What's your favorite "HOLY $H!T" moment in comics?

[racemccloud]

** WARNING WARNING THIS THREAD CONTAINS SPOILERS TOO NUMEROUS TO COUNT - TREAD CAREFULLY WARNING WARNING**

With the big Electra/Skrull reveal in New Avengers, and the whole Death of Cap and return of... somebody... in the new JLA, I was just thinking about how some of the best moments in comics are those moments when you turn the page, and just say to yourself or even out loud, "HOLY $H!T"! That having been said, what's your favorite moment (or moments) that made you wish the next issue of a comic was coming out in, like, five minutes?

Most of mine, as I think about it, were brought to me by Bendis, and include the "No More Mutants" line in "House of M" (a really cool ramification that still resonates and which retconned poor Grant Morrison out of Marvel continuity), and about every other issue of Ultimate Spider-Man (Mary Jane being thrown off of the bridge, Gwen Stacy dying, I'm sure I'm forgetting about ten more.)

From DC they included the return of Jason Todd as "Hush", but that turned out to be Clayface and it sucked. And, my favorite moment in the last ten years of comics, a moment I knew was coming but was still awesome, from "Green Lantern: Rebirth" - "Sinestro... get the HELL away from them."

There's more I'm forgetting. But a good "HOLY $H!T" moment will just make your entire Wednesday. So what are some others?

[esophagus]

Death of Captain America. That was less of a "Holy Shit, I need to know what else is going to happen" and more of a "Holy shit that was a terrible marketing/continuity idea.". If they bring him back from the dead I will blow up the marvel headquarters. Just not for real.

A big one for me was probably Alex being the snitch in the Runaways. I have to say, I never actually saw that coming, in hindsight I really should have. I was thinking it was either going to be Chase or Molly, or any one of the Runaways just trying to reel in their parents and take them out. Easily fooled

[paper]

Ok, explain "terrible marketing idea."

[labor_days]

When Jean finds out Scott & Emma are having an affair in Morrison's New X-men. I may have actually said, "holy s**t" aloud. Can't recall too clearly.

[acomicbookgirl]

When Jean finds out Scott & Emma are having an affair in Morrison's New X-men. I may have actually said, "holy s**t" aloud. Can't recall too clearly.

That's one of mine.. Hippolyta dying in Wonder Woman was my holy shit moment.. I couldn't get over it for the longest time..

[humphrey-lee]

"I did it thirty-five minutes ago."

[cam-]

Overhyped? Perhaps, but I was still blown away by Barbara Gordon being shot in the gut.

[esophagus]

Ok, explain "terrible marketing idea."Good in the respect that a lot of people are really going to want to pick up the issue and all, I just meant that Captain America is a pretty big staple for Marvel to lose.

[cam-]

Oh and Batman having his back broken by Bane, that surprised me. I think it was the first real big loss I saw a hero have. Sadly I dropped out of comics for a time and missed Bruce fighting Bane again.

[esophagus]

Oh and Batman having his back broken by Bane, that surprised me. I think it was the first real big loss I saw a hero have. Sadly I dropped out of comics for a time and missed Bruce fighting Bane again.
That probably would have been a huuuuuuge one for me, had I not been informed before picking up the issue. That was a holy shit moment in itself.

[kahunablair]

Seeing how Dark Knight Returns was one of my first true interaction with Batman outside of the TV realm, I'd have to say the Joker's death scene.

That was some twisted shit... oh bad pun alert.

[labor_days]

Batman beating the living hell out of Superman was another good one. But I suspected for years Batman was capable of beating Superman, one way or another. Stupid old Batman and his weak heart.

[kahunablair]

Batman beating the living hell out of Superman was another good one. But I suspected for years Batman was capable of beating Superman, one way or another. Stupid old Batman and his weak heart.

Absolutely, but the Joker scene happened first, so I was more shocked by that one.

[conorkilpatrick]

Wow, this thread is one big collection of spoilers.

[cam-]

Wow, this thread is one big collection of spoilers.

HAh! Yeah I guess it is...

Batman beating the living hell out of Superman was another good one. But I suspected for years Batman was capable of beating Superman, one way or another. Stupid old Batman and his weak heart.

I also loved the scene in Hush where Bats clocked Supes with a Kryptonite ring.

[labor_days]

So, it's decided then; anytime Batman punches Superman in the mouth is a "Holy Sh!t" moment.

[racemccloud]

"I did it thirty-five minutes ago."

Oh, that's a brilliant one.

[racemccloud]

Wow, this thread is one big collection of spoilers.

Yeah, but they're really old spoilers.

