Superheroes have amazing powers and abilities. Unfortunately the more active they are, the higher the threat level of enemies that come gunning for them. It’s up to the hero to ensure they are properly trained to take on the dangers of fighting crime and apprehending supervillains.
Despite all the training, there is always the possibility they will have to sacrifice themselves for innocent lives or they could simply slip up and get taken out by an enemy. With the death of a hero, careful preparation needs to be put in place to avoid even more disaster and tragedy.
They may spend hours upon hours training and preparing to take on any threat that may come along. Should a tragedy occur and they are out of the picture, it's still their duty to think about what might happen after that. For all the good they do, they are racking up the points against some of the most evil and vile individuals out there.
There are three basic things a hero needs to prepare for should they meet their demise.
What happens to their loved ones?
Perhaps the most important concern for the hero is their loved ones. Many superheroes maintain a secret identity to protect those closest to them. If a hero died in the line of duty and their identity was revealed, evil villains might see this as a way to dance on the hero’s grave. They may want to continue their revenge against the hero’s family and friends, out of cruelly or even boredom. Some villains form a sort of sick relationship with their hero-nemesis. This could be their final dance or act of revenge against the fallen hero.
Superheroes need to make sure their family and friends will be protected when they're gone. Even if they don't share their secret identity with anyone when they're alive, they need to find someone that will be willing to take the task of protecting these innocents if the worst happens. Some heroes may see themselves as loners but they'll need to suck it up and try to find someone they can trust to do the right thing when they're gone.
Who will protect their city?
Most heroes patrol a certain area. Gotham City has Batman. Metropolis has Superman. New York City can usually count on Spider-Man to swing into action and save the day. In some cases, like New York City or even Gotham, there are other heroes that might step forward should the resident hero disappear.
The active hero will want to make preparations to have someone else protect their city in their absence. Imagine if Batman truly died and no one took his place. His rogues gallery would throw a massive party and probably burn Gotham to the ground. Supervillains might want to destroy a hero’s city, just out of spite for the years of defeat and humiliation.
Throughout their criminal career, some villains don't set their sights on world domination. To gain control of a hero's beloved city could be exactly what would make their day. It's up to the hero to ensure someone else will step up and take their place to protect the city.
What happens to all their stuff?
Many superheroes tend to have a lot of gear, vehicles, or a secret base of operations. If these items fell into the wrong hands, it could be disastrous. Imagine a villain driving around causing havoc in the Batmobile. What if Lex Luthor got a hold of everything Superman has lying around the Fortress of Solitude.
What about all the data and information on the Batcomputer or in Mister Fantastic’s labs? In the events of a superhero’s death, they need to make sure a trusted friend or ally will safeguard everything and ensure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Not only could it be dangerous for those closest to the departed hero, it could also be bad news for the city or world at large.
Supervillains can be formidable individuals as it is. Gaining access to a superhero's arsenal could put them over the top. Even the other heroes around might not be prepared should a villain get a hold of these goods. If the hero has a big enough reputation, they might even what to think about having someone else take on their mantle.
No one wants to think about their demise. Superheroes have dedicated their lives to fighting evil and put themselves in danger everyday. There’s always the possibility their luck will run out, regardless how trained or skilled they are. Even if they try keeping themselves separated from friends or family, their arsenal against evil could be used for foul purposes if they end up in the wrong hands. Clear instructions are needed to make sure the villains don’t take advantage of the hero’s death.
Luckily, the death of a hero doesn’t last too long. They seem to return from the dead before this can become an issue. That being said, they also have to make sure their will has a clause to get all their stuff back if they do come back.
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