History CutLexLuthorACheck / MarvelUniverse

CutLexLuthorACheck in this series.

* ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'': [[Characters/MarvelComicsDoctorDoom Doctor Doom]] could have probably taken over the world ''financially'' in far less time, with less effort and without any legal opposition if he just incorporated rather than maintaining his feudal {{Ruritania}} and venting his ComplexityAddiction, especially since people in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse are constantly shown to value security over freedom. This is mirrored by his heroic counterpart, {{Trope Namer|s}} [[ReedRichardsIsUseless Reed Richards]], who seemingly makes more money patenting and then ''not'' selling his inventions, and thus not overly disrupting the similarities between Marvel Earth and RealLife. "Doomwar" reveals that he actually ''does'' use his technology to make money, albeit secretly. Ever wonder how he's able to fund his various schemes or afford to construct all that incredible technology (including his never-ending army of [[ActuallyADoombot Doombots]])? Turns out he's involved in ''thousands'' of perfectly legal businesses, and has made a killing in patents for robotics and medical research.

* Franchise/XMen villain Arcade is a hitman who disposes of victims by dropping them into ridiculously elaborate, carnival themed deathtraps he calls Murderworlds. Arcade charges a million dollars per victim, which doesn't come close to covering his expenses. However, Arcade also happens to be one of the wealthiest men on the planet, so doesn't need the money-he just does what he does because he's a psychopath that enjoys the misery he puts people through in his Murderworlds far more than the money he'd get killing them.

* ''ComicBook/XMen'': For all that he ends up being [[TheWorfEffect Worfed]] in practice, Characters/{{Juggernaut|MarvelComics}} is in theory one of the most powerful people on Earth, combining strength roughly equal to ComicBook/TheMightyThor's with [[NighInvulnerability being indestructible]]. Even if being capable of lifting mountains, immunity to any non-magical attack, not even being fazed by being StrippedToTheBone, and being incapable of getting hungry or tired (he doesn't even need oxygen!) doesn't present options in the legitimate world, Juggernaut could be a lot more of a villain than simply being a roving [[TheBrute Brute]]. You would ''think'' he could make millions as a running back in American Football, even as he is today. Justified, since his powers come from a GodOfEvil named Cyttorak that wants him to wreak havoc. If Juggy ever did go legit or try to be a less mindlessly destructive villain, Cyttorak would depower him. Which is exactly what happened when Juggernaut made a HeelFaceTurn and joined the X-Men; his power kept declining to the point that the Wrecking Crew (superhuman in their own right, but normally Juggy could beat them in his sleep) flatted him. Not long after, [[ComicBook/WorldWarHulk Juggernaut was in a fight with the Hulk]] and to get the power he needed he cut a deal with Cyttorak that he'd return to his evil ways afterward. This provided a good example of how strong a fully empowered Juggernaut is, as Hulk ''couldn't overpower him'' and could only win by turning Juggernaut's unstoppable momentum against him. Sure enough, in the 2020 ''ComicBook/{{Juggernaut|MarvelComics}}'' miniseries, Cain finds a way to keep his powers without being beholden to Cyttorak and promptly gets a job leveling buildings for ComicBook/DamageControl.

*** The first novel in the ''Literature/SinisterSixTrilogy'' discusses the irony of Mysterio's situation. The main thing that pushed him over the edge and caused him to become a supervillain was that he was an underpaid B-movie makeup and effects artist who felt nobody appreciated him or took his work seriously. Now, in the age of modern sci-fi and superhero blockbusters, someone with Mysterio's skills could make ''millions'' by working on major Hollywood productions, but his criminal actions have damaged his reputation to such a degree that he has zero chance of landing a legitimate job ever again.

