Originally Posted by
Tzigone
Obviously, DC isn't going to want to end their villains or heroes because those are the characters that sell books and make money. Typically, American superhero comic books are not close-ended. But if you were bringing an end to the stories in some other elseworld or medium, how would you do so?
Which heroes would retire, which would die? But what I'm really interested in is how one would firmly end a villain. Jail is a tough sell, since it's such a revolving door. Death is too, nowadays, but I'm willing to pretend it isn't. Sci-fi or supernatural prisons are possibility. Redemption for a few.
Lex Luthor - I actually think he could be reasonably be outed and destroyed and imprisoned, in a world where such a thing would stick. I like that ignominious ending for him.
Darkseid - I'd like him destroyed and a new hope for Apokalips. It would take decades of rebuilding and reshaping the culture, at least. A real long-term effort.
Joker - He has to die to me. And Batman can't do it, because he's Batman (unless, I guess, he does in an action that kills himself as well, so he doesn't have to live with it). I'm actually kind of a fan of 2006-era-Peacekeepermaker being a situation where Joker is threatening folks, and just putting a bullet in him. Or him getting his skull crushed by Zod when he makes a scene. Or something else abrupt and unimportant to the person doing the killing. I get the idea it isn't dramatic enough. It isn't about the hero or that long struggle that they've had. But I do like it.
Thawne - Haven't decided on a good end for him.
I'd kinda like Slade's ex to kill him. I dislike him a lot, and moreso when anyone tries to act like he isn't a villain.
There are some villains, too, who simply age out of being able to do what they do. Then question is whether they are caught (or die) because of that aging or manage to transition to more sedentary roles.