[fred]

Ok, explain "terrible marketing idea."

I believe that the definition is:

1. idea that makes the company literally shitloads of money.
2. idea that allows Joe Q to build a money bin and swim in it

[conorkilpatrick]

Yeah, but they're really old spoilers.

Considering the amount of new people to comics that are here, there's no such thing. It's okay, I added a spoiler warning. Anyone who gets spoiled, it's on them.

[jaflanagan]

My first ever? Barbara Gordon getting shot and paralyzed.

I was like, maybe 11-12 when I read that, and even now I think, Holy SHIT!

[davegraham]

Most recently, when "Thor" appeared at the end of Civil War #3. Even more recently, I said it when I was unfolding the 8 page spread in Ultimates. Back in the day I think I said it when Colossus left the X-Men to side with Magneto and then right after that when Magneto ripped out Wolverine's adamantium.

[fred]

For me it was the issue of Uncanny X-Men that Cyclops smiled in.


OK I'm joking, that never happened.

[k33k3r]

Cap getting shot is def. a big one for me.

[labor_days]

How's about that scene in Astonishing when Kitty finds Colossus in the underground prison? The reveal was a total "holy shit" moment for me.

Also in Astonishing, when Cyclops picks up the gun after losing his powers and his mind. Good times.

Whedon, you bald-headed genius. I love you.

[paper]

Agreed on both counts.

Whedon's not bald...

Or is that a callback to something else?

[conorkilpatrick]

Whedon's not bald...

Or is that a callback to something else?

He is rapidly on his way there.

[fred]

seriously - comb it anyway you want man - you're almost there

http://z.about.com/d/movies/1/0/a/X/8/slither03090623.jpg

[paper]

Hey, that's gonna be me in like 3 years.

[kahunablair]

Hey, that's gonna be me in like 3 years.
Same here man... same here.

[fred]

there's a point where you need to give up the ghost. I've lost maybe 1/4 inch in the last 8 years and it drives me insane. Nobody else can even tell. I'll be back to shaving my head long before I get to the above point.

[mikegraham6]

I know there was a spoiler warning at the beginning of this thread, and i have read the majority of the books discussed here but one can't keep up on all books and there have been spoilers posted here for some that are on my "to read" pile (Runaways). This isn't a criticism of the thread, because i think it's a great idea, it's just to all encompasing.

My recommendation for this thread is to put the name of the book your going to spoil in the subject line.
I want to follow this thread but there are so many spoilers for different books that you can't keep up. This way at least you can avoid certain posts and only read others....

[cancelhoo]

1. When Batman came out of the closet. I mean, I had heard the rumors and all, but I thought it was pretty forward thinking of DC to have one of their greatest heroes admit to his love of men way back in the forties.

2. When Superman died. I live in a hole, so I had missed all the media hoopla. Good thing too, because it BLEW ME AWAY! Yes, someone had also torn the cover that read "DEATH OF SUPERMAN" off the front of my copy so as not to spoil the surprise.

3. Jean Grey lives!!! I am of course talking about the third time she came back. I mean, I really thought that the third time was the charm, but hell!!! Those marvel writers are just SO DAMN SNEAKY!

4. The Hulk is Bruce Banner. Really? This one I think is a bit of a stretch, but what the hell, I'll run with it.

5. Brian Micheal Bendis is secretly THOR! Of course Thor wasn't dead, he just started writing 50 comics a day and had no time for all the Avengers infighting bullcrap. Shame about the loss of the golden locks though.

(ok... real answer... Watchmen. When Ozymandius' plan works. It made me grow up reading that. "Sometimes the villains win." Nietzsche (or Dr.Fate, forget which))

[mikegraham6]

The only one i can think of of the top of my head was spidey unmasking in Civil War #2. After all the shit he'd gone through i couldn't believe they were taking him in that direction. Thats the moment i realized that marvel wasn't lying when they said that CW was going to change the Marvel U

[paper]

there's a point where you need to give up the ghost. I've lost maybe 1/4 inch in the last 8 years and it drives me insane. Nobody else can even tell. I'll be back to shaving my head long before I get to the above point.

I'm gonna start wearing a captain's hat.

[mikegraham6]

I just finished rereading the original Secret War a few days ago and while i know that a lot of the changes didn't stick, it was full of Holy Shit moments. I could only imagine reading this book when it first came out and each issue suprising the hell outta me.
-Thing is replaced by she hulk
-Dr Doom gets beyonders powers
-reveals his face
-then kills all the heroes
-Spidey gets a living costume
-Kang is killed by Doom
-Hulk holds up a FRIGGIN' mountain!!!
the list goes on and on

[paper]

Several thousand moments in Y. Instances of pregnancy mostly.

