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| − | {{DC Database: |
+ | {{DC Database:Storyline Template |
| − | | Image = |
+ | | Image = Superman Man of Steel Vol 1 18.jpg |
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+ | | ImageText = |
| − | | OfficialName = |
+ | | OfficialName = Doomsday! |
| − | | Aliases = |
+ | | Aliases = The Death of Superman |
| Universe = New Earth |
| Universe = New Earth |
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| − | | Locations = [[Metropolis]] |
+ | | Locations = [[Ohio]]; [[Metropolis]], [[New Troy]], [[Project Cadmus]] |
| + | | Heroes = [[Superman (Clark Kent)|Superman]]; [[James Harper (New Earth)|Guardian]]; [[Matrix (Pocket Universe)|Supergirl]]; [[Justice League International (New Earth)|Justice League America]]; [[Bloodwynd (New Earth)|Bloodwynd]]; [[Theodore Kord (New Earth)|Blue Beetle]]; [[Michael Jon Carter (New Earth)|Booster Gold]]; [[Beatriz da Costa (New Earth)|Fire]]; [[Guy Gardner (New Earth)|Guy Gardner]]; [[Tora Olafsdotter (New Earth)|Ice]]; [[Maxima (New Earth)|Maxima]] |
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| − | | Heroes = [[Kal-El (New Earth)|Superman]] |
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| − | | Villains = [[Doomsday]] |
+ | | Villains = [[Doomsday (New Earth)|Doomsday]]; [[Underworlders]]; [[Clawster (New Earth)|Clawster]]; [[Kathana (New Earth)|Kathana]] |
| + | | Others = Becky Anderson; Claire Anderson; [[Mitchell Anderson (New Earth)|Mitch Anderson]]; [[Bibbo Bibbowski (New Earth)|Bibbo Bibbowski]]; [[Dubbilex (New Earth)|Dubbilex]]; [[Catherine Grant (New Earth)|Cat Grant]]; [[Emil Hamilton (New Earth)|Emil Hamilton]]; [[Walter Johnson I (New Earth)|Walter Johnson I]]; Keith; [[Jonathan Kent (New Earth)|Jonathan Kent]]; [[Martha Clark (New Earth)|Martha Kent]]; [[Lois Lane (New Earth)|Lois Lane]]; [[Alexander Luthor (New Earth)|Lex Luthor]]; Mildred; [[James Olsen (New Earth)|Jimmy Olsen]]; [[Anthony Rodriguez (New Earth)|Anthony Rodriguez I]]; [[Margaret Sawyer (New Earth)|Maggie Sawyer]]; [[Team Luthor]]; [[Daniel Turpin (New Earth)|Dan Turpin]]; [[Paul Westfield (New Earth)|Paul Westfield]] |
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| − | | Others = [[Lois Lane]], [[Jimmy Olsen]], [[The Justice League of America]] |
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| + | | Origin = "''The Death of the Superman''" was a multi-part storyline published in alternating Superman titles from December-January of 1992-1993, and one issue of Justice League America in December, 1992. The story followed events that first took place during the ''"The Death and Return of Superman"'' storyline, and was followed-up by the story-arc ''"[[Funeral for a Friend]]"'' and ''"[[Reign of the Supermen]]!"''. |
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| + | | Titles = [[Superman: Man of Steel Vol 1|Superman: The Man of Steel]]; [[Justice League America Vol 1|Justice League America]]; [[Superman Vol 2|Superman (Volume 2)]]; [[Adventures of Superman Vol 1|Adventures of Superman]]; [[Action Comics Vol 1|Action Comics]] |
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| + | | Collected = [[Death of Superman (Collected)|The Death of Superman]]; [[Superman: The Death and Return of Superman Vol 1 1|Superman: The Death and Return of Superman]]; [[Superman: The Death and Return of Superman Vol 2 1|Superman: The Death and Return of Superman Omnibus]] |
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| Creators = [[Mike Carlin]], [[Dan Jurgens]], [[Roger Stern]], [[Louise Simonson]], [[Jerry Ordway]], [[Karl Kesel]] |
| Creators = [[Mike Carlin]], [[Dan Jurgens]], [[Roger Stern]], [[Louise Simonson]], [[Jerry Ordway]], [[Karl Kesel]] |
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| − | | First = |
+ | | First = Superman: Man of Steel #18 |
| − | | Last = |
+ | | Last = Superman Vol 2 75 |
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| − | | HistoryText = '''''The Death of Superman''''' is a comic book storyline (culminating in ''Superman'' (vol. 2) #75 in 1992) that served as the catalyst for [[DC Comics]]' crossover event of 1993. The completed multi-issue story arc was given the title '''''The Death and Return of Superman'''''. ''The Death of Superman'' was reported to be the "best selling graphic novel of all time" in a commercial for the animated version of "''The Death of Superman''" titled ''[[Superman: Doomsday]]'' although the validity of the claim has been questioned. <ref>http://www.warnervideo.com/supermandoomsdaydvd/</ref> |
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| − | The storyline's premise is as simple as its title: [[Superman]] engages in battle with a seemingly unstoppable killing machine named [[Doomsday]] in the streets of [[Metropolis]]. At the fight's conclusion, both combatants die from their wounds. |
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| − | The crossover depicted the world's reaction to Superman's death in "''Funeral for a Friend''," the emergence of four individuals claiming to be the "new" Superman, and the eventual return of the original Superman in "''Reign of the Supermen!''" |
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| − | The storyline, devised by editor [[Mike Carlin]] and the Superman writing team of [[Dan Jurgens]], [[Roger Stern]], [[Louise Simonson]], [[Jerry Ordway]], and [[Karl Kesel]], met with enormous success: the ''Superman'' titles gained international exposure, reaching to the top of the comics sales charts and selling out overnight. The event was widely covered by national and international news media. |
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| − | == Origin == |
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| − | The story of ''The Death of Superman'''s conception goes back to the 1985 crossover ''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]''. Following that event, DC Comics rebooted their continuity and relaunched the Superman character with the mini-series '''The Man of Steel''', written by John Byrne. However, due to disputes with DC, Byrne left the Superman books and was replaced by Roger Stern. While the stories continued from Byrne's revamp, sales slowly dropped. In an effort to attract female readers, the Lois Lane/Clark Kent/Superman love triangle, in place since 1938, would be changed. Thanks to John Byrne's revamp, Lois was already falling in love with Clark Kent, rather than with Superman. In a story arc titled "''Krisis of Krimson Kryptonite''", Clark proposes to Lois; she accepts. Although the road was set for the marriage of Lois and Clark, an unforeseen event would change these plans. |
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| − | [[Image:Superman fights Doomsday.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Superman fights Doomsday at Metropolis]] |
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| − | [[Warner Bros.]], the owner of DC Comics, had canceled the ''[[Superboy]]'' television series produced by Alexander Salkind (Salkind produced the first three ''Superman'' films starring [[Christopher Reeve]], as well as the ''Supergirl'' movie). Warner Bros. created their own Superman television series, ''[[Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman]]'', premised upon a romantic relationship between Lois Lane and Clark Kent/Superman. One of the ideas that arose during production was the wedding of Lois Lane and Clark Kent/Superman. Warner Bros. learned that DC Comics was planning a similar plotline in the ''Superman'' comic books, and as a result DC, Warner Bros., and the ''Superman'' writing staff came together and reached an agreement: the Lois and Clark wedding arc in the comic book would be put on hold, to resume once the ''Lois & Clark'' TV show reached its wedding episode. |
