History TookALevelInJerkass / ComicBooks

* Played with concerning [[Comicbook/AntMan Hank Pym]] in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse. Initially presented as a NiceGuy scientist, he had a number of Jerkass moments when he became Ant-Man, particularly his tendency to dismiss and verbally put down his love interest ComicBook/TheWasp. However, he ''really'' took a level when he had a mental breakdown and became the anti-heroic Yellowjacket, eventually getting to the point he tried to cause a robot attack he could foil to look heroic. After hitting rock bottom, he built up and became a NiceGuy again after some development.
* Although he was already kind of a jerk, Comicbook/IronMan during the Comicbook/CivilWar[=/=]ComicBook/SecretInvasion period was borderline approaching villain status. Thankfully, [[Film/IronMan the movie]] helped him to get the better of it.
** He got worse again during the "Superior Iron Man" phase, though this was due to his alignment being inverted during ''ComicBook/{{Axis}}''.
* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'':
** Near the end of his carer as [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Robin]], Tim Drake's personality took a dark turn, even using Scarecrow's fear toxin against gangsters. The reason for this was largely due to losing his mom, dad, girlfriend, best friend, other best friend, stepmother, and adoptive father in separate instances and then having [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick]], [[ComicBook/Batgirl2009 Stephanie]] and [[ComicBook/{{Wondergirl}} Cassie]] all betray his trust. Mostly Dick who refused to even listen to Tim's theory about what had really happened to Bruce and instead decided Tim was losing his mind, culminating in Dick giving Robin to Damian, who had made repeated attempts on Tim's life.
** In ''ComicBook/BatgirlAndTheBirdsOfPrey'', ComicBook/{{Huntress}} appears to be Darker and Edgier than she was in ''ComicBook/{{Grayson}}'', as she's shown to be killing every criminal that crosses her path, even threatening both ComicBook/{{Batgirl}} and ComicBook/BlackCanary. She does mellow down by the end of the first arc, however.
** The original Eric Needham Black Spider was this after his UnexplainedRecovery as during ''ComicBook/IdentityCrisis'', he was shown willing to hang out with the very villains he originally swore to take down.
** As a result of the trauma his family suffered in ''ComicBook/TheJokerWar'', Lucius underwent this in ''ComicBook/TheNextBatmanSecondSon'', turning his back on Bruce and becoming more willing to step questionable steps to keep Gotham safe, including going down the path to help turn Gotham into the PoliceState seen in ''ComicBook/DCFutureState''.
* Nearly every incarnation of [[Comicbook/IncredibleHulk The Hulk]] goes through periods where he goes from [[TheWoobie Woobie]] to JerkassWoobie to just plain {{Jerkass}}. Then again, it's The Hulk. His different personalities have different levels of jerkass. The most notable one was his Grey Hulk phase, or Mr. Fixit as he called himself. This Hulk enjoyed beating people [[BloodKnight a bit too much]] and even accepted to work as an enforcer in Vegas so he could earn money for punching people all day. His newfound intelligence allowed him to be much crueler with his foes than the classic Green Hulk ever was. For example, when attacked by the Rock and Redeemer, he took advantage of the Rock's spinning spikes attack, smashing Redeemer against said spikes and effectively killing him.

