Deep down we're all a little afraid of death. It's one of the few big question marks still around for humanity. What happens when you die? Does it hurt? Do you go anywhere? Does it all just go dark? To try and understand death, humans have personified it in an effort to try and glean some glimpse of insight into the process. This process has created innumerable personifications of death, from vengeful reaper to a goth chick who's actually pretty cool and just about everything in between.
We put together a list of the coolest, weirdest and best versions of Death, basically the versions we hope are completely off base or are dead-on accurate (puns!). You might recognize a couple Deaths from our Awesome Afterlives list a few weeks back -- because when you have an afterlife, chances are you have a Death that brought them there. But still, this list is all about the reapers, grim and otherwise.
12) Death on Family Guy
Is it ironic that one of the coolest interpretations of Death comes from a show that was resurrected? Probably not, but it's kind of an interesting coincidence. In his first appearance on the series, Death was a more laid back, asshole-ish version of the reaper than we're used to and was voiced by Norm MacDonald. He popped up several times afterwards, suddenly voiced by Adam Carolla, with full episodes devoted to him getting laid up in the Griffin household while Peter takes over his responsibilities and another where Peter tries to hook him up on a date.
11) Angel of Death
For months before the release of Hellboy II: The Golden Army, fans saw images of the impressively creepy Angel of Death. Knowing that the sequel wouldn't take as much from the existing comics, but branch out into its own thing, we were uber curious about how this rad looking being played by special effects actor Doug Jones would figure into the story. In the end, she appeared once and didn't really do a whole lot, pulling a shard out of Hellboy's chest and telling Liz Sherman to give HB something to live for. Yawn. Well, at least the Angel LOOKED cool, even if she didn't do much of interest.
10) Marvel's Death
Probably the most interesting aspect of Marvel's incarnation of Death is that she has so purely and completely made the mad Titan Thanos her bitch. Dude was one of the most powerful beings in the Marvel U and even wielded the all powerful Infinity Gauntlet, but when it came to this purple robed broad with a skeleton face, he was like a 12-year-old girl reading through the all Bieber issue of Tiger Beat. Her next biggest accomplishment? Killing Captain Marvel... with cancer.
9) Black Racer
Jack Kirby's embodiment of death for New Gods might have been named a little on the nose, but he's still got a great visual. Or at least had one while he was still alive. Literally riding around the cosmos on a pair of skis and keeping himself on track with poles, the Black Racer was fused with human Sgt. Willie Walker in Kirby's Fourth World epic and went on to become one of the many versions of death in the DC Universe. Supposedly one of the more stalwart and undeniable incarnations of death, we've seen the Racer talked out of killing Steel by Superman and then got iced himself.
8) The Kids In The Hall's Version
The first new Kids in the Hall material in years, Death Comes to Town, offered fans a multi-part mystery with the citizens of Shuckton trying to figure out who killed the mayor and stuffed his head into a mailbox. With their usual flare for irreverent humor, the Kids created a death who hangs out in hotel rooms, drinks owl blood and holds a grudge against a kid. See, the kid was supposed to be aborted, but wasn't because Death showed up late. He's basically the one that got away. Mark McKinney nailed the character with a perfectly over the top performance and costume which consisted of a speedo, scythe and crazy hooded robe.
7) Black Flash
A superhero has to be pretty badass to have an entire version of death in place just to track down them and their kind. That's the case with DC's Black Flash, which is the personification of death for speedsters like the three Flashes, Impulse, Kid Flash, Max Mercury and the rest. Considering the number of times Wally West has outrun the Black Flash and the fact that Barry Allen and Max Mercury have come back from the Speed Force after being chased down by him, we're thinking the Black Flash isn't so good at his job. Hey, chin up buddy, you've got Johnny Quick... for now.
I am giving my vote to Death from the Bill and Ted movie. His voice is always in my head.
I think the Death of Rats from Discworld was great, just for the SQUEAK
Seconded.
Thank you so much! That's the first thing I thought when I finished the list. Zane is my favorite Death. I'm not familiar with this Discworld stuff, but I've seen it mentioned here before and am curious now.
Dude, that isn't Adam Carolla, that's Norm MacDonald, who is infinitely funnier.
