Go Back  DVD Talk Forum > Entertainment Discussions > Comic Book Talk
Reload this Page >

The BEST and WORST of comic book death

Community
Search
Comic Book Talk The Place to talk about Comics

The BEST and WORST of comic book death

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-08-07 | 10:05 AM
  #1  
dadaluholla's Avatar
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,491
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
From: Wilmington, OH
The BEST and WORST of comic book death

Since it's the biggest thing going right now, let's hear your thoughts on COMIC BOOK DEATH. It's obviously only a temporary thing in comics, but what are some of your favorites, or most memorable? Least favorites? Who went out with class and who went out like like a chump? Who made the best comeback and who should have stayed dead?

All death is open to discussion, so let's get at it...
Old 03-08-07 | 10:08 AM
  #2  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,423
Received 41 Likes on 30 Posts
Most satisfying: Superman
Least satisfying: Blue Beetle, still not happy Kord's gone
Least satisfying might as well be dead: Jack Flag
Old 03-08-07 | 10:59 AM
  #3  
New Member
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Best: Captain Marvel
Almost Best: Jason Todd Robin

Worst: Aunt May
Old 03-08-07 | 11:21 AM
  #4  
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,071
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
From: So Cal
My "Worst" list would be too long, so I'll just agree with Captain Marvel being the best death. Man that was a great story.
Old 03-08-07 | 12:57 PM
  #5  
DVD Talk Godfather
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 51,044
Received 2,952 Likes on 2,254 Posts
I didn't mind Kord's death... although I like the character, I thought they handled it pretty well.

I agree that there are a lot of worsts, mainly when there are characters that I enjoyed in previous series just offed for little or no reason other than cannon fodder. Still haven't read civil war, but the New Warriors thing seems like a perfect example. The whole "Avengers Disassembled" thing didn't sit all that well with me either. Hawk killing Dove II and becoming Monarch really upset me too.

One of my favorites has to be Gaiman's Sandman. I also liked the (first) death of Jean Grey, and Barry Allen, who to my knowledge has never come back and set up Wally becoming the Flash.
Old 03-08-07 | 01:14 PM
  #6  
madcougar's Avatar
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,691
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
From: Houston
I remember when one of Jaime Madrox's dupes was shot and died in the pages of X-Factor. Madrox was quite affected by the dupes death when he realized that he could not reabsorb him. I thought this was really well written.
Old 03-08-07 | 01:59 PM
  #7  
Josh-da-man's Avatar
DVD Talk Hero
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 49,442
Received 4,482 Likes on 2,949 Posts
From: The Bible Belt
Best: "Preacher" when the Saint of Killers shot God in the face.
Old 03-08-07 | 02:24 PM
  #8  
Bronkster's Avatar
DVD Talk Hero
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 29,838
Received 1,068 Likes on 622 Posts
From: AnaheimLand, SoCal
Best: Captain George Stacy in Amazing Spider-man #90 - To the best of my memory, that was the first time a "major" character was killed (and stayed dead!).

Worst: Aunt May - the death was fine; the resurrection sucked donkey balls.
Old 03-08-07 | 02:33 PM
  #9  
dadaluholla's Avatar
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,491
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
From: Wilmington, OH
I was always very fond of the original Scourge of the Underworld's villain killings. You never knew when or where he was going to show up, or what lame bad guy he was going to take out next. Those were some exciting times.
Old 03-08-07 | 02:40 PM
  #10  
DVD Talk Godfather
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 51,044
Received 2,952 Likes on 2,254 Posts
Originally Posted by Bronkster
Best: Captain George Stacy in Amazing Spider-man #90 - To the best of my memory, that was the first time a "major" character was killed (and stayed dead!).

