Wolverine fans need to brace themselves. Your beloved superhero is really dying! The first in the four-part comic series, titled Death of Wolverine, has hit the stands and by the end of it, one of the world's most famous mutants will take his last breath. Wolverine, who first appeared in 1974 with his long retractable claws, will lose his self-healing abilities and by the fourth edition of the series, he will meet his makers.
When superheroes are made to die in the comic book world, fans, though initially upset, don't panic altogether — for history has proved that superheroes generally don't die; they just disappear from the scene for some time, only to make a comeback — stronger, smarter and more popular. Take for instance Batman, Spider Man and Superman. In 2012, the web-spinning hero Spider Man faced death at the hands of Doctor Octopus. Then, in 2008, it was Batman's turn to die. The hero, who has been on a mission to save Gotham city, met his end while battling enemy Mangrove Pierce. And in 1992, in the comic The Death of Superman, the flying superhero, popular for wearing underwear over his pants, died after succumbing to battle injuries. But then, they all made a comeback from the grave, to keep us entertained with their superhero abilities and activities.
A superhero's death isn't a new phenomenon. In fact, death of hero has often been glorified in infinite number of stories. But why do creators resort to killing off the hero in comic books? "It is all about sympathy," explains Jatin Varma, founder of an Indian comic convention, adding, "A hero dying while fighting enemies is something the readers empathise with."
Apart from the 'sympathy factor', it's the limitations of the script and story that has a role to play in makers putting an end to the character. With nothing new to offer readers, makers often decide to do away with the hero, at least for some time. "No story is infinite. After a point, there's nothing new you can show in a character. So, a hero is killed and then reincarnated. It is more like a Season 2, with fresh plot and same characters," explains Jatin. But there are times when comic books bank on killing the hero as marketing gimmick, says Jai Undurti of the Hyderabad Graphic Novel Project. "After a comic character is around for a long time, it becomes stale and repetitive, so it goes out of sight. Killing and then reincarnating the character is more like re-launch it in the market again. It excites the readers and comics go off-the-shelf quickly," opines Jai.
Ultimately, it's the thrill that fans experience that makes the death of a hero a monumental time in the comic book history. Talking about his personal experience, Jatin says, "If you follow comics, you would know that characters don't really die. It is only for some series. But for a fan, the thrill comes from knowing how the particular story is executed, and not the death, per se. I remember, when Superman died in 1992, comics weren't that easily available. I was a fan then, and it got me so fascinated."
Sachin Gupta, a city student and comic books collector, says, "We love our superheroes and most of us grow up reading about them. So, when the news of their death comes, even if it is temporary, it gets us all worked up and hooked to the series."
Demand of the script or a marketing gimmick, is certainly a hit formula that is here to stay.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=SUPERHEROES,Story,comic book
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