10 Comic Book Villains Who Became Heroes

There’s nothing more interesting in comics than seeing big changes in characters. Be it a costume change, a personality change, or a new backstory - any shift in the status quo is sure to get people talking.

None of these changes do this sort of thing better than villains shifting their allegiances to the side of justice. It’s an age-old story, but one that gets no less compelling, however many times it’s told. The element of unpredictability plays a fair role in this, as the one thing that’s almost impossible to predict is when and how a villain will become a hero, and how long this will last.

More importantly, not only does seeing do-gooding villains make us believe that anyone is capable of good, it also reminds us that anyone can do good – and that as much of a cynical jerk you consider yourself to be, there’s still the ability to be kind and helpful tucked away in you.

If there’s one thing you can take away from this, it’s that if Lex Luthor can do good things, you can too.

As a staple member of the Justice League, and an all-around friendly seeming guy, it’s surreal to know that Plastic Man started out his comic book career as a bad guy.

However, that’s exactly how his life starts out, as Patrick O’Brian and his gang attempt to rob a chemical plant, only for him to be covered in an unusual acid that results in him gaining his elastic superpowers.

The writers were clearly aware of the well-travelled line they were going down with this back story, as it quickly goes off the rail, namely because the thing that convinces O’Brian to become Plastic Man is a team of monks who rescue him after the acid causes him to faint.

Exactly how these monks managed to find him in what appears to be the middle of nowhere isn’t answered, but they do refuse to let the police have O’Brian - which would have been super awkward if he had left still intending to do crimes.