I've been listening to some of the podcasts from the recent NYCC and trying to find some clues regarding some of the biggest titles coming out of DC. I'm talking, of coarse, about Batman R.I.P. and Final Crisis. That being said, I think I'm finally ready to unveil my pick for the first Final Crisis casualty that's been confirmed to happen in the first issue of the crossover event. Strap yourselves in but avoid this post if you're not a fan of spoilers.

My first choice came a little while ago when I heard this quote from Grant Morrison at the Final Crisis panel this year at NYCC:

Fan: "Could you maybe not kill the Martian Manhunter. Could you maybe do an ongoing series with him?"

Morrison: "Uhhh...oops."

My first pick, even before I heard this quote, was Manhunter. Although, after some thought, my decision has changed. This line from the podcast seemed like a pretty clear indication that J'onn was getting the boot but I don't think Grant Morrison would be so careless to just drop the ball and leak the identity of the big death in the issue so early. My attention then turned to another quote. This time, by Dan Didio which occurred earlier in the panel. He talks about the death in issue one and then stutters shortly there after:

Didio: "There is a tragic event that occurs in the very first issue...it explores the life of one of the cornerstones of the DC universe and how his life has changed." [pause] "July we see the start of Flash-sorry, Rogue's Revenge..."

Could this have been a minor slip-up or was Dan trying a little too hard not to say the name of the big death? Personally, I think Flash could die in the first issue. It would be a shocking death and I'm sure many people out there wouldn't be expecting it. Martian Manhunter is naturally the choice of many people out there for the simple fact that Morrison made that comment during the panel but I can see him being the one to go. There's no real shock there.

So, as my final pick, I choose Flash (Wally West). He'll be dead by the end of issue #1 but my hunch is that Barry Allen will return during the course of the event and retake his role as The Flash in the DCU before the story concludes in issue 7.

Am I right? Probably not. We'll have to wait until Final Crisis #1 to find out.