History StatusQuoIsGod / ComicBooks

** ComicBook/BoosterGold underwent an AudienceAlienatingEra in the [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks 90's where he]] traded in his tights for a gaudy suit of PoweredArmor. It didn't last long, although he did lose the disco collar.

** ComicBook/BoosterGold underwent a DorkAge in the [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks 90's where he]] traded in his tights for a gaudy suit of PoweredArmor. It didn't last long, although he did lose the disco collar.
** ComicBook/BlackCanary famously had her own DorkAge in ''[[Comicbook/JusticeLeagueInternational JLI]]'', where she started wearing a more conservative costume that resembled a tracksuit. Fans hated it, so the writers eventually brought back her classic [[StockingFiller leather and fishnets]]. A cover of ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' even has Black Canary [[TakeThat proudly burning her]] ''JLI'' suit while wearing her iconic costume. History repeated itself in the ''New 52'', where she was initially redesigned to sport a more armored, tactical look. When Brendan Fletcher and Annie Wu launched the ''Black Canary'' solo series, they immediately ditched the body armor and brought back her classic costume.

** As much as this is played straight, it's often subverted with some characters who start with one particular outfit, but eventually change to a variety of different outfits over time that. A good example is {{Wolverine}}, who has sported a variety of different looks over his career, very few of which are actively disliked. The reason for this is there's usually a shared set of aesthetics that are maintained in each outfit, and in the case of the exceptions, they tend to be well received for (usually) still fitting the character's personality.

* ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW'':
** It has always been ''Eggman commits scheme, Sonic and friends foil scheme''. However, after getting his memory back after his previous defeat, he was able to turn this on everyone's head when he unleashed the Metal Virus and started a metallic ZombieApocolypse. Sonic and the Restoration (formerly the Resistance) were stuck on the losing end for a handful of issues, losing more and more friends, until the Deadly Six take over and Eggman and his minions were forced to help the Restoration defeat them and eliminate the virus, curing all of their victims in the process. One new scheme later and foiled by Sonic and things go back to normal. Instead of finishing him off or apprehending him, Sonic simply lets him go in hopes that the doctor will turn around one day, but will still stop any future plans.

** It has always been ''Eggman commits scheme, Sonic and friends foil scheme''. However, after getting his memoriy back after his previous defeat, he was able to turn this on everyone's head when he unleashed the Metal Virus and started a metallic ZombieApocolypse. Sonic and the Restoration (formerly the Resistance) were stuck on the losing end for a handful of issues, losing more and more friends, until the Deadly Six take over and Eggman and his minions were forced to help the Restoration defeat them and eliminate the virus, curing all of their victims in the process. One new scheme later and foiled by Sonic and things go back to normal. Instead of finishing him off or apprehending him, Sonic simply lets him go in hopes that the doctor will turn around one day, but will still stop any future plans.

** In issue 197, it transpires that the Zone Cops (who essentially police the multiverse) believe that "Sonic Prime" ''has'' to fight some form of Robotnik.

** It has always been ''Eggman commits scheme, Sonic and friends foil scheme''. However, after getting his memoriy back after his previous defeat, he was able to turn this on everyone's head when he unleashed the Metal Virus and started a metallic ZombieApocolypse. Sonic and the Restoration (formerly the Resistance) were stuck on the losing end for a handful of issues, losing more and more friends, until the Deadly Six take over and Eggman and his minions were forced to help the Restoration defeat them and eliminate the virus, curing all of their victims in the process. One new scheme later and foiled by Sonic and things go back to normal. Instead of finishing him off or apprehending him, Sonic simply lets him go in hopes that the doctor will turn around one day, but will still stop any future plans.

