New Year, New Me: Marvel characters that switched sides

With a new year here, let’s look at the Marvel characters that turned over a new leaf.

The new year is here! This is the time of year where resolutions are made. People try to make themselves better people by dieting, changing jobs, or just trying to be better people. The phrase, “New year, new me” has become the popular phrase on social media over the last few years. In Marvel comics, characters have changed who they are multiple times despite the year. Characters like Magneto and Namor have gone from villain to hero and back again more times than I count. This is a trend that will never change. Here are six characters that are prime examples of people who have gone from hero to villain or vice versa.

Juggernaut

Juggernaut has spent most his time being a villain to the X-Men. He was one of the X-Men’s original villains along with Magneto. But there was a time when Cain Marko was teammates with the team he once feuded with. What started as a ruse to infiltrate the X-Men turned into Juggernaut’s best storyline.

Juggernaut befriended a young mutant named Sammy. The two bonded on the abuse they took from their individual fathers. This bond helped Juggernaut become a better person and started to show him the error of his ways. As time went on, Juggernaut became a full-fledged member of the X-Men. He even gained the trust of Cyclops and later joined and became a teacher. Juggernaut also joined the British hero group Excalibur with Captain Britain, Nocturne, Dazzler, Pete Wisdom, and Sage. Sadly, Juggernaut eventually went back to his villainous ways. I firmly believe Juggernaut makes a much better hero than a villain. The good news is it’s only a matter of time before Marvel makes him a hero again.

Sabretooth

Victor Creed is one of the most despicable people in comic books. I don’t think there is a violent crime he hasn’t committed less than a dozen times. Beyond the murder, Sabretooth has spent most his adult existence making Wolverine’s life a living Hell. That Hell includes killing more than a couple of women that Wolverine loved. With everything that Sabretooth is, it would take something of a miracle for him to really change his ways. That miracle took place in Marvel’s Axis.

During Marvel Axis Sabretooth was among the villains and heroes who had their personalities switched due to a magic spell. At the end of the series, Sabretooth was among the characters who didn’t revert. Sabretooth went on to become an Avenger for a cup of tea and joined Magneto’s X-Men with Psylocke, Fantomex, Mystique, Archangel, and Monet St. Croix. Sabretooth is currently on the Weapon X team with Warpath, Domino, Lady Deathstrike, and Old Man Logan. Too bad it seems like Creed is turning back into the killer he once was. It may be only a matter of time before Sabretooth goes back to the killer he once was. for now, he’s still with Weapon X. Regardless of whether Sabretooth is a hero or a villain he’s still a great character.