Pretty, Fizzy Paradise

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Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Necromancy for Dummies?

We all know that death is never permanent in comics. Or as someone funny once said: "Everyone comes back in comics, except for Bucky and Jason Todd...oops."

It could be debated as to whether or not this is a good thing, but as it's a fact of comics, it's probably not going to change.

But I'm curious, out of everyone dead (or in limbo) right now, who would you most want to bring back and how/why?

For me, it's a very tough choice honestly. I love Ted Kord very much, I think Kon-El brings a rarely explored dimension to Clark and Lex, and Katma Tui totally got gypped...

But weirdly, I think the first person I'd want to bring back is Jade. Because Jade to me is all about missed opportunities. She'd have glimmerings of being interesting, but she'd end up stuck in the same damn ill-suited role. She's the sort of character concept though, that really could be made something of. (I know I have my own ideas.)

She's the daughter of Alan Scott with Green powers. A normal girl who, one day, finds herself green, with magic, and the equivalent of a superheroic princess with a confused/messed-up twin brother. She was interesting from that perspective and I always thought it was such a mistake making her Kyle Rayner's exotic girlfriend or saddling her with the Corps concept. She's not a Corps character and not suited for it, she should be on Earth. But I digress.

In his JSA story arc for One Year Later, Paul Levitz did what I thought was impossible. He took Jade, as she was, without any sort of abrupt change in her character or plot-related growth, and made her likeable and appealing. I wasn't a huge fan of the rest of the storyarc, but I was intrigued by that Jade. I want to meet that Jade.

Heck, if Obsidian can be redeemed in my eyes (I'd initially NOT been terribly fond of the character in JSA, but now that he seems to have made the effort of getting therapy and finding happiness in Manhunter, I love him), then Jade definitely has a chance.

She's Alan's daughter with green magic powers! There is nothing about that that isn't cool.

As to how I'd bring her back. Well honestly, it'd be pretty easy. We already saw her interact before. And we've seen Kyle create constructs of split personalities. So really it seems like it'd be really simple. There'd just need to be a way to make a constructed body permanent. Magic maybe. Some talisman? I'm sure something cool could be used.

The one catch is that her powers are in Kyle now. But then the Pulse/Starheart magic is much more chaotic and "alive" seeming than Oan technology, so perhaps it could be explained like that. The power changes and grows, so that even though she gave most of her power to him, she had enough left to regenerate it back somehow. Or her dad's own nature helped with that somehow.

It's comics. It doesn't need a terribly comprehensible explanation. :-P

Anyway, it's weird. There are a lot of dead characters I like a lot more than Jade. I don't even like Jade very much. But ultimately, I think her fate offends my sense of fair play. I want to give her a fighting chance to be cool. I want to give her some sort of chance at all.

So yeah, Jade's my first choice. Second is Kreon, because Boudikka without Kreon is like peanut butter without jelly. It's okay on its own but really really works best together.

And he's hot. Yeah. I'm shallow.

Anyway. You know my choices, how about you?

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31 Comments:

  • At October 04, 2006 7:46 AM, Blogger Lis Riba said…

    Who'd I bring back?
    The Hawk and Dove (and Sal and the rest of the supporting cast) killed off for Armageddon 2001 -- the storyline (along with Titan Hunt) that killed off most of my interest in mainstream DC comics for about a decade, as it killed off most of my favorite characters for a stupid publicity stunt because their original storyline was too transparent.

     
  • At October 04, 2006 8:57 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I've been an annoying broken record about it, but: Pantha and Baby Wildebeest. Pantha needs her origin finally resolved, rather than left open and forgotten and unfinished for the sake of someone else's story. And people keep saying they want strong heroines, Pantha would fit that bill fine. And BW was three. And because of their deaths, Red Star has been turned (back?) into a government killing machine, morose, bitter, and lonely to all hell. It wouldn't be hard at all to bring them back: a new Wildebeast Society grew them back from their remains from the IC fight just like the Doom Patrol's Chief grew back Rita from her skull.