"The aptly named Sydney De'ath started out as dentist and become an undead killing machine whose sole desire for the eradication of life "
Bollocks. He was the SON of a dentist.
FFS people, sacrifice the researchers.
so, we aren't going Eastern on here at all (Shikigami in all their manifestations....) ?
Well, Good Omens is better than the first few Discworlds, but I get your point.
I was stunned when I saw Death on the front page, since that meant she wasn't number one. I was mollified when I saw who got the top slot. It's arguable, and I still think Gaiman's Death should have won, but I can see the argument either way.
I saw the article. I clicked the link. I hit ctrl+f, I typed in "Billy and Mandy", I was taken to the comments, I decided the article was complete bullshit.
Good job failing Topless Robot.
His Colt revolvers are even forged from the Angel of Death's terrible, swift Sword. That's why they never miss, and kill every everything (even God and the Devil).
One of my favorite film Deaths ever.
Manny's just a regular dead guy - an awesome dead guy, sure, but not the Reaper himself.
I fully expected him at at least position five. Huge, huge oversight.
Death of Rats is awesomer than either of 'em.
I went out of my way to get the TPB of the JLA / Avengers crossover. Recently. Like, this year. *punches self in face*
The Hellboy death personification isn't really worth mentioning as in reality, it's a dumbed down version of Samael... Just saying, the Bible did it first, might as well list it instead as the bible version of Samael is insanely creepier. Huge and covered with eyes to see everything as they just glared, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samael
I personally think Yagami Light of DeathNote must be second on this list (Pratchett's Death is still beyond compare).
Came here to say this, etc. Otherwise a good list!
Why isn't Death the horsemen from Supernatural not included on the list. Although a very very brief appearance but really creepy. The dude even got a song.
Buried for not including the death manifestation from the Seventh Seal. The fact that the image of the chess game with death is as iconic as it is despite the fact that the Seventh Seal being relatively unknown to most people who aren't film buff stands as a testimony to how powerful the image is. Chances are everyone who is reading this has seen the image somewhere, whether it is in Bill and Ted's, the opening for Colbert's cheating death segment, or numerous other sources. it is one of the most famous images in all of film and as far as I am concerned THE personification of death.
Dugg for Discworld.
The first thing I thought when I read the headline:
"If Death from Discworld isn't in this list I will punch an infant."
Congratulations, you saved some babies from a very, very, weak fist to the head.
Dugg for Discworld's Death being #1.
If any other Death was on top of the list, I'd bury this link as rubbish.
How come when people talk about Marvel's death, they never mention the love triangle behind her and one certain Merc with a mouth? Wade Willson (also known as Deadpool) Has has a fling with her since the 90's and it plays off well. Just wanted to throw that out there. Also disworld death is fucking win.
Didn't Guillermo Del Toro design them BOTH?
Death from "To Ride a Pale Horse" was one of the few things Piers Anthony didn't screw up. Gotta love a horse that converts to a sports car.
What? No Grim from Capcom's Maximo?
By far, my favorite visual representation of death is that appearing in 'The Frighteners'. The odd proportions and the way it moves makes it truly terrifying.
I miss the personification of death that appears in the television series "Charmed"
Meh, they left out the best of all. Brad Pitt's "Death" in Meet Joe Black.
Really? I'm extremely disappointed in this list.
You didn't even ONCE mention anime/manga versions of death.
Ichigo Kurosaki
Barragan Luisenbarn
Soul Eater
Ryuk (from Death Note)
Light Yagami (Death Note)
Seriously, they're all waaaaaay cooler than the guys on this list.
Good Omens is literally worse than every single Discworld novel and it's still really great. Discworld's death is the absolute best death ever and there's no way I could explain him that would properly explain how awesome he is.
Also, I THINK Death is in every single discworld book. I was watching.
Monty Python's Meaning of Life - death as a social critic.
Good list, though I agree that Piers Anthony's Death is a great one.
Also: THE SEVENTH SEAL HELLO. He plays chess for people's lives! /film snob
I always liked Kid Death from the Quasar comic. He was just.... fun.
Bill & Ted's Death was included, but not the Death it was based upon (Bergman's The Seventh Seal)? Tsk tsk tsk....
