History AdaptationalHeroism / ComicBooks

** In ''ComicBook/TheTransformersRobotsInDisguise'' Swindle, Squawkbox and Tankor all pull [[HeelFaceTurn Heel Face Turns]], though only Swindle and Squawkbox count as Tankor/Octane befriended an autobot and became good in the original cartoon.

* The Creator/ArchieComics-published ''ComicBook/MegaMan'' comics do this with the Robot Masters from the original game, with Mega Man's attempts to talk them out of following Wily's orders convinces them to help him, and later join and serve his supporting cast when Wily's programming to them is undone, though this is more because they were already Dr. Light's robots to begin with. This trope rings truer when half of the ''VideoGame/MegaMan2'' and ''VideoGame/MegaMan3'' Robot Masters pull a HeelFaceTurn.

* Creator/DynamiteComics brings us [[DaddysLittleVillain Phaidor]] in their ''ComicBook/WarlordOfMars'' title. While in the ''Literature/{{John Carter|OfMars}}'' series, she is a White Martian princess who possesses all her people's negative traits such as [[AGodAmI god delusion]], [[MasterRace racial superiority]], [[GreenEyedMonster jealousy]] and [[ImAHumanitarian cannibalism]]--though admittedly she had been ObliviouslyEvil all her life over all these things --the comic downplays all those traits and makes her more sympathetic. Though [[MurderTheHypotenuse she still attempts to kill Dejah Thoris in a fit of jealousy because she is married to the man Phaidor loves]], she ends up regretting the attack and befriends the princess while they are both imprisoned inside a dungeon, ultimately [[PetTheDog coming to Dejah's defense when Phaidor's father assaults her]] and [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy admits before John Carter that she will never earn his affection]], in contrast to the book version, where she remains loyal to her father and [[EvilGloating gloats to Carter's face that he can't save his wife]].

** Knock Out and Breakdown were Decepticons in ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime''; Knock Out defected for pragmatic reasons, and Breakdown died a Decepticon. In ''ComicBook/TheTransformersTillAllAreOne'', Knock Out and an unnamed bot with Breakdown's design[[note]][[OneSteveLimit they already had a Breakdown in the comic]][[/note]] are instead a married couple who hail from the unaligned world of Velocitron, which has a speed obsession. Knock Out is still a ''vain jerk'', but he's a vain jerk who's willing to relocate from his home to Cybertron because his less speedy husband is happier there, and "Breakdown" doesn't do anything villainous at all - a considerable improvement on the "MadDoctor" and "murderous thug" characterisations they received in ''Prime'', and ones that probably leave them higher up the KarmaMeter than several fully-qualified Autobots, such as Prowl, Getaway and Whirl.

* ''ComicBook/JemAndTheHolograms'':

