History WhamEpisode / ComicBooks

** His ''ComicBook/YoungbloodJudgmentDay'' was this for ''ComicBook/{{Youngblood}}'' - Knightstrike is acussed of killing Riptide, team is disbanded and [[spoiler:entire Universe turns out to be have been plunged into DarkerAndEdgier setting by a magic book]]. Same with his ''ComicBook/{{Supreme}}'' - the very first issue is this for the previous series, revealing that Supreme is only one of many versions of Superman-esque character and now reality rewrites itself, giving him new life and new memories.

* ''ComicBook/{{Cerebus}}'' has several. Most notably in issue 76 when Weisshaupt tells Cerebus that [[spoiler: there are two other Aardvarks.]]

* ''ComicBook/VoidRivals'' #1 starts out as a simple comic about two aliens from rival factions crash landed on an alien world. However, as they search for supplies and try to not kill each other, they discover something that changes everything. Or rather, some''one'': [[spoiler: [[Franchise/{{Transformers}} Jetfire. Welcome, to the ''ComicBook/EnergonUniverse''.]]

* ''[[ComicBook/ScottPilgrim Scott Pilgrim Vs. The Universe]]''. After the previous volume ended on such a happy note, [[spoiler:Scott and Ramona's relationship shows signs of getting stale, [[WhamLine Knives reveals Ramona that Scott cheated on both of them]], [[TearJerker Ramona abandons Scott]] and [[TearJerker Kim leaves Toronto]]. Also ''Sex Bob-Omb'' ends]].

*** The [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin appropriately titled]] "Endgame" storyline was a four-part string of wham episodes. Starting in issue 47, during another routine Robotropolis invasion, Sally took a near-fatal fall from a high ledge, which was done by a Sonic look-a-like. [[FromBadToWorse Things got very bad really fast]] for the real Sonic when he returned to Knothole. Sally was presumed dead from the fall, Sonic was arrested for treason, murder, and was transported to the Alcatraz-like Devil's Gulag. [[BerserkButton Sonic was not happy with any of this]]. Meanwhile, Robotnik plotted to take over Knothole (which he finally discovered) and use his Ultimate Annihilator device over the place (which would [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill phase the village out of existence instead of merely destroying it]]). Needless to say, the stakes were raised to a level unparalleled to [[AdaptationDisplacement even the SatAM cartoon]]. In the end, Sonic managed to stop Robotnik's plan [[BittersweetEnding with mixed results]]. While Robotnik was killed by his own doomsday device, it also permanently jumped Knothole [[YearInsideHourOutside three hours ahead in time from the rest of Mobius]], and Sonic almost died himself, trying to save everyone. But at least for consolation, Sally didn't die. She was stuck in a coma, and in a nice homage to Sleeping Beauty, Sonic kissed Sally to wake her up. Robotnik's demise certainly changed things, but whether it was for the better...[[BrokenBase let's not even discuss it]].

*** Issue #24: [[spoiler: DespairEventHorizon is personified in this issue. The remainder of Amy's team is seen evacuating Tagle's hometown, but they are all emotionally drained with each shred of hope leaving them (Restoration HQ, Tails' lab, and the data reader needed to find a cure to the Metal Virus all having been lost). Cream is completely devoid of her optimism due to losing Cheese, Chocola, and her mom. Espio blames Sonic for the events that transpired due to letting Eggman run free (during his "[[AmnesiacDissonance Mr. Tinker]]" phase). Sonic is especially tired after endless running, and slowly losing his ability to drive back the virus affecting him, as informed by Gemerl. And Whisper is distraught after learning Tangle is infected and staying behind to help them all escape. Starline, meanwhile prepares to bring the Deadly Six over to control the Zombots. The ToBeContinued text at the end appropriately says "Next Time: FromBadToWorse!"]]

*** Issue #50: [[spoiler: Starline is KilledOffForReal after his plan to usurp Eggman [[BigBadWannabe fails]], while Kit is captured by Tails and Surge falls to an UncertainDoom. On the bright side, Belle finally gets the closure that allows her to let go of her DarkAndTroubledPast.]]

