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The Death And Life Of Superman
"Superman-dead!"—The Daily Planet. On November 18, 1992, news of Superman's death shocked the world as the legendary Man of steel was killed defending Metropolis from the monster called Doomsday. Here at last is the dramatic story behind the best-selling comic book of all time: the fates of Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Ma and Pa Kent, the Justice League, and the reign of the four super-beings who mysteriously appeared after Superman's funeral, each claiming to be the real Last Son of Krypton. And finally, here is the complete incredible story of Superman's triumphant retum! In this thrilling novel, Roger Stern, a veteran writer of Action Comics, chronicles the most amazing comeback in comic book history—told with more gripping detail and background than ever before.
421 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1993
86 people are currently reading
3016 people want to read
About the author
Roger Stern
1,552 books111 followersRoger Stern is an American comic book author and novelist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
October 20, 2014
The novelization of an epic journey
Don't worry, I have you!
It shocked me this quote on the book since it took me back to 1979 when I was like 6 years old and I went to a local cinema theater to watch Superman, the movie with Christopher Reeve. (Yes, I know that the film was premiered on 1978, but on those sweet old times, a synch global premiere was something that you didn't even dream about, in Latin American countries, we used to wait several months, even sometimes a year to watch a movie coming from United States, but since Internet didn't exist, we haven't any spoilers! Hehehe!)
Also, you have to know that back then, in my country, Costa Rica, the exposition to Marvel stuff was quite limited, and the "coolest" animated TV show was Superfriends, so, there was a general sense that Superman was the best ever! Nothing was better than Superman then!
Well, just pictured me, six years old, with a white t-shirt with a Superman shield and a plastic cape. (Which both items were cleverly sold in the hall of the theater and you can bet that any child without those "valuable" items will have a sad experience on the theater!) Like 45 minutes later, Superman appears!!! (Since in those sweet times, kids weren't used to special effects, so to me, and I bet, most of the kids on the theater, the guy on the blue/red suit wasn't an actor, he wasn't Christopher Reeve, he was Superman!!!) Me, and the rest of kids on the theater, we were jumping in our seats, since a man was flying on the screen!!! A man was flying!!! (Since, again, in those sweet times, we weren't being exposed to so many characters flying, in those times we still can be getting excited to watch a flying super-hero.)
Superman appears, flying!, and right away he catched Lois saying "Easy, miss. I've got you.", (Close enough to the quote that I mentioned first), and after having a woman on one hand, he catched a helicopter with the other hand!!!
That moment got printed in stone on my memory, and even now, when I am quite aware that it was the smart combination of special effects, I am indulging myself and I get excited again believing that a man can fly...
...most of today's heroes would probably never have gotten started if it hadn't been for Superman. I'm not even sure there was such a term as "super-hero" before he came along...
I made a comic book collection when I was a kid, mostly from Spanish-translated reprints done by a Mexican publishing house named "Novaro", which reprinted American comic books, from DC Comics. After some years, I guess that the company broke or something since the comics stopped to come here, to Costa Rica. So, for many years I was kinda disconnected from comic books.
And then, in 1992, I read in newspapers, (No, not the Daily Planet, but real newspapers, since it was a worldwide news.), that Superman was going to die due a bloody battle against a monster known as "Doomsday". I couldn't believe it. But what shocked me even more was the reason... The article said that due the Superman titles were selling so bad, they thought best to kill off the character. Then, I realized that there were already some comic books, in English, selling in some stands in my country. Yes, I had to get back to comic books.
So, my formal current comic book collection started with Superman #75, I did like the following year of the four titles related to Superman, later I expanded to other DC titles, also Marvel titles, and even later I was able to get some Indy titles. And now my comic book collection only get bigger and bigger. All thanks that the "death" of Superman made me to realize that I had lost something important to me, something from my childhood, and I wanted to do it again. I learned to read thanks to comic books, and it was time to include them again in my literature genres.
He is hate... death and bloodlust personified. Nothing more.
This novelization, is the prose adaptation of the three major events that re-shaped the universe of Superman in comics books, back in the 90's. And if you have some hesitation of reading it, just because, you don't know much about Superman and the related characters, don't worry, since Roger Stern, the author (and also, editor & writer for several years on DC Comics), did an impeccable job doing detailed explanations and flashbacks commentaries, where you will get to know anything that you need to know about Superman and the rest of the characters on the related comic book titles on that moment. So, you will be able to understand totally this wonderful adaptation that even offers more detailed scenes of the original storyline presented on its comic book format.
DOOMSDAY
The first part will guide you through the epic battle between Superman and Doomsday, crossing thousands of miles, in the middle of the heart of the United States, causing millions of losses in properties, generating more than 500 deaths, and even sending the Justice League of America to the hospital.
FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND
The second part will show you how grim is a world without Superman. The world's greatest hero has fallen and people starting to realize how much they had been taking for granted. The safety that living in a world with Superman was lost, but also, in secret, some people had lost even more, some of them had lost: a fiancée, a workmate, an ally, a friend, a son.
THE REIGN OF SUPERMEN
The third part will impact you with one of the best storylines ever crafted in the history of comic books. Four mysterious characters rise, all four reclaiming the mantle of Superman. Who are they? What are they planning to do?
Early in his career, he'd had to recognize the simple fact that he couldn't save every life.
So, this great novelization will take in a journey like none other prose novel has ever done before to get to know the death and life of Superman. An epic story of sacrifice, duty and most of all... heart.
You're able to do so many wonderful things with your powers, Clark, but even you can't solve all the world's problems.
And if you are so kind to indulge me once more, I just want to finish the review, with a couple of lines from, again, the Superman movie, that they are dialogues that when I was a kid, I didn't get their impact, but after keeping watching the movie, over and over again, at some point, I matured enough to appreciate the greatness of those lines, that they showed the most powerful trait of Superman... his humility. A lesson to all mankind and to all those who think that they are better than the rest of us.
Warden: This country is safe again, Superman, thanks to you.
Superman: No, sir. Don't thank me, Warden. We're all part of the same team. Good night.
Don't worry, I have you!
It shocked me this quote on the book since it took me back to 1979 when I was like 6 years old and I went to a local cinema theater to watch Superman, the movie with Christopher Reeve. (Yes, I know that the film was premiered on 1978, but on those sweet old times, a synch global premiere was something that you didn't even dream about, in Latin American countries, we used to wait several months, even sometimes a year to watch a movie coming from United States, but since Internet didn't exist, we haven't any spoilers! Hehehe!)
Also, you have to know that back then, in my country, Costa Rica, the exposition to Marvel stuff was quite limited, and the "coolest" animated TV show was Superfriends, so, there was a general sense that Superman was the best ever! Nothing was better than Superman then!
Well, just pictured me, six years old, with a white t-shirt with a Superman shield and a plastic cape. (Which both items were cleverly sold in the hall of the theater and you can bet that any child without those "valuable" items will have a sad experience on the theater!) Like 45 minutes later, Superman appears!!! (Since in those sweet times, kids weren't used to special effects, so to me, and I bet, most of the kids on the theater, the guy on the blue/red suit wasn't an actor, he wasn't Christopher Reeve, he was Superman!!!) Me, and the rest of kids on the theater, we were jumping in our seats, since a man was flying on the screen!!! A man was flying!!! (Since, again, in those sweet times, we weren't being exposed to so many characters flying, in those times we still can be getting excited to watch a flying super-hero.)
Superman appears, flying!, and right away he catched Lois saying "Easy, miss. I've got you.", (Close enough to the quote that I mentioned first), and after having a woman on one hand, he catched a helicopter with the other hand!!!
