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* In ''ComicBook/Aquaman1991'' Vulko's apparent offscreen death in ''ComicBook/Aquaman1989'' is revealed to have been a lie designed to lower morale, and he shows up alive and well.
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Fixing a sinkhole


Named after a statement that Creator/MarkTwain [[BeamMeUpScotty didn't actually say]], [[http://www.thisdayinquotes.com/2010/06/reports-of-my-death-are-greatly.html kind of.]] The actual quote was from [[http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JKBIkaKJx-s/UZWvlufa-EI/AAAAAAAAb1w/Mtd18rRvDP0/Mark%252520Twain%252520report%252520of%252520my%252520death%252520letter%252520May%25252031%25252C%2525201897%25255B16%25255D.png?imgmax=800 a letter]] he wrote to the New York Journal:

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Named after a statement that Creator/MarkTwain [[BeamMeUpScotty didn't actually say]], say, [[http://www.thisdayinquotes.com/2010/06/reports-of-my-death-are-greatly.html kind of.]] The actual quote was from [[http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JKBIkaKJx-s/UZWvlufa-EI/AAAAAAAAb1w/Mtd18rRvDP0/Mark%252520Twain%252520report%252520of%252520my%252520death%252520letter%252520May%25252031%25252C%2525201897%25255B16%25255D.png?imgmax=800 a letter]] he wrote to the New York Journal:



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A favorite tactic of supernatural killers, who return in the sequels after thought to be destroyed in the previous film.

See also FirstLawOfResurrection, where character was meant to be KilledOffForReal, but was brought back from the dead in sequels. A form of DramaticIrony if the audience is aware he's alive while the characters aren't. Often goes hand in hand with OurHeroIsDead.

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A favorite tactic of supernatural killers, who return in the sequels after being thought to be destroyed in the previous film.

See also FirstLawOfResurrection, where the character was meant to be KilledOffForReal, but was brought back from the dead in sequels. A form of DramaticIrony if the audience is aware he's alive while the characters aren't. Often goes hand in hand with OurHeroIsDead.


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* During the mid-1970s, a rumor floated aroound that TV series Series/SoulTrain's host Don Cornelius had died of a drug overdose, prompting him to make an announcement at the beginning of a subsequent episode that he had ''not'' died of a drug overdose and his attorneys were trying to find whoever had spread that slander. This also counts as a SuspiciouslySpecificDenial because while Cornelius had carefully stated he did not die of a drug overdose, he never stated that he hadn't used drugs. Of course, this became Harsher in Hindsight after Cornelius died for real in 2012.

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* During the mid-1970s, a rumor floated aroound around that TV series Series/SoulTrain's host Don Cornelius had died of a drug overdose, prompting him to make an announcement at the beginning of a subsequent episode that he had ''not'' died of a drug overdose and his attorneys were trying to find whoever had spread that slander. This also counts as a SuspiciouslySpecificDenial because while Cornelius had carefully stated he did not die of a drug overdose, he never stated that he hadn't used drugs. Of course, this became Harsher in Hindsight after Cornelius died for real in 2012.
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[[folder:Theatre]]
* In Creator/WilliamShakespeare's ''Theatre/HenryIVPart1'' the character Falstaff fakes his death when he is engaged by Douglas, a Scottish Knight to save his own life. When his friend Prince Hal gives a PrematureEulogy and mentions him getting emboweled, Falstaff gets up unharmed objecting to being emboweled.
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Crosswicking


** The first time this happened was at the end of at the end of [[TraumaCongaLine the Exile arc]] in Season 2. When Tubbo came to Logstedshire to visit him, he spotted [[spoiler:the pillar Tommy made to [[DrivenToSuicide jump to his death from]], not knowing that Tommy didn't go through with his suicide attempt]], and immediately assumed the worst with the result being everyone except [[BigBad Dream]] believes Tommy to be dead.

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** The first time this happened was at the end of at the end of [[TraumaCongaLine the Exile arc]] in Season 2. When Tubbo came to Logstedshire to visit him, he spotted [[spoiler:the the pillar Tommy made to [[DrivenToSuicide jump to his death from]], not knowing that Tommy didn't go through with his suicide attempt]], attempt, and immediately assumed the worst with the result being everyone except [[BigBad Dream]] believes Tommy to be dead.



* ''WebVideo/SMPLive'': Despite [[spoiler:seemingly being killed by Travis, Rye (Gold's parrot)]], or perhaps a doppelgänger, still resides in Connor's house.

