In honor of the late great comedian Rodney Dangerfield who self-deprecating humor popularized the line "I get no respect I tell ya none", I would like to write about some of the most disrespected comic book characters of all time. These characters existence's is evidence that the popular axiom that Baltimore Ravens defensive back Ray Lewis says every football Sunday "that respect is earned not given" is simply false. Some of the characters can hold their own in a fight they have huge fan bases and are a part of all-time superhero teams but they remain undervalued and overlooked. There are others who seem designed and destined to be disrespected even though they are amazing characters with great stories. Here is my list of some of the most disrespected characters of all time
Aquaman: The king of Atlantis is a founding member of the original Justice League as well as one of DC's most popular and beloved heroes. He is a telepath who can communicate with marine life, an advocate for justice, protector of the seas and arguably the most underappreciated character in the DC Universe. In the New 52 comics he is openly criticized and disrespected with one person going as far to ask "How does it feel to be nobody favorite super-hero"? Even in the Justice League he has to continually prove himself to the public who is skeptical of his abilities as a hero. When DC created their animated movie Justice League Doom there can be no question what hero the creators left out. For Arthur Curry getting respect may be his greatest challenge.
Jason Todd: He is a former member of the Teen Titans and currently the masked vigilante known as the Red Hood. Life for Jason was never easy he was born into poverty his father was a deadbeat and a petty criminal he was raised by a drug addict but his life on the streets enabled him to become a hardedge boy wonder. Unfortunately fans of the Batman comics never took a liking to him and voted to kill him off. So he was savagely beaten by the Joker with a crowbar and left for dead in warehouse which exploded before Batman could save him. He is the lest respected person to ever fill the role of Robin in fact he is remembered more for his brutal death than for any single achievement as the boy wonder. Even the writers at DC don't respect him they gave him the former identity of his killer. Think about it Dick Grayson becomes the venerable Nightwing, Tim Drake becomes the brave Red Robin and he becomes the outlaw Red Hood which again is the former identity of the Joker. No respect!
Morph: In the 90's X Men the animated TV series he was the shape shifting former X-Men who was best known for his pranks, witty humor and friendship with Wolverine. I have to admit that I love Morph and was upset when they decide to kill him off the team early. He fits perfectly with the X-Men and even compliments the attitudes of Gambit and Wolverine. In the comics he was the first X-Men to be killed off the team but he was brought back to life and became a member of The Exiles. For me he will always be associated with the animated TV series and in that show he receives no respect. He is killed by the Sentinels then resurrected by Mr. Sinister where he becomes a pathetic brainwashed anti-villain who held a bitter grudge against the X-Men. Even when his memory was restored and he rejoined the team he left because of his fears. What a tragedy for one of the funniest X-men.
DR. Robert Bruce Banner: He is the one of the most popular characters in the comics as well as the most overshadowed and underappreciated. Anytime his name is mentioned fans think of the "the other guy". His entire existence in the comics was spent in the shadow of his alter ego and if it was not for his transformation he'd be easily flushed down the memory hole. Think about the most popular and beloved characters in comics Clark Kent is loved for being Superman but he is respected as a character in his own right, Peter Parker is best known for being Spiderman but fans also love him for being "Pete" as for Bruce Banner everyone respects the Hulk but very few care for Bruce. For example fans and people fondly remember the bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno for being the Hulk and he has become a part of pop culture history but how many fondly remember Bill Bixby as Bruce Banner. He like is the guy in the relationship that the girl likes but does not love so any time he comes around she always think about the other guy. Similarly we love the Hulk but the same cannot be said of Bruce Banner.
Honorable Mention: Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot is one of Batman's most notorious villains also he is one of the few villains who is actual sane. He is mobster, businessman and the guy that frequently challenged the dark knight in a deadly game of wits. Over time he has become the most disrespected villain in Batman's rogue gallery in fact he never breaks the top ten of his villains and among many fans he ranks at the bottom of the barrel. The writers at DC also have very little respect for him as well they have made him an informant to batman, a low level villain and often neglected his development over the years. Comment below and tell me who you believe is the most disrespected hero or villain.