Who could kill Superman?

[Pink Bat Max]

I finally picked up The Death Of Superman, finding it used for under $5. I've refused this storyline because I've always thought Doomsday was a stupid character. I'm enjoying the read, even though Doomsday seems to me more a plot device than a character. I felt that a: They should have used an established character to kill Superman, and b: His death shouldn't be only a result of a 'brute force' contest. I always think Superman's most interesting nemeses who challenge him not through physical strength but through intelligence or cunning. It's funny, but reading this I'm actually feeling bad for Luthor. Luthor has killed Superman a few times in 'imaginary' stories in the Silver Age. My favorite was when Luthor pretended to turn good, reeled Supes in, then killed him with Green K. But I find I can't really accept Superman dying by anyone other than Luthor, Brainiac, or Darkseid (preferably combined!) What do you all think. If DC was to write it's first in-canon Death of Superman story, who would you make the antagonist?

[Brian "Vash" Ashby]

David Copperfield


he's still weak to magic isnt he?

[Paul Dee]

I don't see the problem with Doomsday as the one responsible for Superman's death. You say 'plot device', I say 'force of nature'. You complain that it was a 'brute force' contest but the story of Superman's death wasn't meant to be about someone intricately plotting to kill Superman, it was about him doing all he could to save Metropolis and those he loved and felt part of in the face of what seemed to be an inexorable adversity.

[Pink Bat Max]

I don't see the problem with Doomsday as the one responsible for Superman's death. You say 'plot device', I say 'force of nature'. You complain that it was a 'brute force' contest but the story of Superman's death wasn't meant to be about someone intricately plotting to kill Superman, it was about him doing all he could to save Metropolis and those he loved and felt part of in the face of what seemed to be an inexorable adversity.

I get that, but in my opinion, more thought could have been given to what the menace in question was going to be. The theme of sacrifice to defend his city doesn't /require/ a stupid brute to be his antagonist. Really, reading this I can't help but think how awesome it would be if he were facing an invasion from Apokolips. If you want an epic battle to conclude the story, have his final conflict be a mano-a-mano against Darkseid.

[spidervenom]

amazo could If it was just one on one, I wonder has anyone ever hold there own againset amazo Discluding the super plane.

[Paul Dee]

I get that, but in my opinion, more thought could have been given to what the menace in question was going to be. The theme of sacrifice to defend his city doesn't /require/ a stupid brute to be his antagonist. Really, reading this I can't help but think how awesome it would be if he were facing an invasion from Apokolips. If you want an epic battle to conclude the story, have his final conflict be a mano-a-mano against Darkseid.

I see what you mean. For me though I liked how simple it was. Just an unexpected natural force which he had to deal with. His opposition had no grand plan, no ulterior motive, no real hatred for Superman or any real motivation, it was just doing what it was there to do. I love how basic and how un-epic it all was. If it was part of someone's almighty plan we'd have to have seen some aspect of the plan - either before the death of Superman or part of some backstory. I love how Doomsday just comes out of nowehere

That said, I've never really understood why people love Darkseid anyway. Regardless of his power he just seems laughable somehow.

[spidervenom]

I see what you mean. For me though I liked how simple it was. Just an unexpected natural force which he had to deal with. His opposition had no grand plan, no ulterior motive, no real hatred for Superman or any real motivation, it was just doing what it was there to do. I love how basic and how un-epic it all was.

That said, I've never really understood why people love Darkseid anyway. Regardless of his power he just seems laughable somehow.

People love him because he was created by kirby.

[MaxofSteel]

Metallo (especially now with the K-upgrade) seems like he could take out Supes with the least amount of effort.

[Rockman]

Metallo (especially now with the K-upgrade) seems like he could take out Supes with the least amount of effort.


Metallo is too stupid and arrogant to win a fight, he would just talk and gloat the whole time.

Plus it seem green-k doesn't have that punch with some writer that it used too.