[[AC:Creator/DCComics]]
* ''ComicBook/AllStarComics'': Starman and Mid-Nite telling their respective love interests about their secret identities is hinted and teased again and again as situations make it seem it's necessary, but it never comes to fruition...until Wonder Woman tells Starman's girlfriend when he goes missing for a bit, and the change sticks.
* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'':
** The Riddler reformed in 2006 and became a private detective. Not only is he good at it and indulges his obsession a bit, but it changed him morally for the better. Of course, a few years later, a severe head injury sent him right back to his villainous ways.
** [[ComicBook/TwoFace Harvey Dent]] is a ''victim'' of this. No matter how many times his face and sanity are restored, soon he is driven back to his (half)disfigured face and insanity, even in some out-of-mainstream-continuity stories, like ''Batman: Black and White''. In an Alternate Future from Creator/FrankMiller's limited series ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'', [[spoiler: only his face is restored, not his sanity. FromBadToWorse: His good side vanished, leaving him all "normal" outside and all monstrous inside]].
** Creator/GrantMorrison acknowledged this in [[Comicbook/GrantMorrisonsBatman his run]], where Bruce was temporarily "killed off" during ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'' and ''Batman R.I.P.'', leading to [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick Grayson]] becoming the new Batman. Morrison has flat out stated that he knew there was no way in hell DC and Creator/WarnerBros would ever let him permanently replace Batman, so he purposefully structured the story in such a way that [[HesJustHiding left the door open for Bruce's return]]. He also admitted that he killed off [[ComicBook/{{Robin}} Bruce's son Damian]] for similar reasons, since having a kid clashes too heavily with Batman's iconic "brooding loner" image. Damian has since come back, however. (It helps that he's ''even more'' of a brooding loner than Bruce.)
** Barbara "ComicBook/{{Batgirl}}" Gordon eventually had this happen. In the ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke'', she was shot in the spine by ComicBook/TheJoker, rendering her permanently paralyzed. Barbara then took on the persona of ComicBook/{{Oracle}}, working behind the scenes to aid the Bat-Family and ''Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'' with her hacking skills and computer expertise, and led the ComicBook/BirdsOfPrey. But after the [[ComicBook/Batgirl2011 2011 reboot]], Barbara was back on her legs as Batgirl.
** Averted with Dick Grayson, the original ComicBook/{{Robin}}, who became ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} and was succeeded by several others in the role of Robin.
** There are stories where [[TheCommissionerGordon Jim Gordon]] is removed from the post of Commissioner only to end up back in the post. While naturally some of these are the result of ongoing subplots such as the early stuff with Hamilton Hill[[note]]replacing Gordon with fellow Rupert Thorne crony Peter Pauling and only reinstating Gordon after Thorne was busted and Pauling killed[[/note]] and the ''Batman'' comics between ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'' (including Prodigal) and ''Contagion''[[note]]Gordon was pissed about Batman appointing ComicBook/{{Azrael}} and ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} to fill in without telling him, resulting in Gordon refusing to trust him further. Then Mayor Armand Krol, who'd been saved Batman and approved some of Azrael's actions as Batman, demoted Gordon and appointed Gordon's then-wife Sarah Essen to replace him and rather than take it, Gordon quits. ''Contagion'' ends with Gordon regaining his trust in Batman and new Mayor Marion Grange reinstating Gordon[[/note]], others are done after other stories.
** ''Officer Down'' saw Gordon resign after getting shot (though the decision was based more on his age and the fact he missed his second wife, Sarah Essen, than the fact that his shooter seemed to get away with it). That was the status quo for five years until ''Face the Face'', part of the ''One Year Later'' TimeSkip of ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'', which saw Gordon return to the role of Police Commissioner, (as well as Harvey Bullock return to the force after being forced out by Gordon's successor, Michael Akins, when he got wind that Bullock sold out Gordon's shooter to the mob and Harvey Dent becoming Two-Face after his face was fixed in ''ComicBook/BatmanHush''). [[spoiler: Despite his name being cleared, Gordon wasn't reinstated in the end of ''ComicBook/BatmanEternal'' and even wonders what he'll do now, a SequelHook to ''Superheavy'', where he becomes Batman after Bruce's presumed death in ''ComicBook/BatmanEndgame''. ''Superheavy'' not only ends with Bruce once again as Batman, but Maggie Sawyer, who'd become Commissioner during the final issues of ''Eternal'', returning to the MCU and Gordon being reappointed Commissioner.]]
** The course of ''Superheavy'' and ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'' would also see the events of ''Eternal'' and ''Endgame'' undone as Alfred [[spoiler: gains a new hand after the Joker cuts it off in ''Endgame'']] and Bruce regain control of Wayne Enterprises, Wayne Manor, and his fortune after losing them in ''Eternal''.
** Batman villains thrive on this policy. The Joker especially, who has a trope named after him. He can kill and destroy as many lives as he wants, and all Bats does is punch him a few times and send him back to [[CardboardPrison an easily escapable prison/asylum]]. He'll always be there to menace the Bat, and [[TheFarmerAndTheViper the ramifications]] of this continual (and destructive) cycle have now pretty much became a core aspect of their dynamic.
* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'''s comics played it mostly straight for decades: Superman would never choose between ComicBook/LoisLane or ComicBook/LanaLang, Lois would never learn his secret, ComicBook/LexLuthor would never turn over a new leaf permanently... unlike ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}, whose early Silver Age status quo (Superman's secret weapon living in the Midvale Orphanage as Linda Lee, who always failed to get adopted or talk her cousin into going public) was forever changed in ''ComicBook/TheUnknownSupergirl'', and remained in constant flux since then. Nonetheless, except for some changes during the Bonze Age (Clark Kent getting a new job in ''ComicBook/KryptoniteNevermore'', or managing to enlarge the Bottle City of Kandor), Superman's life would remain stable until the 1986 reboot. Ironically, the tables would turn from the 90s onwards, when Superman and Lois Lane got married and had a child, whereas Supergirl would remain stuck in a "Will Earth ever feel like home?" loop.
** ''ComicBook/SupermanForever'', which closed out the ''Superman Blue/Superman Red'' era and started ''ComicBook/TheDominusEffect'', opened with Superman restored to being a single FlyingBrick.
* ComicBook/{{Cyborg}} frequently falls victim to this. Anytime he regains his normal human appearance (or at least gets a sleeker, less monstrous form), it's always undone within a few years.
* ''Franchise/GreenLantern'': Guy Gardner lost his Power Ring after it was destroyed by Parallax. Guy went on to get a full rework, including new powers, a new look, a new supporting cast and a new job. This lasted for several years--about a year and a half of which was actually in his own ongoing monthly-- until Creator/GeoffJohns wrote ''ComicBook/GreenLanternRebirth'', which snapped him back to being a Green Lantern.
* ''ComicBook/KingdomCome'' {{lampshade|Hanging}}s this. Franchise/WonderWoman's entire purpose was to come to America and bring an end to warfare across the globe. The problem of course is, thanks to this and ReedRichardsIsUseless, she'll never be allowed to make any real progress in this mission. Thus, we cut to a few decades later and find that she's been exiled by her fellow Amazons precisely because she hadn't made any headway in solving this problem.
* Traditionally Franchise/WonderWoman is the exception to this concept in most regards. Her [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 original run]] had her first recurring villain turn into one of her most stalwart and loyal allies, the United States signing a treaty with the Empire of Saturn and setting up casual transportation between Saturn, Venus and Earth and that was all published before the 1940s were out. Both the Golden and Silver Age versions of Diana were eventually married to ComicBook/SteveTrevor with the Golden Age one losing her immortality and every Crisis is taken as an opportunity to twist and alter her origin and parentage. On a less character driven note her costume is also subject to frequent alterations, and always has been.

