During his time with DC comics, Tom Taylor has made a name for himself with his ability to get to the core of what makes a character great and his imaginative elseworld tales within which these great and unique character moments exist.
His 2019 smash hit DCeased was met with both critical and commercial success not only because it had the best name for a zombie book ever (sorry Marvel Zombies), but because it drew on what made the DC universe great: the characters. The initial success of DCeased has spawned an entire line of books filled to the brim with great character moments from all the best DC characters and the inevitable brutal deaths of said beloved characters.
10 Blue Devil – DCeased: Dead Planet
In the sequel to the original series, a de facto Shadowpact led by John Constantine heads to Australia, Tom Taylor's home country, in order to investigate a disturbance in the Green for Swamp Thing. Upon arriving at their destination, the motley crew finds a fortress surrounded by a moat of blood. However, as the group crosses this "moat of blood" they very quickly learn that it is in fact the deceased Plastic Man who lashes out and impales Blue Devil through the mouth, slipping past his impervious skin.
9 Aquaman – DCeased
Unlike many of his counterparts on the Justice League, it isn't his fall to the anti-life equation or the zombie horde that leads to Aquaman's best death. On the contrary, it is in the final pages of the original series where Aquaman emerges from the sea, atop the Kraken ready to overwhelm the forces of good that sets the stage for his over the top death. From far below the undead king of the sea, it is Oliver Queen that knocks an arrow, and amidst the chaos surrounding him, fires said arrow directly into the eye of the undead Aquaman, neutralizing the threat.
8 Max Mercury – DCeased: Hope At World's End
In one of the more upbeat issues of the DCeased series, the Flash Family led by Wally West seek to save the inhabitants of Central City and Keystone City from the Anti-life equation by opening a portal to another world. As the last of the civilians safely cross through, Bart Allen collapses only to be saved from the undead horde by Max Mercury, who is able to pull Wally and Bart out of danger and into the new world just in time.
Once there, the team realize in horror that Max had been infected by the virus, and would soon succumb to the anti-life equation. Wally, unwilling to kill his friend, runs the two of them so fast that Max Mercury merges with the speed force, thus escaping his impending doom.
7 Hawkman – DCeased: Hope At World's End
After centuries of fighting side by side, Hawkgirl and Hawkman found themselves backed against the wall defending the fortress of Jotunheim from Black Adam and his zombie army. Not only did they push back the horde outside, but they then defended those inside Jotunheim who were under siege by those who had been infected among them. They fought bravely in tandem, but just when all seemed calm and the day seemed won, Hawkman was dragged back into the inky depths with his foes, only to succumb to the virus.
6 Everyone – DCeased: Unkillables
In the series DCeased: Unkillables, writer Tom Taylor explores what it was like for the villains during the events of DCeased. A team led by Deathstroke comprised of characters like Bane, Cassandra Cain, Lady Shiva, and Solomon Grundy find themselves holed up in a school defending a group of schoolchildren against the undead right outside their doors.
In the final moments of this series, having grown fond of the children in their care, this ragtag group following Deathstroke decides to escape the school and get everyone to the safety of Poison Ivy's Garden. However, the journey quickly goes south and the team heroically sacrifices themselves for the safety of the children in their care.
5 Hal Jordan – DCeased
One of the earliest casualties of the anti-life equation, Green Lantern Hal Jordan– while on a camping trip with Green Arrow and Black Canary– received his lethal dose of the Anti-life equation through his phone. Bursting out of his tent flinging deadly constructs at both Ollie and Dinah, the Green Lantern faced off in a deadly brawl with his oldest friends. Only together were Dinah and Oliver able to defeat Hal. After the dust cleared, the now unattached lantern ring chose Dinah Lance to become the new Green Canary.
4 Green Arrow – DCeased: Dead Planet
After Oliver Queen protested the heroes of New Metropolis returning to Earth in search of a cure to the virus, his fate was written in stone– he was going to die on that trip. Sure enough, moments into the trip, the vessel that carried the team back to Earth was destroyed in a streak of light and Green Arrow was in the clutches of the undead Amazonian warrior, Wonder Woman. She quickly dispatched of him and Oliver Queen was lost. As the story continues though, Dinah holds out hope against all odds that the supposed cure can be found, and that her husband can be returned to her.
3 Wonder Woman – DCeased
After the fall of both Batman and Superman, one hero stood predominant amongst the forces of good, Wonder Woman. After all the losses, those not infected by the anti-life equation opted to leave Earth in search of a new home.
In a last-ditch effort to stop the infected Man of Steel from wiping out those shuttles, Diana took a sword forged with kryptonite and went to battle with Superman. It was no use, however, and though she was able to lop off the arm of Superman and impale him with the Kryptonite blade, it wasn't enough and he dispatched Earth's last hope with a single punch.
2 Superman – DCeased
Following an epic conflict with the Flash in order to save humanity, Superman comes to the realization that he has been infected by the anti-life equation. Realizing what this means, Clark Kent decides to spend his final moments with those he loves.
After tear-filled moments with Ma Kent, Lois Lane, and his son Jon, Superman attempts to fly so far from the Earth that he won’t be able to return once the equation takes its hold. In a truly heart-rending moment, Superman transforms before escaping far enough into space, dooming the world, because of the quiet moments he took.
1 Batman – DCeased
One of Tom Taylor’s first and by far boldest fatality in the original DCeased event was none other than Batman. In an era where so many events are brought to a close by Batman’s ability to plan for every eventuality, the stakes were immediately raised when Bruce succumbed to the virus and was taken off the table in the first two issues. Without Batman to lead the Justice League, other characters were forced to step forward and lead, which in turn led to a much more tense and overall satisfying storyline.