History ReplacementScrappy / ComicBooks

* And since we brought him up, this happened to ComicBook/GreenArrow Connor Hawke. Even though fans had warmed up to him, many writers would treat him poorly as he wasn't Ollie. For example, he was given a disease that prevented him from holding a bow again, something that seemed to even irritate people who weren't fans of the character. Currently in the ComicBook/{{New 52}} [[RetGone he doesn't even exist]], and [[CanonDiscontinuity probably never will]].

** The funny thing though is that O'Grady only exists because Creator/{{Sony}} has the rights to make Ant Man into a movie and has stated that not only do they want a family friendly film out of the character but were going with the Scott Lang character with Hank Pym as his mentor. So of course, Marvel creates a new Ant Man who's a soulless asshole of epic proportions and shove it at readers, many of which are STILL bitter as hell that Bendis was allowed to kill Scott Lang off to begin with, in such a cheap and petty manner that he did.

*** And while we're on the subject, Cassandra Cain, the third Batgirl was this. Not only was she a replacement for the original Batgirl Barbara Gordon, but she was also [[TheRealRemingtonSteele seemingly created just to wear the costume given up by]] the second Batgirl, [[ComicBook/{{Huntress}} Helena Bertinelli]] (which was probably supposed to be temporary to begin with, but still...) She was also a considerable departure from the original character, being a CuteMute CharlesAtlasSuperpower martial artist. Like Steph, she still built up a fanbase and [[Comicbook/{{Batgirl2000}} received her own series]]...but then the series was cancelled and Cass was hit with CharacterDerailment. It didn't stick, but she hasn't been the same since.

* There is an interesting phenomenon that happens in many comic book series in which a character [[LongRunner who had been published for decades]] by Marvel and DC had been replaced back in the 80s or early 90s. Their replacements were naturally viewed as [[ReplacementScrappy Replacement Scrappies]] for a while, but aren't any longer. But now (in the 2010s) the original character is being brought back (usually because the now-middle-aged fans of the original character are RunningTheAsylum), and are being considered [[ReplacementScrappy Replacement Scrappies]] because an ''entire generation'' of "new" readers and fans, most of whom weren't even born yet when the original character was replaced, have grown up enjoying the adventures of the new character and aren't all that enormored (or in some cases, even interested) in the "old guy" and don't [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks like "their" character being replaced like that]].
** Consider ''ComicBook/GreenLantern''. Stories featuring Hal Jordan, one of the longest-running and most respected heroes in ''Franchise/TheDCU'', just weren't selling that well, and [[ExecutiveMeddling it was decided that a fresher look at the character was needed]] rather than just switching Jordan out for backup Lanterns Guy Gardner or John Stewart. So [[DroppedABridgeOnHim a bridge was dropped on Hal Jorden]] in a way [[DyingToBeReplaced that was not only stupid]], but was [[FaceHeelTurn demeaning to the character and his long history as a hero]]. Not only that, but the entire [[TheChosenMany Green Lantern Corps]] was brought down as well. Thus his replacement, Kyle Rayner, wasn't just a ReplacementScrappy for Hal Jordan, but for the entire corps. Cut to almost 20 years later, and not only have the overwhelming majority of ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'' fans come around to liking the character (mostly because of GrantMorrison's deft handling of the character), but in addition, an entire generation of fans had arisen ''after'' Hal Jordan's removal were. These new fans, as can be expected, had very little knowledge of Hal Jordan and his legacy as a Green Lantern, and even more appropriately shouldn't have been expected to even care. So when the old guard hold-out fans of Hal Jordan [[RunningTheAsylum gained control of the title]] and decreed that ''their'' hero would return and the "unwanted interloper", Kyle Rayner, would be reduced to a supporting role, naturally some of them didn't take it very well.