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| − | With the original storyline set aside in the comic, an original event was needed to replace it. According to a documentary on ''[[Superman: Doomsday]]'', the ''Superman'' writing team members were miffed at having a year's worth of story planning put aside, and flustered for ideas. At the end of one meeting, ''Adventures of Superman'' writer Jerry Ordway suggested, jokingly, "''Let's just kill 'im.''" The joke became a running gag in story meetings, but eventually gained traction with ''Superman'' group editor Mike Carlin. In the documentary film '''Look, Up in the Sky: The Amazing Story of Superman''' Carlin states: "''the world was taking Superman for granted, so we literally said 'let's show what the world would be like without Superman'.''" |
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| − | == Storyline == |
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| − | '''Doomsday''' |
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| − | On the last page of several comics prior to ''Superman: The Man of Steel'' #18, a gloved fist is shown punching a steel wall, accompanied by the caption: "[[Doomsday]] is coming!" In that issue, Superman fights the Underworlders while a hulking figure in a green suit rampages through a pastoral field. This marks the first of seven issues in the "Death of Superman" story proper, which would continue through all four of the Superman books at that time, and one issue of ''[[Justice League America]]'', before culminating in [[Superman #75|''Superman'' (vol. 2) #75]]. |
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| − | The Justice League ([[Guy Gardner]], [[Blue Beetle]], [[Booster Gold]], [[Maxima]], [[Fire]], [[Ice]], and [[Bloodwynd]]) respond to a call from a smashed big-rig outside of Bucyrus, Ohio, and follow the trail of destruction which leads them to a confrontation with the mysterious creature. It hurls a tree trunk at Blue Beetle's aircraft, downing the ship and then systematically takes the team apart, finishing by punching Booster Gold into the stratosphere. Booster Gold is caught in mid-air by Superman, and declares "It's like Doomsday is here," thus providing the monster with a name. |
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| − | [[Image:Death Of Superman.jpg|thumb|175px|right|Superman dies in Lois Lane's arms in Metropolis.]] |
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| − | The Man of Steel arrives on the scene, having cut short a television interview with [[Cat Grant]] in ''Justice League America'' #69. He and the able-bodied League members follow the threat to the home of a single mother and her two children, where their battle with "Doomsday" destroys the house. The League attacks Doomsday with all their energy-projection powers; the only discernible effect is that much of his bodysuit is blasted or burned off. Doomsday again defeats the League, causes the house to explode into flames, and then leaps away. Superman follows, having to ignore the son's cries for help if he is to stop Doomsday. |
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| − | Superman throws Doomsday into the bottom of a lake, slowing him down long enough so that the Man of Steel can return and save the mother and her infant daughter. After Doomsday escapes from the silty lake bed, he and Superman tear up a city street. Maxima then re-enters the fray. Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen are sent to cover the battle for television, while Lex Luthor II dissuades Supergirl from joining the fight. The fight continues at a gas station, where Maxima rips a light post from the ground; the sparks from the wiring ignite the leaking gasoline and the station is destroyed in a huge explosion. Guardian arrives after Doomsday leaves, finding Superman and Maxima, and offers his aid. |
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| − | Superman then follows Doomsday's trail of destruction, waiting for an opportunity to attack. With the monster's rampage drawing closer, Lex Jr. convinces Supergirl that she's needed in Metropolis while Superman is fighting elsewhere. While demolishing an appliance store, Doomsday sees a TV commercial for a wrestling show being held in Metropolis, and after seeing a road sign for Metropolis, heads in that direction. Superman engages him and throws him in the opposite direction, where he lands on the mountain housing Project Cadmus. They brawl throughout Habitat, a living forest connected to Cadmus, bringing most of it down. When Guardian arrives, Doomsday knocks him down and leaps toward [[Metropolis]]. |
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| − | Doomsday is driven below ground, where he ruptures gas and electrical mains, leveling Newtown, a large section of Metropolis. Supergirl goes to Superman's aid, but a single punch from Doomsday knocks her to the ground, her form destabilized. Professor Hamilton and Bibbo, Superman's allies fire a laser cannon at Doomsday, but it does not harm him. The local police open fire on Doomsday, but again, he is not harmed. Superman returns to the fight. |
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| − | Superman and Doomsday lay into each other with everything they have. They strike each other so hard that the shockwaves from their punches shatter windows. At the struggle's culminating moment, each fighter lands a massive blow upon his opponent. The two titans collapse and moments later, in the arms of a frantic Lois Lane, Superman succumbs to his wounds and dies. [[Jimmy]], Ice and Bloodwynd are also present at the end. |
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| − | The climactic event happened in ''Superman'' (vol. 2) #75. The issue only contains 22 panels, and every page was a single panel, which was a structure building on the previous issues — ''Adventures of Superman'' #497 was done entirely with four-panel pages, ''Action Comics'' #684 with three, and ''Superman: The Man of Steel'' #19 with two. The entire story was immediately collected into a trade paperback and titled '''''The Death of Superman'''''. |
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| − | '''Funeral for a Friend''' |
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| − | The funeral that followed featured many of Superman's fellow heroes and friends, including most of Justice League America, and a mausoleum was built in Metropolis in honor of the Man of Steel. During this time, every hero in the DC Universe sported a black arm band featuring the S-Shield logo. Some time later, [[Project Cadmus]] stole Superman's body from his mausoleum. It was hypothesized that they were attempting to clone him. The body was recovered by [[Lois Lane]] and [[Supergirl]]. |
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| − | The stories after the funeral often dealt with the emotions felt by the general public as well as specific characters entwined within Superman's world, including Lois Lane, Clark Kent's parents, and even a number of supervillains. Also, the (then) President of the United States, Bill Clinton and wife Hillary were included in a scene during the funeral. With Superman gone, crime rises up again and the costumed heroes of Metropolis rise to fill in as protectors. Supergirl, Gangbuster, Thorn, and even Team Luthor, a Lexcorp-sponsored team, all tried but were not sufficient. Meanwhile, [[Jonathan Kent (Earth-One)]] took the death of his adoptive son the hardest and as a result, suffered a heart attack. At this point, all Superman comic titles went on a three-month hiatus. |
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| − | The story was also collected into trade paperback form. Rather than using the banner title Funeral for a Friend, the title used for the collection was '''''World Without a Superman'''''. |
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| − | '''Reign of the Supermen!''' |
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| − | Following a three month hiatus on the Superman titles, all of them were relaunched. Four new heroes emerged in Superman's place, one in each title, each claiming in some way to be Superman. The story of ''Adventures of Superman'' #500 followed Jonathan Kent into the Afterlife. In a possible hallucination, he convinced Superman's soul to come back with him to the living. The only "evidence" that this was not a hallucination was the fact that shortly after Jonathan was revived, four individuals arrived in Metropolis claiming to be Superman. This storyline was known as ''Reign of the Supermen!'' |
