The Top 10 Superhero Deaths

I wrote a blog yesterday about 10 deaths in comicdom that made quite an impact.  Today I will remain on the topic of death (don’t ask me why) but shift to strictly superheroes that died.  This wasn’t easy as many have died over the years, but I think we can all agree that some just stunned us and left a hole in our hearts.  I won’t repeat the Flash or Jean Grey as they are from the other list, but they do deserve to be here.  So, let’s get started.

Here is The Comic Whisperer’s Top 10 Superhero Deaths:

10.)  Nightcrawler:  This one hits close to home because Nightcrawler was always the witty, winsome, swashbuckling hero.  He wasn’t hard edged or gritty but he did get the job done.  Believe it or not Nightcrawler was gone for more than 3 years before his triumphant return.  The mystery of his true mother and father still remains...

9.)  Captain Marvel:  There may have been many Captain Marvel’s but only one died of cancer.  When Jim Starling put together The Death of Captain Marvel, with it’s classic cover, he did a stellar job.  The most touching part to me was all of the heroes getting together for his passing.  Carol Danvers, our current Captain Marvel, has added a pleasant twist to the character.

8.)  Ted Kord/Blue Beetle:  I don’t mind telling you that this one came out of nowhere to me.  I thought he would take a beating from Maxwell Lord then it would be done.  Then, the panels I will never forget from the Countdown to Infinite Crisis, that showed him being killed.  It’s interesting to note that Ted Kord was not very popular on his own as Blue Beetle, but if you paired him with Booster Gold you had a great combination.  Funny, light-hearted, and neither of them being powerful in their own rights, they were heroes because of their suits.  Who can forget Booster Gold wearing logos to make money?  To see the Blue Beetle taken down like this was a blatant reminder that he was human underneath that mask.

7.)  Hal Jordan/Green Lantern:  The Parallax storyline is one of the best in the history of Green Lantern lore.  It sent ripples through the DC Universe that are still seen today.  The short version is that Hal Jordan went crazy before dying and became Parallax.  He killed the Guardians, the Green Lantern Corps, etc. etc.  He was a bad guy all around.  He then goes on a quest for redemption and winds up giving his life in the process.  If you haven’t read it, do so.  

6.)  Kara/Supergirl:  As deaths go this one was not only expected, but necessary.  Part of Superman’s charm and uniqueness was the fact that he was the only survivor of Krypton and that he was a “lonely alien”.  Supergirl’s presence took all of that away.  Not only that but DC never really capitalized on Supergirl that much.  She was in and out of comics but never really caught on.  Her death signaled the end of an era and the return of Superman to the status of “lonely alien”.  Please understand, her death was well written and traumatic, but it was also the streamlining of the Superman Family.

5.)  Jason Todd and Damian Wayne/Robin:  Yep, just like the last “Death List” I am cheating by putting two in one, but they are both Robin, right?  As a comic book reader I am not sure I have ever seen comic books that made me look away for just a second.  Just a heartbeat.  These panels were the ones responsible.  What you may NOT know is why the two Robin’s died.  Jason Todd’s death was a result of a DC Poll that was taken that drew gobs of attention, and criticism, from the public.  Damian’s death, however, was well planned out by Grant Morrison who put together the best Batman run of all time.  Feel free to look away...just for a second...during the death of Damian.

4.)  Peter Parker/Amazing/Ultimate Spider-Man:  Two Spider-Mans, Spider-Men, you know what I mean, in two different universes dying made huge ripples throughout comicdom.  Dan Slott killed off Spider-Man at the end of 2012.  Things got so bad for Dan that he started receiving death threats.  It was in 2011 that Brian Michael Bendis killed off the Ultimate universe Peter Parker, apparently for good, and replaced him with Miles Morales.  No matter which Peter Parker you were a fan of the ending came as a shock.