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* ''WebVideo/PiratesSMP'': After Acho became TheRunaway for over a year before the start of the SMP, leaving the house without a note, stars [[BigBrotherInstinct older brother]], Scott assumed star dead until seeing star again on Day 1. Tragically, this is {{subverted|Trope}} in the finale; Graecie and Apo's initial reaction to Scott breaking the news as the only witness to Acho pulling a MoreHeroThanThou for him is to assume Scott is joking and say [[DudeNotFunny it's not funny]], to which Scott, wracked with SurvivorGuilt by this point, can only respond he ''wishes'' he were joking.
* ''WebVideo/SMPLive'': Despite [[spoiler:seemingly seemingly being killed by Travis, Rye (Gold's parrot)]], parrot), or perhaps a doppelgänger, still resides in Connor's house.



* In TheNineties, four major Australian broadcasting stations announced the death of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Within an hour they realised it would have been better to have confirmed the story, as they were told in no uncertain terms the 93-year old Queen Mum was ''still alive''. It turns out an Australian working for Creator/{{Sky}} News in London had walked in on a test screening of the QM's obituary, got the wrong end of the stick entirely, and rang home to Brisbane with the "[[GoingForTheBigScoop scoop]]." The local radio station put it out, and... let's just say that quite a few Australians no longer work in broadcast news.

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* In TheNineties, four major Australian broadcasting stations announced the death of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Within an hour they realised it would have been better to have confirmed the story, as they were told in no uncertain terms the 93-year old 93-year-old Queen Mum was ''still alive''. It turns out an Australian working for Creator/{{Sky}} News in London had walked in on a test screening of the QM's obituary, got the wrong end of the stick entirely, and rang home to Brisbane with the "[[GoingForTheBigScoop scoop]]." The local radio station put it out, and... let's just say that quite a few Australians no longer work in broadcast news.
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* After the Music/BeastieBoys' debut album, ''Music/LicensedToIll'', was released, rumours started to circulate that Mike D had died from a drug overdose. In response, "Shake Your Rump" from ''Music/PaulsBoutique'' included the following lyrics:

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* After the Music/BeastieBoys' debut album, ''Music/LicensedToIll'', was released, rumours started to circulate that Mike D had died from a drug overdose. In response, "Shake Your Rump" from ''Music/PaulsBoutique'' included the following lyrics:
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* In ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'', Gog-Agog gloatingly announces that news of her demise has been greatly exaggerated, talking over Allison starting to object that no one had thought the practically indestructible Gog-Agog was dead in the first place.
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* MistakenForDying: The character is believed to be dying, but they only have a minor illness - if they're sick at all.

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* MistakenForDying: The character is believed to be dying, but they only have a minor illness - -- if they're sick at all.
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* In ''WesternAnimation/FindingNemo'', Marlin spots Nemo seemingly lying unconscious and belly-up in the dentist's chair, thinking he died and will never see him again. Unknown to him though, Nemo was only ''pretending'' to be dead so the dentist won't give him to Darla.

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* In ''WesternAnimation/FindingNemo'', Marlin spots Nemo seemingly lying unconscious and belly-up in the dentist's chair, thinking he died and will never see him again. Unknown to him though, Nemo was only [[FakingTheDead ''pretending'' to be dead dead]] so the dentist won't give him to Darla.
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* Similarly, LetsPlay/SimonLane was a victim of this himself, after some people tried to pretend he had died in order to scam money, under pretences that it would go towards a revival of ''[[WebVideo/YogscastMinecraftSeries Shadow of Israphel]]''. Subsequently, his and LetsPlay/LewisBrindley's joint channel [[WhyTheFandomCantHaveNiceThings turned off comments for around two months]], since this was the last straw (other comments had been self-promotion of small channels, spamming for reports of SOI, MoralGuardians complaining unnecessarily, and so on).

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* Similarly, LetsPlay/SimonLane was a victim of this himself, after some people tried to pretend he had died in order to scam money, under pretences that it would go towards a revival of ''[[WebVideo/YogscastMinecraftSeries Shadow of Israphel]]''.''WebVideo/ShadowOfIsraphel''. Subsequently, his and LetsPlay/LewisBrindley's joint channel [[WhyTheFandomCantHaveNiceThings turned off comments for around two months]], since this was the last straw (other comments had been self-promotion of small channels, spamming for reports of SOI, MoralGuardians complaining unnecessarily, and so on).

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[[folder:Web Original]]
* On the ''LetsPlay/DreamSMP'', Tommy ends up on the receiving end of this ''twice''.