That moment got printed in stone on my memory, and even now, when I am quite aware that it was the smart combination of special effects, I am indulging myself and I get excited again believing that a man can fly...
...most of today's heroes would probably never have gotten started if it hadn't been for Superman. I'm not even sure there was such a term as "super-hero" before he came along...
I made a comic book collection when I was a kid, mostly from Spanish-translated reprints done by a Mexican publishing house named "Novaro", which reprinted American comic books, from DC Comics. After some years, I guess that the company broke or something since the comics stopped to come here, to Costa Rica. So, for many years I was kinda disconnected from comic books.
And then, in 1992, I read in newspapers, (No, not the Daily Planet, but real newspapers, since it was a worldwide news.), that Superman was going to die due a bloody battle against a monster known as "Doomsday". I couldn't believe it. But what shocked me even more was the reason... The article said that due the Superman titles were selling so bad, they thought best to kill off the character. Then, I realized that there were already some comic books, in English, selling in some stands in my country. Yes, I had to get back to comic books.
So, my formal current comic book collection started with Superman #75, I did like the following year of the four titles related to Superman, later I expanded to other DC titles, also Marvel titles, and even later I was able to get some Indy titles. And now my comic book collection only get bigger and bigger. All thanks that the "death" of Superman made me to realize that I had lost something important to me, something from my childhood, and I wanted to do it again. I learned to read thanks to comic books, and it was time to include them again in my literature genres.
He is hate... death and bloodlust personified. Nothing more.
This novelization, is the prose adaptation of the three major events that re-shaped the universe of Superman in comics books, back in the 90's. And if you have some hesitation of reading it, just because, you don't know much about Superman and the related characters, don't worry, since Roger Stern, the author (and also, editor & writer for several years on DC Comics), did an impeccable job doing detailed explanations and flashbacks commentaries, where you will get to know anything that you need to know about Superman and the rest of the characters on the related comic book titles on that moment. So, you will be able to understand totally this wonderful adaptation that even offers more detailed scenes of the original storyline presented on its comic book format.
DOOMSDAY
The first part will guide you through the epic battle between Superman and Doomsday, crossing thousands of miles, in the middle of the heart of the United States, causing millions of losses in properties, generating more than 500 deaths, and even sending the Justice League of America to the hospital.
FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND
The second part will show you how grim is a world without Superman. The world's greatest hero has fallen and people starting to realize how much they had been taking for granted. The safety that living in a world with Superman was lost, but also, in secret, some people had lost even more, some of them had lost: a fiancée, a workmate, an ally, a friend, a son.
THE REIGN OF SUPERMEN
The third part will impact you with one of the best storylines ever crafted in the history of comic books. Four mysterious characters rise, all four reclaiming the mantle of Superman. Who are they? What are they planning to do?
Early in his career, he'd had to recognize the simple fact that he couldn't save every life.
So, this great novelization will take in a journey like none other prose novel has ever done before to get to know the death and life of Superman. An epic story of sacrifice, duty and most of all... heart.
You're able to do so many wonderful things with your powers, Clark, but even you can't solve all the world's problems.
And if you are so kind to indulge me once more, I just want to finish the review, with a couple of lines from, again, the Superman movie, that they are dialogues that when I was a kid, I didn't get their impact, but after keeping watching the movie, over and over again, at some point, I matured enough to appreciate the greatness of those lines, that they showed the most powerful trait of Superman... his humility. A lesson to all mankind and to all those who think that they are better than the rest of us.
Warden: This country is safe again, Superman, thanks to you.
Superman: No, sir. Don't thank me, Warden. We're all part of the same team. Good night.
July 6, 2020
Stern did a really good job here of incorporating all of the little details and sidebars from a baffling array of incidents and events from interconnected magazines that made up the death and re-birth of Superman. Back in the day DC (as well as Marvel) was much more conscientious about maintaining perceivable and believable chronology, and they weren't so quick to retcon and reboot their whole universe at the drop of a hat. No one believed that Superman was really dead (or, rather, that he would stay dead), but it was quite the comics event of the time. This novel is well constructed in the prose narrative form, and does a good job of character exploration, as well as translating the comics storyline. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
October 22, 2025
With apologies to fans of this volume, I am using it as a stand in for a book I could not locate on this site—a collection of Superman comics by The Folio Society. The Folio Society’s collection starts with the first Superman comic and samples comic issues through the years until an ill-fated attempt by Superman to cure world hunger in 1999.
I was pleasantly surprised that the original Superman was so obsessed with helping people and smoking out traitors. He stops saboteurs from destroying bridges. He exposes a conspiracy to take over the government. He helps people who are homeless when others fail to help. He is a genuinely good person. I thought perhaps last summer’s revival of Superman might have deviated from the original intent, but I see now that that movie was entirely within the scope of the originally imagined character.
I am a fan of that Superman.
Cap out.
I was pleasantly surprised that the original Superman was so obsessed with helping people and smoking out traitors. He stops saboteurs from destroying bridges. He exposes a conspiracy to take over the government. He helps people who are homeless when others fail to help. He is a genuinely good person. I thought perhaps last summer’s revival of Superman might have deviated from the original intent, but I see now that that movie was entirely within the scope of the originally imagined character.
I am a fan of that Superman.
Cap out.
July 5, 2017
I remember reading this sometime in high-school and really enjoying it. I never got the actual comics though. I really don't know where my copy is now but I am quite sure it should be in storage somewhere.
May 29, 2014
Back in the early 90's, DC decided to do a storyline of the death of Superman and then later on, they did a storyline of his return. This is the novelization of these storylines.
When the comics came out with their respective black and white wrappers I purchased both of them. I have never opened them hoping they would be worth something (they aren't) and I have always been curious about this storyline. I thought this book did a great job putting this comic storyline to novel form. Even if you know nothing about Superman, there are flashbacks to fill the reader about his life. I thought all the main characters were spot on esp. Lois Lane. I thought the author did a tremendous job with the battle with Doomsday and Superman's death. Even though it is a fictional character and we know it isn't permanent, I did get choked up. I was surprised a book based on a comic could affect me this way and the author deserves praise.
With superhero movies being the rage nowadays, this novel is an excellent read and you don't have to be a comic book fan to enjoy this novel.
When the comics came out with their respective black and white wrappers I purchased both of them. I have never opened them hoping they would be worth something (they aren't) and I have always been curious about this storyline. I thought this book did a great job putting this comic storyline to novel form. Even if you know nothing about Superman, there are flashbacks to fill the reader about his life. I thought all the main characters were spot on esp. Lois Lane. I thought the author did a tremendous job with the battle with Doomsday and Superman's death. Even though it is a fictional character and we know it isn't permanent, I did get choked up. I was surprised a book based on a comic could affect me this way and the author deserves praise.
With superhero movies being the rage nowadays, this novel is an excellent read and you don't have to be a comic book fan to enjoy this novel.
April 3, 2015
Wow, this one really surprised me! I must first confess to not being a huge Superman fan. I don’t dislike him so much as simply tend to prefer superheroes that are more human-like and use brains and gadgets to become super. Ironman, Batman, or, even better, the pulp heroes of yesteryear like Doc Savage are more to my taste. (And the Hulk. Can’t help but love Hulk). But Superman…nearly indestructible…tends to be boring for me.
I also remember back in 1992 when the announcement came that DC Comics was going to kill off Superman. So, maybe not so indestructible after all? This book is the novelization of that storyline as told in the actual comic books and, surprisingly (at least for me) is quite good. It’s told in three acts, (Doomsday, Funeral for a Friend, and Reign of the Supermen), each addressing major events of the story arc. You don’t have to be a comic book aficionado to appreciate it.