* ''Franchise/XMen'':
** Most of the ComicBook/NewMutants, but especially Cannonball.
** A ''ComicBook/NewXMen'' example with Hellion. While already a tremendous ass to begin with, he somehow ''still'' managed to take another level after his hands got blowed up by Bastion.
** ComicBook/KittyPryde'': After Teen Scott leaves in ''All-New X-Men'', she acts like a jerk to Modern Scott and says she doesn't want Scott and Teen Jean alone, since Teen Jean showed some attraction to Scott... even though she admits that Scott handled the situation well. Then, she berates Teen Angel for letting X-23 leave, even though there's nothing he could've done outside knocking her out, which he probably couldn't even have done. As she berates Teen Angel, she half admits that the reason for her shift in attitude, temporary as it is, is that she's trying to keep her students safe and feels like she's losing control.
** ComicBook/IllyanaRasputin used to be a sweet, innocent kid until she was kidnapped by a demon. After spending one decade forced to live among demons and learn dark magic, she often acts as an abrasive asshole. In ''Avengers vs. X-Men'', she started imprisoning captured Avengers by having demons feed on their souls until they were comatose.
* [[ComicBook/SubMariner Namor]], with his oxygen-processing problem, is either an arrogant but noble superhero or TheFriendNobodyLikes.
* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':
** ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} became difficult to put up with after becoming a [[Franchise/GreenLantern Red Lantern]] in the ''ComicBook/RedDaughterOfKrypton'' story arc. She became more rude, more impatient and developed [[HairTriggerTemper a brittle temper]]. Fortunately she ultimately got over her anger issues.
** After [[ComicBook/NewKrypton her husband's death]], Alura In-Ze becomes harsher, more callous, more unreasonable and more unpleasant. She snaps at everyone and becomes emotionally abusive to her own daughter. In ''ComicBook/WhoIsSuperwoman'' she treats Kara as a reckless, undisciplined kid or an incompetent, useless soldier.
--->'''Kara:''' Lana, what's wrong with her? Why is she so horrible to me? I do what she asks. I try so hard to help her, and all I get is her anger. Her disapproval. She wasn't like this when dad was alive.
** ComicBook/PowerGirl during her diet soda processing problem Dork Age.
** In ''ComicBook/SupermanDoomed'', the Doomsday virus causes Superman to snap at friend and foe alike.
** In ''ComicBook/SupermanGrounded'', Dick Grayson, of all people, has taken one when he becomes the new Batman after Bruce Wayne's was lost in time. He tells Superman he shouldn't become close to the people he protects, otherwise he risks making them targets for his enemies. Remember, this is the same Dick Grayson who is known for being nicer and more socially-adept than Bruce.
** In the new ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'' continuity, Superman's father Jor-El can be described as this. Instead of being the benevolent, humble figure we are used to, he is a [[WellIntentionedExtremist Well-Intentioned Extremist]] involved in much more shady, underhanded and outright dangerous activities. Jor-El was part of a cabal of six secret rulers from different planets who ruled their galaxy from the shadows and met in secret, and he would later create the humanoid behemoth Rogol Zaar to act as a mercenary for the Circle and carry out their dirty work in the galaxy. He becomes worse when [[spoiler: Dr. Manhattan]], the catalyst behind the previous New 52 universe who also set in a chain of events leading to the Rebirth universe, kidnapped him at the second Krypton was about to explode and placed him in the most war-torn city on Earth. After he saw the evils of some human men, he remarked how it was unbelievable for someone to be so wicked as to deny another human food. Later, Dr. Manhattan locks him in a room with video monitors where he witnesses man's inhumanity to man across generations: the Crusades, the Holocaust, the Ku Klux Klan, and other atrocities. This broke him and made him feel like humanity did not deserve his son's protection. He adopted the moniker of "Mr. Oz." and manipulated humanity's deepest emotions of hatred so they would turn against each other: a man firing at immigrant coworkers, a tribal leader firing on his own people and refugees. At the end, as punishment for his many sins and repeatedly violating the laws of nature and science, the Intergalactic Council returns him to his original place in the timestream, of Krypton's destruction, so he would perish along with the rest of the Kryptonians.
* In his earlier appearances, Curt Connors of ''Comicbook/SpiderMan'' was a reasonably sympathetic character when he wasn't [[SuperpoweredEvilSide the Lizard]], and even as the Lizard retained some protective instincts towards his family. He was {{retcon}}ned into being EvilAllAlong, and as of ''The Gauntlet'' he [[spoiler: completely lost control of the Lizard persona and ''killed and ate his own son'']]. After that, his more sympathetic characterization likely won't be coming back any time soon.
** The EvilAllAlong ret-con was pretty much ret-conned itself after the story that introduced the idea, as no other writer has used it since then.
* As surprising as it may seem, when he first appeared, [[Franchise/GreenLantern Guy Gardner]] was a fairly regular man. That is until he was hit by a bus, got trapped in the PhantomZone where he was tortured by General Zod, and [[TraumaCongaLine ended up in a coma upon his return to earth]], only to wake up years later with a massive chip on his shoulders.
* Captain Boomerang started off no worse than the other Flash Rogues, but he became a massive {{Jerkass}} after being forced to join the ''ComicBook/SuicideSquad'', to the point where [[TheFriendNobodyLikes nobody on and out of the team likes him]].