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[[folder:Web Original]]
Videos]]
* On the ''LetsPlay/DreamSMP'', ''WebVideo/DreamSMP'', Tommy ends up on the receiving end of this ''twice''.


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* ''WebVideo/SMPLive'': Despite [[spoiler:seemingly being killed by Travis, Rye (Gold's parrot)]], or perhaps a doppelgänger, still resides in Connor's house.
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* In December of 2020, many people thought that Creator/DickVanDyke died after he began trending on Twitter. Van Dyke responded by saying that no, he's not dead; it was actually his [[LongLived 95th birthday]]. By the way, he's still alive as of November 2022.

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* In December of 2020, many people thought that Creator/DickVanDyke died after he began trending on Twitter. Van Dyke responded by saying that no, he's not dead; it was actually his [[LongLived 95th birthday]]. By the way, he's still alive as of November 2022.October 2023.
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* During the mid-1970s, a rumor floated aroound that TV series Series/SoulTrain's host Don Cornelius had died of a drug overdose, prompting him to make an announcement at the beginning of a subsequent episode that he had ''not'' died of a drug overdose and his attorneys were trying to find whoever had spread that slander. This also counts as a SuspiciouslySpecificDenial because while Cornelius had carefully stated he did not die of a drug overdose, he never stated that he hadn't used drugs. Of course, this became Harsher in Hindsight after Cornelius died for real in 2012.

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** In ''ComicBook/RedDaughterOfKrypton'', the [[Franchise/GreenLantern Red Lanterns]] believe ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} has been killed when her Ring goes offline (a sure sign that a Red Ring-bearer is dead). They spend several issues believing Kara is dead until Guy Garner bumps into her during the "Atrocities" arc, whereupon he gives her a hug and asks how she survived. Kara proceeds to explain her heart was restarted with a literal sunbath when her Ring was removed.

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** In ''ComicBook/RedDaughterOfKrypton'', the [[Franchise/GreenLantern [[ComicBook/GreenLantern Red Lanterns]] believe ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} has been killed when her Ring goes offline (a sure sign that a Red Ring-bearer is dead). They spend several issues believing Kara is dead until Guy Garner bumps into her during the "Atrocities" arc, whereupon he gives her a hug and asks how she survived. Kara proceeds to explain her heart was restarted with a literal sunbath when her Ring was removed.


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** "ComicBook/SupergirlsBigBrother": Subverted. When a man shows up on the Danvers' doorstep, claiming to be their son Jan, Fred and Edna state that Jan was reported killed in combat several years ago. The man claims the reports of his death were a mistake caused by a mix-up in the records, but later it is revealed that he is a fraud impersonating the real Jan Danvers, who is indeed dead and buried.

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Mpagi was never reported dead, so does not qualify.


* In the Christmas charity livestreams for [[LetsPlay/{{Yogscast}} the Yogscast]] in 2013, LetsPlay/SimonLane put a photo of fellow member Alex "Parv" Parvis (also the guitarist for the band Music/{{Area 11}}) onscreen, claimed he'd died and said that the photo was a mini-memorial. It very promptly became a meme in the form of "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin RIP PARV]]", in no small part thanks to people who believed it was true, and he came back from a gig with the band that very evening to [[https://twitter.com/Area11Parvis/status/407302458290208768 find out he was "dead"]]. Even after he cleared the situation up, there were people who still didn't believe he was still alive nearly seven months later.

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* In the Christmas charity livestreams for [[LetsPlay/{{Yogscast}} the Yogscast]] LetsPlay/{{Yogscast}} in 2013, LetsPlay/SimonLane put a photo of fellow member Alex "Parv" Parvis (also the guitarist for the band Music/{{Area 11}}) onscreen, claimed he'd died and said that the photo was a mini-memorial. It very promptly became a meme in the form of "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin RIP PARV]]", in no small part thanks to people who believed it was true, and he came back from a gig with the band that very evening to [[https://twitter.com/Area11Parvis/status/407302458290208768 find out he was "dead"]]. Even after he cleared the situation up, there were people who still didn't believe he was still alive nearly seven months later.



* Ugandan anti-death penalty activist Edward Edmary Mpagi spent 18 years on death row for the murder of a businessman named George William Wandyaka. In reality, Wandyaka had been injured during a home robbery but survived. However, the civil war in Uganda cut communications between Masaka (where the attack took place) and the capital Kampala (where Mpagi was arrested), preventing the correction of the error.