     
  • At October 04, 2006 10:31 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Illyana Rasputin, the original Magick. I really liked that character then they went and turned her back into a child after "Inferno" and the proceeded to kill her off with the Legacy Virus. They say nobody stays dead...where's she then????

     
  • At October 04, 2006 10:51 AM, Blogger Matthew E said…

    If Dream Girl is actually dead, then I'd want to bring her back. If not, then... Fury, I guess. She kind of got the smelly end of the plunger. Although your choice of Jade is also a good one.

     
  • At October 04, 2006 11:47 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Crimson Fox. I know there's a new one, but that's not good enough. The twin angle (plus the whole corporate business warrior by day/vigilante by night thing) made the original work, and but instead it gave writers an apparent license to treat her like cannon fodder.

     
  • At October 04, 2006 11:56 AM, Blogger SallyP said…

    Ted Kord. TED KORD! And Booster! And Ice, and Dmitri and even Max, because dammit, I miss my Justice Leagers. Ch'p, because I think Salakk misses him, and Kreon, because I hated it when he got waxed in GL #13. Oh, and Uncle Ben, because why the heck not? Everyone else has been. Oh, and Mace, just for the fireworks.

     
  • At October 04, 2006 11:57 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Barry Allen. I mean, come on....DC's convincingly brought back the other Silver Age Dead Guys (Green Arrow and Green Lantern), why not Barry? He'd certainly make a better Flash than Bart's turning out to be. Plus, the guy comes back every couple of years via time travel stories, so why not just make it permanent? Geez, along with Jor-El and Lara, it seems Barry Allen is also part of DC's official "Do Not Resuscitate" list.

     
  • At October 04, 2006 2:12 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Doug Ramsey. If you are going to snuff him, make it for a good story. Totally wasted character, his power could be really interesting.

    Kal-L, the Superman of Earth-2. If you are going to snuff him, make it for a good story.

     
  • At October 04, 2006 2:15 PM, Blogger CalvinPitt said…

    First I'd travel back in time. Then I'd resurrect Ben Reilly (Scarlet Spider).

    If Quesada has a bachelor Spidey to play with, then we might not have Peter stupidly unmasking, creating a very good chance his wife ends up dead at the hands of any of the, oh, 5 million or so super-villains Spidey's ticked off over the years.

    Failing that, Stephanie Brown. Because I want something, anything that draws Tim Drake farther out Batman's shadow, and I thnk Spoiler did that.

     
  • At October 04, 2006 2:57 PM, Blogger Evan Waters said…

    Sue Dibny. I know that dark, broody Ralph is acquiring some fans, but honestly, don't we have enough characters like that? Give him a reason to laugh again. (Assuming 52 isn't going to eventually bring her back- I wish they'd make up their minds, really.)

    And on the Marvel side, Moira McTaggert.

     
  • At October 04, 2006 4:10 PM, Blogger Ragnell said…

    Hippolyta, of course. The ongoing mother-daughter dynamic in Wonder Woman was much more valuable than any angst that came from Polly's death.

     
  • At October 04, 2006 5:29 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I'd go along with you. Jade and Katma Tui. I'd also add the Helena Wayne Huntress as well as Kent and Inza Nelson.

    I also think it's high time we have Barry back as the Flash and of course I would have Babs Gordon's spine healed.

    If DC can bring folk back from the dead, there's no reason they can't mend a spine.

    Ray

     
  • At October 04, 2006 7:58 PM, Blogger Marionette said…

    Cir-El!!!

    For much the same reasons Kalinara wants to see Jade back. Apart from the brief Action Comics storyline Cir_El was horribly written. Her story was never properly explained, her costume is one of the worst ever Super family ones, and her supposed "death" was entirely unconvincing.

    But she had a lot of potential. The goth bitch with the bleeding "S" tattoo who involuntarily turned into a super powered Daddy's girl could have been great. Instead she was written out so fast that nobody even noticed she was gone.

