I almost forgot to do this on account of the fact that I got SO caught up in ranting about comics, specifically Deadpool, to a friend.
Someone actually came to me today and asked me to recommend them some first comics. It's always an honour when someone you know, even solely online, comes up to you and asks YOUR advice on which comics to spend THEIR money on. It's an honour really, especially in this digital age.
I want to thank everyone who reads and gives feedback, by the way. I got some very helpful feedback from my esteemed friend, Pete, and I'm about to test drive it onto your face. I hope your eyes have seatbelts, because I'm about to take them for the ride of their lives (Not really).
As stated yesterday, this will be the first in my review of DC storylines/trade paperbacks that I really enjoy or that have impacted me in some way. Anyway, on with the review!
The Death of Superman.
Never before has a storyline grabbed as much worldwide attention as this one.
I was only young at the time, but someone I knew who read DC called me and told me Superman was dead. That's not something you ever expect to hear, and even fans of the character since his late '30s creation probably didn't even expect to hear such a thing. I suppose the only one that ever came close was Captain America's death in the aftermath of Civil War, but it was nothing like this.
The art on these issues is truly outstanding and gives Superman the heroic quality that I feel he deserves, but lacks too often for my taste. Visually, at least.
As for the story, it's very simple, yet it captures the mythos and concept of Superman amazingly well. The side of Superman I always loved, but can't tolerate for long periods of time, is rife in this issue. Speaking of issues, I'm not sure what issues this storyline spanned since I don't have them (I know someone who does), but I know it involves numerous Superman titles from 1992. I know Superman was one, Superman: The Man of Steel was another, but any others escape me.
In a nutshell, the first we see of the creature that'll come to be known as Doomsday is a gloved hand punching through a gigantic door; a big, jagged hand with bony, knuckley protrusions (Made up the word knuckley, deal). I don't think it's truly comprehendable just how intimidating this first appearance was. At first, Doomsday was clad in a green cloth, with one hand tied behind his back (As if to say: "No, really. Just watch."), emerging from containment. What follows is arguably the biggest and most impactful destructive spree in a short space of time, ever seen throughout comics.
As he stomps across the country side, killing every living thing he comes across, he begins to draw attention to himself. Resultantly, the Justice League turn up to investigate the damage he caused and eventually they come face to face with this monstrocity. What follows is the pinnacle moment in Doomsday becoming as legendary as he is, because any new villain needs a statement of intent. Green Goblin sort of caused the death of Spider-Man's first love, but Doomsday? He's already killed, so where do you go from there?
Simple, really. You take out the entire Justice League with an arm still tied behind your back.
Despite their best efforts, he gives them all concussions and life-threatening beatings for their troubles. This massacre ends with Doomsday punching Booster Gold (Now, I can barely take a majority of DC heroes seriously as it is, but Booster Gold just looks like a fitness instructor) up into the stratosphere where he is caught by Superman. Booster Gold says: "It's like doomsday is here!", thus the name. By this point, you're still thinking that Superman can take the guy in a fight, you're just unusually impressed and intimidated by the immense power of this thing.
Superman and the Justice League members still capable of movement set off after Doomsday again (One of the heroic moments where Superman serves as a source of hope and inspiration to those around him), finding him near the house of a woman and child. They engage him in battle again with similar results, this time destroying the family's house, leaving them in danger amongst the rubble. Everyone decides to combine their entire powers and blast Doomsday with literally everything they have, and promptly do so.
The only discernable result of this is that a lot of his green body suit and mask is burned off. This is the first time, to my recollection, that his face is revealed. A grey behemoth with bones protruding all over his body and long white hair, even appearing to have jagged bones for teeth and boney constructs protecting his eyes.
The fight goes a very similar way to the previous one, with Doomsday decimating the Justice League and leaping away. Superman follows quickly, having to temporarily ignore the family's cries for help, and hurls Doomsday into the bottom of a lake before returning to help the family.
He emerges from the lake and Superman goes at it with him for a bit, becoming increasingly concerned by this awesome force's power and durability. Doomsday leaves and, for some odd reason, trashes an appliance store. In the process of this, he sees a wrestling show advertising the city of Metropolis. Making matters worse for the unknowing citizens of Superman's adoptive city, he sees a road sign directing him to Metropolis. Can you guess where he wants to go? Nope, not to see the wrestling!