* In ''[[ComicBook/TheMultiversity The Just #1]]'', the older heroes of Earth-16 have no issue with re-enacting major battles for fun, regardless that some of their closest friends and allies actually died in those battles. For example, they have Red Amazo (the combination of ComicBook/RedTornado and Amazo) participate in the recreation of the event that actually created him, but pretty much killed the Red Tornado in the process.

** Huey, Dewey and Louie. One story had them complaining to each other about WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck's many flaws — only to suddenly realize that no matter if Donald is a big success or not, he still takes care of them, cooks for them, makes sure they're clothed and happy, and on the whole uses a lot more money on them than he does on himself. Cue guilt and a resolve to start appreciating their uncle a little more in the future. Later stories have them be openly ashamed on him and even come off as [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish]] {{Jerkass}}es [[note]]In "Where There's Smoke", one of the three said he wasn't annoyed by Donald dropping foam on them (because Donald thinks that [[TitleDrop where there's smoke]], there's fire), but because [[{{Jerkass}} he would get the badge instead of them]], and the comic portrays them in the right for their ItsAllAboutMe attitude, and they even get ''[[KarmaHoudini rewarded]]'' for it instead (they get their badge at the end), and in "Paperino e i Gamberi in Salmì", Scrooge's brother Gedeon gives Huey, Dewey and Louie a stand-in of the "Pulitzer" prize, but gives it to Donald to keep it for them until they grow up. Afterwards the three are shown [[DisproportionateRetribution running Donald out of town and saying]] "[[YoureNotMyFather You're not our uncle]]... you're a medal snatcher!" [[FelonyMisdemeanor just for getting the medal]], which he didn't steal it from them.[[/note]], and it doesn't help that they ''still'' [[ProtagonistCenteredMorality take the moral high ground against Donald and win]].

* After Jenny Sparks died, ComicBook/TheAuthority as a whole did this: lethal force was no longer merely an option, but their ''only'' solution to dealing with their problems; they often acted unilaterally without regard for the consequences for their actions or the concern of others; and for a brief period, they took over the United States.
* ''ComicBook/UltimateXMen''
** Nightcrawler started as a nice guy, as the mainstream version. Then he had an homophobic reaction when Colossus came out of the closet, and then towards all the X-Men.
** Initially, Pyro helped other mutants and even joined the X-Men. Then came ''ComicBook/TheUltimates 3'', where he was not only turned into a villain for no real reason, but suggested he and Mastermind rape Valkyrie.
* While Dr. Destiny was always a villain who crossed paths with the Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica, prior to the events of the first arc of ''ComicBook/TheSandman'', he never engaged in the behavior he did in that story, which infamously included torturing people in a diner for a day for his own amusement.
* ''ComicBook/ThePunisher'': Detective Molly von Richthofen was a JerkWithAHeartOfGold at worst when she first appeared in ''ComicBook/ThePunisherWelcomeBackFrank'', being the only character to not completely treat [[ButtMonkey Detective Soap]] horribly despite being annoyed by his whining. When she returned in the arc "The Resurrection of Ma Gnucci" in ''Punisher War Zone'' 8 years later, she's now an insanely jealous PsychoLesbian {{Yandere}} who brutally attacks and beats anyone who even looks the wrong way at her bisexual partner. When she ends up getting suspended and her partner later breaks up with her (surprisingly, ''not'' for any of the unprovoked beatings she delivered), when she comes across a punk who's traded barbs with her in the past, she takes things out on him [[DisproportionateRetribution by shooting and killing his dog when it pees on the street]].