** In ''ComicBook/SpiderManAndTheXMen'', Sauron discusses this trope with Spidey. Spider-Man points out to Sauron that he could cure cancer with his technology, which allows him to alter a person's DNA as he pleases. Sauron bluntly replies that he doesn't ''want'' to cure cancer, [[MemeticMutation he wants to turn people into dinosaurs]].[[note]]Funnily enough, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peto%27s_paradox megafauna tend to have more copies of cancer-suppressing genes]], so in a way he ''would'' be curing cancer.[[/note]] In fact, he is so committed to this desire to turn people into dinosaurs that when the world was under threat of being destroyed by black goo in ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool|2019}}'' #10, he joins forces with Deadpool to stop it, because [[EvilVersusOblivion if the world was destroyed, he would no longer be able to turn people into dinosaur.]].

* ComicBook/DoctorDoom could have probably taken over the world ''financially'' in far less time, with less effort and without any legal opposition if he just incorporated rather than maintaining his feudal {{Ruritania}} and venting his ComplexityAddiction. Especially since people in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse are constantly shown to value security over freedom. This is mirrored by his heroic counterpart, {{Trope Namer|s}} [[ReedRichardsIsUseless Reed Richards]], who seemingly makes more money patenting and then ''not'' selling his inventions, and thus not overly-disrupting the similarities between Marvel Earth and RealLife. "Doomwar" reveals that he actually ''does'' use his technology to make money, albeit secretly. Ever wonder how he's able to fund his various schemes or afford to construct all that incredible technology (including his never-ending army of [[ActuallyADoombot Doombots]])? Turns out he's involved in ''thousands'' of perfectly legal businesses, and has made a killing in patents for robotics and medical research.
* For all that he ends up being [[TheWorfEffect Worfed]] in practice, ComicBook/{{Juggernaut|MarvelComics}} of the Franchise/MarvelUniverse is in theory one of the most powerful people on Earth, combining strength roughly equal to ComicBook/TheMightyThor's with [[NighInvulnerability being]] [[HealingFactor indestructible]]. Even if being capable of lifting mountains, immunity to any non-magical attack, not even being fazed by being StrippedToTheBone, and being incapable of getting hungry or tired (he doesn't even need oxygen!) doesn't present options in the legitimate world, Juggernaut could be a lot more of a villain than simply being a roving [[TheBrute Brute]]. You would ''think'' he could make millions as a running back in American Football, even as he is today. Justified, since his powers come from a GodOfEvil named Cyttorak that wants him to wreak havoc. If Juggy ever did go legit or try to be a less mindlessly destructive villain, Cyttorak would depower him. Which is exactly what happened when Juggernaut made a HeelFaceTurn and joined the X-Men; his power kept declining to the point that the Wrecking Crew (superhuman in their own right, but normally Juggy could beat them in his sleep) flatted him. Not long after, [[ComicBook/WorldWarHulk Juggernaut was in a fight with the Hulk]] and to get the power he needed he cut a deal with Cyttorak that he'd return to his evil ways afterward. This provided a good example of how strong a fully empowered Juggernaut is, as Hulk ''couldn't overpower him'' and could only win by turning Juggernaut's unstoppable momentum against him.
** Sure enough, in the 2020 Juggernaut miniseries, Cain finds a way to keep his powers without being beholden to Cyttorak and promptly gets a job leveling buildings for ComicBook/DamageControl.
* {{Averted|Trope}} with the Creator/MarvelComics character ComicBook/{{Taskmaster}}. Able to flawlessly imitate anyone's physical abilities after seeing them in action once, he initially made money and his reputation training flunkies for {{supervillain}}s, teaching them how to take down their superhero opponents. Once it became known he was a mercenary, not merely a dedicated villain, legitimate governments and law enforcement started hiring him to teach their people on how to take down superpowered threats. To the extent that, in his first appearance, he concludes that if he stayed and fought, he could probably defeat the entire Avengers team (and one of their more powerful line-ups at that). However, he sees no profit in it or point to fighting superheroes, and runs away instead.
* {{Subverted|Trope}} with the [[Characters/DaredevilCentralRoguesGallery Purple Man]]. Late in TheSeventies had an epiphany. He realized that he didn't really need to be a supervillain to get what he wanted, because he had a CompellingVoice (actually, super-pheromones, but it works the same), so people would just hand him whatever he wanted, and thank him for the privilege. So he tried to quit being a villain and take up a life of hedonistic debauchery. Cue almost a decade of stories in which some BigBad (like [[Characters/MarvelComicsTheKingpin The Kingpin]] or Characters/DoctorDoom) would track him down and force him to help with their latest EvilScheme. Since then, he's apparently become resigned to his fate, and his last several appearances have shown him trying to TakeOverTheWorld.
* {{Defied|Trope}} with Comicbook/TheAvengers villain Comicbook/KangTheConqueror. He journeyed back to 1900 Wisconsin, and used his futuristic technology to start a company as the aptly named Victor Timely. Creator/MarkWaid’s [[Comicbook/TheAvengersMarkWaid run]] explained that Kang also uses his mastery of time travel to fund his war efforts, being able to start financial schemes in one century and then reap the profits in another.

