Into the Abyss: Top 10 Most Shocking Fictional Deaths (I never got over)

The deaths of our favorite fictional characters never come easy, but they hurt that much more when they are unexpected. So, I'll be discussing the top 10 character deaths in any medium of fiction that had me screaming up at the cloudy sky and breaking out my tub of ice cream.

10. Optimus Prime (1986)

While Optimus' final moments weren't entirely unexpected, it was his final speech to the other autobots and his battered condition that really struck a nerve. Here he was, a hero to children across the globe, broken and uttering his final words. Definitely a sincere moment, one of which I'm sure has stuck with many people to this day.

9. Zero (2001)

Yeah yeah, he's been revived more times than Batman, but Zero's death in Mega Man X5 is especially resonating. After an intense battle with series antagonist Sigma, Zero meets his fate, but not before reflecting on his life with his best friend X. The thought of the duo of the X series being torn apart indefinitey was hard to bear. Having to look at the mangled mess of his wires and inner components was especially gut-wrenching.

8. Brockenman (1983)

Known to anime fans as the infamous "camel clutch" match, wrestler Brockenman, Nazi and father of Brocken Jr., was unexpectedly torn completely in HALF by Ramenman. It started as camel clutch, a wrestling move that involves simply pulling your opponent backward by his chin. This went unexpectedly south when Brockenman was seperated from his lower half, without a doubt the most violent scene in the entire manga.

7. The Ninja Turtles (2003)

Now, I know the picture is NOT from the cartoon im about to mention, and I know it was merely a "what if" scenario, but still. In the episode, Donatello wakes up to find himself in an alternate dimension, where Shredder rules the world, all hope was lost, and the turtles hadn't spoken in years. Donny manages to help them team up again and take down both Shredder and his daughter Karai, but not before the turtles (minus Donny) met their fate. To watch that, brothers falling before one another, is truly heart-wrenching. There's even a scene where Raph is enraged over Leo's death.

6. The Joker (1999)

I love the Joker to death (pun totally intended), but c'mon. As shocking as it was you can't say he didn't deserve it. Especially when you consider the events leading up to his death. He kidnaps Robin, breaks him mentally and turns him into a "Joker Jr." After facing an infuriated Batman, this scene actually has an edited and unedited ending. Both end with Robin killing Joker, but the unedited version involves him recieving a rod through the chest via bang gun, while the edited (and more violent version, in my book) features him drenched in water, slipping on cords and live-wiring. Ouch.

5. The Champ (1979)

Okay, no more. I'll make this quick. The Champ is a heartwarming story about a boxer and he dies at the movies end and the kid cries like I'm about to, pleading, "Get up, champ! You gotta get up!" Make it stop.

4. Mufasa (1994)

Another iconic scene from a great movie. The scene in which Simbas father dies is already chaotic, with Simba roaming amongst the wild, snarling masses, afraid and searching for his father, who at this point is dangling precariously from a cliff. What makes this so shocking is double-fold: Scar playing a hand in his death (Long live the king!) and Simba finding his father's body, and coming to the realization that he is dead, and he now must fend for himself.

3. Goku (1992)

This is technically the 2nd of Gokus many deaths, but its shocking in its own right. After Cell is kicked so hard in the stomach that he regurgitates Android 18 (and by extension reverts back to his Semi-Perfect form), he decided the only way out is suicide, so he begins to implode himself. Goku, thinking fast, suddenly grabs Cell and uses Instant Transmission to transport Cell to King Kais planet. There, Cell implodes, taking Goku, King Kai, Bubbles and Gregory with him.

2. Kung Lao (2011)

This scene is from the most recent Mortal Kombat game. During this alternate retelling of the series canon, underestimated underdog Kung Lao gets his chance in the spotlight when he, in front of a crowd of thousands, single-handedly defeats all of Shao Khan's minions. During his short-lived celebration, the Emperor himself cuts it short, sneaking up behind the monk and breaking his neck, in front of his allies no less. The fact that Kung Lao, who waited so long to be able to prove himself to his friends and family, had it brutally cut short by the hands of evil incarnate, is something that had me breathless.

1. Jason Todd (1988)

Perhaps the most infamous comic death of all time, Jason Todd was the second Robin and succesor to Dick Grayson, introduced a mere 6 years before his death in 1988. Initially a well liked character, the 1985 company-wide reboot "Crisis on Infinite Earths" turned him into a snotty, short-sighted brat with anger issues, who often broke the rules and disrespected Batman's authority. He was so disliked, DC comics gave the fans a chance to determine his fate, colesseum style. By a mere 28 votes, Jason Todd was brutally victimized by The Joker (via recieving end of a crowbar) before finally dying when Joker blew up the building he was in, all before Batman could arrive. Todds death gained national attention, and became an event both Batman and his fans would never forget.