History AdaptationalHeroism / WesternAnimation

* In ''WesternAnimation/MyAdventuresWithSuperman'', the villainous duo [[UpliftedAnimal Monsieur Mallah]] and [[BrainInAJar The Brain]] from ComicBook/DoomPatrol undergo this. This iteration of Brain was a HeroicComedicSociopath, while Mallah was a GentleGiant that acted as CloudcuckoolandersMinder.

* ''WesternAnimation/AvengersAssemble'':
** Princess Python starts off as a former member of the Circus of Crime, but reforms and joins ComicBook/{{SHIELD}} by the end of her debut episode.
** [[spoiler: Both men to have operated under the name "Radioactive Man" were supervillains in the comics, but this version of Igor Stancheck is a member of the Winter Guard and helps to dissolve a destabilized facility that was falling towards a village to save said village. Similarly, despite being based on Ivan Vanko from ''Film/IronMan2'', the Crimson Dynamo here is a member of the Winter Guard and only stole a capsule because it contained Radioactive Man.]]
** ''All'' Thunderbolts members [[spoiler:rebel against Zemo (minus Zemo himself obviously) and perform a HeelFaceTurn in the adaptation of the ''ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}}'' story arc. In the comic, Techno/Fixer actually stuck to Zemo's side and Moonstone remained a TokenEvilTeammate who only joined in turning against Zemo for selfish reasons, and has returned to evil later on, such as her stint as a VillainWithGoodPublicity in the ComicBook/DarkAvengers]].
** Like in the MCU, Steve's father is described as a kind, honorable man, rather than a wife-beating alcoholic. Steve trying to remember how his father looked like was a plot point in one episode.

* ''WesternAnimation/BewareTheBatman'':
** While the comic version of Professor Pyg murders and mutilates people at random (with Mr. Toad being simply his lackey), the cartoon reinvents him as a dapper, sophisticated villain with a Victorian-era flair. Instead of being a serial killer or performing medical experiments on people, he and Toad are eco-terrorists who specifically target rich businessmen whose careless activities have harmed animals or the environment. That said, what they ''do'' with said businessmen is still pretty sick ([[HuntingTheMostDangerousGame hunting them down and killing them like animals]]), and Pyg himself still wields surgical equipment that he's all too eager to use. He ends up experimenting with innocent people in "Doopelganger", and he completely has fun terrorizing and punishing his victims.
** Man-Bat is a full-fledged ally of Batman instead of an occasional foe. It helps that Kirk Langstrom can control himself as Man-Bat, and was only forced to attack Batman when he was drugged by Pyg. Guess who's a founding member of ComicBook/{{The Outsiders|DCComics}}?

* ''Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse'':
** ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'':
*** ComicBook/MrFreeze (known as Mr. Zero before the [[Series/Batman1966 60s show]]) was originally just one of the many [[UsefulNotes/GoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] gimmick villains who robbed banks and was generically evil. When Paul Dini got his hands on him, he wrote the episode [[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE14HeartOfIce "Heart of Ice"]] which changed Mr Freeze into a TragicVillain whose wife Nora is suffering from a terminal disease and had to be cryogenically frozen. This forces Freeze who due to a lab accident must keep his body temperature low, to build a criminal empire to raise research funds to cure her, as well take revenge on those who turned him into ice mutant. This deeper and more sympathetic version of the character quickly won over fans and became the default version of Mr Freeze in almost all [[AudienceColoringAdaptation following Batman media]], and any departure from it (such as in ComicBook/New52) garners immense backlash.
*** Harvey Bullock used to take bribes in the comics. In this adaptation, Bullock claims he would never do that and he is a pure good guy along with a SympatheticInspectorAntagonist who really wants to make Gotham a better place and just doesn't realize as yet that that's what Bats is doing too.
*** Gotham's Mayor Hill was also not corrupt like his comic book counterpart (whom Bullock used to work for). [[spoiler:Though if ''[[ComicBook/TheBatmanAdventures The Adventures Continue]]'' is indeed canon, this becomes subverted later on as he takes over leadership of the Court of Owls.]]
** ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' (''Unlimited'') sees that ComicBook/AmandaWaller and Wade Eiling are still against people like the League, but the former isn't as much as a sociopath as her comics incarnation and the latter is interested in helping protect the country rather than serving himself. Likewise, albeit retroactively given his FaceHeelTurn was part of ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'', Max Lord is less sleezy and evil.
** ''WesternAnimation/StaticShock'' features Rubberband Man, a one-shot villain from the comics, eventually reform and become a superhero.

