Superheroes And Mortality | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Superheroes And Mortality

Sometimes it's best to let go of our favorite characters.

81
Superheroes And Mortality
DC Comics

We all hate it when our favorite characters get killed off. It may seem that the story can hardly continue without them, but it may be best if it does.

Comics in the 1990s often focused on long story arcs and crossovers, and Superman was no exception to the trend. The writers behind his four monthly series had planned for Superman to finally marry Lois Lane in a 1992 story arc. However, DC Comics decided to put the story on hold to coincide with a similar story on the Superman TV show of the time, Lois and Clark. The writers suddenly had to figure out what to do with an entire year of Superman comics. What started as a joke during the writers' planning sessions led to one of the most famous arcs in comics history: "The Death of Superman."

Over the course of a seven-issue story arc, they pitted Superman against the unstoppable killing machine Doomsday. The two fought halfway across the country until they finally beat each other to death and Superman died in Lois Lane's arms. The story was followed by the "Funeral for a Friend" arc, in which the DC universe mourned Superman's absence, and "Reign of the Supermen," which featured four characters competing to carry on Superman's legacy. However, the character was simply too integral to the DC universe to stay dead. Thanks to a combination of advanced technology and his alien physiology, Superman bounced back about a year after his death.

Major character deaths had been rare in comics beforehand. However, the comics industry realized that high-profile deaths didn't have to be permanent, and could be great for sales. Since the early '90s, half the superheroes worth mentioning have been killed and resurrected. Even characters killed years before "The Death of Superman" have returned in recent years. Death in superhero comics has simply become too reversible, and doesn't carry much weight anymore.

This trend is due in no small part to the challenges of a serialized medium. The most popular heroes have been appearing in comic books non-stop for decades. Readers require major, dramatic events in order to stay interested, but tend to react poorly if the status quo is upset too much. Killing a hero provides a momentous event, and bringing them back reestablishes the comfortable norm. As superhero films shift from standalone blockbusters to chapters in larger stories, similar tactics have been employed in recent movies as well.

More recently, DC and Marvel have taken an interesting approach to reintroducing dead characters. DC introduced a new version of Superman in their company-wide 2011 reboot. The rebooted Superman proved to be less popular than the previous incarnation, and was thus killed off quite definitively. Through a series of events too convoluted to get into here, the pre-reboot Superman reappeared, now accompanied by his wife Lois and their young son, Jon. Similarly, Marvel killed off the main version of Wolverine a few years ago. Rather than resurrecting him, they've chosen to focus on Old Man Logan, a version of Wolverine from an alternate universe in which he is the last hero alive.

This strategy preserves the finality of death, and allows these characters to break free of the status quo. Obviously, this solution will get equally tired as resurrection if overused as much, but it's a step in the right direction.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

181146
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

8059
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

453083
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

23658
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments