The BEST and WORST of comic book death
03-10-07 | 01:25 AM
#26
DVD Talk Legend
Best, by definition, is a death that reflects our own deaths.
(That's why Barry Allen resonates)
Worst, by definition, are those deaths that are a cheat - where they come back, they weren't really dead, there was no body, there is a time loop, etc.
That said - the one's I'd nominate?
Best: Almost none - comic writers bring everyone back sooner or later... ok, at the MOMENT - till some writer changes things - Barry Allen, Gwen Stacey, Jimmy & Lana in "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow", etc...
Worst - everything else where they eventually 'bring them back'
(That's why Barry Allen resonates)
Worst, by definition, are those deaths that are a cheat - where they come back, they weren't really dead, there was no body, there is a time loop, etc.
That said - the one's I'd nominate?
Best: Almost none - comic writers bring everyone back sooner or later... ok, at the MOMENT - till some writer changes things - Barry Allen, Gwen Stacey, Jimmy & Lana in "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow", etc...
Worst - everything else where they eventually 'bring them back'
03-10-07 | 11:06 AM
#27
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From: NYC
My favorite was the original Doom Patrol. It was somewhat cheapened by the fact that they were all brought back one by one, but there was something poignant about the way that they allowed themselves to be blown up to save a bunch of strangers, as opposed to "going down fighting".
When I was a kid, I was pretty bummed by the deaths of Supergirl, Flash, and everyone else who died in Crisis.
When I was a kid, I was pretty bummed by the deaths of Supergirl, Flash, and everyone else who died in Crisis.
03-10-07 | 01:06 PM
#28
Originally Posted by Bronkster
Worst: Aunt May - the death was fine; the resurrection sucked donkey balls.
03-12-07 | 12:32 PM
#30
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If those are going to count then you definitely have to take a look at the What If? series that had tons of deaths. The one that pops into my mind actually has to do with a DoFP/Dark Phoenix two-parter (probably in the 40s of the more recent series). Nightcrawler and Shadowcat sacrifice themselves in succession.
03-12-07 | 02:10 PM
#31
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Off topic but which was the comic and issue where Jean Grey died (yet again)? I remember her and Wolverine on a shuttle heading into the sun or something. It might have been a decent death scene if it was anyone else but Jean seemed to die every two months so all of them kind of become forgettable.
Edit: Never mind, it was in New X-Men. I hated that run.
Edit: Never mind, it was in New X-Men. I hated that run.
Last edited by Fincher Fan; 03-12-07 at 02:20 PM.
03-12-07 | 02:38 PM
#32
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More bests (for the cool factor, not by any gripping, emotional standard) just came to mind because of the What If? mention.
What If? The Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe.
What If? The Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe.
Last edited by John_Shil; 03-12-07 at 02:40 PM. Reason: URL mixup
03-12-07 | 02:49 PM
#33
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Limited Edition
I really liked that "Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe" book, but I think it always bugged me by how easily he had taken out Wolverine. That should have been an entire issue in itself.
Oh yeah, and one of the most shocking for me, back in the day, was in GI Joe, when the SAW-Viper killed all those Joes. Doc got shot in the face with a machine gun for the love of god!!! Actually it wasn't just the SAW-Viper, but over the course of a couple issues, tons of Joes bit the dust. That was freakin' jaw dropping. RIP Battle Force 2000.
Oh yeah, and one of the most shocking for me, back in the day, was in GI Joe, when the SAW-Viper killed all those Joes. Doc got shot in the face with a machine gun for the love of god!!! Actually it wasn't just the SAW-Viper, but over the course of a couple issues, tons of Joes bit the dust. That was freakin' jaw dropping. RIP Battle Force 2000.
Last edited by dadaluholla; 03-12-07 at 03:06 PM.
03-12-07 | 04:46 PM
#34
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Originally Posted by fujishig
Almost forgot one that shook me as a kid:
I think it was because at the time death was a little more permanent in the comic book world, but I vividly remember Val Armorr, the Karate Kid of the Legion of Superheroes, dying after being beaten to a bloody pulp by Nemesis Kid and, instead of dying in battle like he wanted to, sacrificing himself to thwart the Legion of Super Villain's plan. Nemesis Kid had the power to adapt to and defeat any single power that went against him. After that his wife, Projectra, who's power was basically just casting illusions, in a rage defeated and killed Nemesis with her bare hands.
Reminds me of why I loved the Legion so much. Yeah, I know, the names are corny, but I just didn't care.
I think it was because at the time death was a little more permanent in the comic book world, but I vividly remember Val Armorr, the Karate Kid of the Legion of Superheroes, dying after being beaten to a bloody pulp by Nemesis Kid and, instead of dying in battle like he wanted to, sacrificing himself to thwart the Legion of Super Villain's plan. Nemesis Kid had the power to adapt to and defeat any single power that went against him. After that his wife, Projectra, who's power was basically just casting illusions, in a rage defeated and killed Nemesis with her bare hands.
Reminds me of why I loved the Legion so much. Yeah, I know, the names are corny, but I just didn't care.
You haven't read superhero comics until you've read Paul Levitz's run on LSH.
03-12-07 | 08:54 PM
#36
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by calhoun07
How did Aunt May die/come back, since it's unlikely I will ever pick up the back issues to read that story line?
03-20-07 | 01:15 PM
#38
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From: The Illustrious State of Fugue
I remember when I was a kid and Guardian (I still like the name Vindicator a lot more 
) died in Alpha Flight #12.
And then he came back later and Heather was like. "Oh my dear, sweet husband!" and he tells her about how these aliens saved him right when his suit exploded and nursed him back to health.
Then he starts acting strangley and when push comes to shove his face gets ripped off revealing that he's an evil robot and it was all bullshit and he's STILL DEAD!!!
Hah!
That was my favorite from when I was a kid. Today I think it's Hugo's death in Alita Battle Angel (Gunm). Oooh, and the death of Griffin in Leaugue of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Ugh.
) died in Alpha Flight #12. And then he came back later and Heather was like. "Oh my dear, sweet husband!" and he tells her about how these aliens saved him right when his suit exploded and nursed him back to health.
Then he starts acting strangley and when push comes to shove his face gets ripped off revealing that he's an evil robot and it was all bullshit and he's STILL DEAD!!!
Hah!
That was my favorite from when I was a kid. Today I think it's Hugo's death in Alita Battle Angel (Gunm). Oooh, and the death of Griffin in Leaugue of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Ugh.