3.)  Logan/Wolverine:  It would be hard to argue that there has never been a character more dominating than Wolverine when it comes to popularity.  He doesn’t mind killing, he heals from just about anything, he has adamantium laced bones,  and he has that arrogant, cocky attitude.  He’s the total package.  His death in 2014, however, was no surprise.  Dying was the only thing he hadn’t done yet and you could be sure that, in one way or another, he'd be back.  This is a Joe Quesada variant of a Death of Wolverine cover.

2.)  Steve Rogers/Captain America:  There were two things that made Captain America’s death significant.  First, he was Captain America.  His death made headlines around the country.  My death won’t make headlines around my block.  The second thing is that Captain America died fighting for the rights of his fellow heroes.  He died for what he thought was right.  He died like we thought Captain America would die, in the name of a cause he believed in.  Since then he has returned and he is an old man having had his super serum negated.  I will say, on a personal note, that the new Captain America is TERRIBLE and has made the Marvel Universe tilt, just a little bit, in the wrong direction.  Captain America is a character who should remain just as he is...Captain America.

1.)  Clark Kent/Superman:  Superman is the consummate superhero.  He is the superhero who stands up for superheroes.  He makes a Boy Scout look dishonest.  He was the hero every hero is compared to.  “Yea, he’s tough, but he’s no Superman” or as my doctor puts it, “You have a Superman Complex, you think you have to do everything for everyone”.  He has a point, but I digress.  This gambit by DC Comics in the 90’s was the ultimate gamble.  If it didn’t pay off they had very little else that they could do to sell comics.  Superman’s reincarnation was both expected and popular with the comic reading public.  Besides that Doomsday was an awesome villain.  In the end it wasn’t the best written comic but it may be the most collected.  When I am with comic novices, or part time collectors, the question always comes up, “Do you have the one where Superman dies?”  Yes...yes I do...and I’ve got the armband as well.  Enjoy this pictorial tribute to my favorite, the Man of Steel.

Thanks for taking this journey with me.  Heroes dying always leaves me asking two questions:  What was the reason for their death and when will they be back?  

Superman’s back, that means all is well.

Character Deaths That Made Quite An Impact

Whether a death makes an impact in the comic universe is questionable.  In this day and age you have characters that are dying and being reborn right and left.  Some have died multiple times.  Some are alive in this universe and not in another.  It gets very difficult to stay on top of it even for the most avid of fans.

All that being said, there are deaths that do make an impact.  The impact could be on one character, many characters, or on an entire universe of characters.  The deaths listed below are ones that are milestones in comic history.  They range from the bizarre to the shocking.  I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed researching it.

Here is The Comic Whisperer’s List of Character Deaths That Made Quite An Impact (next to each death I have a picture of the ne’er do well who did the heinous crime):

10.)  Alexandra DeWitt:  Who remembers Alexandra?  Anyone?  Anyone at all?  That’s correct!  She was Kyle Rayner’s girlfriend during the time when Hal Jordan was Parallax.  Remember, when Hal Jordan killed off the Green Lantern Corps Kyle Rayner was assigned as earth’s protector.  Despite some rocky roads it appeared that Kyle and Alexandra were finally on their way to having a good life together.  Then, one day, Major Force came looking for Kyle and found Alexandra instead.  He, very rudely, killed her and stuffed her in their refrigerator.  Unlike many of the characters who die Alexandra has not returned as of this writing.

9.)  Sue Dibney:  If you read “Identity Crisis” by Brad Meltzer you will find that Ralph and Sue are very happy and thriving on the fact that Sue if pregnant. During the story, however, she was given a fatal brain aneurism by The Atom’s ex-wife Jean Loring.  Now, as if things weren’t bad enough for poor Sue, she was eulogized by having it revealed that she was once raped by Dr. Light in the JLA satellite (I actually had to read that part twice because it just didn’t seem real).  The only other time we see Sue is with her then deceased husband Ralph as ghosts supposedly enjoying their bizarre afterlife.  Ralph never made it back into the New 52 and Sue hasn’t been resurrected as of this writing.

