7 Supervillains Who Have Stayed Dead

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In DC and Marvel comics, death rarely feels permanent. Characters frequently return to life, even after suffering terrible injuries or being killed outright. This can make it difficult for readers to connect with these deaths, especially since villains repeatedly die and come back to cause more trouble. It’s as if a supervillain’s grave is never truly secure, like the walls of Arkham Asylum. Though, occasionally, a villain will stay defeated for good.

Being a supervillain is tough, and it often ends in death. Many villains have died to make room for new ones, allowing fresh faces to take over their roles. These villains are truly gone – their criminal careers and lives have ended permanently, and they’re not expected to return.

7) Killer Frost

Crystal Frost was the original Killer Frost and a frequent opponent of the hero Firestorm. After being frozen in a special chamber, she gained the ability to create ice and become more powerful by absorbing heat – even from living beings. Sadly, these powers were slowly killing her, causing her to age at an accelerated rate. In a desperate attempt to save herself, she tried to absorb Firestorm’s energy, but it was too much, and she was destroyed. Since her death in 1984, other women, like Louise Lincoln and Caitlyn Snow, have become Killer Frost.

6) Melter

Bruno Horgan, better known as the Melter, was one of Iron Man’s first enemies. He had a powerful beam that could melt anything it touched. Despite this dangerous ability and being an original member of the Masters of Evil, the Melter was often considered a minor villain. Sadly, his career—and his life—ended violently. He was killed by the assassin Scourge, who used a special explosive bullet as part of a mission to eliminate supervillains. While several others have used the Melter name since 1985, the original Bruno Horgan has never reappeared.

5) Ravager

Grant Wilson, the oldest son of Deathstroke and known as Ravager, became a mercenary like his father. He was hired by the villainous group H.I.V.E. to defeat the Teen Titans. To increase his chances, H.I.V.E. enhanced Grant’s abilities with genetic changes. Unfortunately, these modifications proved fatal, and his heart failed during a battle with the Titans. Grant’s death in 1980 fueled Deathstroke’s desire for revenge against the Teen Titans, turning him into their greatest enemy. Grant’s younger sister, Rose, later took his place, but unlike him, she became a hero and joined the Teen Titans.

4) Black Knight

While two men have famously been the Black Knight, their paths differed greatly. The first and third were heroes, but Nathan Garrett was a supervillain. Unable to wield the magical Ebony Blade due to his own flaws, Nathan turned to evil, creating armored suits, a laser lance, and a winged horse. He even helped form the Masters of Evil. After a near-fatal battle with Iron Man in 1966, Nathan regretted his life and asked his nephew, Dane Whitman, to become the next Black Knight and use the Ebony Blade for good. Dane agreed, becoming a hero, while Nathan passed away.

3) Cheetah

Wonder Woman has faced several villains who’ve taken on the identity of Cheetah. The original Cheetah was Priscilla Rich, a wealthy woman driven mad with envy of Wonder Woman. This jealousy manifested as a second personality, leading her to create a Cheetah costume and attempt to murder Wonder Woman. Unlike later versions, Priscilla didn’t have any superpowers; she depended on her intelligence, athleticism, and the claws on her suit. In 2005, she was killed by Barbara Minerva, the third Cheetah, who wanted to establish herself as the definitive Cheetah. Later comic book storylines, including the New 52 and Rebirth, completely erased Priscilla’s history, establishing Barbara Minerva as the only Cheetah ever to exist.

2) Iron Monger

Obidiah Stane, known as Iron Monger, was one of Iron Man’s most dangerous foes. He was incredibly intelligent, wealthy, and built an armored suit that rivaled Iron Man’s. As a heartless businessman, Obidiah aimed to ruin Iron Man and take control of Stark Enterprises. He cleverly manipulated events, causing Iron Man to fall back into alcoholism and lose everything. However, Iron Man overcame these challenges, and Obidiah attempted to kill him using the Iron Monger armor. After being defeated, Obidiah refused to accept his loss and took his own life. Though he died in 1985, his hatred for Iron Man continued through his equally cruel son, Ezikiel, who later became the new Iron Monger.

1) Baron Zemo

Baron Heinrich Zemo was a villain during World War II who fought Captain America. He’s responsible for Captain America being frozen in ice and for Bucky Barnes becoming the Winter Soldier. Zemo lured Captain America and Bucky onto a drone, then detonated it, causing Captain America to fall into the icy water and Bucky to lose his arm and be captured by the Russians. Decades later, when Captain America was revived, Zemo was still alive thanks to a substance that slowed his aging. In 1965, Zemo gathered a team of villains called the Masters of Evil, intending to defeat Captain America and the Avengers. During the battle, Zemo was killed in an avalanche and was later succeeded by his son, Baron Helmut Zemo.

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2025-10-28 20:15