*** [[DarkestHour Issues #21-24, "The Last Minute"]] goes UpToEleven. [[spoiler: Tails tries to create a cure, but fails when Zombots destroy his lab. Restoration HQ falls when a ZombieInfectee gets into the base and fully changes, with Vanilla and Vector end up get getting infected in the scuffle. Sonic is seemingly hovering close to the DespairEventHorizon, while [[TheStarscream Dr. Starline gets fed up with Eggman]]; as he's aware that the Zeti are planning to betray them, he concocts a plan to seize control of them first. Which leads us to...]]

*** [[DarkestHour Issues #21-24, "The Last Minute"]] cranks the HolyShitQuotient UpToEleven and tears the handle off. [[spoiler: Tails tries to create a cure, but fails when Zombots destroy his lab. Restoration HQ falls when a ZombieInfectee gets into the base and fully changes, with Vanilla and Vector end up get getting infected in the scuffle. Sonic is seemingly hovering close to the DespairEventHorizon, while [[TheStarscream Dr. Starline gets fed up with Eggman]]; as he's aware that the Zeti are planning to betray them, he concocts a plan to seize control of them first. Which leads us to...]]

** Album 26. [[spoiler:Mélusine and Mélisande are revealed to be twin sisters, not cousins. Their mother is also [[OurFairiesAreDifferent a Fairie]] in disguise, not a [[WitchSpecies Witch]]. This leads to war between Witches and Fairies.]]

* WhamEpisode/TheWalkingDeadComic

** The Apocalypse War gave us the large-scale destruction of much of Mega-City One, the total destruction of its [[TheGreatPoliticsMessUp Soviet rival]] East-Meg One [[spoiler:at Dredd's hands]] and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking a new Chief Judge]], as well as setting the stage for three decades of revenge.

*** Issue 250, the first part of the final arc in the [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogMegaManWorldsCollide Worlds Collide]] crossover with ComicBook/MegaMan ended with [[spoiler: Eggman throwing Dr. Light out of the Wily Egg to fall to his death. Mercifully, Shadow saves him next issue.]]

!DC & Dark Horse
!!DC Comics
* Creator/GrantMorrison's ComicBook/AnimalMan issue 19 - Buddy [[spoiler: breaks the fourth wall and his familly gets killed]].
* ''ComicBook/BlackestNight'' #5: the White Light only serves to make Nekron stronger, and he sends a Black ring to cause "Bruce Wayne" to rise, and 10 black rings are sent out, which then place themselves on the fingers of Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Ice, Animal Man, Donna Troy, Kid Flash, and Superboy, turning them into Black Lanterns, with Hal Jordan and Barry Allen being pursued by the remaining two.
* ''DC Universe: Rebirth'' #1, which kickstarts the ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'' event, nails Wham Moment after Wham Moment as ComicBook/TheNew52 is flipped on its head: [[spoiler:[[ComicBook/TheFlash Wally West]] returns to continuity, there have been ''three'' Jokers, the Justice Society and the Legion of Super-Heroes are still around but locked away memory-wise and -- the big kicker -- the creator of Prime Earth and the cause of the loss of ten years is ''not'' Barry Allen's fault, but the fault of ''[[ComicBook/{{Watchmen}} Doctor Manhattan]]'']].
* ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'', the [[UpToEleven single biggest wham episode in all of comics history.]] Was the ''ultimate'' NothingIsTheSameAnymore for the DC universe. No event has topped it since, though DC has had several since that range in reception from great to good to average to suckish.
* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':
** ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' #662, where Clark Kent finally revealed to ComicBook/LoisLane that he was also Superman.
** Ditto with ''ComicBook/BrianMichaelBendisSuperman'' #18, except replace "Lois Lane" with "the entire world".
** ''ComicBook/SupermanReborn'' was one itself revealing that [[spoiler:the pre-''Flashpoint'' Superman was actually split in two and one of the halves is, in fact, the ''New 52'' Superman.]]
** ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'': There is the title: [[TheHeroDies Superman dies!]] [[DeathIsCheap Then came back.]]
** The soul-crushingly bleak ''ComicBook/Supergirl2011'' #23 has [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} Kara]] [[spoiler: completely disintegrated ([[FamilyUnfriendlyDeath in a particularly traumatic way]]) by the amnesiac Cyborg Superman who uses her DNA to reconstitute himself into an organic being. He immediately discovers he is really Zor-El and has just ''[[MyGodWhatHaveIDone killed his daughter]]''. To top everything off a very angry Brainiac (who 'created' Cyborg Superman) has just arrived.]]
** ''ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow'': Superman's identity is revealed to the world, most of Superman's enemies and friends are killed off for real in the ensuing chaos, Superman is forced to kill Mxyzptlk, and renounces his powers.
* Even relative to the overall aura of Total MindScrew surrounding Creator/GrantMorrison's run of ''ComicBook/DoomPatrol'', the Candlemaker arc was ''made'' of WHAM.
* ''ComicBook/ForeverEvil'':
** The Justice Leaguers are missing, the power grids in cities are down, The Crime Syndicate has freed and gathered all the super-villains to take over the world, and [[spoiler:Nightwing's secret identity is publicly revealed]]. And that's all in the ''first issue''.
** The final issue is also quite whammy, with [[spoiler:Luthor figuring out Batman's secret identity. Oh, and The Anti-Monitor is back and killing universes in preparation to fight Darkseid]].
* The 1969 ''Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'' comics "And So My World Ends..." was this for the ComicBook/MartianManhunter, killing off his planet, his entire species, driving him out of the Justice League, and setting the tone for ever story featuring J'onn J'onnz to be published after the fact.
* The ''ComicBook/ThePowerOfShazam'' issue where Mister Mind escapes from custody and uses Mister Atom's nuclear core to '''[[MoralEventHorizon blow up Fairfield]]''', killing several supporting cast members, including ComicBook/MaryMarvel's parents. Not just for the comic itself, but for the entire [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]]'s franchise; Captain Marvel's adventures are typically LighterAndSofter than the other DC heroes' stories, so for something like this to happen was so unexpected and stunning that it changed the course of the series. It also changed reader-perception of Mister Mind forever, changing him from a Silver Age relic to [[{{Archenemy}} Captain Marvel's most dangerous and personal enemy]].
* The culmination of the infamous ''ComicBook/TheJudasContract'' arc of ''ComicBook/TeenTitans''. Terra, who saved them from Slade and has fought beside them for ages, is TheMole. She's always been The Mole. She's Slade's weapon and [[{{Squick}} lover]], and she's spent her entire time setting them up.
* ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'': Chapter 3. And arguably 9, and, [[spoiler: of course, 11]].

