One of the most iconic Superman rescues got an ending no fan could have seen coming. A tragic follow-up shows what became of the young woman the Man of Steel rescued from suicide in All-Star Superman.
Fans everywhere know that nothing means more to Superman than the people he's on Earth to protect. But it's not enough that the hero stops supervillains, Superman insists on being there for the people who need them most. Nothing showed Clark Kent's endless devotion to Earth more than in All-Star Superman. When a young woman named Regan attempted to jump from a building, Superman talked with Regan and brought her back to safety. It was a moment that showed it's not all about punching out Darkseid or hauling Lex Luthor to jail. All-Star Superman showed that Superman can bring real, powerful change simply by being there and reminding someone how strong they can be.
However, in spite of the powerful scene, it received a dark follow-up that is sure to shock any Superman fan. In Batman/Superman #17 by Greg Pak and Ardian Syaf, an unknown threat is going after people with a personal connection to Clark. After an assassination attempt on Supergirl, Steel and Superman’s faithful dog Krypto, another wave of attacks hit in three different locations: Khandaq, Seoul, and Metropolis. Though Superman is able to save the life of Lex Luthor in Metropolis, the same cannot be said for the victims in the other two locations. In Khandaq, a general Clark saved from a wave of bombings was killed. And in Seoul, Glory Mau, a rising pop sensation passes on after her attack. As Superman mourns Glory, he recalls that she was previously named Felicity Regan and that he had talked her out of a familiar suicide attempt.
Is All-Star Superman's Regan Actually Dead?
It should be noted that the person Superman previously rescued actually shares a name with another, similar character. In Superman #701, Clark stops a woman named Felicity Rose from jumping off of a building after staying by her side and talking her down. Glory Mau’s given name appears to be a combination of Regan and Felicity’s names. So while it seems that Glory is the Regan of All-Star Superman, the singer is more than likely just a reference to the two scenes in which Superman prevents a suicide.
That said, the scene clearly wants the reader to remember Regan's iconic rescue. There have been dozens of people rescued by Superman, but few that have resonated with fans like Clark’s moment with Regan. Even if it's not the same Regan that fans remember, the death of Glory Mau is an attempt to stir up feelings in fans by making them recall the beloved moment from All-Star Superman. The moment would probably be just as effective had Glory Mau's stage name just be her standard name. Instead, the moment specifically reminds readers to think of Regan to communicate how devastated Clark is. It’s effective, but Regan deserves better than to be killed in order to make Superman suffer.