Author Topic: [General] Permanently Dead Characters you wish weren't Permanently Dead-Spoilers (Read 8221 times)

Count_Zero · « **on:** December 12, 2006, 10:05:47 AM »

The title of the thread should be self-explanatory. What comic book characters that were killed off, permanently (meaning you see the body and/or see the death), do you wish were still alive, and why? Also, assume that whatever means they choose to make this become a "Comic Book Death" (meaning how they resurrect the character), it's well written and well executed. Obviously, this thread contains (or will contain) spoilers for numerous comic storylines, so you are warned.

My picks:
Stephanie Brown/The Spoiler/Robin IV - Several reasons. She didn't really go out that well, IMHO. She (barely) survives being tortured by Black Mask to be taken to the hospital, only to have treatment withheld by Dr. Leslie Thompkins?! And to teach Batman a lesson?! Plus, I liked the character, and I liked that Tim Drake had a girlfriend who he could be open with about being Robin, because said girlfriend was also a Mask.

Booster Gold - I must admit, I'm a Johnny-Come-Lately to DC, in part because my local library system had more Marvel TPBs than DC, but as I was introduced to the character, I must admit I really liked the character, and wanted to see more stories with him. But, not only are there, apparently, no plans to resurrect the character (after he is killed in 52, no plans for anyone else to pick up the mantle as well (meaning no Booster Gold II). So, there shall be only one Booster Gold, and he is no more. (And his sidekick has now become a super villain).

These are my first two that come to mind. If anyone has other characters you have in mind (or want to agree with my picks), by all tell us.

spookshow · « **Reply #1 on:** December 12, 2006, 10:10:12 AM »

Nite Owl.

goo · « **Reply #2 on:** December 12, 2006, 10:20:31 AM »

Oh God. I know Moore would never do it for the sake of integrity, but part of me really wants to see it, just to see what twisted fucking shit he'd come up with in order to make it happen.

That being said, I can't really think of any dead dead characters I'd like to see brought back to life. Usually when they do that, you get the whole Jean Grey thing going, and they literally killed her 'til she died from it.

The only time I can think of that they really did a good resurrection of a character was Captain America as treated by the Ultimates. He grew into the 21st century maybe a LITTLE fast, but I liked how they dealt with both his anachronism technology wise, and how out of place his sense of patriotism and duty seemed to be within the context of our time.

There are a few comics and comic-book characters that I'd like to see continued and brought back from hiatus, but none that I can really think of that I'd like to see actually raised.

spookshow · « **Reply #3 on:** December 12, 2006, 10:29:25 AM »

To be completely honest, it's extremely rough, trying to think up comic book characters who have died and stayed dead without going into the indy press.
And even harder finding characters who have died and stayed dead that I've cared about enough to actaully want to hae revived.

Every time an X-Man dies, an angel gets his wings.

Lady Malchav · « **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2006, 11:01:09 AM »

There used to be a saying that there were two comic book characters, and two characters only that died and would stay dead, Bucky and Jason Todd. Well, we know how that turned out, huh?

So eventhough they're saying NOW that booster or Blue Beetle are dead for good, I'm not buying it. Eventualy, some years down the road, some writer will want to use them in a story, but 'oh noes they be dead' so they get resurected.

Personaly, I'd rather my favorite dead characters not 'come back' but maybe get an 'Elseworlds' kind of treatment, or a series that tells more stories from before they died. Invariably, characters that come back from the dead are way different than they were when they died, and while that wouldnt be a totaly bad thing in, say, Booster's case, I'd rather my favorite characters stay dead than be mangled.

Count_Zero · « **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2006, 11:33:00 AM »

Quote from: Lady Malchav on December 12, 2006, 11:01:09 AM

There used to be a saying that there were two comic book characters, and two characters only that died and would stay dead, Bucky and Jason Todd. Well, we know how that turned out, huh?

So eventhough they're saying NOW that booster or Blue Beetle are dead for good, I'm not buying it. Eventualy, some years down the road, some writer will want to use them in a story, but 'oh noes they be dead' so they get resurected.

