Mr. C.’s Random Thoughts

Superman

Killed by the monster Doomsday in “The Death of Superman” story arc. Returns in “The Return of Superman” story arc.

Ironically, the death of an actor who portrayed Superman, George Reeves, is what the movie Hollywoodland is about.

Also, one of the “Supermen” that took Superman’s place while he was dead, Superboy, was recently killed in DC’s Infinite Crisis.

Wonder Woman

Killed by the Anti-Monitor. Immediately reestablished when the DC Universe “rebooted” itself.

Later killed by Neron but resurrected by Olympian Gods as the Goddess of Truth. Later reestablished as Wonder Woman. Then she passes on the mantle of Wonder Woman to Donna Troy (see below) to become Diana Price, Secret Agent. Then after a while, she becomes Wonder Woman again.

Supergirl
(Superman’s cousin Kara Zor-El)

Also killed by the Anti-Monitor, sacrificing herself to save her cousin Superman.

Subsequently replaced by a the protoplasmic Matrix, Linda Danvers (a combination of Matrix and a human woman, apparently an angel), Cir-El (the future daughter of Superman and Lois Lane), and finally…yes, you guessed it, Kara Zor-El.

By the way, the cover to the left (Crisis on Infinite Earths #7, published in 1985), was recently voted as the “Best DC Cover of All Time” — click here to see how many variations have been done on its theme.

Robin
(Jason Todd)

Jason Todd was the second Robin. He was killed by the Joker in 1988’s “Batman: A Death in the Family” but later returns from the dead due to the reality-altering exploits of Superboy-Prime and a subsequent dunk in a Lazarus Pit with Ra’s Al Ghul.

Jean Grey
(Phoenix)

OK, you would sort of expect a superhero named Phoenix to be able to return from the dead. But she returns as Dark Phoenix–note the green costume means she’s good, the red costume means she’s evil

Green Lantern
(Hal Jordan)

The original Silver Age Green Lantern, Jordan is driven insane with grief when his hometown is destroyed by an evil alien. Assuming the name Parallax, he kills all the other Green Lanterns (well, most of them) as well as the Guardians of the Universe (who give the GLs their power rings).

Parallax realizes the error of his ways and later sacrifices himself to reignite the Sun, which had been shut down by a Sun-Eater. Jordan dies.

Jordan’s spirit then becomes a host for the Specter, who is characterized as the embodiment of the Vengence of God in the DC Universe.

It is later revealed that Jordan had basically been possessed by the Parallax entity, an being which basically fed on fear. By overcoming fear, Jordan is able to get rid of the ring weakness to the color yellow.

Jordan later become the “premiere” Green Lantern in the DCU.

Green Arrow

A non-superpowered buddy of Green Lantern, the Green Arrow was killed when he was trying to prevent a bomb from being dropped on Metropolis.

He’s resurrected with the assistance of Parallax (see above) who feels bad that he wasn’t there to save his buddy.

Red Tornado

A sentient android capable of creating tornadic winds of destructive force, the Red Tornado has come back from the dead many times–so much so that other characters say stuff like “He always comes back…”

Side Note:
I got the latest issue of the Justice League of America this afternoon. The first story arc of this new series centered on the Red Tornado and was very, VERY cool!

Terra

A teenage girl with complete command over the Earth, she betrays the Teen Titans and subsequently dies as she destroys a building in a fit of rage and pulls it on top of herself.

She appears again, apparently one of three survivors of another continuity reboot (no–don’t ask me to explain the concept).

Hawkman & Hawkgirl

Exposure to the Thanagarian Nth metal keeps the souls of Egyptian prince Khufu and his wife Chay-Ara from moving on. They are continually reincarnated, eventually ending up as Hawkman and Hawkgirl.

So, I guess since it’s part of their storyline, dying and returning isn’t such a big deal.

The Monitor

One of the main characters of DC’s Crisis on Infinite Earths. He is killed when his anti-matter doppelganger (the Anti-Monitor) possesses his assistant Harbinger and forces her to kill him.

The Monitor (or is it Monitors?) have recently made appearances in DC Comics, keeping tabs on Ion (a former Green Lantern), Donna Troy, Firestorm, and Supergirl.

Donna Troy

Donna Troy is the young protege of Wonder Woman (i.e., she is to Wonder Woman what Robin is to Batman). She’s died and come back so many times it’s hard to keep track! Donna dies and comes back to life like most of us do laundry — once every couple of weeks!