Heart Breaking Moments in Marvel Comics History

Marvel Comics most heart breaking stories in the comic book medium

Throughout their decades of narratives and characters, Marvel Comics has figured out ways to write some of the saddest, most heart breaking stories in the comic book medium.

Marvel Comics remains one of the biggest comic book publishers for the sole reason that their characters resonate with readers, taking them on journeys that are at once epic, funny, and heart breaking. Perhaps it is an achievement for the medium on the whole that it can illicit cheers and sobs from readers following stories of brightly colored characters in spandex.

It becomes immediately apparent from even a cursory read-through of Marvel's comics that the company is able to make some great stories. And great stories often leave the reader feeling not merely joy, but also sorrow. Throughout their decades of narratives and characters, Marvel Comics has figured out ways to write some of the saddest, most heart breaking stories in the comic book medium.

Why do we read sad stories? For whatever reason, there’s something absurdly cathartic about digesting a gut-wrenching, soul-crushing tale of death, abuse, or perpetual states of teenage angst. We’ve experienced this with films, we’ve experienced this with novels, but for whatever reason, until recently, comic books have more or less been written off by people who don't regularly read them as frivolous, shallow entertainment with no real emotional impact.

Marvel Comics has been in the business of making people cry for as long as they’ve existed. Between the heavy social commentary on discrimination we’ve seen in X-Men titles dating back to the '60s all the way up to the death of America’s First Avenger in 2007, Marvel knows how to pull at our heartstrings. Here are some sad Marvel comics that will make you cry. Vote up the most emotional Marvel moments.