[[AC:Creator/MarvelComics]]
* ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'': During Geoff Johns' run, the Red Skull infiltrates the U.S. government and manages to unleash a biological weapon that spreads across several states, killing thousands. The consequences of this horrific and unequalled terror attack? Nothing. No-one ever mentions it again.
* ComicBook/CaptainAmerica has often handed his shield and title to other people. [[AntiHeroSubstitute John Walker]], ComicBook/BuckyBarnes, and [[ComicBook/TheFalcon Sam Wilson]], respectively because Steve had become disheartened with the role, was thought to be dead, or had been BroughtDownToNormal. Each of those has eventually end(ed) with them stepping down and handing the title back in order to return to their own personal identity. Almost subverted with Bucky, though, as Steve had believed that being Captain America was a good thing for Bucky, and when he returned, he opted to take a promotion to becoming the new top-dog of SHIELD, making him something of a general to the superhero populace, rather than the field leader of the Avengers. This, largely, was thanks to fan reaction towards [[BreakoutCharacter Bucky!Cap]] being so overwhelmingly positive that many fans ''didn't want'' Steve to come back to the role. In the end, he only returned to the role as it was in order to coincide with the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.
** Sam Wilson became the official Captain America in ''Captain America: Sam Wilson''. In ''ComicBook/NickSpencersCaptainAmerica'', Steve Rogers returned to normal and subsequently shared the identity with Sam for a while, with both men using the Captain America name. This lasted until ''Comicbook/SecretEmpire'' and ''Generations'', which ended with Sam giving the shield back to Steve and returning to his original Falcon identity.
* Comicbook/FantasticFour
** The Comicbook/FantasticFour are one of the few comic teams where the members change uniforms and actually stick with the new duds. (Except one case where Sue once tried a {{Stripperiffic}} outfit that exposed her cleavage and midriff; it just wasn't her, and surprisingly, the fans knew it. She got rid of it quickly.)
** Poor Benjamin Grimm will always be [[Comicbook/FantasticFour The Thing]]. Reed Richards' various attempts to find a cure to his condition will never work, or if so always be reversed. This is lampshaded in ''ComicBook/{{Marvel 1602}}'' where Reed Richards, theorizing that [[TheoryOfNarrativeCausality stories are laws of the universe]], states that a cure for Benjamin wouldn't last long since he's much more interesting the way he is.
** Averted in the ComicBook/UltimateMarvel universe, following the end of ''ComicBook/UltimateFantasticFour''. Ben Grimm does in fact manage to shake his rock-like form, and gain all-new powers which include the ability to switch between his regular human form and his rock form.
** In ''Fantastic Four'' #403-405, the team visits an Aztec temple discovered by archaeologist Ken Robeson. The abandoned temple can harness cosmic rays which may have killed off the original tribe. The Thing visits the temple and is briefly turned into human form. The technology is never used for this purpose again, and by #416 it is said to have been dismantled to help fight Onslaught.
** Not only can ComicBook/DoctorDoom [[JokerImmunity never be killed for real]], but he'll never lose control over [[{{Ruritania}} Latveria]] for too long, since him being King and Dictator is a very important part of the character's concept. Is there such a thing as [[JokerImmunity Joker Diplomatic Immunity]]? Also, his face will ''never'' get better, though this seems to be a conscious decision on his part so that he'll always have a permanent reminder of Reed's "crimes" against him. While his face was finally healed at the end of ''Comicbook/SecretWars2015'', this only lasted until the final issue of Creator/BrianBendis' ''Invincible Iron Man'' run, which once again had Doom get disfigured during a fight with the Hood.
* Similar to Ben Grimm's situation further above, poor Bruce Banner will always be [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk the Hulk]]. He will never find a permanent cure, and because of that, he and ComicBook/BettyRoss will most likely always be StarCrossedLovers. Things might have changed with Betty Ross becoming the Red She-Hulk, but she permanently lost her powers.
* This was predicted by Creator/KieronGillen concerning ComicBook/{{Loki}}; he would eventually go back to his usual self after Gillen had him reverted to childhood with about half his memories, practically worshiping Comicbook/TheMightyThor. Much of the impact of the arc was not from wondering if the change would stick, but on the possible effects once things reverted to Status Quo. As writer of the Thor title (renamed ''ComicBook/JourneyIntoMystery'' thanks to the focus on Loki, rather than Thor), he indicated that Loki turning evil again WAS NOT a foregone conclusion, as Thor destroyed the Ragnarok cycle which contained the writings that decreed the destinies of the Asgardians, enabling all of them to ScrewDestiny, Loki included, but in the end, Loki's villainous side returned. The writer says he chose to end the story with Loki's return to evil because he knew that if he didn't, someone else would come along and do it anyway. And at least if Loki fell from grace under his pen, he could do it in a [[TearJerker suitably emotional manner]]. "So-and-so IS NOT a foregone conclusion" has been said numerous times (see Creator/JoeQuesada talking about the Franchise/SpiderMan identity reveal, saying "it won't [[Comicbook/OneMoreDay just be undone by magic a year later."]] So take any promise of permanence with [[LyingCreator a gigantic grain of salt.]]