* Many people dislike Jason Rusch ({{Firestorm}}), and Ryan Choi (TheAtom) due to the killing off or running off of their predecessors. However, when Ryan Choi was ignominiously killed off, people had gotten over that he wasn't Ray Palmer, and now viewed Ray as this. After a pretty massive racial controversy that got coverage on some non-comic sites, DC retconned Ryan's death during the ''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}}'' series and now he is the sole Atom in the {{New 52}} continuity, with Ray being regulated to a scientific adviser for the S.H.A.D.E. organization.
*** An odd in-universe form of the ReplacementScrappy status of Ryan Choi came in DwayneMcDuffie's ''JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'' run, where Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman considered asking him to join. Superman is reluctant on the subject, saying that he doesn't want to replace Ray and would prefer to keep the position of the Justice League's Atom open in case he came back.

* [[ComicBook/{{Hawkman}} Hawkgirl]] Kendra Saunders is an interesting case. Fans generally seemed to accept her and didn't mind so much that she wasn't truly Shiera. They had the same soul, after all. However quite a good number of fans were irritated when Shiera was revived in Blackest Knight and Kendra was set up as the Hawkgirl of Comicbook/{{Earth 2}}.

* {{Spider-Man}}: Don't forget [[CloningBlues Ben Reilly]] who was disliked for no other reason but that he wasn't Peter Parker. (That, and appearing in the story which caused severe EndingFatigue.)
** Reilly was hated mostly because of the revelation that he was the "real Peter Parker" and that the Peter fans had been reading for twenty years was really a clone. After the huge fan outrage Marvel quickly backtracked and reversed that decision.

** After the ''OneMoreDay'' storyline broke up the Parkers' marriage, ''anyone'' Peter dated would have gotten heat for not being Mary Jane. But the replacement we got was Carlie Cooper, a RelationshipSue named after editor JoeQuesada's daughter. Mary Jane has become a ShipperOnDeck for the pairing, [[CreatorsPet and so has everyone else]]. Reactions have been negative, to say the least.

*** Following the events of SpiderIsland, Peter and Carlie broke up. However, Carlie is not completely out of the picture and remains friends with Mary Jane, as well as serving as Spidey's occasional ally on the police force.

*** Fortunatly, it turns out the original Hobgoblin was alive and well all along, and became the focus of a major 2012 storyline where he confronts the pretender.

* Happened to {{Nightwing}} in JLA-Task Force. He wasn't loathed by the fans, he was loathed by his team members in canon.
* During GrantMorrison's JLA run Huntress is that to Batman (she was brought in as a last second replacement for [[GreenArrow Connor Hawke]]. He eventually kicks her out after her continued disregard for rules leads to her almost executing a defeated villain.
* And since we brought him up, this happened to GreenArrow Connor Hawke. Even though fans had warmed up to him, many writers would treat him poorly as he wasn't Ollie. For example, he was given a disease that prevented him from holding a bow again, something that seemed to even irritate people who weren't fans of the character. Currently in the {{New 52}} [[RetGone he doesn't even exist]], and [[CanonDiscontinuity probably never will]].

*** And while we're on the subject, Cassandra Cain, the third Batgirl was this. Not only was she a replacement for the original Batgirl Barbara Gordon, but she was also [[TheRealRemingtonSteele seemingly created just to wear the costume given up by]] the second Batgirl, [[{{Huntress}} Helena Bertinelli]] (which was probably supposed to be temporary to begin with, but still...) She was also a considerable departure from the original character, being a CuteMute CharlesAtlasSuperpower martial artist. Like Steph, she still built up a fanbase and [[Comicbook/{{Batgirl2000}} received her own series]]...but then the series was cancelled and Cass was hit with CharacterDerailment. It didn't stick, but she hasn't been the same since.
*** The {{New 52}} relaunch, where the original Batgirl [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl 2011}} returned to the role]], is an interesting situation. Nobody hates Barbara ''per se'', but there is a perceived insult against Steph on DC's part, plus moving Babs away from being the InformationBroker and HandicappedBadass Oracle rubs many of her fans the wrong way as stripping her of her unique qualities. It's seems apparent that DC's own [[ExecutiveMeddling higher-ups]] consider both Cassandra and Stephanie to be this trope, and [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome want nothing more to do with them]].