* Showing that this trope doesn't just apply to people, German radio reported that the carrier USS ''Wasp'' (CV-7) had been sunk [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo in May 1942]] during a mission to transport RAF Spitfires to Malta. The ship's crew, who hadn't even been attacked, much less sunk, had themselves a good laugh, then gathered to symbolically throw a bucket of water overboard and declare their ship had been 'salvaged'.

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* Showing that this trope doesn't just apply to people, German radio reported that the carrier USS ''Wasp'' (CV-7) had been sunk [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarII in May 1942]] during a mission to transport RAF Spitfires to Malta. The ship's crew, who hadn't even been attacked, much less sunk, had themselves a good laugh, then gathered to symbolically throw a bucket of water overboard and declare their ship had been 'salvaged'.



* Creator/JayLeno was falsely reported dead in April 2019. However, the article reporting his "death" [[EpicFail got his year of birth]] ''[[EpicFail AND]]'' [[EpicFail his age wrong.]] (1949 instead of 1950, 71 instead of 68.)

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* Creator/JayLeno was falsely reported dead in April 2019. However, the article reporting his "death" [[EpicFail got his year of birth]] ''[[EpicFail AND]]'' [[EpicFail his birth and age wrong.]] (1949 instead of 1950, 71 instead of 68.)
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** Something similar happened to USS ''Lexington'', CV-16. The Japanese had sunk her predecessor, USS ''Lexington'' CV-2, so the sudden deployment of CV-16 caught them off guard and made them question the original sinking, believing that [[UnexplainedRecovery she had somehow been raised and put back together after exploding]]. It took a Japaneese scout getting eyes on CV-16 for Japan to realize she was a ''much'' more modern ship than CV-2. CV-16 would be reported sunk no less than ''four'' time by infamous propaganda mouthpiece TokyoRose, playing this trope entirely straight (to the apparent entertainment of CV-16's crew, who reportedly viewed it as some sort of RunningGag).
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* In 2008, an internet {{troll}} began circulating reports that voice actor Jerry Jewell had died in a car accident. Jewell remarks on it in the DVD commentary for ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'' episode 9, which was being dubbed around that time: "Yes, I died in a car accident. But I had to record. That's what I'm willing to go through to get the job done." Fitting considering the anime in question, and the fact that such things happen to the characters in it [[ImmortalLifeIsCheap regularly]].

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* In 2008, an internet {{troll}} began circulating reports that voice actor Jerry Jewell had died in a car accident. Jewell remarks on it in the DVD commentary for ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'' ''Literature/{{Baccano}}'' episode 9, which was being dubbed around that time: "Yes, I died in a car accident. But I had to record. That's what I'm willing to go through to get the job done." Fitting considering the anime in question, and the fact that such things happen to the characters in it [[ImmortalLifeIsCheap regularly]].
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'''Note:''' As a DeathTrope, all Spoilers will be unmarked ahead. '''Beware.'''

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'''Note:''' As !!As this is a DeathTrope, all Spoilers will be {{Death Trope|s}}, [[Administrivia/SpoilersOff unmarked ahead. '''Beware.'''spoilers abound]]. [[Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned Beware]].
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Named after a statement that Mark Twain [[BeamMeUpScotty didn't actually say]], [[http://www.thisdayinquotes.com/2010/06/reports-of-my-death-are-greatly.html kind of.]] The actual quote was from [[http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JKBIkaKJx-s/UZWvlufa-EI/AAAAAAAAb1w/Mtd18rRvDP0/Mark%252520Twain%252520report%252520of%252520my%252520death%252520letter%252520May%25252031%25252C%2525201897%25255B16%25255D.png?imgmax=800 a letter]] he wrote to the New York Journal:

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Named after a statement that Mark Twain Creator/MarkTwain [[BeamMeUpScotty didn't actually say]], [[http://www.thisdayinquotes.com/2010/06/reports-of-my-death-are-greatly.html kind of.]] The actual quote was from [[http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JKBIkaKJx-s/UZWvlufa-EI/AAAAAAAAb1w/Mtd18rRvDP0/Mark%252520Twain%252520report%252520of%252520my%252520death%252520letter%252520May%25252031%25252C%2525201897%25255B16%25255D.png?imgmax=800 a letter]] he wrote to the New York Journal:
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* Prior to his real death in 2008, ''Series/DoctorWho'' regular Kevin Stoney (who played Mavic Chen, Tobias Vaughn, and Tyrum) was reported dead in 1985 according to Dreamwatch. However, he appeared at a convention in 1987 to prove he was still alive, which shocked many fans.

