Deaths that are only laughable or truly horrendous
Comics Bulletin has published a list of the top 10 deaths in comics, according to some of their contributors. Now, a few of the deaths listed here, such as those of Gwen Stacy, Kraven the Hunter, Captain Mar-Vell of the Kree, and Barry Allen, are worthy choices for most impactful deaths in comics, one more reason why it's tragic the people in charge today have gone out of their way to desecrate them (the choice of Silver Age Supergirl I have no idea what to make of). But the other choices listed here are dumbfounding: Superman's "death" in 1993? Please. Vision? That too is limp. So too is that of Nightcrawler. But the most truly awful, distasteful inclusion on the list has to be that of Alexandra DeWitt, the girlfriend of Kyle Rayner, whose death has been particularly notorious. She was around for probably less than a year, making barely a handful of appearances, before editorial mandate, the biggest problem with Green Lantern back in the 1990s, decreed that she be executed by dismemberment at the hands of Major Force. This led to Rayner being boxed into a corner as a character: he's had at least 2 other ladyfriends since then - Jade and Donna Troy - who are both superheroines long established, and not creations of the writer in charge (Ron Marz), yet to my knowledge has never since been involved with a woman without superpowers, or isn't a crimefighter.
And this is what they think is worth making a list out of? Deaths that only serve as a limp substitute for character drama, or are incredibly cliched, boring, and downright disgusting? It just shows how badly the culture's been corrupted.
I think I also disapprove of the choice of Betty Ross-Banner's death, whom Peter David may have killed off as a way of taking out his anger over personal issues, all without considering that it was unfair to some Hulk fans out there, or that it may have since left jade giant without a female life-saver. To make matters worse, her recent resurrection has been made impossible to appreciate either, since she may have turned against Bruce Banner.
And this is what they think is worth making a list out of? Deaths that only serve as a limp substitute for character drama, or are incredibly cliched, boring, and downright disgusting? It just shows how badly the culture's been corrupted.
I think I also disapprove of the choice of Betty Ross-Banner's death, whom Peter David may have killed off as a way of taking out his anger over personal issues, all without considering that it was unfair to some Hulk fans out there, or that it may have since left jade giant without a female life-saver. To make matters worse, her recent resurrection has been made impossible to appreciate either, since she may have turned against Bruce Banner.
Labels: Avengers, dc comics, Flash, golden calf of death, Green Lantern, Hulk, marvel comics, misogyny and racism, Spider-Man, Superman, violence, X-Men