* ''WesternAnimation/GreenLanternTheAnimatedSeries'': While not the first depiction of Carol Ferris to not be an enemy of Hal Jordan, this depiction is not even an enemy as Star Sapphire. She only attacks Hal because WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity and snaps out of it.

* ''WesternAnimation/HitMonkey''
** Yuki is an assassin associated with the Hand in the comics, but in the cartoon, she's described as a legendary protector of Tokyo and an outright superhero.
** To an extent, the Silver Samurai as well. While Silver Samurai did eventually undergo a HeelFaceTurn in the comics, the show presents him as a celebrity superhero and gives no indication that he was ever a criminal or terrorist in this continuity.

* ''WesternAnimation/IronManArmoredAdventures'':
** Andros Stark (the future ComicBook/IronMan) was depicted as a futuristic superhero, and only battled Tony Stark in order to save the timeline, and knew if he succeeded, [[HeroicSacrifice he himself would most likely vanish]] with the BadFuture he came from. In the comics, Andros is a psychotic supervillain who made a mockery of Tony's legacy.
** Ghost is portrayed in this show as a ProfessionalKiller and a PunchClockVillain who only cares about being paid. He still isn't exactly a nice guy, but that's definitely better than his AxCrazy comic book counterpart who had a severe ChronicBackstabbingDisorder.
** Obadiah Stane, while still a villain and {{Jerkass}} that's willing to work with criminals, frequently shows [[EvenEvilHasStandards he still has standards]] while his comic book incarnation was a straight up villain.
** The Mandarin in the comic is an EvilOverlord motivated by megalomania, as well as an {{Abusive Parent|s}}. This one is on the receiving end of the abuse, has redeeming qualities and genuinely believes he can make the world a better place by ruling it. That said, some of this is probably in part because this Mandarin is a CompositeCharacter between the comics Mandarin and his son, Temugin.
** The Living Laser has more sympathetic motives for his actions and even does a HeelFaceTurn; the one in the comics would eventually get ''some'' sympathy, but never completed his turn.
** Howard Stark is a much warmer person than his comics counterpart, who was a straight-up [[AbusiveParents Abusive Dad]].
** Tony himself displays none of the [[BrokenAce negative qualities]] that he's unfortunately [[{{Flanderization}} gained]] at hand of writers in the comics. Justified since this is a [[AgeLift younger version]] of Iron Man.
** Titanium Man is generally a complete villain with no redeeming qualities in the comics, but in ''WesternAnimation/IronManTheAnimatedSeries'' (particularly in his final appearance), he's treated as more of a NobleDemon who wants to restore the Soviet Union because he genuinely believes that capitalism has brought corruption and economic inequality to the people of Russia. He even gets a [[RedemptionEqualsDeath dying moment of redemption]] after realizing the error of his ways.
* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueAction'':
** Atrocitus is only after Lobo because the bounty hunter stole some Red Lantern rings.
** While still a villain, Killer Frost is nicer than her other incarnations, especially compared to ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010'', and ''WesternAnimation/BatmanAssaultOnArkham''.
** While ComicBook/JohnConstantine has his heroic moments, he was also a cynical​, alcoholic, self-centered con-man who couldn't care less about superheroes. While he's still smarmy, the John Constantine here is depicted as a more family-friendly version, as he's merely a deadpan and sarcastic paranormal investigator, even being a member of the Justice League.

