He Met His Last Deadline

The man who used a resurgence in superhero titles to help revive DC Comics in the 1950s succumbed to the failings of mortal men. Julius Schwartz, remaker of supermen like the Flash, Green Lantern and Batman, has died at 88. He pulled the heroes together to former the Justice League of America - an idea copied by archrival Marvel in the form of the Fantastic Four. He later joked that in one bold stroke he saved both comic companies.

(Props to Schwartz himself, who penned his own epitaph in his memoir.)