Complete Guide To Every X-Men Character Who Returned After Death

20. Cypher

How Did He Die?

In a fight between the New Mutant, the fascist anti-mutant militia known as the Right, and the Ani-Mates (led by the Ani-Mator, naturally), Doug pushed his teammate Wolfsbane out of the way of a gunshot. Unfortunately for Doug, he wasn't wearing his bulletproof threads - and doubly unfortunately for Doug, he ended up catching the bullet right in the chest.

What's tragic about how the scene plays out is the fact that no one notices Doug die. Wolfsbane runs off, telling Doug to stop being silly and go and hide (as he doesn't possess any offensive powers), not even noticing that he's caught a bullet. Doug very sweetly whispers an apology to her, promising not to do it again, as he lies bleeding on the ground.

Wolfsbane finds Doug lying in a pool of his own blood once the battle has concluded, and pleads with him to stop teasing them - but he's not teasing. He's dead. It's heartbreaking, and one of the starkest moments to exist in any X-Men comic.

How Did He Come Back?

Yes, sure enough, Marvel had to sully another great death by way of cheap resurrection. This time, the answer to the return of a fan-favourite character was via the Necropolis storyline. Doug's resurrection was half-thanks to an infection with a transmode virus (whatever that is) and half the touch of Selene, an External with vampiric abilities. Initially he came back as a mindless zombie slave of Selene's, but eventually was brought back to the light thanks to his old Self/friend, Warlock.