* ''WesternAnimation/MarvelsSpiderMan'':
** The Sandman is a far more sympathetic character here, being a loving father who only broke the law to provide a better life for his daughter Keemia. In fact, in a major shift from tradition, ''Keemia'' is actually the far more overtly [[AdaptationalVillainy villainous one]].
** Also, before becoming the Rhino, this version of Aleksei Sytsevich is a NiceGuy and fun to be around. He's turned into the Rhino completely against his will, and is clearly not in control of his actions when he goes on his rampage.
** Herman Schultz/The Shocker is also an eager high school student rather than a career criminal. Spider-Man only ends up trying to stop him after ComicBook/NormanOsborn manipulates Herman into getting into a fight with Clash, which causes a lot of collateral damage to the surrounding area.
** Screwball becomes this as well by virtue of being a CompositeCharacter. In the comics, Screwball is a criminal who posts her exploits online for hits, with Spider-Man referring to her as "The world's first live-streaming super-villain". In the cartoon, Screwball is actually Liz Allan, who creates the identity to help the community and prank big corporations who she thinks are getting away with unscrupulous activities. While she does [[MotiveDecay begin veering away from that goal]] in order to prank Spider-Man, she gives up and reaches out to him for help after it becomes clear that her actions have endangered innocent people. The comic version of Screwball wouldn't have given a crap about putting innocent people in danger, and probably would have viewed that as a bonus.
** Carolyn Trainer, aka Lady Octopus, also follows suit. She's introduced as a geeky, stalker with a crush who tries to impress Otto Octavius. [[spoiler: She gives up villainy when she discovered he was just using her]].
** The Hobgoblin is also this, due to his human identity, [[spoiler: Harry Osborn]], taking up the mantle as a legitimate hero. This is also shown in the Season 1 finale where [[spoiler: when Harry found out that his father also created the Hobgoblin armor to smear Spider-Man's name, he then sticks with Spider-Man.]]
** [[spoiler: Otto Octavius, aka Doctor Octopus, is also this. He starts out as a stern and egotistical, yet well meaning teacher who became a villain when he thought he wasn't being respected. Despite some sadistic and questionable behavior, he ultimately becomes a selfless hero. This is best shown in the Season 2 finale, where he sacrifices his life to take down Adrian Toomes.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan'': In the comics, Frederick Foswell was the crime boss known as The Big Man and after his release tried returning to crime before going up against the Kingpin, making a HeelFaceTurn, and ultimately [[RedemptionEqualsDeath sacrificing himself to save]] J. Jonah Jameson. In the show he's a reporter on the up and up from the beginning.
* ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'':
** The series actually rewrote Kraven the Hunter and Calypso entirely, with both becoming ''heroes'' once Spider-Man resolved the issues with their PsychoSerum-derived powers. (Kraven softens some and eventually makes a HeelFaceTurn, but Calypso is totally overhauled; from an evil sorceress to a friendly scientist who is only villainous in ''one'' PsychoSerum-involving episode.)
** Similarly, minor villain the Spot was recast as a PunchClockVillain whose episode shows him going through a HeelFaceTurn after committing a few ill-advised bank robberies. The comics version, by contrast, is an unrepentant petty criminal with a sideline in contract killing.
** There's also their version of Felicia Hardy aka the ComicBook/BlackCat. In the comics, she's Spider-Man's on again, off again lover who frequently alternates between antagonist and ally. The show's version only became a thief when her father was held hostage by ComicBook/TheKingpin and she becomes a hero once she and her father are both free from him.
** ComicBook/NormanOsborn is much more sympathetic and less of a monster than he is in the comics, his becoming the Green Goblin more of an victim of circumstances and more preoccupied with work than being an outright AbusiveParent towards Harry in the comics.
** ComicBook/TheKingpin while still a villain, has several PetTheDog moments including helping Mary Jane and others escape flooding Green Goblin's lair. In the comics any AffablyEvil moments from Kingpin are either regarding his wife and son or a [[VillainWithGoodPublicity political stunt]] and he never would waste his time helping innocent civilians like he does in cartoon.