Should Characters Stay Dead?
Text-only Version: Click HERE to see this thread with all of the graphics, features, and links.
Entity
It is a very widely known fact that death has absolutely no meaning in comics, but should it be more serious and much more permanent?
I know allot if not all of my favorite characters would have been long gone if this was true but, I have alway despised the use of death for sales in comics. It is a cheap lame cop-out for writers that just aren't willing to either put more effort into their stories or except defeat. There are to many alternatives to raise sales in a comic to resort to such a lame and overused tactic. I will admit some of the best stories I have ever read involved the death of a significant character but their deaths always prove to me to be almost meaning less with their return. For example, Colossus, one of my favorite X-Men, gave his life to cure thousands of the Legacy Virus and allow them to live and suffer no longer. However, with his return in Astonishing X-Men, as with so many others, the power and deeper meaning loss nearly all of its impact and worth to me.
I admit the characters are very important and the books aren't the same without them but, that is the point that makes their deaths so meaningful and important to me. Would you be much more impressed by the heroic ultimate sacrifice if you knew it really was the ultimate sacrifice and the character would almost as certainly not came back as we now know they almost certainly will. There are so many stories that would have so much more meaning to me if it had really been the characters death. They can still bring back heroes and villains once in awhile just not all the damn time, and when they bring a character back make it something believable. Not something like, that wasn't me it was my twin brothers, doppleganger's clone from an alternate time line. Make it more like, i didn't die i just lost my ability to walk and couldn't bare to face the people that looked up to me like this. So I let you believe i was death and even watched my own funeral. Whatever just not the total crap or especial the times they don't even give an explanation and, just act like it never happened with no one ever bring it up.
So, long post short. Should death have meaning in comics and should the majority of deaths be permanent? Do you believe like me, the return of characters takes away nearly all the significants of their death?
Entity
Originally posted by V for Valentine
Yes.
Agreed rip
steverules
There are some characters who shouldn't have died in the first place
Lucid Lui
In general, yes. But it's stupid to talk in absolutes.
There are characters that i've always said should never be brought back. Mar-Vell, Barry Allen, Ben Parker, Arthur Jr. (Aquaman's son), Gwen Stacy, etc. But Bucky used to be a major part of this list, and his ressurrection has been great so far (whether it works in the long term though, is still to be seen).
If a character has had a meaningful, well executed death then they shouldn't be brought back. It cheapens it.
There are characters who have been killed off for no reason other than doing it to do it. It's all right to bring these characters back IMO, as long as it's done well.
Banshee should be brought back. His death served no purpose at all. Skin was killed off in the most disrespectful way, he deserves to come back.
I don't really have a problem with villains coming back from the dead (as long as it's not very often, unlike Magneto who's done it a gajillion times). That's what they do.
xmarksthespot
It depends on how they died, why they died, how long they've been dead, why they're being brought back, and how they're being brought back. As always it depends on the writer's skills e.g. Colossus was brought back quite well, while Psylocke was not.
Dinalfos
If you're not going to kill a character for real, then what's the point, other than to create some shock effect? It's usually an act of desperation.
Doc Potato
I agree with Lucid that it depends. for example, bringing Jason Todd back was kinda crazy. I admit that Jason as the Red Hood was OK, but it shouldn't have happened. I reckon it could have worked as an Elseworlds in the style of a Marvel "What if...?" (What if Jason todd Survived?) but the resurrection thing to me in that case was very irritating. in other cases... say Hal Jordan... I find that I'm not really sure what I think. Hal's the greatest GL and one of my favourite heroes, but I also thought Emerald Twilight was a really bold, original and great move...
As for villain's, well... it again depends on the villain. Mysterio, for example, died in an excellent storyline and I reckon brining him back would truly be insane. But how many times have Magneto or Doom seemingly died? Killing one of those off permanently would DESTROY their opponents... I mean, what would the X-Men and FF be without Mags or Victor? They are as much part of the respective franchises as Cyclops or The Thing! Then again... the constant cycle of death and resurrection is ridiculous. Fine, have a "presumed dead" where the bad guys will blatantly be back (EG the old style bad guy HQ explodes, but o body is found), 'cos a blatant death and especially an unexplained resurrection piss me off to Hell (yes, Mr Morrison, you had both with Magneto at the end of your run on New X-Men!)...
