FiveDCFANZINELogos

Super Memories

This column is inspired by one of the biggest selling story-lines of all time. The year was 1993. The attire, a black armband. It was a story so big it was plugged in the real-world news. It was the death of Superman. I remember enjoying that part of Super-history, but I couldn't remember why. I figured it must of been a great story-line...I figured wrong. I was surprised to find out after I reviewed the material that it wasn't. Instead, I found out that all it was, was a seven issue slug-fest between Superman and Doomsday. It had the guest appearances of the then current time Justice League (Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, Guy Gardner, Bloodwynd, Maxima, Fire & Ice), but that doesn’t make for a good story. So, I guess what it boils down to, was the fact that Superman died and it really doesn’t matter how. The point was, the death of Superman alone is what sold these issues. I'm not knocking the story-line, after all, I still enjoyed it the second time around, but I'm just saying that the plot was kind of basic. Who knows, maybe that's what made it work. Anyway, read on to see what I mean.


THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN ISSUES
Superman: Man of Steel #18 & 19 (Parts 1 & 6)
Justice League #69 (Part 2)
Superman #74 & 75 (Parts 3 & 7)
Adventures of Superman #497 (Part 4)
Action Comics #5 (Part 5)


ReCap

The story opens up with Doomsday’s boney knuckles pounding his way out of a (lead?) container buried beneath the earth. I can only assume that the container is lead or Superman probably would have seen him sooner. Let's face it, the guy gets around. Moving right along, this brainless behemoth is free and tearing up everything in sight.

Where's Superman?

Out saving Lois' butt again, this time from the Underworlders.

Enter the Justice League to mop-up the mess that Doomsday is leaving in his wake. Following the long line of casualties, the Leaguers finally catch up to the beast and the slug-fest starts here, with Guy Gardner getting his butt whipped. Then, with ease, Doomsday starts laying out the rest of the League.

Where's Superman?

This time he's a guest on the Cat Grant Show (ya know, TV).

The JLA keeps coming back for more beatings until Supes gets word and shows up to help. Blue Beetle is at death's door, so Maxima bails with him to seek medical help, leaving Ice, Booster G. and Supes left behind to battle the monster. The battle rages on, "through" a nearby house. Fire, Guy Gardner and Bloodwynd manage to pull themselves back together and join in on the front line with the others. Even after their combined efforts, D-Day still prevailed. The Leaguers go down, the residential home now a blaze, and the only two left standing are Supes and Doomsday. Doomsday then flees, I really don't know why, but I guess the story can't end yet, anyway Superman gives chase.

Within the flaming house, a boy sees his family trapped and calls Superman back to help them. So, Superman temporarily subdues the beast by plunging him to the bottom of a body of water, knowing D-Day can't fly, but can only jump. Superman then heads back to help the boy's family. The battered and bruised JLA along with the family get carted off by the paramedics. Supes once again goes off after D-Day whose hopping around like a giant flee. Another battle commences, this time Maxima is back in the fray.

Elsewhere Lois and Jimmy gear up for this big news event. Elsewhere, even yet, Lex Luthor forbids Supergirl to help, convincing her that she is needed for a backup for Metropolis.

Back at the battle, Maxima makes a stupid move and blows up a gas station, which inadvertently takes her out of the battle. Guardian enters the scene to take Maxima to get help for her concussion. This leaves Superman once again to give chase to bone-face.

Now inside a Lex-mart, Doomsday watches pro wrestling where Major Mayhem (wrestler) invites the viewer (Doomsday) to the Metropolis Arena. Supes once again catches up to Doomsday, and once again they brawl. Lois and Jimmy finally arrive on the scene, and yet again Lex persuades Supergirl not to help.

During the Super-brawl Supes throws D-Day, who sees a Metropolis sign, in the opposite direction of the sign. Doomsday lands in the Habitat, a Cadmus Project. Re-enter Guardian, and after more brawling, D.D. takes another giant flee-leap towards Metropolis, leaving Supes and Guardian behind.

Now entering the outskirts of Metropolis, Superman once again catches up to D-Day and once again starts another brawl.

Elsewhere, Ma and Pa Kent watch the news coverage. Elsewhere, even yet, Supergirl puts Lex in his place and goes out to help Superman. When she gets there, Doomsday throws one punch and she's knocked backed to her original form of Protoplasm Chick, YUK!

Emil and Bibbo take a shot at D.D. with a big sci-fi-esque cannon-type-gun. But, D-Day falls on it and destroys it. The Metropolis S.C.U. steps in only to end up doing nothing as well.

Within Metropolis, Superman and Doomsday are locked in battle. Superman is showing signs of wear and tear but D-Day isn't. Supes gets thrown around like a rag-doll until he gets his fifth or sixth wind, I lost count, and vows to take this monster down even if he dies doing so. Then they pound each other to dirt. All is silent.


-Wallace "Wally" Frost
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