!!Franchise/MarvelUniverse
* The ''ComicBook/AgeOfApocalypse'' inverted the moral alignments of several long-running X-Men characters, and more than a few of them were villains:
** First and foremost was ComicBook/{{Magneto}}, who in the comics has been the X-Men's oldest ArchEnemy. In his universe, he is in fact the X-Men's founder, having organized and named them in memory of his fallen friend Charles Xavier. And in filling Xavier's shoes, he's the closest thing the heroes of this universe have to a BigGood. He also has a much healthier relationship with his children, Comicbook/ScarletWitch and Comicbook/{{Quicksilver}}, whereas his Earth-616 counterpart is generally known to be a pretty terrible father.
** Another very prominent X-villain to get a moral shift was ComicBook/{{Sabretooth}}, number one ArchEnemy to Franchise/{{Wolverine}} and one of the X-Men's most bloodthirsty foes. In this continuity Creed starts out similarly to his 616 counterpart, but quickly decides that Apocalypse's OmnicidalManiac goals are NotWhatISignedOnFor. This steers him towards AntiHero territory, but he acquires true heroism through his relationship with ComicBook/{{Blink}}, a teleporting mutant who comes to see him as a father figure. This version of Creed ended up being one of the most popular of the [=AoA=] characters, so much so that he was brought back (along with Blink) to be a main character in the ''ComicBook/{{Exiles}}'' title.
** Magneto's disciple Exodus also received an alignment switch as a direct result of his mentor's adaptational heroism. While the 616 Exodus was radicalized into being a SuperSupremacist by Magneto, this Exodus is much more accepting of both humans and mutants, as well as being more kind and less prone to KickTheSonOfABitch. Came with a RedemptionDemotion in his case though, as this Magneto deliberately keeps Exodus from knowing his true potential as a SuperpowerLottery winner and even affixed PowerLimiter devices to him to keep him from being corrupted by his own powers.
** Classic ''X-Men'' baddies Mastermind, Sauron, and Toad became heroic members of Forge's Outcasts, an independent LaResistance group that came across Nate Grey the ComicBook/XMan and adopted him.
** Receiving this must be InTheBlood in the Age of Apocalypse, because Sabretooth's son Graydon Creed also got a taste of this. Rather than being a FantasticRacist and aspiring PresidentEvil, he's the deeply troubled but heroic resistance fighter Horror Show. He's so heroic, in fact, that he even becomes the lover of ComicBook/JeanGrey!
** Inverted with Abyss. Originally created as an OriginalGeneration member of [=AoA=] Apocalypse's Four Horsemen, he proved popular enough to get adapted into the regular 616 continuity. But since 616 Earth isn't a CrapsackWorld, Abyss was reimagined as a hero.
* The 2011 storyline ''[[AgeOfTitles Age of]] X'' accomplished this for 90's ''Franchise/XMen'' baddies Frenzy and Unuscione, with particular emphasis on the former. A pair of villainesses hailing from Magneto's Acolytes, these two ladies were about as evil as evil came -- Unuscione WouldHurtAChild even if that child was a developmentally disabled member of her own race (and terrorized a school bus of human children while doing it), while Cargill was a true believer that MurderIsTheBestSolution and remorselessly killed off X-Men supporting character Sharon Freidlander. But thanks to this storyline's giving them a chance to find out that GoodFeelsGood, the duo turned their backs on supervillainy afterward, with Frenzy even going so far as to join the X-Men (Unuscione has since relapsed into supervillainy, but spent a good few years trying to live a normal life before the inevitable reset button push).
* ''ComicBook/TheEternals'': One of the most prominent Eternals is the fashion model and occasional member of Franchise/TheAvengers Sersi, who is in Marvel continuity the same person as Circe (the evil sorceress who turned Odysseus' men into swine in ''Literature/TheOdyssey''). In her backstory, it was clear that Homer distorted the facts quite a bit; yeah, she turned them into pigs, but to make a long story short, ''they'' started it.)
* ''ComicBook/{{Exiles}}'':
