In superhero comics, especially Marveldeath has become obsolete at this point. It's hard to take death seriously when everyone is expected to be resurrected sooner or later. There used to be a saying in comics that unless your name is Uncle Ben, Gwen Stacy, or Bucky Barnes, no one stays dead in comics forever... and all three have returned in one way, shape, or form.
However, the meaning of death is not necessarily whether the character who died comes back, but more so in how it impacts the other characters and the surrounding story. There are some deaths that have this kind of impact on the entire comics industry as a whole, not just Marvel. Additionally, there are some cases where a resurrection can be just as impactful as a character's initial death, if not more so.
10
Reckless
Reckless #12 by Chip Zdarsky, Marco Checchetto, Matthew Wilson and Clayton Cowles
Matt Murdock's most recent death has managed to be the most important yet. After being tricked by the Hand and his friends' souls sent to Hell, Daredevil hatches a plan to fight the Beast head-on, but the only way to go to Hell is to die. With Elektra's help, Matt officially becomes the Hand of God, heading to Hell to save his friends. He does this as a self-sacrifice, but for which he is rewarded by being reborn as a priest. Initially, he doesn't remember his time as Daredevil, nor do most people, but he slowly regains his memories and costume.
Daredevil's death changes his status quo in the biggest way since his debut, while also changing his attitude towards what he does. For decades, his character has been gripped by Catholic guilt, but for the first time, as he approaches death, he embraces that guilt to go to Hell in the name of God.
9
Elektra
Reckless #181 by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson and Joe Rosen
The only death in Daredevil The lore more important than Matt Murdock's many deaths is Elektra's death. At the time, despite her love for Daredevil, she was still a complex killer – bordering on villainous – who worked for the Kingpin. When he hired her to kill Foggy Nelson, she was unable to eradicate Matt's best friend, putting her in opposition to another hitman hired by Wilson Fisk, Bullseye. Bullseye and Elektra fought an even fight - until he slashed her neck with a letter and stabbed her with her own sai.
Elektra's inevitable resurrection helped set her on a heroic path, which eventually put her on the path to becoming the next Daredevil. A full redemption arc and superhero turn might not have happened if Elektra Natchios hadn't been forced to face death head on.
8
Ultimate Spider-Man
Ultimate Spider-Man #160 by Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Bagley, Andy Lanning, Andrew Hennessy, Justin Ponsor and Cory Petit
Outside of the Earth-616 continuity, Spider-Man was the most beloved character in the original Ultimate Universe. His noble death was absolutely heartbreaking, but it also had a huge domino effect that affected Earth-1610 and the official Marvel canon. After Peter Parker's death, Miles Morales made his debut in the Ultimate Universe to take his place as the new Spider-Man. If Peter had never died, the world would never have gotten this now-iconic version of Spider-Man.
At some point in Miles' journey, it is revealed that Peter was resurrected by the same Oz Formula that gave him his powers. He ends up giving his approval to Miles for his superhero duties, which is huge for any superhero who continues another's legacy. Peter died with the rest of Earth-1610, with Miles and the Creator being his only survivors during the transition to Marvel's main 616 continuity.
7
Hawkeye
The Avengers #502 by Brian Michael Bendis, David Finch, Danny Miki, Frank D'Armata, Albert Deschesne and Richard Starkings
Hawkeye is an often overlooked Avenger, but when it comes to the M's House plot, he may be its most important character. In fact, it can be argued that the whole reason M's House started is because of Hawkeye. During Avengers: DisassembledScarlet Witch experiences a mental breakdown that results in the manifestation of a Kree mothership attack and several casualties. Hawkeye sacrifices himself to destroy the Kree attack.
Although Wanda does not directly kill Clint Barton, her death as a result of her actions is the last straw, and the Avengers officially grow to distrust her, leading to M's house, in which Wanda changes reality. Later, when she reverts reality (minus a percentage of mutants) to its original state, she resurrects Hawkeye, beginning his redemption arc. The way to M's House begins with Hawkeye's death and ends with him coming back to life.
6
Phil Coulson
Dead Pool #31 by Gerry Duggan, Matteo Lolli, Christian Dalla Vecchia, Ruth Redmond and Joe Sabino
In the comics, the SHIELD agent is killed first by Deadpool, who is under the impression that he is following orders from Steve Rogers, who turns out to be an impostor. In death, Coulson goes to Hell and, having now developed a hatred for the heroes who inspired him, makes a deal with Mephisto to return and reshape the world into one shaped by order. So it starts Heroes Rebornin which Phil Coulson is named President of the United States. When he is defeated, Coulson is dead again and no one remembers when he turned evil.