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| − | [[Image:Superman79.png|thumb|right|180px|The Superman Cyborg; cover to ''Superman'' #79. Art by [[Dan Jurgens]].]] |
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| − | Each of the Supermen were designed with ideas taken from some of the monikers that Superman is often associated with. The four new heroes were: |
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| − | * [[John Henry Irons|The Man of Steel]]: John Henry Irons was an ironworker and ex-weapons designer for the military who wears a suit of armor and wields a hammer. He did not claim to actually be Superman, but rather to represent the spirit of Superman and continue his legacy. The Man of Steel appeared in ''[[Superman: The Man of Steel]]'' starting with #22. He later changed his name to just "Steel". |
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| − | * [[Hank Henshaw|The Man of Tomorrow]], also called the Cyborg Superman, arrived with augmented Kryptonian technology. He was scientifically proven to be Superman but claims amnesia in explanation to his part-mechanical nature. The Cyborg Superman appeared in ''Superman'' starting with #78. He later became a major supervillain. |
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| − | * [[Superboy (Kon-El)|The Metropolis Kid]], who hated being called [[Superboy]], is a reckless teenage clone of Superman. This Superman appeared in the ''The Adventures of Superman'' starting with #501. He is a result of the brief time Cadmus attempted to clone Superman. He later had a career as [[Superboy]]. |
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| − | * [[Eradicator (New Earth)|The Last Son of Krypton]] was a visored, energy-powered alien who dealt with criminals lethally. The Last Son of Krypton appeared in ''[[Action Comics]]'' starting with #687. He claims to have the memories of the original Superman, but his emotional distance makes Lois uncertain. He later became the Eradicator. |
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| − | The first issue for each of the new heroes featured a cardstock cover and a poster of the new hero. |
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| − | The first half of the ''Reign of the Supermen!'' story focuses on each of the Supermen “resuming” his duty as protector of Metropolis and gaining acceptance from the public. Of the four, the reader very quickly learns that neither the cloned Metropolis Kid nor the John Henry Irons Man of Steel are the real Superman. The Cyborg Man of Tomorrow and the Last Son of Krypton were easily bought in by the people as the possible real Superman, since Lois questioned both of them, and both recalled memories which Clark Kent had. Cyborg was even tested by Dr. Hamilton who stated that the Cyborg appeared to be the real Superman. |
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| − | [[Image:Sboy01.jpg|left|thumb|Kon-El as Superboy]] |
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| − | In actuality, the Last Son of Krypton stole Superman's body and put it in a regeneration matrix in the [[Fortress of Solitude]], drawing on his recovering energies to power himself, as bright light blinded him. It is revealed that the Last Son is the Eradicator, an ancient Kryptonian weapon, and the Cyborg is the deranged consciousness of [[Hank Henshaw]], which used Superman's birthing matrix to create a physical duplicate of his body. |
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| − | The regeneration matrix broke open, and the original Superman emerged, greatly depowered, but alive. Meanwhile, the Cyborg helped [[Mongul]] destroy [[Coast City]], believing he killed the Last Son in the explosion, and captured Superboy, holding him in Engine City, a towering construct erected where Coast City once stood. Superboy escaped and flew back to Metropolis to get the Man of Steel to help him fight the Cyborg. Before he could tell the whole story, however, an overbearing Kryptonian Battlesuit rose out of the harbor, and the two heroes attacked it. |
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| − | [[Image:Eradicator Superman.jpg|thumb|right|Eradicator as seen in the Reign of the Supermen story arc.]] |
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| − | After suffering heavy damage, the suit opened, revealing a still-weak Superman, who had used it to walk all the way back from the Fortress of Solitude. Despite his weakened state, he quickly joined the other Supermen in defending Coast City. Upon his revelation, he acknowledged himself as the real Superman (the fifth person at this point to claim that title). When asked by [[Lois Lane]] what made him any different from the other Supermen, he responded with "''How about... To Kill A Mockingbird?''" (Clark Kent's favorite movie, and something he shared with only those closest to him). Though she remained hesitant, Lois mentally acknowledged that this was something only the real Clark Kent would know. |
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| − | During the battle of Coast City, the Cyborg launched a devastating missile at Metropolis, with the intent of destroying it and putting a second Engine City in its place. Superboy managed to grab onto the missile as it launched, riding it all the way to Metropolis, which he narrowly saved from destruction. |
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| − | [[Green Lantern]] [[Hal Jordan]] had returned from space to find his hometown destroyed. He immediately attacked Engine City and fought Mongul, shattering the Man of Steel's hammer across his face. Meanwhile, the Last Son/Eradicator joined the fight after recovering in the Fortress, and blocked the Cyborg from dousing Superman with lethal [[Kryptonite]] gas. The gas interacted with the Eradicator as it passed through and into Superman, returning his powers rather than killing him. The Eradicator's body degenerated into a lifeless husk, and the Cyborg looked for Superman's body in the debris and Kryptonite mist. Superman blindsided him with an attack using his super-strength, and he punched a hole right through the Cyborg. He destroyed his body, but his consciousness survived. [[Supergirl (Matrix)|Supergirl]] used the remnants of the black Kryptonian suit to re-create Superman's traditional costume, and the group returned to Metropolis. |
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| − | Again, like the previous two storylines, the collected edition of ''Reign of the Supermen'' did not use its original title, DC Comics instead chose to use '''''The Return of Superman'''''. |
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| − | == Aftermath == |
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| − | During the time Superman spent in stasis recovering in the Fortress of Solitude, his hair grew to shoulder length. Even after reclaiming his title as the one true Superman, he kept his hair long and this was how he was depicted for much of his appearances in the 1990s comics. Before his wedding with Lois, he cut his hair. |
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| − | Up until the Death of Superman event, DC Comics writers lived on a fixed set of rules when it came to how the post-Crisis Superman's powers were portrayed. This was changed upon his return. The change could be traced to when the Eradicator transformed the Kryptonite radiation into something that would re-empower the revived Superman. In a battle with [[Lobo]], he discovered he could survive the vacuum of space indefinitely, something the post-Crisis Superman could not do. He also noticed his strength has increased. Although this was part of a subplot involving Superman's powers growing out of control as he absorbed too much solar energy, the depiction of his power was not as consistent as before. |
