Big Status Quo Changes in DC and Marvel Comics History That Actually Stuck

In simpler terms, superhero comics from publishers like DC and Marvel often present stories in a pattern known as the “Illusion of Change.” This term refers to the fact that these epic dramas frequently introduce unexpected twists to keep readers engaged, only to quickly undo them. For instance, alterations in powers, love interests, or even the deaths of prominent characters are common, but these dramatic shifts usually revert back to the original state. A recent example is when Spider-Man, who had been struggling financially, suddenly became the CEO of Parker Industries, but soon lost everything and returned to being Peter Parker. Rarely, however, do superhero comics make significant changes that last. On occasion, these alterations even erase decades-long storylines established in comic books. Here are a few instances where such big changes have persisted.

Superman Reveals His Secret Identity to Lois Lane

For more than half a century, the secret of Clark Kent’s identity being Superman has been deeply rooted in DC lore. Numerous comic book tales from DC revolved around Lois Lane uncovering this major secret, only to be convinced otherwise by the story’s conclusion. In the Christopher Reeve movies, even the “Lois discovers Clark is Superman” theme was explored, albeit temporarily undone in Superman II. The writers at DC consistently structured their stories to make Lois appear foolish and by the end of each tale, Superman would wink knowingly at the reader, seeming rather smug.

In 1991, in Action Comics issue #662 penned by Roger Stern and Bob McLeod, DC Comics made a significant move. They finally disclosed the secret that Clark had been keeping from Lois Lane. Not only did this revelation not cause any major issues, but they ended up getting married a few years later, forming one of comics’ most iconic couples. An entire generation has grown up with a Superman who is married to Lois Lane. For many decades, it was believed that Superman could never tell Lois the truth, and it seemed like this would always be the case. However, things took an unexpected turn in 1991.

Spider-Man Finally Joins the Avengers

Spider-Man is Marvel Comics’ beloved emblem and their most cherished character, but Marvel has consistently kept him apart from the Avengers, their elite squad of superheroes. Marvel stated that Spider-Man was simply not inclined towards joining groups. Nevertheless, Peter Parker often considered joining the team, and every now and then, a storyline would unfold where Spidey would attempt to join, ultimately realizing he wasn’t cut out for teamwork. This pattern repeated over time. In the 90s, Captain America even dismissed him after a short-lived tenure, claiming his abilities weren’t suitable for battling cosmic threats. (However, Hawkeye and Black Widow’s skills? I’m not buying that from Cap.)

Back in 2005, I found myself immersed in the thrilling saga of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as they embarked on a new adventure under the banner of New Avengers. This exhilarating series was masterfully crafted by Brian Michael Bendis and David Finch. What made this journey even more exciting was the addition of none other than Wolverine to the team, and to my utter delight, Spider-Man too! Yes, you heard it right; Spidey donned the Avengers uniform for real, and he stayed with them during most of the Bendis New Avengers era and later in Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers series. As a dedicated Marvel Comics fan, I must admit that the idea of Spider-Man being an Avenger seemed like a dream come true, although it was only a recent decision by Marvel Comics to make this a reality.

Robin Grows Up and Becomes the Adult Hero Nightwing

In the second year of Batman’s thrilling escapades, Robin made his debut as “The remarkable character discovery of 1940.” Dick Grayson, a former acrobat from a circus, became the first notable young sidekick, paving the way for a unique kind of comic book superhero. He swiftly turned iconic and spent most of the next 44 years as a child. Although DC eventually allowed him to mature into a teenager and even attend college, they never permitted him to grow beyond being referred to as “Boy Wonder” or “Teen Wonder.” This suggests that DC always wanted Robin to remain in a state of perpetual adolescence, fighting crime while wearing green shorts with a distinctive booty cut.