I was worried at the beginning of the book because, by necessity, there were a lot of info dumps. Many characters are introduced including the entire newer version of the Justice League, many of whom are not common household names for readers. Not being much of a follower of the DC Comics universes myself, I found myself frequently consulting internet sources to see how these people all fit together. That’s actually a good sign for me because when I started reading I did not expect to become so vested in the characters. The info dumps were handled pretty well for the most part, in the sense that most were done via short flashback sequences. For example, Superman would be flying along and see a particular building and flashback to the time he first met Jimmy Olsen. It seemed like there were a few too many of those flashbacks but now, looking back at the entire novel, I can see their importance because every one of those characters played important roles in later events and at least I knew them.
Happily, this book read like a novel, not like a pieced-together word version of a series of comic books. It had pretty good characterization, a complex plot, and plenty of action mixed in with well-written drama. I’m glad I read it.
I also remember back in 1992 when the announcement came that DC Comics was going to kill off Superman. So, maybe not so indestructible after all? This book is the novelization of that storyline as told in the actual comic books and, surprisingly (at least for me) is quite good. It’s told in three acts, (Doomsday, Funeral for a Friend, and Reign of the Supermen), each addressing major events of the story arc. You don’t have to be a comic book aficionado to appreciate it.
I was worried at the beginning of the book because, by necessity, there were a lot of info dumps. Many characters are introduced including the entire newer version of the Justice League, many of whom are not common household names for readers. Not being much of a follower of the DC Comics universes myself, I found myself frequently consulting internet sources to see how these people all fit together. That’s actually a good sign for me because when I started reading I did not expect to become so vested in the characters. The info dumps were handled pretty well for the most part, in the sense that most were done via short flashback sequences. For example, Superman would be flying along and see a particular building and flashback to the time he first met Jimmy Olsen. It seemed like there were a few too many of those flashbacks but now, looking back at the entire novel, I can see their importance because every one of those characters played important roles in later events and at least I knew them.
Happily, this book read like a novel, not like a pieced-together word version of a series of comic books. It had pretty good characterization, a complex plot, and plenty of action mixed in with well-written drama. I’m glad I read it.
dnf
January 27, 2021DNF @ 40%
This is a novelization of the three story arcs pertaining to Superman's death and its aftermath. I haven't read those comics but I do know a little of the story.
Now firstly, I like Superman a lot which is why I picked this up. I've read two Batman novels earlier which were both good more or less and I had high hopes from this one too.
There are a lot of characters here and the author does a good job of explaining them to a new reader. He uses flashbacks to introduce most of them and also to share important events from Supes' life. I liked reading those.
The problem is that most of the chapters that aren't about Clark or Lois or Luthor were pretty boring. All the chapters for DC characters that I hadn't heard of failed to keep me interested.
I could have still made it through till the end; it wasn't that boring but I had a lot of work to do these past few days. Couldn't get much reading done and I just decided to move on to other books.
My TBR pile isn't getting smaller and there's no point in reading something I'm not enjoying too much anyway. If you're a DC/Superman fan you should probably check this book out though.
This is a novelization of the three story arcs pertaining to Superman's death and its aftermath. I haven't read those comics but I do know a little of the story.
Now firstly, I like Superman a lot which is why I picked this up. I've read two Batman novels earlier which were both good more or less and I had high hopes from this one too.
There are a lot of characters here and the author does a good job of explaining them to a new reader. He uses flashbacks to introduce most of them and also to share important events from Supes' life. I liked reading those.
The problem is that most of the chapters that aren't about Clark or Lois or Luthor were pretty boring. All the chapters for DC characters that I hadn't heard of failed to keep me interested.
I could have still made it through till the end; it wasn't that boring but I had a lot of work to do these past few days. Couldn't get much reading done and I just decided to move on to other books.
My TBR pile isn't getting smaller and there's no point in reading something I'm not enjoying too much anyway. If you're a DC/Superman fan you should probably check this book out though.
May 27, 2025
This felt like it took me forever to get through, but it wasn't bad. There just was a lot to digest here. The story adapted the complete comic story that told about the Death and Return of Superman. While most comic readers at the time thought it was a cash grab-and in a way, it was-it also turned out to be a pretty good story. This is probably a top ten Superman story of all time, so if you are interested, it's worth checking out.
June 18, 2018
Lois <3
July 26, 2021
Pretty decent story and action, but gosh darn it, some of minor characters are dated. Instead of killing "sooperman" they should have updated the side characters or killed them off. Good thing Image comics came along and changed a lot of old character dynamics in comics.
May 22, 2012
HELLLLOOOOOOO, ITS SUPERMANNNNNNNN!!!!! i loved this book, i loved it so much i re-read it again and again and again. Can you tell i love Superman. anyone who loves the man of steel should read this.
June 9, 2025
Very good, but a slightly slow read. Every single question I had was answered, but it took me some time to get them, which was frustrating.
Want to read
August 22, 2025Cr
TWEAKING THE FUCKKKK OUT OH MY GOD
NO WAY I FOUND THIS AT A THRIFT STORE WITH MY MOM TODAY?! universe really knows I need anything and everything to do with Kal😞🙏
And as someone who does enjoy comics, but WAY prefers to read actual novels, and who watched the movies- at least for Dc- before getting into the comics; this book is so perfect😭 I love how it’s kinda a novelization of MOS and JL, but then only about Clark😝
I’m just yapping now, but I start my last year of high school in 7 days and I hope I can not finish the book before then, because a couple of my favourite teachers also love comics / dc and marvel so I GOTTA show them this book rahhhhh
TWEAKING THE FUCKKKK OUT OH MY GOD
NO WAY I FOUND THIS AT A THRIFT STORE WITH MY MOM TODAY?! universe really knows I need anything and everything to do with Kal😞🙏
And as someone who does enjoy comics, but WAY prefers to read actual novels, and who watched the movies- at least for Dc- before getting into the comics; this book is so perfect😭 I love how it’s kinda a novelization of MOS and JL, but then only about Clark😝
I’m just yapping now, but I start my last year of high school in 7 days and I hope I can not finish the book before then, because a couple of my favourite teachers also love comics / dc and marvel so I GOTTA show them this book rahhhhh
May 13, 2024
Incredible!!!!!!
December 22, 2013
I have ambivalent feelings concerning The Death and Life of Superman. I very much enjoyed many things! Doomsday, the build up to the appearance of the pseudo Supermen, and the return of the Hero that cannot be slain (in either body or spirit) were all absolutely fantastic. It was great to see the world miss Superman so earnestly, though I wished the author would have conveyed the mourning in a brusquer manner. Regardless, the extravagant amount of time spent showing the reader how much the world loved Superman really paid off when his imitators began arising from the ashes of the world in need. I think this was the strong point of the book as we saw that the world loved Superman so much that collectively, the world refused to accept his death. There was an ecumenical attitude saying, if our Superman has been vanquished, we will continue in his spirit! To see that spirit of benevolence and compassion live on in mankind because of the effect Superman had on the world’s disposition was the most enjoyable concept.
That being said, I disliked the writing style, the vocabulary, the speed of the novel, and 80% of the characters. The Justice League truly sounded like a complete joke from the very start. Superman’s loved ones (Lois, his Parents, Lana, Jimmy) are all generic, dull, and absolutely trite characters. I could not stand a moment concerning any of them. In addition, the book really did read like a comic book. Everything was said in the most straightforward way possible. That’s fine, but because of this, there was really no opportunity for interesting literature. I found the writing bland and long-winded, overstuffed with generic “good VS evil” scenarios.
