When it comes to naming the best Superman storylines, a few of the usual titles are bound to come up: Birthright, Red Son, Kingdom Come etc. The Dark Knight Returns is technically a Batman comic, but it has a great depiction of Kal-El. But one title that polarized the fan base, with some calling it one of Supes’ best comics and others dismissing it as a publicity stunt, is The Death of Superman.
There’s no denying that The Death of Superman is a classic comic – even people who aren’t interested in comics have at least heard of it – but it also attracted some controversy for valid reasons.
Classic: The Death Of The World’s Most Iconic Superhero Was Monumental
The mere fact that Superman dies in The Death of Superman is enough to make it a classic comic, because such an iconic character’s death will always be a monumental occasion.
Superman wasn’t the first ever superhero, but he was the first modern superhero who set the template for all to come. Every subsequent superhero owes a debt to the last son of Krypton and his status as a cultural institution made his death a huge deal, no matter how it turned out.
Controversial: It Didn’t Really Kill Him Off
The biggest controversy surrounding The Death of Superman is a valid one. It was touted as the definitive killing of Superman, leaving the DC universe to cope without its most powerful hero, which set up an interesting future for the stories set in this world.
However, shortly after killing off Superman, DC was struggling to sell comics without having its most iconic character to rely on and decided to resurrect him. So, The Death of Superman wasn’t really the death of Superman.
Classic: Doomsday Is A Memorable Villain
At the beginning of The Death of Superman, Doomsday is introduced on a violent rampage that will inevitably make its way to Clark Kent. He’s an unstoppable tour de force.
Doomsday may not be as complex as Lex Luthor, but he is a memorable villain. He has unlimited power, like Superman but without the drive to do good.
Controversial: It Didn’t Involve Any Of Supes’ Most Significant Villains
While Doomsday would go on to become a memorable Superman villain, the death of the character arguably should’ve involved one of his more established arch nemeses to feel a little more ceremonious.
From Brainiac to General Zod to Bizarro to Darkseid, there are plenty of iconic villains that could’ve played a hand in Superman’s death and didn’t.
Classic: The Inevitability Of The Tragic Ending Is Beautifully Foreshadowed
There was a widespread media storm when it was reported that DC Comics would kill off the Man of Steel in a storyline called The Death of Superman. The story’s tragic ending was telegraphed from the beginning.
This inevitable fate is used as a powerful dramatic tool. It’s not a matter of if Doomsday will kill Superman; it’s a matter of when. The longer he holds Doomsday off, the more inevitable the coming tragedy seems.
Controversial: It Was Essentially A Publicity Stunt
The main criticism levied at The Death of Superman is that killing off Clark Kent was little more than a shallow publicity stunt. Some commentators compared it to New Coke, Coca-Cola’s failed attempt to shake things up and boost sales, which is a pretty harsh burn.
To be fair to DC Comics, a few writers have denied that The Death of Superman was a publicity stunt and said that they didn’t expect the widespread attention the comic received.
Classic: Supes’ Supporting Characters Are Utilized Well
Superman’s supporting characters like Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen are brilliantly woven into The Death of Superman’s storylines. Supes is aided by beloved B-list heroes like Blue Beetle and Booster Gold when he battles Doomsday.
Lex Luthor doesn’t appear as a villain in the story, but he is shown to be a ruthless businessman, which is perfectly in character. Even Clark’s adoptive parents make a poignant appearance after his passing.
Controversial: There Isn’t Much Suspense
Between introducing Doomsday as a force to be reckoned with and killing off Superman at his hands, The Death of Superman doesn’t do much to build suspense or raise the tension. Superman faces basically the same conflict to varying degrees for the entirety of the storyline.
After a while, watching Doomsday beat up Superman, escape, get caught by Superman, beat him up again, escape, and get caught again over and over becomes pretty samey and tiresome.
Classic: Superman Is Perfectly Characterized
In his final hours, Superman’s characterization is spot-on. He’s forced to rely on instinct as Doomsday presents an immediate threat. Throughout the comic, he’s faced with dilemmas like whether to stop Doomsday from killing more people or go back and save a child in danger.
The comic focuses on the core conflict of Supes’ character: he can’t be in more than one place, so he can’t save everyone that needs to be saved.
Controversial: It Set A Precedent For Temporary Superhero Deaths
When The Death of Superman hit comic book store shelves and superhero fans ravenously consumed the tragic tale of Clark Kent’s demise, it set a precedent for temporary superhero deaths. Ever since DC brought back Superman after killing him off, most of the superhero deaths in comics have later been reversed.
It’s gotten to the point that it’s a running joke among the comic book community that superheroes don’t stay dead. In The Simpsons, when Nelson picks up a copy of The Death of Sad Sack in the comic book store, he says, “This better not be another fake-out.”