Superhero Deaths

Follow Dave on Twitter | Like GEEK THIS! on Facebook | Follow Dave on Instagram When one of our beloved comic characters dies in a story, we’re supposed to be surprised and shocked and saddened. Usually, though, we all say the same thing, “I give it six months and they’re back from the dead.” As true as that is, there have been some deaths in Marvel and DC Comics that have been tragic. I reached out to some of you on Facebook and Twitter to get an idea of your favorites and here’s what you said: * Evan David (Strangers & Aliens): Superman's my favorite. * David Hunt (Geek This!): I'm with Evan about Superman. The death of superman event happened when I was younger so for me that was the first time thinking "Oh snap! They killed one of the main people!" That was before I realized it had happened before, such as Jean Grey's death as the Phoenix. Anymore it seems like there's a "death of the month". As for returns, you obviously can't talk about it without talking about Bucky Barnes and Jason Todd. * Ben Avery (Strangers & Aliens): Check out our Strangers and Aliens Easter episode! I give a few of my favorites... Spock kinda tops the list, though. * David Arington (Helix Reviews): I haven't read a ton Marvel's Ultimate comics, but the death of the Ultimate Spider-Man was pretty amazing! I also liked the death/return of the 616 Spider-Man with the whole Superior Spider-Man thing. And as already mentioned the Bucky/Winter Solider and Jason Todd/ Red Hood returns are classics! * Dallas Panda Marshal Mora (Geeks Under Grace): Superman is at the top of my list too. Though Tim Drake is interesting. Before I dive deep into the two stories I’ve selected, I wanted to preface everything. I originally had about six different stories to share for this episode, but the more I dug into them, I realized that some of them happened before I started reading comics, more or less. I narrowed it down to these two, so I hope you don’t mind. Peter Parker (Amazing Spider-Man #698 - #700 - 2012) | Dan Slott / Humberto Ramos The beginning of this story starts in issue #600, but these three issues are the main part of Peter Parker’s 616 death. We find out before these that Doctor Octopus, Spidey’s longest-running villain, is terminally ill. Issue #698 starts out with Spider-Man swinging across NYC having what he calls “the best day of his life”. Through most of the book he’s reminiscing, but there comes a point when Captain America, Spider Woman, Wolverine and Hawkeye all meet up with Spidey and inform him that Doctor Octopus is dying. Oddly enough, he’s asking for Peter. Cap and the other Avengers take Peter to The Raft (Marvel’s Ryker’s Island) where he hears Ock say, “Peter Parker…” Of course, Peter’s response is, “Yes, I’m Peter Parker.” Next, though, Ock says something weird: “No… Not anymore, Spider-Man. From now on, I am Peter Parker. I have all of your memories. I know everything you knew. I have your life and everything that comes with it. And you are now Otto Octavius. With what little time you have left…” And then Peter begins speaking, continuing Doc Ock’s words, “... trapped in that broken body - brought about by years of your brutal beatings. And like a good magician, I shall not reveal my secrets. You will die, never knowing how I performed my last and greate...