In conclusion though, I feel like the book was worth the time it took to read. Now I know why Superman is a badass, and I think a lot of people probably overlook this. It’s not because of his super strength or his heat vision. It’s because of his superlative integrity, and how the world loved him so that they refused to let him perish. Lame but true!
That being said, I disliked the writing style, the vocabulary, the speed of the novel, and 80% of the characters. The Justice League truly sounded like a complete joke from the very start. Superman’s loved ones (Lois, his Parents, Lana, Jimmy) are all generic, dull, and absolutely trite characters. I could not stand a moment concerning any of them. In addition, the book really did read like a comic book. Everything was said in the most straightforward way possible. That’s fine, but because of this, there was really no opportunity for interesting literature. I found the writing bland and long-winded, overstuffed with generic “good VS evil” scenarios.
In conclusion though, I feel like the book was worth the time it took to read. Now I know why Superman is a badass, and I think a lot of people probably overlook this. It’s not because of his super strength or his heat vision. It’s because of his superlative integrity, and how the world loved him so that they refused to let him perish. Lame but true!
May 7, 2018
I want to emphasize that this is not bad but it did take me months to read. I think it’s a great adaption of the comic arc but the dialogue was outdated and overall felt dry because I was bored reading non-Clark or Lois stuff. I did not care for every single character’s POV*. I enjoyed reading Lois’s and wish the story was solely from her POV instead—I would eagerly read through her parts and felt the story dragging when it was other POVs. Superman’s would have been enjoyable too but his dialogue almost always ended with exclamation points and I found that was annoying (this did not take away from his characterization, only the reoccurrence of the punctuation became annoying).
Still, I was glad to read the arc as a novelization because it was easier than reading comic panels for such a massive story. I would definitely recommend the book but be aware that it was written in the 90s.
***MILD SPOILERS FOR TOWARDS THE END***
I’m changing my original 2 star rating to 3 stars because while reading the Lois and Clark reunion conversation, I had to pause for my excitement to wear down because it is sooooooo good and exactly what I needed the entire time. I have not finished reading yet but my feelings on the book have changed because of the scene.
*Batman: No Man’s Land was a better read for me because there were more characters that I cared about so the continuous change in POV didn’t bother me.
Still, I was glad to read the arc as a novelization because it was easier than reading comic panels for such a massive story. I would definitely recommend the book but be aware that it was written in the 90s.
***MILD SPOILERS FOR TOWARDS THE END***
I’m changing my original 2 star rating to 3 stars because while reading the Lois and Clark reunion conversation, I had to pause for my excitement to wear down because it is sooooooo good and exactly what I needed the entire time. I have not finished reading yet but my feelings on the book have changed because of the scene.
*Batman: No Man’s Land was a better read for me because there were more characters that I cared about so the continuous change in POV didn’t bother me.
February 20, 2008
First let me say that my husband talked me into reading this book; I generally do not enjoy superhero fantasy novels. I've never been a reader of comic books, and other than film adaptations, my prior knowledge of Superman was practically nil. The story begins with a brief background of Superman, including his arrival on Earth, his life, loves, and death at the hands of Doomsday. The majority of the book focuses on the time after his death, where several imposters try to take his place. Who are the imposters, and are they really imposters? Did Superman really die? These are all questions answered in the action-filled plot. While mildly entertaining, the writing was downright cheesy and amateurish. The dialogue was terrible. It was unrealistic, full of stereotypes, and felt very dated, not to mention the "cringe worthiness" of the many one-liners. For being easy reading, it took me awhile to get through this; it just couldn't maintain my interest. When I do choose to read a fantasy book, I want the story to feel real, like it *could* really happen, but this novel did not accomplish that for me.
September 7, 2019
I liked this well enough, but it was pretty dry at times. I can see how it works as a comic, since so much of it is visual, but in novel form it felt off--comicy dialogue, too many expository flashbacks, a lot of "Suddenly" prose moments, etc. That being said, it's still a great story, and an iconical arc in the DC timeline. Stern does a great job filling everyone in on who the players are, even the arcane ones like Guardian, Bibbo and the Newsboy Legion. His lengthy fight scene between Superman and Doomsday was probably the best part of the book. But, unlike Greg Rucka's Batman: No Man's Land novel, which I found more entertaining than the comics, I'd say only read this if you don't have time to read the plethora of comics that make up the Death of Superman arc. I commend Stern for being able to seamlessly squeeze a couple years' worth of comics into 450 pages, and he's a good writer, but I think, ultimately, it's better in comic form.
May 20, 2013
Certainly one of my most favorite comic story arc! This novelization was pretty good. Maybe not the most 100% top notch epic type novel I really enjoy to read, but very well done for a comic to prose transition!
If you would like to know more of my thoughts on this story arc take a look at my blog posts (There will be 14 when they are all posted)
http://congruentculture.wordpress.com...
If you would like to know more of my thoughts on this story arc take a look at my blog posts (There will be 14 when they are all posted)
http://congruentculture.wordpress.com...
February 18, 2018
This is a novelization of one of the most epic stories in the DC Universe. The graphic novels were amazing, but this book gives detailed insight into the lives of the people most affected by the death of, arguably, the greatest hero of all time. Sometimes, the dialogue got quite "comic-y," but I appreciated it anyway, considering that it was written over two decades ago. Fans of classic Superman should not miss out on this.
August 15, 2013
Surprisingly good for a novel based off of a comic book story.
July 8, 2016
I remember reading this back when it first came out and being very disappointed with it. Granted, I did not understand [or think about] how enormous the novel would be if it truly followed the multiple storylines of every single comic involved in this 'event' in the life of Superman. I had most of the comics in this 'story'; one of the things that bugged me the most was Green Lantern [Hal Jordan] not playing a part in the novel like he did at the end of the story in the comics. Ah, youth! [well, early college, anyway]
This is a novelization of Superman's overhyped death [and resurrection] storyline from DC Comics back in the early 90s. The novel was written well after the comic's story was completed. I read it to see what I was missing in the comics I did not have for this story; needless to say I was severely disappointed the first time I read it because it did not include any of what I remembered in the 'later issues.' So had I reviewed it back then, I would have given it maybe two stars at most. Having read it a second time, I thought the author did an amazing job composing such a large number of comics into one novel [when he could easily have written two novels out of the material available]. I still would have liked to have seen some more backstory in some parts, but that is a personal preference [and would have increased the size of the already enormous novel].
The book starts out with Superman undergoing 'mundane' things in life - saving people, wooing his fiancee, trying to maintain his double-life as Clark Kent. Y'know, basic stuff. Somehow or other, Doomsday awakens and batters his way free from his prison. The JLA is called into action and soundly defeated. The JLA's membership at the time [as described] seemed like it should have been rather powerful, but they were quickly beaten by Doomsday. Superman joins the battle and realizes he is in for the fight of his life. He ends up using all reserves of his energy to 'kill' the monster, dying in the arms of his lover/fiancee.
The next section of the book deals with Superman's death and how various agencies are vying for control of his body. I think I most enjoyed how Batman handled a bomber during Superman's funeral procession. People recollect how much Superman meant to them and how his death has changed everything. Luther is still a jerk - how could Supergirl have fallen for this guy!?! Well after the funeral, Superman's body disappears, is recovered, and disappears again. Strange things are afoot!
