Comic book storytelling relies upon a few narrative tropes that help further engage readers. Building a secret into a comic arc ensures that fans want to see that mystery unraveled. However, in the context of fictional worlds found in Marvel, DC and beyond, these secrets are shocking, grim, and damaging to the characters involved.
A dark comic book secret is usually well-hidden so that a nefarious scheme can come to fruition. Although that secrecy is occasionally influenced by shame, more often it is linked to a villainous turn soon to be revealed. Whether creators withheld grim knowledge from the reader or the characters, these dark secrets are still massively influential.
10 The Justice League's Mind Wipes
The Justice League houses the most influential heroes in the DC Universe. They have to be held to a higher standard and cannot resort to dangerous and sinister methods to maintain their position. But in the Identity Crisis narrative that's exactly what happened.
The Justice League had been hiding a dark secret, even from some of their own members. The team had been using Zatanna's powers to wipe the minds of their enemies, like Doctor Light. With the revelation that this decision had been made on more than one occasion, it brought into question the team's abuse of human rights in the name of what they call Justice. It's an unsettling topic that paints the League in a troubling light.
9 The Skrull Invasion
Superheroes have to be able to trust one another. In the Marvel Universe, team-ups happen so often that these vigilantes must have complete faith that their partner has their back. But the Secret Invasion narrative uncovered a dark truth. That the superhero community had already been infiltrated.
One of the biggest mysteries in Marvel Comics centered on identifying who was a Skrull. The alien invasion had begun far before the Avengers had even realized and key characters like Spider-Woman had already been swapped out. The dark secret created distrust and paranoia among teammates, as everyone questioned whether they were who they said they were. The idea that sleeper agents weren't even aware that they were Skrulls only added to the chaos.
8 The Y Chromosome Plague
Y The Last Man centers on the near-extinction of the Y Chromosome. Nicknamed the Plague, almost every man is wiped out, but the reason for this is never completely discovered. It's a dark secret at the core of the narrative. But there are plenty of theories as to why the Plague happened.
Although Yorick Brown might never receive the answer, readers can decide the resolution to the secret themselves. The work of Dr. Mann has been one suggested catalyst, with the first human clone triggering a genetic reaction across humankind. The removal of the Amulet of Helene from Jordan is yet another potential reason, with a mystical plague unleashed across Earth. Then there's the chemical weapon designed by The Culper Ring that could be culpable. In truth, perhaps none of these theories are real.
7 East Of West's Message
East of West is set in a dystopian landscape where the Civil War continued beyond its original timeline, and a comet hit Kansas. It's a grim setting with plenty of mysteries of its own. But it's the mysterious prophecy known as The Message that maintains one of the darkest secrets in comic book history.
East of West's Message was essentially a foretelling of the end of the world. It proclaims that an apocalypse is coming and the Four Horsemen are obsessed with seeing this come to fruition. With murmurings of the end of times spreading, there are influential people of power who become one of the chosen few dedicated to bringing about the apocalypse. This dark conspiracy paints humankind in a devastating light.
6 The Supes Aren't Heroes
The Boys has been adapted to the small screen and there are countless ways in which the comics differ from the popular TV show. However, there is still a secret that sits at the core of both versions, that would terrify the world if it was to be completely uncovered.
The supes in The Boys aren't proper heroes. Most of them are so corrupt and ego-driven that their true nature has to be hidden to protect their image. Among The Seven are some of the worst of the worst, with Homelander's villainous nature demonstrating the biggest hypocrisy of all. The golden boy is far from saintly and his partners are the definition of problematic supers.
5 Once & Future's Legends Are Real
In the world of Once & Future reality is seemingly as normal as it can be. There are supposedly no real myths and monsters. There are apparently no fables and legends with any semblance of truth. That is until Duncan McGuire's grandmother reveals that she's been fighting these stories for most of her life.
Once & Future hides the dark secret from the majority of the populace that these beasts and villains are genuine. While other comic book worlds often embrace powers and supernatural elements, this universe instead keeps the terrifying reality from regular citizens. With McGuire first finding this world through the recreation of Arthurian legend, he had only scratched the surface of what he would soon discover. To reveal such darkness would create mass hysteria.
4 Omni-Man's Turn
Omni-Man is an incredibly powerful character and could probably take on any Marvel or DC hero. It's his sheer strength and durability that make him so terrifying. After all, if he isn't on the side of good, then he would be an unstoppable force. That's exactly what happens in Invincible.
Throughout Invincible,Omni-Man is keeping a dark secret. That his heroic actions are a facade. That he is an alien on a mission to protect his species and humankind means nothing to him. Although Omni-Man's time on Earth eventually leads to a significant character arc that changes his mindset, his murder of the Guardians of the Globe is just the tip of the iceberg of the secrets he hides. Ultimately, his true nature is the biggest mystery.
3 Ozymandias' True Plan
Watchmen is a defining comic that reshaped superhero storytelling and broke down the genre. Ozymandias was a leading antagonist in the story. The character had a grand plan to drop a giant squid on New York and fake an alien invasion. He did so to attempt to build a common enemy.
With the world on the brink of nuclear conflict, Ozymandias believed that he would be saving billions of lives. Even if this was at the cost of millions. He kept this dark secret by killing the Comedian and even staging an assassination attempt on himself. The reality of the situation would have dire consequences were it to be unleashed.
2 Norman Osborn & Gwen Stacy's Affair
Sins Past is one of the most controversial stories in comic book history. The Spider-Man narrative saw an affair begin between Gwen Stacy and Norman Osborn. The incident was hidden, but Stacy would later give birth to twins, Gabriel and Sarah. Then, Osborn, masquerading as Green Goblin, killed her.
Gwen Stacy and Norman Osborn's narrative is difficult to unpack and a dark secret that looms over Spider-Man. Marvel has attempted to retcon the story due to the backlash that it received from fans. But it has to be one of the strangest and most damaging retcons in its own right that completely changed the perspective of Marvel readers.
1 DC's Changing Timelines
The DC multiverse and the prime DC reality have been rebooted on a handful of occasions. It's a terrifying thought, that everything can be changed forever, without the populace knowing what happened. But stories like Flashpoint and Crisis on Infinite Earths demonstrate how easy it is to rewrite reality.
DC has seen plenty of continuities play out on the page, but the dark secret is that everyone in existence once had a different life. That means that loved ones might have been present in a different reality. Perhaps those that had died were still alive. Maybe one life saw riches while another saw poverty. If citizens knew how they had lived in a previous universe, maybe DC's heroes wouldn't be elevated to the status they currently enjoy.