Picture this: It’s 1992, and you’re browsing the shelves of your local comic book store. Suddenly, you overhear whispers about an upcoming event that seems too outrageous to be true. “They’re going to kill Superman,” someone says. Your first thought? “Yeah, right. And I’m Batman’s butler.”

But here’s the kicker: They weren’t joking.

In a move that shocked the comic book world and mainstream media alike, DC Comics decided to do the unthinkable – they killed off the Man of Steel. But why would they put the kibosh on their flagship hero? Let’s dive into the cultural phenomenon that was “The Death of Superman” and explore its lasting impact on the comic book industry.

Setting the Stage: Superman in the Early ’90s

To understand why Superman had to die, we need to zip back to the early ’90s faster than you can say “Great Caesar’s ghost!” The comic book landscape was changing, and not in Superman’s favor. Marvel Comics was flying high with the X-Men and Spider-Man, while the edgy, creator-owned Image Comics threatened to push DC to third place in the industry. Superman, once the undisputed king of superheroes, was starting to look a bit… well, old hat.

Mike Carlin, editor of the Superman titles at the time, summed it up perfectly: “After 50-some-odd years, to get people to notice, you have to do something extreme.” And extreme it was. They didn’t just decide to give Supes a new haircut or a leather jacket (though, spoiler alert, he did get long hair later). No, they went straight for the jugular – literally.

The Story That Shook the World

Enter Doomsday, a villain created for the sole purpose of killing Superman. This bone-protruding, destruction-dealing baddie carved a path of carnage across America, culminating in a slugfest with the Man of Steel that left both combatants dead in the streets of Metropolis.

The build-up to this moment was a masterclass in comic book storytelling. Each issue leading up to Superman’s death featured fewer and fewer panels per page, creating a sense of urgency and inevitability that had readers on the edge of their seats. As someone who lived through this era, I can attest to the palpable excitement in comic book shops week after week. It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion – horrifying, but you couldn’t look away.

The Death Heard ‘Round the World

When Superman #75 hit the stands, featuring the final battle between Superman and Doomsday, it was more than just a comic book release – it was a media sensation. News outlets that had never given two hoots about comic books were suddenly running front-page stories about the death of an American icon.

The public reaction was a mixed bag of shock, disbelief, and cynicism. Jack Larson, who played Jimmy Olsen in the old Adventures of Superman TV show, quipped, “They must be killing him off because he wasn’t selling enough comic books.” Meanwhile, a woman interviewed while shopping in a comic shop astutely observed, “I think they do it just to get money. And then, like, he’s gonna revive in two days.”

Spoiler alert: It took more than two days, but she wasn’t wrong about the revival part.

Breaking Records and Bank Accounts

Superman #75 sold a whopping six million copies, making it the bestselling comic book issue of 1992. To put that in perspective, it’s like if every man, woman, and child in Denmark bought a copy, and then some guy in Greenland picked one up too.

The death issue came polybagged with a black armband, a Daily Planet obituary, and enough collector’s items to make a mint… or so everyone thought. Faster than you can say “speculator boom,” comic shops and collectors were stockpiling copies, certain they’d struck gold.

Spoiler alert #2: They hadn’t. More on that later.

The Aftermath: Reign of the Supermen and Beyond

Of course, you can’t keep a good Kryptonian down. After a suitable mourning period (and a story arc aptly titled “Funeral for a Friend”), DC launched “Reign of the Supermen.” This storyline introduced four new “Supermen,” each claiming to be the real deal:

1. The Cyborg Superman (spoiler: he’s the bad guy)
2. Superboy (a clone with attitude)
3. Steel (think Superman meets Iron Man)
4. The Eradicator (Superman, but make it ’90s extreme)

This arc not only brought the real Superman back to life (surprise, surprise) but also introduced characters that would play significant roles in the DC Universe for years to come. Superboy and Steel gained their own ongoing series, while the Cyborg Superman became a recurring villain for both Superman and Green Lantern.

The Ripple Effect

“The Death of Superman” didn’t just impact the Man of Steel’s own comics; it sent shockwaves through the entire industry. Suddenly, every major publisher was scrambling to create their own earth-shattering events.

DC followed up with “Knightfall,” which saw Batman’s back broken by Bane. Then came “Zero Hour,” where longtime hero Hal Jordan went bonkers and tried to remake the universe. Not to be outdone, Marvel shook up Spider-Man’s world with the Clone Saga, making readers question if Peter Parker was ever really Spider-Man at all.

This trend of big, splashy events led to a flood of variant covers, special editions, and enough gimmicks to make a carnival barker blush. The result? A speculator boom that eventually went bust, leaving many 90s comics worth less than the paper they were printed on. Oops.

Legacy and Influence

Despite the market oversaturation it helped create, “The Death of Superman” left an indelible mark on comic book storytelling. It proved that even the most iconic, seemingly untouchable characters could face real consequences (at least temporarily).

The story has been adapted into various media, including animated films and elements in live-action movies like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. It remains a touchstone event in comic book history, often referenced and homaged in subsequent Superman stories.

Looking Back: Hit or Miss?

With the benefit of hindsight, opinions on “The Death of Superman” are mixed. Some view it as a cynical publicity stunt, while others praise it as a bold storytelling move that reinvigorated the character.

Chris Sims of ComicsAlliance called it “DC’s greatest success of the 1990s and a definitive Superman story.” On the flip side, Bob Chipman of The Escapist described it as a “dumb story full of crappy characters embodying almost all of the worst trends of dreadful [1990s] comics.”

Love it or hate it, there’s no denying the impact “The Death of Superman” had on the comic book industry and pop culture at large. It was a moment that transcended the usual comic book readership and got the whole world talking about Superman.

In Conclusion

“The Death of Superman” was more than just a comic book story; it was a cultural event that captured the imagination of millions. It demonstrated the enduring power of Superman as a symbol, even in death. While the aftermath may have contributed to some of the excesses of 90s comic book publishing, it also paved the way for bolder storytelling and a willingness to shake up the status quo.

In the end, perhaps the most Superman-like thing about “The Death of Superman” was its ability to come back stronger than ever, cementing the Man of Steel’s place in popular culture for generations to come.

Now, we want to hear from you! Were you around for “The Death of Superman”? Did you line up at your local comic shop to snag a copy of Superman #75? Or did you discover this story later through reprints or adaptations? Share your memories and thoughts in the comments below!

And remember, the next time someone tells you they’re killing off a beloved superhero, don’t be too quick to dismiss it. After all, where there’s death in comics, there’s usually a resurrection right around the corner. Up, up, and away!