!Marvel
* ''ComicBook/AstonishingXMen'' #4: Kitty Pryde discovers that [[spoiler:Piotr Rasputin, a.k.a. "Colossus"]] is still alive.
* ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' tend to have fewers wham episodes than most, but this makes them all the more dramatic when they do happen:
** Issue 16. Up until Creator/StanLee wrote this issue, the comic had been about the adventures of some of Marvel's biggest star characters, but in this issue, all the founding Avengers, including Iron Man and Thor, leave the team indefinitely, leaving Captain America in charge of a team of new recruits. Even more shockingly, all the new recruits - Hawkeye, the Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver - [[HeelFaceTurn had originally been introduced as villains]]. By the end of the issue, all the original stars are gone and the book's focus has completely changed. It's an example of how a comic can do a NothingIsTheSameAnymore episode with no deaths.
** The classic "Under Siege" story arc from volume 1, issues 273-277. It starts out as a normal day at the Avengers Mansion, only for the Masters of Evil to suddenly attack and promptly curb-stomp the Avengers. They than toss the team out of the Mansion and take it as their new base. It concludes in an epic battle between the Avengers and Masters that concludes with Blackout dead, the Super-Adaptoid loose again, Jarvis in the hospital after being brutalized by Mr. Hyde, and the Mansion wrecked. It really shook things up for the team, making them feel more vulnerable than ever both in and out of universe. The events of the arc haunted the Avengers for some time afterwards, with Captain America and Hercules spending the next several issues in a deep depression because of their perceived failures.
** "ComicBook/UltronUnlimited", in which Ultron officially crossed the MoralEventHorizon by ''wiping out a country''. Yeah he had been evil before than, but that made it explicitly clear that the bastard is completely beyond redemption.
* ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'':
** Issue #25 by Ed Brubaker - ComicBook/TheDeathOfCaptainAmerica.
** Then in #600, it's revealed that Cap isn't quite dead and that there's a way to save him, leading into the ''Captain America: Reborn'' miniseries.
** They made another in the next comic line at 2016, whereas at the end of the first volume... [[spoiler:Cap is revealed to be a HYDRA double agent by normally proclaiming 'Hail HYDRA'. This renders 75 years of story time about the patriotic Captain America either annulled or going to be very awkward.]][[note]] Not to worry though, it wasn't the real Cap, but a version of him from another universe. [[/note]]
* Ever since Creator/FrankMiller graced the pages of ''ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}'' with his presence, this trope has become a defining element of the series and made NothingIsTheSameAnymore a recurring theme.
* The Fantastic Four changed its entire tone and "atmosphere" after Galactus made his first appearance. Then on, the stories and art both became "bigger". Instead of helping roust escaped inmates or reel in a bank robber, the Four were confronted by whole unknown races like the Kree and the Inhumans. Where Doom before just attacked the FF, he attacked the entire world after absorbing the power of the Surfer. Weapons got gigantic, monsters and robots were more realistic, and the drawing became more three-dimensional with Kirby Energy Spheres heaped on in abundance.
* ''ComicBook/JourneyIntoMystery'' 645 [[spoiler: suggests a very different view of all of kid!Loki's adventures up to that point]]
* ''ComicBook/NewXMen'':
** "E For Extinction": The entire course of the franchise changes. A fleet of Sentinels obliterates the island Genosha, killing everyone except for a handful of survivors. Emma Frost (who survived the destruction) realizes that she has a secondary mutation, and joins the X-Men permanently to get revenge on the culprit. Professor Xavier (controlled by Cassandra Nova) outs himself as a mutant on live television.
** "Planet X" is a concentrated series of these. Xorn (who was brought onboard with the team 30 issues prior) is revealed to be Magneto in disguise. He subsequently cripples Xavier again and tries to exterminate everyone in New York. Logan and Jean are trapped on an asteroid hurtling into the sun - and he stabs her in the chest, reawakening the Phoenix. A massive battle ensures in New York, which results in the (supposed) deaths of Magneto and Jean.
*** The ''other'' ''[[ComicBook/NewMutants New X-Men]]'' had one of its own, when the Purifiers blew up a bus loaded with depowered mutant children in the aftermath of M-Day.
* The ''ComicBook/TheNightGwenStacyDied'' storyline might qualify as a Wham Issue ''IF'' the cover had not had TonightSomeoneDies in large letters on it. It was still pretty whammy, though, because [[LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt no one really thought they would kill]] ''her''.