** One of the main characters of the team throughout the book's run is a version of Mimic, the original SixthRanger turned SixthRangerTraitor of the X-Men who in the original timeline spends his time in a decades-long HeelFaceRevolvingDoor. This Mimic never experienced any such moral lapses, and to highlight his heroism, he's even [[BeautyEqualsGoodness drawn more attractively]] than the 616 Mimic, having a very clean-cut all-American look while 616 Mimic often looks like nothing so much as a winged hobo.
** Much later in the book a RuleSixtyThree version of ComicBook/{{Mystique}} is introduced, dubbed Mystiq. This version lives as a man thanks to their shared VoluntaryShapeshifting and, as you might have guessed, is much less of a ManipulativeBitch than 616 Raven.
* ''ComicBook/UltimateXMen'':
** While ComicBook/ProfessorX himself is case of AdaptationalJerkass (being a DirtyOldMan who uses his powers to amuse himself and to manipulate others, [[TeacherStudentRomance lusts after his female students]], and amounted his love for his son to an owner of a pet), his becoming ComicBook/{{Onslaught}} was the result of ComicBook/{{Cable}} (here the [[spoiler:future counterpart of ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}]]) fixing his spine, giving him armor, and training him to prevent a BadFuture ruled by ComicBook/{{Apocalypse}}, as opposed to Magneto's dark side fusing with Xavier's repressed anger and becoming a {{split personality}} bent on taking over the world.
** A straighter example is the UXM adaptation of ComicBook/EmmaFrost. 616 Emma started out as a sadistic RichBitch whose evil deeds made her the X-Men's preeminent villainess before her HeelFaceTurn in the '90s and decades-long redemption arc (and thanks to her [[DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale abusive]] [[MoreThanMindControl relationship]] with ComicBook/{{Cyclops}}, even at the end her redemption is [[TokenEvilTeammate questionable]]). This Emma, on the other hand, is infinitely less sadistic, is in fact an ActualPacifist, and never engages in any kind of mind games or intimate psychic tampering like 616 Emma did with/to Scott. The result is an unambiguously heroic Emma who, sadly, [[spoiler:was among the hundreds of UXM characters pointlessly killed off in the shock-for-shocks-sake event ''ComicBook/{{Ultimatum}}'']].
** UXM's adaptation of Pyro ''started out'' as one of these, being a much more sympathetic character who was a MinionWithAnFInEvil and even joined the X-Men after proving his new heroism by helping other mutants. Unfortunately, while Pyro survived the events of ''ComicBook/{{Ultimatum}}'', a FateWorseThanDeath at the hands of writers awaited him when during ''Ultimatum 3'' he experienced '''steep''' AdaptationalJerkass and [[OutOfCharacterMoment transformed]] from a decent guy into a leering wannabe-rapist, something 616 Pyro wasn't even at his worst. Mercifully, he was KilledOffForReal shortly after.
* ''ComicBook/XMen92'':
** Genocidal SocialDarwinist ComicBook/{{Apocalypse}} is reinvented into a WellIntentionedExtremist and [[spoiler:outright BigGood who has been putting the X-Men through TrainingFromHell to prepare them for the threat of a cosmic FantasticRacist Celestial on its way to Earth]]. While Apocalypse has occasionally been presented before as having Well-Intentioned Extremist leanings, this is the only interpretation of the character to date which has tipped over into outright heroism. Note that the series is a direct sequel to the 1992 ''WesternAnimation/XMen'' animated series, where Apocalypse is ''even worse'' than his traditional depiction! Apparently, [[spoiler: it was all an act for when the heroes had to face someone who ''really was'' everything Apocalypse was only pretending to be.]]
** Cassandra Nova is also more idealistic and noble than her comic counterpart [[spoiler:even being an ally to this version of Apocalypse.]]
** Joseph is depicted in his original 90's characterization as a hero, while the mainstream version has since undergone a (rather forced) FaceHeelTurn.
* ''ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'': Believe it or not, Groot's first ever appearance was in the November 1960 Tales To Astonish comic book, "The Monster From Planet X", where he was an evil alien invader looking to abduct humans and perform inhumane experiments on them. His first appearance as a hero was in the 2008 reboot of Guardians Of The Galaxy'', where he was remade into a good guy. And while he's still larger than humans, and still retains his plant-based powers, [[AdaptationalWimp he's a lot smaller than the original incarnation]]. [[AdaptationalAttractiveness But much better looking and less scary]].
** The two Groots were later retconned into [[DecompositeCharacter separate characters]].

