Only A Comic Book Genius Can Match These Heroes And Villains To The Right Origin Stories!
- by Ricky Bambuto
- – on
- in Movies and TV
As exciting as it is to see our favorite superheroes and villains in action, knowing their origin stories adds a whole other layer to the experience. This is a layer that true comic book geniuses are all too familiar with. If you're among that select tribe, then this quiz should be a total breeze for you. If you're anything less than a comic book genius, though, you might need to hit those books and come back when you're fully trained.
Some superheroes and villains are born with their powers, and those are usually easy to pick out. Others, however, were either given their powers, or were set on their supernatural paths via specific circumstances, and you'll need to recognize those if you're planning to do well here.
But remember - only a comic book genius can get a score of 90% or higher. There's just too many origin stories here for a casual fan to tackle. If you fail in your mission, remember that there's a friendly neighborhood comic book store somewhere in your vicinity, with hundreds of volumes you can pour through as a refresher.
For all we know, this quiz might be your very own origin story. Or not. Either way, let's get it started.
How did Peter Parker become Spider-Man?
Here is Spider-Man, starting this quiz off with a concerned view of his city from way up above. If you live in his world, you can always find this hero somewhere overhead, looking out for evil in need of thwarting. It's a miracle that he's able to cling onto skyscrapers like that, not to mention his myriad of other abilities as a superhero. Maybe you know all about Spider-Man, in which case you should be able to pick out his origin story.
What's Superman's backstory?
Regardless of which fictional universe you're referring to, it's hard to imagine a force capable of taking out Superman. Throughout his several decades of comic book issues, this classic hero seems to have been given power up after power up, his writers bringing him closer and closer to godhood as he faces progressively stronger foes. Just how did Superman come to acquire all this power? Despite the fact that he's an imagined character, his back story needs to make sense.
How did Bruce Banner become The Hulk?
The Hulk is also up there with the very strongest fighters in the fictional realm. You don't need a nerdy explanation to come up with that conclusion - just look at those guns. If you've done something to anger Bruce Banner, it's better to either apologize or disappear in a cloud of dust before he's able to take on his mean, green other identity. It's a heck of a transformation, but how did this all begin? What's The Hulk's origin story?
How did T'Challa become Black Panther?
Whether or not you've been among the masses who've crowded theaters worldwide to see this superhero in action this year, if you're a real nerd, you should definitely know Black Panther's origin story by heart. That incredible power and speed combined with the hero's superhuman reflexes didn't come from training, after all. Black Panther found his identity in a very specific way, outlined somewhere below. Choose the right origin story and you're on your way to being certified as a true nerd, for better or worse.
What is The Joker's (supposed) origin story?
Of course, The Joker's past is shrouded in mystery - his issues have outlined a number of potential origin stories, though it's hard to determine when he's just trolling and when he isn't. Despite that, the flashback scenes in The Killing Joke are quite telling, showing The Joker before he surrendered his humanity, and of course the prophetic event that gave rise to the new him. Whether these flashbacks are further, more elaborate trolls, we can't say. But three of the following options are definitely not part of The Joker's backstory.
How did Curtis Connors become The Lizard?
Lizard was a formidable villain in Spider-Man 2, testing all of Spidey's limits until he was eventually thwarted. If the hero he was facing was anyone less than Spider-Man, he might have succeeded in turning a whole city into a population of monsters. Hawkeye, for instance, might not have been able to stop him. He was driven by an idea, and despite you disagreeing with it being the right idea, he certainly thought it was valid. What's Lizard's origin story?
What's Captain America's backstory?
That gleaming shield, the glorious star - this can only be Captain America, number one patriot of all superheroes. This guy is not to be underestimated, something he's proven time and time again in multiple features in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While we'd like to think that his power comes from doing lots of push ups and sit ups every day, his origin story likely spins a different kind of web. If you're a Marvel maniac, tell us what Cap's back story is.
How did Hal Jordan become the Green Lantern?
Ryan Reynolds is angry, probably because he's playing a superhero in a movie that won't end up being quite the hit that Deadpool will. Still, there's no real need to be mad - after all, Green Lantern is capable of doing miraculous things that Deadpool can only dream of. In fact, Hal Jordan's powers have sometimes rivaled even Superman, which is saying a whole lot. All real comic book nerds wouldn't let this essential but of Green Lantern trivia pass them by.
What's Ultron's backstory?
Ultron is rearing for an epic clash between good and evil. As you can imagine, he'll be serving on the side of evil. Maybe that's because he has a screw loose somewhere, or maybe the need to wreak havoc runs through his every wire. Regardless, he doesn't need to expend much battery power to bring the whole world down - unless there are some nutty superheroes around looking to take him out before he can do that. How did Ultron come to be?
How did Tony Stark become Iron Man?
Iron Man has split the clouds above, flying down at an incredible speed to shut Ultron down. While the two forces clash, let's see how much you know about Tony Stark. Since this is the first hero to kick off what we now refer to as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, all true fans of the genre should be familiar with how he became Iron Man. This transformation seems to have been written on the wall in retrospect, but it needed a specific kicking off point.
