Which Member of The Illuminati is most likely to die?

[Kevinroc]

With Civil War not yet done and the upcoming releases of the New Avengers: Illuminati mini and next year's World War Hulk, I thought I'd ask this question.

If Marvel were to kill off one member of The Illuminati, who do you think it would be?

[kal_el21]

I don't think they'll kill any of them. With that said, I voted for Black Bolt. He seems to have a lesser place in the MU than the rest of them.

[StoneGold]

There really isn't a point, just because all of them have come back from the dead at some point. I mean, Reed, Tony, Namor and Blackbolt all died and came back together once. I wonder if they'll cover that in the book? Just Chuck, Steve running the show? And Chuck killed them all! Kind of.

[Kevinroc]

I don't think they'll kill any of them. With that said, I voted for Black Bolt. He seems to have a lesser place in the MU than the rest of them.

This thread is more of an "if" than a statement of fact.

And I also voted for Black Bolt, because he is the least marketable character in Marvel's Illuminati.

[StoneGold]

This thread is more of an "if" than a statement of fact.

And I also voted for Black Bolt, because he is the least marketable character in Marvel's Illuminati.

Maybe not after Silent War...

[Kevinroc]

Maybe not after Silent War...

It would still take a long time to prove that. No Inhumans series has lasted more than 12 issues and The Inhumans have never headlined a major-media project.

Namor has headlined a series that lasted more than 60 issues. Namor also has a movie in development.

And Dr. Strange has headlined series that have almost lasted 100 issues. And there will be a direct to DVD animated Dr. Strange movie.

I don't even need to mention Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic and Xavier. Those characters have had major roles in either their own long-running series or in a group series as well as having major-media projects either already released or in development.

I'm just being honest when I say that Black Bolt is the least marketable of all the Illuminati.

[Pendaran]

Maybe not after Silent War...

The only ones who won't be featuring prominently in other, non Hulk related comics that will be going on for at least several months into when World War Hulk starts are Strange and Namor, and it's doubtful they'd kill either of them. Chuck, Reed and Tony are thusly death immune, and Bolt has a miniseries that's going to be going on into June, which is even assuming delays don't happen, as Marvel has been sort of prone to them lately. But predictably there's not a "none of the above" option.

So unless Marvel is planning some Ebony Blade style, concurrent continuity gap mess, it seems fairly impossible that any of them are going to be bumped off.

[StoneGold]

The only ones who won't be featuring prominently in other, non Hulk related comics that will be going on for at least several months into when World War Hulk starts are Strange and Namor, and it's doubtful they'd kill either of them. Chuck, Reed and Tony are thusly death immune, and Bolt has a miniseries that's going to be going on into June, which is even assuming delays don't happen, as Marvel has been sort of prone to them lately. But predictably there's not a "none of the above" option.

So unless Marvel is planning some Ebony Blade style, concurrent continuity gap mess, it seems fairly impossible that any of them are going to be bumped off.
I dunno, Chuck is pretty easy to kill. Seems he dies pretty often. Way more than Jean. Of course, the problem there being that Chuck was dead-ish at the time when the rest of the guys got Hulk on the rocket. So the irony being, if Chuck dies, he's the only one (well, besides Namor, who was left out of the decision and was against it when he found out) who had nothing to do with it.

[a-spidey]

i would think dr. strange could die. With his magic abilities he would be more alive as anyone else when he would be dead

[Pendaran]

I dunno, Chuck is pretty easy to kill. Seems he dies pretty often. Way more than Jean. Of course, the problem there being that Chuck was dead-ish at the time when the rest of the guys got Hulk on the rocket. So the irony being, if Chuck dies, he's the only one (well, besides Namor, who was left out of the decision and was against it when he found out) who had nothing to do with it.

I'm moderately certain he himself is still going to be in space at the time that World War Hulk starts. Isn't Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar only up to part 6 of 12?

[StoneGold]

Huh, here's a though. Although there's a minor spoiler for this month's issue. Hulk hallucinates that the Illuminati are taunting him that he's a monster rather than a hero. What if WWH ends up being the big guy trying to prove that he is just that, a hero? Capable of some level of mercy and compassion? OK, not exactly what we expect out of the current incarnation of the Hulk, but I think that would be the point.