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperHeroSquadShow'':
** [[spoiler: Songbird. In the comics, Melissa Gold started out as a criminal called "Screaming Mimi" and was a member of the Masters of Evil. During the Masters' scheme to pretend to be a hero team called the ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}}, she's changed her codename to "Songbird" and found that [[BecomingTheMask she liked]] [[GoodFeelsGood being a heroine]] and performed a HeelFaceTurn. After a few appearances in earlier episodes, "Deadly is the Black Widow's Bite!" revealed that Songbird was TheMole for S.H.I.E.L.D., spying on the Lethal Legion, and was a heroine from the start]].
** While the Squaddies initially assume them to be a threat, the Space Phantoms that appear in "Revenge of the Baby-Sat!" are depicted as benevolent, when in the comics they were minions of the villain Immortus.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'':
** In the comics, [[ComicBook/TheJudasContract Terra]] was TheMole [[EvilAllAlong from the very beginning]], and horrified even Slade with her ruthlessness and manipulative sociopathy. The Terras of the 2003 series and the [[WesternAnimation/DCAnimatedMovieUniverse DCAMU]], however, were {{Broken Bird}}s who were DrivenToVillainy by a desperate need to live a normal life. The former was even a genuine friend to the Titans before becoming a double agent for Slade. The animated versions are also remorseful for their actions, performing a HeelFaceTurn after some convincing by Beast Boy. Finally, both have their deaths framed as {{Heroic Sacrifice}}s, though 2003 Terra secretly comes back from the dead to [[EarnYourHappyEnding successfully gain that normal life]] at some point. In contrast, comic Terra's death was the result of an unfocused blind rage that made her lose total control of her powers, with the narration hammering home that she's an unrepentant monster.
** Plasmus can't control his transformations into a mindless monster and willingly submits to being kept in stasis for most of his life. In the comics, he is in full control of himself and likes melting people.
** While still a heroine, in the comics, ComicBook/{{Raven}} has a bad habit of frequently going through HeelFaceRevolvingDoor because of Trigon's influence. In the show, she does a much better job of not giving into her father's influence [[spoiler:and the one time she does, it's done more as a reluctant pawn giving in than gleefully being DrunkOnTheDarkSide]].
* Many villainous characters from ''WesternAnimation/{{TUGS}}'' became friends with the Star Tugs rather than enemies in the {{Frankenslation}}, ''WesternAnimation/SaltysLighthouse''. The Z-Stacks are a prime example.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012 Ultimate Spider-Man]]'':
** Though he's still a villain, the Rhino is made out to be a much more sympathetic character. In the show, [[TragicVillain he's a bullied teenager who sought out superpowers as a last resort against his tormentors]], while in the comics, he's just a petty thug in a rhino suit. In ''Web Warriors'', he even has a HeelFaceTurn and joins S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy, only returning to villainy via brainwashing which is eventually undone, leading him to be a hero again.
** While Skurge the Executioner's personality is more-or-less the same, here he's just hunting Spidey because of a misunderstanding caused by Loki, rather than a MadLove for the Enchantress as in the comics.
** Norman Osborn. While his comics version was played this way -- a PsychoSerum-induced JekyllAndHyde case -- once upon a time, his portrayal for decades now has been that he's more Hyde A and Hyde B, a ruthless and amoral CorruptCorporateExecutive and EvilGenius who is the most dangerous man in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse ''before'' he [[VillainousBreakdown loses his cool]] to the point of cackling crazily and throwing pumpkin bombs at you -- if anything, he's ''worse'' when he's in control. In the show, however, his HeelFaceTurn is genuine and is only reversed by Doctor Octopus forcing more of the PsychoSerum on him. Eventually, he is cured again and is redeemed once more. As the Iron Patriot, he is a genuine hero, and Norman's attempt to atone for his actions, both as a CorruptCorporateExecutive and as The Goblin, unlike in the comics, where he never reformed and his time as the Iron Patriot was an attempt to get the public on his side. He even plays a key role in the finale, where he [[spoiler: helps restore Peter's abilities after Doc Ock neutralizes them]].
** In the comics, Blood Spider is an EvilKnockOff of Spider-Man trained by ComicBook/{{Taskmaster}}. In the show, he's an alternate version of Peter Parker from a world overrun by vampires.