8.)  Lori Grimes:  Remember, we’re talking all comic books.  Lori is part of the now legendary Walking Dead comic series, or at least she was.  The reason this makes the list is that she is the wife of the main character, Rick, and her gruesome death.  I actually found her frightfully annoying in the TV show, but that’s just me.  The scene is that the Grimes are in their stronghold and the Governor, from another town, overruns their prison/home with Lori being killed in the action.  What made it so dreadful is how she died.  Rick, Lori and Carl (their son) were running for cover.  Lori had a baby in her arms (their daughter Judy) and Lori took a shotgun blast to the back killing her instantly.  Everyone else, including Judy, survived.  Her death warranted a full page to show the gory details.  The governor, eyepatch and all, is also pictured below.

7.)  Phoenix:  You knew she would be on this list didn’t you?  Yes, the infamous Phoenix from the X-Men.  Let’s set the scene, shall we?  In the final issue of “The Dark Phoenix Saga” the X-Men fought the Imperial Guard on the Blue Area of the moon (yes, our moon).  This was to prevent them from executing Phoenix who they thought was a danger to the universe.  Even though Professor X had installed some “circuit breakers” in Jean’s head to prevent her from becoming Dark Phoenix, everyone knew the writing was on the wall.  Professor X and the X-Men tried to stop Jean and Colossus had the opportunity to deliver a death blow...but couldn’t.  He did crack her in the jaw and that shook her up, but she ran and Cyclops followed.  Freezing Scott with her powers she took her own life with the help of a Kree laser cannon so she couldn’t be a danger to anyone.  This was a stunning moment for most who read this saga.  Jean did return 5 years later but the death will always be remembered.

6.)  Arthur Curry Jr.:  This one was a game changer as it was the death of a child.  Was a taboo broken here?  I don’t know, but it sure shook people up.  It wasn’t just the fact that a child died but it was also the way he died.  The short version is that Black Manta took the baby and put him in a device that eventually suffocated him.  Mera did her best to save him through extraordinary means, but she was too late.  Arthur Curry Jr’s death pointed out the fact that no one is safe, regardless of age.

 5.)  Barry Allen:  When he arrived it was the start of the Silver Age and when he died it was the start of the post-Crisis DCU.  Coming on the heels of the death of Supergirl, Barry Allen’s death was both graphic and shocking.  Barry’s death ushered in the age of Wally West as the Flash.  Until his recent return Barry Allen’s death stuck for almost 20 years.  This death of such an important character was truly a milestone in comic history.

4.)  Bucky Barnes:  Bucky is not the first sidekick to take a dirt nap, but he certainly stayed dead the longest out of almost any character.  If you remember, Bucky went down in flames during World War II.  We didn’t actually see it happen except in a flashback, but you know the story.   Captain America always made sure we didn’t forget about Bucky as he talked about him constantly.  Now, however, after many many moons Bucky is back as one of the coolest characters in the DC Universe, The Winter Soldier.  He looks cool, sounds cool, and has quite an impressive skill set.  Who else can catch Caps shield at full speed?  It’s apparent that Bucky is here to stay.  I hope so because he’s become, easily, one of my favorites.

3.)  Jor-El and Lara:  There is no mystery here as to who they were or how they died.  Nor is there a mystery as to their offspring.  The thing that gets them in this list is that they were created with the specific purpose of dying.  Where Arthur Curry Jr. lost his life, Jor-El and Lara gave their lives so their son could live.  In their all to brief existence they have made an impact that has lasted for the life of Superman comics.

2.)  Uncle Ben/Gwen Stacy:  This one is a twofer.  Let’s start with Uncle Ben.  His death wasn’t caused by an enemy,  it wasn’t self sacrifice, and it wasn’t designed to protect anyone, it was a death due to the inaction of a character.  This death also proved to be a lasting foundation of strength for this character and a reminder that with great power comes great responsibility.  Without Uncle Ben’s death the entire framework of Spider-Man’s psyche would be different.  It’s also ironic how Gwen Stacy died as a result of Spider-Man’s actions.  One death due to actions taken and another due to actions not taken and both critical in the life of Spider-Man.