[Kevinroc]

Huh, here's a though. Although there's a minor spoiler for this month's issue. Hulk hallucinates that the Illuminati are taunting him that he's a monster rather than a hero. What if WWH ends up being the big guy trying to prove that he is just that, a hero? Capable of some level of mercy and compassion? OK, not exactly what we expect out of the current incarnation of the Hulk, but I think that would be the point.

This is all more of a "which member would Marvel most likely kill off" as opposed to a "I definitely think *insert member here* will die" thread. It doesn't have to be in WWH. It could be in the Illuminati mini or Civil War or what have you.

Just the idea that if Marvel was going to make one member die for the "sins" of the group, who would be most likely?

Maybe none of them will die. I don't know. Hulk may just beat the hell out of them but show mercy. Xavier could get blown up during the current Uncanny story. Tony Stark could die at the end of Civil War.

I don't really know. This is really more of a hypothetical.

[Pendaran]

Huh, here's a though. Although there's a minor spoiler for this month's issue. spoilers: Hulk hallucinates that the Illuminati are taunting him that he's a monster rather than a hero.
end of spoilers What if WWH ends up being the big guy trying to prove that he is just that, a hero? Capable of some level of mercy and compassion? OK, not exactly what we expect out of the current incarnation of the Hulk, but I think that would be the point.

I think, as "friend of a friend" as it may be, with that guy that came in and noted in another thread Quesada talking about how the Hulk will smash Reed and Tony at that Q&A thing, and the preponderance of comments like "the Hulk's civil rights have been violated!" and all the buildup, it's rather unlikely it's going to be anything but revenge fueled smashing, and, if you want to be cynical about it, followed by the predictable rise of some third party threat that will force everyone to unite/the Hulk to turn away from his vengeance, the Hulk will then prove critical to stopping whatever it was, someone will ponitificate with philosophical angst on whether the Hulk is hero or monster, and even if monster, maybe the world needs a monster. End. Probably they'll have Reed deliver those lines. Or Rick Jones. But more likely Reed.

Besides, this is one in a series of threads and polls from various people about "who's gonna die, who's gonna get smashed first, who's gonna be objectively pointed to as being worse than 753 Hitlers wearing a sweater vest made out of babies and kittens." If people don't get blood, people gonna scream. Then again to be fair, plenty of people scream about Civil War, it doesn't stop Marvel from gleefully denying them what they want.

[Omega Alpha]

If someone dies, i think it will be Black Bolt. But i don't think anyone will.

[Cthulhudrew]

Considering that just about everyone up there with one exception has been "dead" at one point or another, I'd have to go with Black Bolt, as he's overdue.

[EDIT- Just noticed this post:]

There really isn't a point, just because all of them have come back from the dead at some point. I mean, Reed, Tony, Namor and Blackbolt all died and came back together once. I wonder if they'll cover that in the book? Just Chuck, Steve running the show? And Chuck killed them
all! Kind of.

When did Black Bolt die previously?

[ivesaidway2much]

I voted for Dr. Strange only because I think the ghost of Dr. Strange makes a much cooler character than Stephen himself. But really after some recent revelations, especially the Danger arc in Astonishing X-men, Charles is the one who deserves to die the most.

I'm moderately certain he himself is still going to be in space at the time that World War Hulk starts. Isn't Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar only up to part 6 of 12?
With comic book relativity, he could be gone for 6 months and be back on Earth tomorrow.


I think, as "friend of a friend" as it may be, with that guy that came in and noted in another thread Quesada talking about how the Hulk will smash Reed and Tony at that Q&A thing, and the preponderance of comments like "the Hulk's civil rights have been violated!" and all the buildup, it's rather unlikely it's going to be anything but revenge fueled smashing, and, if you want to be cynical about it, followed by the predictable rise of some third party threat that will force everyone to unite/the Hulk to turn away from his vengeance, the Hulk will then prove critical to stopping whatever it was, someone will ponitificate with philosophical angst on whether the Hulk is hero or monster, and even if monster, maybe the world needs a monster. End. Probably they'll have Reed deliver those lines. Or Rick Jones. But more likely Reed.
If this happens, wow, I don't know what I'll do. Probably stop buying Hulk until Pak leaves the book. If there's one thing I hate to see, it's potentially awesome fights broken up by some lame common foe. Even though it is Marvel and just a comic book, in general, I'd like to at least pretend that there's no way Pak would let this happen.