* ''WesternAnimation/WolverineAndTheXMen2009'':
** Nitro releases giant explosions of energy whenever he's stressed, or just when enough energy is stored up. Like Plasmus above, he submits to confinement so he doesn't harm others, and is used by the villains as a blunt instrument against his will. In the comics, he's a killer for hire, and caused both the [[HeroKiller death of the Kree Captain Marvel]] and [[ComicBook/CivilWar2006 the Stamford Incident]] that killed about 700-ish people. (Interestingly, there was a one-shot ''child'' character in ''Uncanny X-Men'' who was like the animated Nitro but more adorable.)
** Shows like ''WesternAnimation/WolverineAndTheXMen2009'' and ''Anime/MarvelAnimeXMen'' portray Emma Frost in a more sympathetic light, completely turning her into a straight hero rather than a [[ByronicHero byronic]] one. Basically, if it was written before her comicverse HeelFaceTurn, she'll be completely evil with no sign she could ever be good; if it was written after, she'll be completely good with no sign she could ever be evil. [[spoiler:That said, the ''Wolverine and the X-Men'' version of Frost also has AdaptationalVillainy, as she's TheMole and still the White Queen of the [[NeverSayDie Inner Circle]] (and even kicks off the events of the series as it's revealed she's the one who attacked Jean and Professor Xavier, which in turn ended up destroying the mansion -- [[WellIntentionedExtremist albeit with the intention of taking out the Phoenix before she could be a threat]]).]]
* ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution'':
** In the Marvel Comics universe, Berzerker was a minor villain and member of the Morlocks. In ''Evolution'', he's a teenager and member of the X-Men.
** The Morlocks in general. In the comics, they're in the HeelFaceRevolvingDoor; their suffering from their odd appearances or BlessedWithSuck powers is real, but attacking random humans to punish them for it is Not Cool. Sometimes they get better, and sometimes they get AesopAmnesia. The ''Evolution'' version is not known to attack humans unprovoked, and [[WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries the 90s 'toon version]] starts out villainous but cuts it out when Storm takes over, and there's no revolving door.
** Arcade, in the comics, is an assassin who entraps victims in game-like deathtraps he calls "Murderworld". In ''Evolution'', he is an ordinary high school gamer kid. He is manipulated by Mystique into hacking into the Danger Room computer in the belief that it's a sophisticated video game. He endangers the X-Men, whom he believes are game characters. Once he realized what he was doing, he regretted his actions and was forgiven by the X-Men.
** Colossus involvement with the Acolytes sees this trope crossed with [[AdaptationalVillainy its inverse]]. In the comics, Colossus was an X-Man from his debut, only briefly serving with the Acolytes during ''ComicBook/{{Fatal Attractions|MarvelComics}}'' before rejoining the X-Men, whereas in ''Evolution'', he starts off with the Acolytes [[spoiler:before joining the X-Men in the finale]]. However, in the comics, his tenure with the Acolytes was completely ''willing'' due to Illyana's death triggering a crisis of faith in Xavier's dream; in ''Evolution'', he's only part of the Acolytes due to Magneto threatening his family.
* ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'':
** ComicBook/{{Magneto}} has always been a complex character, doing [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor acts others consider villainy or heroism]] as needed to protect mutants, so the sight of him helping the X-Men and ''meaning'' it is not too surprising in ''any'' continuity. However, when he's bad, ''look out''. His list of villainous exploits is impressive, and everyone's leery of him even when he's been playing nice for a while because they know that "what must be done to protect mutants" being helping old ladies cross the street ''now'' doesn't mean it won't be "showdown that could well start WorldWarIII" someday. In this series, he's only properly villainous in his introductory two-parter, and every appearance after that has him alongside the X-Men against common foes, and the one time he does fight them again he's being manipulated by Apocalypse.
** Cable's son Tyler. In the comics he was an AntagonisticOffspring and eventually became a supervillain going so far as trying to follow in ''ComicBook/{{Apocalypse}}'''s steps. Here Tyler is a straight-up hero and he and Cable are very close. Probably {{justified|Trope}} via [[EvilTwin Stryfe]], whose actions caused their relationship to go sour in the original comics, being AdaptedOut.
** Senator Robert Kelly. Like his comic counterpart, he starts off as [[FantasticRacism anti-mutant]] politician in favor of laws to restrict the rights of mutants, and even after the X-Men save him, [[UngratefulBastard his views don't change]]. In the cartoon he does change and accepts that there are mutants who aren't a danger and shouldn't be alienated. [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation One could argue]] that the change also stems from the X-Men saving him from the [[HumongousMecha Sentinels]] which were built to protect humans from mutants but proved just as much a danger as rogue mutants.
** Proteus. In the comics, he was an unrepentant killer and sociopath, and seemed to take pleasure in causing chaos and torment. In the show, he's genuinely misguided and confused, and doesn't kill anyone. Also, when he does hurt people, it's usually by accident or because he didn't realize what he was doing.
** This extends to Proteus' [[DisappearedDad absentee father]], Joseph. While he's still a JerkAss and a lying opportunist, he does eventually come to accept his son and shows remorse over having abandoned him. While he was still a terrible husband, there's also no indication that he ever physically abused Moira, while in the comics, he beat and raped her, [[ChildByRape which is how Proteus was conceived in the first place]].
* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010'':
