(Untitled)

[theprimerprime]

So I read this thing about Captain America promoting suicide prevention.

Now, since I'm actually a real live therapist when I'm not busy pretending to be a robot, this is kind of Relevent To My Interests. I'm also the first person to admit that this is the most attention I've paid to Captain America in...well...ever.

Those of you who actually read

Comments

[pacifisted]

Based on the description, I dislike that violence is what captures the boy's attention and ends up saving him.

[theprimerprime]

I knew something about this didn't sit right with me, and I think you just nailed what it is.

[pacifisted]

I was giving it a bland little skim until that popped out at me.

Now I don't really want to know anything else about it. :/

[theprimerprime]

Part of me wants to give them kudos for drawing attention to the issue, but the other part is going "suicide prevention doesn't work like that". :|

[mansansfear]

/counts the number of times this guy has contemplated or attempted suicide...

/is slightly depressed by it

[theprimerprime]

See, this is why I wanted to ask actual comic fans, because I totally didn't know that.

How is it treated in canon, when it happens?

[mockingbirdie]

Everyone kind of knows he is depressed. Like, they probably wouldn't be surprised to know what's happening. But I don't think most other Marvel characters get how serious it is, tbh. This guy would seriously benefit from therapy (which has been observed by other characters) but he'd rather go to a priest, you know?

One notable occasion had him drunk with a gun to his head, saved by him hallucinating his dead girlfriend yelling at him to put down the gun. He also had a girlfriend who hanged herself after calling him and begging him to come over. That was... a big impact at the time, but it's something I haven't seen really touched on in years.

The issue that that icon above is from is Daredevil playing Russian Roulette with Bullseye (with an unloaded gun.)

[theprimerprime]

This guy would seriously benefit from therapy (which has been observed by other characters) but he'd rather go to a priest, you know?

...That is so Catholic. I say this as a Catholic. That is SO Catholic. I've seen good people IRL screw themselves out of the help they really need with that line. (Matt's Catholic, IIRC, I guess they got that part kind of right...)

...Is it bad that I sort of want to read these things?

[meowminx]

Selina's background is actually pretty suicide-heavy. As a little girl, she found her mother after she had slit her wrists in the bathtub. She was a battered wife in some versions and in others they hinted at depression. I think a particularly chilling detail in one version is that her mother left her crucifix on the bathroom counter because she couldn't bear to wear i when killing herself. Little Selina pocketed it and that was the first thing she ever stole.

And then her dad spent a few years drinking himself to death which is kind of suicide via the slow path. Guess who found that body too!

Selina herself has stated her parents as weak, etc. Scarecrow messed with her head and tried to get her to kill herself, but she didn't go much further than sitting there holding a gun and staring at it. I don't think any writer has ever shown that as a viable option for her in recent continuity, in spite of her parents.

Superman has saved a suicidal person or two in his day and I so disapprove of that image title, whoever uploaded it

[donttasemebro]

Ahmigahd those super-hugs ;A;

Clark ilusfm

[afeatherpillow]

Oh, the Superhugs are quite sweet. :c

[supergabbie]

Norman has contemplated suicide... at least once. I want to say twice, but that might just be headcanon getting me confused. Harvey has also attempted suicide at least once. As has Bob, but he "can't" die so he was obviously unsuccessful. I'll try to find them.

Some of the Harvey scans.

And Norman.

ETA: Additionally, one of Spider-Man's most famous foes, Kraven the Hunter, killed himself in an extremely well-done and powerful arc called Kraven's Last Hunt.

[bedeviledspider]

Suicide isn't technically a topic that's brought up in Reilly's canon. Mostly because, well, it's written for kids. While Darkdevil's mini is a bit darker (heh) than the rest of the MC2 'verse books - we do see Little Reilly getting knocked around on panel, for example - I don't think DeFalco would have touched on the issue for that reason.

THAT SAID, it's a theme that shows up prominently in both of his parents' backstories.

Ben Reilly's reaction to finding out he's a clone is... to walk right in front of a truck. Then getting profoundly drunk (the only time Peter/Ben's low tolerance isn't played for laughs, I think) and launching into a suicidal rant/rage. He winds up having to talk a man out of shooting himself not long after