In most Marvel stories, heroes save the day one way or another. In a dystopian version of the universe outside of the movies, they are instead in danger. Here, no one really wants to live.
What kind of world is this? The comic series Ruins was published in two volumes in 1995 and depicts an alternative world. It is visited by journalist Phil Sheldon, who aims to document the events taking place there.
He is aware that in this world, anything can go wrong. And indeed, from the perspective of the various heroes, it is a damn dangerous place. Events known from the conventional Marvel stories appear altered and usually end badly.
Here, even some of the gruesome things from stories like Game of Thrones seem harmless, because what happens to the characters in Ruins is something truly no one wishes for.
A Best-of of Cruelty
Attention Spoiler: If you do not want to learn what happens to the characters in Ruins, you should stop reading here.
What is so terrible about Ruins? The universe features familiar characters and their stories, but alters them. Want some examples?
The superhero family surrounding the future Fantastic Four heads into space, where they typically gain their powers. But in this version, instead of “The Thing”, the villain Doctor Doom goes along.
The rocket is struck by cosmic radiation and is destroyed. The family dies, leaving Ben Grimm, or “The Thing”, completely traumatized.
Peter Parker is bitten by a spider, just like in the original, but it has far greater effects. Instead of mutating into a superhero, the venom affects him in a terrible way. He develops a rash, and his skin begins to come off his body.
The Hulk fares similarly: instead of becoming the mighty green hero through radioactivity, he develops numerous tumors and is placed in quarantine by the CIA.
The character Scarlett Witch betrays the Avengers to the government in Ruins, ultimately leading to the death of the ENTIRE team.
Nick Fury, the former head of S.H.I.E.L.D., was lured into cannibalism by none other than Captain America and shoots a dog and a woman during his conversation with journalist Phil Sheldon.
The list can go on. Among other things, the Silver Surfer is in danger, Magneto loses his powers, and the fate of the narrator Phil Sheldon is tragic: He contracts the virus that already affected Peter Parker, and dies from it while continuing to try to document all events.
The comic series is unusually dark and offers little hope for its characters. However, that is exactly what makes it appealing to anyone who needs a break from the hero routine. The villain who spoils the day for the Fantastic Four has some good arguments for why he is so truly evil: 5 reasons why Dr. Doom is scarier than Thanos in Marvel
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