* ''ComicBook/ThePunisher'': Detective Molly von Richthofen was a JerkWithAHeartOfGold at worst when she first appeared in "ComicBook/WelcomeBackFrank", being the only character to not completely treat [[ButtMonkey Detective Soap]] horribly despite being annoyed by his whining. When she returned in the arc "The Resurrection of Ma Gnucci" in ''Punisher War Zone'' 8 years later, she's now an insanely jealous PsychoLesbian {{Yandere}} who brutally attacks and beats anyone who even looks the wrong way at her bisexual partner. When she ends up getting suspended and her partner later breaks up with her (surprisingly, ''not'' for any of the unprovoked beatings she delivered), when she comes across a punk who's traded barbs with her in the past, she takes things out on him [[DisproportionateRetribution by shooting and killing his dog when it pees on the street]].

* While Dr. Destiny was always a villain who crossed paths with the Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica, prior to the events of the first arc of ''ComicBook/TheSandman'', he never engaged in the behavior he did in that story, which infamous including torturing the people in a diner for a day.

* ''ComicBook/ThePunisher'': Detective Molly von Richthofen was a JerkWithAHeartOfGold at worst when she first appeared in "ComicBook/WelcomeBackFrank", being the only character to not completely treat [[ButtMonkey Detective Soap]] horribly despite being annoyed by his whining. When she returned in the arc "The Resurrection of Ma Gnucci" in ''Punisher War Zone'' 8 years later, she's now an insanely jealous PsychoLesbian {{Yandere}} who brutally attacks and beats anyone who even looks the wrong way at her bisexual partner. When she ends up getting suspended and her partner later breaks up with her (surprisingly, ''not'' for any of the unprovoked beatings she delivered), when she comes across a punk who's traded barbs with her in the past, she takes things out on him [[DisproportianteRetribution by shooting and killing his dog when it pees on the street]].

* In ''ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog'', King Acorn in the pre-ContinuityReboot universe spiraled into this direction after the restoration of his body, disbanding the more battle-hardened Freedom Fighters to install his Secret Service and trying to force Sally into marrying Antoine, but went full tilt after his body was damaged by Antoine's EvilCounterpart Patch.

* ''ComicBook/UltimateXMen'': Nightcrawler started as a nice guy, as the mainstream version. Then he had an homophobic reaction when Colossus came out of the closet, and then towards all the X-Men.

** The original Eric Needham Black Spider was this after his UnexplainedRecovery as during ''ComicBook/IdentityCrisis'', he was shown willing to hang out with the very villains h originally swore to take down.

** Batman has an on-and-off again history of this. ''ComicBook/AllStarBatmanAndRobinTheBoyWonder'' probably takes the cake. Also to a ''[[UpToEleven huge]]'' extent in ''ComicBook/JLAActOfGod'', infamously.

* Played with concerning [[Comicbook/AntMan Hank Pym]] in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse. Initially presented as a NiceGuy scientist, he had a number of Jerkass moments when he became Ant-Man, particularly his tendency to dismiss and verbally put down his love interest ComicBook/TheWasp. However, he ''really'' took a level when he had a mental breakdown and became the anti-heroic Yellow Jacket, eventually getting to the point he tried to cause a robot attack he could foil to look heroic. After hitting rock bottom, he built up and became a NiceGuy again after some development.

** In ''ComicBook/BatgirlAndTheBirdsOfPrey'', [[ComicBook/{{Huntress}} appears to be Darker and Edgier than she was in ''ComicBook/{{Grayson}}'', as she's shown to be killing every criminal that crosses her path, even threatening both ComicBook/{{Batgirl}} and ComicBook/BlackCanary. She does mellow down by the end of the first arc, however.

* After Jenny Sparks died, ComicBook/TheAutohrity as a whole did this: lethal force was no longer merely an option, but their ''onlu'' solution to dealing with their problems; they often acted unilaterally without regard for the consequences for their actions or the concern of others; and for a brief period, they took over the United States.

* The title character of ''ComicStrip/FunkyWinkerbean'' was something of a pessimist as an adult, but still mostly a nice guy. After TimeSkip #2, he became a grumpy, avaricious JerkAss.

