# Has there ever been a comic character properly killed off? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 3, 2010, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417 "2010-07-03T12:55:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417/1 "2010-07-03T12:55:51Z")
The current Cap’n America thread made me think of this. Has there ever been an instance in (specifically superhero) comics wherein a major or at least well liked character was killed off and not brought back in some way shape or form? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417/2 "2010-07-03T13:04:50Z")
Deadman count? Just kidding. Offhand, I think the Golden Age Superman and Batman are still dead… ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417/3 "2010-07-03T13:14:10Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Deadman count? > > Just kidding. Offhand, I think the Golden Age Superman and Batman are still dead… I meant though that Alterna-whoever doesn’t exist either. The character is just dead, no alternative universes, timelines, no younger person taking on the mantle etc. ---
**Author:** ![SevenOfTeemingMillions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@SevenOfTeemingMillions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SevenOfTeemingMillions)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417/4 "2010-07-03T13:19:30Z")
I haven’t read Batman in years so I’m not sure if he’s been brought back from the dead. I think the second Robin (Jason Todd I think his name was) is still dead. Edit: Oh, I just read in Wikipedia that Jason Todd was brought back to life. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![audit1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@audit1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audit1)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417/5 "2010-07-03T14:06:23Z")
Private “Junior” Juniper a member of Sgt Fury and his Howling Commandoes was killed in issue 4 of the series. Issue 4 saw the first appearance of Pamela Hawley, a nurse who would date Sgt Fury. She got killed in issue #18. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_A.Robrin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sam_a.robrin/32/14497_2.png) [@Sam\_A.Robrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_A.Robrin)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417/6 "2010-07-03T14:38:57Z")
I haven’t followed Marvel for over a decade, and closely for over two, so I may be off-base here, but as of about 1990, the most exemplary comic-book death was Captain Stacy’s in _Amazing Spider-Man_. ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417/7 "2010-07-03T14:40:16Z")
> [@Sam\_A.Robrin](#): > > I haven’t followed Marvel for over a decade, and closely for over two, so I may be off-base here, but as of about 1990, the most exemplary comic-book death was Captain Stacy’s in _Amazing Spider-Man_. Topped by Gwen’s death, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417/8 "2010-07-03T14:41:40Z")
Rexsplode from Invincible is dead and gone, and he went out heroically. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417/9 "2010-07-03T14:50:17Z")
I think Rita Farr of the Doom Patrol holds the record for staying dead. They let her rest in peace for 36 years, but finally couldn’t resist bringing her back. ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417/10 "2010-07-03T15:25:19Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > I think Rita Farr of the Doom Patrol holds the record for staying dead. They let her rest in peace for 36 years, but finally couldn’t resist bringing her back. She might lose to Bucky for that. He was dead 1968-2005 (37 years). ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417/11 "2010-07-03T15:37:42Z")
> [@cckerberos](#): > > She might lose to Bucky for that. He was dead 1968-2005 (37 years). Rats. I _knew_ I should have specified “in the DC universe”! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417/12 "2010-07-03T16:20:58Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Deadman count? > > Just kidding. Offhand, I think the Golden Age Superman and Batman are still dead… They brought him back to life. Really. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417/13 "2010-07-03T16:39:42Z")
Uncle Ben? ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417/14 "2010-07-03T16:51:31Z")
Rorschach? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417/15 "2010-07-03T19:30:36Z")
Several characters in _Doonesbury_ have died. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417/16 "2010-07-03T21:27:02Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > Uncle Ben? No. He went into the rice business. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417/17 "2010-07-03T21:43:05Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > No. He went into the rice business. But he wasn’t brought back to life, only converted. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417/18 "2010-07-03T22:03:13Z")
DC: Hopefully, Maxwell Lord will stay dead (July 2010) Dammit, he was brought back earlier this year. In the Blackest Night series, nearly all dead superheroes have been resurrected. I dunno how many will stay dead. Ferro Lad is still dead. I think Braniac is theoretically dead, but his mind lives on in a robot construct. In Marvel, the list is long: Spiderman: Uncle Ben, Gwen Stacey and her father Captain America: ~200 or so villains killed by Scourge X-Men: Thunderbird, Pheonix (hopefully), Mimic Civil War: Some minor heroes In both universes, generational (Black Panther’s ancestors) or time-period (WW2, Old West) heroes are presumed dead, but a few (Unknown Soldier) have been retconned at some point to have supernatural powers that made them immortal. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417/19 "2010-07-03T22:15:44Z")
(People in manga who die stay dead, but of course those are the creation of individual authors rather than an ongoing storyline overseen by a business.) ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417/20 "2010-07-03T22:21:44Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > X-Men: Thunderbird, Pheonix (hopefully), Mimic Mimic? He’s one of the Dark X-Men. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-comic-character-properly-killed-off/545417.md?page=2)