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| − | [[Image:Superman1993.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Superman, Steel ([[John Henry Irons]]), and [[Superboy (Kon-El)|Superboy]] from the "''Reign of the Supermen''" storyline, 1993. Cover to ''Adventures of Superman'' #504 by [[Tom Grummett]].]] |
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| − | '''The Surviving Supermen''' |
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| − | [[Superboy]] (who turned out to be only a partial "clone" of Superman) and The Man of Steel (whose name became simply "Steel") went on to become recurring characters in the DC Universe, each eventually getting his own monthly title. Superboy was a member of The Ravers, Young Justice, The Legion of Super-Heroes, and the [[Teen Titans]], before perishing in ''Infinite Crisis''. Steel appeared in some episodes of the animated series, as well as his own film, and became a member of the Justice League of America; he also briefly became a true superhuman, no longer relying on outside sources (i.e. the armor) to provide his powers. The Eradicator became leader of a new team of Outsiders and his status is currently unknown after the events of ''[[Infinite Crisis]]''. The Cyborg Superman became a recurring nemesis in the Superman and [[Green Lantern]] titles. |
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| − | '''Death in Comics''' |
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| − | Superman's death-like manner set into motion a series of resurrections in the DC Universe. [[Green Arrow]], [[Donna Troy]], [[Elongated Man]], [[Hal Jordan]], [[Metamorpho]], [[Jason Todd]], and others have experienced comic book death and resurrections. These events have been attributed to the door between life and death being kept open since Superman died. |
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| − | As a Kryptonian, Superman's alien genetic material enables him to absorb sunlight and perform superhuman feats. Superman survived his death by entering into a hibernation-like state, and the Eradicator's use of him as a 'conduit' by which he could absorb solar energy 'restarted' Superman's body. |
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| − | A later encounter with a villainous sentient sun from the future known as "Solaris" would reveal a future where Superman is still alive approximately 83,000 years in the future, leading him to speculate that death may never come for him. |
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| − | '''Emerald Twilight''' |
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| + | The story starts as a green-clothed fist beats its way out of an underground chamber. Once the monster is above ground, it instantly starts to destroy, crushing a bird in its hand and snapping the neck of a deer. |
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| + | Meanwhile, elsewhere, Superman and Lois are fighting the Underworldere. |
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| − | The consequences of the destruction of Coast City in ''Reign of the Supermen'' would in turn lead to DC Comics revamping Green Lantern. After an issue that established the fact that several key members of Hal Jordan's supporting cast had survived the destruction of Coast City (due to them being out of town helping Carol Ferris save her estranged mother), DC moved directly into the controversial storyline ''Emerald Twilight''. Emerald Twilight saw Hal Jordan have a complete mental breakdown after his attempt to rebuild Coast City with his power ring resulted in him being ordered to return to Oa for punishment for breaking the rule of using his power ring for personal gain. In response, Jordan would destroy the Green Lantern Corps and absorb the power of the Corps' Main Power Battery into himself, becoming "[[Parallax]]". This in turn would lead to the introduction of Kyle Rayner, as Hal's replacement as Green Lantern and ''Zero Hour: A Crisis in Time'', which featured Jordan as the main villain. |
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| + | As the creature continues its rampage, the Justice League International American branch gets word and zooms to help. The fight between the JLI and the creature starts when the creature throws a log at the Blue Beetle's Bug and destroys it. |
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| − | '''The Wedding''' |
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| + | The flying members save the non-flying members as the creature destroys a semi-truck. Guy Gardner attacks the creature but is decimated by its overwhelming power, prompting Fire to save him from possible death. Fire's flames are useless against the creature, so Bloodwynd uses all of his power to punch the creature—only to be surprised that it also proves useless. The creature then punches Bloodwynd through a steel silo containing oil at a LexCorps Refinery in Ohio, which explodes with flames as he passes through it. The creature then flings a rock at Fire. Blue Beetle rushes in to rescue Bloodwynd from the flames but is grabbed from behind by the creature. The Creature savagely beats Blue Beetle nearly to death in a matter of seconds, then tosses the mangled hero like a rag doll as Bloodwynd and Maxima begin the next wave of the attack. The creature is so fast that he grabs Bloodwynd by the ankle and hurls him into Maxima, thereby launching both into another oil silo, which also explodes. Blue Beetle finally falls to the ground with Ice, realizing that he needs immediate medical attention. |
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| − | Even after Superman had returned to life, plans for Lois and Clark's wedding took some time to develop. The relationship between the two became rocky, and for a time, they separated. Finally in 1996, tying into the wedding of Lois and Clark in the ''Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman'' television program, Lois returns to Metropolis and rekindles her romance with Clark. The two set into motion their plans for a wedding and are married in ''[[Superman: The Wedding Album]]''. |
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| + | During an interview by Cat Grant, Superman gets word that the Justice League is being defeated and rushes off to help. |
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| − | '''Superman/Doomsday''' |
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| + | Booster Gold begins his attack, but he also fails to faze the creature. The creature then punches Booster, with Booster raising his force field just in time to prevent a killing blow. But the blow even penetrates the force field and knocks out the use of his flight ring. Superman arrives just in time to save Booster Gold from injury and possible death from the fall. |
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| − | In the three issue mini-series ''Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey'' (1994), Superman journeys to [[Apokolips]] and Calaton to find Doomsday's body. Assisted by Waverider, he confronts [[Darkseid]] and [[Hank Henshaw]], and finds that his killer is still alive and discovers the details of Doomsday's origin. In ''Superman: The Doomsday War'' (1998), Doomsday's mind is under the influence of Brainiac and Superman fights two of his most powerful enemies, in order to rescue Lana Lang's newborn child. |
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| + | Maxima levitates Blue Beetle to safety as Ice starts back into the fight. |
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| − | '''Day of Doom''' |
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| + | A boy named Mitch Anderson arrives home from school, dreading the welcome back home from school speech from his mother Claire Anderson. Mitch gets into an argument with his mother over his infant sister Becky getting all of the attention and that he blames his mother for his father deserting them. As Claire begins to cry over the hurtful words, Ice is thrown through their kitchen window. When they look outside they see the creature destroying their family car. Superman arrives (with Booster Gold in tow) and the fight between the two titans begins. |
