There are few things science fiction and genre fans love more than a dystopian or apocalyptic future story. The Terminator, The Walking Dead, Mad Max, Planet Of The Apes and The Purge are just a few of the most popular franchise examples of this particular brand of storytelling. And what is the only thing that makes a dark future story like this even better? When it features familiar characters we know and love who are now in vastly different settings, of course! Long-running television shows like Supernatural and Fringe did this brilliantly, showing us skewed versions of characters we cared about in world's gone to hell. Even superhero movies and TV shows have got in on the act, with the CW's Arrowverse diving deep into concepts like a world in which the bad guys won (Earth X); come see Supergirl and Green Arrow as complete villains!

Comic books have a long, long history of apocalyptic future stories. The Marvel and DC Universes are positively teeming with potential futures, alternate realities, divergences in the timeline that have bad consequences and alternate versions of characters that interact with the classic versions in interesting ways. Hell, sometimes there are even mutliple versions of characters existing simultaneously in the comics, even when the original character is supposed to be long gone. This article will look at 20 versions of established Marvel and DC villains from a selection of these future-set stories and decide which 10 got more powerful with age, as well as which 10 became weaker as they got older.

20 STRONGER: BLACK GALACTUS

Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic's Thor: God Of Thunder #19 gave us 'The Last Days Of Midgard', a story set in an apocalyptic future in which the Earth had become a barren wasteland whose only protector was Thor, King Of Asgard. Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds then reappeared, determine to do the one thing he had never accomplished: consume Earth.

Thor and Galactus engaged in an epic war, with the Thor-Force and the Power Cosmic being hurled with devastating consequences. Thor's three granddaughters fought Galactus when the Odinson was blasted into space, but he came back with All Black the Necrosword and used it to brutally defeat Galactus. He later became Black Galactus, the Butcher of Worlds, when the black blade manifested inside him.

19 WEAKER: KING THANOS

Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw's 'Thanos Wins' storyline began in November 2017's Thanos #13. It introduced readers to King Thanos, an older Mad Titan from a timeline in which he had ended almost every living thing in the known galaxy as part of his neverending quest to please Death. He was King of that which remained: nothing.

This Thanos had demonstrated his power so successfully that there was no one left to challenge him. However, he knew that he had to perish so he could be with his great love Death, so he brought the younger Thanos from the current timeline to the future to take him out. After a vicious battle, King Thanos begged for his demise and his younger self was so disgusted by this mental weakness that he vowed to never turn out like him.

18 STRONGER: TWO-FACE (THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS)

Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns is, of course, one of the greatest comic books ever made and the quintessential 'older Batman comes out of retirement' story. Bruce Wayne is 55-years-old and gave up fighting crime 10 years earlier when Jason Todd passed away. He is drawn out of retirement by a gang known as 'the Mutants' who are running rampant in Gotham City and on his first night back in the saddle he foils an armed robbery.

He finds out the robbers are working for Harvey Dent, who had undergone extensive therapy and plastic surgery (funded by Bruce himself). It is revealed that all the therapists succeeded in doing was warping Harvey's mind completely into his Two-Face persona, even though his facial scars are gone. He then holds the city to ransom with a bomb.

17 WEAKER: JOKER (EARTH-2)

DC's multiverse can be pretty confusing to get a handle on, but it must be known that there is indeed one Joker out there who succeeded in ending Batman -- Earth-2 Joker. However, in his single comic book appearance (2008's Justice Society of America Annual #1) we see that he is now a frail old man, confined to a wheelchair and breathing through a respirator after a lifetime of exposure to deadly chemicals.

He can't even laugh without hurting himself. However, his malevolence still knows no bounds and he pushes the Huntress into ending him after disfiguring her boyfriend, Gotham City District Attorney Harry Simms (in a bizarre attempt to create a new Two-Face). In the end he perishes after being electrocuted by his own lethal joy buzzer.