I don't know what diskworld is either... but good omens was just amazing. DON'T THINK OF IT AS DIEING.. JUST THINK OF IT AS BEATING THE RUSH!
How about Walken's Gabriel from "The Prophecy"? Bonus awesomeness from that movie: Viggo Mortenson's Satan.
Good list though.
I'm scrolling through and I see Gaiman's Death at number 2 and my eyes squint a little in disagreement. But I cannot argue with Pratchett's Death. Good work.
who
Satanica of the Dead O_o
Skemm, i totally forgot about that one
you missed out on
DEATH , from P. Anthony's ON A PALE HORSE
*for shame rob*
(special thanks to everyone who mentioned it)
GRIM (the grim adventures of Billy and mandy)
dude he did a GUITARSOLO so badass HE burned down the entire neighborhood.
call me old fashioned but wasnt the ALIEN (yes HR GIGER's alien) called BLACK DEATH in the comic series ??
so the Brood of ALIEN should have been included
JAG
Other "Death"'s not in the column or comments.
Brad Pitt in "Meet Joe Black" (or Fredric March in "Death Takes A Holiday")
The Death Pony from "Apocalypse Pony" in "Robot Chicken"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P9qKarW5Pk&feature=related
He's missing from The Wee Free Men (but appears in Hat Full of Sky and Wintersmith), but I think that's the only one he's missing from.
Kronos?? wtf were you smoking?
Not only killed the Devil, but God! By far the best incarnation of Death out there.
Seconded. Death from Supernatural was both creepy and awesome. I hope we get to see a little more of him if they ever make it far enough in the newly announced Supernatural anime.
Death of The Endless should be number one.
Howell.
For what it's worth, Death of the Endless also made an appearance at the end of Incredible Hulk #418. She gives the resurrected Marlo Chandler a brush as a wedding gift.
For what it's worth, Death of the Endless also made an appearance at the end of Incredible Hulk #418. She gives the resurrected Marlo Chandler a brush as a wedding gift.
For what it's worth, Death of the Endless also made an appearance at the end of Incredible Hulk #418. She gives the resurrected Marlo Chandler a brush as a wedding gift.
What about the reapers from the show "Dead Like Me" ..that was a really cool/ fun interpretation of things..
Not necessarily a personification of Death, but what about the Ghost of Christmas Future from Scrooged? He was pretty damn cool.
I always liked the irritated Death from "The Meaning of Life." Not the best Monty Python movie to be sure, but that bit was funny.
"Well that's cast rather a gloom over the evening hasn't it?"
No death from The Meaning of Life?
THE SALMON MOUSSE
So Manny Calavera isn't cool enough for you now?
WTF? Kronos? Seriously TR?
<BLOCKQUOTE>You could say he's not really THE Grim Reaper, but he's close enough</BLOCKQUOTE>
Actually, his backstory is that after he died he became the new Angel of Death, so I'm pretty sure he <I>is</I> the Grim Reaper.
"With their usual flare for irreverent humor"
Where does one get a flare for irreverent humor? Are there flare guns that shoot flares for irreverent humor?
I went through the whole list fully intending to be annoyed if Discworld Death got number two.
I adore him. I hope when I die my braid is nice enough to use him for a last hallucination.
I agree 100 percent with this. I was just about to point this out but thank you for mentioning it. The office of Death from On A Pale Horse by Piers Anthony is a fascinating concept and needs to be on this list!
when i saw this list i was wondering if death from sand man would be in the top five and find her at least number two as for disco world death seems to have a sense of humor and in the vidoe sounds like chrisopher lee doing the voice. black racer shows kirby seems to have had a sense of humor when it came to certain things. and surprise no one from dead like me made the list.
Fuck and yes! Saint of Killers was awesome, and I think he has the highest death toll of any grim reaper personification.
"...The salmon mousse!"
He has appeared in all the adult Discworld novels, but isn't he missing from one or two of the junior books?
I DON'T CARE WHAT IT SAYS. I NEVER LAID A FINGER ON HIM.
Agreed. Zane was one bad mo'fo'.
Uh, hello? Death from Monty Python's Meaning of Life!
He's here about the reaping.