How did Scott Lang become Ant-Man?
Here is Ant-Man, just passing through the quiz with a colony of ants. It's fine, we won't get the Raid out as long as this hero and his appalling friends get out of here quick. Despite how much we like seeing this hero do evil in, we don't want to be around when that happens. He and his ants might be small now, but there's no telling when they'll all grow as large as houses. What will we all do then?
What's Doctor Strange's backstory?
Things have just gotten super strange. There's magic in the air, and the source seems to point directly to one man - Doctor Strange. He's the magic man of the Marvel Universe, and definitely not a super entity you want to mess with. If you do, you'd better hope you have some access to the astral plane of your own - lots of access, actually, otherwise you'll be thwarted in no time at all. Let's see if you know this guy's origin story.
What's Vision's backstory?
Looks like Vision is unleashing a devastating energetic attack, one that'll burn right through its target if they don't have superpowers of their own. Facing down an Avenger like Vision is a daunting task - his origin story alone is telling of his full power. Without this hero, the world surely would have been lost by now. If you know about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, then you should definitely know at least a little bit about Vision's History. What's his origin story?
What's Thor's backstory?
The mighty Thor has arrived in the throes of a world ending thunder storm. But don't worry - Thor is a good guy, and he'll direct the fierce winds away from humanity and toward the force that threatens it. We'd feel bad for that force if it got slammed with a shot of Thor's hammer, since it is very heavy to say the least. Thor has unspeakable strength, speed and a variety of special abilities. What's his true origin story?
How did Matt Murdock become Daredevil?
Someone dared a devil to show up in this quiz, and here he is in all his glory. If you knew only a little bit about Daredevil's past, you might be lead to underestimate this hero. However, this guy isn't one to show mercy to unprepared foes - let your guard down for even a second, and his wrath will be upon you. All this assuming that you're evil, of course, or you've been talking smack about him. How did Daredevil come to be?
How did Bruce Wayne become Batman?
When the night is at its darkest, the Bat comes out and gets things done. Gotham is a grim place to live in, but this man is its beacon of hope. Despite his lack of inherent, miraculous powers, if he's allotted sufficient preparation time, there isn't an enemy Batman can't take down. If you've seen some of his movies - or have even read through his comic books - then maybe you know what lead to Bruce Wayne becoming Batman.
How did Clint Barton become Hawkeye?
We'll admit, this abnormal - though not super - human being has a ton of competition in this quiz. He's put next to super strong fictional characters capable of making the impossible happen. This guy can't quite do that - but what he can do is shoot an arrow without missing, like ever. His marksmanship alone might be considered super - if only he was given one, divine push. As it stands though, his back story is definitely worth knowing.
How did Adrian Toomes become The Vulture?
Vulture has descended from the bleak clouds above to rain some havoc in here. As you might have seen in Spider-Man Homecoming, this character is the embodiment of vile, and he won't hesitate to take you out in the spirit of his own benefit. And amazingly, Michael Keaton's congenital charm does nothing to sweeten this villain's salt. He's a formidable opponent, and all true fans of Spidey should know how he came to be. Are you a real fan, or a poser?
What's Black Widow's backstory?
Black Widow has appeared in numerous MCU iterations throughout the last decade, and she probably won't be ceasing that anytime soon. Scarlet Johansson is unforgettable, and probably the only actress on Earth who can fill Black Widow's shoes. Despite her inability to do stuff like fly around and shoot energy beams, this character is definitely one of the Avengers you want on your side in a pinch. If you think you're a nerd and a half, pick her origin story out.
What's Gamora's backstory?
Gamora seems ready for battle, and thank the gods that she is. When this warrior is gearing up for a fight, the stakes usually tend to be sky high - cosmically high, even. As a Guardians of the Galaxy member, Gamora is an absolute force to be reckoned with, her speed and strength rivaling the toughest intergalactic warriors sent forth by the forces of evil. If you know anything about Gamora, hopefully you'll remember how she became such a formidable superhero.
How did Bucky Barnes become the Winter Soldier?
Here's another showing of pure strength, speed and agility, this time featuring the formidable Bucky Barnes. The Winter Soldier has proven time and time again how his abilities evenly match up with Captain America's. He's even bested his old friend at times, though the Captain has also seen his share of victories in their confrontations. His potential as a supervillain and antihero is clear, though exactly how he got his abilities might not be so clear - to mere comic book dibble dabblers, of course.
How did James Rhodes become War Machine?
If Tony Stark is expected to show up at a battle royal between heroes and villains, you can bet that War Machine will be right behind him, backing him up the whole way. This spells bad news for the evil side, since this hero's potential output in war is quite clear. Hopefully you've seen him in action in one of the MCU titles he's been featured in, otherwise you'd have to be a real comic book nerd to pick his origin.
How did Darren Cross become Yellowjacket?