The next section deals with the appearance of various individuals who either claim to be or are claimed to be Superman in some form or another. One individual appears half-Superman, half-Cyborg; one appears most like Superman but wears a visor; and one man is wearing a form of hi-tech armor [a la Tony Stark, I'm sure]. The 'final' individual is an escaped clone of Superman, only this clone is in his teens . Some good is done in Superman's name; the chap wearing the visor has no problem dealing Punisher-like 'justice' in how he deals with criminals. The armored-clad chap is trying to rid the streets of weapons he recognizes as being based on former prototypes of his. The Cyborg is the most convincing, despite his appearance . Superboy is a teen trying to cope/deal with his powers as he was awoken to discover he had powers with no past. Tough job there!
The next part of the book involves tussles between the various characters. Steel [the armored guy] has it out with the Eradicator [the visor-wearing Superman] and they end up in Coast City. Using a prior conversation the Eradicator had with Lois Lane, Steel is able to talk some sense into the Eradicator on how Superman would truly have acted. The Eradicator remains in Coast City [important plot point!] while Steel returns to Metropolis. Meanwhile, an alien warship enters Earth's solar system and heads for Earth. Eventually, the alien warship heads for Coast City. The Cyborg is called by the US President to head to Coast City; he meets Eradicator as the vessel drops 77,000 bombs [yes, seventy-seven THOUSAND bombs] across Coast City. The bombs explode and the Eradicator is believed to have been killed by the villain[s]. Superboy flies out to help the Cyborg and is captured.
We find out Mongol is subservient to SOMEBODY WHO SHALL REMAIN UNNAMED [for now] who also wishes to destroy the Earth because of Superman. Mongol intends to turn the Earth into another Warworld, making him the most powerful, the most deadly, being in all the universe. Superboy learns that Metropolis is the next target, and he manages to escape. Upon reaching Metropolis, he discusses what he has learned with Steel, Supergirl, and Lois Lane. A giant robot appears in Metropolis and a short fight ensues. The robot is knocked out of commission, spilling its contents. A man dressed in black appears and convinces Lois he is the one and only Boyscout. Superboy, Steel, and Superman fly to Coast City to put a stop to Mongol's fiendish plan[s]. Upon arriving, Superman picks up a buncha big guns as his powers are not at their peak. Steel leads the charge into Mongol's fortress. An all-out battle ensues. Will the heroes save the day? [of course they do!]
I thought it was a well-written novel, considering the author was trying to combine multiple comics into one novel. Tough job! Any kind of adaptation can be a tough thing, so kudos to Roger Stern for doing such a good job! It moved at a fast pace; despite it being over four hundred pages of relatively small print it still took me maybe ten hours [spread out over two days] to read it [if that much time]. The action was well-written; the dialogue and interactions between characters were believable [in my opinion]; obviously the title of the book gives away the fact that Superman does not remain dead, but that still did not take away from the book. It does get toe the 'deep end' in terms of scientific stuff, but always remains readable and understandable. Other reviewers have complained about 'dues ex machina' stuff and the dialogue in the book - it's based on a buncha comic books! What did you expect? Comics from the 60s and 70s used to have brief backstory explanations as to how a villain [or the hero] managed to escape from what was believed to have been certain death. DC even did that with some of their titles when they rebooted their titles under 'the New 52' runs.
Perhaps it has to do with rereading it when I am older, but I have a much greater appreciation for Roger Stern did in this novel a second time around. A resounding five stars.
This is a novelization of Superman's overhyped death [and resurrection] storyline from DC Comics back in the early 90s. The novel was written well after the comic's story was completed. I read it to see what I was missing in the comics I did not have for this story; needless to say I was severely disappointed the first time I read it because it did not include any of what I remembered in the 'later issues.' So had I reviewed it back then, I would have given it maybe two stars at most. Having read it a second time, I thought the author did an amazing job composing such a large number of comics into one novel [when he could easily have written two novels out of the material available]. I still would have liked to have seen some more backstory in some parts, but that is a personal preference [and would have increased the size of the already enormous novel].
The book starts out with Superman undergoing 'mundane' things in life - saving people, wooing his fiancee, trying to maintain his double-life as Clark Kent. Y'know, basic stuff. Somehow or other, Doomsday awakens and batters his way free from his prison. The JLA is called into action and soundly defeated. The JLA's membership at the time [as described] seemed like it should have been rather powerful, but they were quickly beaten by Doomsday. Superman joins the battle and realizes he is in for the fight of his life. He ends up using all reserves of his energy to 'kill' the monster, dying in the arms of his lover/fiancee.
The next section of the book deals with Superman's death and how various agencies are vying for control of his body. I think I most enjoyed how Batman handled a bomber during Superman's funeral procession. People recollect how much Superman meant to them and how his death has changed everything. Luther is still a jerk - how could Supergirl have fallen for this guy!?! Well after the funeral, Superman's body disappears, is recovered, and disappears again. Strange things are afoot!
The next section deals with the appearance of various individuals who either claim to be or are claimed to be Superman in some form or another. One individual appears half-Superman, half-Cyborg; one appears most like Superman but wears a visor; and one man is wearing a form of hi-tech armor [a la Tony Stark, I'm sure]. The 'final' individual is an escaped clone of Superman, only this clone is in his teens . Some good is done in Superman's name; the chap wearing the visor has no problem dealing Punisher-like 'justice' in how he deals with criminals. The armored-clad chap is trying to rid the streets of weapons he recognizes as being based on former prototypes of his. The Cyborg is the most convincing, despite his appearance . Superboy is a teen trying to cope/deal with his powers as he was awoken to discover he had powers with no past. Tough job there!
The next part of the book involves tussles between the various characters. Steel [the armored guy] has it out with the Eradicator [the visor-wearing Superman] and they end up in Coast City. Using a prior conversation the Eradicator had with Lois Lane, Steel is able to talk some sense into the Eradicator on how Superman would truly have acted. The Eradicator remains in Coast City [important plot point!] while Steel returns to Metropolis. Meanwhile, an alien warship enters Earth's solar system and heads for Earth. Eventually, the alien warship heads for Coast City. The Cyborg is called by the US President to head to Coast City; he meets Eradicator as the vessel drops 77,000 bombs [yes, seventy-seven THOUSAND bombs] across Coast City. The bombs explode and the Eradicator is believed to have been killed by the villain[s]. Superboy flies out to help the Cyborg and is captured.
We find out Mongol is subservient to SOMEBODY WHO SHALL REMAIN UNNAMED [for now] who also wishes to destroy the Earth because of Superman. Mongol intends to turn the Earth into another Warworld, making him the most powerful, the most deadly, being in all the universe. Superboy learns that Metropolis is the next target, and he manages to escape. Upon reaching Metropolis, he discusses what he has learned with Steel, Supergirl, and Lois Lane. A giant robot appears in Metropolis and a short fight ensues. The robot is knocked out of commission, spilling its contents. A man dressed in black appears and convinces Lois he is the one and only Boyscout. Superboy, Steel, and Superman fly to Coast City to put a stop to Mongol's fiendish plan[s]. Upon arriving, Superman picks up a buncha big guns as his powers are not at their peak. Steel leads the charge into Mongol's fortress. An all-out battle ensues. Will the heroes save the day? [of course they do!]
I thought it was a well-written novel, considering the author was trying to combine multiple comics into one novel. Tough job! Any kind of adaptation can be a tough thing, so kudos to Roger Stern for doing such a good job! It moved at a fast pace; despite it being over four hundred pages of relatively small print it still took me maybe ten hours [spread out over two days] to read it [if that much time]. The action was well-written; the dialogue and interactions between characters were believable [in my opinion]; obviously the title of the book gives away the fact that Superman does not remain dead, but that still did not take away from the book. It does get toe the 'deep end' in terms of scientific stuff, but always remains readable and understandable. Other reviewers have complained about 'dues ex machina' stuff and the dialogue in the book - it's based on a buncha comic books! What did you expect? Comics from the 60s and 70s used to have brief backstory explanations as to how a villain [or the hero] managed to escape from what was believed to have been certain death. DC even did that with some of their titles when they rebooted their titles under 'the New 52' runs.