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* Prior to his real death in 2008, ''Series/DoctorWho'' regular Kevin Stoney Creator/KevinStoney (who played Mavic Chen, Tobias Vaughn, and Tyrum) was reported dead in 1985 according to Dreamwatch. However, he appeared at a convention in 1987 to prove he was still alive, which shocked many fans.
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* In ''WesternAnimation/AnAmericanTail'', this is what Fievel's family believes after he falls off the boat to America. With the exception of his sister, Tania, they don't even want to entertain the idea that he might be alive. Even worse, [[MissedHimByThatMuch they keep missing each other due to random chances]].

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* In ''WesternAnimation/AnAmericanTail'', this is what Fievel's family believes after he falls off the boat to America. With the exception of his sister, Tania, [[HopeIsScary they don't even want to entertain the idea that he might be alive.alive]]. Even worse, [[MissedHimByThatMuch they keep missing each other due to random chances]].
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* ''WesternAnimation/BlueMountainMystery'': Luke is hiding due to supposedly knocking a yellow engine off the barge and leaving him to drown; that engine is revealed to be Victor, who was saved and repainted afterward.
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* This happened to Music/JustinBieber in 2023 when a report began circulating on social media that he was killed in a car crash - and was very quickly debunked.
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[[folder:Arts]]
* ''Art/TheBayeuxTapestry'': At one point at the Battle of Hastings, William raises his helmet to reveal his face, to reassure his army that he is still alive before their decisive final charge.
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** ''ComicBook/JugheadTheHunger'': Quoted near verbatim by Reggie over the phone, freshly turned werewolf after being assumed dead and trying to coax Veronica into letting him inside.

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** * ''ComicBook/JugheadTheHunger'': Quoted near verbatim by Reggie over the phone, freshly turned werewolf after being assumed dead and trying to coax Veronica into letting him inside.
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** ''ComicBook/JugheadTheHunger'': Quoted near verbatim by Reggie over the phone, freshly turned werewolf after being assumed dead and trying to coax Veronica into letting him inside.

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* ''ComicBook/DuckTales'': In the one-shot "Double Indemnity", Magica's clone of Launchpad forces the boys and Scrooge out of the plane into a sandstorm, and then Magica starts a camel stampede to get them trampled. They survive (of course) and Scrooge quickly gets back to declare that the assassination attempts failed.

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* ''ComicBook/DuckTales'': In the one-shot "Double Indemnity", Magica's clone of Launchpad forces the boys and Scrooge out of the plane into a sandstorm, and then Magica starts a camel stampede to get them trampled. They survive (of course) and Scrooge quickly gets back to declare that the assassination attempts failed.



** In ''ComicBook/SupermanTheDoomsdayWars'', a suddenly speaking Doomsday gloats that "The rumors of my stupidity were greatly exaggerated". Both Doomsday and the person actually riding him, ComicBook/{{Brainiac}}, were thought dead by this point (Doomsday was presumed dead at the end of ''ComicBook/SupermanDoomsdayHunterPrey'' and Brainiac was seemingly killed at the start of ''Doomsday Wars''.)

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** In ''ComicBook/SupermanTheDoomsdayWars'', a suddenly speaking Doomsday gloats ''ComicBook/TheLivingLegendsOfSuperman'': Doble subversion. Superman abruptly stops appearing in the early 21st centuy. An old man called Homer claims he met Superman around the year 2,068, and upon stammering that "The rumors of my stupidity were greatly exaggerated". Both Doomsday and the person actually riding him, ComicBook/{{Brainiac}}, were thought dead by this point (Doomsday Superman was presumed dead at dead, the end Man of ''ComicBook/SupermanDoomsdayHunterPrey'' Steel jokes he got better. However, it is soon revealed that Homer made up that story altogether. ''However'', it is later revealed that Superman disappeared because he got entrapped by a cosmic anomaly and Brainiac was seemingly killed at flung into the start of ''Doomsday Wars''.)distant future.


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** In ''ComicBook/SupermanTheDoomsdayWars'', a suddenly speaking Doomsday gloats that "The rumors of my stupidity were greatly exaggerated". Both Doomsday and the person actually riding him, ComicBook/{{Brainiac}}, were thought dead by this point (Doomsday was presumed dead at the end of ''ComicBook/SupermanDoomsdayHunterPrey'' and Brainiac was seemingly killed at the start of ''Doomsday Wars''.)
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