When Death Becomes Just Another Plot Device
Comic book death operates under completely different rules than regular mortality. Superheroes die with theatrical finality, getting vaporized by cosmic entities, sacrificing themselves to save galaxies, and taking bullets meant for loved ones. And then, usually within 18 months of that noble sacrifice, they inevitably come back. The revolving door between life and death has become so predictable that comic readers now greet major character deaths with weary skepticism rather than genuine shock. Here are ten superhero deaths that temporarily mattered and ten resurrections that defied expectations.
1. Superman in "The Death of Superman" (1992)
Doomsday beat him to death in the streets of Metropolis, literally pummeling him until his heart stopped. The black-bagged comic became a cultural phenomenon, with news outlets covering it like an actual obituary. Superman's death lasted about a year before the "Reign of the Supermen" storyline brought him back, though the gap felt seismic at the time.
2. Captain America after Civil War (2007)
Sharon Carter, brainwashed by Doctor Faustus and the Red Skull, shot Steve Rogers on the courthouse steps. The assassination mimicked real political violence, making it feel grimmer than typical comic book deaths. Ed Brubaker's run treated the death seriously for once, and Cap stayed dead for a respectable three years before returning in 2009.
3. Barry Allen in Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985)
He ran so fast fighting the Anti-Monitor that he literally dissolved into the Speed Force, leaving only his empty costume and ring behind. This death actually stuck for 23 years. DC replaced him with Wally West, who became the definitive Flash for an entire generation of readers. Barry's 2008 return in "Final Crisis" felt almost unwelcome to some fans who'd moved on.
4. Jean Grey (Multiple Times)
She's died so frequently that keeping track requires spreadsheets. The most famous death came in "The Dark Phoenix Saga" (1980), where she committed suicide on the moon rather than risk becoming Dark Phoenix again. Chris Claremont and John Byrne crafted a genuinely tragic ending, but Marvel undid it within a few years.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America on Wikimedia
5. Peter Parker in "The Death of Spider-Man" (2011)
This happened in the Ultimate Universe, Marvel's alternate continuity launched in 2000. Green Goblin shot him, and Peter used his remaining strength to save Aunt May before dying in her arms. The death worked emotionally because Ultimate Peter was only 16 and because Marvel actually committed to it, replacing him with Miles Morales.
6. Batman in Final Crisis (2008)
Darkseid hit him with Omega Beams, disintegrating him. Except he didn't die; he got sent backward through time. Batman's "death" lasted about a year, though everyone knew he'd return because Batman doesn't stay dead.
7. Supergirl in Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985)
The Anti-Monitor killed her while she saved Superman. She died a hero's death, and DC kept her dead for 19 years, which demonstrated unusual restraint. Various versions and alternate-reality Supergirls appeared, confusing readers who assumed she'd been resurrected, though technically she hadn't been.
8. Gwen Stacy (1973)
The Green Goblin threw her off the George Washington Bridge, and while Spider-Man's webbing caught her, the whiplash snapped her neck. Either way, Peter Parker failed to save her, creating one of Marvel's most traumatic deaths. She stayed dead for decades, which made the story resonate.
William Tung from USA on Wikimedia
9. Jason Todd AKA Robin (1988)
The Joker beat him nearly to death with a crowbar, then blew up the warehouse he was in. DC let readers vote by phone on whether Jason should survive. They voted for death, 5,343 to 5,271—a margin of 72 votes. He stayed dead for 17 years before "Under the Red Hood" resurrected him as an antihero.
10. Wolverine (2014)
Marvel encased him in adamantium, suffocating him in "Death of Wolverine." His healing factor couldn't save him from being completely covered in molten metal. The death felt appropriately brutal for a character who'd survived everything else. He stayed dead for three years, replaced by Old Man Logan and X-23.
The Conmunity - Pop Culture Geek from Los Angeles, CA, USA on Wikimedia
1. Superman's Return (1993)
In this series, four replacement Supermen appeared: the Cyborg, Steel, Superboy, and the Eradicator. The real Superman regenerated in his Kryptonian healing matrix and returned wearing a black suit with long hair, looking like he'd joined a metal band.
2. Bucky Barnes as the Winter Soldier (2005)
Ed Brubaker brought back Captain America's supposedly dead sidekick as a brainwashed Soviet assassin with a metal arm. What could've been a cheap resurrection became one of Marvel's best character rehabilitations. The Winter Soldier eventually regained his memories and became Captain America himself.
3. Hal Jordan's Redemption (2004)
After becoming the villain Parallax and dying heroically to reignite the sun in "Final Night" (1996), Hal spent years as the Spectre. Eventually, Geoff Johns' "Green Lantern: Rebirth" brought him back, explaining his villainous turn as possession by the fear entity Parallax.
4. Thor's Rebirth after Ragnarok (2007)
J. Michael Straczynski brought Thor back from the destruction of Asgard, with Donald Blake finding Thor's hammer in Oklahoma and hammering it on a rock until Thor emerged. The reconstruction of Asgard as a floating city above a small town created fascinating storylines about gods living among regular Americans.
Mild Mannered Photographer, Alex Erde on Wikimedia
5. Colossus' Return (2004)
Joss Whedon brought him back in "Astonishing X-Men" after he'd sacrificed himself to cure the Legacy Virus in 2001. Kitty Pryde found him imprisoned and experimented on by aliens who'd faked his death to study his powers. The emotional reunion between Kitty and Piotr made the resurrection feel worthwhile.
6. Oliver Queen's Return (2001)
Green Arrow died in a plane explosion in 1995, and Kevin Smith brought him back with a storyline involving Hal Jordan resurrecting him using Parallax powers. The resurrection was messy continuity-wise, involving body swapping and soul retrieval, yet Smith's run revitalized the character for a new generation.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America on Wikimedia
7. The Fantastic Four's Return after Heroes Reborn (1997)
Marvel had essentially killed the Fantastic Four by handing them to Rob Liefeld and Jim Lee for the failed Heroes Reborn reboot in 1996. Bringing them back to the main Marvel Universe after 13 issues felt less like resurrection and more like undoing a mistake.
8. Captain Marvel (2012)
While Carol didn't die, her resurrection as Captain Marvel transformed her from Ms. Marvel into a flagship character. Kelly Sue DeConnick's run gave her the mohawk costume and confident personality that made her relevant again, proving sometimes resurrection means claiming a legacy.
9. Hawkeye's Return (2005)
Clint Barton died in "Avengers Disassembled" (2004), got resurrected by the Scarlet Witch's reality-warping powers in "House of M," and came back not remembering he'd died. The mechanics were confusing, typical of crossover events, and Clint initially took on the Ronin identity before reclaiming the Hawkeye name.
10. Professor X's Latest Return (2019)
Charles Xavier has died and returned so many times that listing them all requires dedicated wiki pages. His most recent resurrection came through the Krakoa protocols in Jonathan Hickman's X-Men relaunch, where mutants developed resurrection technology using the combined powers of five specific mutants.