** Blame the Comics Code Authority - "If a major character lacking power and unconnected to the antagonist dies in the issue (back then) the death must be listed on the cover." - listing a whole BUNCH of people was an awesome cover for it. It's also universally regarded as the single GREATEST Wham moment in comicdom. Ever.
** Spidey has his share of whams. In ComicBook/TheCloneSaga it's [[spoiler: death of Aunt May]]. First issue of the [[ComicBook/JMSSpiderMan JMS run]] does another wham with Ezekiel asking a simple question - [[spoiler: what if Peter's powers don't come from radioactivity?]] -- and another one when [[spoiler: Aunt May finds out he is Spider-Man]]. ComicBook/BrandNewDay does that with the beginning of The Gauntlet arc -- [[spoiler: Electro destroys the Daily Bugle]].
** Amazing Spider-Man #698 gives us perhaps one of the biggest whams yet. [[spoiler: We learn that somehow, Doctor Octopus has switched bodies with Peter. Keep in mind, that Doc Ock is at near-death and that he's essentially doomed Spidey to an undignified death, while he gets to run rampant with all of Peter's powers, abilities, and memories.]]
** Superior Spider-Man #9 has [[spoiler: Doc Ock wiping Peter from his mind and finally taking full control of Peter's body.]]
** Superior Spider-Man #19 has [[spoiler: Horizon Labs destroyed, Spider-Man 2099 trapped in the past, Doc Ock losing major credibility... and [[HesBack Peter Parker starting to dig his way out of Ock's erasure.]]]]
** Superior Spider-Man #25, [[spoiler: Peter DOES come back, though he's playing smarter than last time]].
* ''ComicBook/OriginalSin'' was basically a massive Wham Episode for the whole Marvel Universe; [[spoiler: Nick Fury murders the Watcher and takes his place as punishment, Dr. Midas and the Orb return, Ulana is going to give birth to Uatu's son soon, Daredevil learns the truth about his mother, Captain America learns about the mindwipe the Illuminati performed on him, it's revealed that Iron Man was indirectly responsible for Bruce Banner becoming the Hulk, Thor is rendered unworthy of his hammer, Peter Parker wasn't the only one bitten by the radioactive spider, the 1970's Avengers are gathering again for unknown reasons, and Dum Dum Dungan has been DeadAllAlong, having been replaced with an LMD after the real one died in the Sixties]]. ''Yeah''.
* ''ComicBook/RomSpaceKnight'' had the most shocking twists occur in the 49th and 50th issues. The former had Dire Wraiths kill and impersonate Steve Jackson as well as Brandy's parents, while the latter had the same fate befall Brock Jones/The Torpedo.
* The first volume of ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'' ended with Alex revealing himself to be the mole. Immediately after that, he got himself killed. And immediately after ''that'', all twelve members of the Pride got blown up, taking the series in a completely new direction. The end of the second volume was in some ways even more shocking, as a major character who ''wasn't'' evil got KilledOffForReal.
* Sgt. Fury lost the love of his life, Pamela Hawley, after he had bought the engagement ring and went through hell to retrieve it during a battle. She died during a London air raid.
* The classic [[ComicBook/TheTransformers Marvel Transformers comic]] featured quite a few notable ones:
** Issue 24-25: Optimus Prime seemingly dies after he sacrifices his moral beliefs to win a battle. Megatron's mental state collapses, causing Shockwave and the Predacons to try and overthrow him, a conflict that ends with Megatron missing and Shockwave leading the Decepticons.
** Issue 38-39: Fortress Maximus and the Headmasters finally reach Earth, only for Scorponok to kill Prince Galen. Spike is forced to binary-bond with Cerebros and Fort Max and Shockwave is knocked into Earth's orbit, burning up and putting him out of commission for a fair amount of time afterwards.
** Issue 50: Starscream manages to contact [[ArtifactOfDoom the Underbase]], causing him to go insane with godlike power. What ensues is a massive battle that ends with over half the cast dead or in critical condition and Scorponok in control of the Decepticons[[note]]As whammy as the issue was, the basis behind the story was anything but. It was merely a "deck-clearing" excercise, meant to get rid of the old cast who no longer had toys on the shelves, leaving the new characters, who still had toys, in charge[[/note]].