** ComicBook/{{Bullseye|MarvelComics}} has the ability to throw any object with perfect accuracy with enough force to kill someone. Before becoming a super-villain (according to one of his many origin stories), he was a major league baseball player whose skill meant he always pitched a no-hitter. He could've easily just stayed in this job and never committed a single crime in his whole life but quit so he could satisfy his inherent bloodlust, and ended his career by using a pitch to murder a batter. "Bullseye." Bullseye even admitted to Comicbook/NormanOsborn that he barely spends any of the money he earns as an assassin, and that he could very well be richer than Norman. The only reason he charges anything is just to see how much people are willing to offer for his services. He kills people because it's ''fun''.
** ''ComicBook/BornAgain'' does a {{Deconstruction}}. [[Comicbook/TheKingpin Wilson Fisk]] is trying to expand into legitimate businesses and be a VillainWithGoodPublicity, but his vendetta against Daredevil is costing him money and putting that ambition in jeopardy. The first crony to try and point that out to him is "bought out" and later has both his legs broken off-panel; the second is murdered by Fisk then and there. Fisk is ''trying'' to turn his criminal genius into more acceptable enterprises, but his obsession with Daredevil and his violent instincts keep overriding his sense.

** In ''ComicBook/SpiderManAndTheXMen'', Sauron discusses this trope with Spidey. Spider-Man points out to Sauron that he could cure cancer with his technology, which allows him to alter a person's DNA as he pleases. Sauron bluntly replies that he doesn't ''want'' to cure cancer, [[MemeticMutation he wants to turn people into dinosaurs]].[[note]]Funnily enough, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peto%27s_paradox megafauna tend to have more copies of cancer-suppressing genes]], so in a way he ''would'' be curing cancer.[[/note]] In fact, he is so committed to this desire to turn people into dinosaurs that when the world was under threat of being destroyed by black goo in ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool|2019}} #10'', he joins forces with Deadpool to stop it, because [[EvilVersusOblivion if the world was destroyed, he would no longer be able to turn people into dinosaurs.]]
** Played with in an issue of ''Marvel Adventures: ComicBook/SpiderMan''. ComicBook/{{Mysterio}} has apparently gone straight, and starts a very profitable Broadway special effects show. However, the show is actually just a distraction so that Mysterio can go out and rob nearby hotels and businesses. When called out on his seemingly boneheaded move, Mysterio says it was never about the money, but the challenge and the thrill of deception.
** Many Spider-Man villains, like Vulture and the ComicBook/UltimateMarvel version of the Shocker, zig-zag this trope: They started out wanting to be legit entrepreneurs and inventors but after being victimized by unscrupulous CorruptCorporateExecutive types they turn to crime. Subverted, perhaps even Deconstructed, with retcon-villain Clash, from the Post-Secret-Wars Learning To Crawl subseries in The Amazing Spider-Man. A brilliant nerd (not unlike Peter) who was present as Spider-Man's first fight with Crusher Hogan, Clash begins using his supreme intellect to craft a "superhero" identity for himself, utilizing sound wave. His intention is to be an entertainment act, like Spider-Man was before Uncle Ben's murder. Instead, he winds up quite believably sliding down the Slippery Slope before becoming a full-on supervillain, who gets thrashed by Spidey, arrested, and because of his criminal record, forced to be a henchmen for several years. Finally, he runs into Spider-Man again, who promptly offers him a job at Parker Industries (on the condition that he leaves his Clash shenanigans behind).
* Z-list villain 8-Ball, real name Jeff Hagees, is a Jet-Propulsion engineer When asked by ''ComicBook/MoonKnight'' why he bothers with dressing up like a giant Cue Ball to rob banks, he [[SubvertedTrope points out]] that, after losing his job and social security to his gambling addiction he didn't have much of a choice as there was no entry-level job in Jet Engineering available, least of all for someone with a record.