However, in death, he is chosen by the Death Stone to become the new living incarnation of the Infinity Stone. Coulson's role with and as the Death Stone and the Infinity Stone-powered team at his disposal helps expand Marvel's ever-growing Infinity Stones lore in a major way.
5
Doctor Strange
Blood Hunt #1 by Jed MacKay, Pepe Larraz, Marte Gracia and Cory Petit
While this isn't the first time Doctor Strange has died, this death has a domino effect that still looms over Marvel's current continuity. At the height of Blood HuntAs Strange and the Avengers ponder who could have started this reign of terror, courtesy of the vampire population, Blade plunges a sword into the good doctor's chest. Although it is soon revealed that Blade is possessed by Varnae, Strange's death is still in his hands.
As his undead corpse masquerades as a vampire, Strange himself is forced to anoint a new Sorcerer Supreme in his place to set the world right. Much to everyone's dismay, Doctor Doom becomes the Sorcerer Supreme. Strange is under the impression that this replacement would be temporary, but Victor refuses to give up his new powers in favor of creating One World Under Doom. Strange is corporeal once again, but the planet is under Doom's control.
4
Captain America Steve Rogers
Captain America #25 by Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting, Frank D'Armata and Joe Caramagna
Civil War itself is considered one of the most important events in Marvel lore. It's not necessarily because of the big fight between Team Iron Man and Team Captain America at the center of it all, but because of how the direct consequences have altered the trajectory of Marvel stories moving forward. Among the main post-Civil War moments was the death of Captain America in Civil War epilogue. Captain America symbolizes the heart of Marvel Comics in the same way that Superman symbolizes the heart of DC Comics, so when Steve Rogers died, it was equally interesting.
Some time later, however, Cap's death was followed by Ed Brubaker and Bryan Hitch's Captain America: Reborn, revealing that although his physical body was destroyed, his soul was transported through time. It's complicated, but Cap's death could be cited as the last major death in the comics, even if he returned from the dead like they all do. It also established Captain America as a passable mantle, with Bucky - and later Sam Wilson - later taking on the role that Steve Rogers originated.
3
Bucky Barnes
Captain America #6 by Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting, Frank D'Armata and Randy Gentile
Believe it or not, there has never been a singular issue that depicted Bucky's death. When Captain America emerges from his sleep on the iceberg in 1963 THE Avengers #4 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, it is established through dialogue that Bucky died in an explosion in World War II. This narrative was eventually accepted as part of the Marvel canon until 2005. The revival of Bucky Barnes as the Winter Soldier may arguably be the most vital retcon to occur in Marvel continuity. Retcons tend to be frowned upon, but sometimes, retcons actually benefit the stories and the characters within them.
A forgotten companion from the past has been molded into a villain-turned-antihero, with his tales of atonement utterly captivating. Bucky plays such an important role in current Captain America and Marvel stories that it's hard to imagine what those stories would be like if Bucky stayed dead.
2
jean gray
The X-Men #100 by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, Bonnie Wilford and Annette Kawecki
It's become a cliché at this point for Jean Gray to die in the comics, but her first death was a big deal, with her resurrection and first Phoenix story being even bigger. Jean Grey's resurrection in the Phoenix entirely defined Jean as a character - and for the better. To this day, Jean's name cannot be evoked in any context without feeling the need to bring up the Phoenix Force, which has become essential to Marvel's lore as a divine cosmic entity.
Almost instantly since its introduction, the Phoenix Force became one of the most powerful divine beings in the Marvel canon, simultaneously giving Jean longevity as a character by connecting her to an immortal powerhouse. Not only is the Phoenix Force connected to Jean, but in her more recent story developments, she has merged with the Phoenix and ascended to godhood.
1
Gwen Stacy
The Amazing Spider-Man #121 by Gerry Conway, Gil Kane, John Romita, Tony Mortellaro, Artie Simek and David Hunt
Gwen Stacy's death is, without a doubt, the most important moment in comic book history. This death alone changed the course of not only Spider-Man's life, but also the stories of the comic book industry as a whole. Peter's failure to save his beloved essentially started the Parker Luck trend that defined every major decision in his superhero career. Gwen's death also allowed Peter to pursue Mary-Jane Watson, which really changed his life. Meanwhile, his death marked the true end of the Silver Age, meaning anyone could actually die in superhero comics.
Although his brief resurrection during Judgment Day wasn't all that significant, Marvel bringing Gwen back, even if briefly, served the alternate function of her death, as it proved that death in the comics doesn't really mean anything if someone - even the one person who was never resurrected after five decades - can return to life Marvel comics.