[MaxofSteel]

Metallo is too stupid and arrogant to win a fight, he would just talk and gloat the whole time.

Plus it seem green-k doesn't have that punch with some writer that it used too.

True, although now he also has (along with Green K) Red, Gold, and Blue K added to his arsenal.

Not too shabby I'd say. ;)

(Granted the Blue K is more dangerous to Bizarro rather than Supes but still).

[stingerman]

The Sentry.

bwhahahahahah!

[marshal99]

What could kill superman ?

Bad writing.

Honestly , superman is being written as just too powerful at times especially under Jeph Loeb.
Most of his foes just end up looking stupid and weak , so that it's much more difficult to make them credible as a viable threat that can kill superman.

[Spike-X]

Me.

Just give me a baseball bat with a nail through it, and I'm good to go!

[Captain Smith]

Seriously, the high end magic guys- Spectre, Mr. Myx, Dr. Fate (if up to speed).


Why - to start the Overtime Crisis which started after the last quarter of the Final Crisis.

[MichaelMogg]

I get that, but in my opinion, more thought could have been given to what the menace in question was going to be. The theme of sacrifice to defend his city doesn't /require/ a stupid brute to be his antagonist. Really, reading this I can't help but think how awesome it would be if he were facing an invasion from Apokolips. If you want an epic battle to conclude the story, have his final conflict be a mano-a-mano against Darkseid.

But I think the whole point of Doomsday is, as Paul said, it wasn't targeted at Superman. And in the Death of Superman, I think it's great how the other superheroes try to take Doomsday down, but he pretty much just tosses them aside. That way they established that this is a showdown that only Superman can take on. It wasn't Doomsday comes, Supes and him slug it out over five books, rather, everything was done to try to stop him, but nothing could. Doomsday wasn't simply strong, he was as fast as Flash. A lot of people seem to forget that. Doomsday took on a Green Lantern and beat him to a pulp.

The point is, they nicely established the raw power of pure evil. The fact that he was basically stupid and a driving "force of nature" was perfect because it left only one option. You couldn't trick him or appeal to something deep in his mind. He was unstoppable, and only wanted one thing: to destroy. So the threat to the city was particular in its certainty. They had to stop this super fast and super strong incarnation of pure evil.

Superman didn't have time to think, and that's also good. If you want to see someone's true self, don't let he/she deliberate, look at his/her gut reaction, and at his core, Supes was altruistic.

[Kid Omega]

Part of the whole concept of Superman is that he always wins.

Taking that away is like taking away Green Lantern's ring, or Batman's dead parents.

Right now in ALL STAR SUPERMAN. the ongoing thread is about how Superman is dying- he was tricked by Luthor, and is going to die. But we know he doesn't die.... we've seen a future newspaper with a Clark kent byline, we've seen the golden Superman Prime, and more importantly, as readers, we just know that Superman always wins, just as much as he flies and saves Lois.

The key is watching the story unfold, not wondering if he's actually going to die or not. Ultimately, Superman knows this too.

In the end, he can outsmart and outperform anyone. He's Superman! That's what he does!

[Dracon]

I always thought of it as a missed opportunity in world-building. It could have built the rep of an existing villain so much!

On who could kill Superman, I always had a fondness for Alan Moores Sodal Yat, who was proposed to beat the peak power Superman to death.

[brundlefly]

Luthor, Brainiac, or Darkseid (preferably combined!)

That's my preferred triple-threat, as well. His most long-standing and formidable antagonists (in that order) and the three most logical choices to be the ones to take him out, were he to be killed. Those three teaming up would be an awesome story (and I thought might actually happen, back when President Lex had strategic alliances with both Braniac and Darkseid). Something for "Final Crisis?" One can always hope...

If General Zod hadn't been so mishandled over the years, he might be up on the list, too. Sadly his movie incarnation still far surpasses any of this comics appearances.

[Sam T.]

The Sentry.

bwhahahahahah!

Don't laugh...Sentry could do it!

