💥 The writers behind the most iconic deaths in superhero history reveal their secrets

Thursday

Oct 20 2022

It might seem like the ultimate misstep: Killing the superhero at the center of a universe beloved by millions of fans, some of whom might have grown up with the hero by their side. And yet, all good things must come to an end. Indeed, when it comes to the superhero genre, all good villains have to come to an end, too.

But who makes the decision to kill Superman? Or any other beloved, seemingly untouchable, super individual?

That's the tale today's top story tells — we spoke to the people who make the cut, literally.

Keep scrolling for more fantastic stories from Inverse, including an unmissable deep dive into Rainbow Fentanyl and new concept EVs. We're glad you are with us.

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SUPERHERO ISSUE

Entertainment

The writers behind the most iconic deaths in superhero history reveal their secrets

In 2013, Marvel asked Charles Soule to do the impossible: kill Wolverine.

The comic book writer, who made a name for himself at Image Comics before taking on projects at both Marvel and DC, jumped at the challenge — even if he saw through the publisher’s motivation.

“The character had lost a little of his power because he was around so much,” Soule tells Inverse. “So the idea was to give him a chance to rest, while also generating an event book that would hopefully sell a ton of copies.”

It worked. Released in September 2014, Death of Wolverine #1 topped the comics charts and sold over a quarter of a million issues.

But killing superheroes isn’t just good business. When it comes to comics, the concept of death is a necessary evil. These characters face life-and-death situations on a monthly, if not weekly, basis. If no one ever dies, there would be no stakes to their stories. Still, it’s a big deal when it happens, even if we know it’s almost always temporary.

MICROBE SWAP

Mind and Body

Does owning a pet boost your gut health?

The dirtier we are, the stronger our immune systems might be. This may sound like a confusing Hallmark get-well card, but it’s a phenomenon scientists have noticed since the 1960s: Folks living in harmony with messy Mother Nature were less likely to develop allergies and autoimmune disease compared to those raised in the sterilized hubbub of urbanity.

In 1989, British epidemiologist David Strachan proposed a connection between this phenomenon, hygiene, and the lack of early exposure to infectious agents, which he later coined the “hygiene hypothesis.”

But there’s been some disagreement with this understanding, especially with the growing realization every living being on Earth contains a multitude within them — the microbiome. In 2003, the more refined “old friends” hypothesis emerged, and it goes like this: Our immune systems developed a symbiotic relationship with certain in-house microbes acquired during the course of human evolution. When these “old friends” are missing, their absence essentially is what causes the immune system to malfunction.

Cue entrance: Our beloved, cuddly, cohabiting companions for life.

Review

Television

The Peripheral is the most important cyberpunk adaptation since Blade Runner

Depending on who you talk to, cyberpunk was probably invented by Philip K. Dick (by accident), codified by William Gibson, and then made utterly mainstream by Ghost in the Shell and The Matrix. In the 21st century, the cyberpunk aesthetic from the ‘80s and ‘90s carried over into sci-fi shows like Altered Carbon and Westworld. But now, with The Peripheral, cyberpunk has been reborn for a modern audience.

Based on the William Gibson 2014 novel of the same name, The Peripheral partly takes place in the 2030s and also in the 2090s. Throughout the series, the action alternates between these two settings, though it would be a pretty big spoiler to say exactly why.

Focusing on two gamers for hire — sister and brother Flynne (Chloë Grace Moretz) and Burton Fisher (Jack Raynor) — The Peripheral creates a tenuous link between the past and the future through what can only be called unconventional time travel. But saying this is a show about time travel would be a little like saying Westworld is a show about robots. And because Peripheral is produced by Westworld gurus Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan, the aesthetic comparisons between the two series are unavoidable.

Read our review

Drugs

Mind and Body

"Rainbow fentanyl" has been making headlines

Trick-or-treating and urban legends go together like chocolate and peanut butter. Hoaxes or myths about the prevalence of poisoned or otherwise intentionally tainted, deadly candy have circulated around all hallows eve for decades.

In the 1980s and 90s, it was fears about literal poison or razor blades in Halloween candy; in the 2010s, the legalization of recreational cannabis in some states stoked fears about the knowing distribution of edibles to trick-or-treaters. Headlines about the dangers of trick-or-treating are like ghost stories for adults: There may not be much truth to the reports, but the fear they elicit is very real.

The latest incarnation of these stories revolves around fentanyl: a potent synthetic opioid responsible for a massive spike in overdose deaths over the past decade. In late August, the D.E.A asserted that an increase in brightly colored fentanyl pills “appears to be a new method used by drug cartels to sell highly addictive and potentially deadly fentanyl made to look like candy to children and young people.” Perfect fodder for the next round of scary trick-or-treating stories.

There’s no question that fentanyl poses real dangers to certain demographics. But experts say there’s a relatively low risk of “rainbow fentanyl” being passed to trick-or-treaters or young children generally. At the same time, people who use drugs are at genuine risk of unknowingly buying fentanyl and overdosing. Here’s what you need to know.

Learn more

Cars

Gear

Foxconn’s new car concepts prove it wants to make the iPhone of EVs

iPhones are still the first thing that comes to mind when talking about Foxconn, however, the Taiwanese company is starting to dive deeper into the world of electric vehicles, releasing a total of three concept cars so far.

Recently, the electronics manufacturer revealed two more conceptual prototype EVs during its third annual Hon Hai Tech Day. Foxconn is adding the Model B, a crossover hatchback, and the Model V, an all-terrain pickup, to its list of future EVs.

Foxconn confirmed to Electrek that the pickup would be manufactured in Taiwan, Thailand and the U.S. The Model V could be a solid alternative for U.S. customers considering North America is far and away the largest buyer of pickups. However, it may depend on what auto brand Foxconn decides to partner with, since it doesn’t want to be the company actually selling the vehicles.

Space

Science

Fresh NASA image shows a chaotic blue blob supernova remnant

Roughly 300 years ago, light from a supernova first appeared in Earth’s skies and formed the brilliant object Cassiopeia A. That blast emitted powerful shockwaves packed with clues about how a star unraveled.

IXPE, or Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, is a new two-year, $188 million mission that seeks to unpack the eccentric mechanics of chaos. New data from the long-shaped spacecraft could help explain what occurred 11,000 light-years away from Earth to create the prominent spherical shape of Cassiopeia A.

From its perch 370 miles above Earth’s equator, IXPE studies categorically-turbulent regions like supermassive black holes, pulsars, and supernovas. Cassiopeia A fits the bill, boasting what NASA describes as “some of the fastest-moving shock waves of any known supernova remnant.”

Take a closer look

Meanwhile...

55 years ago, Russia changed spaceflight forever

This unusual behavior from sheep and goats could reveal future climate troubles

Review: 'Gotham Knights' will make you wish you were playing the Arkham games

'House of the Dragon' may look totally different in Season 2

Today in history: The U.S. Senate ratified the Louisiana Purchase October 20, 1803.

Song of the day: "Fate of the Kingdoms" - Ramin Djawadi

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💥 The writers behind the most iconic deaths in superhero history reveal their secrets

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