7 Huge DC Heroes Who Are Currently Dead

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Everyone dies eventually, even the heroes in the DC Universe. It used to be that death was permanent for superheroes, just like it is for everyone else. But over the years, bringing heroes back to life has become incredibly common – almost as common as telling their origin stories. While many big-name heroes have returned from death, some have surprisingly remained gone, with no major plans for their return.

It’s surprising how some heroes haven’t returned, especially since we often expect dead heroes to come back in the world of superheroes. As time passes, the chances of characters like Dorothy Spinner from the Doom Patrol or Manchester Black being revived seem slimmer. While anything is possible, these heroes currently appear to be gone for good. Keep reading to learn about some of the major DC heroes who are currently deceased.

7. Shade, the Changing Man

Rac Shade was a popular character in his own comic book series, which was influential in the early days of DC’s Vertigo line. After drifting around for a while, he reappeared in the main DC Universe as part of the Shade, the Changing Woman story. However, this version of Shade had become drastically different and dangerously unstable, attempting to take control of the new Shade, Loma. Their conflict ended with Loma defeating and destroying Rac. He hasn’t been seen since, and though he often reappears unexpectedly, it’s unlikely we’ll see him again anytime soon.

6. Vigilante

Given how popular the Peacemaker show has made the character, you’d expect Vigilante to have returned by now. While not the original, Adrian Chase is the most recognizable version of the character. However, he’s quite different from what we see on screen. Later in life, Chase felt remorse for his violent past and tragically took his own life. Despite frequent changes to the DC universe, Vigilante remains deceased, with no hints of a possible resurrection.

5. Dorothy Spinner

Fans of the Doom Patrol TV show who aren’t familiar with the comics might be surprised to learn that the beloved character Dorothy Spinner has actually been gone for a while. In the comics, she tragically died after a panic attack unleashed her immense psychic powers, causing a coma and, unfortunately, the death of another Doom Patrol member, Coagula. She was taken off life support soon after, and her friends – the found family she cherished – still mourn her loss and remember her vibrant, creative spirit by visiting her grave.

4. Alfred Pennyworth

It feels strange to include Alfred on a list of heroes, as he wasn’t a traditional crime-fighter. However, many fans were deeply affected by his death, which occurred years ago during Bane’s takeover of Gotham. Despite a few misleading hints and hopes for his return, Alfred has remained dead in the official storyline, and DC Comics doesn’t seem likely to bring him back. It’s admirable that they’ve stayed true to that decision, but it’s clear that many readers still miss him dearly.

3. Manchester Black

Manchester Black is a bit of a tricky case – he’s always walked the line between hero and villain. He actually died while working undercover for Lex Luthor during Superman’s fight to liberate Warworld. Luthor then took things a step further, essentially taking control of Black’s mind and psychic abilities to erase Superman’s secret identity from everyone’s memory. This process killed Black, but before he died, he confessed he’d begun to understand and appreciate Superman’s hopeful outlook.

2. Green Lantern (John Stewart)

Being a Green Lantern fan, it’s hard to leave John Stewart off the list. His recent death in the “Starbreaker Supremacy” storyline still feels very raw. For years, he wielded incredible cosmic power, but he sacrificed it all to restore the Power Batteries and fix the Emotional Spectrum. While I don’t believe he’s gone for good, the Green Lantern Corps is definitely weaker without him until he returns.

1. Doctor Manhattan

Doctor Manhattan, the powerful character from Watchmen, famously claimed that ‘nothing ever ends.’ However, this proved untrue for him. In the Doomsday Clock storyline, he realized his actions affecting the DC Universe were a mistake. He then transferred his powers and being into a child, sending them to live with his former friends, Nite Owl and Silk Spectre. While his fate was left ambiguous in Watchmen, current DC Comics officially considers Doctor Manhattan deceased.

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2025-12-06 02:42