[fred]

I'm gonna start wearing a captain's hat.

that's one way to go

[darron]

For me? Pride of Bahgdad.....

When that bear was revealed, I literally dropped the book in shock. For some reason, that one moment got more of a reaction from me than any other moment in comics.....EXCEPT....

In Preacher......

When you see God get pissed for the first time. My thought was, "Well, this guy seems nice enough. He really is a loving GOD HELP ME! He's HUGE! Oh man, RUN, JESSE, RUN!"


Third of the list? Y: The Last Man

When it's revealed there are more men living in space. Oh man, I almost shit myself.


There's a lot more, but I think it's all BKV, so I'll just stop now.

[jo-relrollins]

When Jean finds out Scott & Emma are having an affair in Morrison's New X-men. I may have actually said, "holy s**t" aloud. Can't recall too clearly.

I have probably a few. The issue before that was mine. I said 'holy s*&^' when the last page showed Emma in Scotts mind dressed in the Phoenix outfit. Another one was in Astonishing Xmen, when on the last page Scott was passed out in a catatonic state with his brown eyes open and he was drooling; all thanks to my fav bad girl Emma Frost ( who this week wanted to give a man a hernia and major headache for life at his own son's funeral.

[luthor]

One that still sticks out to me and probably always will...

The death of Rapture in Savage Dragon 43. It was the most unexpected death I think I've ever read in comics and it happened on like page 4. I remember Erik Larson talking about it and saying things like that can only happen in comics. HE called it the left page surprise.

[mikegraham6]

ARGH! damn spoilers:(

[fred]

I don't really get bothered by spoilers. It's more about the journey for me than the conclusion. I knew that Cap was going to be killed for almost a week before Cap 25 came out. It still blew my mind.

[mikegraham6]

but you can never have the Holy Shit moment if you know it's going to happen. I agree with you that you can still enjoy the story but the shock and suprise of the moment gets completely lost.

[k33k3r]

True but this threat says right on the first page. SPOILERS, so you should know better than to read any further if you are affraid being spolied.

[mikegraham6]

True but this threat says right on the first page. SPOILERS, so you should know better than to read any further if you are affraid being spolied.

Your right, that's why i suggested we put what comic we're going to discuss at the beginning of the post, that way i can avoid the ones i haven't read.
I read a helluva a lot of comics, but there's no way i can keep on top of all of them... and i want to stay in the discussion.
But hey, if im alone on this then i'll let it drop, that's cool. i'll just avoid this particular thread.....

[k33k3r]

I can understand that one. It will only work if people remember to do it though.

[mikegraham6]

I can understand that one. It will only work if people remember to do it though.

That's the problem, right?
I dunno, i guess if it happens one more time (so far, We've got Runaways- which i just bought the Vol. 1 hardcover and Savage Dragon, which i've been reading on my PC) then I'm done.
It's funny because there aren't that many books out there that are considered worth reading that i haven't read....
oh well :(

[fred]

what if you accidentally see something in one of the posts you're skipping though? it's going to happen

[k33k3r]

Like I saw something about the last Y: TLM and i'm only reading it in trades and just went well danm it, oh well it's not the end of the world. I'll still get that book when it comes out.

I will be trying to avoid the ending like the plague though. Causes where volume 9 left off you still have no idea how BKV's gonna wrap it up.

[mikegraham6]

what if you accidentally see something in one of the posts you're skipping though? it's going to happen

See if that happens then i'll just curse myself... it's not really a BIG deal to me, but i'd much prefer to go into stories fresh, i have a much better time.

I remember reading Civil War: Initiative before Cap#25 (they came out the same week) and it just really pissed me off that the suprise was ruined by a snipet of the story that i had bought already! It's funny because my LCG was telling me how HUGE the Initiative book was (because of the Cap shooting) and how he'd have to order tons of copies, but i guess he hadn't read Cap yet....
I just thought it was shitty way to find out when i could have read the whole story first

[racemccloud]

Like I saw something about the last Y: TLM and i'm only reading it in trades and just went well danm it, oh well it's not the end of the world. I'll still get that book when it comes out.

I will be trying to avoid the ending like the plague though. Causes where volume 9 left off you still have no idea how BKV's gonna wrap it up.

No, I understand the fear of spoilers, even though i started the thread. Y:TLM is a book I've meant to read for ages, and I saw the same one you did and said "that would've been cool to discover". But yeah, the warning Conor (I assume) put on top of the thread is a good one, and personally, I feel like if there was some huge spoiler moment in a book that's over a month old, it's my own damn fault for not reading the book sooner. Then again, I only read about 10 books a week. (Only!)