!!Franchise/{{DCU}}
* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' rogue Mr. Freeze was originally a very generic, pun-spouting villain in a green welder's suit. Then Creator/PaulDini got ahold of the character and gave him a total overhaul for his appearance in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', bestowing upon him his now-iconic name, look, and TragicVillain backstory. Taking note of this, the comics revamped Freeze completely to hew to Dini's interpretation of him.
* In the ''ComicBook/Batman66'' comics continuity, ComicBook/HarleyQuinn is an idealistic psychiatrist who voluntarily sacrifices her sanity to sabotage a mind-bending ray that the Joker is using to drive Gotham City insane.
* In ''Batman: The Adventure Continues'', a comic continuation of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', ComicBook/{{Azrael}} (the Jean-Paul Valley version) is still the dogmatic weapon of the Order of St. Dumas, he leans a little more on the idealistic side of the AntiHero scope, is old friends with Bruce Wayne, shows compassion at [[spoiler:Mr. Freeze, who tried to revive Nora using a special artifact from the Order]], and is humbled by Batman saving him.
* In ''ComicBook/BatmanEarthOne'', Killer Croc is a man who hid in the sewers after escaping the circus and ends up joining Batman's inner circle after helping stop the Riddler, a far cry from the DumbMuscle of the mainstream comics. In a similar vein, Killer Croc was also portrayed as being much kinder than he usually is in ''ComicBook/GothamAcademy'' as a result of his contact with Sybil Silverlock, the protagonist's mother during his stay at Arkham. He even saves Olive from a burning building with her friends declaring him a hero. Unfortunately for him, he's committed several murders prior to this change of heart, leading Batman to hunt him relentlessly.
* ''ComicBook/BatmanThrillkiller'':
** Selina Kyle never becomes the jewel thief ComicBook/{{Catwoman}}, with her only criminal past being something in sex work.
** Like in most adaptations, Harvey Bullock's dirty past isn't acknowledged here.
** Edward Nygma is a kindly psychiatrist as opposed to criminal mastermind ComicBook/TheRiddler. While he's implied to be a quack, he's not evil.
** Harvey Dent gets this by way of DecompositeCharacter, being a straightforward heroic DA instead of the secret identity of ComicBook/TwoFace.
* ''ComicBook/DastardlyAndMuttley'': Dastardly and Muttley are American heroes this time instead of [[WesternAnimation/DastardlyAndMuttleyInTheirFlyingMachines villains with no specified nationality]].
* ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'':
** ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' villain Basil Karlo, aka the first (and briefly 'Ultimate' Clayface) has for decades been by far the most reprehensible and villainous of the Clayfaces. Later Clayfaces Preston Payne (aka Clayface III) and ''especially'' Matt Hagen (Clayface II, but much better known for his sympathetic portrayal as the first Clayface of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'') were portrayed more sympathetically and laid the groundwork for the concept of Clayface as a TragicVillain, which the comics took shameless advantage of to reboot Karlo's character. Instead of being an unrepentant narcissist and egomaniac, Karlo is now a MinionWithAnFInEvil who decides that BeingEvilSucks so much that he agrees to join the Batfamily and toe Batman's line 100% if it means maybe getting a cure for his PowerIncontinence. While this new Karlo is a much more likable character, he doesn't jive at all with the Karlo readers have known for decades.
** Kyodai Ken was created for ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' as a villain with ties to Bruce, having trained with him until Ken was caught stealing and kicked out of the dojo and blaming Bruce for the consequences of his own actions. ''ComicBook/DetectiveComicsRebirth'' sees him as a loyal bodyguard of one of Bruce's teacher.
** Franchise/WonderWoman antagonist and occasional uneasy ally ''ComicBook/HerculesUnbound'' did occasionally attempt to be a hero in the more modern sense of the word but previously had always been a NominalHero at best due to [[DeliberateValuesDissonance his antiquated sense of morality]]. In this new reality he was better able to adapt with the times and was a true good guy.
** ''ComicBook/WonderWomanRebirth'':
*** Veronica Cale is still a villain who's done some awful things, but whereas the original was motivated purely by envy, this one is motivated by her desire to have her daughter back, and is basically a CosmicPlaything.
*** Queen Atomia started out as one of Wondy's few truly irredeemably evil villains; an arrogant EmperorScientist who kidnapped humans and horrifically [[ReforgedIntoAMinion transformed them into her mindless mooks]], this version of her is reimagined as a WellIntentionedExtremist who only attacked the alternate dimension version of Themyscira because they invaded her world first.
*** Zeus himself gets this, whilst most DC comics tone down his [[JerkAssGods jerkass god]] behaviour from the original Greek Myth he’s still portrayed as a ruthless deity. Like in the ''ComicBook/New52'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman2011 series]] where Zeus does things like killing his first child and implanting FalseMemories into his daughter Diana’s head to turn her into the God of War. In ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'' Zeus is more benevolent and caring seen when he disguises himself as Wondy’s lawyer to watch over her and in ''DC Rebirth Wonder Woman #36'' when Diana and her brother Jason are being attacked by ComicBook/{{Darkseid}}, Zeus [[PapaWolf steps in to save them]] displaying far more heroism than usual. This carries over to ''ComicBook/YoungJustice2019'' where Zeus uncharacteristically reaches out to his granddaughter [[ComicBook/WonderGirl Cassie Sandsmark]], who’s surprised and suspicious of his generosity.
* ''ComicBook/DCComicsBombshells'':
