For decades, Marvel Comics has captivated readers with tales of extraordinary heroes saving the day. From the thunderous might of Thor to the unwavering resolve of Captain America, these characters inspired millions of fans around the world.
But what if things went differently? What if the very powers that granted these heroes their abilities turned into horrifying curses? This bleak reality is explored in Marvel Ruins, a two-issue miniseries, penned by Warren Ellis with haunting artwork by Terese Nielsen.
Published in 1995, it is a spooky spin on the classic Marvel Comics tales. Instead of our favorite heroes saving the day, they’re trapped in a twisted world where their powers become their worst nightmares.
Marvel’s Dark Timeline Makes Avengers: Endgame Blip Seem Nothing
In the comic Marvel Ruins, the Earth’s mightiest heroes are not the ones we know. In the story, a rebellious group (led by Iron Man) tries to overthrow President X’s oppressive government. He recruits other heroes like Doctor Strange, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye, and Wanda Maximoff.
But things turn bad quickly. Hawkeye gets caught and killed by the National Guard. President X starts hunting down mutants, locking them up and hurting them.
Scared of the same fate, Scarlet Witch snitches on her team to the president. For her safety, she betrays them and reveals their location to the government.
After the remaining Avengers hop into their Quinjet to prepare for another assault, President X launches a missile attack, which destroys the Quinjet. It tragically takes the lives of Captain America, Ant-Man, the Wasp, and even Iron Man himself.
Heroes and Mutants Suffer in Marvel’s Grim Timeline
Nick Fury, the former director of S.H.I.E.L.D, becomes a war-weary cannibal who ultimately takes his own life. Even Thor, the powerful God of Thunder, loses his mind and starts leading a strange group that adores his ability to cause destruction.
Bruce (The Hulk) becomes a grotesque mass of tumors due to exposure to gamma radiation. And poor Peter Parker is plagued by a deadly rash that cripples him. This horrific fate isn’t limited to heroes. Even famous mutants suffer horribly.
In the Marvel Universe, mutants are a group of individuals born with extraordinary powers due to genetic mutations. However, in Ruins, things take a dark turn, and they suffer from terrible fates.
Take Wolverine, for example. Normally, he’s known for his unbreakable adamantium skeleton, which makes him nearly invincible. But in the 1995 comics, this gift becomes a curse. His skin (coated in adamantium) starts peeling away, causing him excruciating pain.
Things get particularly grim for Professor X and the X-Men, too, who once fought for equality and peace for mutants. Instead of being celebrated, they’re locked up by a scared government. Their hope for a world where mutants and humans can live together peacefully is shattered.
Even Jean Grey, with no other options, is forced into pr*stitution just to make ends meet. It’s a heartbreaking fall from her former life as a respected superhero. This sad fate for the heroes shows a world without hope, where even the strongest beings can’t fight back against the tide of misfortune.
