10 Disturbing Times Superheroes Lost It

Mark Russell and Ricard Pace's Second Coming was almost never released, as its concept was deemed too controversial. The comic sees God becoming sick of his son, Jesus, moping around Heaven, so he decides to send him back to Earth. Only this time, he's not there to spread the word of God: he's there to learn how a true hero is supposed to act. The hero God chooses to teach the Messiah is Sunstar, a thinly-veiled stand-in for Superman.

If there's one thing comic book readers won't stand for, it's blasphemy (apparently), and the idea was axed by the publisher. Almost a year later, the comic was finally released by Ahoy Comics, and the result was not what anyone expected: a fun buddy comedy with a surprisingly nuanced take on both religion and superheroes.

The basic premise is that, while Sunstar teaches Jesus about super-heroics, Jesus teaches Sunstar about forgiveness and mercy, and the two learn from each other. Unfortunately, they don't always listen.

In one issue, Sunstar uses his heat vision to straight-up murder a man who's been bothering his girlfriend, journalist Sheila Sharp. As if this isn't un-heroic enough, it turns out this was the wrong man. After writing down the perp's address wrong, he ends up obliterating his totally innocent and defenceless neighbour instead.

Jesus doesn't get away without blood on his hands either - a few issues later, he falls for temptation and murders Satan with a novelty pickle knife. Slightly more understandable of course, but not very Christ-like.