The Alternate Origins

As characters have been altered and tweaked to fit the times, writers have taken opportunities to create interesting departures from the typical characters by doing "What If" stories featuring different versions of superheroes. Today I bring you some of the best departures with this, The Panel Biter's Top 5 Alternate Versions.

#5. Captain Thunder

In the DC Comics event "Flashpoint" the character of Captain Marvel was significantly altered. Traditionally, a kid named Billy Batson was able to become Captain Marvel by shouting "Shazam", but in this story six children must yell "Shazam" at once and fuse into the renamed Captain Thunder. Spanning race, background and personality, these six children are kind of like DC's Planeteers, if you remember that old Captain Planet cartoon. When "Flashpoint" ended and the character became Shazam for the current DCU, Billy once again became the soul vessel and the other five became supporting characters. This version of Captain Marvel appeals to me because it uses a type of team that's gone unused in comic books.

#4. Deadpool Killogy

Learning your entire existence is just entertainment for someone else can be a little shocking, just look at "South Park" and "The Truman Show". Considering that, the reality that Deadpool would seek to destroy all of creation is understandable. "Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe, Deadpool Killustrated, and Deadpool Kills Deadpool" are a series of books that follow a version of Deadpool who fully breaks the 4th wall and learns his entire world is a lie. It's not just his killing spree of the Marvel Universe, Multiverse and Classical Fiction that catches a reader's eye, but his commitment to end everything in the belief of its meaninglessness. It's a very human reaction for a work of fiction and uses original ideas for an otherwise juvenile character. And he killed Thor, which is pretty funny.

#3. Old Man Logan

When every hero is dead and you live in a world dominated by evil, it's easy to call it a life and give in. But the patience of an animal can only last so long. "Old Man Logan" told of Logan's downfall, how his life has divulged into simply living in peace with his family. As Logan treks through this twisted mirror he once knew as America, we see just how bad things could get in the Marvel Universe. A horrid, but fantastically detailed look at a possible future, this story presents a type of Wolverine we've never seen before and brings an interesting twist to everyone's favorite mutant. Soon enough this version of Wolverine is coming to the main Marvel Universe. An elderly superhero? Awesome!

#2. Spider-Gwen

To think one little change could effect so much: a radioactive spider bites Gwen Stacy, she becomes Spider-Woman, Peter Parker becomes a lizard and dies, J. Jonah Jameson uses Parker as a martyr and Frank Castle leads the police force-Officer George Stacy included-to hunt Spider-Woman down. For all the crap I give the main universe Gwen Stacy, I can admit this character who spun out of "Spider-Verse" brings some hope to Peter's first love. Her story of heroism is independent and bold, taking new looks at the traditional Spider-Story. In her universe she's also in a band called "The Mary Janes", which is neat. Spider-Gwen could potentially bring honor back to the name Gwen Stacy. But she's still a teenager while Peter Parker is in his twenties, so don't get any ideas.

#1. Thomas Wayne of Earth 2

A young man witnesses the death of his parents and takes it upon himself to seek vengeance and strike the cowardly lot of villains. We've heard that story, but in "Flashpoint" we see it change. Bruce Wayne is murdered and his father Thomas Wayne becomes a gun-slinging Batman, and Martha Wayne becomes a crazed psychopath calling herself The Joker. This version of Batman was used again in "Earth 2" who's relation to the Gotham's mob caused the assassination of himself and his wife, but Thomas survived and never faced Bruce out of shame for his lie. After that world's Bruce Wayne sacrificed himself as Batman against Darksied's army, Thomas Wayne used strength-enhancing drugs to be the next Batman. We don't get many stories like these, where our hero is older and more damaged, he has no son, no wife, no loyal butler. All he is now is a failed man trying to atone for what he's lost. He is an everlasting reminder that no matter how dark the night may be, there is always someplace darker.

With so many universes in comics, it was hard to pick out my favorites. Events like "Convergence" and "Secret Wars" want to wipe out these alternate characters and pretend they don't matter, but they always will. What if Superman landed in Russia? What if The Red Skull won World War II? As long as writers and creators ask these questions we will always see fun one-and-done tales of what could've been. Thanks for reading.

Facebook: The Panel Biter
Twitter: @ThePanelBiter