** Issue 59-61: Ratchet and Megatron apparently die in a massive explosion. Grimlock, Bumblebee, and Jazz travel to the core of Cybertron and learn of Primus and the origins of the Transformer race. A misfire from Octopunch briefly awakens Primus and triggers a scream that alerts Unicron to Cybertron's location, kicking the MythArc into high-gear and sending the Classic Pretenders and Nightbeat on a race to find the Matrix before Unicron arrives.
*** More recent comics have taken Octopunch's blunder to an extreme level: as both Primus and Unicron are referred to as "multiversal singularities" in Transformers lore, said awakening scream is echoed throughout multiple timelines, retroactively making this a Wham Episode for ''the entire Transformers multiverse''.
** Issue 66: Thunderwing gets the Matrix, which has become corrupted and violent, and uses it's power to kill Landmine, forcing Nightbeat to blow both Thunderwing and the Matrix out the airlock. Without the Matrix, the Autobots must find a different way to battle Unicron.
** Issue 69: Shockwave, Starscream, and Ravage begin scheming to overthrow Scorponok and fool Mindwipe, Triggerhappy, and the Battlechargers into joining their coup. Galvatron is sent out by Unicron as a harbinger, Grimlock goes AWOL to track down the Nucleon, and Optimus Prime and Nightbeat discover that Ratchet and Megatron survived the Space Bridge explosion, only to be [[BodyHorror fused together by it's energy]].
** Issue 72-75: Shockwave launches his coup just as Primus possesses Xaaron and forcibly summons the Autobots and Decepticons to Cybertron to force them into battle with Unicron. An incredible battle ensues, during which numerous castmembers are killed, including '''Primus himself'''.
* Creator/MarvelComics managed to do this with ''the very first issue'' of ''ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}}''. TheReveal is considered one of the best in the industry. In case you're wondering: The Thunderbolts were a team who first showed up in ''ComicBook/IncredibleHulk'' after the whole ComicBook/{{Onslaught}} thing (long story short, the ComicBook/FantasticFour and ComicBook/TheAvengers are missing and no one knows how the rest of the superhero community can fill the vacuum), and made various miscellaneous appearances. They got their own book and their public debut by restoring order to the ruined Manhattan, defeat the Wrecking Crew and receive public approval even greater than even the Avengers themselves had after went public. And then we get to see Citizen V, the team leader, without his mask. And, perhaps more significantly, we get to see him with his ''real'' mask. The Thunderbolts are the Masters of Evil, the nemeses to the Avengers, led by Baron Zemo. Holy shit.
** What really makes it impressive is how Marvel kept it under wraps. There was no idea that there even was a secret to give away; Creator/PeterDavid even had the solicitation rewritten for the team's first appearance in ''Incredible Hulk'' to keep it quiet.
*** They even went so far as to make the early appearances of the team and bulk of the first comic [[StylisticSuck slightly dull and generic]], fully intending for TheReveal to make up for the likely poor initial sales.
* In an issue of ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'', Marvel uses one of the most infamous events of Spider-Man to pull a massive wham episode. They parallel the Death of Gwen Stacy exactly with the minor detail of switching her out for Mary Jane Watson, the visual is so exact, even down to the way she bends as she falls, that when her head snaps back as Spidey's webline hits her, no reader of the original comic is left with even the slightest doubt that they just killed off Peter's most recognizable love interest, the flame headed Mary Jane (but they didn't).
** "The Death of Spider-Man" is, as the title suggests, the biggest wham of the series. [[spoiler:Mysterio turned out to be a robot made by the 616 Mysterio, Green Goblin breaks out of the Triskelion, forms the Sinister Six one final time, kills Doctor Octopus when he defects against him, a huge-ass superhuman war occurs, Spider-Man gets shot by the Punisher, fights off the remaining Six members in his own neighborhood while bleeding out, and then finally, Spider-Man and Green Goblin '''''[[MutualKill kill each other]]'''''. [[DeathIsCheap Temporarily anyway.]]]]
* The ''ComicBook/{{Ultimatum}}'' event was a big WHAM for the entire ComicBook/UltimateMarvel line. We knew that a huge disaster would prompt a line-wide ReTool, but we didn't know how bad it would get. Half the X-Men died. B-list heroes (in this 'verse) Daredevil and Dr. Strange died. Spider-Man... ''looked'' like he died. ''Xavier and Magneto'' died. ''Dr. Doom''[[note]][[spoiler:'s BodyDouble]][[/note]] died. '''''Wolverine''''', whose mainstream version is patron saint of FromASingleCell, died. And the Fantastic Four and surviving X-Men disbanded.
