The superhero genre is ripe for parody and satire. Some satirical comics are better known. Deadpool, She-Hulk, Captain Carrot, and The Boys are a few. It's a well that creators keep going to. It comments on the genre, the industry, and sometimes society as a whole.

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There are so many parodies that the rise of some eclipses others. For example, nobody knows that Super-Rabbit was a Golden Age character before Bugs Bunny used it to parody Superman. Every publisher has published a satire of superhero comics, even within their continuity. There are many that are worth revisiting, if only in back issues.

10 Watchmensch By Rich Johnston And Artist Simon Rohrmüller Was A Satire Of DC's Treatment Of Alan Moore.

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2009 saw the release of the film adaptation of Alan Moore's Watchmen. The same year, Brain Scan Studios published a parody of the original comic series as a 24-page comic. It dripped with obvious satire. The author clarified how he felt about DC Comics and its treatment of Alan Moore.

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There are troubling elements throughout, but the story works as a satire. It criticizes anyone trusting a publisher that started by underpaying Superman's creators. It defends Alan Moore in a full-page prose explanation of Moore's mistreatment through America's Best Comics. DC purchased Wildstorm as the line was being launched. It promptly pulped comics for a problematic Victorian ad that it reproduced.

9 The Pro By Garth Ennis, Amanda Conner, And Jimmy Palmiotti Is A Rude Satire Of Superman And The Justice League

Teaching The Pro to be a proper superhero

When a prostitute gets superpowers, she joins the League of Honor. Her course language, ruthless violence, and overt sexuality get her kicked out. She finally faces death to save her small child, flying a nuclear bomb into space.

The Pro works as a parody, giving superpowers to an unconventional subject. While uncouth, she exhibits heroic behavior. The Code-inspired innocence of League of Honor, a parody of the JLA, blinds them to the harshness "real" people face. She even rewards the Saint, a Superman analog, after he saves her infant son from an attacker. But, like any Garth Ennis story, it leads to events embarrassing the Saint.

8 Flaming Carrot By Bob Burden Is Part Of The Mystery Men

The Flaming Carrot perched for action in Mysterymen Comics

Flaming Carrot Comics came out of the independent comics boom of the 1980s. The titular hero is a man that lost his mind after reading 5000 comic books in one sitting. His adventures were a surrealistic satire of superhero comics. Burden was especially fond of parodying Golden Age superhero comics.

While the Flaming Carrot was never adapted, his team of fellow blue-collar heroes was. Mystery Men was a 1999 film, albeit a box-office bomb. Nevertheless, it did great at capturing the irreverent tone of Flaming Carrot Comics.

7 Marshal Law By Pat Mills And Kevin O'Neill Was Hyper-Violent Satire

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Marvel Comics published Marshal Law in 1987 under its Epic imprint. It's set in a violent dystopia where superheroes are out of control. So Marshal Law hunts them down. The stories paint every superhero as flawed, corrupt, or perverse. Marshal Law even says as he hunts heroes that he hasn't found any yet.

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The parodies are irreverent. Much of the time, they're painted with irreverent humor. The first storyline dealt with a Superman analog, the Public Spirit. The second story, Marshal Law Takes Manhattan showed absurd versions of Marvel characters. It was in this story that Marshal Law came into its satiric own until his last appearance in 2002.

6 Megaton Man By Don Simpson Is Zany Superhero Satire

House of Secrets Don Simpson parody

Don Simpson's Megaton Man has the most unbelievable physique, which adds to his charm. In the beginning, there was no shortage of parodies of known superheroes. The best satire came from the title character. His family tree referenced heroes going back to the 1930 pulp hero Doc Savage.

Simpson brought the world of Megaton back in 1994 with Bizarre Heroes. It's in this series that Don Simpson shines. His heroes aren't straight parodies, and the stories satire the genre and the industry. Among them are Phantom Jungle Girl, the Meddler, Yarn Man, and Earth Mother. The final issue gave an overview of Megaton Man's world and everyone in it. Upon re-reading the various series, one wants to revisit the Fiascoverse.

5 Normalman By Jim Valentino Parodied A Lot Of Heroes

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Before Image Comics, Jim Valentino did an excellent satire of superhero comics titled normalman. Published by Aardvark-Vanaheim in 1984, It featured a non-powered man on a planet where everyone had superpowers. The origin parodied Superman. As a baby, his father launched him from his planet before it exploded. Of course, when it didn't, his mother shot his father.

Normalman parodied Marvel, DC, and independent comics like Richie Rich and Elfquest. Among the best parodies was Sgt. Fluffy, The Fanatical Four, and Captain Everything. Even the Legion of Superfluous Heroes hampered themselves with a roll call that took seven issues. Reading the series was joyful in its lack of restraint.

4 The Inferior Five By E. Nelson Bridwell And Mike Sekowsky Loved Making Fun Of Marvel Heroes

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In the late Silver Age, DC launched a new super-team that spoofed superheroes. The Inferior Five chronicled the children of respected heroes. Unfortunately, they were practically inept. Fortunately, the hi-jinks were so entertaining and funny.

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Inferior Five was at its best when it spoofed Marvel characters. Man-Mountain and the Egg's Men were Hulk and X-Men parodies in the team's Showcase issues. The regular series spoofed Thor, Goliath, the Wasp, and The Fantastic Four to hilarious effect. Marvel wasn't the only target of their satire, just the best one.

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3 The Heckler By Keith Giffen Was Bugs Bunny As A Superhero

Forgotten DC 90s Heckler

In 1992, Keith Giffen created the superhero equal to Bugs Bunny. He did this because he assumed DC Comics would disapprove of his handling of the actual Bugs Bunny. Heckler didn't parody specific superheroes. Instead, it was a satire of the genre.

The Bugs Bunny analogy is accurate. The Heckler lives up to his name by taunting opponents. It's done in a way that Spider-Man wishes he could do. The villains were clever in their own right as well. The rogues' gallery included the Cosmic Clown, Boss Glitter, and the Four Mopeds of the Apocalypse.

2 E-Man By Martin Pasko And Joe Staton Could Do Straight Parody or General Satire

E-Man #5 cover detail

E-Man was first published by Charlton Comics in 1973 and created by Nicola Cuti and Joe Staton. But, unfortunately, its whimsical tone wasn't enough to keep it from cancelation. But, then, Joe Staton later became art director for First Comics.

Due to obligations, Cuti couldn't write a new series for First. So Martin Pasko began writing the new series. He introduced a parody of the X-Men and its Dark Phoenix Saga in the second issue. The series would run parodies of Hostess ads common in the 70s and 80s, along with light-hearted superhero satire.

1 Superduperman By Wally Wood Might Be The Best Superman Satire

superduperman punches an old man

Until recent years, Superduperman was the best-known Superman parody. But, unfortunately, it's forgotten as comics look forward rather than back to their roots. It appeared in Mad #4 before it was a best-selling magazine.

Wally Wood used outrageous satire, poking fun at the Golden Age rivalry between DC and Fawcett Comics. He pits Superduperman against Captain Marbles, a parody of the Shazam-powered hero. Alan Moore has cited Superduperman as an influence. Wally Wood's humor work has likely influenced many more creators.

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