so why does dc have to kill off everyones parents?

batman his parents got shot, superman their planet exploded, flash(barry) reverse flash killed mom dad died in prison, green lantern (hal jordan), dad died in plane crash, dick greysom parents died at circus, tim drake parents murdered, jason todd mom got sick dad murdered, and i am sure there are many more

Is Marvel really any better? The only hero who I can think of whose parents are alive is Thor. Apparently you have to be an orphan to be a hero.

Because that makes them edgy

All heroes have to be orphans, not just DC ones. It's one of the biggest cliches of all time.

well I'm just going to put this suit on and be a hero and................now I'm an orphan.- every comic book character ever.

Cyclops & Havok are orphans.

This was one thing that made Tim so different from other Robins. His Dad was alive and well. It was a real conflict of interest for him lying to his father all the time but still wanting to be Batman's partner.

@knighthood: but their deaths arent what inspired them to be heroes

A buddy of mine was asking me about this not three days or so ago...

We didn't have any good answers for anything either.

Hey, tip urns out they wrote an Off My Mind about it: http://www.comicvine.com/articles/off-my-mind-the-connection-between-orphans-and-sup/1100-144810/

It gives them a drive and determination to continue saving people

People die..no one lives forever. Marvels not much different though...Peter Parker loses his parents and his uncle.

@mercy_: you actually tried an answer while most of the others just said marvels as bad lol