Comic books have been known to pull shocking stunts like kill off beloved characters as the story sees fit. But they also bring back characters to the shock of the readers. Here are 5 Biggest Resurrections in Marvel and DC comics.
Long Live Alfred
What many don’t know is that Alfred Pennyworth, the loyal butler of Bruce Wayne was tragically killed in DC comic #328 in lieu of a female to replace him. He was brought back when Batman scored a TV show and the producers wanted to use him. So in a bid to resurrect him, DC comics came up with an absurd story arc where a mysterious villain called the Outsider explained how Alfred could be brought back to life using a special ray. And he shockingly was revived and never died again.
Bringing Back Bucky
Bucky Barnes was Captain America’s trusted sidekick who tragically died in the same accident that had led Captain America to become frozen in suspended animation. A shocking fact that readers only got to know about in Avengers #4. He was brought back as the Winter Soldier, a fact that readers and the Captain only discovered in Captain America #8. The Soviets had rescued the boy, kept him alive only to brainwash him into becoming an assassin. He was cryogenically frozen between his missions, thus his new name the Winter Soldier.
Aunt May Never Left
Aunt May has always been a pivotal figure in Peter Parker’s life. So when she died in Amazing Spider-Man #400, it left a huge hole in Peter’s life. He even gave his daughter with Mary Jane the same name (ironically the child died at birth as well). The truth of Aunt May being alive was soon discovered by Spider-Man when Norman Osborn had supposedly kidnapped his daughter in a confusing storyline about his child being hinted as being alive. Osborn revealed that it was not his baby but his aunt that he had kidnapped and that he had faked her death just to mess with the hero’s mind. A twisted move by his former best friend’s father to say the least.
Harry Osborn Was Just Low-Key Hanging
Speaking of Harry Osborn, the younger Osborn also kicked the bucket at one point in the Marvel comics. In Spectacular Spider-Man, Harry fought back the mental illness that took over his father and turned him into The Green Goblin. Harry was on the same path but he resisted enough to sacrifice himself for his friend. Flash forward to Amazing Spider-Man #546 in a story called Brand New Day, Peter and Mary Jane make a deal with the demon Mephisto to bring Aunt May back to life(she had been shot dead).Harry also miraculously returns, but reasons for his return are never explained.
Don’t Call It A Hawkeye Comeback
Hawkeye’s death was a prominent death in Avengers Disassembled. Scarlet Witch’s mental breakdown resulted in dire consequences. A year later, the Marvel comic, New Avengers, was launched that told the story of a new world(made up by Scarlet Witch) where mutants are the ruling class. Hawkeye had amazingly returned and stayed put when the world switched from the altered reality with, again, not much explanation.