* It's fairly easy to characterize Chris Claremont's famous run on ''Uncanny X-Men'' as a prolonged string of these, as he took the series to heights that defined the franchise and changed the face of the industry:
** Issue #131: Colossus is forced to kill Moira [=McTaggert=]'s mutant son, Proteus, when he escapes from a containment cell.
** Issue #131: The Hellfire Club shows up for the first time - ''and captures nearly the entire roster of X-Men'' - then announces that Jean Grey (Phoenix) has become the club's new Black Queen, while Wolverine is the last man standing and swears to get revenge.
** Issue #134: Mastermind manipulates Jean into becoming the Dark Phoenix, an incredibly powerful entity that blows up the X-Jet with the team inside.
** Issue #137: The ending of the "Dark Phoenix Saga". The X-Men are forced to fight a group of Shi'ar Imperials in order to win Jean's freedom, and she ends up sacrificing herself to protect the team and stop the fighting. In the next issue, Cyclops quits the team and Kitty Pryde joins the school.
** Issue #167: After foiling the Brood's plan to infect the entire team, the X-Men return home -- only to discover that the Brood Queen infected Xavier, who hunches over and turns into one as the team looks on horrified. The team manage to save his consciousness and clone a new body for him - which has the added effect of letting him ''walk again''.
** Issue #200: Magneto's trial for crimes against humanity ends with him being found not guilty. He subsequently performs a HeelFaceTurn, and is asked by Xavier (who departs for the Shi'ar homeworld) to become the new headmaster for the Xavier Institute.
** Issue #201: Along with introducing Madeline Pryor's son, Cable, for the first time, Scott and Storm duel in the Danger Room to see who will lead the X-Men -- and Storm wins, leading Cyclops to leave the team again.
** Post-Claremont ''Uncanny'':
*** Issue #281: Trevor Fitzroy is introduced, and commands his Sentinels to attack the X-Men and Hellions, leading to both Jean Grey and Emma Frost being declared dead by the team.
*** Issue #303: Colossus' sister (and long-running supporting character), Illyana, dies from the Legacy Virus, and is the first casualty that hits close to home for the team.
*** Issue #370: Colossus sacrifices himself to synthesize a cure for the Legacy Virus.
* ''Franchise/XMen: Legacy'' vol.2 has one in issue #5 - turns out [[spoiler: Up until this point David was manipulated by Ruth's evil brother, allowing him to try kill his sister]]. Then in issue #6 it seems like David has things under control and future looks bright for him, until [[spoiler: he is defeated in his own mind by Evil Charles Xavier, who reveals in future David will destroy all mutants and Ruth is the one who will save them - by killing him]]. Then comes issue #18, in which [[spoiler: Emma Frost makes David fall into despair, allowing Evil Xavier to escape and steal Luca's body]]. Then comes issue #22 where [[spoiler: David loses control and turns into monstrous entity that starts absorbing minds of every mutant on the planet]].
** Simon purrier's run on ''ComicBook/XForce'' seems to followsuit. Issue #5 reveals [[spoiler: Marrow was pregnant and undergoing process that gave her back her powers made her misscarriage. And only pages later it turns out she undergo this process willingly, knowing the risk very well]]. And in issue #6 it turns out [[spoiler: Cable is slowly dying and prolonging his life with cloned bodies, while Meme has been dead all along - Meme characters interact with is really comatose Hope, secretly using her powers to be with her father]].
* ''ComicBook/YoungAvengers'' vol.2 has three in a row. First issue #8 ending on [[spoiler: Prodigy kissing Hulkling]]. In next isssue [[spoiler: Billy and Teddy break up, Teddy quits the team, and it turns out his therapist is Leah of Hel]]. Final series of whams comes in issue #10 - [[spoiler: Loki was manipulating both Young Avengers and Mother from the very begining, Leah joins forces with Mother and gives her Hulkling]]. Then comes issue #12 in which turns out [[spoiler: Leah isn't real Leah, but Loki's self-loathing given female form]].
* The ''ComicBook/XMen'' storyline "Fatal Attractions" had Wham Moment after Wham Moment. Including:
** ''ComicBook/XForce'' #25 - Cable returns, only for new foe Exodus to beat him senseless!
** ''Uncanny X-Men'' #304 - Magneto returns and a disillusioned Colossus joins the Acolytes!
** ''X-Men vol. 2'' #25 - Magneto rips out Wolverine's adamantium and Xavier mindwipes Magneto!
** ''Wolverine vol. 2'' #75 - Wolverine discovers that there's more to his claws than the adamantium!

