Epic Comic Moments which changed your opinions of Characters

[Earthrager]

Ok, sometimes there are great moments in comics displaying bravado, nobility, camaraderie etc.

Are there any moments in particular that really stick out to you in your history of reading the genre? Any opinion changing moments?

The reason why I made this thread is because I was reviewing the first printing of The Infinity Gauntlet from the 90's and I came across the scene where Captain America was forced to stand against Thanos alone when all the other heroes either perished or were injured.

Ron Lim really brought out the nobility in this character at this point as he stood up against impossible odds with bravery. I remember this one scene making a hero of a character who to me seemed a bit lame.

Any similar examples for you guys?

[hadesillustrations]

There's an old issue of The Amazing Spider-Man (in the 280's I think - 282 maybe?) where Spidey fights Manslaughter - a boxer with no pain receptors. He's chasing Spidey around a room trying to smash him and doing a fine job of wrecking walls and furniture. Then Spidey gets fed up and stops one of Manslaughter's punches with his open hand. Manslaughter was still just a normal human with normal human muscles - Spidey's little hand stop created enough concussive force to knock Manslaughter out cold. It was a great display of Spidey's proportionate strength of a spider and helped solidify to me how powerful Spider-Man really was. It was also a great issue overall, as it had Spidey reunite with Crusher Hogan, the wrestler he beats in his first appearance as Spider-Man.

[spidey976]

The Death of Barry Allen and SuperGirl in Crisis of Infinite Earths. For me that was the moment when I realized that these people were suppose to be real heroes and that all bets were off when it came to who would make it out alive. Now, of course DC has undone both of those sacrifices, but they STILL stand with me as two of the BEST heroic tragedies in comics. That and the Death of Gwen Stacey and Spiderman cradling her in his arms. Totally had me with both.

[Deth]

Ironman in Civil War he's a deuche now.

[turnbolt]

In the Secret Wars, Dr Doom faces the god-like beyonder alone... He invades Galactus' ship... uses Klaw, Master of Sound in a VERY scientific way to steal the energy of the ship and then in a dramatic and horrifically painful struggle for life itself Doom is toyed with and even agonizingly dissected by the beyonder... but he continues clawing and scraping even when all hope is lost and his fate is clearly sealed... and by the end of the struggle... the winner is DOOM... who now possesses ALL THE POWERS OF THE BEYONDER!!!

Sure he eventually is able to be distracted by the beyonder who has possessed Klaws body and eventually gets his powers back... but my respect level for Dr Doom went through the roof after that story! The dude can do anything he sets his mind to!

[Bach2099]

The day that Robert Baldwin put on the Penance costume - hugely epic moment for me. I have always been a huge fan Speedball and all the New Warriors as their first issue was the book that got me into comics. As the events of Stamford happened to kick off Civil War I was pissed at Joe Q for doing a story line that basically killed of the New Warriors. But with Robbie becoming Penance which lead to the mini series Penance: Relentless were we get to see Penance take on Wolverine and Doom, and live through both fights. That suit took a bouncy wise crackin character and really turned him on his head for what turned out to be a really good story.

[jmoormann]

Astonishing X-Men #24 (23?) when Scott calls them 'his x-men.' I'd always liked the character, but mostly felt sorry for him. That panel just made him kind of awesome.

[Popninja]

Astonishing X-Men #24 (23?) when Scott calls them 'his x-men.' I'd always liked the character, but mostly felt sorry for him. That panel just made him kind of awesome.

Actually, that entire 24(+1) issue run by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday made me love the X-Men all over again, after having been disgusted with them, thanks to the horrid writing of Chuck Austen and Peter Milligan. I never thought I would love them again like I did when I was younger. Whedon and Cassaday changed all of that. Astonishing X-Men was the best the X-Men had been in ages. Of course, as soon as Whedon exited, Warren Ellis would jump right in and **** it all up again.

[NickRocks]

"HA! Eat glass, lawman!"

it reminded me of how much Miller owns Batman

[Cesare2009]

OK, this goes WAY back, and I don't even remember the name of the book or series.

Thanos is after Warlock's gem, the last one he needs for a gift to Death I think. EVERYONE is there, but the Avengers are the lead. It's going badly for the heros when Spiderman, disoriented for some reason, stumbles around until he blindly knocks over Thanos master Gem or whatever it was. The whole scene is being watched by these Gods, Chaos and Infinity or something. They declare that Spiderman is a being of destiny, that he somehow was always meant to be Spiderman, in every universe. That resonated with me.

My 2 cents...