Death is a frightfully common thing in the DC Universe and even its greatest heroes and villains can’t avoid the reaper forever. Sometimes they meet their maker saving the world. Other times they die trying to enact a grand change in the world. But one way or another, death comes for everyone in the DC Universe.
While death can’t be avoided in the DC Universe, some deaths carry more weight than others. Certain deaths actually have the ability to change history and actually shape comics themselves. Just look at how Barry Allen’s sacrifice at the end of Crisis on Infinite Earths brought the Prime DCU into the Modern Age of Comic Books. Or how Superman’s demise fighting Doomsday proved the Man of Steel wasn’t a god after all. Not every death leaves a mark on their franchise, but the following ten deaths all have something that helps them stand out from the DC Universe’s other deaths.
10Sue Dibny
Appearance of Death: Identity Crisis #1
Sue Dibny was married to the Elongated Man and, for the longest time, they were the Justice League’s most romantic pair of sweethearts. However, things took a turn for the worse in Identity Crisis when Sue was murdered by the Atom’s ex, Jean Loring, as part of a complex plot to get back together with the hero. Dibny’s death shattered the hero community and brought a lot of hidden darkness to light, paving the way for a darker period in the DC Universe, something that would be heavily followed up in the following major event, Infinite Crisis.
Maxwell Lord
Appearance of Death: Wonder Woman #219
Maxwell Lord in DC Rebirth
Maxwell Lord, a longtime associate of several major heroes, revealed his true colors right before Infinite Crisis kicked off. Lord had turned against heroes and decided to wipe them off the map using the Brother Eye satellite he stole from Batman and a series of sleeper agents known as O.M.A.C..s. He even used psychic powers to assume control of Superman before Wonder Woman snapped Lord’s neck (an action that was broadcast to the world). Though Diana had no other choice, Lord’s death sank the heroes’ reputation even further and exacerbated the dark period the DC Universe was in.
8Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)
Appearance of Death: The Final Night #4
Green Lantern shocked the world when he turned heel and became a villain known as Parallax. While Jordan had seemingly gone off the deep end as a supervillain, there were still sparks of the hero he used to be deep inside. During The Final Night, Parallax was one of the only people who had the power to destroy the Sun Eater and restart the sun, which he did. The sacrifice was the first step to Hal’s journey for redemption, which began with him serving as the Spectre. Now, he’s back on top as one of DC’s leading Green Lanterns.
7Superman
Appearance of Death: Superman #75
Even a hero as strong as Superman can’t do a thing when his ticket is punched. The Big Blue Boy Scout might be used to facing perilous odds, but when Doomsday came to Earth and rampaged through Metropolis, Clark had to give everything he had to stop his foe. Superman succeeded, but he died, and the entire world witnessed the iconic hero passing on. It was a bizarre, haunting period for the DC Universe and while Superman eventually came back stronger than ever, his death proved that no one was really safe and that death could come for any hero.
6Dream (Morpheus)
Appearance of Death: The Sandman #69
Though it’s not often seen, the world of The Sandman is a part of the DC Universe, and the series left an impact on the greater DCU. After Dream fulfills a promise to end his son’s suffering, Morpheus is targeted by the Kindly Ones who want to make him pay for killing his blood. Dream accepts his fate and gives in, allowing himself to die. But while this version of Dream dies, a new one rises to take his place. A young man named Daniel succeeds Morpheus, giving the DC Universe a new King of Dreams.
5Red Hood
Appearance of Death: Batman #428
Custom image by Brian Colucci
Blue Beetle (Ted Kord)
Appearance of Death: Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1
For years, Blue Beetle was one of the most happy-go-lucky heroes in the DC Universe. However, during the dark, pre-Infinite Crisis period, Ted Kord stumbled upon a massive conspiracy coordinated by Maxwell Lord. Lord offered his old ally a chance to work with him, but Blue Beetle defied his former boss, earning the hero a bullet in the head. Blue Beetle’s death was a huge moment for the DC Universe that signified the world was getting darker and that heroes were just as likely to die at the hands of old friends as much as they were a villain.
3The Flash
Appearance of Death: Crisis on Infinite Earths #8
There were a lot of deaths in Crisis on Infinite Earths as the Anti-Monitor erased an incalculable number of lives over multiple universes. But one death that hurt the most was the loss of the second Flash, Barry Allen. Barry had been kidnapped by the Anti-Monitor and the Psycho-Pirate, but that put him in the best position to destroy the Anti-Monitor’s anti-matter canons. Flash ran faster than ever to save the day, and he wouldn’t be seen for another two decades. That death took the DCU into a new era and allowed Wally West to step up as the Flash.
2Alfred Pennyworth
Appearance of Death: Batman #77
No one had been working alongside Bruce Wayne longer than his faithful butler, Alfred Pennyworth. Though Alfred often helped his family out of jams when it came to Gotham’s rogues, he found himself kidnapped and held hostage by Bane. Damian Wayne attempted to save him, only for the criminal mastermind to execute Alfred right in front of Robin. Alfred’s death ripped a major hole in the Bat-Family, particularly causing a major rift between Damian and Bruce. It’s been years since Alfred died and Batman and Robin have only now put the event behind them.
1Darkseid
Appearance of Death: The DC All In Special #1
The death of the iconic New God isn’t just shaping the Prime DC Universe, but a brand-new world as well. Tired of being locked in endless confrontation, Darkseid attacked the Justice League, only to die and have his energy scattered throughout the multiverse. It largely settled on an alternate world known as Earth-Alpha. However, because of the unique nature of Darkseid’s energy, it shaped Earth-Alpha to become one where adversity reigned supreme. Darkseid created the Absolute Universe, a new world filled with new interpretations of iconic DC heroes, a world that is still being explored in DC’s All In era.