* This may have been a factor in the failure of Robert Kirkman's very well-written ''[[{{Ant-Man}} Irredeemable Ant-Man]]'' series. Insofar as Ant-Man has fans (every character is ''someone'''s favorite, right?), they would presumably be fans of Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man, or Scott Lang, the second to use the name; ''Irredeemable'' was about a third, brand-new character, Eric O'Grady. It didn't help that Eric O'Grady was an [[JerkAss unlikeable dick]]

* There are a lot of fans who hate any character in ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'' who took the spotlight after [[spoiler: Gert died]]. No one gets this more than [[GreenThumb Klara Prast]], for being the only character not created by BrianKVaughan, for not having a supervillain parent like every other member of the team, for being introduced in a story generally regarded as a BizarroEpisode, for freaking out over the team lesbians, for not having an origin for her powers, for having a punny name...

* TheFlash has had issues with this very similar to GreenLantern mentioned above. At the end of ''CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'', Barry Allen made a HeroicSacrifice, and Wally West, then the [[KidSidekick Kid Flash]], became the Flash. Wally was not well received at first, whether due to his being young, a {{Jerkass}}, or the fact that he was less powerful (he lost a lot of his speed during the Crisis and didn't get it back for years.) While Wally grew into the role and gained acceptance, Barry kept appearing in one-off stories set in the past, time travel stories and one notable "fake out" event as well as a short lived TV series keeping his fandom alive. When Barry came back after 24 years of being dead, fans are split.

* {{Supergirl}}, Supergirl, Supergirl.

* Done in-universe (They were this trope to the readers as well, but here it was intentional) with the four replacement Supermen that cropped up after TheDeathOfSuperman. The first three were: [[EvilCounterpart a Cyborg that eventually turned out to be evil]]; [[NinetiesAntiHero a cold, elitist Kryptonian]]; and [[{{Superboy}} a loud, '90s-ish punk teenager]]. [[{{Steel}} The fourth was a heroic, moral, upstanding guy...who really, really didn't want to replace Superman]].

** The funny thing though is that O'Grady only exists because {{Sony}} has the rights to make Ant Man into a movie and has stated that not only do they want a family friendly film out of the character but were going with the Scott Lang character with Hank Pym as his mentor. So of course, Marvel creates a new Ant Man who's a soulless asshole of epic proportions and shove it at readers, many of which are STILL bitter as hell that Bendis was allowed to kill Scott Lang off to begin with, in such a cheap and petty manner that he did.

*** Doctor Octopus has become a ''[[{{Understatement}} major]]'' one among fans after a recent arc concluded with him [[FreakyFridayFlip taking over Peter's body]] and becoming the new Spider-man, while Peter [[KilledOffForReal dies in his]], leading up to the new series ''SuperiorSpiderMan''. This cooled off considerably once it was revealed that [[spoiler:''both'' their minds were in Peter's body. ..... Only to flare up again when Otto erased Peter from his mind and took full control.]]

** The funny thing though is that O'Grady only exists BECAUSE {{Sony}} has the rights to make Ant Man into a movie and has stated that not only do they want a family friendly film out of the character but were going with the Scott Lang character with Hank Pym as his mentor. So of course, Marvel creates a new Ant Man who's a soulless asshole of epic proportions and shove it at readers, many of which are STILL bitter as hell that Bendis was allowed to kill Scott Lang off to begin with, in such a cheap and petty manner that he did.

* This can happen for whole teams as well. After the original {{Gen 13}} ended with the team being [[KilledOffForReal killed with a nuclear bomb]], the book was releaunched with an all-new team created by ChrisClaremont. The combination of the heavy-handed, [[ExecutiveMeddling editor-mandated]] deaths of the old team and the FiveTokenBand nature of the replacements meant that the results were pretty unpopular. The "new" Gen13 was cancelled after 16 issues, ending with the original team being bought back to life. The "new" Gen 13 have never even been mentioned again.

* When MarvelComics bought out Malibu, they cancelled several titles and rebooted many others. ''{{Mantra}}'' was originally a title about a male warrior reincarnated in the body of female mystic and his struggle to cope with his new role. When Marvel took over, the central character was PutOnABus by being banished to another dimension and the Mantra mantle was passed to minor background character; a teenaged girl who had appeared as a babysitter in a couple of issues. Needless to say, fans were not impressed. In fact, this seems to be the consensus reaction to ''everything'' Marvel did to the imprint.

