Marvel: 10 Major Deaths (and Resurrections) in Comic History That Changed the Universe for Good

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In superhero comics, especially Marvel’s, death has become old hat at this point. It’s hard to take death seriously when everyone is expected to revive sooner or later. There used to be a saying in comics that unless your name is Uncle Ben, Gwen Stacy, or Bucky Barnes, no one stays dead in comics forever… and all three of them have returned in one way, shape, or form.

However, the significance of death isn’t necessarily whether the character who died comes back, but more so in how it impacts the other characters and the surrounding story. There are some deaths that have that sort of impact on the entire comic book industry as a whole, not just Marvel. Furthermore, there are some cases where a resurrection can be just as impactful as a character’s initial death, if not more so.

10

Daredevil

Daredevil #12 by Chip Zdarsky, Marco Checchetto, Matthew Wilson, and Clayton Cowles

Matt Murdock’s most recent death has already managed to be his most important yet. After being tricked by the Hand and the souls of his friends sent to Hell, Daredevil concocts a plan to combat the Beast head-on, but the only way to go to Hell is to die. With Elektra’s help, Matt officially becomes the Hand of God, going to Hell to save his friends. He does so in a self-sacrifice, but one that he is rewarded for by being reborn as a priest. Initially, he has no memory of his time as Daredevil, nor do most people, but he gradually regains his memories and costume.

Daredevil’s death changes his status quo in the biggest way possible since his debut, while also changing his attitude toward what he does. For decades, his character has been ridden by Catholic guilt, but for once, as he approaches death, he embraces that guilt to go to Hell in the name of God.

9

Elektra

Daredevil #181 by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, and Joe Rosen

The only death in Daredevillore more important than Matt Murdock’s many deaths is the death of Elektra. At the time, despite her love for Daredevil, she was still a complex assassin – bordering on villain – who worked for the Kingpin. When he hired her to kill Foggy Nelson, she couldn’t bring herself to eradicate Matt’s best friend, putting her in opposition with another hired gun of Wilson Fisk’s, Bullseye. Bullseye and Elektra engaged in an evenly matched bout – until he sliced her neck with a card and stabbed her with her own sai.

Elektra’s inevitable resurrection helped put her on a heroic path, which eventually put her on the path to becoming the next Daredevil. A complete redemption arc and superhero turn may not have come about had Elektra Natchios not been forced to look death in the face.

8

Ultimate Spider-Man

Ultimate Spider-Man #160 by Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Bagley, Andy Lanning, Andrew Hennessy, Justin Ponsor, and Cory Petit

Outside Earth-616 continuity, Spider-Man was the original Ultimate Universe’s most beloved character. His noble death was absolutely heartwrenching, but it also had a major domino effect that affected Earth-1610 and the official Marvel canon. After Peter Parker’s death, Miles Morales made his Ultimate Universe debut to take his place as the new Spider-Man. If Peter never died, then the world never would have gotten this now-iconic version of Spider-Man.

At some point in Miles’ journey, it’s revealed that Peter was resurrected by the same Oz Formula that gave him powers. He ends up giving his approval to Miles for his superhero duties, which is huge for any superhero continuing the legacy of another. Peter perished with the rest of Earth-1610, with Miles and the Maker being its only survivors as they transitioned to Marvel’s main 616 continuity.

7

Hawkeye

The Avengers #502 by Brian Michael Bendis, David Finch, Danny Miki, Frank D’Armata, Albert Deschesne and Richard Starkings

Hawkeye is an often overlooked Avenger, but when it comes to the House of M storyline, he might be its most important character. In fact, it can be argued that the whole reason House of M kicked off is because of Hawkeye. During Avengers: Disassembled, Scarlet Witch experiences a mental breakdown that results in her manifesting a Kree mothership attack and several casualties. Hawkeye sacrifices himself to destroy the Kree assault.

While Wanda doesn’t kill Clint Barton directly, his death as a result of her actions is the last straw, and the Avengers officially come to distrust her, leading to House of M, wherein Wanda changes reality. When she later reverts reality (minus a percentage of mutants) to its original state, she resurrects Hawkeye, kickstarting her redemption arc. The road to House of M begins with Hawkeye’s death, and ends with him returning to life.

6

Phil Coulson

Deadpool #31 by Gerry Duggan, Matteo Lolli, Christian Dalla Vecchia, Ruth Redmond, and Joe Sabino

In the comics, the agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. is first killed by Deadpool, who is under the impression that he was following orders from Steve Rogers, who ends up being an impostor. In death, Coulson goes to Hell and, having now developed a hatred for the heroes who once inspired him, makes a deal with Mephisto to come back and reshape the world into one molded by order. So begins Heroes Reborn, wherein Phil Coulson is dubbed President of the United States. When he’s vanquished, Coulson is dead again and no one remembers when he turned evil.

