I love this idea! So sit back, while I weave ye a tale of triumph most glorious and tragedy most foul!
Back when the first Civil War comic series was taking place I was having a discussion with my LCS owner (who is also a friend of mine outside of his shop) about how Civil War was going to end. I explained to him that I thought it could only end with either the death of Iron Man or Captain America. I thought that because they did a good job if showing that neither Cap or Iron Man were 100% in the right, one of them would need to die and the other would be left feeling responsible for the death of one of their best friends, due to their actions.
I told him because they had been somewhat villainizing Iron Man throughout the story (at least more than Cap) that I think it will be Cap that buys the farm. Cap would become a martyr and Iron Man will feel guilty and realize the errors of his actions.
My buddy didn't believe it and said something along the lines of "Nah! They won't kill Cap." So the conversation ended there......for the moment.
Fast forward to the final issue of Civil War. Neither Cap nor Iron Man died. My buddy laughed and told me how wrong I was, and I told him, "Wait. It's not over yet. The issue ended with Cap surrendering, being placed in handcuffs, and taken into custody. There's more coming."
He was kind of still laughing because he felt like that was it. That was the end of the story. And I told him that was no way to end it. So I made a bet with him. Order 10 extra copies of the next issue of Captain America (#25). If he doesn't die in that issue, then I will pay for all the books. If he does die, then I get the 10 copies for free. He was real quick to jump on that bet because he was convinced Cap wasn't dying.
Fast forward again to the day Captain America #25 released. I walk in his shop to pick up my books around noon. He looks at me and starts shaking his head. I had no idea what he was doing and honestly forgot about our bet. He said, "You haven't heard anything? It was on the news this morning and I heard them talking about it on the radio. You really haven't heard?"
I was like, "No, what are you talking about?". He then pulls out a stack of comics and sets them on the counter. On the cover is Captain America's red glove with handcuffs around the wrist, and blood spattered all around the cover with a newspaper in the background reading "Captain America. Death of the dream.".
I started laughing hysterically, because quite honestly, I had started doubting they would kill him off also. But there it was.
My buddy was so mad because people had been coming in all morning to buy that book. He had already burned through all his stock and was calling other local stores to see if he could buy any extra copies off of them, but they had sold out also.
So I told him to give me my copy and he could keep the other 9 to sell. He was hesitant because he didn't want to back out on our bet. So he told me that he'll give me in store credit for the cost of the books and I can use it whenever want.
I ended up cashing in a few months later when Wolverine #55 (The death of Sabretooth) came out. I wanted this Greg Land homage cover soooooo bad, so my buddy gave it to me for free to cover the bet. Granted, the cost of the 9 Cap comics was more valuable than this one variant issue, but I told him this made us even.
Great memories haha.