of the most controversial comic book stories of 1988. Jason Todd, the newest Batman sidekick, is kidnapped by the Joker. The Joker mercilessly beats him with a crowbar. DC Comics set up a hotline where comic book fans could vote to save the life of Jason Todd, but more fans chose his death.
This 272-page paperback collects the entire storyline. Get it for $15 at Amazon.
6. Holy Terror
Legendary creator Frank Miller set out to create a Batman story where the Dark Knight fought Islamic terrorists. DC Comics would not publish it, so Miller made new characters, and Legendary Comics put out Holy Terror.
It is about The Fixer, a hero fighting Islamic terrorists in his city. Critics said the comic was Islamophobic, made every Islamic person look like the “other,” a constant threat to liberty, and ready to stone or behead innocent people.
Buy the 120-page hardcover on Amazon for $38.
7. Secret Empire
This was one of the most controversial comic book stories of 2017. Steve Rogers lost the super soldier serum in his body and became an Old Man. After encountering a cosmic entity, Steve becomes young again. However, his history was different. Steve was now a Hydra agent and was always a Hydra agent. Hydra is Marvel’s version of a Nazi.
Cap becomes an authoritarian and changes the world. Fans and critics didn’t like it. They especially felt it was an insult to Captain America’s creators, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, two Jewish men. Marvel later brought back the real Steve Rogers and now pretends this story never took place.
This 480-page paperback collects the entire storyline. You can get it for $32 at Amazon.
8. Black Punisher
“Final Days” was a 1991 Punisher storyline that ran from issues #53 through #59. The Punisher is set up by the Kingpin, and Frank’s face is mutilated. Frank then has to go on the run. A plastic surgeon helps Frank, but his skin color changes, and now Frank resembles a black man.
This story is purposely forgotten by Marvel and fans. Mike Baron, who wrote the Punisher for years before this story, left the series shortly after. The issue where the Punisher changes to his normal skin tone had the title, “Fade to White.”
The trade paperback that collects this story is often out of stock on Amazon and is hard to find. Marvel wants everyone to pretend this story did not happen in the first place.
9. Heroes in Crisis
Heroes in Crisis is a 2018 DC Comics miniseries. It is about The Sanctuary, a rehabilitation center where metahumans can go to deal with their mental health issues. One of the superheroes kills several of the heroes at the Sanctuary. It turns out it was Wally West, the Flash, who accidentally commits the murders while in the throes of delusion due to his mental trauma; his family vanishes from reality after a recent event.
Critics found the story’s pacing laborious. Fans did not like the character assassination of Wally West. This 248-page paperback collects all nine issues of the miniseries. Get it for $13 at Amazon now.
10. Spider-Man Sins Past
This story is one of the most controversial comic book stories in Spider-Man lore. In The Amazing Spider-Man #121 from 1973, the Green Goblin kills Gwen Stacy. Gwen was the love of Peter Parker’s life. Some comics experts believe that the Bronze Age of comics began with this story. In 2004, the Sins Past storyline made alterations to this classic story.
Now, Norman Osborn and Gwen Stacy had a secret affair before the events of the 1973 story. Additionally, Gwen had secret twins before her death who grew up to become assassins. The story is now purposefully forgotten by fans.
You can buy the 144-page hardcover for $32 at Amazon.
Controversial Comic Book Stories – Are They Ever Worth It
Selling controversy is an old tactic in comic books. There is nothing new about it. However, fans can tell when publishers are selling controversy for its own sake instead of telling a compelling story. If you like crass, stunt storytelling, then some of the stories on this list might interest you. However, in this economy and ever-rising price of comics, I think it makes more sense to buy comic books that interest you and tell a good story.
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