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| − | Writer/penciller [[Dan Jurgens]], with inker Bill Sienkiewicz revisited Superman's battle with Doomsday in the 2003 mini-series Superman: Day of Doom, exploring how the event affects those who knew the fallen hero, and introducing a new villain, Remnant. This dark tale is reprinted in trade paperback. |
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| + | The creature first hits Superman, and when it has no effect on the Man of Steel, it then kicks Superman through the Anderson home, which then collapses on the family inside. The creature grabs Booster and slams him into a tree, knocking him out. The creature crashes through the rubble, and as he is about to attack Claire Anderson and her daughter Becky, Superman crashes through, knocking the creature off balance. Booster, Fire, Guy and Bloodwynd all let loose with their powers in conjunction with Superman's heat vision as Claire pulls Ice to safety. The creature is unharmed as Fire blacks out from fatigue, Booster's power cells deplete, the creature bursts free of the attack, plowing through the heroes. [[Image:Doomsday 004.jpg|thumb|left|100px|Doomsday plows through Superman and the JLA]] 004 The creature once again takes hold of Booster, beating him to the brink of death before tossing him into Guy. As Superman and Bloodwynd come from behind to attack, the creature responds first by knocking both of them down. The Anderson home explodes into flames, trapping the family, and then the creature leaps into the air with Superman in pursuit. |
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| − | In the days before the anniversary of Superman's death, Ty Duffy, The Daily Planet's staff reporter, retraces Superman's cross-country battle with Doomsday; Duffy resents the assignment. During the investigation, a mysterious figure also follows Doomsday's cross-country path, and commits a series of murders along the way. Duffy discovers that many of Superman's rogues have claimed to have created Doomsday, and many survivors of Doomsday's rampage and [[Coast City]]'s destruction he interviewed with expresses hatred to The Last Son of Krypton. He ultimately comes face-to-face with the Man of Steel himself and reveals to Superman that his father committed suicide because of losses suffered connected with the battle with Doomsday. Duffy reproaches Superman, telling him that thousands have died due to his battle with Doomsday. Although Superman disagrees, he carries considerable guilt over the deaths. |
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| + | [[Image:Doomsday 005.jpg|thumb|right|100px]] Mitch cries out for Superman to help, but Superman is obligated to concern himself for the many instead of the few, at least for the moment. Since the creature cannot fly, Superman catches him in midair and hits him hard. Mitch is still screaming for help when Superman looks in his direction, only to be blind-sided by the creature. Superman, realizing that the creature cannot fly, plunges the creature deep into the ground to give him time to rescue the Andersons. Superman swoops in and rescues Claire and Becky from the blazing rubble that was the Anderson home. He drops them off with emergency services, who also has much of the League also in their emergency vehicles. Superman takes off once again as the creature also frees itself and leaps into an AH-64 Apache helicopter nearby. The attack helicopter destroyed, Superman rescues the crew from the long drop down. The creature lands on a police cruiser with Superman pile driving the creature into the ground right afterward. The fight becomes a brawl as the two titans crash through the police station nearby. Superman punches his way free enough that another AH-64 opens fire on the creature from above. But the creature is unfazed by the onslaught and grabs a light post and spears the Apache. Once again Superman rescues the crew of a destroyed helicopter as Maxima gets back into the fight with a surprise punch at the creature. [[Image:Doomsday-Vs-Superman-003.jpg|thumb|left|100px]] |
||
| − | On his way home, Duffy is kidnapped by Remnant, who wishes to show the world that Superman is evil. He intends to stage terrorist acts at the locations where Doomsday rampaged, including [[The Daily Planet]], by planting a bomb within a van parked on the exact spot where the battle ended. Superman rescues Duffy, along with [[Perry White]], who was also captured by the villain, and the building. Despite the victory, flyers announce that Superman is not a messiah, but rather the devil incarnate; the villain disappears. Superman approaches Duffy, and challenges him to not back off from the tough questions. The Man of Steel tells Duffy he will be waiting for the conclusion of his article, and also asks him another one; if Superman wasn't around, would there be fewer Doomsdays (monsters seeking to confront Superman) or more Coast Citys (a disaster that only happened because Superman wasn't there)? Within the shadows, Remnant stalks The Man of Steel. |
||
| + | At the Galaxy Building, Lois, with the help of Cat Grant, is trying to get Jimmy to come with her to cover the fight between Superman and the creature. |
||
| − | '''Superman (vol. 2) #175''' |
||
| + | And at Lex Tower "Lex Luthor II" convinces Supergirl to right now stay out of the fight. |
||
| − | After the [[Imperiex]] War, Doomsday has evolved intelligence, and intends to kill Lex Luthor. Without any aid from his allies, Superman defeats the monster on the anniversary of his original defeat of the creature at Washington D.C. |
||
| + | Back at the fight, Maxima punches the creature through a supermarket as Superman arrives back from the rescue of the soldiers. The creature attacks them both but as Superman is trying to restrain the creature, it moves just enough for Maxima to punch Superman off of the creatures back and then she is punched by the creature into a nearby van. Maxima tears the van apart as Superman attacks the creature again. With spilled oil all over the place, Maxima does not realize that the light post she is ripping from its foundation is igniting it, causing it to explode and give the creature another oportunity to escape. Superman recovers first and takes off to find the creature again. |
||
| − | '''The Doomsday Protocol''' |
||
| + | The creature comes across an overpass and destroys it along with another semi that was passing over on the overpass. It then grabs a car and throws it hundreds of feet into the air, with Superman catching it. At this point the creature wanders into a department store, where he hears a TV commercial in which he hears the word "Metropolis" as Superman once again engages the creature in combat. |
||
| − | [[Batman]], with the aid of Superman, devised a measure made after The Man of Steel recovered from his first battle with Doomsday, that, when the Justice League or any other superhero group encounters a Doomsday Level Threat, a group of heroes, authority, and military forces would contain it within a proximity after clearing all civilians within it. If Superman and the rest falls, the Doomsday Protocol, which is a dimensional projecting bomb, will commence by sending the threat to the [[Phantom Zone]] after detonating it. |
||
| + | The fight is now being broadcast nation wide and even Lois and Jimmy are following in the Daily Planet helicopter covering the fight for the paper. |
||
| − | '''Infinite Crisis''' |
||
| + | In Metropolis, Lex is telling Supergirl that with Superman away she is needed to protect Metropolis. [[Image:Doomsday-Attacked.jpg|thumb|right|100px|The SCU opens fire on Doomsday]] |
||
| − | The Golden Age Superman, [[Kal-L]], fought and defeated Doomsday alongside the modern Superman during the Battle of Metropolis. |
||
