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Here is a look at some of the worst leaders in Marvel Comics, from the heroes who lead their teams into disastrous situations to the characters who prioritize their own selfish interests, regardless of what is best for their teammates.
5) Reed Richards
Reed Richards was one of the first superheroes introduced when Marvel Comics began publishing its superhero stories. He was the de facto leader of the Fantastic Four for one reason. He was the smartest member of the team, while Human Torch was immature, Ben Grimm was the team’s grunt, and Sue Storm wasn’t going to be the leader, as Marvel, at that time, didn’t respect female heroes like it would in later years.
The problem with Reed is that his intelligence also adds to his arrogance. He believes that his opinion is always the right one, which has put him at odds with his team and family over the years. Most Reed Richard-variants in the multiverse have turned evil, and the Earth-616 version remains a hero, but he has done enough in his life to show he is the last person most people would want to put their trust in.
4) Cyclops
Cyclops is easily one of the best tactical leaders in Marvel Comics history. When it comes to a battle, there might not be someone that the X-Men want leading them other than Scott Summers. However, when it comes to people the X-Men need to lead them, Scott is one of the worst possible leaders for the team. Like Reed Richards, Scott is someone who has an almost bullheaded insistence on doing things his way, which has led to several conflicts with other members of the team, including Storm and Wolverine, where Scott was usually in the wrong.
Cyclops’ actions as a leader led to the X-Men: Schism event, one of the darkest storylines in X-Men history. When he led many mutants to follow him as a martyr after he killed Professor X, he showed his worst traits. Even now, as the mutants are in danger once again, Cyclops is still only thinking about himself.
3) Beast
Beast was one of the most beloved characters in Marvel Comics for many years. However, in recent years, Beast has been the actual worst, showing evil traits that led his Age of Apocalypse counterpart to become the Dark Beast. On Earth-616, he turned many mutants against him when he brought the original X-Men to the present day and stranded them there. He later became the leader of X-Force on Krakoa, the mutant team designed as the counter-terrorist faction.
However, what Beast did was unthinkable as he turned them into actual terrorists in the name of mutant rights. He made his own teammates villains, and they had to follow his orders or face his wrath, as Colossus learned at one time. Beast is back to normal now after being resurrected with an older version of the character’s brainwaves, but when he becomes a leader, he is as immoral as they come.
