Six Comic Book Characters Who Suffer From A Mental Illness

It’s been a bad mental health week for me. You see, going through ebbs and flows with my anxiety, I can go months at a time feeling completely fine as the confident guy that I am, but on the flip-side, one comment can send me spiralling. The best way to describe it is that it’s like a constant inner monologue that questions everything people say, constantly reminding you of mistakes you made as long as a decade ago. If that’s not enough, it will twist those mistakes to the point that you start remembering them as being significantly worse than they were. So with that off my chest, I thought I’d take a look at some comic book characters that have their own chemical imbalances of the brain.
Robert Reynolds – Sentry
Powers: Chemically-enhanced physiology, molecular manipulation, superhuman strength, superhuman speed, superhuman stamina, superhuman agility , superhuman reflexes, superhuman senses, flight, nigh invulnerability, photokinesis, light projection, energy blasts, psionic abilities, healing factor, resurrection.
Mental Illness: agoraphobia, anxiety, schizophrenia.
A character that Marvel has at times claimed to be the most powerful Superhero in their universe, is also one of their most mentally ill. Sentry lives in constant fear of his power, concerned that if he ever unleashes its full potential, it would be catastrophic for Earth.
Vril Dox – Braniac
Powers: unique physiology, psychokinesis, superhuman strength, telepathy, telekinesis, enhanced intellect
Mental Illness: mysophobia
One of Superman’s most dangerous enemies, Braniac suffers from a phobia of germs. Now this is interesting, since he travels through the universe destroying planets and bottling cities, which you’d think would leave him open to new and wonderful germs on a daily basis.
Hank Pym – Ultron
Powers: robotic body, superhuman strength, superhuman speed, superhuman durability, flight, concussion blasters, tractor beams, radiation emitters, encephalo-beam, energy absorption, program transmitter, memory capacity, motility support, power supply, sensor apparatus.
Mental Illness: Bi-Polar disorder.
While being merged with your greatest and most dangerous creation is sure to give you identity issues, Hank Pym was unwell long before that. His Bi-Polar disorder has caused him to constantly question his abilities, feel inferior to fellow inventor Tony Stark and had him labelled a wife beater.
Harleen Quinzel – Harley Quinn
Powers: toxic immunity, psychiatry, gymnist, genius level intellect
Mental Illness: obsession
Dr. Harleen Quinzel led a normal productive life until her encounter with the Joker. Something about him triggered her obsession and it was 100% directed at him. This resulted in her leaving her normal life and becoming the cosplay inspiration we love her for.
Mark Spector – Moon Knight
Powers: telepathic immunity, adaptive personality, pain resistance, fear inducing.
Mental Illness: dissociative identity disorder
Moon Knight’s madness is so strong that it has labelled some to call it magical. He doesn’t simply believe that Mark Spector and Moon Knight are different people, but he also has other aliases he believes to be real.
Bruce Wayne – Batman
Powers: indomitable will, intimidation, interrogation, peak human conditioning, peak human strength, peak human reflexes, peak human speed, peak human endurance, peak human agility, acrobatics, martial arts, genius level intellect, eidetic memory, disguise.
Mental Illness: psychopathic, sociopathic.
Batman, the Defender of Gotham, a man that can beat any foe regardless of their superpowers, simply because he is Batman. The only problem is, he’s a raving lunatic. He thinks nothing of crippling people for information or petty offences. He has no qualms with using children in his war against crime and, to make matters worse, if he abandoned the cape and cowl, Bruce Wayne could do more good for Gotham than Batman ever could.
So there are six comic book characters who are way more messed up than you and I, and if they can’t get mental health right with all their power and money, then what hope do we have?
Written by Michael Loverdos
Content courtesy of TorrentThisTv. For more pop culture nostalgia and new head to the official website.