Worst: Aunt May - the death was fine; the resurrection sucked donkey balls.
Hey, Uncle Ben was a pretty major character, even though he only showed up for one issue...
Old 03-08-07 | 02:46 PM
  #11  
dadaluholla's Avatar
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,491
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
From: Wilmington, OH
OOOOH. On another Captain America note, one of the first "death" issues that really knocked my socks off , was when John Walker's parents were killed by the Watchdogs, and he just completely freaked out and went into this murderous bloodsoaked frenzy, including nailing one guy with a pitchfork! He was insane, and I love that issue!
Old 03-08-07 | 03:06 PM
  #12  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,497
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
From: West Richland,WA
Hey what about Supergirl in crisis series! for a best death.
Old 03-08-07 | 04:43 PM
  #13  
DVD Talk Godfather
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 51,044
Received 2,952 Likes on 2,254 Posts
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.
Old 03-08-07 | 05:08 PM
  #14  
Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Best: The first time Jean Grey died, and came back, and died again.

Worst: Every other time Jean Grey died, or whatever synonym for die they want to use.
Honorary Mention: Colossus. Useless incarnate.
Old 03-08-07 | 05:59 PM
  #15  
The Antipodean's Avatar
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,770
Received 248 Likes on 177 Posts
From: Auckland, New Zealand
Best: Barry Allen Flash in "Crisis on Infinite Earths."

Worst: When the X-Men "died" in the Siege Perilous or whatever the hell it was called back in the 1980s. Hated that whole storyline.
Old 03-08-07 | 06:02 PM
  #16  
Banned
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Worst death is when Farley died in For Better and For Worst

Best death: I haven't seen a best death yet
Old 03-08-07 | 06:10 PM
  #17  
DVD Talk Godfather
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 51,044
Received 2,952 Likes on 2,254 Posts
best death... Ben Reilly, ending the whole Spider clone debacle?
Old 03-08-07 | 06:20 PM
  #18  
davidh777's Avatar
DVD Talk Godfather
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,765
Received 1,725 Likes on 1,387 Posts
From: Home of 2013 NFL champion Seahawks
Do "out of normal timeline" deaths count, like X-Men Days of Future Past?
Old 03-08-07 | 06:55 PM
  #19  
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,071
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
From: So Cal
Originally Posted by fujishig
Hawk killing Dove II and becoming Monarch really upset me too.
That's not even remotely close to the problems with that storyline.
Old 03-08-07 | 07:14 PM
  #20  
DVD Talk Godfather
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 51,044
Received 2,952 Likes on 2,254 Posts
Originally Posted by Superboy
That's not even remotely close to the problems with that storyline.
true, but in the context of deaths it is. And now they're revisiting this by seemingly making Captain Atom into Monarch again anyway. And somehow Dove II is alive again with her sister being Hawk? Ugh.

Honorable mention goes to that craptacular Graduation Day crossover that effectively ended Young Justice and killed (temporarily, of course) Donna Troy. How? By a Superman Robot.
Old 03-09-07 | 02:14 AM
  #21  
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,731
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Josh-da-man
Best: "Preacher" when the Saint of Killers shot God in the face.

Damn, all these years going unspoiled on this story (how I managed that, who knows?) only to get it here. Damn . Should be reading it faster. Only three more trades to go!

note: I'm not mad or anything. Spoilers don't really bother me, least you think I was angry for real or anything.
Old 03-09-07 | 03:12 AM
  #22  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 0
Received 14 Likes on 10 Posts
From: Northern California
The death of Sue Dibny in IDENTITY CRISIS was not only gratuitous, but disturbing. However, I was still gripped by this piece of pulp fiction.

I agree that the death of Barry Allen, while a little melodramatic (Marv Wolfman's dialogue/monologues can be a little bit too much with all the "God, help me to find strength to battle this demon!" and "Please, don't you understand...it is the end of all that is!"), was touching and memorable.
Old 03-09-07 | 08:52 AM
  #23  
Trevor's Avatar
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 37,371
Received 951 Likes on 611 Posts
From: spiritually, Minnesota
Darn!! I don't know what I was thinking going into this thread.

Five+ years behind in reading my comics, so I will not be reading this thread again.
Old 03-09-07 | 06:54 PM
  #24  
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 7,337
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Best (temporary) death: Elecktra.
Old 03-10-07 | 01:11 AM
  #25  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 14,812
Received 16 Likes on 8 Posts
From: Second Star on the right, and straight on til' morning...
edit...


Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.