Top 10 Dumbest Decisions In Marvel
For this list, we're looking at the stupidest decisions made by Marvel's legendary heroes. Only comics will be considered, so Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man can rest easy. Please note, a spoiler warning is now in effect.
#10: X-23 Forgoes Her Training To Fight a Sentinel
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On the surface, Laura Kinney seems like a female version of Wolverine, but the artificially generated mutant is a highly gifted tactician with a background in covert ops. Prior to any conflict, X-23 examines all the variables to determine the most effective method to eliminate an enemy. The only reason Laura would forgo a lifetime’s worth of conditioning is if a comic like “Avengers Arena” really needs the superhero to lose. Up against a Sentinel and Death Locket controlled by Apex, Laura determines a nonstrategic full frontal assault to be the wisest tactic. Such wild displays of hotheadedness are typically reserved for Logan.
#9: The Avengers Hire Teen Tony to Fight Rogue Tony
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When it comes to objectionable storylines, Marvel's "The Crossing" stands out as an especially baffling example. Tony Stark is outed for being Kang's double agent and, also, a murderer. Understandably shocked and angered by the hero's betrayal, the Avengers conjure up a logical and foolproof plan guaranteed to stop Stark. The superheroes travel back in time to bring back an adolescent version of Tony capable of countering the corrupted version. Unfortunately, Teen Tony proves to be a poor substitute for the real model and nearly dies at the hands of the older Iron Man. More importantly, Teen Tony is really obnoxious and annoying.
#8: Iron Man & Mr. Fantastic Create a Thor Clone
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So many "hero versus hero" events could have been avoided if the two sides simply sat down to have a proper discussion. Instead, "Civil War" has Tony Stark and Reed Richards use strands of the missing-in-action Thor's hair to create a clone to fight Captain America's anti-registration team. Surprising absolutely nobody, the Asgardian's clone proves to be unstable, partakes in a bit of murder, and eventually becomes a super-villain named Ragnarök. To make matters infinitely worse, the Hank Pym who helped create Ragnarök was ultimately revealed to be an impostor who installed a fail-safe to ensure nobody else could deactivate the cyborg.
#7: Captain Marvel Unquestionably Believes Ulysses’ Premonitions
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Nearly every key player in “Civil War II” acts like a rash if not downright villainous idiot. Ulysses is an Inhuman with the ability to see the future, prompting Captain Marvel to lead a group of heroes in preemptively arresting people before a crime is even committed. Putting aside the obviously ethically suspect stance taken by Carol Danvers, Tony Stark proves Ulysses' visions are based on probability and are not entirely reliable. So, how does Captain Marvel react? The experienced superhero doubles down and continues to enforce the law based solely on Ulysses' potentially wrong information. "Civil War II" coincides with the deaths of various superheroes.
#6: Avengers & X-Men Fight Over Hope Summers
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When news breaks that the Phoenix – a powerful cosmic entity capable of great devastation or creation – is returning to Earth to fuse with Hope Summers, the Avengers believe the safest bet is to destroy the god-like being, while the X-Men view the Phoenix as an opportunity to save mutant-kind. Although the X-Men are far more experienced in dealing with the entity, Captain America and the Avengers ignore the mutants and forcibly try to apprehend the Phoenix. Even after the Phoenix helps to solve world hunger and pollution, the Avengers continue to refuse to budge on their 'kill first, ask questions later' stance.
#5: Thor Teleports Asgardians to Earth
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The God of Thunder may be quite charismatic, but Thor leaves something to be desired as a leader. 2004’s “Ragnarok” event ends with Asgard destroyed and a dead Thor. Luckily, the Avenger eventually recovers and successfully recreates Asgard on a stretch of land in Oklahoma. As a city is nothing without its citizens, Thor rescues countless Asgardians – including Loki – and repopulates the kingdom. Rather than stick around to educate Asgard’s people on Earth’s customs, as any competent leader would, Thor heads out on a number of missions and leaves the inexperienced Asgardians to their own devices. It also puts Asgard in the crosshairs of Norman Osborne, eventually leading in its destruction.
#4: No More Mutants
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2005’s “House of M’s” conclusion produced repercussions of which the X-Men fought years to overcome. Scarlet Witch creates an alternate reality with mutants as the dominant species and humans as the repressed minority. Long story short, Scarlet Witch utters the phrase “No More Mutants” and the world changes back to normal, albeit with one rather massive change; millions of mutants are rendered powerless, leaving only a few hundred to fend for themselves. By rendering mutants on the verge of extinction, the X-Men become a spent force too preoccupied with surviving to contribute much in future storylines.
#3: The Avengers Let Ms. Marvel Go With Her Rapist
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Operating under the pseudonym of Ms. Marvel, Carol Danvers abruptly winds up pregnant and gives birth to a baby boy. Even stranger, the toddler near-instantly matures into an adult named Marcus. In order to escape from Limbo, Marcus kidnapped, brainwashed, bedded, impregnated, and mind-wiped Ms. Marvel; before sending the hero back to Earth with a Marcus-shaped bun in the oven. When Marcus is forced to return to Limbo, the still clearly influenced Carol decides to tag along. Crucially, none of the Avengers in attendance even attempt to stop Carol from going. Eventually, Ms. Marvel returns and gives the heroes a well-deserved tongue lashing.
#2: Hank Pym Creates Ultron
While the Marvel Cinematic Universe shifts the blame to Tony Stark, in the comics, Hank Pym is responsible for creating Ultron. In the name of science, the original Ant-Man applies his own mind as the basis to design a highly advanced robot. Proving to be a chip off the old block, Ultron promptly gains awareness, rebels, and hypnotizes Hank into forgetting everything. Since 1968, an upgraded version of Ultron shows up periodically to threaten to destroy the world or attempt to create a wife based on Hank's own spouse. Putting aside all the wanton destruction and Oedipal complex, nobody can say Hank failed to push the limits of artificial intelligence.
#1: Peter Parker Sacrifices His Marriage
"One More Day's" stupidity works on multiple levels. Following two decades of a mature Spider-Man, Marvel idiotically elected to bring back the superhero's glory days by pressing the reset button. Believing bachelor Spider-Man to be the most marketable version, Marvel has Peter reach an agreement with Mephisto to sacrifice the hero's stable marriage to Mary Jane in exchange for saving Aunt May. Over the course of four comics, Marvel erases about 20 years worth of character development. Adding insult to injury, "One More Day" even teases Mary Jane and Peter's potential daughter, a person readers are likely to never meet.
