| “ | No... I don't want your suffering, I don't want your future! | „ |
| ~ A young Charles Xavier in the year 1973 after reading Wolverine's mind and receives a glimpse of Earth's desolate future in X-Men: Days of Future Past. |
The "Bad Future" is a very common theme in many varied media - especially science-fiction and comic-book fiction, it is also a popular topic amongst fans of "alternate history" and can be considered one of the many mutations of the post-apocalyptic and/or dystopian genre.
In a "Bad Future", a villain or antagonistic force outright wins, reshaping reality as they see fit - alternatively a world may undergo an apocalyptic event that causes a drastic (and often negative) change in society and the creation of an environment hostile to most humanoid/human-like life.
A "Bad Future" is not the same as the similar concept of a "Mirror Universe" as it is usually an alternate-future rather than a parallel-universe - having existed much like the "mainstream" world until a certain point in history, after which it changes dramatically.
Famous examples of "Bad Futures" are scenarios in which extremely maligned historical figures such as Adolf Hitler or Stalin managed to succeed in their unlawful conquests - though even in these "Bad Futures", it is often common for a small group of freedom-fighters to exist and fight against the tyrant or the regime.
"Bad Futures" can also happen in videogames such as Sonic CD if the hero loses or if the hero does certain events to ensure a bad ending.
Famous/Imfamous Bad Futures
- Armageddon in Stephen King's The Dead Zone: A calamitous future for Earth within the Stephen King universe involving a fiery nuclear war across the planet instigated by upcoming American politician Senator Greg Stillson as the doomed final president of the United States of America as foreseen by the reluctant psychic detective Johnny Smith via the Dead Zone phenomenon when he shook Stillson's hand.
- The Age of Apocalypse in Marvel Comics: The infamous future in which Apocalypse conquered most of the world.
- Days of Future Past in Marvel Comics: The infamous future in which mutants were pretty much wiped out by the Sentinels.
- Injustice: Gods Among Us: A dystopian future in which Superman became the corrupt and powerful leader of a worldwide dictatorship.
- Justice League: A dystopian future in which the Justice League became ruling neo-fascists known as the Justice Lords in their quest to "protect" the world.
- Day of Lavos in Chrono Trigger: An ending on the videogame Chrono Trigger where Chrono and his party lose to Lavos in the final battle. Lavos then proceeds to destroy the world, leaving the dystopic future unchanged.
- Robotnik Day in Sonic the Comic: An enforced "holiday" celebrating and commemorating the evil genius Doctor Robotnik's 70-year reign over the oppressed planet Mobius in an alternate reality.
- The Day of Disaster in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006): A calamitous event caused by a hideous creature called Iblis, the raw power of the extradimensional sun god Solaris, destroyed all of the world in it's wake.
- Dragon Ball Z: A disastrous future caused by Future Android 17 and Future Android 18, they kill all of the Z Fighters (excluding Future Gohan) and proceed to destroy West City in the next thirteen years.
- Dragon Ball Super: An apocalyptic future where the evil Kai known as Zamasu attended to wipe out all mortals with his plan.
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