1.)  Thomas and Martha Wayne:  Who else could it be?  75+ years ago the Dark Knight was born due to the death of his parents.  It touched on the fear of suddenly losing your parents, suddenly being alone, having a hatred for guns, and the overwhelming need to protect people without killing the bad guy.  This death, like Uncle Ben’s, served as an inspiration to fight crime, but in a different way.  This is what makes it such a defining moment.  A moment we are reminded of time and again throughout the Batman series.

Before we finish this up for the day let’s do a recap of the different deaths:

4 instances of bad guys killing a loved one:  Alexandra Dewitt, Sue Dibney, Arthur Curry Jr. and Lori Grimes.

4 instances of characters taking their own lives for altruistic reasons:  Jean Grey (Phoenix), Jor-El and Lara, and Barry Allen with Jean and Barry coming back to life.

1 instance of accidental death only to return as an entirely different persona:  Bucky Barnes and his return as the Winter Soldier.

2 instances of death caused by the same character, one due to action one due to inaction:  Uncle Ben and Gwen Stacy who didn’t come back but served as the foundation for a belief system

2 instances of death due to a street robbery:  Thomas and Martha Wayne whose death created one of the most popular DC characters.

No matter how you look at the death of a character there is no doubt that it can be shocking.  This list represents events that defined a character, defined an era or even became a pop-culture milestone.  Death has, no doubt, become part of the comic universe the only question is will we see those people again?

Top 10 Most Collected Marvel Comics Series and Specific Issues to Collect!

As an appraiser I am often asked what the most collected comics are and what issues to watch for.  I can tell you that such a list has several restrictions:

     -This list is as of today.  Tomorrow some of these could change.  It’s not likely, but they could.
     -The value of a comic is strictly what a buyer will pay, these issues are based on market value.
     -I have restricted this list solely to Marvel comics, DC and others are for another day.
     -If a comic doesn’t make this list it doesn’t mean it’s not collectable, it’s just not on the list.
     -These issues are only as valuable as their condition.  This is based on NM condition.

10.)  Nick Fury:  Starting as a soldier Nick is first seen in Sgt. Fury and the Howling Commandos. In Strange Tales #135 Nick joins S.H.I.E.L.D.

Titles to look for and Issue numbers:

Sgt. Fury and the Howling Commandoes    #1 - 20 and the #1 Annual.  Special focus on #1, 2 and 13.
Strange Tales                                                #135
Tales of Suspense                                         #78
Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.                #1 - 7 and #15

9.)  Daredevil:  Easily one of the most valuable comics in the early runs, this comic is known for holding it’s value.

Titles to look for and Issue numbers:

Daredevil                                                    #1 - 20, 27, 38, 43, 131, 158, 168, 169, 181
Amazing Spider-Man                                  #16
The Avengers                                              #60
The Defenders                                            #24 and 25
Fantastic Four                                           #39 and 40
Journey into Mystery                                 #116

8.)  Silver Surfer:  Listed by some as one of the most powerful characters in all of comics, the Silver Surfer first made his appearance in Fantastic Four and is famous for being a Herald of Galactus.

Titles to look for and Issue numbers:

Fantastic Four                                           #48, 49, 50, 55 - 60, 72
Silver Surfer                                               #1 - 10 and 14
Tales to Astonish                                        #92 and 93

7.)  Fantastic Four:  The First Family of comics is always a collectible in the earlier comics.  Their popularity decreased as the issue numbers grew higher.  The terrible movies did not help their popularity any and also the lack of crossovers with the characters.  The first issues, however?  Collect ‘em, bag ‘em and board ‘em.

Titles to look for and Issue numbers:

Fantastic Four                                             #1 - 30, 48 - 50, 55 - 60, 72, 100, 112

Amazing Spider-Man                                   #1, 5 and 8

The Avengers                                               #1

6.)  The Mighty Thor/Journey into Mystery:  Thor’s first appearance was in Journey into Mystery and only later did he get his own title in The Mighty Thor.  Early Journey into Mystery are hard to get in great condition but scoop them up if you find them.  They are garnering high prices right now.