16 STRONGER: JOKER (THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS)

When readers think of The Joker in The Dark Knight Returns, we'd imagine the first thing they picture is his final scene in which he breaks his own spine to incriminate Batman for the crime. It's bugnuts crazy and the best example of the sheer willpower this Clown Prince Of Crime exhibits. Even prior to this, however, he was scary.

Awakening from a catatonic state upon learning of Batman's remergence, he tricks his way onto a talk show and ends everyone in the studio with his Joker gas, before going on a crime spree. He and Batman then engage in a truly harrowing fight in a fairground tunnel, during which Batman breaks his neck. Joker then plays his last hand by finishing what Batman started, breaking his own neck/spine.

15 WEAKER: OLD LADY HARLEY

old-lady-harley-quinn

October 2018 saw the release of Old Lady Harley #1, DC's affectionate lampooning of "Old Man Logan", Marvel's uber-successful Mad Max-esque version of Wolverine. A zany character like Harley is perfect for poking fun at self-serious apocalyptic future stories. So far fans have seen to a gang of Harley's who have gone feral, as well as a Canada overrun by poutine-loving zombies.

This Harley pals around with Red Tool, a spoof of Deadpool, and together they are hunting down puddin' himself, the Joker. Personality-wise, Old Lady Harley is no different from present-day Harley, which is amusing as not even a dystopian future could make her any less weird. But physically she isn't quite what she was and wants nothing more than to retire to a coastal paradise.

14 STRONGER: APOCALYPSE (AGE OF APOCAYPSE)

"Age Of Apocalypse" is one of the most popular and enduring apocalyptic future stories in comics history. Originally a crossover event in 1995/96, it posited a future in which Apocalypse had taken control of Earth. Legion had travelled back in time to end Magneto but accidentally took out Professor Xavier instead, which altered the timeline, leading to Apocalypse attacking the X-Men 10 years earlier than in the original timeline.

Apocalypse was an all-powerful overlord in this story and was opposed by various different factions, some of which contained other villainous mutants like Magneto, Silver Samurai, Toad and Mystique. The concept was revived for a 10-year-anniversary special and then an ongoing series in 2012 and it remains beloved by fans to this day.

13 WEAKER: SABRETOOTH (AGE OF X)

"Age Of X" was a 2011 X-Men crossover event that was similar in idea and tone to "Age Of Apocalypse". It was set in an alternate reality in which mutants are almost extinct and the remaining few are captured by a strikeforce led by Colonel Graydon Creed (Sabretooth and Mystique's son). In this reality, Sabretooth was captured by the Sapiens League (a human anti-mutant group) and was paraded publicly as a dangerous mutant.

He later had his jaw replaced with two metal tusks and was forced to become a tracker tasked with hunting his fellow mutants. It was suggested that he had brain damage, caused by what was done to his jaw, but even through all this he still held a grudge against Wolverine! He was ended by Hulk whenever his purpose was served.

12 STRONGER: RA'S AL GHUL

Ra's Al Ghul is an international criminal who has prolonged his life over centuries using the fabled Lazarus Pits. Over the course of comic book history, his true age has been difficult to ascertain. In 1995's Azrael #6 he said he was around 450-years-old, but 1992's Birth Of The Demon placed him at around 600. Then, in Batman Annual #25 in 2006 he was said to be the ripe old age of 700!

It's also been remarked that Ra's has led such a long life that even he doesn't remember how old he actually is; he lost count somewhere around the Black Plague! Whatever the case, Ra's is a man who has honed his skills and intellect over hundreds of years, and during that time has also built a global criminal empire, which include his League Of Assassins.

11 WEAKER: ARKHAM HOME FOR CRIMINALLY INSANE RETIREES

Related image

Harley Quinn isn't the only elderly Bat-villain in Old Lady Harley. In #2, Harley and her pal Red Tool go to visit Selina Kyle/Catwoman in the Arkham Home For Criminally Insane Retirees which is, as you'd expect, an old folks home for Arkham Asylum residents! It might be easy humor and maybe a bit lowbrow but, well, it's funny seeing Catwoman zip around on a motorized scooter, pretending she can't hear people if she doesn't want to talk to them.

