8 Terrible Comic Book Events Marvel And DC Wish You'd Forget

5. Secret Empire

While at least critically well received upon its release, Nick Spencer's Secret Empire is an event that was poorly handled right from the get go.

Taking Steve Rogers, a character created by Jewish writers Joe Simon and Jack Kirby during World War II - and an anti-fascist symbol to boot - and turning him into the leader of Hydra (an organisation heavily tied to the Nazi regime), was a shocking move on Spencer's behalf. Controversy was further ignited when a variant cover featuring Erik Lensher (Magneto) - a holocaust survivor both onscreen and off - depicted the mutant as a member of Hydra.

Responses from the team behind the book could be considered tone-deaf at best and flat-out condescending at worst, and while the series was critically and commercially successful, it's obvious that Marvel are keen to leave this bit of Cap's history in the past where it belongs.