** ComicBook/PoisonIvy and [[spoiler:Two-Face]] are completely heroic, and Harley Quinn and Killer Croc have disreputable backgrounds but are more sympathetic than their main-continuity versions.
** Yuki and Yuri, the Katsura sisters, are a pair of ''Comicbook/{{Batgirl 2011}}'' villains in the main continuity. Here, however, they're part of Donna Troy's group of rebels who fight against the unjust internment of Japanese-Americans.
** Talia al Ghul fights alongside the heroes, and protects the Lazarus Pit from evildoers like Comicbook/BlackAdam.
** ComicBook/AmandaWaller is far less morally dubious in this continuity.
** ComicBook/{{Cheetah}} still starts off as a villain, but eventually seeks redemption after realizing the horrors she's committed.
** Trigon is depicted as a nature spirit who genuinely loved Raven's mother, instead of a demon who, DependingOnTheWriter, either callously seduced or brutally raped her. [[spoiler:Subverted as he ends up on the side of evil in the end.]]
* In ''ComicBook/GothamCityGarage'', Harley Quinn, Catwoman and Silver Banshee are more heroic than their villainous canon counterparts, risking themselves to overthrow a tyrant.
* In the classic ''ComicBook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}}'', Mano of the Fatal Five had a bit of a FreudianExcuse in that he was subjected to prejudice on his home planet, before he [[WhereIWasBornAndRazed destroyed it]]. In the Reboot Legion, he destroys his planet ''after'' everyone on it was killed by weapons sold by [=MacCauley=] Industries, and then seeks revenge on Leyland [=MacCauley=]. When he realises the rest of the Five are a bunch of psychos who ''like'' destroying planets, he [[HeelFaceTurn turns against them]]. He later [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor rejoins the group]], but still tries to avoid harming innocents.
* ''ComicBook/New52'':
** ''ComicBook/{{Batman}} Annual'': Ironically enough, averted with Mr. Freeze, who experiences this trope's [[AdaptationalVillainy inverse]] instead for his New 52 interpretation.
** ''Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'': Arthur Light, better known as Dr. Light, was a third-string baddie and punching bag of the Franchise/TeenTitans (who had [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil a rape]] retconned into his backstory in an attempt to make him more evil) pre-New 52. Now he's a supporting member of the titular Justice League [[spoiler:and he died a hero]].
** Following the general DC trend of making the character LighterAndSofter (and thus more accessible to her [[SexSells target]] [[FanserviceCharacters audience]]), New 52's ComicBook/HarleyQuinn is an AntiHero who means well rather than an AxCrazy LoonyFan.
** ''ComicBook/TheRavagers'': Terra, who had been previously a SixthRangerTraitor (and long since KilledOffForReal besides) was revamped into a heroine and founding member of the titular Ravagers.
** ComicBook/{{Starfire}}'s sister Komand'r (aka Blackfire) was cruel, sadistic and treacherous in the former continuities. Now, despite having had some questionable attitudes toward Kory, she's still a better person than her previous version, and eventually makes peace with her sister, as seen in ''ComicBook/RedHoodAndTheOutlaws'', where Kom and Kory share a hug. To be fair, the New 52 wasn't solely responsible for this shift - Kom's redemption first started in the 2009 ''ComicBook/LEGIONDCComics'' sequel series R.E.B.E.L.S, where the previously [[TheEvilPrincess one-note]] villainess was depicted as a [[CharacterDevelopment more complex figure]] with positive as well as negative traits. The New 52 simply picked up where R.E.B.E.L.S. left off.
** In the ''ComicBook/Supergirl2011'' stories, the villainess Silver Banshee was turned into a troubled but clearly heroic young woman, whose first appearance has her jumping in front of Kara to stop soldiers shooting her. ''[[ComicBook/RedDaughterOfKrypton Later issues]]'' have hinted that she's having trouble keeping her superpowers (inherited from her evil father) under control but even here the implication is she is heading towards being a TragicVillain rather than the totally unsympathetic character she used to be.
** ComicBook/WonderWoman's oft nemesis ComicBook/{{Ares|DC}} had traditionally been a straight villain, and even when he wasn't he was never a nice guy, he's powered by war and bloodshed after all. The [[ComicBook/WonderWoman2011 New 52 version]] is probably the closest to being a hero out of the entire Greek pantheon and is painted as Diana's mentor and grandfather figure--amusing since he ''is'' her grandfather even if the writers ignore this in favor of his new status as her ''brother'' since this version of Wondy has a father, and that father is Zeus. [[note]]For the confused Zeus is Ares' father, Ares is Hippolyta's father, and Hippolyta is Wonder Woman's mother. In this continuity Hippolyta slept with her own grandfather which resulted in her pregnancy with Diana.[[/note]]
* In ''ComicBook/TeenTitansEarthOne'', Tara Markov is depicted as a normal (if slightly angsty) teenager before her powers awaken, compare that with the pre-{{ComicBook/Flashpoint}} Tara Markov of the main universe who was a {{Manipulative|Bastard}} [[TheSociopath Sociopath]] and a contract killer.
* In ''ComicBook/WonderWoman2006'' Achilles is trying his hardest to be a hero in the modern sense of the word, and has little in common with the narcissistic StrawNihilist of the original myths. It might have something to do with his new heart, which came from a selfless and compassionate god (whom Zeus murdered).
* The original version of Comicbook/TheAuthority were [[NinetiesAntiHero Nineties Anti Heroes]] par excellence, {{Well Intentioned Extremist}}s at best, and could slip into full-on VillainProtagonist territory at times. In ''Comicbook/TheWildStorm'', they are the most straightforwardly heroic characters in the setting.
* ''[[Creator/DCInk Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass]]'':
** The graphic novel depicts Comicbook/HarleyQuinn as a straight up heroic figure fighting against an oppressive establishment. In a very notable departure, she ends up opposing Comicbook/TheJoker and tries to stop him after he endangers innocent people, and the book ends with her preparing to hunt him down.
** The book's version of Comicbook/PoisonIvy (renamed "Ivy Du-Barry") is still an environmentalist, but not a violently militant one. She also seems to care about a broad range of social justice topics instead of just the environment, as opposed to he classic comic counterpart, who would just as soon KillAllHumans if it meant protecting the Earth's plants.