Well, as far as Blue Beetle goes, Ted Kord was not the first Blue Beetle, and he definitely isn't the last (we've already gotten Blue Beetle III, Jaime Reyes, in 52).

But, they make it pretty clear that Ted Kord was permanently killed in The OMAC Project. If you haven't read that already, there's the art of it (from the comic) at [wiki=Ted Kord]Ted Kord[/wiki]

Coyote · « **Reply #6 on:** December 12, 2006, 11:35:32 AM »

Great, so should we treat this thread like characters we'd rather see dead then?

kdp · « **Reply #7 on:** December 12, 2006, 11:44:54 AM »

I wish they hadn't killed Magneto. Or Colossus. Wait, shoot.

I miss Douglas Ramsey.

S*S · « **Reply #8 on:** December 12, 2006, 12:19:47 PM »

Rorshasch. Rorshasch, you filthy motherfuckers. Gods, but I hated Watchmen so much

K · « **Reply #9 on:** December 12, 2006, 12:41:30 PM »

Quote from: S*S on December 12, 2006, 12:19:47 PM

Gods, but I hated Watchmen so much

SHUNNED!

kdp · « **Reply #10 on:** December 12, 2006, 12:55:00 PM »

What is wrong with you SS?

TeroWasHere · « **Reply #11 on:** December 12, 2006, 01:21:33 PM »

To flip things, I wish Superman was permanently dead.

Lady Malchav · « **Reply #12 on:** December 12, 2006, 02:27:54 PM »

Quote from: Count_Zero on December 12, 2006, 11:33:00 AM

Quote from: Lady Malchav on December 12, 2006, 11:01:09 AM
There used to be a saying that there were two comic book characters, and two characters only that died and would stay dead, Bucky and Jason Todd. Well, we know how that turned out, huh?

So eventhough they're saying NOW that booster or Blue Beetle are dead for good, I'm not buying it. Eventualy, some years down the road, some writer will want to use them in a story, but 'oh noes they be dead' so they get resurected.
Well, as far as Blue Beetle goes, Ted Kord was not the first Blue Beetle, and he definitely isn't the last (we've already gotten Blue Beetle III, Jaime Reyes, in 52).

But, they make it pretty clear that Ted Kord was permanently killed in The OMAC Project. If you haven't read that already, there's the art of it (from the comic) at [wiki=Ted Kord]Ted Kord[/wiki]

Oh, I know. Not only are his brains blown out on screen, his body is also incinerated off screen. AND they made damn sure we saw the body for Booster. The original script called for him to be instantly incinerated, and have ashes falling along with his empty suit (MUCH more believeable than the whole skeleton thing we got what with the way he died and all). But editorial mandate said there had to be a body, or else the fans would doubt he was really dead. With Booster, though, you wouldnt even need a resurection to get him back. They'd just have to pull the old 'time traveler' shtick and he'd never really have to go away.

I guess what I really ment was I wish Ted and Michael wern't dead. They were such a good team, and had one of the best buddy-buddy relationships in DC as well as being awesome characters in thier own right. I havent read any of the old Blue Beetle, and the new one looks pretty good, but it's the character I'm going to miss, not the legacy.

BTW? I am SO glad Booster Gold isnt going to be a legacy. If there's one 'name' in all of comicsdom which should never be carried on it's Booster's. It just doesnt jive with the character at all. Maaaaybe if his sister were still alive I could see her assuming the role of 'Goldstar', but not Booster Gold(as it is they killed off THAT great chracter for OMG SHOCK!effect before she was ever able to really come into her own).

Count_Zero · « **Reply #13 on:** December 12, 2006, 02:47:38 PM »

Quote from: Lady Malchav on December 12, 2006, 02:27:54 PM

Quote from: Count_Zero on December 12, 2006, 11:33:00 AM
Quote from: Lady Malchav on December 12, 2006, 11:01:09 AM
There used to be a saying that there were two comic book characters, and two characters only that died and would stay dead, Bucky and Jason Todd. Well, we know how that turned out, huh?