However, in death, he is chosen by the Death Stone to become the Infinity Stone’s new living embodiment. Coulson’s role with and as the Death Stone and the Infinity Stone-powered team at his disposal helps expand the ever-growing lore of Marvel’s Infinity Stones in a major way.

5

Doctor Strange

Blood Hunt #1 by Jed MacKay, Pepe Larraz, Marte Gracia and Cory Petit

While this isn’t the first time that Doctor Strange has died, this death has a domino effect that still hangs over current Marvel continuity. At the height of Blood Hunt, as Strange and the Avengers ponder who could have kickstarted this reign of terror courtesy of the vampire population, Blade stabs a sword through the good doctor’s chest. While it’s soon revealed that Blade is possessed by Varnae, Strange’s death is nonetheless at his hands.

While his undead corpse masquerades as a vampire, Strange himself is forced to anoint a new Sorcerer Supreme in his place to make the world right. To everyone’s chagrin, Doctor Doom becomes the Sorcerer Supreme. Strange is under the impression that this replacement would be temporary, but Victor refuses to give up his new powers in favor of crafting One World Under Doom. Strange is corporeal once again, but the planet is under Doom’s grip.

4

Captain America Steve Rogers

Captain America #25 by Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting, Frank D’Armata, and Joe Caramagna

Civil War itself is considered one of the most pivotal events in Marvel lore. It’s not necessarily because of the big Team Iron Man vs. Team Captain America fight at the center of it all, but because of how the direct aftermath altered the trajectory of Marvel stories moving forward. Among those major post-Civil War moments was Captain America’s death in Civil War’s epilogue. Captain America symbolizes the heart of Marvel Comics in the same way that Superman symbolizes the heart of DC Comics, so when Steve Rogers died, it was just as newsworthy.

Some time later, though, Cap’s death was followed up by Captain America: Reborn by Ed Brubaker and Bryan Hitch, revealing that whilehis physical body was destroyed, his soul was transported through time. It’s complicated, but Cap’s death can be cited as the last comic book death that mattered, even if he returned from the dead like they all do. It also established Captain America as a mantle that can be passed down, with Bucky – and then Sam Wilson – subsequently taking over the role that Steve Rogers originated.

3

Bucky Barnes

Captain America #6 by Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting, Frank D’Armata, and Randy Gentile

Believe it or not, there was never a singular issue that depicted Bucky’s death. When Captain America emerges from his iceberg slumber in 1963’s The Avengers #4 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, it’s established through dialogue that Bucky died in a World War II explosion. That narrative wound up being accepted as part of Marvel canon until 2005. The revival of Bucky Barnes as the Winter Soldier may admittedly be the most vital retcon to take place in Marvel continuity. Retcons tend to be frowned upon, but sometimes, retcons actually benefit stories and the characters within them.

A forgotten sidekick from the past was molded into a villain-turned-anti-hero, with his stories of atonement being wholly captivating. Bucky plays such a major part in current Captain America and Marvel stories that it’s hard to imagine what those stories would look like if Bucky stayed dead.

2

Jean Grey

The X-Men #100 by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, Bonnie Wilford, and Annette Kawecki

It’s become a cliché at this point for Jean Grey to die in comics, but her first death was a big deal, with her resurrection and first Phoenix story being even bigger. The resurrection of Jean Grey into the Phoenix has come to entirely define Jean as a character – and for the better. To this day, Jean’s name can’t be evoked in any context without feeling the need to bring up the Phoenix Force, which itself has become essential to Marvel lore as a godlike cosmic entity.

Almost instantaneously from its introduction, the Phoenix Force became one of the most powerful god-tier beings in Marvel canon, simultaneously giving Jean longevity as a character by connecting her to an immortal powerhouse. The Phoenix Force isn’t just connected to Jean, but in her most recent story developments, she has merged with the Phoenix and ascended into godhood herself.

1

Gwen Stacy

The Amazing Spider-Man #121 by Gerry Conway, Gil Kane, John Romita, Tony Mortellaro, Artie Simek, and David Hunt

The death of Gwen Stacy is, arguably, the most important moment in comic book history. This death single-handedly changed the course not only of Spider-Man’s life, but the of stories within the comic book industry as a whole. Peter’s failure to save his beloved essentially started the trend of Parker Luck, coming to define every major decision in his superhero career. Gwen’s death also allowed Peter to pursue Mary-Jane Watson, which truly changed his life. Meanwhile, her death marked the true end of the Silver Age, signifying that anyone could truly die in superhero comics.

While her brief resurrection during Judgment Day wasn’t as significant, Marvel bringing back Gwen even briefly served the alternative function of her death, as it proved that death in comics really means nothing if anyone – even the one person to never be resurrected after five decades – can come back to life in Marvel’s comics.

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