* In general a popular comic trend in recent years has been to subject female villains to this as a way of compensating for the general scarcity of female superheroes. DC has been especially enthusiastic about revamping their back catalog of villainesses (Harley Quinn is a particularly notable example), but Marvel isn't too far behind the trend.
* Whenever there's an AlternateUniverse or ContinuityReboot, expect to see lots of this.

** They were later [[Retcon retconned]] into [[DecompositeCharacter separate characters]].

* ''ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'': Believe it or not, Groot's first ever appearance was in the November 1960 Tales To Astonish comic book, "The Monster From Planet X", where he was an evil alien invader looking to abduct humans and perform inhumane experiments on them. His first appearance as a hero was in the 2008 reboot of Guardians Of The Galaxy'', where he was remade into a good guy. And while he's still larger than humans, and still retains his plant-based powers, [[AdaptationalWimp he's a lot smaller than the original incarnation]]. [[AdaptationalAttractiveness But much better looking and less scary]]

** ComicBook/WonderWoman's oft nemesis ComicBook/{{Ares|DC}} had traditionally been a straight villain, and even when he wasn't he was never a nice guy, he's powered by war and bloodshed after all. The ''[[ComicBook/WonderWoman2011 New 52 version]]'' is probably the closest to being a hero out of the entire Greek pantheon and is painted as Diana's mentor and grandfather figure--amusing since he ''is'' her grandfather even if the writers ignore this in favor of his new status as her ''brother'' since this version of Wondy has a father, and that father is Zeus. [[note]]For the confused Zeus is Ares' father, Ares is Hippolyta's father, and Hippolyta is Wonder Woman's mother. In this continuity Hippolyta slept with her own grandfather which resulted in her pregnancy with Diana.[[/note]]

** ComicBook/WonderWoman's oft nemesis ComicBook/{{Ares|DC}} had traditionally been a straight villain, and even when he wasn't he was never a nice guy, he's powered by war and bloodshed after all. The [[ComicBook/WonderWoman2011 New 25 version]] is probably the closest to being a hero out of the entire Greek pantheon and is painted as Diana's mentor and grandfather figure--amusing since he ''is'' her grandfather even if the writers ignore this in favor of his new status as her ''brother'' since this version of Wondy has a father, and that father is Zeus. [[note]]For the confused Zeus is Ares' father, Ares is Hippolyta's father, and Hippolyta is Wonder Woman's mother. In this continuity Hippolyta slept with her own grandfather which resulted in her pregnancy with Diana.[[/note]]

*** Zeus himself gets this, whilst most DC comics tone down his [[JerkAssGods jerkass god]] behaviour from the original Greek Myth he’s still portrayed as a ruthless deity. Like in the ComicBook/New52 [[ComicBook/WonderWoman2011 series]] where Zeus does things like killing his first child and implanting FalseMemories into his daughter Diana’s head to turn her into the God of War. In ComicBook/DCRebirth Zeus is more benevolent and caring seen when he disguises himself as Wondy’s lawyer to watch over her and in ''DC Rebirth Wonder Woman #36'' when Diana and her brother Jason are being attacked by ComicBook/{{Darkseid}}, Zeus [[PapaWolf steps in to save them]] displaying far more heroism than usual. This carries over to ''ComicBook/YoungJustice2019'' where Zeus uncharacteristically reaches out to his granddaughter [[ComicBook/WonderGirl Cassie Sandsmark]], whose surprised and suspicious of his generosity.