** ''ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow'': Superman's identity is revealed to the world, most of Superman's enemies and friends are killed off for real in the ensuing chaos, Superman is forced to kill Mxyztlk, and renounces his powers.

* ''ComicBook/RomSpaceKnight'' had the most shocking twists occur in the 49th and 50th issues. The former had Dire Wraiths kill and impersonate Steve Jackson as well as Brandy's parents, while the latter had the same fate befall Brock Jones/The Torpedo.

* ComicBook/MarvelComics managed to do this with ''the very first issue'' of ''ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}}''. TheReveal is considered one of the best in the industry. In case you're wondering: The Thunderbolts were a team who first showed up in ''ComicBook/IncredibleHulk'' after the whole ComicBook/{{Onslaught}} thing (long story short, the ComicBook/FantasticFour and ComicBook/TheAvengers are missing and no one knows how the rest of the superhero community can fill the vacuum), and made various miscellaneous appearances. They got their own book and their public debut by restoring order to the ruined Manhattan, defeat the Wrecking Crew and receive public approval even greater than even the Avengers themselves had after went public. And then we get to see Citizen V, the team leader, without his mask. And, perhaps more significantly, we get to see him with his ''real'' mask. The Thunderbolts are the Masters of Evil, the nemeses to the Avengers, led by Baron Zemo. Holy shit.