     
  • At October 04, 2006 10:05 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Dee Taylor Phantom Lady, anyone? I liked her, b/c she seemed to have more in her character than super skimpy costume. Her boobs didn't shine, either.
    I also second bringing back Jade and Earth-2 Huntress ... Both deaths seemed too much like a result of "house cleaning" than that of effective, empathetic dramatic story telling ...

    m,

     
  • At October 04, 2006 10:12 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Maybe related to the topic ...

    "Did't Tabby also say that Magik was dead?"
    "Like that matters. X-men come back more than Jesus."
    --- Warren Ellis, Nextwave, #7.

    m,

     
  • At October 05, 2006 12:08 AM, Blogger R.Nav said…

    I pick three.

    1) Jade, because her death was absurd and I'm a huge supporter of legacy characters.

    2) Stephanie Brown, because her death was even worse than Jade's and the fact she doesn't even deserve a freakin mention (A blame a rest entirely on editorial mandate) is a bit insulting to me, the reader who was supposed to CARE about this character.

    3) Sue Dibny. But ONLY after we get more issues of crazy Ralph, and an All-Straw Sue Dibny limited series.

    Suprisingly? I wouldn't bring back Ted Kord. I loved Ted. HUGE JLI fan here. But... he was RIGHT. Ted was RIGHT when MARTIAN MANHUNTER and BATMAN and EVERYONE else didn't believe him. And that is really awesome. I consider his death a worthy one. Would I have preferred him to live? Sure. But would I reverse his death? Nope.

     
  • At October 05, 2006 12:11 AM, Blogger R.Nav said…

    psssst! Ray! Bab's spine is healing. She's not at 100% but she has some use of her legs and is working at getting better

     
  • At October 05, 2006 2:03 AM, Blogger Flidget Jerome said…

    I'm seconding on Max.

    If not brought back, at least sorted out, redeemed, confirmed that the evil Max was a clone or an alternate reality version, etc.

    But I'd rather have him back. He had a special brand of skeezy honour that was interesting and unusual for someone who moved in the top metahuman circles. I hate that that sort of fascinatingly ambigous morality is now regulated to the fringes in books like Checkmate and Secret Six.

     
  • At October 05, 2006 2:49 AM, Blogger kalinara said…

    :-) Cool! I didn't think I'd get such a big response. Everyone's got some really good ideas.

    Among my personal favorites (but all are good!):

    Hippolyta! She was such a wasted death, Aquaman and Guy came back!

    And Mace! Mace made an interesting villain! Especially with his parallels to Hal! Now you've really got me itching to have him back. Though I think he did end up popping up randomly in a Dixon issue of BoP. I haven't read it though. I suppose latent Vuldarianism might work as means to bring him back. Or his death being a Quorum hoax...

    Cir-El's one of my top choices too. Especially if she turned out to actually be Clark's daughter from an alternate future. I have this weird fondness for kids from the future and I always thought she seemed like she had potential.

    But they're all really neat ideas!

     
  • At October 05, 2006 2:53 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    From the Marvel side, I'll second Illyana. The "how" isn't particularly important, considering there are about 156 possibilities.

    Why bring her back? Three reasons. 1) She's the only X-Man who exemplifies the fault in Xavier's Dream. Sure, "humans and mutants living together in peace" is a noble philosophy, but is it practical when a mutant's power is basically "super-evilness?" 2) She's the ultimate teenage metaphor. Young girl discovers great power that, despite it's usefulness, seems to bring nothing but horror; but as much as she hates it, she can't give it up or else there will be hell on earth. She's Buffy the Vampire Leader. 3) Kitty and Colossus are better characters with her around. And it wouldn't hurt Wolverine to be afraid of someone else for a change.

    For DC, I pick Jack Drake. Once upon a time, Tim was unique: a costumed hero who lived with (and hid his identity from) a biological parent. Now he's just Dick Grayson, Version 3.0. I'd bring Jack back the easy way: Identity Crisis (at least, the Jack/Tim part of it) never happened. Yeah, a continuity disaster waiting to happen, but anything short of a Superboy-punch would destroy the normal-joeness I'm bringing him back to embody in the first place.