Titles to look for and Issue numbers:

Journey into Mystery                                   #83 - 100, 109, 112

Thor                                                             #126

The Avengers (12c)                                      #1 - 20, 57

5.)  The Incredible Hulk:  The early issues of the Hulk are extremely hard to find in good shape.  They were prone to what was called “chipping” which Marvel was famous for in the early issues.  In #1 you will see the Hulk with grey skin, but #2 showed him with green skin.  This had to do with printing issues.  The color grey, however, was intentional by Stan Lee as he wanted a color that would not show race bias.

Titles to look for and Issue numbers:

The Incredible Hulk                                         #1 - 6, 102, 180 - 182

The Avengers (12c)                                          #1 - 3, 5

Fantastic Four                                                #12, 25, 26, 112

Amazing Spider-Man                                      #14, 119, 120

Tales to Astonish                                             #59 - 101

4.)  Captain America:  It’s hard to picture a time where Captain America wasn’t a regular in comic books of all titles.  You name it and Cap has probably made an appearance in it.  Captain America can be traced all the way back to Golden Age comic books.  Look for a price of 10c and you have yourself a Golden Age Cap.

Titles to look for and Issue numbers:

Captain America (10c)                                      Any numbers

All-Select Comics (10c)                                     #1 - 10

All Winner Comics (10c)                                   #1 - 21

Captain America (12c)                                      #1 - 10, 55

The Avengers (12c)                                            #4

Marvel Mystery Comics (10c)                           #80 - 92

Sgt Fury and the Howling Commandos            #13

3.)  Iron Man:  Perhaps no character goes through more visual changes than Iron Man.  He is even known, while fighting the Transformers, to wear “Anti-Transformer” armor.  Tony Stark knows how to build them and how to make them functional.  What he doesn’t know how to do is make one armor for all occasions, they are more specialized.  If you do have the occasion, however, to get lower numbered editions Iron Man is quite valuable.

Titles to look for and Issue numbers:

Tales of Suspense                                                    #39 - 41, 48

Iron Man and Sub-Mariner                                    #1

Iron Man                                                                 #1 - 10, 55

The Avengers                                                          #1 - 20, 57, and 100

2.)  X-Men:  Forgive this if it’s politically incorrect, but the X-Men put mutants on the map.  They are also the team which may be the most ingrained in the modern comic lovers market.  This is due in large part to all of their different spin-offs and the popularity of their movies.  Needless to say, if you have any of the early editions of this comic in good shape you have a rare find.  Further, Days of Future Past is also one that is valuable along with having a great movie adaptation.

Titles to look for and Issue numbers:

The X-Men                                                              #1 - 20, 35, 94, 100, 141

The Uncanny X-Men                                              #142, 143, and 266

Giant Size X-Men                                                   #1 and 2

Incredible Hulk                                                      #180 - #182 (first appearances of Wolverine)

1.)  Amazing Spider-Man:  Is this really a surprise to anyone?  Spider-Man is Marvel’s answer to Superman and Batman, and a good one at that.  Spider-Man stayed remarkably consistent for many years and then, in the past 2 or 3 years, started going through some remarkable changes.  No matter what has happened to the web slinger his comics have remained valuable.  The number of spin-off series are rivaled only by those of the X-Men.

Titles to look for and Issue numbers:

Amazing Fantasy                                                     #15

Amazing Spider-Man                                               #1 - 129, 238, 282 - 328

Spectacular Spider-Man (magazine)                       #1 and 2 (published in 1968 only)

Spectacular Spider-Man (comic)                             #1, 2, 27, and 28

Remember, even though comics are one of the collectibles that are hot on the market right now they won’t be forever.  These comics will only be valuable as long as buyers are willing to pay the asking price.  I will reassure you, however, that if you get any of the editions listed and it is in good shape  you bag it, board it, and keep it in a moderate-temperature moisture-controlled space.  This will insure that they will always be the most valued in their respective collections...regardless of their value in the marketplace.

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