My Top 5 Tragic Characters In Comics

Comic Books have changed a lot since the days of super heroes that are entirely good and villains that are entirely evil. Now days we have heroes that make tragic mistakes and whose motives aren't always 100% clear and complicated villains who are capable of good. Both heroes and villains can have tragic back stories invoking pity and sympathy from the reader.

WARNING THAR BE SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

The spoilers pirate strikes again

#5
Rufus from Killeroo

Rufus, a genetically engineered kangaroo, was created as a weapon for a war that never happened he is now shunned by both humans and animals. Rufus fights his strong urges for violence focusing it on those he feels deserve punishment and death such as murders and rapists. Rufus belongs nowhere and fights his violent urges while truly wanting to do good. Killeroo is a local Australian comic by Darren Close. Get your copy of Killeroo here.

#4
Harley Quinn from Batman

We all know Harley Quinn and the incredibly messed up relationship she has with the Joker but her wild, bubbly and sparatic behaviour often make people forget how tragic her story really is. Harley Quinn truly believes that the Joker loves her so much so that she gave up her previous life as a psychiatrist to help spread the Joker's madness. Harley is abused and tossed aside by the one she loves so much she would give her life for all the while making excuses for him and blaming Batman for her troubles. I find the saddest part of Harley Quinn's story is that she neither wants nor will ever accept the help she truly needs to overcome her madness, toxic lifestyle and abusive relationship.

#3
Zoe from Rachel Rising

Zoe doesn't seem like a tragic character while reading Rachel Rising due to her sarcastic attitude and cute appearance but when you really think about her story it is pretty bad. Housing a demon named Malus inside her for decades Zoe is permanently 11 years old until Malus is exorcised by Zoe attempting to slit her own wrists. Zoe is told by Malus that she will give birth to the Antichrist when she is only 15 years old. Zoe is also a serial killer wielding Satan's blade. Zoe is not higher on the list because she has Rachel, Jet and Aunt Johnny to care for her and they have a somewhat dysfunctional but happy family.

#2
Carl Grimes from The Walking Dead

Can't even get into an M rated movie on his own but still more bad ass than you

Carl begins the series as a wide eyed young boy but the new world he is forced to live in takes a massive toll on him. Carl is forced to shoot his Shane, his father's best friend and a man who was like an uncle to him, after watching him attempt to kill his father. Carl's mother and baby sister are killed in a raid by the Governor, he sees numerous members of his group killed by zombies, secretly executing another young boy named Ben after he murdered his own twin brother as he honestly didn't understand why he shouldn't, being shot in the face and losing an eye. All of this before the age of 8. The most tragic thing about Carl is the loss of innocence and childish wonder his own father wonders if he would be better off dead because feels Carl has lost so much of himself.

#1
The Talon from Batgirl.

Her family was killed by a balloon bomb during world war 2 and she was horrifically scarred. She was then recruited by The Court Of Owls and trained to be an assassin. Placed in cryo-sleep for decades she wakes up only to be used as a tool by The Court Of Owls. She can hardly read or write, doesn't speak and has nobody to care for her but even with all these things she is not without sympathy for others and the ability to take joy in something as simple as a box of coloured crayons.