* In the Marvel comic ''ComicBook/HeroesForHire'', a mercenary named Paladin breaks into a special armory where the props and weapons of various former gimmick villains are stored, seeking valuable weapons to both arm himself with and to sell. He comes across the "alchemy gun" of the former supervillain Chemistro, and comments amusedly that "This guy invented a gun that could turn lead into gold, and all he could think of was to rob banks with it." Moments later, he had a lightbulb moment, saying "You know what? Forget the rest of the stuff, I'm good with just this." He immediately tries to escape with his prize, realizing of course that he won't need to steal and fence the other items once he has a device that can make gold, but unfortunately the heroic female version of the Scorpion destroys the gun while trying to subdue him and prevent his escape. He is understandably furious. He presumably was unaware of the fact that any object transmuted by the alchemy gun turns into dust after exposure to heat or after a certain amount of time.

* Subverted by the Ultimate version of the Thinker, who turned to crime after he was fired from Roxxon for proposing alternative energy based on Vibranium.

* ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' once ran a series of text pieces chronicling the history of the team. One entry featured this quote about ComicBook/BaronZemo, one of ComicBook/CaptainAmerica's enemies from UsefulNotes/WorldWarII:
-->'''Rick Jones''': Funny thing, a guy like [Zemo]. He invented some kind of super-glue or something. I mean, if he would’ve found a practical use for it he would be the President of 3M or something. Right?
** For the record, Heinrich Zemo is an actual Nazi in most continuities. He probably *did* make a fortune back in the day, but he might have trouble finding buyers after the war.

* ''ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}'' arch-enemy ComicBook/{{Bullseye|MarvelComics}} has the ability to throw any object with perfect accuracy with enough force to kill someone. Before becoming a super-villain (according to one of his many origin stories), he was a major league baseball player whose skill meant he always pitched a no-hitter. He could've easily just stayed in this job and never committed a single crime in his whole life but quit so he could satisfy his inherent bloodlust, and ended his career by using a pitch to murder a batter. "Bullseye." Bullseye even admitted to Comicbook/NormanOsborn that he barely spends any of the money he earns as an assassin, and that he could very well be richer than Norman. The only reason he charges anything is just to see how much people are willing to offer for his services. He kills people because it's ''fun''.
** ''ComicBook/DaredevilBornAgain'' does a {{Deconstruction}}. [[Comicbook/TheKingpin Wilson Fisk]] is trying to expand into legitimate businesses and be a VillainWithGoodPublicity, but his vendetta against Daredevil is costing him money and putting that ambition in jeopardy. The first crony to try and point that out to him is "bought out" and later has both his legs broken off-panel; the second is murdered by Fisk then and there. Fisk is ''trying'' to turn his criminal genius to more acceptable enterprises, but his obsession with Daredevil and his violent instincts keep overriding his sense.

* ''ComicBook/TheSuperiorFoesOfSpiderMan'' has Beetle, who despite being a Valedictorian of Columbia Law dreams of becoming a supervillain. Her father [[spoiler:Tombstone]] is disappointed in this, stating that she's much too smart for such antics as he feels that being an AmoralAttorney is essentially legitimized crime that you can't get arrested for.
* In ''ComicBook/SpiderManAndTheXMen'', Sauron discusses this trope with Spidey. Spider-Man points out to Sauron that he could cure cancer with his technology, which allows him to alter a person's DNA as he pleases. Sauron bluntly replies that he doesn't ''want'' to cure cancer, [[MemeticMutation he wants to turn people into dinosaurs]].[[note]]Funnily enough, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peto%27s_paradox megafauna tend to have more copies of cancer-suppressing genes]], so in a way he ''would'' be curing cancer.[[/note]] In fact, he is so committed to this desire to turn people into dinosaurs that when the world was under threat of being destroyed by black goo in ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool|2019}} #10'', he joins forces with Deadpool to stop it, because [[EvilVersusOblivion if the world was destroyed, he would no longer be able to turn people into dinosaurs.]]