So eventhough they're saying NOW that booster or Blue Beetle are dead for good, I'm not buying it. Eventualy, some years down the road, some writer will want to use them in a story, but 'oh noes they be dead' so they get resurected.
Well, as far as Blue Beetle goes, Ted Kord was not the first Blue Beetle, and he definitely isn't the last (we've already gotten Blue Beetle III, Jaime Reyes, in 52).

But, they make it pretty clear that Ted Kord was permanently killed in The OMAC Project. If you haven't read that already, there's the art of it (from the comic) at [wiki=Ted Kord]Ted Kord[/wiki]

Oh, I know. Not only are his brains blown out on screen, his body is also incinerated off screen. AND they made damn sure we saw the body for Booster. The original script called for him to be instantly incinerated, and have ashes falling along with his empty suit (MUCH more believeable than the whole skeleton thing we got what with the way he died and all). But editorial mandate said there had to be a body, or else the fans would doubt he was really dead. With Booster, though, you wouldnt even need a resurection to get him back. They'd just have to pull the old 'time traveler' shtick and he'd never really have to go away.

I guess what I really ment was I wish Ted and Michael wern't dead. They were such a good team, and had one of the best buddy-buddy relationships in DC as well as being awesome characters in thier own right. I havent read any of the old Blue Beetle, and the new one looks pretty good, but it's the character I'm going to miss, not the legacy.

BTW? I am SO glad Booster Gold isnt going to be a legacy. If there's one 'name' in all of comicsdom which should never be carried on it's Booster's. It just doesnt jive with the character at all. Maaaaybe if his sister were still alive I could see her assuming the role of 'Goldstar', but not Booster Gold(as it is they killed off THAT great chracter for OMG SHOCK!effect before she was ever able to really come into her own).

Welllllll... There was the "present-day" relative of Booster, and Skeets was going to have him become Booster Gold II, but then the guy figured out that Skeets was bad guy, and Skeets put him in a sort of time-feedback loop thingie (I forget what it is, but it isn't lethal) in week 19. Then Skeets became a public badguy in Week 24, and gets nastier from there.

Lady Malchav · « **Reply #14 on:** December 12, 2006, 04:04:56 PM »

I dont think Skeets was ever going to make him Booster II, just use his DNA to get into (the guy whose name I forget)'s lab then do what he did anyway.

I dont even think *he's* gone for good. Weren't there some scary-lookin mad scientist's kids messing around with a time machine? Did they say yet who that guy was they saw in the time stream? It could be the original time traveler or Booster's great-great-great-(ad naesum) grandfather guy again OR it could even be Booster himself and they're allready pulling the 'time travlers dont really die' thing again. I mean, I dont think he had any kids yet, and if he's permanently stuck in the time stream that means he never will causing Booster never to be born, and never to have come to the past with Skeets, etc etc etc...

Have you seen this yet? The bottom left panel particularly. Hehee.

Coyote · « **Reply #15 on:** December 12, 2006, 04:34:16 PM »

Quote from: Lady Malchav on December 12, 2006, 04:04:56 PM

I dont think Skeets was ever going to make him Booster II, just use his DNA to get into (the guy whose name I forget)'s lab then do what he did anyway.

I dont even think *he's* gone for good. Weren't there some scary-lookin mad scientist's kids messing around with a time machine? Did they say yet who that guy was they saw in the time stream? It could be the original time traveler or Booster's great-great-great-(ad naesum) grandfather guy again OR it could even be Booster himself and they're allready pulling the 'time travlers dont really die' thing again. I mean, I dont think he had any kids yet, and if he's permanently stuck in the time stream that means he never will causing Booster never to be born, and never to have come to the past with Skeets, etc etc etc...

Have you seen this yet? The bottom left panel particularly. Hehee.

You're thinking of Rip Taylor, that's who's lab is making the Wiki-heads over 52 jump up and down with the references.