** Artemis Crock in the comics is the child of [[UnholyMatrimony Paula and Lawrence Crock]], all three being unrepentant supervillains. In the show Artemis is ashamed of her criminal lineage and Paula does a HeelFaceTurn after [[WheelchairWoobie being crippled]] and spending six years in prison. [[DarkActionGirl Cheshire]], who is Artemis' sister on the show [[RelatedInTheAdaptation (but not the comics)]], is introduced as a villain and member of the League of Shadows, but [[CharacterDevelopment evolves]] into an AntiVillain or AntiHero by Season 2. In the comics she once nuked a country ForTheEvulz.
** [[PersonOfMassDestruction Neutron]] is a PsychoForHire in the comics, but turned out to be BrainwashedAndCrazy here.
** The tie-in comic does this both to [[KillerGorilla Gorilla Grodd]] and [[RankScalesWithAsskicking King Sha'ark]]. Both are borderline {{Token Evil Teammate}}s for their respective groups but are set up as adversaries of greater villains.
** In the comics, Mongul is an EvilOverlord with no real motivation other than being a sadistic bully and general douchebag. In the show, he's still definitely a dick, but his extreme hatred of the Reach and desire to eradicate them makes him a fair bit more sympathetic.
** In ''ComicBook/{{Superboy}}'' comics Dr. Amanda Spence is an EvilutionaryBiologist who created Match, and killed Conner's girlfriend Tanya Moon ForTheEvulz. In the series, Conner accuses her of creating Match but it turns out this is unfounded, and she later helps create the anti-Starro technology.
** The ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} villain Black Manta is reimagined as a [[ManOfWealthAndTaste sophisticated]] and somewhat {{noble|Demon}} villain who has numerous PetTheDog moments with his subordinates, particularly [[PapaWolf his son]]. In the comics, he's an utterly heartless [[TheSociopath Sociopath]] and doesn't give a crap about his son, and even threatened to kill him just to torment Aquaman.
** ComicBook/VandalSavage in the comics is probably the single most thoroughly vile individual in Franchise/TheDCU with many thousands of years worth of absolutely horrific crimes to his name. In the show, he's still definitely not a nice guy, but he's a KnightTemplar visionary whose acts are motivated by a desire to drive humanity to advance and make Earth a major universal power.
** Rumaan Harjavti is depicted as a benevolent figure and the democratically elected president of {{Qurac}}. In the comics, he was the Bialyan Queen Bee's predecessor as the ruler of Bialya and like her was a foe of the Justice League, though he was less intelligent.
** Major Force is implied to be a subversion. In the comics he's a violently sociopathic and blood-thirsty villain. In the comic tie-in to the show he's a hero sponsored by the government, whom the Justice League want to recruit. The reason he's not on the league is because Captain Atom shoots his suggestion down because of history he has with Force, his dialogue implying that Force isn't as heroic as he seems. Later on, it's confirmed he is indeed evil like in the comics, though only mentioned as having conquered planets offscreen for [[LegionOfDoom the Light]].
** In the comics White Martians are [[AlwaysChaoticEvil evil]] with the sole exception of [[spoiler:Miss Martian]]. In this continuity J'onn isn't the last Green Martian and White Martians are actually [[FantasticRacism persecuted]].
** Much like Neutron or even his own counterpart in the above-mentioned ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'', Plasmus isn't a willing villain, and ultimately turns on the villains to help the heroes [[RedemptionEqualsDeath at the cost of being sniped by a random bystander]]. His comic counterpart was not only a willing villain, he expressed ''jealousy'' at Chemo's powers in ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis''.
** In the comics, Ma'alefa'ak is considerably more, well, malefic. While still villainous, this version is a WellIntentionedExtremist who is angry about the persecution of his fellow White Martians, and there's no level he won't sink to in the name of, as he sees it, leveling the playing field (and while still the Cain in a CainAndAbel dynamic, he is changed from being Martian Manhunter's brother [[RelatedInTheAdaptation to]] Miss Martian's brother, being renamed [[AdaptationNameChange M'comm M'orzz]], who named himself after a Martian animal named the ma'alefa'ak in much the same manner that Batman uses the imagery of a bat to strike fear into the hearts of enemies). The comic version was a Green Martian who wiped out the other Green Martians[[note]]LostInImitation note: yes, it was the White Martians in both ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' and ''Series/Supergirl2015'', so you can be forgiven for thinking it must be so in the comics, but it's not.[[/note]] in revenge for being justly punished for using his PsychicPowers for MindRape.
** The ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010'' incarnation of Terra goes one further than her ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'' counterpart did as the heroes learned early on that Deathstroke was manipulating her and decided to let her make her own decisions while treating her nicely. She ends up turning to the side of angels on her own and becomes a member of the Outsiders in the end, never getting the RedemptionEqualsDeath, er, petrification, of her ''Teen Titans'' counterpart, though [[spoiler: her brother Geo-Force does a FaceHeelTurn in her place, being LockedOutOfTheLoop of her actions]].
** The canon audio play that took place at DC [=FanDome=] revealed that [[spoiler:Clayface reformed and joined Bowhunter Security. Clayface had a similar redemption arc in ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'', but the comics used Basil Karlo, and what defines it as this trope is the show's incarnation being Matt Hagen, who had no such arc, instead]].
** In the fourth season, Livewire reforms and becomes a member of the Outsiders.

