10 Comics Superheroes With The Best Motivations

"I can do this all day."

Captain America Alex Ross
Marvel Comics/Alex Ross

It's not difficult to create just any old superhero. It does, however, take something truly special to create one who feels genuine. Not just someone who 'exists', but one who lives and breathes, and does what they do for a compelling reason.

For as long as there've been supervillains with evil designs motivated by greed, revenge, or some fascist ideology, there've been heroes there to meet them. However, just as the evil-doers of the world are compelled to villainy for a myriad of reasons, so too are their biggest rivals. Whether it's because they feel a need to avenge their loved-ones, to live up to a given legacy or even for their own personal gain, superheroes rarely ever suit up for the same reason.

Naturally, a lot of these motivations happen to be more interesting than others. Also worth noting is just how much these motivations diverge between Marvel and DC, with the former's stories typified by flawed, but well-intentioned protagonists, and the latter more-so by classic heroes compelled to act out of a sense of duty.

It's not the case that it's one rule for one publisher and one for the other, but no character is the same and all have their own personal histories that've inspired them to do good. Here are those with the most compelling backstories of all.

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Content Producer/Presenter
Content Producer/Presenter

Resident movie guy at WhatCulture who used to be Comics Editor. Thinks John Carpenter is the best. Likes Hellboy a lot. Can usually be found talking about Dad Movies on his Twitter at @EwanRuinsThings.