* Played with in an issue of ''Marvel Adventures: ComicBook/SpiderMan''. ComicBook/{{Mysterio}} has apparently gone straight, and starts a very profitable Broadway special effects show. However, the show is actually just a distraction so that Mysterio can go out and rob nearby hotels and businesses. When called out on his seemingly boneheaded move, Mysterio says it was never about the money, but the challenge and the thrill of deception.
* Many Spider-Man villains, like Vulture and the ComicBook/UltimateMarvel version of the Shocker, zig-zag this trope: They started out wanting to be legit entrepreneurs and inventors but after being victimized by unscrupulous CorruptCorporateExecutive types they turn to crime. Subverted, perhaps even Deconstructed, with retcon-villain Clash, from the Post-Secret-Wars Learning To Crawl subseries in The Amazing Spider-Man. A brilliant nerd (not unlike Peter) who was present as Spider-Man's first fight with Crusher Hogan, Clash begins using his supreme intellect to craft a "superhero" identity for himself, utilizing sound wave. His intention is to be an entertainment act, like Spider-Man was before Uncle Ben's murder. Instead, he winds up quite believably sliding down the Slippery Slope before becoming a full-on supervillain, who gets thrashed by Spidey, arrested, and because of his criminal record, forced to be a henchmen for several years. Finally, he runs into Spider-Man again, who promptly offers him a job at Parker Industries (on the condition that he leaves his Clash shenanigans behind).

* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'':

* Z-list villain 8-Ball, real name Jeff Hagees, is a Jet-Propulsion engineer When asked by ''ComicBook/MoonKnight'' why he bothers with dressing up like a gaint Cue Ball to rob banks, he [[SubvertedTrope points out]] that, after losing his job and social security to his gambling addiction he didn't have much of a choice as there was no entry-level job in Jet Engineering available, least of sll for someone with a record.

* ComicBook/DoctorDoom could have probably taken over the world ''financially'' in far less time, with less effort and without any legal opposition if he just incorporated rather than maintaining his feudal {{Ruritania}} and venting his ComplexityAddiction. Especially since people in the ''Franchise/MarvelUniverse'' are constantly shown to value security over freedom. This is mirrored by his heroic counterpart, {{Trope Namer|s}} [[ReedRichardsIsUseless Reed Richards]], who seemingly makes more money patenting and then ''not'' selling his inventions, and thus not overly-disrupting the similarities between Marvel Earth and RealLife. "Doomwar" reveals that he actually ''does'' use his technology to make money, albeit secretly. Ever wonder how he's able to fund his various schemes or afford to construct all that incredible technology (including his never-ending army of [[ActuallyADoombot Doombots]])? Turns out he's involved in ''thousands'' of perfectly legal businesses, and has made a killing in patents for robotics and medical research.

* In ''ComicBook/SpiderManAndTheXMen'', Sauron discusses this trope with Spidey. Spider-Man points out to Sauron that he could cure cancer with his technology, which allows him to alter a person's DNA as he pleases. Sauron bluntly replies that he doesn't ''want'' to cure cancer, [[MemeticMutation he wants to turn people into dinosaurs]].[[note]]Funnily enough, [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peto%27s_paradox megafauna tend to have more copies of cancer-suppressing genes]], so in a way he ''would'' be curing cancer.[[/note]] In fact, he is so committed to this desire to turn people into dinosaurs that when the world was under threat of being destroyed by black goo in ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool|2019}} #10'', he joins forces with Deadpool to stop it, because [[EvilVersusOblivion if the world was destroyed, he would no longer be able to turn people into dinosaurs.]]