** Screwball becomes this as well by virtue of being a CompositeCharacter. In the comics, Screwball is a criminal who posts her exploits online for hits, with Spider-Man referring to her as "The world's first live-streaming super-villain." In the cartoon, Screwball is actually Liz Allan, who creates the identity to help the community and prank big corporations who she thinks are getting away with unscrupulous activities. While she does [[MotiveDecay begin veering away from that goal]] in order to prank Spider-Man, she gives up and reaches out to him for help after it becomes clear that her actions have endangered innocent people. The comic version of Screwball wouldn't have given a crap about putting innocent people in danger, and probably would have viewed that as a bonus.

** The Hobgoblin is also this, due to his human identity, [[spoiler: Harry Osborn]] , taking up the mantle as a legitimate hero. This is also shown in the Season 1 finale where [[spoiler: when Harry found out that his father also created Hobgoblin armor to smear Spider-Man's name, he then sticks with Spider-Man.]]

* Similarly, WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends in ''Literature/TheRailwaySeries'', while still sympathetic, was much more of a self absorbed BrattyHalfPint. While the show kept up this depiction for most episodes adapted from the books, its turn to original stories slowly made Thomas more altruistic and innocent. Some other engines such as Henry and Sir Handel took a similar direction.

** The titular turtles are a lot more noble [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 in]] [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003 the]] [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012 cartoons]] than the [[ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesMirage original comic]]. The original Mirage Turtles were assembled by Splinter purely to avenge Hamato Yoshi by killing the Shredder. Not that the Shredder isn't ''bad,'' but the Turtles were originally trained for the purpose of a revenge killing, whereas in the shows they are mostly fighting him because they're the good guys and he's actively doing something bad ''today.'' This even goes for the DarkerAndEdgier 2003 series where the backstory is taken practically word for word from the comics.

