Superhero tragedy porn operates similarly. Tragedy rockets into our heroes’ lives without warning. The horrible event is often written simply to elicit shock or give the issue narrative significance. The misfortune usually falls on a little-known or underused character, so as not to derail the main plot about whatever space carnivore or phantom globule or cyborg zygote that the heroes happen to be fighting that issue. It is contextless, disposable dolor that drives sales and keeps the interminable comic serial from becoming stale.

— Cyriaque Lamar, in “Superhero Tragedy Porn is Bad for Comics”, on io9