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' has an on-and-off again history of this. ''Comicbook/AllStarBatmanAndRobinTheBoyWonder'' probably takes the cake. Also to a ''[[UpToEleven huge]]'' extent in ''ComicBook/JLAActOfGod'', infamously.

* Most of the ComicBook/NewMutants in recent years, but especially [[Characters/NewMutants Cannonball]].

* ComicBook/PowerGirl with her diet soda processing problem.
* ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}'' became difficult to put up with after becoming a [[Franchise/GreenLantern Red Lantern]] in the ''Comicbook/RedDaughterOfKrypton'' story arc. She became more rude, more impatient and developed [[HairTriggerTemper a brittle temper]]. Fortunately she ultimately got over her anger issues.

* ''ComicBook/AllNewXMen'':
** Due to her TraumaCongaLine, Teen ComicBook/JeanGrey brainwashes Warren into submission ''twice''! And in Battle of the Atom she manipulates Teen Scott by flattering him (after kissing Hank) to help her stay in the present, which she knows will cause an Apocalyptic Future.
** After Teen Scott leaves, ComicBook/KittyPryde acts like a jerk to Modern Scott and says she doesn't want Scott and Teen Jean alone, since Teen Jean showed some attraction to Scott... even though she admits that Scott handled the situation well. Then, she berates Teen Angel for letting X-23 leave, even though there's nothing he could've done outside knocking her out, which he probably couldn't even have done.

* ''ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse'' has Huey, Dewey and Louie. One story had them complaining to each other about Donald's many flaws — only to suddenly realize that no matter if Donald is a big success or not, he still takes care of them, cooks for them, makes sure they're clothed and happy, and on the whole uses a lot more money on them than he does on himself. Cue guilt and a resolve to start appreciating their uncle a little more in the future. Later stories have them be openly ashamed on him and even come off as [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish]] {{Jerkass}}es [[note]]In "Where There's Smoke", one of the three said he wasn't annoyed by Donald dropping foam on them (because Donald thinks that [[TitleDrop where there's smoke]], there's fire), but because [[{{Jerkass}} he would get the badge instead of them]], and the comic portrays them in the right for their ItsAllAboutMe attitude, and they even get ''[[KarmaHoudini rewarded]]'' for it instead (they get their badge at the end), and in "Paperino e i Gamberi in Salmì", Scrooge's brother Gedeon gives Huey, Dewey and Louie a stand-in of the "Pulitzer" prize, but gives it to Donald to keep it for them until they grow up. Afterwards the three are shown [[DisproportionateRetribution running Donald out of town and saying]] "[[YoureNotMyFather You're not our uncle]]... you're a medal snatcher!" [[FelonyMisdemeanor just for getting the medal]], which he didn't steal it from them.[[/note]], and it doesn't help that they ''still'' [[ProtagonistCenteredMorality take the moral high ground against Donald and win]].
* Near the end of his carer as [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Robin]], Tim Drake's personality took a dark turn, even using Scarecrow's fear toxin against gangsters. The reason for this was largely due to losing his mom, dad, girlfriend, best friend, other best friend, stepmother, and adoptive father in separate instances and then having [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick]], [[ComicBook/Batgirl2009 Stephanie]] and [[ComicBook/{{Wondergirl}} Cassie]] all betray his trust. Mostly Dick who refused to even listen to Tim's theory about what had really happened to Bruce and instead decided Tim was losing his mind, culminating in Dick giving Robin to Damian, who had made repeated attempts on Tim's life.

* In ''ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog'', King Acorn in the pre-ContinuityReboot universe spiraled into this direction after the restoration of his body, disbanding the more battle-hardened Freedom Fighters to install his Secret Service and trying to force Sally into marrying Antoine, but went full tilt after his body was damaged by Antoine's EvilCounterpart Patch. Many fans were quite happy when the Reboot hit and he was back to being a generally nice guy again.

