Superheroes are the moder⭕n equivalents of Zeus, Hercules, and other mythical figures of the ancient world. They fulfiꦺll the same need as their older counterparts to portray mankind as the greatest creation in all of existence, capable of reducing a mountaintop to rubble with a single blow or flying to the distant corners of the world with a single leap.
That is why it is difficult to imagine Superheroes ever growing old or decrepit. Who would want to follow the adventures of an arthiritic Captain America? Who would look forward to comic books starring Thor wearing an adult diaper? In the past, several issues of comic books have revealed glimpses of poss𒆙ible futures where the heroes of today have become the elderly statesmen of tomorrow.
But these stories have been few and far, and the focus has always come back to the younger versions of the heroes. It was then left up to 𒊎the imagination of the fans who've grown up with these heroes to ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚcome up with new ways of looking at a Superhero's final years.
The fans rose to the challenge with great enthusiasm. Fan drawiꦕngs relating to superheroes are flung far and wide across the internet. Some of these photos take comic canon seriously, while other artists are more interested in presenting an entirely unique and personal spin on well-🍃known characters. We'll let you decide whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. We present to you 25 pictures of Marvel characters in their old age.
24 🥀 Old Coot Iron Man
We start off with an Iron Man who's had it with all these darned supervillains playing on his front lawn. The Man of Iron has had age take its toll on his body. And that also means his 🅘Iron Man armor had to be reconfigured to allow for his new body shape.
So the new Iron Man♚ armor leaves room for a pronounced gut that we can't help but feel is a nod to Tony's💟 abiding issues. His arms and legs are much thinner and weaker now. Also, don't miss the walking stick part of the armor.
Art by Arthur Gimaldinov.
23 ✃ 🐈Still Patriotic Captain America
The thingౠ about Captain America is that he is already technically an old geezer. He's pushing 70 in normal biological terms, even if he still looks like a guy in his thirties. In this picture, age has finally caughꦡt up to Cap.
But it doesn't seem to have dampened his ardor to serve his country.
This version of the Captain has lost the awe-inspiring physique that was the most noticeable gift of the super soldier serum project. His bulging belly and wrinkled☂ skin make it unlikely that his presence will still strike terror into the hearts of the enemies of America.
22 🙈 Grumpy Old Hulk
The one most recognizable characteristic of the Hulk is that he is always mad. Rage is pretty m💞uch what drives his transformation into a green behemoth. The imagination boggles at just how cranky the Hulk would be in his old age.
We get some idea of such a future in t🌞his piece of fan art. The Hulk is now sporting whitened hair, and his body isn't as tight as it used to be. You also get the feeling that grandpa Hulk would rather be asleep in a rocking chair then going all 'Hulk smash!' on tဣhat wall.
21 𒊎 Wheezy Old Irඣon Man
Iron Man again, and once again, old age seems to have done a number on his famous armor. We have to ꦓwonder why Tony still insists on zooming around inside his suit fighting crime. It can't be good for his heart, or really any part of his aging physique.
A🐭nyway, the Iཧron Man of the future seems to have a really bent back. The Iron Helmet seems to be designed to accommodate a double or maybe even a triple chin. And the flying pose isn't as dramatic as it used to be in his youth.
20 Thor Is Summoning His Nurse ♌
Considering that Thor is already several thousand years old while looking like a 30-year-old earthling, one has to wonder just how far into the future this image is to make Thor into the human equivalent of a 90-yea෴r-old kicker.
Whatever the timeframe here, Thor still seems to be in control of his lightning powers.
Even though it's clearly taking much mo💙re out of him than it used to. He also seems to retain his fondness for a good drink. We🐻 wonder why he's summoning lightning when he's clearly on a break? Is he summoning his helper nurse?...
19 Granny Wid🗹ow Can Still Kick Your Behind
Black Widow is the sꦗingle ray of hope for the MCU in terms of a standalone female superhero. At least until Captain Marvel hits theaters. Her spinning kicks and twelve round pistol might not be much use again🥃st the infinity gauntlet, but hey, at least her weapons belong to this century, unlike Hawkeye's.
Anyway, Black Widow in her golden years is still ready for a throwdown, we assumed agaiꩲnst the sinister forces at her retirement home who keep hiding her glasses. Sadly, the black leotard doesn't fit as snugly as it used to.
18 🥃 The Spectacular Spider-Pappy
Peter Parker can't stay the perennial teenager forever. At some point down the line, the young hero has to succumb to the ravages of time, just like the rest of us. In this picture, Spidey has opted to swing closer to the ground than he used to, whi🌳ch is probably a more practical choice.
His pants don't stay up as well as they used to, and his corꦉe strength clearly isn't what it used to be. We've got a 🌳feeling Peter Parker won't get a lot of money selling pictures of this geezer to the Daily Bugle.
17 Iron Man Enjoying His Golden Years ♌
Here we find an Iron Man who appears to have re๊tired from a life of fighting crime. He is enjoying a day out in the sun with a brisk round of golf. What's interesting is that he is still wearing his armor.
Even though it needs to be hooked up to a generator at all times.
The glean in his visor clearly shows that Tony is still just as fond of the good things in life, even if they're bad for your health. Let's just hope he set up his fellow Avenge🐻rs with equally cushy retirement plans as well.
16 🍎 ♏ Galactus Is Hungry... For Some Rest
Galactus is a cosmic being. He is believed to have existed since the start of the universe💝. So it is difficult to imagine a being who doesn't age becoming a toothless old codger with reading glasses and spittle dribbling down his chin. But that's what the best kind of art does: It forces you to imagine things better left unimagined.
The Silver Surfer isn't holding up too well either. He needs a respirator to get around and rides his surfboard with⛄ the help of a handy railing. Still a better cosmic team than the movie version.
15 ꧋ Spidey On His Last Legs 𝓡
We actually feel bad talking trash about this version of Spidey, because life has clearly gotten hard for him. After surviving encounters with countless villains, Spidey has finally succumbed to the same reality as the rest of ജus: A failing eyesight and loss of control over your bladder.
We're not sure what is going on with the fluid coming out of his wrist. Is that how his body produces the webbing at this point, or has he simply forgotten the right formula for creating his web fluid? Or did someone at the hos𝄹pital play a 🍌prank on the elderly wall-crawler?...