| + | The fight is now at a burger joint 60 miles from Metropolis and Superman realizes that as fast as the creature moves, 60 miles is not very far away at all. So Superman grabs the creature and tosses him miles away into a nearby mountain, which turns out to be where the Cadmus Project is located. The fight shakes the project below as the tree city is destroyed in the fight. During the fight, the tree city collapses on the two of them just as Guardian arrives on the scene. The creature frees itself, toppling the trees onto Superman and Guardian. The creature leaps off again and lands on a road sign indicating that Metropolis is now 50 miles from where it takes its next leap. |
||
| − | == Audience and media response == |
||
| + | The creature lands at a construction site and immediately begins to destroy the equipment and kill the workers. When Superman once again arrives, slamming hard into the creature from behind and launching him miles into the air. But the creature kicks Superman and frees itself and falls toward the Earth as Superman crashes into the construction site as the girders fall on top of him. |
||
| − | The Death and Return of Superman storyline brought in millions of readers to DC Comics, despite the entirety of the story being intertwined through numerous different comic series, including ''[[Action Comics]]'', ''Superman'', ''Superman: The Man of Steel'', and ''Adventures of Superman'', among others. The cover of ''Superman'' (vol. 2) #75 (shown above) became an iconic image: Superman's tattered cape wrapped around a pole, marking a makeshift grave. |
||
| + | In Smallville, Jonathan and Martha are worried about their son. |
||
| − | Certain prints of ''Superman'' (vol. 2) #75 contained a black armband with the familiar "S" symbol adorning it. |
||
| + | As Superman frees himself from under the girders, it is now obvious the fight is ''actually'' taking a toll on him, as he is rarely injured but is now bleeding. |
||
| − | The Death of Superman took place months before the breaking of Batman's back in the "[[Knightfall]]" storyline. Some critics praised DC for boldly and innovatively drawing in more readers. However, others were critical, citing the two concurrent storylines as publicity stunts, since it was unlikely that DC would ever eliminate its most popular characters. Some years later, Chuck Rozanksi, owner of retailer Mile High Comics, would pen a controversial essay in the Comics Buyer's Guide which blamed the ''Death of Superman'' promotion for playing a significant role in the collapse of the comic book industry in the late 1990s. |
||
| + | [[Image:Doomsday-Vs-Superman-002.jpg|thumb|left|100px]] |
||
| − | Initially, the ''Death of Superman'' storyline was a huge success - comic-book fans that had never previously read a Superman title snatched up the issue en masse. When Superman was subsequently revived, however, the backlash was equally strong - diehard Superman fans had bought the Death issue on the expectation that that the book itself would become a prized collectible, and felt 'cheated' when he was suddenly revived (which made the book nearly worthless as a collectible). |
||
| + | The creature lands into the middle of a Sci-Fi Convention and quickly starts killing people. But Superman arrives again and puts the creature into a hold and launches back up into the air, but while flying upward the creature's foot catches on a gas line and cracks it with a resulting explosion of the convention center itself. An explosion so powerful it causes a shockwave through the air that nearly cause news helicopters to collide into each other. |
||
| − | == Adaptations == |
||
| − | Roger Stern adapted the Death of Superman storyline into a novel, entitled The Death and Life of Superman, in the summer of 1993. It was released in hardcover form and then in paperback a year later. (Hardcover ISBN 0-553-09582-X, Paperback ISBN 0-553-56930-9) A young adult version book was written by [[Louise Simonson]] under the title ''Superman: Doomsday & Beyond'' and released at the same time as the hardcover of Death and Life. It features cover art by [[Alex Ross]], his first sale to DC. |
||
| + | The shockwave is felt in Lex Tower while Lex is holding a press conference and it prompts Supergirl to enter the fight. |
||
| − | Also in 1993, Dirk Maggs produced an audio dramatization of the story for BBC Radio 5, entitled ''Superman: Doomsday & Beyond!'' (retitled ''Superman Lives!'' in the U.S.), featuring Stuart Milligan as Superman/Clark Kent/Kal-El & the Eradicator, William Hootkins as Lex Luthor, Lorelei King as Lois Lane, Vincent Marzello as Jimmy Olsen, Garrick Hagon as Jonathan Kent, Kerry Shale as Connor Kent/Kon-El/Superboy & Hank Henshaw/Cyborg Superman, Eric Meyers as Guy Gardner, Denica Fairman as Maggie Sawyer, Liza Ross as Supergirl, Burt Kwouk as Doctor Teng, and Leon Herbert as Dr. John Henry Irons/Steel. Original Music by Mark Russell. |
||
| + | High in the sky the creature plunges his bony extremities into Superman's side, releasing himself from the Man of Steel's hold. The creature than reaches around and tosses the bloodied Kryptonian toward the ground just as Supergirl enters the fight. |
||
| − | A scrolling beat-em-up video game called ''The Death and Return of Superman'' was released by Blizzard Entertainment and Sunsoft for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. |
||
| + | Below Bibbo and Professor Hamilton are aiming a powerful cannon at the creature. [[Image:Last-Kiss.jpg|thumb|right|100px|Last kiss]] |
||
| − | Coincidentally, The Death of Superman was also the title of the last episode of ''The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians'', although its story was completely different. |
||
| + | In the air the might of the creature quickly knocks Supergirl out of the fight. As Supergirl falls the cannon blast hits the creature, causing it pain as it drops on top of the cannon itself, causing Hamiliton and Bibbo to quickly jump out of the way. |
||
| − | '''Superman: Doomsday''' |
||
| + | The crash causes yet another gas line to rupture causing an explosion near an orphanage which Superman takes on the brunt of the explosion to prevent injury to others. |
||
| − | At Comic-Con '06, [[Bruce Timm]] announced that he would produce the Death of Superman story as a Direct-To-DVD (or DTV) project, which was titled ''Superman: Doomsday'', with Adam Baldwin as The Man of Steel, with Anne Heche as [[Lois Lane]], and James Marsters as [[Lex Luthor]]. |
||
| + | In the street where the creature is the Metropolis Special Crimes Unit, led by Maggie Sawyer and Dan Turpin, open fire on the creature. [[Image:Doomsday-Vs-Superman-004.jpg|thumb|left|200px]] But the creature grabs Turpin and tosses him but he is caught by Superman. Superman then plows into the creature and finally draws blood of his own. The two of the them continue to fight like two boxers at the end of a long fight: exhausted and drawing each other's blood. From above, the armored members of Team Lex get into the fight by firing their weapons at the creature and at Superman. As the battle continues the creature grabs Superman and tosses him into the nearby Daily Planet helicopter with Lois and Jimmy aboard. Superman safely brings the helicopter to the ground as the creature grabs another news helicopter. After Superman and Lois share a brief kiss, Superman launches back into the fight. The creature slams Superman into the ground. As the creature heads toward Lois and Jimmy, Superman comes up from under the ground, hurting the behemoth, and then lets lose with full heat vision. The creatures bony weapons dig into steel like flesh as the two brawl like street fighters in front of the Daily Planet. They climax with final fatal blows. Superman lies unconscious as his torn cape flaps in the wind around debris like a flag. |
||
| − | During an interview with Newsarama.com, Timm explained that the story would cover the entire trilogy of The Death of Superman, World Without a Superman, & Reign of the Supermen. However, it was necessarily simplified since the film runs only 75 minutes. |
||
| + | <br><br><br><br><br><br> |
||
