Cue the “In Memoriam” music.
Writers packed the past year with gut punches. Fan-favorite heroes came back only to suffer heartbreaking ends. Deaths of beloved characters triggered massive comic book events.
Here are some of those we lost in the most shocking deaths of 2016.
Before we continue here’s a SPOILER ALERT!
Most of these critical moments have been out there a while but we just in case…if you have not read Civil War II, Death of X, DC Universe Rebirth, Superman #52, Superwoman #1, Midnighter and Apollo stop reading now now.
Seriously.
OK.
Here it comes.
Let’s start with Marvel’s mutant milestones:
Multiple Man/Jamie Madrox
Death of X by Jeff Lemire and Charles Soule revealed the missing eight months after Secret Wars showing what happened to Cyclops and Emma Frost and heated up a cold war between mutants and Inhumans. The X-couple led a team to Muir Island in the aftermath of the Terrigen Cloud passing over. Scott and Emma discovered the first victims of the M-Pox: Multiple Men. After seeing an army of dead duplicates, Scott held the original Jamie Madrox in his arms as he died. We never learned why Jamie left his retirement and love with Layla Miller (as seen in the X-Factor finale) to return to Muir Island for this brief, bitter comeback.
Cyclops/Scott Summers
Extraordinary X-Men began with the revelation Scott was dead. Some of us didn’t want to believe it. (Guilty! Cyke was right!) In Death of X, Cyclops attempted to save his fellow mutants from the deadly Terrigen Cloud and started war with the Inhumans. Black Bolt blasted Cyclops into oblivion. We later learned Scott’s final war for humanity was an illusion. Scott actually died in Emma’s arms shortly after M-Pox exposure and holding Jamie as he died. Emma telepathically executed her plan to save mutants and turn Cyclops into a legend.
Elixir/Josh Foley
Cullen Bunn delivered action and nostalgia with Magneto’s pro-active X-squad and tons of guest villains of mutant past. The Dark Riders of Apocalypse made a comeback and set out to kill all mutant healers. Magneto and Psylocke’s X-team rushed in to save Josh but they were too late. Elixir’s story may not be over. Josh apparently mutated again in the grave and dug his way out in the Uncanny X-Men Annual. Could the evolving healer be the key to curing the M-Pox and 2017’s X-Men ResurrXion?
Casualties of War:
War Machine/James Rhodes
Brian Michael Bendis orchestrated Marvel’s superhero showdown sequel. Captain Marvel used the power of visions of an Inhuman named Ulysses to set a trap to catch Thanos. The Mad God of Titan killed Rhodey. Carol Danvers and Tony Stark both lost someone they loved and Civil War II was on. Jim’s stunning surprise death was the heart ripping moment that turned the moral dilemma of predictive justice into an emotionally fueled war.
Hulk/Bruce Banner
This one really hurt. Bruce has been missing in action and Amadeus Cho was Marvel’s new main Hulk. Bruce had been cured and was living in seclusion with his research. During Civil War II, Ulysses had a vision of a rampaging Hulk killing the Avengers. Carol, Tony and team confronted Bruce in his secret lab…where he was working on gamma radiation research again. Bruce got angry. You know what usually happens when he gets angry. Bruce got an arrow in the brain…from Clint Barton. In flashback Bruce asked Hawkeye to kill him if the Hulk was ever unleashed again. Here’s why this Hulk death hurt this fan hard.
DC’s Darkest Moments:
Apollo
Brought together. Ripped apart. Former lovers Midnighter and Apollo were reunited by Steve Orlando in the Midnighter series finale. Just when you thought love would last, the Sun God was killed and sent to Hell by arch rival Henry Bendix in Midnighter and Apollo #1. The course of comic book love never runs smooth and Midnighter literally goes to Hell for his star-crossed, lost love. It’s Midnighter, so Hell better watch out.
Superman
The New 52 Man of Steel lost his powers for a year, gained his powers back but at a cost. In The Final Days of Superman, this Kal El saved the planet one last timing while dying from Kryptonite poisoning as his friends and family watched. Even the Pre-New 52 Superman saw his other self died. This Superman’s death was the spark for a rebirth with multiple stories in the DC Rebirth including…
Lois Lane
DC teased Lois would become Superwoman again. She did…for only one issue. In one of the most shocking moments of the year the leading lady was killed off in the final panel. The real star of the new Superwoman would be Lana Lang. Both women were exposed and granted powers as they watched The New 52 Superman died.
Clark and Lois are gone. Clark and Lois live and love on. The married Lois and Clark are back (with son Jon Kent) in the pages of Superman by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason.
Which lost hero are you missing the most?
Just remember dear friends, in comics no one really stays dead.
By Editor