** Consider ''ComicBook/GreenLantern''. Stories featuring Hal Jordan, one of TheDCUs longest-running and most respected heroes, just weren't selling that well, and [[ExecutiveMeddling it was decided that a fresher look at the character was needed]] rather than just switching Jordan out for backup Lanterns Guy Gardner or John Stewart. So [[DroppedABridgeOnHim a bridge was dropped on Hal Jorden]] in a way [[DyingToBeReplaced that was not only stupid]], but was [[FaceHeelTurn demeaning to the character and his long history as a hero]]. Not only that, but the entire [[TheChosenMany Green Lantern Corps]] was brought down as well. Thus his replacement, Kyle Rayner, wasn't just a ReplacementScrappy for Hal Jordan, but for the entire corps. Cut to almost 20 years later, and not only have the overwhelming majority of ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'' fans come around to liking the character (mostly because of GrantMorrison's deft handling of the character), but in addition, an entire generation of fans had arisen ''after'' Hal Jordan's removal were. These new fans, as can be expected, had very little knowledge of Hal Jordan and his legacy as a Green Lantern, and even more appropriately shouldn't have been expected to even care. So when the old guard hold-out fans of Hal Jordan [[RunningTheAsylum gained control of the title]] and decreed that ''their'' hero would return and the "unwanted interloper", Kyle Rayner, would be reduced to a supporting role, naturally some of them didn't take it very well.

** Consider ''ComicBook/GreenLantern''. Stories featuring Hal Jordan, one of TheDCUs longest-running and most respected heroes, just weren't selling that well, and [[ExecutiveMeddling it was decided that a fresher look at the character was needed]] rather than just switching Jordan out for backup Lanterns Guy Gardner or John Stewart. So [[DroppedABridgeOnHim a bridge was dropped on Hal Jorden]] in a way [[DyingToBeReplaced that was not only stupid]], but was [[FaceHeelTurn demeaning to the character and his long history as a hero]]. Not only that, but the entire [{TheChosenMany Green Lantern Corps]] was brought down as well. Thus his replacement, Kyle Rayner, wasn't just a ReplacementScrappy for Hal Jordan, but for the entire corps. Cut to almost 20 years later, and not only have the overwhelming majority of ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'' fans come around to liking the character (mostly because of GrantMorrison's deft handling of the character), but in addition, an entire generation of fans had arisen ''after'' Hal Jordan's removal were. These new fans, as can be expected, had very little knowledge of Hal Jordan and his legacy as a Green Lantern, and even more appropriately shouldn't have been expected to even care. So when the old guard hold-out fans of Hal Jordan [[RunningTheAsylum gained control of the title]] and decreed that ''their'' hero would return and the "unwanted interloper", Kyle Rayner, would be reduced to a supporting role, naturally some of them didn't take it very well.

* There is now an odd phenomenon in a lot of comics (mostly [[LongRunner ones that have been published for decades]] by Marvel and DC), where an old character comes back and is actually viewed as the ReplacementScrappy for the character that replaced them years ago (mostly done as a case of RunningTheAsylum).
** Really, this happens any time a characters had been gone long enough for their replacement to be accepted as the norm. When the "original" comes back, they're seen as the "new" disliked replacement.
* GreenLantern Kyle Rayner had it even worse than most of the above-mentioned characters -- not only was Hal Jordan, one of TheDCU's longest-running and most respected heroes, [[ExecutiveMeddling disposed of]] in the stupidest, most demeaning [[FaceHeelTurn way possible]] [[DyingToBeReplaced to make way for him]], but pretty much the entire GreenLantern [[TheChosenMany Corps]] was killed off too. So he wasn't just ReplacementScrappy for one (well-known and popular) character but a whole organization. No wonder he was one of the most hated characters in the DCU for some time. That said, he's become a good character on his own merits, and when Hal and the Corps were inevitably brought back Kyle was kept around in a major role.
** Quite a few Kyle fans acknowledge that is was GrantMorrison's writing on ''[[JusticeLeagueOfAmerica [=JLA=]]]'' [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap that saved him]]. Kyle was painted as a basically decent twenty-something with an incredibly powerful weapon trying to get used to the fact that he was now seated amongst, well, gods.
** Ironically, after Hal's return and taking the starring role in Green Lantern again, he became something of a Replacement Scrappy himself in the eyes of the fandom Kyle had built up since.
** In ''WesternAnimation/GreenLanternFirstFlight'', Hal Jordan is an InUniverse Replacement Scrappy for Abin Sur.