It's funny to see Mr Freeze using a walking frame, and it's amusing to see the Riddler playing bingo. But maybe the best gag is Killer Croc taking part in a pool aerobics class! Old Lady Harley isn't meant to be taken seriously, so seeing these previously formidable villains in weakened states is a brilliant idea.

10 STRONGER: SENTINELS (DAYS OF FUTURE PAST)

Ultimate William Stryker X-Men Sentinel

Aside from Magneto, the Sentinels are arguably the X-Men's most iconic antagonists. They are giant mutant-hunting robots that first appeared in 1965's The X-Men #14 and over the years, with the advance of technology, their design has been changed and refined many times to make them even deadlier to mutants.

Perhaps their most deadly form came in the "Days Of Future Past" storyline in which the Omega Sentinels had become the de facto rulers of the USA. Their most powerful member was Nimrod, who was actually created by the original Sentinels from that timeline. He was even able to shapeshift into a convincing human form. As their creators got older and used new technology to develop them, the Sentinels definitely became increasingly powerful.

9 WEAKER: MAGNETO (EARTH X)

Earth X was a 1999 series that began life, strangely enough, in an issue of Wizard Magazine. For an article, artist Alex Ross was asked to envision a dystopian Marvel Universe and he designed a world in which all ordinary humans gained superpowers, making superheroes commonplace. Marvel liked his ideas so much that they commissioned a series by Jim Krueger and John Paul Leon based on Ross' notes.

Their version of Magneto, who was already older than the classic Master Of Magnetism, lost his powers when the Earth's magnetic poles were shifted. His powers were transferred to Toad, who then forced him to become his Court Jester, endlessly dancing for his amusement. The humiliation was revenge for years of Magneto treating Toad disrespectfully.

8 STRONGER: MAESTRO

The Maestro was a version of the Hulk from an alternate future. He first appeared in The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect #1 in 1992. A despot ruling an Earth decimated by nuclear war, he had been driven insane by the radiation his body had absorbed, coupled with his anger at his continued mistreatment by humans. Maestro's latest appearance in the comics was as the main antagonist of the Old Man Logan ongoing series.

He conquered a small town in Northern Canada and was ruling as their 'King', executing anyone who defied him. Logan didn't take too kindly to this, as he thought Maestro was gone following him putting a stop to his plans to build a paradise for all Hulks. They engaged in a brutal fight that ended with Logan taking out the Green Goliath.

7 WEAKER: THE WINTER SOLDIER (OLD MAN HAWKEYE)

The recent Old Man Hawkeye series was set in the same universe as Old Man Logan and it explored Clint Barton's quest for revenge on Baron Zemo and the Thunderbolts. However, it also told the story of a cybernetically-enhanced Bullseye, who is working for the Red Skull as his Sheriff (of sorts). He finds out Hawkeye is still alive and ignores Skull's orders, going rogue in order to hunt Barton down.

Skull doesn't tolerate this insubordination, however, and dispatches his greatest weapon to take out Bullseye: the Winter Soldier! This version of Bucky has had all his humanity removed by the brainwashing programming that has been re-installed in his head. He is an emotionless machine, but this lack of reasoning makes it easier for Bullseye to outsmart and beat him.

6 STRONGER: BULLSEYE (OLD MAN HAWKEYE)

Speaking of Bullseye, his Old Man Hawkeye incarnation was pretty damn formidable. The series as a whole, which has only one issue left to go in its 12-issue run, has focussed quite a lot on the battle between the Marvel Universe's two greatest marksmen. The brilliant twist is that both are experiencing trouble with their eyesight; Hawkeye is going blind and Bullseye is cybernetically-enhanced, having lost his left eye years earlier.