** ComicBook/{{Magneto}} has always been a complex character, doing [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor acts others consider villainy or heroism]] as needed to protect mutants, so the sight of him helping the X-Men and ''meaning'' it is not too surprising in ''any'' continuity. However, when he's bad, ''look out.'' His list of villainous exploits is impressive, and everyone's leery of him even when he's been playing nice for a while because they know that "what must be done to protect mutants" being helping old ladies cross the street ''now'' doesn't mean it won't be "showdown that could well start WorldWarIII" someday. In this series, he's only properly villainous in his introductory two-parter, and every appearance after that has him alongside the X-Men against common foes, and the one time he does fight them again he's being manipulated by Apocalypse.

** [[ArcherArchetype Artemis Crock]] in the comics is the child of [[UnholyMatrimony Paula and Lawrence Crock]], all three being unrepentant supervillains. In the show Artemis is ashamed of her criminal lineage and Paula does a HeelFaceTurn after [[WheelchairWoobie being crippled]] and spending six years in prison. [[DarkActionGirl Cheshire]], who is Artemis' sister on the show [[RelatedInTheAdaptation (but not the comics)]], is introduced as a villain and member of the League of Shadows, but [[CharacterDevelopment evolves]] into an AntiVillain or AntiHero by Season 2. In the comics she once nuked a country ForTheEvulz.

** Man-Bat is a full-fledged ally of Batman instead of an occasional foe. It helps that Kirk Langstrom can control himself as Man-Bat, and was only forced to attack Batman when he was drugged by Pyg. Guess who's a founding member of [[ComicBook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders the Outsiders]]?

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Castlevania}}'':

** Nitro releases giant explosions of energy whenever he's stressed, or just when enough energy is stored up. Like Plasmus above, he submits to confinement so he doesn't harm others, and is used by the villains as a blunt instrument against his will. In the comics, he's a killer for hire, and caused both the [[HeroKiller death of the Kree Captain Marvel]] and [[ComicBook/CivilWar the Stamford Incident]] that killed about 700-ish people. (Interestingly, there was a one-shot ''child'' character in ''Uncanny X-Men'' who was like the animated Nitro but more adorable.)

** Colossus involvement with the Acolytes sees this trope crossed with [[AdaptationalVillainy its inverse]]. In the comics, Colossus was an X-Man from his debut, only briefly serving with the Acolytes during ''ComicBook/{{Fatal Attractions|MarvelComics}}'', whereas in ''Evolution'', he starts off the Acolytes [[spoiler:before joining the X-Men in the finale]]. However, in the comics, his tenure with the Acolytes was completely ''willing'' on his part due to Illyana's death triggering a crisis of faith in Xavier's dream in him. In ''Evolution'', he's only part of the Acolytes due to Magneto threatening his family.

** Colossus involvement with the Acolytes sees this trope crossed with [[AdaptationVillainy its inverse]]. In the comics, Colossus was an X-Man from his debut, only briefly serving with the Acolytes during ''ComicBook/{{Fatal Attractions|MarvelComics}}'', whereas in ''Evolution'', he starts off the Acolytes [[spoiler:before joining the X-Men in the finale]]. ''However'', in the comics, his tenure with the Acolytes was completely willing on his part due to Illyana's death triggering a crisis of faith in Xavier's dream in him. In ''Evolution'', he's only part of the Acolytes due to Magneto threatening his family.

** Shows like ''WesternAnimation/WolverineAndTheXMen2009'' and ''Anime/MarvelAnimeXMen'' portray Emma Frost in a more sympathetic light, completely turning her into a straight hero rather than a [[ByronicHero byronic]] one. Basically, if it was written before her comicverse HeelFaceTurn, she'll be completely evil with no sign she could ever be good; if it was written after, she'll be completely good with no sign she could ever be evil. [[spoiler: That said, the ''Wolverine and the X-Men'' version of Frost also has AdaptationalVillainy, as she's TheMole and still the White Queen of the [[NeverSayDie Inner Circle]] (and even kicks off the events of the series as it's revealed she's the one who attacked Jean and Professor Xavier, which in turn ended up destroying the mansion -- [[WellIntentionedExtremist albeit with the intention of taking out the Phoenix before she could be a threat]]).]]