** HOWEVER, this was ultimately subverted in the end. Loki's adventures were continued in Gillen's ''Comicbook/YoungAvengers'' run, with them now developing a massive GuiltComplex over his villainous' side returning, ultimately revealing that Loki's dark side hadn't returned; rather, their mind and memories had been restored but they retained the morality of their young self, and after they were restored to an older form (if albeit still younger than traditional, being now a 20s-something), they're now having a solid go at a HeelFaceTurn in ''Comicbook/LokiAgentOfAsgard'', with a big focus on how they're attempting to ScrewDestiny, with their future self, who had inevitably returned to villainy, playing the role of the BigBad.
* ComicBook/{{Morbius}} [[OurVampiresAredifferent the Living Vampire]] will always be a living vampire. Despite being cured of his pseudo-vampirism several times over the years, sooner or later he's always reverted back. He was once killed and brought back as an undead being, but, true to his name, [[UndeathAlwaysEnds ended up going back to 'living' about a year later]]. He's also worn several costumes over the years, including a leather outfit in his first solo series, but eventually always goes back to his signature outfit, the one he was introduced in.
* Franchise/SpiderMan. ''[[OhMyGods Oh Galactus]]'', Spider-Man. Marvel is dead-set on dragging him back to a single guy living with his Aunt May and working minimum wage at the Daily Bugle, no matter how many {{Ass Pull}}s or {{Voodoo Shark}}s it takes. See ''Comicbook/TheCloneSaga'' and ''ComicBook/OneMoreDay''.
** Speaking of ''Spider-Man''... As of the ''Comicbook/SpiderIsland'' arc, [[spoiler: his current girlfriend dumped him, the psychic block preventing people from learning his secret identity is gone, and he and MJ have decided to rekindle their relationship]]. It also gave [[spoiler: Spider-Girl back her powers, which she had lost a few years ago, and Eddie Brock is no [[{{Foreshadowing}} longer Anti-Venom]]]].
** Spider-Man has also gained new abilities at several times over the years (such as poisonous stingers from his forearms and organic webbing [[RetCanon like in]] [[Film/SpiderManTrilogy the movies]]). He once grew four extra arms in a failed attempt to remove his powers (he was probably glad ''that'' was temporary). He always loses these quickly enough and reverts to his original Creator/StanLee / Creator/SteveDitko powerset.
** Spider-Man seems to have gained two distinct Status Quos: He's either a single young adult living either alone, with his aunt, or a close friend, or he's married/in a committed relationship with Mary Jane Watson who he lives with, and appears to be growing up. This is the result of two parties RunningTheAsylum; in the former case, people who grew up with single young Spidey and/or cling onto him as a means to cling onto their own young adulthood, and so insist on keeping him this way, and in the latter case, people who grew up with Spidey when he was dating Mary Jane who, thanks to being the EnsembleDarkhorse, became a FanPreferredCouple with him, and so they make it canon and have them settle down since that's the logical path for a relationship to go, and likely similar to how the writer is currently. Because of this, Mary Jane has repeatedly been PutOnABus, often via a means to try and ensure that she doesn't come back (such as killing her off or {{Derailing|LoveInterests}} her), but every time this happens she always comes back (usually because whatever prompted her to leave, she [[CharacterDevelopment gets over]] and reunites with Peter because ultimately, they both love each other too much). This is similar with any prominent relationship in mainstream comics; Franchise/{{Superman}} and ComicBook/LoisLane, Franchise/{{Batman}} and ComicBook/{{Catwoman}}, ComicBook/GreenArrow and ComicBook/BlackCanary, ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} and ComicBook/{{Mera}}, [[ComicBook/AntMan Henry Pym]] and ComicBook/TheWasp, ComicBook/IronMan and ComicBook/PepperPotts, ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}} and ComicBook/{{Mockingbird}}, and many, many others are pretty much stuck in an endless cycle of being broken up by writers who prefer them single and reunited by those who prefer them together. Because of this, fans of either persuasion should be able to rest easy, because sooner or later, they're going to be the way they want them. For a while. (In practice, of course, whichever set of fans is currently not being served call loudly for the ResetButton to be pushed ''now''.)
** Exactly where ''ComicBook/{{Venom}}'' sits on the moral compass is [[DependingOnTheWriter entirely based on whatever the writer wants to do with him,]] but while he usually lands somewhere in the AntiHero quadrant the symbiote has changed hands so often it's hard to keep track. Eddie Brock became Anti-Venom after abandoning the symbiote because its bloodlust grew too powerful for even ''him'' to control, going through a FaithHeelTurn leading up to his new identity and seeing all symbiotes as diseases to be purged. But after giving up the identity, he wound up bonded to another symbiote, Toxin, whom Flash Thompson (who was the new Venom at the time) pointed out he had gotten rather buddy-buddy with. When the two parted ways, Eddie told Flash that when - not if - he lost control of Venom, Eddie would turn up to [[MercyKill put him out of his misery]]. Jumping ahead a few years, Eddie spontaneously turned up after both had been separated from their respective symbiotes to retrieve his old one, referring to it as his "beloved" and promptly becoming Venom again. And that's not even getting into how the symbiote itself and ''it's'' characterization has jumped all over the place, with a total purge of its dark side taking place in ''ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' to [[ContinuityLockOut help introduce new readers who had never known Venom was ever a villain]] only to undo it under a villainous {{Sucksessor}} [[ComicBook/MikeCostasVenom Lee Price]] a year or two later.
* This was actually lampshaded in the final issue of ''ComicBook/USAvengers'' as Sunspot, despite having bought out AIM and turned it into a force of good, noted there were always small pockets of the evil version ready to rise up and take their place.