[Pink Bat Max]

That's my preferred triple-threat, as well. His most long-standing and formidable antagonists (in that order) and the three most logical choices to be the ones to take him out, were he to be killed. Those three teaming up would be an awesome story (and I thought might actually happen, back when President Lex had strategic alliances with both Braniac and Darkseid). Something for "Final Crisis?" One can always hope...

And what else would be great is watching them inevitably backstab each other AFTER the fact.

[brundlefly]

And what else would be great is watching them inevitably backstab each other AFTER the fact.

Exactly. ;) Three less-trustworthy souls would be hard to find. I loved the Lex-Braniac backstabbing in JUSTICE; now imagine adding Darkseid to the mix!

[TheKerrMan]

Bruce Willis!!!!!
Yeppiekiya Mother Fucker!!!!!!!!

[dancj]

Surely the answer is Chuck Norris.

(disclaimer - I don't really know who Chuck Norris is and have never seen one of his films, but I understand that he can do anything)

[Adamantium_Avatar]

Martian Manhunter
Captain Marvel
Superboy Prime

A.N.Other Kryptonian or Daxamite

[Dracon]

Martian Manhunter
Captain Marvel
Superboy Prime

A.N.Other Kryptonian or Daxamite

Which is why I thought the Green Lantern of Daxam might be a good choice.

[Erebus]

Stairs. If they can beat Darkseid, they can take on Big Blue.

Zatanna, if she was given time to say her spell.

[Nintendite]

People who could kill Superman:
Luthor
Doomsday
Darkseid
Captain Marvel
Mary Marvel
Captain Marvel Jr.
Zatanna
Black Adam
Bizarro
Mxy
Bat-Mite
The Goddamn Batman
Supergirl
Doc Fate
Powergirl
Green Lantern
Metamorpho
The Spectre
A Kryptonite Metal Man
Metallo
Brainiac
Wonder Woman
Kryptonite Man
Mongul
Anti-Monitor
Sinestro
Zod and friends
O you get the Idea....

But the thing is... as many people as there are who COULD kill Superman, most of them either A: Never fight Superman unless if one of them were turned EEEEEVIL, B: need some good luck or good technology, and possibly the element of Surprise and C: Not leave Superman any avenue for escape.


BTW, I don't remember Doomsday ever being fast as the Flash...

[dreyga2000]

Batman gone evil....
Captain MArvel with grudge
Luthor on winning streak
Zod on a good day
Krotopnite Man with a little luck
Slade with some Kryptonite
Batgirl on drugs...
Parasite with a fork
Bizzarro with a little smarts
Branaic woth a little thought
Subjekt 17 or 23 in a rematch
Arion with a goal
Mettallo with a gun
Mxy with a vengeance
Darkseid with some focus
Supergirl on PMS
Black Adam on a rampage
A writer with on the edge

[OPTIMUS_PRIMEversionKT]

with every thing else......
BIG BLUE stared at this ugly looking man(is it a man?)with red eye & nostril for nose & he said WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO THIS FRAIL LOOKING CHILD IN THIS GRAVEYARD & WHY THIS BOY IS DEAD? suddenly the frail boy shout LOOK OUT YOU AMERICAN. BIG BLUE see a stupid looking stick & hears some stupid word AVADA KEDAVARA he thinks WHAT THE...? & next thing he SAW that HE IS ALL SPREAD EAGLE....


peace
big daddy out

[Rockman]

The number one thing is bad writing.

[dancj]

BTW, I don't remember Doomsday ever being fast as the Flash...
He was incredibly fast. I'm not sure if he was fast in a running quickly way, but certainly his reactions and movements when hitting and wotnot were all incredibly fast.

[Hulk Strongest One]

Batman gone evil....

Arbitrary person with Kryptonite, gone evil...