Naturally, this is Superman's limit. He's never gonna let Doomsday lay waste to Metropolis, not on his watch. They engage in a fight again and Doomsday is hurled into a mountain in the opposite direction, while Superman follows. The fight, by this point, is getting REALLY violent. They battle through the living forest and during a break in combat, Doomsday leaps away toward Metropolis...arriving in the city.
Superman and Doomsday begin their final, brutal fist fight.
They battle beneath the ground, destroying power lines and gas pipes, hitting each other so hard that it causes shockwaves that breaks windows. The two remain locked in a titanic battle of last ditch heroism Vs a mindless threat that apparently has no forseeable weaknesses. Punch after punch, blow after blow, they beat each other senseless in one of comicdoms most exciting fights. The art is immense to the point that you can almost FEEL the punches. You can almost hear the thud, the smack of fist on flesh, of blood and sweat being shed in the name of survival as Doomsday gives Superman a beating that still lives on today as a lesson learned.
Superman, battered and bleeding, having finally gotten Doomsday looking a little the worst for wear also, hurls one last almight punch toward Doomsday as he also does the same. With news cameras and Lois Lane herself watching, the two beings strike each other with mortal blows in a collision than completely obliterates the ground beneath them.
Doomsday has been defeated, at last, but at a revealed cost that shocked the worlds of DC and readers alike.
Superman emerges from the dust and rubble, costume in tatters and cape completely ripped off. As Lois approaches him, he collapses and asks if Doomsday is dead, not even being able to complete the question. It's such an unbelievably poignent, iconic and powerful image; this seemingly invincible hero reduced to a bloody mess in the arms of his human loved one as she assures hm of his heroism.
Superman dies (Long story) in her arms and the last shot is of Superman's torn cape hanging from a rebar.
If you ever read a Superman story, if you want one book that successfully sums up a great degree of what Superman is about in a good way, then you need this trade paperback or the issues. It's an utterly essential story, even though it's just a fight. The feeling it leaves you with on the very last pages is what makes the preceding pages worth it. It's a premise that only really completes itself on completion.
Superman's unimaginable and selfless devotion to protecting the race that adopted him as their own is a driving force of heroism for him, especially here. Not ONCE does he show fear of being killed, really. Either he doesn't think he will be, or he doesn't care, and I'm inclined to thin the latter. There is no "Oh, I dunno if I wanna fight this guy." about Superman here. He just sees Metropolis in insane danger and knows he has to stop it. It's not even an issue of debate for him.
The weighty consequence and impending crisis of this issue is a result of one source, and that is Doomsday. Without Doomsday, this book doesn't work. End of story.
If you wanna know about Doomsday, you can click here. There's a lot more to him than is shown in these issues, but he is a truly horrifying and formidable opponent. Designed simply to survive at any cost and kill with as much dedication, incapable of being killed the same way twice; and with strength, durability and speed to scary degrees...this is a real monster.
There are villains, there are supervillains, there are horrifying enemies and then there's Doomsday. Straight out of a nightmare, he's one of the best enemies of all time.
The sad part is, where do you go from there? It's like if God went for a job interview, you know? "What are your goals?", "I'm kind of already the Alpha and Omega; the creator of all things. I can't really say there's a promotion I'm shooting for.". On his debut, Doomsday trashed the Justice League and killed Superman (Technically he didn't, I don't THINK, but more on that later). Where do you go from there? If there's ever a supervillain convention and you have to list your most impressive victory, he's the only dude with Superman on his resume. Add to the fact that he beat him IN A FIGHT. This wasn't some kind of hokey magical battle, it was a brawl and he beat Superman up to the point that he died of his injuries.
Terrifying. As is the entirity of the story.
There is a LOT of aftermath from this event, and that's possibly for another review. If you don't wish to wait, then by all means click here for the DC Database's article on The Reign of the Supermen.
I wanted to kick off my promised coverage of DC with a bang, and no better way to start than with The Death of Superman. It's ALLEGEDLY the best selling trade paperback/graphic novel of all time, so you shouldn't have trouble finding it and that's what you should do.
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Well, that's about all I have for you until Thursday. Thanks for reading and I hope this has been another post that contributes to either time well spent, or an interest in comics. Regardless, if you just enjoy reading these posts, thanks for that also. Don't be afraid to comment with thoughts, minor or major. Even criticism, minor or major. It's all welcomed.
Until next time, peace.
-The Mast