** Issue 50: Starscream manages to contact [[ArtifactOfDoom the Underbase]], causing him to go insane with godlike power. What ensues is a massive battle that ends with over half the cast dead or in critical condition and Scorponok in control of the Decepticons.

* ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' #662, where Clark Kent finally revealed in canon to Lois Lane that he was also Franchise/{{Superman}}.
** Ditto with ''ComicBook/BrianMichaelBendisSuperman'' #18, except replace "Lois Lane" with "the entire world".

* ''DC Universe: Rebirth'' #1, which kickstarts the ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'' event, nails Wham Moment after Wham Moment as ComicBook/TheNew52 is flipped on its head: [[spoiler:[[ComicBook/TheFlash Wally West]] returns to continuity, there have been ''three'' Jokers, the New 52 Superman is seemingly revealed to be an imposter and that the real one is the pre-''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}}'' Superman, the Justice Society and the Legion of Super-Heroes are still around but locked away memory-wise and -- the big kicker -- the creator of Prime Earth and the cause of the loss of ten years is ''not'' Barry Allen's fault, but the fault of ''[[ComicBook/{{Watchmen}} Doctor Manhattan]]'']].
** Related to [[spoiler:the Superman bit, ''ComicBook/SupermanReborn'' was one itself revealing that in truth both the pre-''Flashpoint'' Superman was actually split in two and one of the halves is, in fact, the ''New 52'' Superman.]]

* ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'': There is the title: [[TheHeroDies Superman dies!]] [[DeathIsCheap Then came back.]]

* ''ComicBook/ForeverEvil'': The Justice Leagues are missing, the power grids in cities are down, The Crime Syndicate has freed and gathered all the super-villains to take over the world, and [[spoiler:Nightwing's secret identity is publicly revealed]]. And that's all in the ''first issue''.

* The ''[[{{ComicBook/Shazam}} Power of Shazam]]'' issue where Mister Mind escapes from custody and uses Mister Atom's nuclear core to '''[[MoralEventHorizon blow up Fairfield]]''', killing several supporting cast members, including Mary Marvel's parents. Not just for the comic itself, but for the entire Captain Marvel's franchise; Captain Marvel's adventures are typically LighterAndSofter than the other DC heroes' stories, so for something like this to happen was so unexpected and stunning that it changed the course of the series. It also changed reader-perception of Mister Mind forever, changing him from a Silver Age relic to [[{{Archenemy}} Captain Marvel's most dangerous and personal enemy]].
* The [[DarkerAndEdgier soul crushingly]] [[DownerEnding bleak]] ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' #23 in the ComicBook/New52 has Kara [[spoiler: completely disintergrated ([[FamilyUnfriendlyDeath in a particularly traumatic way]]) by the amnesiac Cyborg Superman who uses her DNA to reconstitute himself into an organic being. He immediately discovers he is really Zor-El and has just ''[[MyGodWhatHaveIDone killed his daughter]]''. To top everything off a very angry Brainiac (who 'created' Cyborg Superman) has just arrived.]]
* Franchise/{{Superman}}'s ''ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow''.
* The culmination of the infamous "ComicBook/TheJudasContract" arc of ''ComicBook/TeenTitans''. Terra, who saved them from Slade and has fought beside them for ages, is TheMole. She's always been The Mole. She's Slade's weapon and [[{{Squick}} lover]], and she's spent her entire time setting them up.

* ComicBook/AstonishingXMen #4: Kitty Pryde discovers that [[spoiler:Piotr Rasputin, a.k.a. "Colossus"]] is still alive.

* The first time Creator/AlanMoore became famous in the US, it was for a one-issue one of these in a comic that was all but canceled; word of mouth alone made it one of the most famous single issues that year. By the time of the Anatomy Lesson, ComicBook/SwampThing had spent nearly ten years trying to reverse the accident that transformed him so he could be plain ol' Alec Holland again. He never will be Alec Holland. He isn't Alec Holland. [[TomatoInTheMirror He never was Alec Holland.]]

** ''ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog'':

*** Issue #28: [[spoiler: The heroes have successfully recovered the Chaos Emeralds, but then the issue ends with a WhamShot cliffhanger as Zavok attacks Angel Island with the Zombot forms of their friends and loved ones.]]