12 Unforgettable Comic Book Moments That Left Fans Speechless
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For modern audiences, unforgettable comic book moments now happen in billion-dollar comic book films. Tony Stark’s death scene in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame or the three Spider-Men appearing in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home are just two examples of modern unforgettable comic book moments.
However, the best comic book moments happen in the comic books. These decades-old shocking, tragic, and unforgettable comic book moments serve as the inspiration for modern comic book films. Here are 12 that you should consider reading right now.
The Death of Gwen Stacey
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In The Amazing Spider-Man #121 from 1973, the Green Goblin throws Peter Parker’s first love, Gwen Stacy, off a high bridge. Spider-Man catches her with his webbing at the very last moment, but either the shock of the fall or bodily stress after being webbed at terminal velocity speed kills her. It’s one of those comic book moments that fans discussed for decades. This comic inspired the third act in 2014’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
The Shocking Final Page Reveal in Thunderbolts #1
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In 1996, the Avengers and Fantastic Four were thought dead after the “Onslaught” event. A new team of superheroes called the Thunderbolts, led by Citizen V, appeared to fill the void and gain public trust. On the final page of 1997’s Thunderbolts #1, it was revealed that Citizen V was Baron Zemo and all of the Thunderbolts were the Masters of Evil in disguise. It may sound tame now, but in pre-internet 1997, this was one of the most shocking and mind-blowing comic book moments of the era.
The Scarlet Witch Goes Insane and Attacks the Avengers
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In Avengers issues #500 through #503 from 2004, several Avenger members are killed or sabotaged by an unknown villain. As the dread intensifies, Dr. Strange appears to inform the team that the Scarlet Witch lost touch with reality and is the culprit. After accepting that her children, a by-product of magic, never existed and her true love, Vision, an android, is not capable of true human love, Wanda goes insane and loses control of her chaos magic. This story inspired 2021’s WandaVision and 2022’s Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Negan Savagely Introduces Lucille to Glenn
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The genius of The Walking Dead TV series is that it served die-hard comic book fans and non-comic book-reading fans when drawing inspiration from the horror comic book. One of the most unforgettable comic book moments ever happened in 2012’s The Walking Dead #100. This issue introduced Negan, his barb-wired bat Lucille, and featured the brutal death of Glenn. It inspired the 2016 episode of the show, “Last Day on Earth,” which made Negan and Lucille household names.
The Death of Jean Grey
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In Uncanny X-Men #137 from 1980, Jean Grey has been consumed by the power of the Phoenix Force, an omnipotent celestial entity. As the Phoenix, Jean destroys an alien solar system and is becoming tempted by evil impulses. To save her fellow X-Men and the world, Jean ends her life and the Phoenix Force. Jean was resurrected multiple times in the comics later. Shocking comic book moments like this later inspired multiple X-Men franchise films.
Bane Breaks Batman’s Back
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In comic books, creators will often sideline main characters to switch up storylines and introduce new characters. One of the most unforgettable comic book moments occurred in Batman #497 in 1993 from the Knightfall storyline. The villain Bane breaks Batman’s back and makes him disabled for some time. Dick Grayson and Azreal assume the Batman identity for some time afterward. This comic loosely inspired the 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises.
Spider-Man’s Black Suit Is a Sentient Alien and Tries to Permanently Bond With Him
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In the 1984 comic book series Secret Wars, Spider-Man, and other heroes are banished to an alien planet to fight. He uses an alien device to fix his torn costume, but black-colored goo covers him in a new costume. In The Amazing Spider-Man #258 of the same year, Spider-Man visits Mr. Fantastic and asks him to examine his costume. Peter is horrified to learn that it is a sentient alien symbiote. Peter has to struggle to remove it, since the more he wears it, the more it bonds with him. After separating himself, the symbiote would later bond with Eddie Brock and become Venom.
Ozymandias’ Attack on New York City
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In 1987’s Watchmen #11 and #12, Ozymandias reveals one of the most unforgettable comic book moments ever to readers. In the world of the Watchmen, nuclear war is imminent, superheroes are real, and the world can end at any moment. Rorschach and Nite Owl confront Ozymandias at his South Pole base, suspecting him of wrongdoing.
Ozymandias tells them that he teleported a psychic monster into New York City and killed millions to fool the world into uniting against a phony alien attack. The heroes are too late to stop it. Plus, if they reveal Ozymandias’ plot, they will plunge the world back into chaos.
Karen Page Reveals Daredevil’s Secret Identify to The Kingpin
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In the 1980s, superheroes having secret ideas were becoming less plausible, even in comic books. In the 1986 “Born Again,” storyline, Daredevil’s true identity of Matt Murdock is exposed. The Kingpin uses this info to psychologically torment Murdock and destroy his life. It is one of the most shocking comic book moments because it is revealed in Daredevil #227 that Murdock’s former love, Karen Page, has become destitute and sells his secret identity to the Kingpin to score drugs.
The Masters of Evil Infiltrate and Destroy Avengers Mansion
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It’s unfathomable that this story, one of the most shocking comic book moments in Avengers history, was never used in a live-action film. In Avengers #273 – #277 from 1987, the Avengers are brutally beaten and psychologically tormented in a surprise attack on their headquarters by Baron Zemo and the Masters of Evil. Hercules is beaten into a coma. Jarvis, an elderly human butler in the comics, is savagely beaten in front of a tied-up and helpless Captain America. Captain America’s irreplaceable heirlooms are destroyed. Avenger’s Mansion is almost destroyed. This story showed that not even heroes can win all of the time.
Sue Storm’s Miscarriage
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The Fantastic Four are cosmic adventurers who explore space and other dimensions. Sue Storm and Reed Richards conceived a second child while they were in the Negative Zone, an anti-matter-based parallel dimension. The energies and radiation from this dimension adversely complicate Sue’s pregnancy. On the last page of Fantastic Four #227 from 1984, a doctor solemnly tells Reed that Sue lost the baby. It was one of the most shocking comic book moments of the era.
Magneto Rips the Adamantium from Wolverine’s Skeleton
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In X-Men #25 from 1993, Wolverine had the adamantium coating on his skeleton savagely ripped from it in a battle with Magneto. It was one of the most shocking comic book moments of the era. After the event, it was revealed that Wolverine had bone claws, a retcon that helped to redefine his origin. Years later, Wolverine’s real name, James Howlett, was revealed in the 2001 miniseries Origin.
There Are Too Many Unforgettable Comic Book Moments to Count
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Comic books have always been considered strictly children’s entertainment until recent decades, especially with the rise of the MCU. However, the medium has been telling mature stories since the 1960s that could resonate with adults, and some would say even earlier than that.
Check out some of the stories on this list which can act as gateways to other stories. There are just too many unforgettable comic book moments in history to count, and they are waiting to be discovered by you.
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Allen Francis is a full-time writer, prolific comic book investor and author of The Casual’s Guide: Why You Should Get Into Comic Book Investing. Allen holds a BA degree from Marymount Manhattan College. Before becoming a writer Allen was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including saving and investing in your own small business.
