We now come to the last of my Anti-Hero lists, the Type Vs. These are characters who aren't really heroic at all, and the only reason they're not either neutrals or outright villains is because they're fighting against a greater evil for whatever reason. Expect to see some actual villains here.
Beginning the DC examples with the Authority's Superman.
When with the New Guardians
A group of fascist dictators who rule the planet with an iron fist but also take out supervillains.
A psychotic religious fanatic and self-appointed slayer of sinners.
In All Star Batman And Robin
A sociopathic nihilist who only works for the government because they give him an excuse to kill people.
In "Injustice Gods Among Us" as a member of the Insurgency fighting against the Regime.
Couldn't care less about the world's fate and only helps because his girlfriend asked him to.
At worst
At worst, including in "Demon Knights" where he is shown to be totally apathetic towards everyone else.
What they've since become
A dark and psychotic reflection of Batman and Nightwing
Becomes this during "Knightfall"
When with the New Guardians
AT BEST
Was also meant to be a criticism of this kind of "hero".
The Authority's Batman
"The World will look up and shout "save us". And I'll whisper...no"
They sometimes became this during the course of their misadventures due to fighting and killing people who were worse than them.
The only reason he's not the villain is because the people he's fighting are worse than him.
Beginning the Marvel examples with their version of Ares, who serves this role during his time with both the Mighty Avengers and Dark Avengers.
When made a jerk
Pretty much invoked with them due to their being a crew of loners, sociopaths, and psychos pretending to be heroes.
Sometimes, including during the 90s.
Sometimes becomes this when having temporary alliances with real heroes.
As the Superior Spider-Man
Sometimes turns into this
For most of the Disassembled Era, including in Civil War
As Kid Loki
Sometimes when working with the X-Men against a common enemy
A Lawful Stupid jerk who spends more time antagonizing the superheroes than actual villains, which is just straight up pathetic.
Tends to not care all that much about the surface world and it's inhabitants.
In "Wolverine and the X-Men"
As Iron Patriot
Merciless executioner of criminals of all kinds
In "Avengers Earth's Mightiest Heroes" and "Wolverine and the X-Men", where in both shows they spend more time being morally dubious (or just straight up incompetent) jerks than actually being helpful.
Sometimes enters this surprisingly
Evil Ghost Rider. Enough said.
Pre Character Development
Beginning the Mass Effect examples with Renegade Shepard
He's not bad or evil or anything, but he's not exactly good or well-intentioned either. Really Chaotic Neutral.
Pre Character Development
Pre Character Development
Pe Character Development
Big time due to being a fairly amoral mercenary who is willing to sacrifice innocent people just to get some lousy revenge.
Beginning the misc. examples we have Tarkin during the Clone Wars.
Pre character development. As he put it, he wasn't in it for the revolution, at least not at first.
Pre Character Development
A psychotic, bloodthirsty mass murderer, but at least his victims tend to not be all that sympathetic. Even so, the world doesn't need people like Kratos.