[Mikl C]

I thenk Xavier much as I wish it wouldn't be him. Marvel have been crapping on him for years.

[StoneGold]

Considering that just about everyone up there with one exception has been "dead" at one point or another, I'd have to go with Black Bolt, as he's overdue.

[EDIT- Just noticed this post:]



When did Black Bolt die previously?

All the Inhumans died in the background of Onslaught.

[Pendaran]

With comic book relativity, he could be gone for 6 months and be back on Earth tomorrow.

Yeah, but if he's in outer space with the Xmen in one comic, and in another he's getting killed in world war hulk, but still going to be in outer space with the X-men in more comics past that, I imagine it it would result in another Ebony Blade style.. I'm going to use kerfuffle, because I haven't yet.

[streator]

i don't think any of them will die, but if i had to choose one member i'd go with namor.

[Captain Exaggeration]

For some reason I see Black Bolt being assasinated or something in the near future. I have no reasoning for it... its just my "murder-senses" are tingling.

[kal_el21]

For some reason I see Black Bolt being assasinated or something in the near future. I have no reasoning for it... its just my "murder-senses" are tingling.

I could definetly see that. Maybe spring 2008. This could lead to a summer mega-event where the Inhumans actually attack Earth. Can you imagine Gorgon and Karnak going ape $h!* on the heroes of Earth?

[Captain Exaggeration]

I could definetly see that. Maybe spring 2008. This could lead to a summer mega-event where the Inhumans actually attack Earth. Can you imagine Gorgon and Karnak going ape $h!* on the heroes of Earth?
Thats kind of what is making me think he'll croak. By the way I love the Dr. Strange quote. :D

[streator]

I could definetly see that. Maybe spring 2008. This could lead to a summer mega-event where the Inhumans actually attack Earth. Can you imagine Gorgon and Karnak going ape $h!* on the heroes of Earth?

they're supposedly attacking earth (at least the u.s. initially) in silent war, coming out in january.

[Cthulhudrew]

All the Inhumans died in the background of Onslaught.

That's right- although that was one area of continuity that was rather screwed up. IIRC, the Inhumans made a couple of appearances in the mainstream MU during the Heroes Reborn series, when they weren't supposed to be around. (The Quicksilver series comes to mind.)

Doubt any of the Illuminati will die, in any case, but of them all, I'd say Black Bolt is still the most likely choice. Him or Xavier (again). :)

[DangerRuss]

I agree that Blackbolt could be the one to go. Consider their powers vs Hulk.
What better way to shut his yap than ripping his head off?

Never thought of the Dr. Strange ghost idea. Thats a good one.

I'm thinking Hulk might be headed for the hero route anyway. Civil War is leaving earth open to major attack and I think something huge is going to take the bickering heroes by surprise and Hulk will have to save everyone.
Just my opinion.

[Pendaran]

As doubtful as it is that they'd kill anyone, I kinda doubt they'd write the Hulk as tearing off Black Bolt's head.

[Siddon]

I went with Xavier, honestly I think its time for Charles Xavier to finally die and die for good. Cyclops is twice the character Xavier is and he fits the mold of the leader of the new X-men better then Xavier. Plus with his powers gone he has a "back door" which all writers/editors love to use.

[Kevinroc]

I went with Xavier, honestly I think its time for Charles Xavier to finally die and die for good. Cyclops is twice the character Xavier is and he fits the mold of the leader of the new X-men better then Xavier. Plus with his powers gone he has a "back door" which all writers/editors love to use.

I'm a little curious about this. A number of people have voted for Xavier (as of this post, he is 2nd to Black Bolt in total number of votes) and not a lot of people that voted for Xavier have discussed the reasons for their vote.

From a dramatic standpoint, I can actually understand why people would vote for Xavier. Beyond the fact that he has died before, a number of X-related stories have focused on how the X-Men either don't need him or his screw-ups are haunting them now.

[chrismileslord]

God I hope Prof X. He is completely useless as a character now. Everyone hates him, he has no power.