10 Comic Villains You Didn't Realise Actually Won
Turns out the good guy doesn't always win.
Seeing a villain lose is supposed to be one of the most predictable things in the comic world. Although they may manage to flummox our hero, or kill their allies, they get their comeuppance in the end - even if they escape prison mere pages afterwards.
Indeed, this is what made the ever-famous Watchmen series such an exciting comic, as it was the first time many readers had seen a plot where the bad guy appeared to get a victory.
But villainous victories had actually been happening for a while before - and would continue to sneak under viewer's noses for a long time to come. Because while big, dramatic villainous victories weren't commonplace, it's surprisingly common for a comic to close with a scenario that actually gives the villain the upper hand.
And this can be way more interesting than the more dramatic wins, as it creates an ending that leaves you uncertain what to believe. It also makes the world of spandex and capes just that little more believable - as you realise that many crooks and criminals get away with a lot more than you'd initially think.
10. Black Mask - War Games
Black Mask has had many better days than the one he faces at the end of the War Games series. Not only does he get six shades of hell beaten out of his by both Batman and the Joker, but the one victory he had - killing Stephanie Brown, one of Batman's many sidekicks - actually ends up having been faked.
But Roman Sionis actually manages a massive victory, without even knowing about it. While his "murder" of Stephanie Brown turns out to have been faked in order for her to take a break from the superhero lifestyle, Batman believes this lie for a very long time.
Long enough that he completely estranges himself from Leslie Thompkins, the doctor he believes was purposefully negligent in treating her. This is especially important because Leslie is one of the few people Batman trusted, and was often the person responsible for sowing up his stitches - and yet she ends the comic exiled from the entire of America by the Dark Knight.