Perhaps it has to do with rereading it when I am older, but I have a much greater appreciation for Roger Stern did in this novel a second time around. A resounding five stars.
July 22, 2024
As someone who’s not a big Superman fan I enjoyed this book a decent bit. The central plot line featuring Superman and the Supermen is pretty enjoyable but there are a lot of side characters that were just boring to read about. Very classic story that I enjoyed reading for the first time.
April 25, 2016
Excellent vignette of what happened to the Man of Steel's legend.
And Supergirl was in it. Yah!
April 17, 2025
“The Death and Life of Superman” by Roger Stern is an adaptation of multiple 1990’s DC comics storylines. Attempting to capture decades of Superman history in one novel, this confusing and sometimes offensive book can’t be saved by Roger’s punchy action writing. 2.5/5, would rec to desperate Superman fans.
“The Death of Superman” and the following comics, the “Reign of Supermen” and the “Return of Superman” are all iconic 90’s works that changed Superman forever. This book captures all of those works as one novel, and thus, represents more a collection of “90’s Superman” than just an adaptation. Written by Superman editor Roger Stern, this book was released alongside the comics for Superfans looking for extra. Unfortunately, I found it to be inferior to the comics in many ways.
Firstly, Roger has to introduce so many characters, it’ll make your head spin. Not just Superman, but all the supporting cast members of the late 70’s and 80’s. Sure, you might know Jimmy Olsen or Lois Lane, but what about Dubilex and the Guardian? Or Bibbo Bibbowski? Inspector Turpin? More confusing is the status of known characters: Lex Luthor is a clone after he faked his death, but the clone is pretending to be his son who is a good guy, and all that has nothing to do with the plot at hand. Or Supergirl, not actually Kara-El the cousin of Superman, but instead a shapeshifting alien from…well actually I don’t even remember.
These characters are confusing for even people that have read a ton of comics, but for this book, it’s a mess. Stern introduces a character and then gives you a few page backstory every time. It’s an obtrusive device that makes all the characters more jarring than they need to be. Not to mention the number of characters that are just not needed, but just because they showed up in a tie-in series in the 90’s, that character will be given their page and a half! It wastes so much time.
The dialogue for characters that Stern knows is actually pretty decent. Mainline Superman characters act pretty close to their comic book characterization. Meanwhile, filler characters added by Stern to explain plot contrivances just do dialogue at the reader. The worst is between two made up alien henchmen, who appear for one moment to explain the entirety of Cyborg Superman’s backstory in painful exposition, then disappear like mist into the novel. Even the dialogue is very “comic book-y” when it’s good.
Stern’s description of women is certainly something. Just how buxom could Luthor’s assistant be? Or maybe we need a few more sentences about how good Supergirl’s hips are? How about we call the one Black woman in the story “exotic”? It’s disgusting, honestly. This kinda writing needs to be buried, or Stern needs to take a cold shower before he picks up the pen.
Credit where credit is due, Superman is written really well by Stern. In addition, his action scenes are dynamic and exciting. This really makes the first part of the book shine, as “Death of Superman” is really just 3 huge fight scenes. Final conflicts with Mongul are written just as well. The action is fun and mindless to read - honestly, the book would be a lot better if they just cut out everything except for Superman punching scenes. At least it’d be shorter too!
All in all, Roger Stern’s incredible action sequences are lost in a maze of confusing and gross exposition. As a Superman fan, I could keep track of who is who, but I can’t imagine someone newer to the franchise (or even just the era) would have any enjoyment. 2.5/5, I can’t imagine this is close to the best Superman book out there. If so, God help us all.
“The Death of Superman” and the following comics, the “Reign of Supermen” and the “Return of Superman” are all iconic 90’s works that changed Superman forever. This book captures all of those works as one novel, and thus, represents more a collection of “90’s Superman” than just an adaptation. Written by Superman editor Roger Stern, this book was released alongside the comics for Superfans looking for extra. Unfortunately, I found it to be inferior to the comics in many ways.
Firstly, Roger has to introduce so many characters, it’ll make your head spin. Not just Superman, but all the supporting cast members of the late 70’s and 80’s. Sure, you might know Jimmy Olsen or Lois Lane, but what about Dubilex and the Guardian? Or Bibbo Bibbowski? Inspector Turpin? More confusing is the status of known characters: Lex Luthor is a clone after he faked his death, but the clone is pretending to be his son who is a good guy, and all that has nothing to do with the plot at hand. Or Supergirl, not actually Kara-El the cousin of Superman, but instead a shapeshifting alien from…well actually I don’t even remember.
These characters are confusing for even people that have read a ton of comics, but for this book, it’s a mess. Stern introduces a character and then gives you a few page backstory every time. It’s an obtrusive device that makes all the characters more jarring than they need to be. Not to mention the number of characters that are just not needed, but just because they showed up in a tie-in series in the 90’s, that character will be given their page and a half! It wastes so much time.
The dialogue for characters that Stern knows is actually pretty decent. Mainline Superman characters act pretty close to their comic book characterization. Meanwhile, filler characters added by Stern to explain plot contrivances just do dialogue at the reader. The worst is between two made up alien henchmen, who appear for one moment to explain the entirety of Cyborg Superman’s backstory in painful exposition, then disappear like mist into the novel. Even the dialogue is very “comic book-y” when it’s good.
Stern’s description of women is certainly something. Just how buxom could Luthor’s assistant be? Or maybe we need a few more sentences about how good Supergirl’s hips are? How about we call the one Black woman in the story “exotic”? It’s disgusting, honestly. This kinda writing needs to be buried, or Stern needs to take a cold shower before he picks up the pen.
Credit where credit is due, Superman is written really well by Stern. In addition, his action scenes are dynamic and exciting. This really makes the first part of the book shine, as “Death of Superman” is really just 3 huge fight scenes. Final conflicts with Mongul are written just as well. The action is fun and mindless to read - honestly, the book would be a lot better if they just cut out everything except for Superman punching scenes. At least it’d be shorter too!
All in all, Roger Stern’s incredible action sequences are lost in a maze of confusing and gross exposition. As a Superman fan, I could keep track of who is who, but I can’t imagine someone newer to the franchise (or even just the era) would have any enjoyment. 2.5/5, I can’t imagine this is close to the best Superman book out there. If so, God help us all.
March 7, 2025
Back in the 1990s I was obsessed with "Lois and Clark," to the point where (before I wrote any novels of my own) I wrote fan fiction (for that, and for some other favorite shows back in the day). During that era, I discovered this book in the library, and devoured it. When I found "Lois and Clark" briefly free on Tubi, I began to re-watch, and while a lot of it was silly and eye-rolling, I found that I still loved it (until about halfway through season 3, which might have been where I stopped before). The show jogged my memory of this book too... and it was surprisingly hard to find! It doesn't even exist in Kindle or audio which are my usual modes of digital consumption, so my husband found a hardback for me on ebay.
