In 1941, the world of comics changed forever when the Comet became the first superhero to be killed. In the story, the Comet is gunned down by gangsters while trying to save his brother. Swearing to avenge his death, the Comet’s brother became the vigilante known as Hangman.
The Comet may have been the first superhero to die on the four-color page, but he was far from the last. In the decades since, superheroes have died time and again, with almost all of them managing to return from the great beyond. Some heroes die and come back to life so often, it almost seems like that is their power. Still, there are a number of heroes who have returned from the dead who probably should have stayed in the grave. Heroes whose deaths had a major effect on the universe around them, and whose returns only complicated matters.
10 Barry Allen Died For The Universe And Came Back For The Sales
The second Flash, Barry Allen gained superspeed after being struck by lightning and doused with electrified chemicals. Barry’s introduction to the world was the start of the Silver Age of comics; a return of colorful superheroes using their powers to make the world a better place.
And in 1985, Barry paid the ultimate price when he sacrificed himself to save the Multiverse from the Anti-Monitor’s evil schemes in Crisis on Infinite Earths. With his death, Barry Allen became the Patron Saint of the DC Universe. Barry was replaced by his sidekick Wally West, becoming a fan favorite. But in a move that seemed decided by money instead of story, DC brought Barry back, and ever since then, Wally West has been lost in the shuffle.
9 Captain Mar-Vell’s Returns Have Only Damaged The Impact Of His Death
The Death of Captain Marvel by Jim Starlin stands out as one of the most touching and beautiful superhero stories ever told. In the story, Captain Mar-Vell isn’t killed by a villain, but by cancer. The heroes – and some villains – of the Marvel Universe come together to be with Captain Marvel in his final days and pay their respects.
In the years since a number of heroes have taken on the name Captain Marvel, most notably Carol Danvers, but that hasn’t stopped Marvel from bringing the original character back, only to kill him again a number of times. These returns and deaths only serve to weaken the original death.
8 Hal Jordan’s Death Led To An Amazing Journey
Hal Jordan’s death was a tragic tale of a hero’s fall from grace and act of redemption. After the destruction of Coast City, Hal Jordan went mad and destroyed the Green Lantern Corps, becoming Parallax in the process. Hal turned against his friends but ultimately gave his life to save all life on Earth.
After his death, Hal Jordan became the new host of the Spectre as a way to pay for his sins. It was an interesting turn of events for the character that was erased with his return to the Corp in Green Lantern Rebirth, taking away the growth of the character over the previous years.
7 Captain America’s Return Was Confusing
Captain America was killed in the aftermath of Civil War, but that wasn’t the first time the patriotic hero died. In early 2002, Marvel killed off the hero in Captain America #50 before bringing him back a few months later with an all-new Captain America #1. The problem is, Marvel never bothered to explain how Steve Rogers came back from the dead. Captain America #50 showed Cap die and other heroes mourn his passing, but no one ever brought it up again when he returned. How Marvel forgot to explain the resurrection of Captain America is a very confusing story that seems to come down to poor communication between departments. But with no answer to how Cap came back, he should probably still be dead.
6 Conner Kent Doesn’t Have A Place
Conner Kent, the first post-Crisis Superboy, was killed by Superboy-Prime during the events of Infinite Crisis. His death led to the creation of a cult, and in time it was discovered that Star Boy of the Legion of Super-Heroes actually placed Conner’s body in a Kryptonian healing chrysalis for a thousand years so he could come back to life, which the hero did. Ever since Conner’s return from the grave, DC has struggled to find a place for him in the universe, leading to the question; why did they bring him back in the first place?
5 Jean Grey Dies And Comes Back So Often She Has An Easy Pass To The Beyond
These days, the X-Men can die and come back all the time, but there was a time when the death of a teammate meant something, and no death affected the X-Men more than that of Jean Grey. possessed by the Phoenix Force, Jean Grey took her own life to save the team, and her passing weighed on the crew for years, right up until she came back.
Since then, Jean has died and come back a few more times, and the Phoenix Force has become a major player in the Marvel Universe, but no story about Jean has been as impactful as her death.
4 Jason Todd Was A Lesson Batman Didn’t Learn
As the second Robin, Jason Todd had some big Peter Pan boots to fill, and by most accounts, the new Boy Wonder failed to succeed. To deal with this problem, DC Comics decided to let the fans decide Jason’s fate at the end of A Death in the Family by calling in and choosing to either kill Jason or let him live. The fans decided Jason should die, and so he did.
Jason’s death served as an important lesson for Batman; that his choices had serious consequences. Batman chose a new sidekick who was not ready for the role, and it cost the young boy his life. And then Jason came back from the dead, making the lesson moot.
3 Professor X Has Outlived His Purpose
In the early days of the X-Men, the team consisted of a group of teens who were led by an older man, Professor X. Not only was Professor X their leader, but he was their teacher and guardian as well. But as time went on and the first members of the X-Men grew up, Professor X wasn’t as important to the team. And, just like so many other superheroes, Professor X has died and come back a few times now.
But his role as leader of the X-Men has become something that keeps the other members of the team from reaching their full potential. As long as Professor X is there, Marvel’s mutants can never truly grow.
2 Punisher’s Story Ended, And It Should Have Stayed That Way
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Punisher was one of Marvel’s biggest sellers. The character was so popular that he had three books, but that all ended in 1995 when the titles were canceled and the character was killed off. The death didn’t last long, and Punisher returned as a superpowered angel of vengeance, a decision that was quickly erased.
While there have been some great Punisher stories since his death and return, the character isn’t the kind of anti-hero who should keep living. As the old saying goes, “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves”. Frank Castle’s story is one of revenge, and it should have ended with his death.
1 Stephanie Brown’s Death Was A Lesson For The Bat-Family
Jason Todd’s death was a lesson that Batman nearly learned, but Stephanie Brown’s death was a lesson the whole Bat-Family needed to experience. As Batman’s list of sidekicks and partners grew, Tim Drake, the third Robin, left to deal with personal issues. Almost right away Stephanie Brown stepped into the Robin outfit, and no one stopped her. The Bat-Family’s decision to let a teen they knew wasn’t ready for the job to play hero cost Stephanie her life and nearly destroyed Gotham City. Her return from the dead erased that lesson.
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