Let’s go back to the idea that our main characters can die. In our opinion, this approach keeps the stories from having to become over-dramatic. Our heroes don’t have to outsmart schemes that become larger and more intricate with each passing story, in order to keep readers interested. Of course readers may wonder which characters will still be standing at the end. On that subject, Brian Michael Bendis and Geoff Johns wrote (at www.comicbookdaily.com, “Whosoever Holds this Hammer”) that the reason Marvel is more interesting than DC is that characters in the Marvel universe don’t have an aura of invincibility. And this gives the stories more appeal.