The Death of Superman

The Death of Superman (2018) is adapted from the 1992 comic, and that comic was an event in itself. When DC announced they were killing Superman the issue sold in extraordinary numbers. A polybagged edition shipped with a black armband and there were queues outside comic shops. Everybody knew the death would not be permanent and it was still an event. The story is simple: a creature called Doomsday falls to Earth. It does not speak or negotiate. It walks, and destroys whatever is in front of it. The Justice League stands in its way and cannot stop it. Superman is what is left. The film's strength is not putting the fight at the centre. The evacuation of Metropolis, Lois at the newspaper, and Clark's last ordinary days take up most of the running time. This is the second animated version. The first, Superman: Doomsday in 2007, compressed the story heavily; this one is closer to the comic and is completed by its sequel, Reign of the Supermen. Jerry O'Connell voices Superman and Rebecca Romijn voices Lois. The two are married in real life. It runs 81 minutes. Good for: DC animation, comic adaptations, and superheroes. Less good for: the violence is hard for animation and there is blood. The story also does not finish on its own.