But I don't think "HOLY $H!T" momens need to be spoilers, although they often are... there was a great moment back in an Erik Larsen written and penciled ark of Adjectiveless Spider-Man, I think right after McFarlane left the book. It was the last book of the arc, the arc was "The Return of the Sinister Six" or something, and a whole bunch of heroes had showed up to help Spidey fight the Sinister Six and their army of killer robots (comics rule). The only one left was Doc Ock, and he was screaming that he was going to kill them all, and they you get HOLY $H!T moment one: a half-page spread of Spidey and the assembled heroes (FF, Deathlok, Nova, Ghost Rider, Sandman, etc.) with Spidey's simple line of dialouge, "You're certainly welcome to try." That was cool. And another example of not really a spoiler "HOLY $H!T" moment, but a sort of "Here comes the Justice League and boy do they look pissed" HOLY $H!T moment.

Still, the big shocker moments are the ones we usually remember.

[cam-]

THe Ellis/Morrison thread got me thinking.

There's like a whole Holy S#!T issue of planetary, where an alien crashes to earth, an female ambassador comes to "man's" world, and a Power battery (shaped like a lantern sort of) is discovered.

It's one of the most disturbing single issues I've ever read, and so sad. I won't get into specifics. But I said Holy S#!T, that's for sure.

[devil]

When Kaine killed Doc Ock and when Norman Osborn killed Ben Reilly for me. I didn't see either coming.

[labor_days]

I just finished rereading the original Secret War a few days ago and while i know that a lot of the changes didn't stick, it was full of Holy Shit moments. I could only imagine reading this book when it first came out and each issue suprising the hell outta me.
-Thing is replaced by she hulk
-Dr Doom gets beyonders powers
-reveals his face
-then kills all the heroes
-Spidey gets a living costume
-Kang is killed by Doom
-Hulk holds up a FRIGGIN' mountain!!!
the list goes on and on

Holy shit, Secret Wars was awesome. Hulk vs. the mountain is still the height of badass moments in comicdom.

[fanboys-strike-back]

I would also have to say the end of House of M. A lot of people didn't like the book which I don't get because it was amazing and the end with Wanda getting rid of the vast majority of the mutants, no one saw that one coming! I thought Grant Morrison's run on the x-men was horrible and I thought this was a good way or retconning it and bringing the x-men back to their roots. That issue #6 when you see her say "no more mutants" I literally gasped! And I love how it truly did change the x-men universe.

[esophagus]

I really wasn't in to House of M. It was a huge publicity stunt. And with Marvel's history of keeping change in place, you knew the world's foremost mutants being depowered just wouldn't last. And, I just didn't really love the way it was all executed.

Also, hated Morrison's X-Men? Really?

[fanboys-strike-back]

Yeah I think Grant Morrison was the worst thing that ever happened to the x-men. He brings magneto back again, he kills jean...again. He puts the team in stupid leather jackets, makes scott cheat on Jean which is completely out of character. I can't express enough how much I hated that run. He basically made everyone mutant with freakish powers and it was a mess, that's why I liked house of M, fixed the mess a little bit and Astonishing brought the x-men back to where they should be.

[popmatic]

There are some great moments in this thread...I'm totally with those that said *** RUNAWAYS SPOILER ***** Alex as the traitor was a GREAT HOLY $H!T moment.

My favorite, though, comes at the end of the Melmoth trade in Cerebus. That trade is a "down" trade, where not much is happening. I won't get to detailed to avoid spoilers, but Cerebus has just lost the love of his life, Jaka, again. He just returned to the hotel he was sharing with Jaka and her husband (don't ask) and found half the tenants dead, and the other half, including Jaka, gone. So now, he is staying in a tavern, sitting on the front porch and eating potatoes with a strange look on his face, for the entire trade. There are several side plots going on, but they are all very slow paced.

Finally, after a hundred pages of sitting, two of the bad-ass Cirinist guards are sitting on the porch next to Cerebus, who overhears them talk about how the niece of the Prime Minister (Jaka) is staying in the prison they guard, and one of them had taken her by the back of the head and jerked a chunk of hair out and...Cerebus loses it.

After such a long, slow storyline, to have Cerebus brutally murder these two guards (Dave Sim is fantastic at the blood spattered sword fight) was more than jarring.

Trust me, this isn't a spoiler. This is definitely a case of "the journey there" making that moment truly a HOLY $H!T moment.

[snooganshooligan]

When Cap just gave up in Civil War
Maybe that was more a "WTF?!" moment