* ''Comicbook/XMen''
** Charles Xavier was introduced as an invalid who uses a wheelchair. Several times during the comic's run, Xavier has regained the use of his legs. It's only a matter of time until something reverses this situation, either undoing whatever allowed his legs to heal or sustaining a new injury.
** Marvel seems to think the concept of the X-Men doesn't work if mutants aren't feared and hated by everybody even there are a good amount of series that shows it can work, So any progress they make is inevitably undone to the chagrin of readers. However this has started to change in the 21st Century.Creator/GrantMorrison's run had mutants gaining some acceptance among the younger generations and developing their own culture. Then ''ComicBook/HouseOfM'' comes along and the mutant race is reduced to around 200 survivors. And then comes ''ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen'', where thanks to the actions of ComicBook/{{Cyclops}} and the Phoenix Five, mutants are once again repopulated. In a strange twist though, mutants are ''more'' accepted now, especially by leftwing college students (similar to how LGBT rights tend to be a sticking point for this crowd in real life) after Cyclops' actions, both during the decimated time and as a Phoenix avatar where, in the former, he did a lot to gain good press for mutants as well as reminding people how powerful the X-Men are and unwise it is to attack them, and in the latter, used his godlike power to better humanity and solve many third-world problems. But, government handling has now intensified with the renewed risk of omnipowerful mutants wrecking havoc, PoliceBrutality has became more common, and mutants who can't defend themselves and live in hostile areas are in serious risk. In general, things have finally gotten better but still have a long way to go, which [[TruthInTelevision is a reality for real life minorities]].
** Speaking of X-Men, ComicBook/{{Rogue}} possesses the power to absorb the psyche and powers of those she touches. When she was first introduced, these powers were uncontrollable and this fact was often a source of angst for her. Her powers would frequently change and she would even occasionally lose them, only to have them inevitably return as uncontrollable as ever. Then, after nearly thirty years of publications, Rogue finally gained control over her powers during Messiah Complex with help from Professor Xavier. However, come 2014 and ComicBook/UncannyAvengers, Rogue has once again lost control over her powers and has permanently absorbed Comicbook/WonderMan's power and psyche, essentially reverting her to how she was when she was first introduced. She even goes on a crazed rant about how she'd been through the whole ordeal already and commented that she couldn't even stand the thought of having to do it again. Having Wonder Man in her head probably didn't help either.
** Creator/GrantMorrison created the villain John Sublime as meta commentary on this trope. Mutants are a natural threat to him, so he intentionally manipulates events to keep them in a constant state of cyclical fighting so they can't band together and stop him.
** ''{{ComicBook/Sabretooth}}'' is the newest case. He was [[HeelFaceBrainwashing inverted]] into a good guy during ''{{ComicBook/AXIS}}'' and decides to follow Logan's example by finding his own Wolverine. The first book he was in got cancelled due to ''{{ComicBook/SecretWars}}'', then he went to Bunn's [[ComicBook/UncannyXMen2015 Uncanny X-Men]]. He joins the team & continues his quest for redemption while developing [[BelligerentSexualTension budding]] [[ShipTease relationship]] with [[Characters/GenerationX Monet St. Croix]], whom he was very protective of. His inversion showed signs of slipping & he struggles to fight the reversion. Not wanting to be a monster again, he vows to become something different if he can not stay inverted. He also uses helping Monet as motivation, who was cursed by her brother and became a vampire. He eventually ran away with her at the end of the series. Cue ''ComicBook/ResurrXion'', and all of this has been ignored. His struggles with not wanting to be a monster haven't come up, and his entire relationship with Monet [[NoRomanticResolution was dropped]] without any explanation. He's back to wanting to kill stuff in Weapon X, with Logan & Warpath keep watch on him and being ready to kill him should he lose it, but trying to keep him sated by looking for monsters & villains he can fight. The Claws of A Killer mini also shows he's back wanting to kill Wolverine when he hears that he may be alive again. The end of ''ComicBook/WeaponX2017'' sees him driven insane in hell and returned to an almost-feral state, all semblance of positive character growth rendered completely null.
** In the Curse of the Mutants storyline, ComicBook/JubileeMarvelComics, recently depowered, was turned into a vampire and stayed it for a while after. Can't have something as cool as inventive as a vampire x-man, can we?
* The cyclical nature of comics was {{lampshade|Hanging}}d in an issue of ''Comicbook/NewAvengers'', where ComicBook/WonderMan points out that the entire ''Comicbook/CivilWar'' crossover was utterly pointless since everything (more or less) went back to normal within just a few short years.

