RESULTS: Does Death In Comic Books Mean ANYTHING At All Any More?

RESULTS: Does Death In Comic Books Mean ANYTHING At All Any More?

With over 2100 votes, there was a very clear answer as to whether the comic book reading community here on CBM are sick of the endless cycle of death and inevitable resurrection in their favourite books. Find out the results here.

Feature Opinion
By JoshWilding - Nov 27, 2011 01:11 PM EST
Filed Under: Other

Death in comic books has never been what you might call "permanent". In fact, it's rare these days to see any character actually stay dead. This isn't always a bad thing of course as 2004 saw Captain America writer Ed Brubaker bring back kid sidekick Bucky as the Winter Soldier, a character whose popularity has since soared. While his absence from the Marvel Universe was a lengthy one, there are still a few other long dead character who it's hard to imagine we'll ever see again in the land of the living. Amazing Spider-Man supporting cast members like Uncle Ben and Gwen Stacy are perhaps two of the most obvious examples. You see, while companies such as Marvel may have become more and more bold in the killing and resurrection of their superheroes as of late, I'm not sure ever they're ready for the backlash which would result from a decision such as that one. Regardless, as more and more deaths occur in our favourite comic books and the time of their eventual (and now somewhat predictable) returns grow shorter, the question we're left with is a simple one: does death in comic books mean ANYTHING at all any more? Did it ever?! Well, here's what you decided.





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Nucastle
Nucastle - 11/27/2011, 2:01 PM
word
bleedthefreak
bleedthefreak - 11/27/2011, 2:01 PM
two words
er101
er101 - 11/27/2011, 2:07 PM
Killing comicbook characters is way overused but sometimes it can be a good idea if it helps the story
bleedthefreak
bleedthefreak - 11/27/2011, 2:07 PM
When are we starting the campaign to bring back Uncle Ben?
Whovian
Whovian - 11/27/2011, 2:11 PM
"Death of issues" are a result of the marketing department writing the books instead of actual writers who have actual talent.
Bread
Bread - 11/27/2011, 2:12 PM
it starts right.....NOW
ecksmanfan
ecksmanfan - 11/27/2011, 2:17 PM
People die in comics? Damn, never noticed.
GUNSMITH
GUNSMITH - 11/27/2011, 2:19 PM
DEATH IS COMICS MEANS......"SHAKE YOU UP TO MAKE YOU MISS THE CHARACTER ENOUGH TO WANT HIM BACK ENUFF TO GET YOU TO BUY MORE"
Tomontherun99
Tomontherun99 - 11/27/2011, 2:21 PM
The only series where death has been used effectively is the Ultimate line, Wolverine has been dead for a few years and I doubt Ultimate Peter Parker will be back, but still the definitive superhero death and return has got to be Superman, it was perfectly planned out and executed. I love how in Final Crisis at Martian Manhunter's funeral Superman's eulogy went something along the lines of "and let us pray for a speedy Resurrection" But yeah, death is pretty much a minor setback for most cb characters
marvel72
marvel72 - 11/27/2011, 2:25 PM
death of a hero is a gimmick to sell more issues,but the return can be great if its done right like ed brubaker did with winter soldier.
TheStranger
TheStranger - 11/27/2011, 2:27 PM
It means something to Captain Marvel(Mar-vell) :P
superotherside
superotherside - 11/27/2011, 2:28 PM
I voted No... Why because they just are killing off characters for no reason. I for one am happy that Bucky will be back, yet I see no reason why he was killed in the first place. Why couldn't he have just given Steve back the title of being Captain America again instead of having to kill him?
Mechagino
Mechagino - 11/27/2011, 3:00 PM
I've read only a few death titles, and so far the only good one is the amazing Superman trilogy we got. Thought Captain America's I want to read too.
Mechagino
Mechagino - 11/27/2011, 3:07 PM
I miss the Sentry. :(
skidz
skidz - 11/27/2011, 3:20 PM
I voted 'yes' because somebody pointed out that these characters are the myths and legends of our era. There's one thing I've noticed reading comics, though, they may resurrect MAIN characters frequently, but not SUPPORTING characters or suicides very often.
AxlKomix
AxlKomix - 11/27/2011, 3:33 PM
If characters are going to be killed, it needs to be done in the Jason Todd/Barry Allen style. Keep the character dead long enough for the reader to have actually moved on with the story. That way, when a resurrection is executed it will have an incredible effect. Barry Allen was "dead" for like two decades.
skidz
skidz - 11/27/2011, 3:37 PM
AxlKomix: I couldn't agree more. DC took a big risk with those two and Hal Jordan, Marvel took a big risk with Bucky, dead for nearly 7 decades, and it paid off.
SageMode
SageMode - 11/27/2011, 3:39 PM
Depends on 3 things....
1. Why they were killed.
2. How they were killed.
3. And the reason the writer chose that particular character to die.

