Comics universes, much like the real world, are predicated on tragedy. While superheroes ostensibly exist to prevent tragedies, they can't be everywhere, even the powerful and respected heroes of DC. In a universe full of capricious cosmic gods, improbable cosmic events, and deadly, intimidating villains, tragedy is bound to strike more often than not and sometimes there isn't anything that can be done about it.
Not all tragedies are created equally, though; some of them are much more terrible than others. From the end of worlds to heroes dying to the deaths of innocents, superlatively sad tragedies have hit the DC Universe many times.
10 The Death Of Animal Man's Family Gutted The Hero
Grant Morrison's Animal Man is a beloved comic for many reasons and one of the best parts about it was the relationship between the titular Animal Man and his family- his wife Ellen and his kids Maxine and Cliff. The interplay between them was sweet and it added something extra to the comic that it otherwise wouldn't have had, remaining one of the best portrayals of a family in comics decades later.
This made it all the harder, for Animal Man and readers, when they were found dead after ones of Animal Man's adventures, brutally slaughtered by government forces trying to silence the outspoken hero. It's a gut-punch of a moment that loses none of its impact on re-readings.
9 The Death Of The Crime Syndicate Outlined The Stakes Of Crisis On Infinite Earths
Crisis On Infinite Earths is one of the most important event books in comic history and it started off with a bang. The story began on Earth-3 as the villainous Crime Syndicate did everything they could to stop the incoming anti-matter wave. The poignancy of the moment was actually pretty amazing, all things told- the Crime Syndicate's last stand actually tugged on the heartstrings of readers.
Creators Wolfman and Perez did a remarkable job of using their deaths to outline the stakes of their massive opus while also finding a way to make the deaths of the long-time villains actually sad.
8 The Destruction Of Sanctuary Was Sad On Multiple Levels
Sanctuary was a safe haven for superheroes, a place they could go after something terrible happened to them and get therapy and mental help. It was a novel idea because of the stresses of the job and helped some of the heroes who went there. However, tragedy struck when Wally West arrived.
Wally's return to the DC Universe was both a blessing and a curse- he returned but his wife didn't remember him and his children didn't exist. The therapy didn't help him and in a moment of weakness, he lost control of his powers and ended up killing everyone there- including his friend Arsenal. Heroes In Crisis may get a bad name but this was still a tragic moment.
7 Joker Shooting Barbara Gordon Was A Terrible Tragedy
Batman: The Killing Joke was a seminal event in the Batman mythos and contained one of the biggest tragedies in Batman history. The Joker, trying to prove that one bad day could ruin a man, went to Jim Gordon's house and shot his daughter Barbara, paralyzing her. Barbara Gordon's paralysis would have ranging effects on the DC Universe.
On the positive side, Gordon would become Oracle and use her intelligence and hacker skills to help all of the heroes. However, the event was extremely traumatic for her, ended her superhero career for years, and adversely affected Batman and her father.
6 The Death Of Supergirl Showed The Power Of The Anti-Monitor
Crisis On Infinite Earths was the biggest battle in the history of the DC Universe and it wasn't without its casualties. At one point, the heroes found the Anti-Monitor's base and attacked it, trying to bring the villain down. They fought their way through many traps, finally encountering the Anti-Monitor. He preceded to beat them pretty handily until Supergirl stepped up.
Supergirl went hard in the paint, doing her best against the monstrous villain. While she managed to smash his armor and damage it, he still got a killing blow on her. Supergirl's death would show just how dangerous the villain was and her death devastated her friends.
5 Barry Allen's Death Was A Turning Point In The DC Universe
Supergirl's death was actually the second during CoIE and while it was big deal, it wasn't as big a deal as the first one in the story- the death of Barry Allen. Captured by the Anti-Monitor, Allen was able to escape and ran himself to death trying to destroy an anti-matter cannon that would have destroyed the universe of Earth-1 and any other it targeted.
Supergirl's death was sad but since her existence was undone after CoIE no one even remembered it happened. Allen's death was remembered and would have lasting repercussions. It also represented the fact that Barry Allen was the first new superhero of the Silver Age and his death made CoIE emblematic of the end of that Age's end.
4 The Death Of Sue Dibny Showed How Dangerous Being A Hero Could Be For Their Loved Ones
Identity Crisis has its detractors but its opening tragedy is still one of the most affecting in DC history. Sue Dibny, the wife of the Elongated Man, was basically a member of the Justice League in her own right. Everyone loved her and she touched the lives of many of the DC Universe's greatest heroes, so when she was killed, it was an event that united everyone in sadness.
Sue was more than just a wife of a hero; she the friend and confidante of so many in the hero community, with her web of relations spanning across the Earth. It was made even sadder when the culprit was revealed- her friend Jean Loring (the Atom's ex-wife.) She didn't mean to kill her but attacked her so the Atom would come home to her.
3 The Death Of Earth-2's Superman And Lois Lane Spelled The End Of DC's Literal First Couple
Infinite Crisis was one of the best events of the '00s but it also contained its fair share of tragedy. While Superboy's death sticks out, it isn't the saddest death; that honor goes to the one-two punch of the deaths of Earth-2 Superman and Lois Lane. Lois died of old age, an event that maddened Earth-2 Superman. However, he would choose to help the heroes and fell in battle against Superboy-Prime.
Their deaths were easily the saddest part of the seminal event; they were the literal first couple of the DC Universe and their deaths were the end of a love story that began in 1938.
2 The Death Of The Waynes Is One Of The Formative Events Of The DC Universe
Every Batman fan, whether they know him from comics, movies, TV, or video games, knows the story of the night Batman's parents died. It's almost a cliche by now but that discounts just how sad of an event it actually was. A young boy watched his parents get gunned down and die on the pavement in front of him. That's just a terrible thing regardless of who it happens to.
This formative event gave the DC Universe one of its greatest heroes and while it's been robbed of its sting by decades of re-telling, it is still a tragic event that's hard to match.
1 The Death Of Superman Brought The DC Universe Together In Mourning
Superman is the greatest hero in the DC Universe, the de facto leader of its heroes, and one of the most beloved beings on the planet Earth. So, when he died at the hands of Doomsday defending the people of Metropolis, it was a massive tragedy, one that would bring together an entire universe to mourn.
The impact of the death of Superman was a massive event. He was the one hero no one ever expected to die so when it did happen it was a shock that affected everyone. The Man of Steel's death brought mourners from across space and time together to remember the person who had saved all of creation countless times.