Like Ant Man, Yellowjacket should not be underestimated. Just because his powers center on making him smaller, that doesn't mean that his most minuscule self can't lay out a serious whooping. After all, Yellowjacket is super strong even after he's shrunken down, so enemies don't even see the pummeling headed their way. If you payed some attention during Ant-Man, you should definitely be able to match this villain to his origin story. The quiz will only get harder from here, by the way.
What's Ego's backstory?
The Guardians of the Galaxy seem to have their work cut out for them. The force they're destined to face is the spirit of a planet itself, and this planet is angry. Actually, Ego operates more on Ego based principles than those of the ethereal now, which is part of what makes him a villain and all. His origin story is super interesting, but definitely something you might have missed if you don't pay attention to Marvel. How did he come to be?
What's Lex Luthor's backstory?
Lex Luthor might not seem like very much at first, not having any natural superpowers and all. Still, let's not forget that this is the man who has been putting up a decent fight against Superman for decades now. With his genius level intellect, vast wealth and refusal to stop his factory of evil for even one minute, this is a supervillain you definitely don't want to mess with. But just how he became such a villain is the question.
What's Star-Lord's backstory?
Star-Lord is a space adventurer and leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy - well, pseudo leader, at any rate. It's hard to tell exactly who's in command of the squad at time, though Star Lord is happy to take on the reins whenever he can. Although it's easy to consider him as a regular human with no super potential, those who underestimate Star Lord are quick to learn otherwise. If you're a real comic book fan, you should definitely know his origin.
What's Killmonger's backstory?
It's hard to imagine a better villain to match Black Panther with than Killmonger. As you might have seen in the movie, Killmonger's views tend to deviate some ways from T'Challa's, which is the main source of the film's conflict. His appearance marked a host of problems for Black Panther, though he managed to solve them accordingly, being a formidable superhero and all. Killmonger has an origin story that was clearly highlighted in the film - let's see if you remember it.
How did Johann Schmidt become Red Skull?
Here is Red Skull, and he is looking absolutely furious. This is not a face - or skull, rather - that we'd ever want to be faced with. Or skulled with. The MCU has shown us exactly how devastating this villain's wrath can be, though you can probably get a sense of that just by looking in his menacing eyes. Don't look for too long, though, otherwise the evil within Red Skull might corrupt you. Just click his origin and we'll move on.
What's Wonder Woman's backstory?
Wonder Woman is here and ready to fight, which means there's probably a huge battle going on with Planet Earth on the line or something. This superhero doesn't descend from her divinity for just any quarrel, after all. And thank the gods that she shows up at all, since she's an invaluable asset in battle. Her capabilities rival even the most powerful superheroes in comic book lore. If you know a bit about her, maybe you can pick her origin story out.
What's The Ancient One's backstory?
The Ancient One is among the most powerful sorcerers in all fictional universes. With her ability to bend the laws of physics and time to her will, she is a force to be reckoned with regardless of the tyrannical opponent she happens to be faced with. We got to see a glimpse of her powers in Dr. Strange, as she was training our hero. Hopefully you've read a little into her, otherwise you might find some trouble here. What's her origin?
What's Dormammu's backstory?
As powerful as The Ancient One is, the mere thought of Dormammu's invasion of the physical universe is enough to incite an audible gasp from her. If this picture alone doesn't hint at Dormammu's power, all you need to do to get an idea of it is watch Dr. Strange, or pick up a Marvel comic or two. If you haven't done so, then picking out the correct backstory from the options below might be a challenge. Can you do it?
What's Thanos' backstory?
The build up to Thanos' eventual appearance as the main villain of an MCU movie was huge, and thankfully Infinity Wars delivered accordingly. It's hard to imagine a character in the comic book universe more powerful than Thanos, though that's really a subject for the hardcore, think tank nerds to sort out. If you ever hope of reaching that level - or if you're there already - then you should definitely know Thanos' origin story. Let's see if you do.
What's Scarlet Witch's backstory?
Scarlet Witch still has a long ways to go in terms of mastering full control over her extraordinary powers, at least in the MCU. She'll get there one day, and that will be a sad day for the bad side. The stunts we've seen Scarlet Witch pull off in the MCU so far show her incredible ability to create and manipulate energy. It begs the question - just how on Earth did this superhero acquire such astronomical power? Do you have any idea?
What's Aldrich Killian's backstory?
As formidable a superhero as Tony Stark is, Aldrich Killian gave him a serious run for his money in Iron Man 3. At a certain point, he had Iron Man down in the lowest of dumps, with no inkling of a master plan in sight. Of course, being a super genius, Tony eventually figured things out and proceeded to thwomp Aldrich accordingly. We were shown the supervillain's origin story in the movie at some point - let's see if you remember it.
How did Jon Osterman become Dr. Manhattan?
We said earlier on that it's hard to imagine a super character as powerful as Thanos, but Dr. Manhattan has shown up in his most titanic form to remind us what a superhero looks like when he becomes a god. There's talks in the comic book vine of a Watchmen remake coming up soon, so it's about time to brush up on the comics. That would definitely lead you to Dr. Manhattan's origin story, but hopefully you know it already.