User blog comment:Eightynine!/supernovas/@comment-3075024-20120816021555/@comment-972068-20120816235652

Whitebeard made his unnofficial introduction back in the Alabasta arc, when Ace was talking about how great he was and he was called "The Strongest Man in the World".

Whitebeard finally made his first appearance in the Jaya arc, saying he doesn't even want to read a letter from another Emperor, he'd rather see him in person.

Then in the Enies Lobby arc, they fight. We don't see much of it, but we know it's already epic.

Then he participates in the biggest war in history.

The point is, Whitebeard's death had build-up. He didn't die right after introduction, he died after making an actual impact on the series. The Supernovas had a lot of build-up on their own introduction. Oda introduced them like they'll rival the protagonist, and will make a great impact on the story. You don't introduce characters and give them so much build-up then kill them off right after they're off-screen. That is complete and total bullshit.