| − | A trailer released in June 2007 showed a slightly altered animation style from that of the regular DC animated universe. Lois and Superman have a relationship, but The Man of Steel hasn't revealed his identity to Lois until the end of the film, even though she already knows. Lex Luthor II and Supergirl are not in the film; present is a similar Lex Luthor to that of the DCAU — the corrupt tycoon of [[LexCorp]]; the fight between Superman and Doomsday occurs at night (instead of during the day, as it did in the comics); there are fewer Supermen; among other changes and differences. |
||
| − | The film was screened twice at the San Diego Comic-Con '07 as a special sneak preview on Thursday, July 26th. Both reactions and reviews were positive. |
||
| − | The DTV film was released on September 18th, 2007. It made its U.S. broadcast premier on the Cartoon Network Saturday, July 12, 2008 at 9:00 pm EST. |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | == Awards == |
||
| + | * {{c|Superman: Man of Steel #18}} |
||
| − | The trade paperback The Death of Superman received the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award for Favorite Reprint Graphic Novel or Album for 1992. The storyline of The Reign of the Supermen won the Comics Buyer's Guide Award Favorite Comic Book Story for 1992. |
||
| + | * {{c|Justice League America #69}} |
||
| + | * {{c|Superman Vol 2 74|Superman (Volume Two) #74}} |
||
| + | * {{c|Adventures of Superman #497}} |
||
| + | * [[Action Comics Vol 1 684|Action Comics #684]] |
||
| + | * {{c|Superman: Man of Steel #19}} |
||
| + | * {{c|Superman Vol 2 75|Superman (Volume Two) #75}} |
||
| Vehicles = |
| Vehicles = |
||
| + | [[Blue Beetle's Bug]] |
||
| Items = |
| Items = |
||
| + | [[Legion Flight Ring]]; |
||
| + | [[Yellow Power Ring]] |
||
| Weapons = |
| Weapons = |
||
| + | | Notes = This story is featured in the novel ''Death and Return of Superman'', written by Roger Stern. For the most part, the novel is fairly accurate to the storyline, though it had a number of changes to it. Amongst those were writing out the involvement of the Underworlders, giving Claire Anderson a slightly more proactive role (standing up to Doomsday when it barreled into her house) and putting in the involvement of [[John Henry Irons (New Earth)|John Henry Irons]] that was mentioned in his first full appearance. |
||
| − | | Notes = |
||
| + | | Trivia = * Originally, the storyline was meant to be the wedding of Clark Kent and Lois Lane. However, production of the TV Series ''Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman'' had started and Warner Bros. had requested that the comic do the wedding whenever the series did its. Frustrated creators were forced back to the drawing board to come up with a whole new storyline, with one creator mentioning "just killing" him and they decided to go with that. |
||
| − | | Trivia = |
||
| − | | RecommendedReading = |
+ | | RecommendedReading = |
| ⚫ | |||
| − | | Links = <references/> |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | *[http://www.warnervideo.com/supermandoomsdaydvd/ ''Superman: Doomsday'' Official Website for the ''Superman Doomsday'' DVD ] |
||
| + | * [[Wikipedia:The Death of Superman|The Death of Superman at Wikipedia.org]] |
||
| − | *[http://myspace.com/supermandoomsdaymovie ''Superman: Doomsday'' Official MySpace profile for the ''Superman Doomsday'' movie] |
||
| − | *[http://www.milehighcomics.com/tales/cbg127.html "''Death of Superman''" Promotion of 1992] |
||
| − | *[http://www.supermanhomepage.com/comics/post-crisis-classic-reviews/c-review-classicpostcrisis.php?topic=c-review-cl-deathofsupes Review and summary of every issue in sequence for the "''Death of Superman''" storyline] (by Neal Bailey) |
||
}} |
}} |
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{{Superman Storyline}} |
{{Superman Storyline}} |
||
| + | {{Death and Return of Superman}} |
||
| − | {{ZeroHour}} |
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| − | + | [[Category:Death of Superman]] |
|
| + | [[Category:Superman Storylines]] |
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| + | [[Category:Events]] |
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| + | [[Category:Doomsday!]] |
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| + | [[Category:Crossovers]] |
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Revision as of 14:48, 20 January 2016
Synopsis
The story starts as a green-clothed fist beats its way out of an underground chamber. Once the monster is above ground, it instantly starts to destroy, crushing a bird in its hand and snapping the neck of a deer.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Superman and Lois are fighting the Underworldere.
As the creature continues its rampage, the Justice League International American branch gets word and zooms to help. The fight between the JLI and the creature starts when the creature throws a log at the Blue Beetle's Bug and destroys it.
The flying members save the non-flying members as the creature destroys a semi-truck. Guy Gardner attacks the creature but is decimated by its overwhelming power, prompting Fire to save him from possible death. Fire's flames are useless against the creature, so Bloodwynd uses all of his power to punch the creature—only to be surprised that it also proves useless. The creature then punches Bloodwynd through a steel silo containing oil at a LexCorps Refinery in Ohio, which explodes with flames as he passes through it. The creature then flings a rock at Fire. Blue Beetle rushes in to rescue Bloodwynd from the flames but is grabbed from behind by the creature. The Creature savagely beats Blue Beetle nearly to death in a matter of seconds, then tosses the mangled hero like a rag doll as Bloodwynd and Maxima begin the next wave of the attack. The creature is so fast that he grabs Bloodwynd by the ankle and hurls him into Maxima, thereby launching both into another oil silo, which also explodes. Blue Beetle finally falls to the ground with Ice, realizing that he needs immediate medical attention.
During an interview by Cat Grant, Superman gets word that the Justice League is being defeated and rushes off to help.
Booster Gold begins his attack, but he also fails to faze the creature. The creature then punches Booster, with Booster raising his force field just in time to prevent a killing blow. But the blow even penetrates the force field and knocks out the use of his flight ring. Superman arrives just in time to save Booster Gold from injury and possible death from the fall.
Maxima levitates Blue Beetle to safety as Ice starts back into the fight.
A boy named Mitch Anderson arrives home from school, dreading the welcome back home from school speech from his mother Claire Anderson. Mitch gets into an argument with his mother over his infant sister Becky getting all of the attention and that he blames his mother for his father deserting them. As Claire begins to cry over the hurtful words, Ice is thrown through their kitchen window. When they look outside they see the creature destroying their family car. Superman arrives (with Booster Gold in tow) and the fight between the two titans begins.
The creature first hits Superman, and when it has no effect on the Man of Steel, it then kicks Superman through the Anderson home, which then collapses on the family inside. The creature grabs Booster and slams him into a tree, knocking him out. The creature crashes through the rubble, and as he is about to attack Claire Anderson and her daughter Becky, Superman crashes through, knocking the creature off balance. Booster, Fire, Guy and Bloodwynd all let loose with their powers in conjunction with Superman's heat vision as Claire pulls Ice to safety. The creature is unharmed as Fire blacks out from fatigue, Booster's power cells deplete, the creature bursts free of the attack, plowing through the heroes.
Doomsday plows through Superman and the JLA
004 The creature once again takes hold of Booster, beating him to the brink of death before tossing him into Guy. As Superman and Bloodwynd come from behind to attack, the creature responds first by knocking both of them down. The Anderson home explodes into flames, trapping the family, and then the creature leaps into the air with Superman in pursuit.
