POLL: Top 5 Scariest Super Hero Scenes from Marvel & DC

The combination of comic book stories and horror is a tried-and-true classic. Who can resist soul-twisting scares paired up with fantastic superpowers? There’s something about this genre mashup that never fails to delight audiences and readers everywhere. But a few scenes stand out as some of the scariest mixes of horror and super heroes.

Here are our top 5 picks for the scariest super hero scenes in Marvel and DC live-action media. Which do you think is the scariest of them all? Plus, keep reading beyond the poll for some spooky surprises.

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Zombie Iron Man Attacks Spidey

Spider-Man: Far From Home

“If you were good enough, maybe Tony would still be alive.” Surrounded by the swirling green mists of Mysterio’s illusion, these words haunt Peter Parker to his very core. After all, isn’t every super hero afraid (no matter how deep down) that they’re simply not good enough?

Mysterio is a member of the original Sinister Six in the comics and he certainly lives up to his reputation. In Spider-Man: Far From Home, the MCU version of Mysterio subjects Peter to a horrific hallucination starring a decrepit Iron Man zombie. The Tony Stark zombie stays true to zombie tropes by emerging from its grave hand first before forcing Spider-Man to confront his deepest fears. Bonus points for arachnophobia.

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Scarlet Witch Murders Xavier

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

All it takes is one bad day for a super hero to completely snap. When that hero is someone like the Scarlet Witch, well … y’all better run for it.

In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Wanda Maximoff’s mind-bending murder montage is full of body horror and super smashes. Watching Wanda lose her grip on reality and mercilessly take down the Illuminati is horrendously satisfying. But just when it seems she’s unstoppable, Professor X brings her rampage to a grinding halt by invading her thoughts. Well, until Wanda breaks free from his telepathic grip and snaps his neck. Oops.

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The Riddler Sings “Ave Maria”

The Batman (2022)

Speaking of bad days, next up is The Riddler. You can forget about question mark-riddled green suits with a top hat and cane. When we first meet The Riddler in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, we’re instead introduced to a cold-blooded killer. Makes you nostalgic for a silly little brain teaser.

Once Batman manages to catch Riddler and cage him in Arkham, the mastermind’s villainy is far from over. As Batman struggles to decode the threat on Gotham, Riddler teases the Caped Crusader, pushing his patience far past his short limit. But the worst part of Riddler’s gloating is his unhinged singing. His haunting performance of “Ave Maria” sends a shiver up your spine — and it ignites the Bat’s temper.

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Joker’s First Murder in the Subway

Joker

The Joker has never been known as a sympathetic character. It’s hard to relate in any meaningful way to a psychotic clown, after all. But then Todd Phillips’ Joker film came out in 2019 — and everyone’s perception of the Clown Prince of Crime was forever skewed.

Arthur Fleck is a troubled man. His life is pretty pathetic, and despite his obviously unbalanced psyche, you end up feeling for him. However, things take a sharp turn when he rides the subway. A group of men harasses him and his misplaced chuckling quickly escalates into a complete homicidal breakdown. They say laughter is the best medicine but have you ever tried murder?

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Scarecrow Sees Batman with Fear Toxin

Batman Begins

It’s no surprise that Batman would take up 3 spots in this list. In his own words, he is vengeance. He is the fear that criminals must face when they threaten Gotham City. Yet this scene, from Batman Begins, is unique among the many chilling Batman film scenes.

Here, we get a peak into what a Gotham criminal would feel when they encounter Batman in a darkened alleyway. As Dr. Jonathan Crane, AKA Scarecrow, is overcome by his own fear toxin, he sees Batman as a grotesque monster. Batman’s mouth is an oily maw and his eyes are a dark abyss reflecting only true terror. Certainly makes you second guess any notions you might have had about being a criminal in Gotham City.

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What are your choices for the scariest super hero scenes in Marvel and DC media? Join the conversation with other comic book fans over at Sideshow Social Network or at side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!

Stir up the spirits and face the monsters within … Spooktacular has been unleashed once again!

Put the EEK! in geek during Sideshow’s Spooktacular 2025, a celebration with ghastly giveaways, deathly deals, eerie exclusive perks, and more. Join us from October 23 – October 31 by visiting side.show/spooktacular and don’t forget — sleep is for the weak!