Superman, the Man of Steel, has become one of the most iconic characters in popular culture. Known for his incredible strength, unwavering sense of justice, and unbreakable moral compass, Superman has inspired generations of fans with his heroic deeds. However, despite his incredible powers, Superman has faced his share of challenges over the years, including several instances where he has met his demise. But, as the saying goes, you can’t keep a good man down, and Superman is no exception. In this article, we’ll take a look at 10 times superman came back from the dead, showcasing his resilience, determination, and unwavering spirit.
10 Times Superman Came Back From the Dead
The Death of Superman (1992)
“The Death of Superman” is a seminal comic book storyline published by DC Comics in 1992. The storyline centers around Superman’s confrontation with the monstrous Doomsday, who relentlessly attacks the Man of Steel, resulting in a fatal blow that kills Superman. The story follows the aftermath of Superman’s death, with his friends, family, and fellow heroes mourning his loss. However, Superman is later resurrected by a Kryptonian regeneration matrix, which not only brings him back to life but also restores his powers. The storyline was a significant event in comic book history and marked a bold change in the Superman mythos.
Kingdom Come (1996)
It is a four-issue comic book miniseries published by DC Comics in 1996. The story takes place in an alternate future where superheroes have become more violent and out of control. After a nuclear bomb explodes in Kansas, Superman is killed in the blast. However, he is later resurrected by the Spectre, a supernatural being who bestows upon him the power to control reality itself. With this new power, Superman works to restore order to the chaotic world and bring his fellow superheroes back from the brink of destruction. “Kingdom Come” is widely regarded as one of the greatest Superman stories ever told.
New 52 (2011)
During the transition from DC Comics’ New 52 stories to its Rebirth era, it became evident that the publisher intended to resurrect the Superman version that existed prior to the Flashpoint events. This meant that the character had to temporarily die to allow his alternate version to come back to life. In Superman #52, the Man of Steel is fatally poisoned by Kryptonite after a battle with Denny Swan, also known as Energy Superman. Subsequently, the pre-Flashpoint version of Superman enters the present dimension to assume the mantle of the Man of Steel once again. While some consider this death pointless, it remains a genuine example of Superman being killed and later revived.
Superman: Red Son
Imagine if Kal-El’s spacecraft from Krypton had landed in the Ukraine, and he was raised in the Soviet Union during the 1950s. This is the premise of “Superman: Red Son,” a three-issue comic book series written by Mark Millar in 2003. In the story, Lex Luthor is the President of the United States, and a Soviet Superman confronts Brainiac when the villain invades the White House. After defeating Brainiac with Lex’s help, Superman discovers that the singularities powering the villain’s spaceship are about to explode, and he decides to take the ship into outer space to save Earth. The spaceship explodes with Superman presumed dead for 1,000 years before he returns to attend Lex’s funeral.
World’s finest comics #207
In one of the stories Doctor Light managed to hypnotize Superman and compel him to take his life using a magic wand. This occurred in World’s Finest Comics #207, where Doctor Light realizes that his own strength is no match for Superman and that he needs a special weapon to defeat him. He discovers a magic wand that can pierce through Superman’s body and uses it to hypnotize the Man of Steel into taking his own life. However, Batman intervenes in the story and utilizes the same wand to reverse the spell, ultimately saving Superman and defeating Doctor Light.
Smallville season 3 “Talisman”
Throughout Smallville’s ten seasons, Clark Kent experiences multiple deaths and resurrections. The first occurrence happens in season 3’s twentieth episode, titled “Talisman,” which sets up the show for its season finale. In this episode, Clark suffers injuries from the Starblade, a weapon in the possession of Jeremiah Holdsclaw, the main villain of the season. Clark bleeds to death, and Martha and Jonathan Kent find him unconscious and covered in blood. Jonathan uses Jor-El’s powers to heal Clark’s wounds, but he remains unconscious. Martha and Jonathan keep watch over their son, and he awakens weak and in recovery, explaining what he has learned about his destiny to his parents.
Justice League of America #145
Count Crystal, a villain in Justice League of America #145 (1977), is granted immense powers by the demon Azgore to destroy the Justice League. In the storyline, Count Crystal murders Superman, prompting the Phantom Stranger to summon the remaining members of the league, consisting of Wonder Woman, Batman, Green Arrow, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Black Canary, and Red Tornado, to enter another dimension and resurrect Superman. In this other dimension, the Phantom Stranger saves Superman from Azgore, causing the demon to kill Count Crystal in retaliation. With the Count’s death, the Phantom Stranger successfully resurrects Superman and Hawkman, who had also been killed.
Smallville season 5 “Arrival”
During Smallville’s fifth season, Clark Kent experiences two deaths and resurrections. In the third episode, “Hidden”, Clark is stripped of his powers by Jor-El as a consequence of disobeying his orders, which occurs in the season’s premiere, “Arrival”. Gabriel Duncan, a former Smallville High student, shoots the powerless Clark, leaving him vulnerable to the bullet’s effects. Though he is taken to the hospital and given treatment, Clark ultimately dies and is revived once more by Jor-El, using Lionel Luthor as a vessel.
Smallville season 5 “Void”
In the eighteenth episode of Smallville’s season 5, titled “Void,” Clark Kent experiences another death and resurrection. The events leading up to this begin in the episode “Hypnotic,” where Clark and Lana end their relationship after Lana discovers Clark under hypnosis having sex with Simone Charcot. Lana then turns to a Kryptonite-based serum to communicate with her deceased parents.
In “Void,” Clark tries to intervene, but a corrupt doctor injects him with the serum instead, causing his body to shutdown and his consciousness to enter a limbo where he reunites with his deceased father, Jonathan Kent. After an emotional conversation with his father, Jonathan urges Clark to return to the world of the living, and he awakens with Lana at his side, back to life once again.
All-star Superman
Once again, Superman experiences death in the final issue of the All-Star Superman comic book series. He ascends to a higher plane of existence that resembles Krypton and meets his father, Jor-El. During their conversation, they discuss Superman’s mission on Earth, and Jor-El offers him a choice to either stay with him or return to Metropolis to battle Lex Luthor. After defeating Luthor, who had acquired superpowers from a serum that lasted for 24 hours, Superman returns from the dead. The All-Star Superman comics were released from 2005 to 2008 and were later adapted into an animated film in 2011.
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