* Near the end of his carer as [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Robin]] Tim Drake's personality took a dark turn, even using Scarecrow's fear toxin against gangsters. The reason for this was largely due to loosing his mom, dad, girlfriend, best friend, other best friend, step-mother, and adoptive father in separate instances and then having [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick]], [[ComicBook/Batgirl2009 Stephanie]] and [[ComicBook/{{Wondergirl}} Cassie]] all betray his trust. Mostly Dick who refused to even listen to Tim's theory about what had really happened to Bruce and instead decided Tim was losing his mind culminating in Dick giving Robin to Damian, who had made repeated attempts on Tim's life.

* Near the end of his carer as [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Robin]] Tim Drake's personality took a dark turn, even using Scarecrow's fear toxin against gangsters. The reason for this was largely due to loosing his mom, dad, girlfriend, best friend, other best friend, having the city he'd evacuated his step-mother to flattened, and adoptive father in separate instances and then having [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick]], [[ComicBook/Batgirl2009 Stephanie]] and [[ComicBook/{{Wondergirl}} Cassie]] all betray his trust. Mostly Dick who refused to even listen to Tim's theory about what had really happened to Bruce and instead decided Tim was losing his mind culminating in Dick giving Robin to Damian, who had made repeated attempts on Tim's life.

* ''ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse'' has Huey, Dewey and Louie. One story had them complaining to each other about Donald's many flaws — only to suddenly realize that no matter if Donald is a big success or not, he still takes care of them, cooks for them, makes sure they're clothed and happy, and on the whole uses a lot more money on them than he does on himself. Cue guilt and a resolve to start appreciating their uncle a little more in the future. Later stories have them be openly ashamed on him and even come off as [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish]] {{Jerkass}}es [[note]]In "Where There's Smoke", one of the three said he wasn't annoyed by Donald dropping foam on them (because Donald thinks that [[TitleDrop where there's smoke]], there's fire), but because [[{{Jerkass}} he would get the badge instead of them]], and the comic portrays them in the right for their ItsAllAboutMe attitude, and they even get ''[[KarmaHoudini rewarded]]'' for it instead (they get their badge at the end), and in "Paperino e i Gamberi in Salmì", Scrooge's brother Gedeon gives Huey, Dewey and Louie a stand-in of the "Pulitzer" prize, but gives it to Donald to keep it for them until they grow up. Afterwards the three are shown [[DisproportionateRetribution running Donald out of town and saying]] "[[YoureNotMyFather You're not our uncle]]... you're a medal snatcher!" [[FelonyMisdemeanor just for getting the medal]], which he didn't steal it from them.[[/note]], and it doesn't help that they ''still'' [[ProtagonistCenteredMorality take the moral high ground against Donald and win]]:
**

* Played with concerning [[Comicbook/AntMan Hank Pym]] in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse. Initially presented as a NiceGuy scientist, he had a number of Jerkass moments when he became Ant-Man, particularly his tendency to dismiss and verbally put down his love interest ComicBook/TheWasp. However, he ''really'' took a level when he had a mental breakdown and became the anti-heroic Yellow Jacket, eventually getting to the point he tried to cause a robot attack he could foil and look heroic. After hitting rock bottom though, he built up and became a NiceGuy again after some development.

** And is getting worse again now that he's the "Superior Iron Man", though this is due to being inverted during ''ComicBook/{{Axis}}''.

* Nearly every incarnation of [[Comicbook/IncredibleHulk The Hulk]] goes through periods where he goes from [[TheWoobie Woobie]] to JerkassWoobie to just plain {{Jerkass}}.
** Then again, it's The Hulk. His superpower is taking a level in both badass and jerkass.

** A ''ComicBook/NewXMen'' example with Hellion. While already a tremendous ass to begin with, he somehow ''still'' managed to take another level after his hands got blow'ed up by Bastion.

** Due to her TraumaCongaLine, Teen ComicBook/JeanGrey brainwashes Warren into submission ''twice''! And now in Battle of the Atom she manipulates Teen Scott by flattering him (after kissing Hank) to help her stay in the present, which she knows will cause an Apocalyptic Future.