Mitch cries out for Superman to help, but Superman is obligated to concern himself for the many instead of the few, at least for the moment. Since the creature cannot fly, Superman catches him in midair and hits him hard. Mitch is still screaming for help when Superman looks in his direction, only to be blind-sided by the creature. Superman, realizing that the creature cannot fly, plunges the creature deep into the ground to give him time to rescue the Andersons. Superman swoops in and rescues Claire and Becky from the blazing rubble that was the Anderson home. He drops them off with emergency services, who also has much of the League also in their emergency vehicles. Superman takes off once again as the creature also frees itself and leaps into an AH-64 Apache helicopter nearby. The attack helicopter destroyed, Superman rescues the crew from the long drop down. The creature lands on a police cruiser with Superman pile driving the creature into the ground right afterward. The fight becomes a brawl as the two titans crash through the police station nearby. Superman punches his way free enough that another AH-64 opens fire on the creature from above. But the creature is unfazed by the onslaught and grabs a light post and spears the Apache. Once again Superman rescues the crew of a destroyed helicopter as Maxima gets back into the fight with a surprise punch at the creature.
At the Galaxy Building, Lois, with the help of Cat Grant, is trying to get Jimmy to come with her to cover the fight between Superman and the creature.
And at Lex Tower "Lex Luthor II" convinces Supergirl to right now stay out of the fight.
Back at the fight, Maxima punches the creature through a supermarket as Superman arrives back from the rescue of the soldiers. The creature attacks them both but as Superman is trying to restrain the creature, it moves just enough for Maxima to punch Superman off of the creatures back and then she is punched by the creature into a nearby van. Maxima tears the van apart as Superman attacks the creature again. With spilled oil all over the place, Maxima does not realize that the light post she is ripping from its foundation is igniting it, causing it to explode and give the creature another oportunity to escape. Superman recovers first and takes off to find the creature again.
The creature comes across an overpass and destroys it along with another semi that was passing over on the overpass. It then grabs a car and throws it hundreds of feet into the air, with Superman catching it. At this point the creature wanders into a department store, where he hears a TV commercial in which he hears the word "Metropolis" as Superman once again engages the creature in combat.
The fight is now being broadcast nation wide and even Lois and Jimmy are following in the Daily Planet helicopter covering the fight for the paper.
In Metropolis, Lex is telling Supergirl that with Superman away she is needed to protect Metropolis.
The SCU opens fire on Doomsday
The fight is now at a burger joint 60 miles from Metropolis and Superman realizes that as fast as the creature moves, 60 miles is not very far away at all. So Superman grabs the creature and tosses him miles away into a nearby mountain, which turns out to be where the Cadmus Project is located. The fight shakes the project below as the tree city is destroyed in the fight. During the fight, the tree city collapses on the two of them just as Guardian arrives on the scene. The creature frees itself, toppling the trees onto Superman and Guardian. The creature leaps off again and lands on a road sign indicating that Metropolis is now 50 miles from where it takes its next leap.
The creature lands at a construction site and immediately begins to destroy the equipment and kill the workers. When Superman once again arrives, slamming hard into the creature from behind and launching him miles into the air. But the creature kicks Superman and frees itself and falls toward the Earth as Superman crashes into the construction site as the girders fall on top of him.
In Smallville, Jonathan and Martha are worried about their son.
As Superman frees himself from under the girders, it is now obvious the fight is actually taking a toll on him, as he is rarely injured but is now bleeding.
The creature lands into the middle of a Sci-Fi Convention and quickly starts killing people. But Superman arrives again and puts the creature into a hold and launches back up into the air, but while flying upward the creature's foot catches on a gas line and cracks it with a resulting explosion of the convention center itself. An explosion so powerful it causes a shockwave through the air that nearly cause news helicopters to collide into each other.
The shockwave is felt in Lex Tower while Lex is holding a press conference and it prompts Supergirl to enter the fight.
High in the sky the creature plunges his bony extremities into Superman's side, releasing himself from the Man of Steel's hold. The creature than reaches around and tosses the bloodied Kryptonian toward the ground just as Supergirl enters the fight.
Below Bibbo and Professor Hamilton are aiming a powerful cannon at the creature.
Last kiss
In the air the might of the creature quickly knocks Supergirl out of the fight. As Supergirl falls the cannon blast hits the creature, causing it pain as it drops on top of the cannon itself, causing Hamiliton and Bibbo to quickly jump out of the way.
The crash causes yet another gas line to rupture causing an explosion near an orphanage which Superman takes on the brunt of the explosion to prevent injury to others.
In the street where the creature is the Metropolis Special Crimes Unit, led by Maggie Sawyer and Dan Turpin, open fire on the creature.
But the creature grabs Turpin and tosses him but he is caught by Superman. Superman then plows into the creature and finally draws blood of his own. The two of the them continue to fight like two boxers at the end of a long fight: exhausted and drawing each other's blood. From above, the armored members of Team Lex get into the fight by firing their weapons at the creature and at Superman. As the battle continues the creature grabs Superman and tosses him into the nearby Daily Planet helicopter with Lois and Jimmy aboard. Superman safely brings the helicopter to the ground as the creature grabs another news helicopter. After Superman and Lois share a brief kiss, Superman launches back into the fight. The creature slams Superman into the ground. As the creature heads toward Lois and Jimmy, Superman comes up from under the ground, hurting the behemoth, and then lets lose with full heat vision. The creatures bony weapons dig into steel like flesh as the two brawl like street fighters in front of the Daily Planet. They climax with final fatal blows. Superman lies unconscious as his torn cape flaps in the wind around debris like a flag.
Issues
- Superman: Man of Steel #18
- Justice League America #69
- Superman (Volume Two) #74
- Adventures of Superman #497
- Action Comics #684
- Superman: Man of Steel #19
- Superman (Volume Two) #75
Notes
This story is featured in the novel Death and Return of Superman, written by Roger Stern. For the most part, the novel is fairly accurate to the storyline, though it had a number of changes to it. Amongst those were writing out the involvement of the Underworlders, giving Claire Anderson a slightly more proactive role (standing up to Doomsday when it barreled into her house) and putting in the involvement of John Henry Irons that was mentioned in his first full appearance.
Trivia
- Originally, the storyline was meant to be the wedding of Clark Kent and Lois Lane. However, production of the TV Series Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman had started and Warner Bros. had requested that the comic do the wedding whenever the series did its. Frustrated creators were forced back to the drawing board to come up with a whole new storyline, with one creator mentioning "just killing" him and they decided to go with that.
Recommended Reading
- Superman Recommended Reading
- Action Comics (Volume 1)
- Action Comics (Volume 2)
- Adventures of Superman (Volume 1)
- Batman/Superman (Volume 1)
- Batman/Superman (Volume 2)
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest (Volume 1)
- DC Comics Presents (Volume 1)
- Superman (Volume 1)
- Superman (Volume 2)
- Superman (Volume 3)
- Superman (Volume 4)
- Superman (Volume 5)
- Superman (Volume 6)
- Superman/Batman (Volume 1)
- Superman Confidential (Volume 1)
- Superman: Son of Kal-El (Volume 1)
- Superman: The Man of Steel (Volume 1)
- Superman: The Man of Tomorrow (Volume 1)
- Superman/Wonder Woman (Volume 1)
- World's Finest (Volume 1)
Links and References
  This event or storyline is specifically related to Superman, or to members of the Superman Family. This template will automatically categorize articles that include it into the Superman Storylines category. |