[thronzeblast]

But I think the whole point of Doomsday is, as Paul said, it wasn't targeted at Superman. And in the Death of Superman, I think it's great how the other superheroes try to take Doomsday down, but he pretty much just tosses them aside. That way they established that this is a showdown that only Superman can take on. It wasn't Doomsday comes, Supes and him slug it out over five books, rather, everything was done to try to stop him, but nothing could. Doomsday wasn't simply strong, he was as fast as Flash. A lot of people seem to forget that. Doomsday took on a Green Lantern and beat him to a pulp.

The point is, they nicely established the raw power of pure evil. The fact that he was basically stupid and a driving "force of nature" was perfect because it left only one option. You couldn't trick him or appeal to something deep in his mind. He was unstoppable, and only wanted one thing: to destroy. So the threat to the city was particular in its certainty. They had to stop this super fast and super strong incarnation of pure evil.

Superman didn't have time to think, and that's also good. If you want to see someone's true self, don't let he/she deliberate, look at his/her gut reaction, and at his core, Supes was altruistic.



I dont think superman was going all out on doomsday till the end but doomsday seem to be hitting superman with everything from the start.By the time he realized that he was the only one that could stop him he had taken so much damage.

[Adamantium_Avatar]

In the Death of Superman it was overconfidence that killed Supes (well, Doomsday did help by hitting him a lot)

Yes, Doomsday did take out the entire Justice League.. But let's face it, given that particular line-up a five year old with a wiffle-bat could probably have managed that.

If Supes had realised the threat that Doomsday represented to start with then he wouldnt have messed around zapping him with his heat vision (I dont understand why he uses this ability, it's not particularly effective and eats up his store of solar energy at a massive rate), instead he would have hammered him with full strength super speed punches.

Instant Doomsday Jam.. Would have been a very short story though :evilsmile


I also don't think Doomsday had the speed of Flash, whether that be running speed or reaction speed.. Admittedly he did have suprisingly fast reactions for his bulk but nothing Superman should have been able to equal or beat)

[Adamantium_Avatar]

Just thought of another one... Deadman!

[lovefist911]

Batman gone evil....
Captain MArvel with grudge
Luthor on winning streak
Zod on a good day
Krotopnite Man with a little luck
Slade with some Kryptonite
Batgirl on drugs...
Parasite with a fork
Bizzarro with a little smarts
Branaic woth a little thought
Subjekt 17 or 23 in a rematch
Arion with a goal
Mettallo with a gun
Mxy with a vengeance
Darkseid with some focus
Supergirl on PMS
Black Adam on a rampage
A writer with on the edge

Word. Nuff said.

[niall mc cann]

Instant Doomsday Jam.. Would have been a very short story though :evilsmile


And yet preferable to what we ended up with, imo.

Doomsday was such a contrived plot device. Very ignoble way for a hero of as many year's service to die... in a punch up with a rocky gorilla.

[Joe Acro]

Just thought of another one... Deadman!Deadman likely wouldn't be able to kill him, just possess him for a while.

[Adamantium_Avatar]

Posses him.. Fly him to a red sun and stay in the body till Supes dies!

[Stanlos]

Part of the whole concept of Superman is that he always wins.



Isn't that true of most of the original comic, Pre-Marvel comic book heroes?? I mean, that is a rule of comics or WAS that was even pointed out in JLA:Earth 2.

[Dr. Simian]

Orion could possibly do it, if he shut off his Mother Box.

[Rupertmetal]

Zatanna, but I think she could kill anybody.

ecalper s'namrepus traeh htiw etinotpyrk !!! haha

[Dark Ben]

Lois Lane
Brandon Routh

[Sizzle]

I can't believe no one said Dan Jurgens.

[Dark Ben]

I can't believe no one said Dan Jurgens.
You got a great point here

[choptop]

sum say Sentry can in a stomp......

[Antonio B.]

Mr. Majestic

[Preus]

I don't think anyone can truly kill Supes but if anyone could I'd definitely have to say Captain Marvel or the Silver Surfer.