If a character dies solely for the sake of being a publicity stunt, then that's where I have my sour moment.
cbcurry
cbcurry - 11/27/2011, 3:42 PM
Great point. Let the death "sink" in before you bring them back. Let the reader see how life goes on without the hero. Let a major arc or hell 2 or 3 go off with them. Then bring them back in an epic story line that matters. You are 100% right Barry's not only came back but was a major part of Blackest Night and Flash Point. Now thats impact!!!
skidz
skidz - 11/27/2011, 3:43 PM
As good as 'The Return of Bruce Wayne' storyline was and how much I like 'Batman Incorporated', I was disappointed that DC wasn't brave enough to leave him in the grave for a little longer. Marvel hasn't covered Jean Grey in quite a while, she's been gone for some time now.
skidz
skidz - 11/27/2011, 3:45 PM
0SageMode0: Those are GREAT POINTS.
Gigacrusher45
Gigacrusher45 - 11/27/2011, 3:47 PM
The only death that ever truly had an impact on me AND the resurrection was Barry Allen (The Flash) because it literally took him 23 years to come back.
113
113 - 11/27/2011, 3:49 PM
Probably the best "death" where the character stayed dead for a long time is Barry Allen. Wally West made a whole generation (my generation) forget there ever was a Barry Allen, and too this day most people I know like Wally West more anyway. I actually wish Barry Allen had stayed dead at least for awhile longer. Or at least bring Wally back in the new DCU.
skidz
skidz - 11/27/2011, 3:50 PM
Leave them in the grave long enough so their return is a surprise and put them in a storyline that doesn't OBVIOUSLY center around them: the resurrections of Barry Allen (FINAL CRISIS) and Bucky Barnes (Captain America: Winter Soldier) are fantastic examples.
JULEZ13
JULEZ13 - 11/27/2011, 4:04 PM
Superheroes dying is pretty played out.

GAWD! That artwork is just terrible!!! Do people just not care to learn proportions or do they just ignore its existence?!?
elcaballerooscuro92
elcaballerooscuro92 - 11/27/2011, 4:09 PM
death doesn't mean anything f your're a superhero.

check this out http://comicbookmovie.com/dc_comics/news/?a=50351
novaprime
novaprime - 11/27/2011, 4:11 PM
Thisss killing off shiit is sooooo wacckkk !!!!!, if there dead dont bring em backkk
TheDpool
TheDpool - 11/27/2011, 4:18 PM
Its a deep and meaningful thing although it only lasts 20 or less issues

P.S. i have huge arms my name is Boss2 (yes i am that childish?)
Morningstar
Morningstar - 11/27/2011, 4:30 PM
I still say it depends on the character and the situation some comic deaths can still have meaning and be poignant but the character has to be one who the reader feels invested enough in and they can't just let it last a month or two no one should be back within even a year
GUNSMITH
GUNSMITH - 11/27/2011, 5:22 PM
HannibalKing
HannibalKing - 11/27/2011, 5:47 PM
So when is Bendis going to kill off Gallager (or whatever his name was) in Ultimate Spider-Man?
marvelguy
marvelguy - 11/27/2011, 5:50 PM
I concur. It has to have meaning, it has to seem natural/logical, and the character has to stay dead long enough to matter. Superman's death ushered in four characters that probably would never have survived without that vehicle.
Steve Rogers death was silly. After all these years, someone brainwashed gets a projectile through his uniform and by his shield?! Strange how his reappearance and Bruce Wayne's are so similar.

Aside from Uncle Ben, Jean DeWolf's death has been the most permanent. Spidey was pretty overwrought for a year in her senseless passing.

It needs to be done more carefully/effectively, and better!
alekesam
alekesam - 11/27/2011, 5:56 PM
@SuspenseSmith:

That's by and far why the Ultimate Universe and better still Elseworlds titles and the like read so much better that the mainline universe titles because there is a sense of threat and you have a clear beginning, middle and end and you don't have to worry about keeping the status quo.

This is particularly why indies get so much love from me because they're not properties (at least not in the traditional sense) and depending on the writer, dead is dead.
alekesam
alekesam - 11/27/2011, 6:00 PM
I don't mind death when it's done right. Even knowing Superman was coming back (the ads for it was on the back of *75 afterall), it was still done very well.

Like when Wolverine lost his adamantium. It made more of an impact because he stayed with the bone claws for almost six years I think. If people stayed dead that long or longer, it would at least dull the bad taste a little as it wouldn't feel so much like a revolving door.
alekesam
alekesam - 11/27/2011, 6:01 PM
Intruder, you talkin' to me?
cable23
cable23 - 11/27/2011, 6:26 PM
The comic book characters that got it right:
1. Superman
2. Jason Todd
3. Winter Soilder (Bucky Barnes)
4. Norman Osborn
croniccris
croniccris - 11/27/2011, 9:55 PM
well it would suck if the heroes stayed dead...part of reading comics and believing them is that anything can happen! but them dyin and comin back in a month is stupid....and i swore they never said johnny was dead...could b wrong tho
batmanrises
batmanrises - 11/27/2011, 10:36 PM
Part of the reason comics suck is the lack of risk taking going on. If heroes can die and come back then death loses its power. The stakes will never be that high. I can't take a superhero dying seriously because of the lack of impact of any of their deaths. Superheroes are escapist fantasy and a lot of it is good (DC ;) but if you want good drama, check out independant books designed with a beginning, middle and end like Walking Dead or 100 Bullets or The Sword.
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