In the Defenders #48, Scorpio has Moon Knight imprisoned in a mechanized tank that he intends to flood with water, but being a classy guy, he throws Moon Knight a warm beer before the top of the tank slides shut and he takes off. As the tank is sealed and water begins to pour in, MK turns to one side and pops the top on the can.

I got that issue in a neighborhood trade and had no idea whatsoever of how to get the next issue. The thing was already a couple of years old. Obviously, Moon Knight lived, right? I'd seen him in other, more recent issues... Maybe the writer didn't actually come up with a way out for him. Maybe MK was just meant to be inventive and cool, able to escape a death trap with a can of beer, no explanations necessary.

In any case, the mystery did not consume me. Even years after I knew about back issue stores and mail order dealers, I still didn't pursue the matter. It just didn't occur to me.

Finally, I did pick up issue #49 in amongst a number of other back issues. Interestingly, the answer wasn't in there, just MK on the loose, recruiting Defenders to go after Scorpio. It isn't until issue #51 that we find out he dumped the beer and survived via controlled breathing using the empty can as an air supply until the tank drained. Which was okay, but I was glad I hadn't gone nuts looking for that next issue.

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Only if you reject the alien technology to which Scott Free had access -- which means rejecting the whole concept of Mister Miracle.

From my own experience, tho, an old favorite is to be found in what may very well have been the first Joker story I read. The Joker's "ghost" is haunting Gotham, having come back after being killed the last time Batman and Robin encountered him. Only, due to the habit in those days of piling up stories in the flat files in the editor's office and then just grabbing three or four to make an issue, as needed, the Joker hadn't actually DIED in his previous appearance.

Gotta be the best "escape from death" ever!!