    Oh, and I'd resurrect Resurrection Man. Because...duh!

     
  • At October 05, 2006 4:35 AM, Blogger Marc Burkhardt said…

    It's time for Barry Allen to reclaim the mantle of the Flash. Wally was cool, but I'm happy to have him retire and live with his wife and family.

    I'm also tempted to say the original Kara Zor-El, but the new one is starting to get a bit interesting ...

    On the Marvel end, this will sound really stupid but Jean Grey. Her role in the X-Men is sorely missed.

     
  • At October 05, 2006 9:22 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    -shakss head at barbara Gordon- thats appallingly cheap, and totally takes away a great example for the disabled.

    Second Jade , Katma, Ted and Booster

    Steph because Lessie Thompkins should NEVER be a villian

    Kill off Jason and maybe Dick to then resurrect Dick as if the last 2 years of nightwing were gone.

     
  • At October 05, 2006 10:49 AM, Blogger Your Obedient Serpent said…

    Oof, this one's hard. Most of the characters that I like who are dead died in such excellent stories that I wouldn't want to bring them back. Ted Knight, for example.

    There are a couple of characters who just Walked Off Into Limbo at the end of their books without actually dying, though, and I'd like to see them back. One is Tyler, the android Hourman. The other is Linda Danvers.

    Actually, I kinda think Helena Wayne falls into the "didn't exactly die" category, too.

     
  • At October 05, 2006 10:50 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I'm gonna second Spoiler, Max Lord, and Hippolyta.

    I can't really see the point in bringing back, say, Barry Allen. If we're going to change the Flash *again*, might as well be a new one.

     
  • At October 05, 2006 11:01 AM, Blogger SallyP said…

    TED KORD!! It is true that his death was actually a rather noble one for a change, and it is also true that he WAS right, when everyone else was wrong. So I want him to come back and THROW THAT RIGHT IN BAT'S FACE! Haw!

     
  • At October 05, 2006 3:31 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    You know what? To heck with it- ALL OF THEM.

    Ted, Sue, Max, Vibe, Steel, Pantha, Wildebeest, Katma, Barry, everyone with the possible exception of Bruce's parents.

    Why play favorites? If you're gonna hit the reset button, SLAM that mutha.

     
  • At October 05, 2006 8:37 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Katma and Steph!

    My most wanted would probably be Max (MAX!!) or Ice (ICE!) or Booster, Ted, or Sue, but that'd totally spoil Zombie JLI.

    And Marvel-wise, Illyana and Doug, of course... as always. (Most fan-demanded resurrections that never happen.)

     
  • At October 06, 2006 1:22 PM, Blogger Elayne said…

    Dibny as well, she was dealt a real bum deal.

    Also, what Lis said.

    And Jericho. As a good guy. Not bulked-up, evil and talking. Just as he was. Maybe without the sideburns.

     
  • At October 08, 2006 6:01 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    R.Nav said...

    psssst! Ray! Bab's spine is healing. She's not at 100% but she has some use of her legs and is working at getting better

    12:11 AM

    I wish, but that's not what Dan DiDio said. He said "she will never walk again."

    Maybe they'll give her her legs back, and then have the Joker shoot her again so she's paralyzed from the neck down. I wouldn't put it past them.

    Ray

     
  • At October 08, 2006 8:26 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Oh, Illyana Rasputin as Magik, definitely. I would start reading X-men again if she came back - her de-aging was so full of potential resurrection devices that I'm pretty sure the only reason she hasn't been brought back is the unsettling demonic context.

     
  • At October 09, 2006 10:08 AM, Blogger kalinara said…

    ray: Didio has lied before though. It's part of his job. :-)

    Not saying he's lying about this, mind you, but I think we'll have to wait and see.

     

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