Robin’s perpetual youthful status remained constant until 1984. In this year, the character’s rise to fame as the Teen Titans leader enabled Dick Grayson to finally transition into an adult hero, becoming Nightwing. Under the guidance of “New Teen Titans” writer Marv Wolfman, Grayson was developed into a mature hero and detective, allowing the Robin role to be passed on to others. Today, Nightwing is one of DC’s most beloved heroes, making it hard to believe that he was kept as a child for so long in the past. For many years, adulthood seemed like an unattainable goal for him.

Bucky Comes Back from the Grave as the Winter Soldier

In essence, we’re steering clear from any instances of revival in this rundown. Deaths in comics rarely stay permanent for long, even those considered sacred, such as Jason Todd, Supergirl, and Barry Allen Flash. However, one death that was genuinely untouchable was Bucky, Captain America’s sidekick. When Marvel reintroduced Captain America in 1964’s Avengers #4, it was disclosed that during Steve Rogers’ freeze in 1945, his young companion perished in battle. Bucky’s death significantly deepened Cap’s storyline, and there seemed to be no compelling justification for ever reversing it. Why bother?

Introducing creators Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting, who, starting in 2004, unveiled an intriguing twist on Captain America. Initially, it was believed that Bucky had perished, but their work disclosed a shocking truth: nefarious elements transformed him into the Winter Soldier, a brainwashed assassin. At first, readers were skeptical about Bucky’s resurrection, but the Winter Soldier narrative evolved into an unforgettable tale that even served as the foundation for the second Captain America film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Today, Sebastian Stan’s portrayal of Bucky is widely recognized, but the concept of reviving Bucky from his supposed death was once seen as taboo in comic book circles.

Wonder Woman Gets a Power Upgrade, Ditches the Secret Identity

Back in 1941, when William Moulton Marston unveiled Wonder Woman, she quickly became a beacon of feminism. Just like Superman and Batman, many of her iconic elements were already established from the start. She was a mighty Amazonian princess donning a tiara and bracelets that could deflect bullets. With a magic lasso in hand, she navigated an invisible plane and possessed the strength of numerous men. Unlike Superman soaring through the skies, Wonder Woman gracefully glided on air currents towards earth. Yet, similar to Superman, she hid her true identity behind a pair of spectacles as the timid army secretary, Diana Prince.

For nearly 45 years, Wonder Woman’s circumstances largely stayed the same. However, after the Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1986, DC Comics gave her a significant transformation under the guidance of creator George Perez. This new Wonder Woman could finally fly and possessed super strength comparable to Superman’s. She also chose to abandon the secret identity that had been integral to her character in both comics and television. From then on, Princess Diana of Themyscira in the comics no longer looked back. Although elements like her invisible plane resurfaced later, they were now just a playful reference to the past rather than essential components. This updated Wonder Woman truly embodied her title.

Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver Lose their Mutant Status*

This status quo change is marked with an asterisk*, as we’re not entirely sure if it won’t be altered again. Wanda Maximoff, known as the Scarlet Witch, and her brother Pietro, also called Quicksilver, are among the earliest mutants in the Marvel universe. Initially part of Magneto’s Brotherhood, they later joined the Avengers and became heroes. In the 80s, it was discovered that Magneto was their biological father, a fact that had gone unchallenged for over five decades. However, in 2014, Marvel disclosed that the Maximoff twins’ powers weren’t caused by the X-gene. Instead, it was revealed that a villain named High Evolutionary had altered their DNA as infants, granting them powers and creating the illusion of an X-gene to hide his manipulation.

In the same narrative, Marvel disclosed that Magneto was not actually his biological father. This plot twist was motivated by practical reasons. At the time, Fox owned the live-action film rights, preventing any reference to their mutant heritage in films like “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” Consequently, Marvel altered their comic book history for the sake of continuity. Even after Disney acquired both Fox and Marvel, this alteration has persisted for over a decade. However, there’s speculation that this change could be reversed. Recently, Marvel hinted that Wanda and Pietro’s biological mother was the original Scarlet Witch, Natalya Maximoff. Their father remains unidentified. It wouldn’t be surprising if it were revealed that this unknown father is indeed Magneto, restoring the previous status quo to some extent.

2025-01-10 03:32