As I read it again, I guess I could see why it was hard to find (haha). It's a complete mess, and more so as the story goes on, ignoring most of the usual rules of storytelling. There is an "ordinary world" at first (Superman is in Metropolis, engaged to Lois who at this point knows of his secret identity), and there are rather too many flashbacks to tell us how he got there. We also get a very important detail in this segment, that while it seems to the outside observer that Superman is completely invulnerable except for kryptonite, that's not actually true -- he's just far, far stronger than humans, and whenever he does manager to get at all depleted, he simply recharges whenever he's exposed to sunlight. I'd forgotten that in this story, the Justice League also plays a big role, as does Supergirl, too. Lex Luthor, we gather, has already at some point in the past faked his own death, and come back in the guise of his own son... and he's now hooked up with Supergirl. But all right, we can suspend disbelief on that one.
Then Doomsday, a sadistic and horrifically ugly alien shows up, bent on destruction for its own sake. Superman fights him, and after many pages of epic battles with collateral damage, Superman at last succeeds in killing him, but he dies himself shortly thereafter. There are many chapters after that of the outpouring of grief (even including Lana Lang, Clark's girlfriend from high school who apparently wasn't ever actually his girlfriend in this version, she was just his best friend who was in love with him). There's a funeral, and Lex Luthor pays for an elaborate tomb. But meanwhile, one factions works to raise Superman from the dead, by cloning him. Clark's father suffers a heart attack in the midst of all the stress, though, and he goes over to the "other side," where he encounters Clark, and convinces him to return to the land of the living.
So far the arc of the story is more or less what one would expect, But then, before the real Superman actually returns, we get three imposters: one insufferable teenage clone (Superboy), one who looks exactly like Superman except his suit is black and he wears a visor over his eyes, and he is completely unmerciful, and one cyborg, whose human parts look like Superman, but he's mostly machine. Then there's the Man of Steel, a member of the Justice League who builds himself an indestructable suit, and one sweet little guy who adores Superman and just goes around doing good things in his name. Most of these sow confusion, and destroy Superman's good name and legacy in the process, even as a bunch of cultists preach that he will rise again (lots of Messianic overtones, as there always is with Superman).
Meanwhile, we go back and forth to the Fortress of Solitude in Antarctica, where visored Superman and also (we think?) the real Superman end up... and then, because we had to end the story somehow, an enormous space ship enters earth carrying an old enemy of Superman who vaporizes an entire city in California, and is on the way to do the same to Metropolis, when all the (good, fake) Supermen and the real Superman at last have to come together to stop him.
Oh, and at the end, Doomsday isn't dead either. Of course he isn't.
The whole thing was a ridiculous romp, and yet I read the whole thing, rolling my eyes but enjoying it somehow nonetheless.
As I read it again, I guess I could see why it was hard to find (haha). It's a complete mess, and more so as the story goes on, ignoring most of the usual rules of storytelling. There is an "ordinary world" at first (Superman is in Metropolis, engaged to Lois who at this point knows of his secret identity), and there are rather too many flashbacks to tell us how he got there. We also get a very important detail in this segment, that while it seems to the outside observer that Superman is completely invulnerable except for kryptonite, that's not actually true -- he's just far, far stronger than humans, and whenever he does manager to get at all depleted, he simply recharges whenever he's exposed to sunlight. I'd forgotten that in this story, the Justice League also plays a big role, as does Supergirl, too. Lex Luthor, we gather, has already at some point in the past faked his own death, and come back in the guise of his own son... and he's now hooked up with Supergirl. But all right, we can suspend disbelief on that one.
Then Doomsday, a sadistic and horrifically ugly alien shows up, bent on destruction for its own sake. Superman fights him, and after many pages of epic battles with collateral damage, Superman at last succeeds in killing him, but he dies himself shortly thereafter. There are many chapters after that of the outpouring of grief (even including Lana Lang, Clark's girlfriend from high school who apparently wasn't ever actually his girlfriend in this version, she was just his best friend who was in love with him). There's a funeral, and Lex Luthor pays for an elaborate tomb. But meanwhile, one factions works to raise Superman from the dead, by cloning him. Clark's father suffers a heart attack in the midst of all the stress, though, and he goes over to the "other side," where he encounters Clark, and convinces him to return to the land of the living.
So far the arc of the story is more or less what one would expect, But then, before the real Superman actually returns, we get three imposters: one insufferable teenage clone (Superboy), one who looks exactly like Superman except his suit is black and he wears a visor over his eyes, and he is completely unmerciful, and one cyborg, whose human parts look like Superman, but he's mostly machine. Then there's the Man of Steel, a member of the Justice League who builds himself an indestructable suit, and one sweet little guy who adores Superman and just goes around doing good things in his name. Most of these sow confusion, and destroy Superman's good name and legacy in the process, even as a bunch of cultists preach that he will rise again (lots of Messianic overtones, as there always is with Superman).
Meanwhile, we go back and forth to the Fortress of Solitude in Antarctica, where visored Superman and also (we think?) the real Superman end up... and then, because we had to end the story somehow, an enormous space ship enters earth carrying an old enemy of Superman who vaporizes an entire city in California, and is on the way to do the same to Metropolis, when all the (good, fake) Supermen and the real Superman at last have to come together to stop him.
Oh, and at the end, Doomsday isn't dead either. Of course he isn't.
The whole thing was a ridiculous romp, and yet I read the whole thing, rolling my eyes but enjoying it somehow nonetheless.
November 21, 2025
As a lifelong Superman fan, The Death and Life of Superman holds a unique place in my heart. This novelization, penned by Roger Stern, provides an emotional, insightful look at the iconic story arc from 1992’s Death of Superman event. While I grew up reading the comics and even recently revisited them in TPB form, reading Stern’s novel was a completely different experience — one that allowed me to dig deeper into the emotional stakes of Superman’s death and resurrection.
Stern does a fantastic job of providing much-needed character introspection that was often skipped over in the comics, which were more focused on action and suspense. The novel allows us to understand the inner thoughts of key characters like Lois Lane, John Henry Irons (Steel), and even Cyborg Superman. But what struck me the most was how Stern was able to delve into the Eradicator’s psychology — his misguided sense of purpose and his violent approach to justice are explored in a way the comics couldn’t quite capture.
One of the things I really appreciated about the novel was how it clarified the moral struggles of the characters. In the comics, we had a sense of mystery about the new "Supermen," but Stern’s novelization does away with that, allowing us to see just how each of them is grappling with their place in the world — particularly the Eradicator, who believes he is continuing Superman's legacy but doesn't understand the full meaning of it.
However, while the novel adds layers of complexity to the story, it also omits some of the lighter, human moments that made the comic experience so enjoyable. For example, the playful moment in the apartment where Supergirl, Lois, and Clark share in the satisfaction of their “script” for Clark’s return is completely missing. In the comics, this scene provides much-needed relief from the intense drama. Lois already knows the truth, having helped coordinate the plan, and Supergirl only impersonated Clark for the staged rescue and photo op. So when the three of them return home, there’s a quiet, playful atmosphere as they wrap up the charade together. While it’s understandable that the novel needed to focus more on the emotional depth of Superman’s resurrection, I found myself missing those small moments of humor and warmth that gave the comics a sense of humanity and lightness.
Ultimately, The Death and Life of Superman novelization is a wonderful companion to the comics. If you’ve read the original story arc, you’ll appreciate the added emotional depth and psychological exploration that Stern brings to the table. And for those who haven’t read the comics, this novel serves as an excellent standalone work that captures the heart of Superman’s death and return while offering a fresh perspective on some of the most pivotal moments in superhero storytelling.
As a fan who grew up with these characters, the experience of reading my father's copy of this novel made it all the more special. It’s a story that transcends the medium — a true classic that still resonates deeply.
