Retired superhero/supervillains?

Cafe Society
1

I was just wondering (“Oh, boy”)…how many retired superheroes or supervillains are there? (Comic supers, to be specific, really)

I don’t mean “the series was canceled/they stopped writing stories about them”, but that the character was written as hanging up their cape, and permenantly settling down to the quiet life. (Admittedly, this would tend to go hand in hand with getting canceled, anyway.)

It doesn’t count if they later came out of retirement. Just characters who, as of now, are on the inactive roster, with apparently no current expectations of coming back any time soon.

I can think of a couple of Marvel’s Spider-Women (II & III). And—maybe—DC’s Blackhawks.

Am I missing anyone? There’s got to be a couple more, at least, right?

2

The biggest one would be Jack Knight, DC’s Starman. He passed his cosmic rod along to Star-Spangled Kid (who became Stargirl) and retired, moving to San Francisco to raise his infant son and reconnect with his girlfriend. (She had previously left him because she couldn’t handle him being a superhero.)

3

The original Black Canary, Dinah Lance, retired and passed down the mantle to her daughter, also named Dinah. Oddly enough, the original Dinah had an affair back in the 50s with the original Starman.

4

Mr Bones is no longer active as a superhero or supervillain, but he’s the director of a division of the DEO (a US government organization in the DCU dealing with magic, aliens, and the like). I’d say that counts as a retirement since he’s mostly behind a desk, or trying to talk active metas into doing his dirty work for him.

Count Vertigo spent some time in a similar position, but, after a run-in with Green Arrow, decided he was wasting himself.

Stripesy (Pat Dugan), the sidekick of the original Star Spangled Kid retired for some time, until his stepdaughter got into his things and decided to become the new SSK. He, for a time was STRIPES, her ‘robotic’ sidekick. Now he’s retired again, acting as a mechanic for the JSA (of which she’s a member - so he’s still able to keep an eye on her).

The JSA’s support staff also includes Ma Hunkel (the original Red Tornado) and Jesse Chambers, formerly Jesse Quick (who’s in a sort of forced retirement as she currently can’t access the Speed Force).

Jesse’s mother, the former Liberty Belle is both alive and retired, last I saw of her.

Wes Dodds (Sandman I) was in retirement when he passed on. Johnny Thunder was sort of retired (he’d gone senile, and couldn’t use the Thunderbolt) when Jakeem got ahold of the Thunderbolt. Whether he’s still retired or dead is a good question, since he was semi-recently merged with the Thunderbolt.

The original Chronos retired for a while, and passed his materials on, but he’s back now.

The original Trickster quit supervillainy and worked with the FBI for a time. He’s apparently back in the game now.

Jack Knight’s already been mentioned, but his father, Ted Knight, the original Starman. was also retired (although de-aged and vital) at the time of his death. (Which I won’t go into details on.)

5

When Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) was paralyzed she gave up the cape, although since then she remains as associate and partner of superheroes, using her computer and research skills to help them track folks down. I understand she’s going through some major changes these days, though, so I don’t know how long this may last.

John Law, DC’s Tarantula in the '40’s, was reintroduced into continuity in I think Chuck Dixon’s Nightwing; he had been retired for many years.

–Cliffy

6

Some heroes retire and later come out of retirement – sometimes several times. Captain America, Henry Pym (Ant-Man/Giant-Man/Yellowjacket), and Tony Stark (Iron Man) come to mind.

7

And of course – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317705/! :slight_smile:

8

The Blonde Phantom retired, raised a family and went to law school, becoming She-Hulk’s law partner.

Captain America once went to a reunion of old 40s superheroes who were retired and quite elderly.

There was a paperback book series in the 70s called Weird Heroes, illustrated short stories about new-style pulp heroes written by prominent SF and comic book writers. Harlan Ellison, one of the writers, contributed a story about his kickass alter-ego, Cordwainer Bird (illoed by Neal Adams). Bird’s uncle Phwombly was Kent Allard, the Shadow, retired and hating it.

9

Moloch the Mystic, from Watchmen, for health reasons.

10

After their original series folded, there was an issue of Brave and Bold that showed the Metal Men living in retirement (well, being lured out of retirement, actually). Of course, that was several retcons and two crises ago…

11

My favorite was a hero in Astro City who went by the name of The Black Badge, who retired and opened up a bar where super heroes hung out.

12

Does Bruce Wayne from Batman Beyond count?

13

I’d say so. Also the Earth-Two Batman retired after his wife (a reformed Selina Kyle) died; he succeeded Jim Gordon as Gotham police commissioner and only put the costume on again in his final adventure, in which he died. Also, I think the Earth-Two Wonder Woman was pretty much retired when the Crisis came along. And for a while, any Legionnaire who married had to retire, so that would be Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Bouncing Boy, and Triplicate Girl/Duo Damsel. Finally, the pre-Crisis Superman may be considered to have retired after the events of that last Alan Moore story.

14

Along with the original and second Nite-Owls, the original and second Silk Spectres, Ozymandius (sh! no spoilers!) and IIRC all other active heroes except the government-sanctioned Comedian and Dr Manhattan and the extra-legal Rorshach.

Marvel’s Whizzer (Bob Frank) retired sort-of, because of age and ill health, although he kept donning the gold and blue until he finally died.

Spitfire of the Invaders retired after losing her powers. IIRC her father was also a hero who went by the name Union Jack and he retired and was replaced by his son, who went by Union Jack for a while but I think also went by the name Destroyer, and he also retired.

15

The Patriot, Liberty Lady, Captain Swift, Mr. Might, The Mermaid, The Bowman, and Princess Power had all retired, leaving their children (Merryman, The Blimp, Awkwardman, The White Feather and Dumb Bunny) to fight crime in their place as the legendary Inferior Five.

(Color coded to show the relationships.

16

Then there are the two Arrowettes.

17

The Red Mask retired from Super Villainy, only donning his costume to commit suicide.

Of course there were no stories about him except his death story, his career and retirement were told in flashback.

18

“I always wanted to fly. If I could fly they would have let me into the JSA. But I get the Hand of Death. Only thing to do was become a villian…” or words to that effct from the Red Mask. Great stuff.

I wanted to mention Superman, after “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow,” but I see I’m about four hours too late.

19

Jessica Jones from Marvel’s Alias.

20

But didn’t Jack go into space on her behalf? So she couldn’t handle it while he was doing a favor for her? My Starman is incomplete, possible.

Also Jade, the very cute daughter of Alan Scott, semi-retired until she got a ring from Kyle (and also screwed him over, relationship-wise).