* ''ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'': Believe it or not, Groot's first ever appearance was in the November 1960 Tales To Astonish comic book, "The Monster From Planet X", where he was an evil alien invader looking to abduct humans and perform inhumane experiments on them. His first appearance as a hero was in the 2008 reboot of Guardians Of The Galaxy'', where he was remade into a good guy.

* ''ComicBook/GuardianOfTheGalaxy'': Believe it or not, Groot's first ever appearance was in the November 1960 Tales To Astonish comic book, "The Monster From Planet X", where he was an evil alien invader looking to abduct humans and perform inhumane experiments on them. His first appearance as a hero was in the 2008 reboot of Guardians Of The Galaxy'', where he was remade into a good guy.

** While ComicBook/ProfessorX himself is a hero in both universes, his becoming ComicBook/{{Onslaught}} was the result of ComicBook/{{Cable}} (here the [[spoiler:future counterpart of ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}]]) fixing his spine, giving him armor, and training him to prevent a BadFuture ruled by ComicBook/{{Apocalypse}}, as opposed to Magneto's dark side fusing with Xavier's repressed anger and becoming a {{split personality}} bent on taking over the world.

** While ComicBook/ProfessorX himself is a case of AdaptationalJerkass (being a DirtyOldMan who uses his powers to amuse himself and to manipulate others, [[TeacherStudentRomance lusts after his female students]], and amounted his love for his son to an owner of a pet), his becoming ComicBook/{{Onslaught}} was the result of ComicBook/{{Cable}} (here the [[spoiler:future counterpart of ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}]]) fixing his spine, giving him armor, and training him to prevent a BadFuture ruled by ComicBook/{{Apocalypse}}, as opposed to Magneto's dark side fusing with Xavier's repressed anger and becoming a {{split personality}} bent on taking over the world.

** ComicBook/WonderWoman's oft nemesis Ares had traditionally been a straight villain, and even when he wasn't he was never a nice guy, he's powered by war and bloodshed after all. The [[ComicBook/WonderWoman2011 New 25 version]] is probably the closest to being a hero out of the entire Greek pantheon and is painted as Diana's mentor and grandfather figure--amusing since he ''is'' her grandfather even if the writers ignore this in favor of his new status as her ''brother'' since this version of Wondy has a father, and that father is Zeus. [[note]]For the confused Zeus is Ares' father, Ares is Hippolyta's father, and Hippolyta is Wonder Woman's mother. In this continuity Hippolyta slept with her own grandfather which resulted in her pregnancy with Diana.[[/note]]

* ''[[Comicbook/DCInk Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass]]'':

** First and foremost was ComicBook/{{Magneto}}, who in the comics has been the X-Men's oldest ArchEnemy. In his universe, he is in fact the X-Men's founder, having organized and named them in memory of his fallen friend Charles Xavier. And in filling Xavier's shoes, he's the closest thing the heroes of this universe have to a BigGood.

* In general a popular comic trend in recent years has been to reinvent female villains with this for the sake of having more ActionGirl characters. DC has been especially enthusiastic about revamping their back catalog of villainesses, but Marvel isn't too far behind the trend.

** UXM's adaptation of Pyro ''started out'' as one of these, being a much more sympathetic character who was a MinionWithAnFInEvil and even joined the X-Men after proving his new heroism by helping other mutants. Unfortunately, while Pyro survived the events of ''ComicBook/{{Ultimatum}}'', a FateWorseThanDeath at the hands of writers awaited him when during ''Ultimatum 3'' he experienced '''steep''' AdaptationalVillainy and [[OutOfCharacterMoment transformed]] from a decent guy into a leering wannabe-rapist, something 616 Pyro wasn't even at his worst. Mercifully, he was KilledOffForReal shortly after.

* Mad Madame Mim from Creator/{{Disney}}'s ''Disney/TheSwordInTheStone'' was a genuinely villainous character who tried to kill Arthur because, as she made no effort in hiding, ''[[CardCarryingVillain she's evil]]''. In the Disney comics that later featured her, she was more of a harmless witch or occasionally even a heroic one.

* ''[[ComicBook/MuppetClassics Muppet King Arthur]]'' gives this treatment to King Arthur's EvilNephew Mordred (portrayed by Kermit's nephew Robin), who coerces his uncle into surrendering his kingdom solely to see if his uncle is truly worthy of the throne and commends his uncle for proving that he deserves to be king by being willing to put his people above himself.