There's my 2 cents...
Redatom65
yep i made this poll months ago. keep em dead
Priest
i hope thanos comes back
Rewmac
Most of my favourites are currently dead.
Mimic and Nate along with 616 Thor. I think a couple ones should come back especially coz it's Civil War.
Conner Kent is also dead...Too much cool dead characters.
NoFate007
I agree with what's being said up above. Some characters should never be killed off (ie Bruce Wayne or Magneto), but some characters are useless and should be taken off the charts (ie tons of X-Men). If they kill a popular character that isn't essential to the storyline (like Colossus) and want to bring him back in the future, at least make it somewhat believable. Jason Todd should have stayed dead, as well. If a character is known for being killed, keep them dead. Some comebacks are ok, like if Superman was to be killed and then regenerate by being sent to the sun or something...but like, now that they've killed Goliath...keep him underground.
Omega-level
Really meaningful deaths should not be undone. That includes Gwen Stacy, Jean Grey (the first one, but also the most recent), Uncle Ben, Mar-vell, and a few others.
However, i am against cheap plot device deaths like most in comics are; that should be avoided, but if they are not, in some cases it's all right to be brought back. I'm in favor when it has some sense; for example
If Thanos is brought back, it makes sense, considering his link to Death; however, the magic cosmic mumbo jumbo responsible for Psylocke's return was ridiculous, and to bring back, for example, Banshee, it wouldn't.
V for Valentine
I tend to believe, if you're going to kill someone then you keep them dead.
Don't use them being killed as an excuse to reinvent them, and those who do it are unimaginative and stale. Exception.. Maybe Drax, Genis.. That's bout it. oh and Bucky, how the brought him back rocked.
Redatom65
and if they bring mar-vell back. I'll be disapointed
Doc Potato
I do think that if you are going to have a likely chance of a character returning, keep it open. If a character dies ultimately and blatntly are dead (for Christ's sake, Logan cleaved Lensherr's head off!) then keep them dead... but if they may return in the foreseeable future, leave it open: like with Hector and Lyta going to the Dreamworld thingummy...
Grimm22
Some characters should have stayed dead...
Jean Grey (Everything with her post-Dark Phoenix saga is a joke)
Jason Todd
Gwen Stacey (well technically she is dead, but still...Sins Past...)
Superman (should have stayed dead longer)
inamilist
Originally posted by Grimm22
Superman (should have stayed dead longer)
F'n EH!!!!!!!!
I remember reading the Death of Superman as a kid, and it being this MAJOR thing. It was emotional, and masterfully done imho.
Then what, a few months later, he is back and kicking?
like WTF? why even bother to kill them in the first place.
Comics CAN be an art, and sometimes the major industry guys do it right. Then the buck to the market demand to bring back the cash cows
Vim
Originally posted by inamilist
F'n EH!!!!!!!!
I remember reading the Death of Superman as a kid, and it being this MAJOR thing. It was emotional, and masterfully done imho.
Then what, a few months later, he is back and kicking?
like WTF? why even bother to kill them in the first place.
Comics CAN be an art, and sometimes the major industry guys do it right. Then the buck to the market demand to bring back the cash cows
Same here, in fact I just waited and bought the collected version, and have read it several times, then the stuff afterwards was pretty good... The 4 supermen trying to replace the true one... THen yeah he comes back and since they're still making money off the whole Doomsday kick they make a doomsday returns thing ... So utterly unnecessary... That's what drove me away from DC... That and I can't keep with the universe as whole since all of the Crisises... Crisisee... All those comics with "Crisis" in the title...
Doc Potato
Superman shoulda stayed dead. PERMANENTLY!
Darth Macabre
Superboy should stay dead....Although, that won't be happening, if he's not alive already; Supernova, anyone?
Metalmanx
Originally posted by xmarksthespot
It depends on how they died, why they died, how long they've been dead, why they're being brought back, and how they're being brought back. As always it depends on the writer's skills e.g. Colossus was brought back quite well, while Psylocke was not.
Exactly. Couldn't have said it better.
inamilist
Originally posted by Doc Potato
Superman shoulda stayed dead. PERMANENTLY!