I'm... mixed about the way Dan DiDio (Note I'm not calling him DIEdio like some detractors) has handled the last three years of plotline. Apart from making the DCU notably darker (though it seems to be recovering in OYL), he's killed off a lot of 2nd- and 3rd-String heroes. Some pretty popular ones, too. I haven't seen this many popular characters get axed since Zero Hour. (I know Team Titans weren't popular, but gutting the JSA lead to some grumbling.) Now, I'm convinced that Waverider isn't dead, because I'm sure there's a third Matthew Ryder around (though, TBH, Waverider was a gimmick character- he was only really useful for Armageddon '01 and Zero Hour.) I know that it's been a DC Hallmark to use massive crossovers to weed out some of the less used characters, and use that weeding as an excuse for emotional impact. (Granted, killing off Supergirl I, Barry Allen, and Dove I wasn't exactly weeding out lesser-used characters) But as a lot of people have said, he basically killed off the entire late 80s. He gacked Ted, Booster, and Maxwell Lord (who he did the disservice of making a villain first). And the three year span combining everything, Id C, Countdown, In C, and 52, we've seen probably more body count than anything DC's ever published, and I'm not even counting the people created just SO they could get cacked. I'm all for getting some new blood into the DCU for interesting characters; I'm reading the new JSA, rooting for the new plot in Teen Titans, and we're just about to get to what happened to the Outsiders in the OYL jump, but I'm not about cacking off a bunch of heroes just so some new ones can take their place or their mantles. It's just.. Annoying, honestly. Death in the DCU used to be used as a serious thing, a signal that the plot was serious, or even just to stick it to Batman about 249,193 times, but when it happens this often, the meaning is rapidly being dulled and just another event, which in all honesty, it shouldn't be when it comes to this sort of thing.

Valdrin · « **Reply #16 on:** December 12, 2006, 05:34:08 PM »

This isn't exactly a permanently dead character, but still, when Marvel did kill him off (before they hit that magical "Universe Reset" button), it pissed me off to no end.

See, when they were doing funky shit to Spider-Man, one of the things they did was kill Doc Ock... in order to make room for a female Doc Ock. She's the one who killed him.

Yes, I cried bull-shit at that one. I never understood why they'd choose to kill one of the iconic Spider-Man villains only to make way for a far more psychotic and pale imitation of him.

Otherwise I've never really paid enough attention to the comics to notice the death of someone huge. My brother would let me know about something crazy-stupid, like taking down Batman for real, or the Joker, or something fucked up like that.

jabbaciv · « **Reply #17 on:** December 12, 2006, 06:08:43 PM »

I was pissed when Header and Rick the Vick got killed in the "Rake at the Gates of Hell" series in Hellblazer. Rick more so then Header, cause Rick got royally screwed and is stuck in hell now. Luckily the First of the Fallen got the big ugly axe before he could make things really bad for Rick.

Adam the Alien · « **Reply #18 on:** December 13, 2006, 12:10:31 PM »

I'm with Lady M on this one. There's no such thing as permenantly dead characters in a long-running universe. The only reason there's ever a permenently dead character? The universe just hasn't gone long enough to revive them yet. But, if it goes long enough, all will be revived at some point.

And DC, of all people, trying to say someone's permenantly dead?

They brought Jason Todd back. Jason fucking Todd, for God's sake. Sure, Marvel brought back Bucky...but Bucky wasn't Jason Todd. DC has crossed the line of believability when it comes to "Oh, yeah, they're dead forever".

Lady Malchav · « **Reply #19 on:** December 13, 2006, 12:31:03 PM »

I know! I mean, not only did they bring back a character who they had promised was Dead with a capital D, they brought back a chracter who the fans had literaly PAID to have killed off! I mean, sure, a lot of the newer fans aren't the ones who participated in the whole 'Dial-a-Death' thing, but the same people who wanted him dead are still reading comics. It's like DC is saying 'Yeah, we know you dont like him, we know you've told us you dont like him, we know you gave us money to kill him, but, umm, wedontcarewhatyouthink.... OH LOOK SHINY!' And it's not like they even did anything worthwhile with the character after they brought him back either.

And I keep forgetting to mention this, but it looks like they're killing off The Question now. God fucking dammit, DC. Everything not Batman, Superman, or Wonder Woman related just HAS to die, huh? I am SO glad I dont spend money on comics, or else I'd be so much more angry.

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Author Topic: [General] Permanently Dead Characters you wish weren't Permanently Dead-Spoilers (Read 8221 times)