* The second WonderGirl (Cassandra Sandsmark) is hated by some of the more diehard Donna Troy fans. Some even wish that she weren't a "blonde, white girl" so that [[FanDumb she would be killed off easier for Donna to go back to the role]]. This is especially irritating since in the 90s, Cassandra was a much more friendly, likable character then the Scrappy people see now. Further made worse for Donna's fans in the New 52 continuity, where Cassie's new connection to Wonder Woman[[hottip:*:Cassie is Diana's niece, the daughter of Diana's half-brother Lennox]] hasn't been revealed in-universe despite the relaunch being nearly three years old now.

*** Doctor Octopus has become a ''[[{{Understatement}} major]]'' one among fans after a recent arc concluded with him [[FreakyFridayFlip taking over Peter's body]] and becoming the new Spider-man, while Peter [[KilledOffForReal dies in his]], leading up to the new series ''SuperiorSpiderMan''. This cooled off considerably once it was revealed that [[spoiler:''both'' their minds were in Peter's body]].

** Ironically, after Hal's return, and taking the starring role in Green Lantern again, he became something of a Replacement Scrappy himself, in the eyes of the fandom Kyle had built up, since.

*** And while we're on the subject, Cassandra Cain, the third Batgirl was this. Not only was she a replacement for the original Batgirl Barbara Gordon, but she was also [[TheRealRemingtonSteele seemingly created just to wear the costume given up by]] the second Batgirl, [[{{Huntress}} Helena Bertinelli]] (which was probably supposed to be temporary to begin with, but still...) She was also a considerable departure from the original character, being originally a CuteMute CharlesAtlasSuperpower martial artist. Like Steph, she still built up a fanbase and [[Comicbook/{{Batgirl2000}} received her own series]]...but then the series was cancelled and Cass was hit with CharacterDerailment. It didn't stick, but she hasn't been the same since.

** Her popularity must have decreased however, as PeterDavid was allowed to completely revamp the character in his own run on Supergirl. His Supergirl was actually [[OurAngelsAreDifferent an angel]], created when the Matrix Supergirl fused with a human named Linda Danvers. His run, while making [[MythologyGag a number of references to the original Supergirl]], touched on religious and supernatural themes and so was seen by many as a departure from the original character and the Superman mythos (although it's not like Superman hasn't dealt with magic and demons before). The situation was similar to the Cassandra Cain Batgirl (see above) in that despite her earlier problems Linda gained a sizable fanbase and the series ran for several years. Peter David finished the series with an arc that reintroduced the original Supergirl with the hope of turning it into a new series. Unfortunately it didn't happen and Linda was PutOnABus, but it may have inspired the creation of the Supergirl that came after the next one...

** And finally a new version of the original Supergirl, Kara Zor-El, was created supposedly just to get rid of the [[ContinuitySnarl confusing origins]] of the previous Supergirls (now that the LegacyImplosion policy was overturned). Although her initial appearances were promising (except for people who were upset with Linda's disappearance), she garnished significant hatred for being both DarkerAndEdgier and MsFanservice. Not to mention the fact that her backstory on Krypton was {{Retcon}}ed with every writer she had. An AuthorsSavingThrow finally softened her character and clarified her history, which was mostly accepted by the fanbase.

