8. Armageddon 2001 Doesn't Make Sense, Because Fans Ruined It
Released back in 1991, when the titular year was but a far-flung future, Armageddon 2001 was framed by a central mystery: what superhero went insane, became the supervillain Monarch and presided over a dystopian future (aren't they all) in the year 2030? Also, why is this comic called Armageddon 2001 instead of Armageddon 2030? The former mystery turned out to be pretty easy to solve, as writer Archie Goodwin made all of the clues a little too obvious and fans easily managed to figure out that the man who would be Monarch was the C-list hero Captain Atom. That twist being leaked onto the burgeoning internet didn't help matters much either. Still, DC plowed on, undeterred by the veil being dropped too soon and effectively ruining the climax of their months-long event, because they had an ace up their sleeve. That ace turned out to be that Goodwin simply elected to change Monarch's identity at the last minute, despite the fact it made absolutely no sense and meant all of the foreshadowing he had so obviously sprinkled throughout the story had been for nought. Not only that, but the new reveal - Hawk, another C-lister - had already been categorically ruled out of the equation on two separate occasions. DC realised they'd fumbled the reveal so badly that they eventually retconned the story so Captain Atom had been the culprit all along.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
