This article contains MAJOR spoilers forSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
Summary
WhenSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguewas first announced back in August 2020, its rather evocative title quickly became a hot topic of discussion among fans. While death is nothing new forthe DC Universe, it’s not something that’s often been explored in the world of superhero video games, especially when the player-characters are meant to be the ones dishing it out.
Right up until release, fans were still unsure whetherSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguewas going to live up to its premise, but the moment the game hit store shelves - or when fans first saw the damning leaks - it was clear that Rocksteady was going to lean all the way into this premise. By the end ofSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, players have killed off Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, and The Flash, with Wonder Woman meeting her own end from a battle with Supes about two-thirds of the way through the game. While these deaths lack some much-needed gravitas,Suicide Squadmakes them seem permanent, though comic readers know there’s always a way to bring the heroes back to life.
Death Is Rarely Permanent in The DC Universe
The DC Universe is no stranger to bringing heroes back to life, often with very little explanation. The last few decades have seen some incredibly well-known character deaths get reverted. One of the most iconic examples of this isJason Todd, Batman’s second Robin. After dying at the hands of the Joker in 1988’sA Death in the Familycomic arc, and remaining dead for almost 20 years, Jason Todd made his return in the 2005Batman: Under the Red Hoodarc, where he had simply been resurrected by Ra’s al Ghul after using the Lazarus Pit.
While side characters like Jason Todd are often welcomed back with open arms due to their lengthy hiatus and fresh new spin, the same can’t always be said for the DC Universe’s bigger comic book deaths. TheJustice League dies a lot in the comics, and while the best stories make these deaths feel worthwhile, there’s an underlying feeling that they’ll always be brought back to life anyway, which can diminish the impact they have.
One of the best examples of this is the incredibly influentialDeath of Supermanrunin the early 1990s, where Superman is killed by Doomsday and is succeeded by four Superman impostors. The last few issues bring the hero back with the barebones explanation of a Kryptonian Regeneration Matrix, resulting in a rushed and unearned return.
Decades of superhero comics have set the precedent forSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueto resurrect its heroes, and after the disappointed reception that their deaths received from many fans, these resurrections could happen sooner rather than later. Back at the start of February, the YouTube channel Batman Arkham Videos discovered anEaster egg inSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguethat seemingly teased Batman’s resurrection, with calendar pages strewn across Metropolis spelling out the phrase “He will return” via circled dates.
On top of this, it seems very likely that fans will be seeing more from Green Lantern and The Flash, as some recent leaks have revealed some in-game voice lines that directly reference the return of both characters, who are now both fighting against Brainiac’s forces. It’s been heavily rumored that the Justice League players killed inSuicide Squadwere actually justclones made by Brainiac, hence why Superman wasn’t killed by Kryptonite in his fight against Wonder Woman, and why The Flash has his missing finger when he returns from Brainiac’s ship. Even aside from all the leaks,Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguefully leans into the multiverse for its endgame, which could allow different versions of the Justice League pop up at any time.