[Malachi]

I finally picked up The Death Of Superman, finding it used for under $5. I've refused this storyline because I've always thought Doomsday was a stupid character. I'm enjoying the read, even though Doomsday seems to me more a plot device than a character. I felt that a: They should have used an established character to kill Superman, and b: His death shouldn't be only a result of a 'brute force' contest. I always think Superman's most interesting nemeses who challenge him not through physical strength but through intelligence or cunning. It's funny, but reading this I'm actually feeling bad for Luthor. Luthor has killed Superman a few times in 'imaginary' stories in the Silver Age. My favorite was when Luthor pretended to turn good, reeled Supes in, then killed him with Green K. But I find I can't really accept Superman dying by anyone other than Luthor, Brainiac, or Darkseid (preferably combined!) What do you all think. If DC was to write it's first in-canon Death of Superman story, who would you make the antagonist?
I don't think anybody could have said any better in all aspects...iabout the brute force and strength. He has fought people stronger and bested them . AND IF ANYBODY ELSE KILED HIM BUT Luthor i think it would be cheating him of his right and place in Superman history...lol

[Malachi]

There are many Heros who could kill Superman if it came down to it. Someone like Captain Marvel could break his neck or pull his heart out. Same with Martian Man Hunter, Lobo, Power Girl, Supergirl, Mongul, Wonder Woman, Sodom Vat the new daxamite), Monel,Voltar, Orion and Black Adam or any of the Marvels. Others might be able to Kill him Like Zatanna, Dr. Fate, any of the speedsters.. There is something about Flash and the speedsters being able to hurt people with high invulnerablility and how superman prime is freakishly scarred of speedsters, Geo Force hurt him pretty bad once by changing gravity and being able to hurt him bad, and Solomon Grundy.

[Slaughter]

I believe that Superman's death by Doomsday was just. Doomsday wans't a simple monster, he is a force of nature. The Scourge of the Multiverse, the Primal Force of Destruction and Death, Death's Herald, Darkseid's Bane, The Ultimate, Natural Selection Gone WRONG, The One That Never Dies, The Grey Death, Green Lantern's Grim Reaper, Superman's Killer... he is Doomsday. NOTHING in the Multiverse can stop the inevitable, only stall it.

And, I would choose Lex Luthor to kill Superman in a final battle to death.

[rwe1138]

Alan Scott.

[STC]

Mr. Majestic

Majestic is cool!

[gwor]

the story of Superman's death wasn't meant to be about someone intricately plotting to kill Superman

Ah, but wouldn't that have been alot more entertaining? Imagine, a mastermind setting in motion a devious plan that starts off as a subplot, and a few issues later explodes unexpectedly with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger.

In other words, good writing, not a six-issue fight scene.

I think Vartox could fit the bill as a Superman killer <g>.

[IRONY...]

The Sentry.

bwhahahahahah!

Maybe if Sentry let his 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 exploding (yellow) suns explode in front of Supes he will just get him more powerful . The guy is getting to the sun just to recharge...:D :D :D

[nuclearman]

Seriously, the high end magic guys- Spectre, Mr. Myx, Dr. Fate (if up to speed).



I agree ... other good guys who i think could if they really wanted to would be batman and firestorm ... if they both are given enough preparation time which superman wouldn't allow.

[Mr. Croup]

Darkseid, but only if he was told that he could gain the Anti-Life Equation if he beat Superman to death.

[Kage Kisaragi]

... Kryptonite Man?

[ZNOP]

Is it possible to molecularly take Superman apart?

[mattx110]

Is it possible to molecularly take Superman apart?
I assume it would be a lot harder than taking a human apart molecularly. Maybe some New Genesis tech can do it...

[mlcm]

Captain Hook could kill Superman, but then some idiot would applaud and bring him back.

[Choppa]

What do you all think. If DC was to write it's first in-canon Death of Superman story, who would you make the antagonist?

When was Supe's death taken out of continuity?? :confused: