Comic books that make you feel sad?

[Agentum]

You don't have to cry over it but thats just the same.

Do you have any special comics (superhero) that makes you want to cry? (i don't mean bad art or writing here)

I'm not that emotional nd has to somhow relate to what happens in a book to feel anything special.
This happens more often with text books than comics for me.

But Starman from the 90s DC has moments that was really sad to me, i didn't cry but i felt very down even if it was about fictional characters.

I know some says" silly, cry over a comic, you're crazy" but i just think they have a bad imaginasion.

There probably is some more comics that is really moving but i have to think about that.

So what are your tear jerking comics?:)

[Reptisaurus!]

The only Superhero book I can even kind of think that I might have sort of teared up over a little bit was "This Man, This Monster."

If we ditch the (frankly, rather bizzare) superhero restriction, there've been a good two dozen comics that made me cry.

Pedro and Me.

Sandman: A Game of You. Every. Single. Time.

Mom's Cancer. Happy, uplifted crying, mind. Way less depressing than the title sounded.

Barefoot Gen.

Goodbye, Chunky Rice.

A Tale of One Bad Rat.

Tim 'n Molly breaking up in Books of Magic.

Ernie Pook's Comeek.

This is Information, Alan Moore's story from the 9/11 tribut e book.

It's a Good Life if you Don't Weaken. (Don't even know WHY it made me cry.)

The one page shot of the "hero's" girlfriend from the latest Didn't like the story much, but there was something about this one page...

The Death of Speedy, from [i]Love and Rockets. Or the aftermath of the death. Or something. Again, it was like one drawing of an empty room but it made me all gooshy.

[kenjeffrey]

The only one that ever really gets me is a Spidey back-up story called "The kid who collected Spider-man". Even Stan Lee wrote in the next month saying he wished he'd written it.

[Mike Kuypers]

The Death of Captain Marvel

[Jonathan Bogart]

Do you have any special comics (superhero) that makes you want to cry?
When I was younger and more invested in superheroes, I got choked up by the deaths of Barry Allen and Supergirl in Crisis on Infinite Earths. And by Donna Troy's marriage in New Teen Titans #50. Now they're not particularly emotional, or even interesting to me.

I remember being shell-shocked by a couple of Eisner's Spirit stories as a kid: "Ten Minutes" and the one about the guy who could fly. I guess those are superhero comics. But again, they're only formally interesting to me today.

That's all I can think of. Like Cheeks, I've teared up at plenty of non-spandex comics (read the complete Terry and the Pirates sometime and see if the death of Burma doesn't get you), but I prefer not to take superheroes seriously if I can at all help it.

Edit: Shit, I don't know what I was thinking. I mean the death of Raven, not Burma.

[dan bailey]

whatever happened to the man of tomorrow, definitely, as well as a "secret origins" story (i think from the final ish, #50) in which the golden age black canary dies with her daughter, the current black canary, at her bedside.

[benday-dot]

The entire Watchman series... Comics and its sunniest Golden Age, and then too its twilight, its elegy.

[benday-dot]

Actually... come to think of it the comic book series that makes Watchmen seem pretty downright merry has got to be "Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth". Not superhero (if you don't count Rocket Sam), but possibly the most depressing thing ever put out. And hey, maybe the best.

[LordEd1976]

I cried the first time I read the Universe X: 4 Special. I thought the reunion between Reed and Sue was beautiful.

I couldn't read through Sue Dibny's funeral in Identity Crisis withut crying the first few times. Part of the reason is that my grandmother died about the same time that issue #1 came out.

[OrochiNaga]

Full Metal Alchemist - anyone who knows it will know which part.

[prince hal]

The deaths of Ma and Pa Kent.

[prince hal]

And the death of Ferro Lad, too.

[Roquefort Raider]

Maus. Even more moving for being based on true events.

Jo, a european graphic novel about a girl who dies of AIDS. No preachy tale, but a very strong one nevertheless.

Kamigami no itadaki, a japanese graphic novel about an obseesed mountaineer. It's such a powerful story, it has to be read to be believed. And the art by Jiro taniguchi is just unbelievable.... Thousands of pages of Himalayan splendor.

Spawn #1. So moving.









Okay, I lied about one of these titles.

[Sleeper]

WATCHMEN and KINGDOM COME left me in a state below the starting point of picking the both up.

[Grazzt]

Three words: "Hello, Superman. Hello."

[jaguarshark]

I'm not as big a fan of 'Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?' as most, but it's hard to go past the "Supergirl is in the past..." bit.

I'm a sucker for a good emotional story, so this could probably end up being a long list, but I'll just put forward one for now: 'Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #36'.

I detest what I've read of JMS' other Spidey stuff, and I realise that with 9/11 as the backdrop it would be hard not to be emotionally affecting, but the thing is, that comic book is the first thing that made the whole thing hit home for me. As an Australian, I obviously realised it was a big, horrible deal, but I guess it just seemed more like a series of statistics and random explosions until that page in 'ASM' where Spidey looks after the kid waiting for his dad, and the moment the kid realises his dad is dead. I cried like a baby when I read that.

[Sorcerer Supreme]

The Fantastic Four story, This man this monster was quite touching

[Samurai]

There is one, but it's not for what was in the comic, but how I got it. JLA #214. I was about 10 years old at the time and had been seriously collecting for a couple of years by then. I was obsessed with the grade of my books, keeping them all in NM in bags, etc. My dad came home from a long day at work and suprised my brother and I by stopping off at the comic store and buying us several new issues. I was very happy until I saw that the JLA #214 he'd gotten me had a rip at the top of the cover, maybe 1/4 inch long. I got a bit upset and started explaining to my dad how important condition was in comics, rather than being happy that he surprised us with some comics. I could see the disappointment in his face, and he insisted on taking me back to the store so I could trade it for another copy. I was already regretting my comments, and insisted it'd be fine this time but to watch out for tears in the future, but he wanted me to be happy. Well, the comic shop owner was a rather big jerk and refused to trade the book, claiming I was the one who'd ripped it. Rather than argue, my dad took another copy off the shelf and said he'd pay for another copy. Now I felt really terrible, and I begged my dad not to spend the money on another copy, that I was happy to have one and didn't need 2.

But he insisted, and still to this day I have 2 copies of the issue to remind me to never look a gift horse in the mouth or grade a gift comic too closely, or even to obsess about the grade of a book at all. My best friend never changed, and still insists on getting on NM books to this day (25 years later), while I am happy buying VG or FN back issues and if a new issue has a dinged corner or something, it doesn't really bother me.

http://vu.morrissey-solo.com/moz/perez/cv/jla214z.jpg

[icctrombone]

These books bummed me out because Crystal ditched J Storm for Pietro.

http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=25934&zoom=4

http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=26026&zoom=4

[dan bailey]

thoughts of incredible hulk #181 leave me quite sad because i sold my copy for maybe $3 in early '81 (not that it was probably worth a heck of a lot more than that back then). any number of comics i sold a few months later when i let my entire collection go in one fell swoop are now individually worth far more than the $325 or so i got ...

... but i'm pretty sure this is the only one i sold by itself, & also the first one to go. (not absolutely positive of the circumstances, but i recall running a general "comics for sale" free classified in the local free tv mag right after i graduated from college, & the one kid who responded wanted hulk 181, by god. he's probably now the sw arkansas equivalent of chuck roszanski.)

[J'onn J'onzz]

Full Metal Alchemist - anyone who knows it will know which part.

So we can count manga and anime? You're referring to the ... event with Hughes correct? I think that made me cry eventually. Initially I was too shocked to do so. The Rurouni Kenshin episodes/chapters with Sojiro and Kenshin's fight definately made me cry. Only time I ever remember crying during a comic, tv show or movie. No, I don't know why for sure. It just did. I think Gundam SEED might've made me cry with it's massacre of over half the characters at the end. I think, what seven of about twenty-one characters survived the show. Anyway, I don't remember if "The Boy Who Collected Spider-Man" made me cry or not, but I know that if it didn't, it came close...

[tkitna]

Never made me cry, but touched me nontheless was Captain America #285 when Jeffrey Mace (The Patriot) died of cancer and Captian America stood by his bedside in salute.

[C.O. Jones]

Alpha Flight #12's death of Guardian.

The death of Sue's 2nd child in FF #267.

Seeing Peter say goodbye and watching Gwen's clone leave him.

Frankie leaving the Torch to become Galactus' herald in FF #244.

The break-up of the Pantheon within The Hulk.

The Death of the Swordsman in The Avengers (G.S. #2?)

Dr. Manhattan's origin story in Watchmen #4.

Swamp Thing's loneliness in #56 and Abby's ordeals in #59.

[Dial Tone]

Conan the Barbarian #100 - The death of the she pirate Belit was probably the saddest comic I've ever read, because Conan's pain was felt by a single tear.

The last issue of Under Seige was sad, as Cap was broken up over his only memories of his mother being destroyed.

Fantastic Four #51 was a look into the tormented soul of Ben Grimm, and what becomming the Thing felt like to him.

Fantastic Four #285 - When a kid who worshipped the Human Torch sets himself on fire and ends up dying.

The Death of Captain Marvel graphic novel was really sad, seeing the cancer ridden hero so sick that he couldn't even get out of bed. His death was very well done, and I'm glad he has never returned.

[Agentum]

The boy that collected SM, it's a good story, it don't make me cry but i think it was a very diffrent kind of story in it's time and very mamorable

[Hierocles]

Abby's ordeals in [Swamp Thing] #59.
That's the most moving of all in my opinion.

[C.O. Jones]

That's the most moving of all in my opinion.

I agree. Her new job sucked, her new boss sucked, and her patients didn't appreciate her. Plus, Alec was dead as far as she knew and she still had that whole bestiality charge thing hanging over her head as well. On top of that, she finds her father in the worst condition you could ever imagine, too. A sad book, indeed.

[joe bloke]

the death of Gwen Stacy. it's hard to understand the impact that story had on my generation ( forty-something now ). comic readers today are so used to characters dying that it just doesn't mean anything any more. that AWFUL moment where Gwen's neck snaps, that was something truly out there. i can't remember if i actually cried - probably not - but i do remember the absolute sheer smack-in-the-eye shock of it.

[sheets]

Jeff Smith's Rose, the Bone spin-off that tells the origin of Grandma Ben, really got to me.

[benday-dot]

I just reread those Len Wein issues of the Incredible Hulk where Hulk is reunited and then violently parted from his lady love Jarella (200-207). The contrast between the brutish, but childlike and essentially innocent Hulk and the compassionate, far more sophisticated and similarly green-skinned Jarella is told with real emotion and sensitivity by Wein. Its a doomed love we know, and of course thats what makes it so powerful... from the moments of Hulk's ecstasy alone in an idyll with Jarella upon her home planet to her tragic and inevitable demise when caught up in the middle of one more of those episodes of violence that have ever followed the Hulk about on his own planet, despite all his cries just to be left alone... from the highs of one moment to the lows of another the titanic happiness, then the immense anger and finally the overwhelming sadness of the brutish Hulk in deep loss is so very evident. Its the old beauty and the beast tale handled with aplomb by Wein.

[tangentman]

Speaking of Jarella's death, I felt moved by the subsequent issue where the Defenders were forced to fight Hulk. The Hulk couldn't understand nor accept the concept of death. With child-like single-mindedness, he wanted someone to "make Jarella better". Science failed and Dr. Strange's magic couldn't return Jarella to life. Hulk rampages and the Defenders (Strange, Nighthawk, Valkyrie, and Red Guardian) try in vain to halt his destructive rage. Finally, the truth sets in and the Hulk is aware that he's alone without Jarella. The loneliness in Hulk was moving for what was essentially a throwaway fight issue; Valkyrie comforted Hulk and told him he would never be alone, the Defenders were there for him.

[Zephyr]

If there is a comic that really touched my heart, it has to be
The Dark Knight Returns. The end almost killed me, he fights with his heart, knowing how the battle is going to end, but still acting strong. I cried, I couldn't believe it.

[Alistair]

Webspinners, Tales of Spider-Man #12 gets me every time (the moment where Gwen walks out onto the roof) - Peter realises that Spider-Man can fight every costumed freak who cares to come his way, but he can't fight the guilt of having caused the deaths of his loved ones, because that's Peter's fight, and it's one he'll never, ever win.

Universe X - can't remember the issue number, but it's the "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord" scene. So sad, so fitting.

In non-superhero books, Good-Bye, Chunky Rice, bits of Sandman, We3 (Is Gud Dog?) and even Spiral-Bound get me choked up,

[Norrin Radd]

This one ends badly:

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/1212/ironman81in.jpg

This one was a tear jerker:

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/8342/marvels15lg.jpg

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/3517/marvels28yz.jpg

[JulianPerez]

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned yet, one of the sadder stories by Cary Bates, a nine page story that was a backup in SUPERBOY AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #195 (1973).

In this one, the Legion of Super-Heroes have their usual tryouts; after instant messages and pop music stopped existing in the 30th Century, apparently Legion tryouts were invented to crush the self-esteem of teenagers. To this one, a strange youth attended, known as ERG-1 (Energy Release Generator).

(I'm facetious when I say this, of course; usually the Legionnaires have been characterized as the nicest kids ever, and their club one that any kid in the world would want to join.)

ERG-1 showed that as he was made of pure energy, he had powers that were casually omnipotent: he could pass through objects like Shrinking Violet, he could shrink or grow like Colossal Boy or Shrinking Violet, he could change one element into another like Chemical King, and had super-senses like Superboy and Supergirl, and so on. The Legion however, being the coiffured handsome young caucasians that they somehow transform into temporarily in these ego-squashing try-out stories, told ERG that he had no original super-power and thus he could not join the Legion. But ERG said that he did have one original superpower - but he couldn't show it to them.

Not dissuaded in the least, ERG-1 sneaks aboard a space cruiser while the other Legionnaires because he wants to prove himself to the others. All does not go well, however. The other Legionnaires are soundly captured by a deadly robot and in eminent peril of death. Then, the young Drake Burroughs. He cries out "Get back! I can save them!" The thought bubble, however shows: No choice... I have to use... THE POWER!!!!" There was a titanic explosion from the visor of ERG-1's suit that melts the giant robot.

The Legionnaires were awed by the one that saved them - only to find a cracked visor and an empty containment suit hissing smoke.

You see, the reason ERG-1 could not demonstrate his power is because he could only use it once...because it would kill him.

...by the way, did I mention Cary Bates was a genius?

[Agentum]

Well i just read the orgin of Jon Sable, pretty sad story too, no wonder they were talk about a movie.

[Shawn Hopkins]

I can remember an issue of the Hulk where the Hulk falls in love with a mermaid. I did not cry so much when I read The Kid Who Collected Spider-Man, not sure why. I did cry when I read a Paul Jenkins story about a little black boy and his fantasy of being Spider-Man's friend in Peter Parker 35. The last page really got to me. WE3 was very sad, but I don't know if I cried or not.

[Agentum]

And as i can see the same story can be sad to you but not to me.

[Psychocandy]

The one that always gets me is the Garth Ennis penned issue of Hellblazer when his relationship with Kit finally ends. That was devastating. Another one that got me was Alan Moore's magnificent The Ballad Of Halo Jones. Actually having already brought up Hellblazer I guess it would be lax of me not to mention Neil Gaiman's magnificent and very sad Hold Me one shot (I think it was about issue 25 or so). That was a real tear jerker. I also agree with many of those already mentioned.

[algertman]

Three words: "Hello, Superman. Hello."


if anyone ever has anything bad to say about Bizzaro you make them read that comic. His last words are so sad

[algertman]

Identity Crisis

Ralph breaking down in issue one at Sue's funeral
Tim and Batman rushing to get to Tim's father only to be to late.

yeah, I cried.

[Cei-U!]

I'm such a sentimental fool even certain commercials can make me cry.

The one scene that always gets me is at the end of Avengers Under Siege when Captain America cries on discovering Zemo destroyed the only existing photo of Cap's mother. The Sentinel of Liberty has never seemed so human before or since.

Cei-U!
I summon the kleenex!

[Evo Schandor]

There is one, but it's not for what was in the comic, but how I got it. JLA #214. I was about 10 years old at the time and had been seriously collecting for a couple of years by then. I was obsessed with the grade of my books, keeping them all in NM in bags, etc. My dad came home from a long day at work and suprised my brother and I by stopping off at the comic store and buying us several new issues. I was very happy until I saw that the JLA #214 he'd gotten me had a rip at the top of the cover, maybe 1/4 inch long. I got a bit upset and started explaining to my dad how important condition was in comics, rather than being happy that he surprised us with some comics. I could see the disappointment in his face, and he insisted on taking me back to the store so I could trade it for another copy. I was already regretting my comments, and insisted it'd be fine this time but to watch out for tears in the future, but he wanted me to be happy. Well, the comic shop owner was a rather big jerk and refused to trade the book, claiming I was the one who'd ripped it. Rather than argue, my dad took another copy off the shelf and said he'd pay for another copy. Now I felt really terrible, and I begged my dad not to spend the money on another copy, that I was happy to have one and didn't need 2.

But he insisted, and still to this day I have 2 copies of the issue to remind me to never look a gift horse in the mouth or grade a gift comic too closely, or even to obsess about the grade of a book at all. My best friend never changed, and still insists on getting on NM books to this day (25 years later), while I am happy buying VG or FN back issues and if a new issue has a dinged corner or something, it doesn't really bother me.

http://vu.morrissey-solo.com/moz/perez/cv/jla214z.jpg


Great story.

[Babylon23]

The one scene that always gets me is at the end of Avengers Under Siege when Captain America cries on discovering Zemo destroyed the only existing photo of Cap's mother. The Sentinel of Liberty has never seemed so human before or since.

I've read that story dozens of times, and that scene always gets to me.

Astro City 1/2 is another one. It's a short story that packs more emotion into a few pages than most "big" stories. It amanges to be both sad and uplifting at the same time.

The Dark Phoenix Saga and the funeral issue that followed it were the first issues to have an emotional affect on me. They're the first comics I read that featured the death of a major character.

The Death of Captain Marvel is another one. As someone who's lost family to cancer, that story really resonates with me. It may be set in space, and feature superheroes, but the emotion is honest.

The marriage of Donna Troy in New Teen Titans makes me happy-teary.