* Both Creator/MarvelComics and Creator/DCComics live by this trope. The late-great Creator/StanLee referred to this as "the illusion of change". The basic idea is to make it ''seem'' as if things were changing in the life of a character… but, in point of fact, have them remain exactly the same. Even when things do change, it's rare they stay that way, either snapping back to normal after a few months or getting fully reset with a ContinuityReboot somewhere down the line. They've really put themselves into a Catch-22 situation, where things ''can'' change things around and characters can get killed off and whatnot, but [[JokerImmunity killing popular characters]] obviously makes fans unhappy. So they mostly pursue their current strategy of keeping things the way they are, then people get to come on this wiki and put them here in this trope for not changing anything.

** In the Curse of the Mutants storyline, ComicBook/{{Jubilee}}, recently depowered, was turned into a vampire and stayed it for a while after. Can't have something as cool as inventive as a vampire x-man, can we?

** Not only can ComicBook/DoctorDoom [[JokerImmunity never be killed for real]], but he'll never lose control over [[{{Ruritania}} Latveria]] for too long, since him being King and Dictator is a very important part of the character's concept. Is there such a thing as [[JokerImmunity Joker Diplomatic Immunity]]? Also, his face will ''never'' get better, though this seems to be a conscious decision on his part so that he'll always have a permanent reminder of Reed's "crimes" against him.

