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Death (Death ; has no separate civilian name)

Death (Death ; has no separate civilian name)

26 appearances · Copper/Modern Age · 1992–2024
Who is Death?

One of the seven cosmic siblings known as the Endless, Death is the anthropomorphic embodiment of mortality itself — kind, perceptive, and warmly human in demeanor despite her vast power. She personally ushers every living being into and out of existence, and once each century takes mortal form to better understand those she guides.

Few characters in comics carry their concept with such quiet, enduring grace as Death, who stepped onto the Vertigo scene in 1992 and has been impossible to shake ever since. Born from the Copper/Modern Age with Karen Berger and Chris Bachalo among her creators, she found her fullest expression across two celebrated limited series — Death: The High Cost of Living and Death: The Time of Your Life — that remain touchstones of the era's more literary ambitions. Over more than three decades she's kept remarkable company, sharing pages with the likes of Dream, Batman, Superman, and Supergirl, a testament to how naturally she moves between Vertigo's introspective corners and DC's broader universe. If you haven't spent time with her yet, those two signature series are exactly the place to start.

Identity

Real name. Death (of the Endless); has no separate civilian name

Powers. Anthropomorphic embodiment of death; near-omnipotent within her domain — ushers every living being into and out of life, immortal, omnipresent, reality manipulation, takes mortal form one day each century.

Affiliations. The Endless (siblings: Destiny, Dream, Destruction, Desire, Despair, Delirium)

Vertigo Sampler
#[nn]
★ First appearance
Vertigo Sampler #[nn]
Jan 1992

Part of the Death legacy

Death is one of 2 heroes to carry the Death mantle. See the whole Death family ▸

Top series

Covers through the years — 1992–2024

Star Trek #33 1992
Star Trek #33
Death: The Time of Your Life #1 1996
Death: The Time of Your Life #1
Death: The Time of Your Life #[nn] 1997
Death: The Time of Your Life #[nn]
Vertigo: Winter's Edge #2 1999
Vertigo: Winter's Edge #2
Vertigo Visions: Ten Years of Artwork on the Edge #[nn] 2003
Vertigo Visions: Ten Years of Artwork on the Edge #[nn]
The Complete normalman #1 2007
The Complete normalman #1
The Flash #6 2010
The Flash #6
Cover Story: The DC Comics Art of Brian Bolland #[nn] 2011
Cover Story: The DC Comics Art of Brian Bolland #[nn]
The Sandman Omnibus #3 2019
The Sandman Omnibus #3
The Sandman: The Deluxe Edition #2 2021
The Sandman: The Deluxe Edition #2
normalman Fortieth Anniversary Omnibus #[nn] 2024
normalman Fortieth Anniversary Omnibus #[nn]

Appearances

Vertigo Sampler (1992)
Star Trek (1989)
#33
Death: The High Cost of Living (1993)
A Death Gallery (1994)
#1
normalman - Megaton Man Special (1994)
#1
The Endless Gallery (1995)
#1
Comics Scene (1987)
Death: The Time of Your Life (1996)
Warrior [Ashcan] (1996)
#1
Vertigo: Winter's Edge (1998)
#2
Vertigo Visions: Ten Years of Artwork on the Edge (2003)
Death: At Death's Door (2003)
#1
The Complete normalman (2007)
#1
The Flash (2010)
#6
Cover Story: The DC Comics Art of Brian Bolland (2011)
Superman: Reign of Doomsday (2012)
Splitting Image 80-page Giant (2017)
The Sandman Omnibus (2013)
#3
The Sandman: The Deluxe Edition (2020)
#2
normalman Fortieth Anniversary Omnibus (2024)
The Sandman: The Complete Shakespeare Collection (2024)