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With life and death stakes, casualties in the DC Comics' multiverse are, sadly, inevitable. Sometimes the lives lost belong to the heroes who dutifully fight the forces of evil on behalf of the public. Certain superheroes are especially liable to face lethal ends.
For every incarnation of a character, there's a possibility they'll die. Some characters have died in multiple continuities. Given the magic and technology within the DC multiverse, a hero may die multiple times within the same continuity. Since multiple characters may take up the same heroic mantle in a given timeline, that heroic mantle may die several times, as well.
10 Superman Dies A Lot For An Invulnerable Hero
Generally regarded as invulnerable, Superman's death ought to be rare. Nevertheless, magic, other Kryptonians or equally strong alien races, and Darkseid's genetically-modified agent Doomsday have taken the Man of Steel out at the knees.
The Death of Superman storyline appears in several media, including the eponymous comic, the 2018 DCAU film, and the 2016 film Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Superman meets his end by other means (like magic) in various comics, such as Justice League of America #145, Superman: Camelot Falls, Superman #188 and others.
9 The Robin Mantle Might Be Cursed
No matter how clever, every person to don the Robin mantle has died in the main continuity at some point. Many have died several times over in other incarnations of the Batman Family, with Carrie Kelley as the only exception.
Dr. Lee Thompkins later admits to faking Stephanie Brown's death, but Steph's torture and near-death experience are very real. Jason Todd is prone to tragic ends. His murder at the Joker's hands in the A Death In The Family reverberates through Batman comics to this day.
8 Hawkman And Hawkgirl Are Reincarnated When They Die
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In many continuities, Hawkman and Hawkgirl are reincarnated beings. However, their souls' immortality doesn't make their bodies invulnerable. As a result, both of them frequently meet their demise, if only to be reborn again.
Hawkman and Hawkgirl's original incarnations are usually those of an ancient Egyptian prince and priestess, respectively. Their original cause of death is usually an Nth metal dagger. The knife's special properties ultimately allow the two characters to be reincarnated and eventually access the memories from all their lifetimes. So while this dagger becomes the first cause of their many deaths, it also holds the key to their resurrection.
7 Batman Is Only Human
Batman survives in the face of impossible odds, but he also perishes in some timelines. Other times the Dark Knight disappears, and the world presumes him dead. Different villains have killed the Caped Crusader, including Darkseid.
The Joker frequently orchestrates The Dark Knight's demise, and some alternate timelines force Batman's Justice League teammates to kill him. Certain storylines have Batman briefly die, so he can be resuscitated. Since Bruce Wayne is only human, sometimes he dies of old age or terminal illness with Catwoman and his other loved ones at his side.
6 Doctor Fate Dies Whenever The Helmet's Wearer Does
The Helmet of Fate holds the immortal essence of Nabu and his magics. Although very powerful, Doctor Fate is the amalgam of Nabu and the Helmet's wearer, which means Fate dies whenever the person wearing the Helmet does, even though Nabu lives on.
Kent Nelson, who was Doctor Fate for the longest period of time in Fate's publication history, eventually dies in most continuities. His wife, Inza, dons the mystic Helmet and passes. Hector Hall and Linda Strauss also join the list of since-deceased Hemet of Fate wearers.
5 Green Arrow Dies In Publication, Television, And Film
Oliver Queen's Green Arrow dies several times, under different circumstances, in various universes, and in all sorts of media. Within DC's main continuity, the hero has met his demise at least twice.
These canonical deaths don't include Arrow's apparent death in the Black Canary/Green Arrow line when Everyman impersonates him and Black Canary sticks an arrow in the shapeshifter's throat. Nor do they count the character's death in the Arrowverse, which some fans consider an unfair ending for the Emerald Archer and Felicity Smoak.
4 Martian Manhunter's Deaths Are The Worst
As one of just a handful of remaining Martians, Martian Manhunter's deaths are especially sad. Libra kills him in Final Crisis #1 and Pariah murders him and most of his teammates in Justice League #75.
Following Martian Manhunter's death in the Final Crisis line, J'onn J'onzz becomes a Black Lantern. The irony of this transformation is quite dark — literally and figuratively. Given his survival of the Martian extinction, his eventual role as a revenant intended to destroy life across the universe adds insult to injury.
3 Aquagirl Dies Quite A Few Times
An example of the Women In Refrigerators trope, Tula's Aquagirl has died in several continuities in order to motivate one or more of the men in her life. In Crisis on Infinite Earths, the villain Chemo kills the young Atlantean by poisoning the water where she's swimming.
Tula's death contributes to her partner, Garth, adopting the Tempest identity in later comics. More recently, Tula (also dating Garth) gets killed by falling debris in the Young Justice continuity. Kaldur'ahm, the Aqualad in this timeline, becomes motivated to quit the team of young heroes in which he's involved.
2 The Flash Often Dies Due To The Speed Force
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The Flash dies multiple times. However, because several speedsters take up the lightning bolt insignia, the same Flash doesn't die several times within the same continuity. Instead, separate characters who all embody the Flash persona die at certain points.
The Speed Force famously destroys Barry Allen's body in Crisis on Infinite Earths. Wally West overuses the Speed Force and dies in Infinite Crisis, although Wallace's Kid Flash revives him. Captain Cold, Heatwave, and Weather Wizard murder Bart Allen in The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive.
1 Halo Can Revive Herself
Halo remains one of the few characters who repeatedly dies within a single continuity. Thanks to her ability to regenerate herself, even from the point of death, she can often revive herself. This ability matches Halo's origin, which is based in death and rebirth.
After Violet Harper dies, an ancient energy-being called an Aurakle gets sucked into Violet's body, giving the Aurakle a corporeal form who calls herself Halo. Like other humans, Halo's body is fragile. However, the Aurakle's powers mean Halo can resuscitate herself by using her violet halo if her body sustains serious injury.