** Marvel seems to think the concept of the X-Men doesn't work if mutants aren't feared and hated by everybody, so any progress they make is inevitably undone. Creator/GrantMorrison's run had mutants gaining some acceptance among the younger generations and developing their own culture. Then ''ComicBook/HouseOfM'' comes along and the mutant race is reduced to around 200 survivors. And then comes ''ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen'', where thanks to the actions of ComicBook/{{Cyclops}} and the Phoenix Five, mutants are once again repopulated. In a strange twist though, mutants are ''more'' accepted now, especially by leftwing college students (similar to how LGBT rights tend to be a sticking point for this crowd in real life) after Cyclops' actions, both during the decimated time and as a Phoenix avatar where, in the former, he did a lot to gain good press for mutants as well as reminding people how powerful the X-Men are and unwise it is to attack them, and in the latter, used his godlike power to better humanity and solve many third-world problems. But, government handling has now intensified with the renewed risk of omnipowerful mutants wrecking havoc, PoliceBrutality has became more common, and mutants who can't defend themselves and live in hostile areas are in serious risk. In general, things have finally gotten better but still have a long way to go, which [[TruthInTelevision is a reality for real life minorities]].

** ''ComicBook/SupermanForever'', which closed out the ''Superman Blue/Superman Red'' era and started ''ComicBook/TheDominusEffect'', opened with Superman restored to being a single FlyingBrick.

** Spider-Man villains thrive on this policy.

* Both Creator/{{Marvel|Comics}} and Creator/DCComics live by this trope. The late-great Stan Lee referred to this as [[https://www.peterdavid.net/2012/12/24/the-illusion-of-change/ "the illusion of change"]]. The basic idea is to make it ''seem'' as if things were changing in the life of a character… but, in point of fact, have them remain exactly the same. Even when things do change, it's rare they stay that way, either snapping back to normal after a few months or getting fully reset with a ContinuityReboot somewhere down the line. They've really put themselves into a Catch-22 situation, where things ''can'' change things around and characters can get killed off and whatnot, but [[JokerImmunity killing popular characters]] obviously makes fans unhappy. So they mostly pursue their current strategy of keeping things the way they are, then people get to come on this wiki and put them here in this trope for not changing anything.

** Comicbook/BoosterGold underwent a DorkAge in the [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks 90's where he]] traded in his tights for a gaudy suit of PoweredArmor. It didn't last long, although he did lose the disco collar.

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}''

** Another Batman foe: Poor [[ComicBook/TwoFace Harvey Dent]] is a ''victim'' of this. No matter how many times his face and sanity are restored, soon he is driven back to his (half)disfigured face and insanity, even in some out-of-mainstream-continuity stories, like ''Batman: Black and White''. In an Alternate Future from Creator/FrankMiller's limited series ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'', [[spoiler: only his face is restored, not his sanity. FromBadToWorse: His good side vanished, leaving him all "normal" outside and all monstrous inside]].