Stern does a fantastic job of providing much-needed character introspection that was often skipped over in the comics, which were more focused on action and suspense. The novel allows us to understand the inner thoughts of key characters like Lois Lane, John Henry Irons (Steel), and even Cyborg Superman. But what struck me the most was how Stern was able to delve into the Eradicator’s psychology — his misguided sense of purpose and his violent approach to justice are explored in a way the comics couldn’t quite capture.
One of the things I really appreciated about the novel was how it clarified the moral struggles of the characters. In the comics, we had a sense of mystery about the new "Supermen," but Stern’s novelization does away with that, allowing us to see just how each of them is grappling with their place in the world — particularly the Eradicator, who believes he is continuing Superman's legacy but doesn't understand the full meaning of it.
However, while the novel adds layers of complexity to the story, it also omits some of the lighter, human moments that made the comic experience so enjoyable. For example, the playful moment in the apartment where Supergirl, Lois, and Clark share in the satisfaction of their “script” for Clark’s return is completely missing. In the comics, this scene provides much-needed relief from the intense drama. Lois already knows the truth, having helped coordinate the plan, and Supergirl only impersonated Clark for the staged rescue and photo op. So when the three of them return home, there’s a quiet, playful atmosphere as they wrap up the charade together. While it’s understandable that the novel needed to focus more on the emotional depth of Superman’s resurrection, I found myself missing those small moments of humor and warmth that gave the comics a sense of humanity and lightness.
Ultimately, The Death and Life of Superman novelization is a wonderful companion to the comics. If you’ve read the original story arc, you’ll appreciate the added emotional depth and psychological exploration that Stern brings to the table. And for those who haven’t read the comics, this novel serves as an excellent standalone work that captures the heart of Superman’s death and return while offering a fresh perspective on some of the most pivotal moments in superhero storytelling.
As a fan who grew up with these characters, the experience of reading my father's copy of this novel made it all the more special. It’s a story that transcends the medium — a true classic that still resonates deeply.
November 18, 2025
As a lifelong fan of Superman, I’m always excited to jump into more stories of the boy scout in blue, whether they be movies or tv shows or even comics. His timeless adventures have always inspired hope and resiliency in me, and always make me feel warm in the end. Cut to one day im rummaging through my local used bookstore, and I come across “The Death and Life of Superman” by Roger Stern. Immediately I was struck by the cover and of course the big red “S,” and as I thumbed through it I realized it was the novelization of the “Death of Superman” arc from the 90s comics, which really peaked my interest. Having never “read” a Superman book I thought it was worth the leap of faith, and I ended up finding one hell of an enjoyable read.
Stern is no stranger to this story, being one of the writers of the original run, and you can tell his love and appreciation for the characters and world are deep. He writes the world so vibrantly and truly has the energy like you’re reading the comics in a more mature medium. The action is heart pounding and wildly eventful, the smaller character moments are quiet and personal, and every set piece worthy of a major motion picture adaptation. Superman, Lois, Jimmy, Pa and Ma Kent, Lex and the rest of the Justice League are all done service on the page as they are in the panels, playing their roles with accuracy and respect. I loved being in this shiny Metropolis and couldn’t wait every time I went to jump back in.
The story isn’t solely focused on the fatale fight itself, Stern manages to weave together several plots around the combative chapters both before and after. We get all the background we need before Superman falls, and we see those plot lines react and develop afterwards. Following the iconic funeral for Superman, and the fallout leading to the Reign of the Supermen, was very very fun. I found myself smiling at times, feeling like a kid again discovering my dad’s comics all those years ago. It even reawakened a desire to pick up some old comics and rekindle that spark of the impossible being real and heroes flying through the sky.
It might be easy to write (no pun intended) this book off as just simple superhero junk food; without substance or critical analysis. While it’s certainly not reinventing the genre, it’s a LOT of excitement, and gave me a really enjoyable read to round out the end of the year. Reading should take you to all corners of the spectrum, and sometimes you just need a thrilling adventure to quench your thirst for fun.
By no means the sleeper hit of the year on anyone’s “Best of 2025” list, but certainly one I wasn’t expecting to get into as much as I did. If you’re a fan of Superman, superheroes or just an exciting adventure, this is worth your time.
Stern is no stranger to this story, being one of the writers of the original run, and you can tell his love and appreciation for the characters and world are deep. He writes the world so vibrantly and truly has the energy like you’re reading the comics in a more mature medium. The action is heart pounding and wildly eventful, the smaller character moments are quiet and personal, and every set piece worthy of a major motion picture adaptation. Superman, Lois, Jimmy, Pa and Ma Kent, Lex and the rest of the Justice League are all done service on the page as they are in the panels, playing their roles with accuracy and respect. I loved being in this shiny Metropolis and couldn’t wait every time I went to jump back in.
The story isn’t solely focused on the fatale fight itself, Stern manages to weave together several plots around the combative chapters both before and after. We get all the background we need before Superman falls, and we see those plot lines react and develop afterwards. Following the iconic funeral for Superman, and the fallout leading to the Reign of the Supermen, was very very fun. I found myself smiling at times, feeling like a kid again discovering my dad’s comics all those years ago. It even reawakened a desire to pick up some old comics and rekindle that spark of the impossible being real and heroes flying through the sky.
It might be easy to write (no pun intended) this book off as just simple superhero junk food; without substance or critical analysis. While it’s certainly not reinventing the genre, it’s a LOT of excitement, and gave me a really enjoyable read to round out the end of the year. Reading should take you to all corners of the spectrum, and sometimes you just need a thrilling adventure to quench your thirst for fun.
By no means the sleeper hit of the year on anyone’s “Best of 2025” list, but certainly one I wasn’t expecting to get into as much as I did. If you’re a fan of Superman, superheroes or just an exciting adventure, this is worth your time.
January 25, 2024
I'm only casually aware of the whole Superman mythos (Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, Kryptonite) and not at all of most of the other superheroes who feature in this book, so I can say that the author does a good job of dumping vast reams of existing backstory into the narrative for the benefit of those who may not know or remember all the relevant plot points from decades back, and of making the result pretty readable. As I don't get on with the graphic novel format, this is probably actually more readable for me than the original comic strip panels would have been - the experience is often very reminiscent of reading a superhero strip, with the advantage that I actually get to know what was intended to be happening during the action sequences and all the subtext that was supposed to be in the juxtapositions of imagery!
As novelisations of comic strips go, this is a pretty good one. As actual reading... it's maybe a bit one dimensional, consisting of vast amounts of action, fairly minimal characterisation, and a very convoluted plot-line involving multiple incarnations of Superman running around after the original was supposedly dead. It genuinely wasn't obvious which one was the 'real ' one, and it was interesting that when the original Superman did return, his dialogue felt immediately 'right' in a way that the others' hadn't...
As a reading experience it feels very 'condensed', with what are in effect multiple volumes of plot tumbling one on top of each other into a single book. I feel as if I have now had a crash course in forty years or so of accumulated lore slimmed down to the minimum necessary to grasp the current scenario and protagonists!
Surprisingly accessible to the non-aficionado.
As novelisations of comic strips go, this is a pretty good one. As actual reading... it's maybe a bit one dimensional, consisting of vast amounts of action, fairly minimal characterisation, and a very convoluted plot-line involving multiple incarnations of Superman running around after the original was supposedly dead. It genuinely wasn't obvious which one was the 'real ' one, and it was interesting that when the original Superman did return, his dialogue felt immediately 'right' in a way that the others' hadn't...
As a reading experience it feels very 'condensed', with what are in effect multiple volumes of plot tumbling one on top of each other into a single book. I feel as if I have now had a crash course in forty years or so of accumulated lore slimmed down to the minimum necessary to grasp the current scenario and protagonists!
Surprisingly accessible to the non-aficionado.
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