10 Comic Book Arcs That Went On Too Damn Long
8. The New Wonder Woman (and Professor Hulk)
In the late sixties, DC decided that Wonder Woman was in need of a modern reboot. It's unclear exactly why they decided to reinvent her so drastically. They seemed to decree that there was just too much 'Wonder' about her, and it would be best to get rid of it all.
As such, Wonder Woman was stripped of her powers, ditched her Amazonian supersuit, and became an art deco-inspired, jive talkin', kung-fun kickin' private detective. This radical departure seems like the kind of thing that would last a few issues at most, but it went on for a full five years. Wonder Woman eventually regained her powers in 1973, and this plainclothes version made shockingly little cultural impact for a character so iconic.
In the nineties, Marvel decided that they would try the opposite approach with one of their most iconic heroes. Rather than stripping the Incredible Hulk of his powers, they stripped him of the non-superpowered half of his identity. Bruce Banner would no longer appear at all, and the Hulk would remain in Hulk mode permanently, although a more in-control, handsomer version of the usual savage beast.
Again, this version of the character (known as Professor Hulk) seems like the kind of thing that would only last a few issues, but in this case it lasted for a full eight years. That's eight years without any Bruce Banner, and a whole lot of a well-groomed, weirdly attractive giant green behemoth.