In recent years, comic book movies have not only been dominating the box office but they have also been featuring many more complicated characters that set darker tones on screen. Whether this is because the time has come for more complicated hero stories, having played out the classic All-American tales, or the demographic has grown to include an older and more diverse fan base, remains to be seen. What we do know is that everyone loves a good anti-hero and we'll be looking at the most iconic comic book movie anti-heroes out there.

Thanks to Deadpool's recent release, the term "˜anti-hero' is the word on everyone's lips and if you've been feeling left out of the conversation we've got your back. An anti-hero is either someone that does heroic deeds for a selfish reason or one that does non-heroic deeds for a heroic cause. In short, they're the guys that get messy, that blur the line between good and bad, and that make it challenging to root for them at times. They do things their own way and never live by your standard good guy code. It's no surprise that anti-heroes have risen in popularity at a time when so much is uncertain and people are so divided.

Anti-heroes make comic books and comic book movies relevant again by creating worlds and storylines that better align with our own lives today. Readers and viewers are looking for grittier, more realistic heroes to get behind. Heroes more like themselves. The 10 Most Iconic Comic Book Movie Anti-Heroes are just a click away.

Spawn

As a former assassin in his life as Albert Simmons, Spawn is by nature very violent and unafraid to complete a task, whatever it may be. Throw in a deal with Malebolgia, a demon and powerful ruler of Hell, and you have a combination that could only be made in those firey depths. Spawn's deal with Malebolgia sends him back to Earth to see his wife one more time, but upon his return he doesn't fully remember who he is and must relearn. It is from this time spent back on Earth that solidifies Spawn as an anti-hero. He begins killing off thugs, mobsters, and a serial killer. He's doing a heroic deed, taking care of the bad, but he does so by murdering them and ultimately sending them to Hell to serve on Malebolgia's army.

Punisher

A classic anti-hero in every regard, the Punisher becomes a hero not because he believes in making the world a better place but to exact revenge for the murder of his family by some mobsters. He of course takes out his family's murderers first and vows to take out the rest of the mob and other criminals. Punisher is often regarded as one of the first anti-heroes in print and the same could be argued for the 1989 Dolph Lundgren film. Punisher uses less than heroic tactics for taking out bad guys — murder, torture, and kidnapping — to name a few. Lundgren as the mean Punisher is one of the most iconic comic book movie anti-heroes on our list.

Rorschach

Rorschach's division of right and wrong is so clear that it lands him on our anti-hero list. Rorschach is often referred to as having "moral absolutism", which basically means he does not believe in a bad act for the sake of good. A prime example would be someone stealing food to feed someone who was starving. Stealing is stealing. You absolutely do not want this guy knowing your secrets because once he deems you a bad person you better watch out. He will maim, cripple, or murder anyone he considers to be on his naughty list.

Ghost Rider

As the "Devil's Bounty Hunter" Ghost Rider's situation is similar to Spawn's. Johnny Blaze sells his soul to a demon for a chance to save his father's life from cancer. But once his soul is sold, Blaze develops the powers that make him Ghost Rider. At night and when around evil Blaze transforms into Ghost Rider, a skull alight in flame. He slowly learns to control these powers and instead of just doing the demons handiwork on collecting souls, Ghost Rider uses his powers for good in protecting the innocent.

V

As a terrorist and freedom fighter in a dystopian future, V from V for Vendetta is an anti-hero in every aspect of the word. Though he is fighting against a cruel and brutal fascist regime, V is himself quite brutal and cruel stopping at nothing, and taking down whoever he has to, to get his way. V commits crimes, very unheroic, to further his cause which in the end is ultimately for the greater good. V's motivation is also questionable at times as he was once hideously tortured by the same regime. As one of our iconic comic book movie anti-heroes, V stands out as one of the few with limited powers– though he is a fantastic fighter with a pretty disturbing Guy Fawkes mask.

Constantine

Despite some of the contention surrounding the movie version of this anti-hero, plot changes, character changes, creative liberties, etc. Constantine remains one of the great iconic comic book movie anti-heroes out there because of his complicated backstory and his modus operandi. After being damned to hell, which we are now noticing this is quite a pattern on our list, Constantine's motivation to defend the innocent is primarily based on his need to redeem himself for committing suicide and getting himself damned to hell. He uses spiritual powers to combat evil though he has been known to fight physically if he has to.

Marv

The giant (described to be well over seven feet tall) mass of man known as Marv in Sin City is a classic anti-hero. At his core Marv has a soft spot for women, that soft spot of course results in him killing and beating the hell out of anyone who attempts to harm women, especially the women Marv is closest to. It's hinted at that Marv became the killer he is in war, but cares for women the way he does because of being raised by his single mother. Marv is one of those guys that kills for good and that just makes him a favorite anti-hero among fans and a well-known killer in the world of Sin City.

Judge Dredd

The ultimate crime fighter. He is the law! And quite literally as in his post-apocalyptic world the Judges serve as police, judges, jury, and executioners. Judge Dredd takes his job very, very seriously and does not let anyone get in his way of keeping his city clean. His desire to keep evil at bay is so strong that he often, and preferably, kills any wrongdoers. He is impervious to grey areas and absolutely can not be reasoned with or bought and paid for. His lack of empathy for anyone committing a crime makes him quite the anti-hero, it's his way or no way.

Deadpool

The man of the hour, the Merc with the Mouth, Deadpool absolutely had to be on our iconic comic book movie anti-heroes. The release of his movie brought anti-heroes back to the forefront of everyone's mind and has left them wanting more, more, more. Deadpool, once a mercenary that helped people out for a paycheck, and later hunted down evildoers for the sake of his own revenge, is a classic anti-hero, using his powers and strengths to try and fix his life, while ultimately saving others in the process. He's a selfish and crude character but a favorite among many.

Wolverine

Without a doubt, the most well-known anti-hero on our list. So well-known in fact some of you might be thinking, "Wolverine? Really?" The character has evolved over the years to become more of your typical hero, one that we can feel comfortable liking at the end of the day. But at his core Wolverine is an anti-hero just in body count. He's brutal in combat and his loner attitude makes him simply not as shiny as say, Superman. With his past, Wolverine is at the top of the list for anti-heroes, though the argument is there that he could simply just be flawed. Either way, a list of iconic comic book movie anti-heroes just wouldn't be complete without him. Though surely his inclusion will rub a few people the wrong way.

Anti-heroes have always been around but with the success of Deadpool their status in comic book movie culture has been reinstated and fans are chomping at the bit for more of favorite bad-good guys get movies dedicated to them or at least new respects paid to them. They may be dark, misunderstood, and horrifically violent but a lot of our favorite anti-heroes are just trying to save the world in the only ways they know how and for that we love them.