* There is now an odd phenomenon in a lot of comics (mostly [[LongRunner ones that have been published for decades]] by Marvel and DC, where an old character comes back and is actually viewed as the ReplacementScrappy for the RS who replaced them years ago (mostly done as a case of RunningTheAsylum).
** Big cases in DC being Hal Jordan and Barry Allen in DC, because both were gone for at least a decade real-world time, and Hal had even gone evil before dying (Barry had performed a HeroicSacrifice). So when they came back and "replaced" Kyle Rayner and Wally West (Wally was the Flash for ''20 years'' by the time Barry was back), the readers didn't know or identify with them and for all intents and purposes treated them as newcomers stealing the "real heroes'" spotlight.
** Another odd case being Barbara Gordon, who was crippled in 1988 and hasn't been Batgirl in the main comics since. She became Oracle, which made her useful to a lot more people, as well as the two newer Batgirls (Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown) who followed her. The fact that she had never truly disappeared meant that reaction to her being Batgirl again were only [[BaseBreaker mixed instead of wholly against it]] but a lot of fans agree that the writers aren't being fair to Cass and Steph.
** Really, this happens any time a characters had been gone long enough for their replacement to be accepted as the norm (like with the Ray Palmer vs. Ryan Choi example above). When the "original" comes back, they're seen as the "new" disliked replacement.
** This happened to Connor Hawke as well of course. And even though fans had warmed up to him, many writers would treat him poorly as he wasn't Ollie. For example he was given a disease that made it so he couldn't hold a bow again, something that seemed to even irritate people who weren't fans of the character. Currently in the {{New 52}} he doesn't even exist, and probably never will.
** Kendra Saunders is an interesting case. Fans generally seemed to accept her and didn't mind so much that she wasn't truly Shiera. They had the same soul after all. However quite a good number of fans were irritated when Shiera was revived in Blackest Knight and Kendra was set up as the Hawkgirl of Comicbook/{{Earth 2}}.

** Kendra Saunders is an interesting case. Fans generally seemed to accept her and didn't mind so much that she wasn't truly Shiera. They had the same soul after all. However quite a good number of fans were irritated when Shiera was revived in Blackest Knight and Kendra was set to disappear forever.

* Happened to {{Nightwing}} in JLA-Task Force. Note he wasn't loathed by the fans, he was loathed by his team members in canon.

* This may have been a factor in the failure of Robert Kirkman's very well-written ''[[{{Ant-Man}} Irredeemable Ant-Man]]'' series. Insofar as Ant-Man has fans (every character is ''someone'''s favorite, right?), they would presumably be fans of Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man, or Scott Lang, the second to use the name; ''Irredeemable'' was about a third, brand-new character, Eric O'Grady. Of course, it didn't help that Eric O'Grady was an [[JerkAss unlikeable dick]]

* At the same time as the Death of Superman arc, {{Batman}} also got a ReplacementScrappy in [[AntiHeroSubstitute Azrael]], who took up the mantle after Batman's back was broken. He went over terribly with the fans, but like Superman, the writers never intended, and the readers never believed, that {{Azrael}} would ever be a ''permanent'' replacement.

* The second WonderGirl (Cassandra Sandsmark) is hated by some of the more diehard Donna Troy fans. Some even wish that she weren't a "blonde, white girl" so that [[FanDumb she would be killed off easier for Donna to go back to the role]]. This is especially irritating since in the 90s, Cassandra was a much more friendly, likable character then the Scrappy people see now. Further made worse for Donna's fans in the New 52 continuity, where Cassie is the only Wonder Girl yet doesn't even have any connection to Wonder Woman.

* There are a lot of fans who hate any character in ''{{Runaways}}'' who took the spotlight after [[spoiler: Gert died]]. No one gets this more than [[GreenThumb Klara Prast]], for being the only character not created by BrianKVaughan, for not having a supervillain parent like every other member of the team, for being introduced in a story generally regarded as a BizarroEpisode, for freaking out over the team lesbians, for not having an origin for her powers, for having a punny name...

* Marcus Johnson aka Nick Fury is not only hated by the fans because he is a pandering towards movie-fans, who are used to the black Nick Fury (who originated from the {{The Ultimates}}), but also because he is replacing his dad, who apparently [[PutOnABus is disappearing into the background because his youth formula isn't working anymore]].