** The Barbara Gordon incarnation of Batgirl eventually had this happen. In the well-acclaimed graphic novel ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke'', she was shot in the spine by ComicBook/TheJoker, rendering her permanently paralyzed. Barbara then took on the persona of ComicBook/{{Oracle}}, working behind the scenes to aid the Bat-Family and Franchise/JusticeLeague with her hacking skills and computer expertise, during which she became an inspiration and idol for many real life disabled readers, and led the ComicBook/BirdsOfPrey. During that time she helped train [[LegacyCharacter two different Batgirls]]: [[ComicBook/Batgirl2000 Cassandra Cain]] and [[ComicBook/Batgirl2009 Stephanie Brown]], who became fan-favorites in their own right. But after the 2011 reboot Comicbook/{{New 52}}, Barbara was back on her legs as Batgirl, despite spending almost exactly ''half'' her publication history as Oracle.
*** Averted concerning her long-time ally and love interest, Dick Grayson, the original ComicBook/{{Robin}}, after he became ComicBook/{{Nightwing}}. As he was succeeded by several others in the role of Robin, most prominently [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]], as well as the general census that the Nightwing identity is much more [[RuleOfCool badass]], [[RuleOfDrama interesting, dramatic]], and [[RuleOfSexy sexy]] than the Robin identity, the idea of him returning to being Robin is ''incredibly'' unlikely to ever happen. This, of course, causes some resentment for those who were fans of Oracle, as its seen as unfair that Barbara isn't allowed to outgrow ''her'' identity as Batgirl, but Dick returning to being Robin is unlikely to happen, with many seeing it as a DoubleStandard.
** There are stories where [[TheCommissionerGordon Jim Gordon]] is removed from the post of Commissioner only to end up back in the post. While naturally some of these are the result of ongoing subplots such as the early stuff with Hamilton Hill[[note]]replacing Gordon with fellow Rupert Thorne crony Peter Pauling and only reinstating Gordon after Thorne was busted and Pauling killed[[/note]] and the ''Batman'' comics between ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'' (including Prodigal) and ''Contagion''[[note]]Gordon was pissed about Batman appointing ComicBook/{{Azrael}} and ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} to fill in without telling him, resulting in Gordon refusing to trust him further. Then Mayor Armand Krol, who'd been saved Batman and approved some of Azrael's actions as Batman, demoted Gordon and appointed Gordon's then-wife Sarah Essen to replace him and rather than take it, Gordon quits. ''Contagion'' ends with Gordon regaining his trust in Batman and new Mayor Marion Grange reinstating Gordon[[/note]], others are done after other stories.\\\
''Officer Down'' saw Gordon resign after getting shot (though the decision was based more on his age and the fact he missed his second wife, Sarah Essen, than the fact that his shooter seemed to get away with it). That was the status quo for five years until ''Face the Face'', part of the ''One Year Later'' TimeSkip of ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'', which saw Gordon return to the role of Police Commissioner, (as well as Harvey Bullock return to the force after being forced out by Gordon's successor, Michael Akins, when he got wind that Bullock sold out Gordon's shooter to the mob and Harvey Dent becoming Two-Face after his face was fixed in ''ComicBook/BatmanHush''). [[spoiler: Despite his name being cleared, Gordon wasn't reinstated in the end of ''ComicBook/BatmanEternal'' and even wonders what he'll do now, a SequelHook to ''Superheavy'', where he becomes Batman after Bruce's presumed death in ''ComicBook/BatmanEndgame''. ''Superheavy'' not only ends with Bruce once again as Batman, but Maggie Sawyer, who'd become Commissioner during the final issues of ''Eternal'', returning to the MCU and Gordon being reappointed Commissioner.]]

* Comicbook/{{Cyborg}} frequently falls victim to this. Anytime he regains his normal human appearance (or at least gets a sleeker, less monstrous form), it's always undone within a few years.
* One of the most obvious and dramatic examples is [[Franchise/GreenLantern Guy Gardner]], who lost his power ring after it was destroyed by Parallax. Guy went on to get a full rework, including new powers, a new look, a new supporting cast and a new job. This lasted for several years--about a year and a half of which was actually in his own ongoing monthly--until Creator/GeoffJohns wrote ''[[ResetButton Green Lantern Rebirth]]'', which snapped him back to his '80s status quo without any real explanation. While he may be back to being a Green Lantern, his character is not what it was in the 80s and 90s as he's changed over time. Gardner isn't the dumb obnoxious jerk he used to be, though his attitude is somewhat similar. Instead he's simply a jerk with an attitude on the surface, showing far more depth of character and loyalty beneath, particularly with Kyle Rayner. And that awful bowl haircut is gone too.

* ''Comicbook/KingdomCome'' {{lampshade|Hanging}}s this. Franchise/WonderWoman's entire purpose was to come to America and bring an end to warfare across the globe. The problem of course is, thanks to this and ReedRichardsIsUseless, she'll never be allowed to make any real progress in this mission. Thus, we cut to a few decades later and find that she's been exiled by her fellow Amazons precisely because she hadn't made any headway in solving this problem.

** It has always been ''Eggman commits scheme, Sonic and friends foil scheme''. However, after getting his memoriy back after his previous defeat, he was able to turn this on everyone's head when he unleashed the Metal Virus and started a metallic ZomieApocolypse. Sonic and the Restoration (formerly the Resistance) were stuck on the losing end for a handful of issues, losing more and more friends, until the Deadly Six take over and Eggman and his minions were forced to help the Restoration defeat them and eliminate the virus, curing all of their victims in the process. One new scheme later and foiled by Sonic and things go back to normal. Instead of finishing him off or apprehending him, Sonic simply lets him go in hopes that the doctor will turn around one day, but will still stop any future plans.

** Weaponized by Sonic in a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Robotnik. Sonic points out to Eggman that he has utterly failed time and time again to really conquer the world and/or destroy Sonic while Sonic has beaten him over and over again. This drives Eggman into a complete mental breakdown because this trope ensures that it is true and will always be true despite the occasional minor victory for him.