This Bullseye is a lawman too, working as a Sheriff on behalf of the Red Skull, who controls the post-apocalyptic world as its leader. This Bullseye might be older but his hatred for Hawkeye keeps him sharp; his skills haven't lessened at all with age and he is able to end a fully brainwashed Winter Soldier.

5 WEAKER: DOCTOR OCTOPUS (SPIDER-MAN: REIGN)

Spider-Man: Reign was a 2006/07 miniseries by Kaare Andrews that was heavily influenced by The Dark Knight Returns. It depicted a retired Spider-Man, 30 years into the future, returning to combat the corruption of New York City. The series' depiction of Doctor Octopus was ghoulish and inventive. Otto Octavius was long gone but his four mechanical arms remained connected to his skeletal remains, acting on artificial intelligence orders from their deceased master.

His last wish was for them to find Peter Parker and return him to his Spider-Man costume, which he had buried years before in his beloved wife Mary Jane's coffin. This Doc Ock served an important function, but he was definitely weaker than his younger self what with, you know, being dead!

4 STRONGER: BATMAN 666

Batman 666

The recent DC Nuclear Winter Special featured a short story entitled 'Warmth' and it featured the surprising return of Batman 666, aka Damian Wayne, from an apocalyptic future. Originally created by Grant Morrison and Andy Kubert, this Batman first appeared (appropriately) in 2007's Batman #666 and hadn't graced a comics page for years.

His timeline's Bruce Wayne fell in the line of duty and Damian took over the mantle. Unsurprisingly, given his upbringing with Ra's Al Ghul, this Batman was much more brutal and dangerous than Bruce ever was and, worse than that, he actually made a literal deal with the devil to become immortal! This Batman could shrug off gunfire and had no compunction about beating down villains or taking them out completely.

3 WEAKER: KINGPIN (SPIDER-MAN: REIGN)

Kingpin Header

Spider-Man: Reign posited a future in which New York City is run by an authoritarian government, led by Mayor Waters, who wants to install the WEBB system (a laser-powered protective barrier) to protect the city from attack. Waters also commands a merciless police force named 'The Reign' and they have made superheroes and supervillains a thing of the past.

Behind the scenes, Waters has kept Wilson Fisk alive via an IV drip, though he now exists in a vegetative state in a hospital bed. Waters visits Kingpin once a year on the anniversary of his takeover of the city, mostly to mock the weakened Fisk. It's a surprising manner in which to view the all-powerful Kingpin of Crime, reduced to a shell of his former self. It truly highlights Waters' quiet malevolence.

2 STRONGER: LEX LUTHOR (THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN)

The Dark Knight Returns is rightly hailed as one of the greatest comic books ever made. It's direct sequel, 2001/02's The Dark Knight Strikes Again, is nowhere near as good, but still has its moments. The depiction of Lex Luthor is top notch, showing perfectly how one of the most powerful people in the DC Universe could somehow become even more powerful in the future!

This Luthor heads a power part of the country and runs the world with a police dictatorship. He uses a hologram to fool the people into thinking their strings aren't being pulled by him. He also keeps some superheroes captive and controls others (Superman, Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman), forcing them to do his bidding by keeping their loved ones hostage.

1 WEAKER: THE VILLAINS IN DAREDEVIL: END OF DAYS

In the mid-2000s Marvel produced a series of one-shots and miniseries' sub-titled The End, with each one being a potential last story for characters like Wolverine, Hulk and Fantastic Four. The 2012/13 miniseries Daredevil: End Of Days was a similar idea, though writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Klaus Janson expanded the concept considerably.

The story wound up more akin to Daredevil's own version of The Dark Knight Returns. The series showed several elderly villains in weakened states: Bushwacker was in critical condition in a hospital bed, Leland Owlsley (aka the Owl) had returned to his previous life as a stock investor, and Zebediah Killgrave (The Purple Man) was shot by the Punisher before readers even got a chance to see what became of him!