I believe Pratchett's Death joined the Klatchian Foreign Legion rather than the army in general, but he has also spent time getting as drunk as he can and undergoing a "near Sam Vimes experience" while Sam Vimes was having a "near Death experience".
Slight correction: Death has appeared in every Discworld novel, the only character to have done so. He was also in Good Omens (written with Gaiman), in a few Discworld short stories, plus one non-Discworld story ("Turntables of the Night.")
Death and Deadpool have to be my all-time favorite tragic romance in the Marvel universe. People forget that Wade Wilson became Deadpool when he started chasing that purple robe!
Also, I love the reapers in "Dead Like Me"! It's all about that ominous sticky note.
Agreed, he's just like a walking gun. He's so fast you don't see him draw, and he's always got that pissed off grimace on his face. Also he's damn near invincible.
Great. Now not only do I want to punch myself but 9-year old me is mocking me for making such a dumb ass mistake.
This list seriously lacks The Saint of Killers from Preacher, since he becomes the new Angel of Death and kills both the Devil and God along with the entire angelic host.
That and he's one of the most bad-ass characters ever.
i think you missed the death from supernatural, that guy really was creepy
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I COULD MURDER A CURRY.
What about Grim from the "Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy"? Gotta love that Jamaican accent.
Pratchett's Death is my all time favorite. Especially since he makes great sandwiches!
Clicking on the 'Bill and Ted' tag links to an empty list of entries containg 'Bill'. Interesting.
Yes, Angel of Death from Hellboy is creepy. But that's just because it is a blatant rip-off of the mouth of Sauron.
Beat you!
I was all set to be angry until I saw that Pratchett's version of Death was number one.
There are animated series based on Discworld? I must find them!
I have to agree on this. First death I read where I actually though it would be really cool to be it for a day.
Saint of Killers, man! He's fucking owns. You could say he's not really THE Grim Reaper, but he's close enough and he killed God!
Great list otherwise, and good call on the Final Destination death.
Anyone/thing performed by Doug Jones can go on any list ever, basically.
I just started reading the Discworld books and I cannot agree more with #1. Unless there was a production in which Doug Jones was Death, in which case I could, in fact, actually agree more.
Yes he does.
The Discworld books are by Terry Pratchett who wrote Good Omens with Neil Gaiman - which Death also appeared in and spoke in all caps.
Thirded
Don't you mean:
THEN YOU MUST READ DISCWORLD. RIGHT NOW.
?
Beat me to the punch. I beleive the whole team of reapers in Dead Like Me has to work as an ensamble. I couldn't pick just one.
I don't usually comment, but the omission of Piers Anthony's <i>On A Pale Horse</i> Death simply cannot stand, man.
Actually, that's Krona, the renegade guardian. (Don't worry, I have already punched my own face.)
THANK YOU for including the Endless' Death. though i might add Death Note's Ryuk should be on this list as well.
Verily! But I would have picked the cop.
He was also the one responsible for the JLA/Avengers crossover.
But yeah, that entry needs to be fixed.
Really? You make a list about the coolest personifications of death and don't include Death from Supernatural? Who not only has one of the coolest introductions ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyNge7RF_lA
But is also one of the best portrayed interpretations of Death I have seen? (spoilers!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGUr5K6Mog8
with Pratchett's Death at #1 I easily agree with this list
overall one of my more favorite lists, great job!
I feel that the Reapers of Dead Like Me (especially Mandy Patinkin) deserved to be on this list
I just assumed Rube was gonna be number one!
I loves me some Bill and Ted. I have both movies on DVD, and the entire run of the Marvel comic.. I actually had a subscription when they were putting those things out!! I may possibly be the only person in the world who had a subscription to Bill and Ted comics. Haha.
..I want the comics back.. rather them do a gritty reboot or something to my beloved Bill and Ted franchise..
Have to agree with Death from Baron Munchausen. CREEPY!
then you must read discworld, right now.
I love gaiman, but even he would be the first to admit discworld's death is THE Death.
note the correct and accurate prophecies of agnes...
TotalComments: 100
Nerd news, humor and self-loathing.Edited by Rob Bricken
Episode I: The Phantom Metal... Someone replaced the music and dialogue of the new Phantom Menace trailer with death metal and death metal singing, respectively....