I agree, even though I really like the character
The death was done so well and it expressed exactly what I think the authors wanted it to. Bringing him back only cheapened the artistic side of the whole thing. Then again, huge cash cow....
willRules
I tend to agree with the stay dead rule although there have been some great exceptions like already mentioned Bucky.
As for Jason Todd, well at the moment I am enjoying the fact he is back and not a nice guy. However I can tell that unless they pull a truly amazing storyline outta their butts it really won't be worth it in the long run.
Villains are completely different. like already mentioned it's better when a body isn't found so they can only be presumed dead. that way if the writer really wants them dead at least it leaves suspense for the reader anyway. And it leaves an obvious route open if the writer wants the villain to still be alive. I think villains are easier to kill off and bring back than heroes because a heroes death has to mean something to the fans whereas a villains death doesn't mean as much
Blind
It does cheapen someone's death, as has been stated. I think that if they want to keep comic books somewhat respectible, then keep people dead. The whole "Hawkeye is the new Kenny of the Marvel Universe" is just ridiculous. Making a character die, then come back, die then come back, is a joke. The Jean Grey thing just got ridiculous. Phoenix or not, if someone is going to die, and their corpse is rotting in the grave, then let them go. The Superman thing? Well, he's an icon, and in my personal opinion, should not have EVER died in the first place. Batman needs to die, and NOT be brought back, but have someone else step into his shoes, because Bruce Wayne magically stays young, even though so many other DC characters have been de-aged. I know he's a classic, but let him go and someone else take over the mantle of the Bat. Like Wally West or Bart Allen - just let someone else fill his shoes, even though they could never do it the same way.
In summary... yeah. Keep'em dead, or don't kill them. It's all plot induced stupidity.
Entity
Originally posted by Doc Potato
Superman shoulda stayed dead. PERMANENTLY!
I will co-sign to that and, not just because of my personal feeling for the character, thou that is LARGELY a part of it. Also because when he died i actually wanted to respect and appreciate him. Of course I knew it would never last, no way in hell but, a little part of me inside never gave up hope. You see, with his death he started to seem a little less perfect. Which is the main reason I hate him to begin with. He is just way to perfect, he never loses, he has basically every power you could ask for, the world loves him, he always saves the day and gets the girl. His death at the hands of a mega monster to protect others really impressed me but, with him coming back it just lost all its impact with me. Especially the way they did it, without any logical reason. Thing like that are the reason I hate Superman, he has everything handed to him and sits up on this moral high horse like everyone is below him, then he is always acting like he doesn't feel that way. He NEVER has to work for anything and, to me without it being earned or him having suffered loss he just won't be worthy of being a hero. At least not to the degree of any of the others. His death, if it had been more perminit, would have been something truly worthy of heroic!
Sorry everyone for the bad grammar and spelling, Math and science were my tallents!
Grimm22
Originally posted by xmarksthespot
It depends on how they died, why they died, how long they've been dead, why they're being brought back, and how they're being brought back. As always it depends on the writer's skills e.g. Colossus was brought back quite well, while Psylocke was not.
I have that Psylocke issue
She just appears all of a sudden, with no explanation
NiņoAraņa
Originally posted by Blind
It does cheapen someone's death, as has been stated. I think that if they want to keep comic books somewhat respectible, then keep people dead. The whole "Hawkeye is the new Kenny of the Marvel Universe" is just ridiculous. Making a character die, then come back, die then come back, is a joke. The Jean Grey thing just got ridiculous. Phoenix or not, if someone is going to die, and their corpse is rotting in the grave, then let them go. The Superman thing? Well, he's an icon, and in my personal opinion, should not have EVER died in the first place. Batman needs to die, and NOT be brought back, but have someone else step into his shoes, because Bruce Wayne magically stays young, even though so many other DC characters have been de-aged. I know he's a classic, but let him go and someone else take over the mantle of the Bat. Like Wally West or Bart Allen - just let someone else fill his shoes, even though they could never do it the same way.
In summary... yeah. Keep'em dead, or don't kill them. It's all plot induced stupidity. agreed! Bats should finally croak....death by...DUM DUM DUM
batkick to the face by superman
Text-only Version: Click HERE to see this thread with all of the graphics, features, and links.
Copyright 1999-2024 KillerMovies.