Heroic Death, Good Death?

BentonGrey · March 04, 2008, 09:00:04 PM

Howdy guys, I've been reading the JSA series from the 70's, and within it they kill off the original Batman in a fairly lack-luster story. However, this got me wondering about how I would handle Batman's death, if I were given control of DC comics (I'm still waiting for that winning lottery ticket, 'cause I'm gonna' buy 'em out!). My question for you is, how would you write the end of your favorite DC character's story? Does Batman retire, and live out his days in peace with Selina? Does Hal go berserk and slaughter the Corps? Does Lex Luthor finally kill Superman? I have some general ideas about what I'd do, but I'm curious what others would like to see. Would you rather see that the character found happiness, and move the story on with successors, or would you rather see them die in a blaze of glory?

Outcast · March 04, 2008, 09:44:05 PM

I'd definitely prefer a happy ending like Batman retiring in peace with Selina. He definitely deserves something positive in his life. :)

Gremlin · March 05, 2008, 01:04:31 AM

I think Batman could never find peace. Even if he did retire, he would hate it completely. He IS Batman, not Bruce Wayne. I can only really see him dying in the line of duty some day. Course, Joker'd off himself immediately afterward. Or maybe not. I think he mght just wait around for the next Batman to pop up, actually.

BentonGrey · March 06, 2008, 07:48:53 AM

Interesting thoughts, and I think the tension between these two ideas are part of the trouble in trying to end Batman's story. Does anyone else have any thoughts? About any other characters?

Glitch Girl · March 07, 2008, 07:45:11 AM

Personally, I've always been very fond of the Batman Beyond take on it.

Bruce continues the fight until he is literally no longer physically able. He goes into reclusive misery fir a while until he finds a new way to continue the fight through another. While it never actually dealt with his death, it's implied in an epusode of JLU that he and his protege continue on for quite some time and I can see him pretty much dying quietly behind the console overseeing one last mission.

captainspud · March 07, 2008, 08:13:14 AM

I liked the way that the Kingdom Come novel explained it-- his secret identity gets revealed, so he can no longer use it. End result: he can be Batman all the time, which lifts a load off of him and he's finally happy for the first time in decades.

Protomorph · March 07, 2008, 09:31:02 PM

The average person out there wants to raise a family, grow old and retire. Seems to me that Heroes would want the same thing.

The opiion of the current regime of comics' EIC's is that they want their heroes to never age. They're fine with killing them, but not progressing in a logical fashion. (DC isn't nearly as bad with that sort of thing)

I rather like the idea of heroes retiring and guiding the next generation. Otherwise, what's a Teen Titans for?

I'd like to see Peter Parker retire and let Mayday take the reins.

Let Grayson or Todd (heck, why not both?) become Batman, While Bruce stays behind the scenes with Barbara. His War can continue, but he's not a Grunt anymore, he's the General. There is also a role of Batgirl to be filled yet. Eh, let Batwoman choose her.

Catwoman's baby could grow up to be a bit more heroic than Selena.

Wonder Woman I could see becoming the Queen of Themescrya, letting Donna and Cassie do their thing.

Superman's more problematic, because he's...Superman. What they need to do is to introduce someone new who is Superman-like. A Daxamite or something. Similar enough to appeal to Superman/Supergirl/Powergirl to want to take a mentor approach to. [Supergirl's time spent in the future with the Legion would give her insight in how to cure the eventual lead-poisoning (but ironically, they cannot use it to treat Lar Gand, else they'd cause a paradox). I got it all figured out]

I'd reveal that Captain America is still alive, but had been replaced with a clone several years ago by Arnim Zola or Fury etc, perhaps due to a health issue involving the Super soldier serum. He is alive, but still cannot resume the mantle, letting Bucky stay.

Iron Man...he's enough of a Man-Ho to have probably a few kids out there. these days, with all his nano probes in his body, they could have even spread to his offspring. Time For Tony to be a dad, I think.

Daredevil would be able to be mentored like this... I suppose it's easy enough to think that his genetic "damage" could affect future offspring, much like Spidey's seems to be.

I think I'd also let She Hulk get herself preggers too. As much as she "parties" it's likely.

Come to think of it, It might be neat to see a whole Superhero day care center. Cap and Sharon's kid, Luke and Jessica's kid and everyone else's too. Them taking over for the parents is still a long way off, and best of all, it shows REALISM. Isn't that what Marvel is supposed to be about?

The Young Avengers and Runaways seem poised to be the interim generation's heroes, so why not let them? And Power Pack needs to grow up now also.

Flash's kids are around now, growing into the people we saw in Kingdom Come, so they're gonna be around. Eventually, Wally can retire with the wife and finally slow down.

BWPS · March 12, 2008, 06:04:17 AM

QuoteSuperman's more problematic, because he's...Superman. What they need to do is to introduce someone new who is Superman-like. A Daxamite or something. Similar enough to appeal to Superman/Supergirl/Powergirl to want to take a mentor approach to. [Supergirl's time spent in the future with the Legion would give her insight in how to cure the eventual lead-poisoning (but ironically, they cannot use it to treat Lar Gand, else they'd cause a paradox). I got it all figured out]

I like the idea of a Super-Baby who Cyclops thinks is a a Cyclops-baby!

GogglesPizanno · March 12, 2008, 08:41:58 PM

I don't have any specifics for any one individual character, but i always liked it when the hero realizes that odds are against them (via age, outnumbered, sickness etc...) and they have the option of possibly slipping away to fight another day, but instead just go for the one last big hurrah... knowing that they are gonna die, and that this is it... but they are go out big and go out swinging against un-winnable odds.

I give the story double points if they don't actually show the big final moment. They leave that moment and the heroics up to the reader, and just end with some dramatic shot of the hero standing tall... Its not a popular ending (some might say its a cop out or anticlimactic), but i think it ends things dramatically.

Previsionary · March 12, 2008, 08:49:46 PM

Quote from: GogglesPizanno on March 12, 2008, 08:41:58 PM
I don't have any specifics for any one individual character, but i always liked it when the hero realizes that odds are against them (via age, outnumbered, sickness etc...) and they have the option of possibly slipping away to fight another day, but instead just go for the one last big hurrah... knowing that they are gonna die, and that this is it... but they are go out big and go out swinging against un-winnable odds.

I give the story double points if they don't actually show the big final moment. They leave that moment and the heroics up to the reader, and just end with some dramatic shot of the hero standing tall... Its not a popular ending (some might say its a cop out or anticlimactic), but i think it ends things dramatically.

Sounds like a certain Angel ending...

GogglesPizanno · March 13, 2008, 12:51:55 AM

QuoteSounds like a certain Angel ending...

One of the greatest TV show endings ever....

Actually the Sopranos Ending shares a similar sorta vibe if not quite the same thing.
I was one of the few who completely dug it.

UnkoMan · March 13, 2008, 09:32:00 PM

With Superman I'd have to say that the Red Sun ending is perfect.

[spoiler]
I would love to see Superman try to reform Brainiac, then the world, then have to defeat Brainiac with Luthor's help, and then have Luthor turn on him, think he killed Supes, when really the big guy decided for the life of a normal human instead, then have Luthor bring about an age of peace... and the end where it turns out Superman is actually from the future and is Lex's decendant is awesome. Again, Red Sun has the perfect ending.
[/spoiler]

For Batman... Geez, I dunno. Batman would just keep going until he died most likely. I could totally see him just getting cheap shotted one day. Just happening to die, by accident. But from that, new Batmen would arrive, obviously. He's influenced a lot in Gotham, and when people find out he died I'm sure many would take to the streets, protecting his legacy.