Episode #89: Superman Returns In SUPERMAN #82!

Superman #82, October 1993, was published on August 24, 1993. It was the concluding issue of The Death And Return Of Superman stories. Thw whole story was reprinted in a number of collected editions, all still in print, World Without A Superman (originally published on April 14, 1993), The Return Of Superman (September 3, 1993) and The Death And Return Of Superman Omnibus (September 12, 2007). Unless otherwise noted, these stories were edited by Mike Carlin.

The saga began with the saga The Death Of Superman, which began as a prologue on the last pages of the Superman titles cover dated November 1992:
Superman: The Man Of Steel #73 (Triangle number 1992 #41)
Superman #73 (1992 #42)
The Adventures Of Superman #496 (1992 #43)
Action Comics #683 (1992 #44).
The prologue page showed the fist of an unknown figure, wrapeed in havy metal cables, pounding a metal wall. In each of the subsequent issues, the fist made progress punching through the wall.

This mysterious figure finally broke out of its unnamed underground prison in the Superman titles cover dated December 1992, beginning with Superman: The Man Of Steel #18, (1992 #45), published on October 13, 1992. Cover: pencils: Jon Bogdanove, inks: Dennis Janke.
Doomsday: writer: Louise Simonson, pencils: Jon Bogdanove, inks: Dennis Janke, letters: Bill Oakley, colors: Glenn Whitmore. Doomsday's origin was not revealed until the mini-series Superman / Doomsday: Hunter Prey, published in 1994 and collected in 1995, but no longer in print.

Justice League America #69, October 20, 1992, edited by Brian Augustyn, cover: pencils: Dan Jurgens, inks: Rick Burchett.
Down For The Count: writer/penciller: Dan Jurgens, inks: Rick Burchett, letters: Willie Schubert, colors: Gene D'Angelo. Doomsday ran over the Justice League.

Superman #74 (1992 #46), October 20, 1992. Cover: pencils: Dan Jurgens, inks: Brett Breeding.
Countdown To Doomsday: writer/penciller: Dan Jurgens, inks: Brett Breeding, letters: John Costanza, colors: Glenn Whitmore. Doomsday finished off the Justice League.

The Adventures Of Superman #497 (1992 #47), October 27, 1992. Cover: pencils: Tom Grummett, inks: Doug Hazlewood.
Under Fire: writer: Jerry Ordway, pencils: Tom Grummett, inks: Doug Hazlewood, letters: Albert Tobias De Guzman, colors: Glenn Whitmore. Doomsday began his trek for Metropolis.

Action Comics #684 (1992 #48), November 3, 1992. Cover: Art Thibert.
Doomsday Is Near: writer: Roger Stern, pencils: Jackson Guice, inks: Dennis Rodier, letters: Bill Oakley, colors: Glenn Whitmore. Doomsday approached Metropolis.

Cover dated January 1993:

Superman: The Man Of Steel #19 (1993 #1), November 10, 1992. Cover: pencils: Jon Bogdanove, inks: Dennis Janke.
Doomsday Is Here: writer: Louise Simonson, pencils: Jon Bogdanove, inks: Hennis Janke, letters: Bill Oakley, colors: Glenn Whitmore. Superman's battle against Doomsday began in the outskirts of Metropolis.

Superman #75 (1993 #2), November 17, 1992. Cover: pencils: Dan Jurgens, inks: Brett Breeding. The regular cover showed Superman's torn cape, like a battered flag, hanging on a stick.
Doomsday: writer/penciller: Dan Jurgens, inks: Brett Breeding, letters: John Costanza, colors: Glenn Whitmore. Superman and Doomsday kill each other, in this story that concluded on the fold-out back cover. Each page was a full page splash panel.
This issue also came out with a variant cover, sealed in a special "bleeding 'S'" bag. The variant cover was of a tombstone with the Superman "S" carved into it, with the epitaph, Here Lies Earth's Greatest Hero. Included in this variant edition was a trading card, reproducing the variant cover, promoting a set of Doomsday trading cards, stamps, Superman's obituary from the Daily Planet, written by R. Lowell Stern, a black armband with the red Superman shield embossed on it, and a fold-out poster of the DC heroes in the funeral procession, with the Death Of Superman and Funeral For A Friend issues listed on it.

Originally, the Superman creative team had planned to have Clark and Lois marry in this issue. But the creators of the ABC TV show Lois & Clark: The Adventures Of Superman wanted to have the opportunity to do it first, and have the comics tie in to create "synergy". With their planned storyline postponed, the creative team decided to do what they always joked about during these story sumits, kill Superman. For more about this story look at the special features on the DVD Superman Doomsday.
Funeral For A Friend:

Justice League America #70, November 17, 1992. Editor: Brian Michael Augustyn. Cover: pencils: Dan Jurgens, inker: Rick Burchett.
Grieving: writer/penciller: Dan Jurgens, inks: Rick Burchett, letters: Willie Schubert, colors: Gene D'Angelo. The Justice League pick up the pieces and prepare for Superman's funeral.

Part I: The Adventures Of Superman #498 (1993 #3) Cover: pencils: Tom Grummett, inks: Doug Hazlewood.
Death Of A Legend: writer: Jerry Ordway, pencils: Tom Grummett, inks: Doug Hazlewood, letters: Albert Tobias De Guzman, colors: Glen Whitmore. The aftermath of the Doomsday battle focused on the Superman supporting cast.

Part II: Action Comics #685 (1993 #4), Decelber 1, 1993. Cover: Jackson Guice.
Re:Actions: writer: Roger Stern, pencils: Jackson Guice, inker: Dennis Rodier, letters: Bill Oakley, colors: Glenn Whitmore. The DC super heroes continue preparing for Superman's funeral and try to fill his shoes.

Cover dated February 1993:

Part III: Superman: The Man Of Steel #20 (1993 #5), December 15, 1992. Cover: pencils: Jon Bogdanove, inks: Dennis Janke.
Funeral Day: writer: Louise Simonson, pencils: Jon Bogdanove, inks: Dennis Janke, letters: Bill Oakley, colors: Glenn Whitmore. Metropolis began rebuilding and held Superman's funeral. A plaque was placed on the spot where Superman died, and he was buried under a Superman statue, an homage to Fred Ray's iconic cover on Superman #14, January/February 1942, November 7, 1941.

Part IV: Superman #76 (1993 #6), December 22, 1992. Cover: pencils: Dan Jurgens, i: Brett Breeding.
Metropolis Mailbag II: writer/penciller: Dan Jurgens, inker: Brett Breeding, letters: John Costanza, colors: Glenn Whitmore. The DC super heroes continue the recently deceased Superman's tradition of answering his mail on Christmas Eve.

Part V: The Adventures Of Superman #499 (1993 #7) Cover: pencils: Tom Grummett, inks: Doug Hazlewood, letters: Albert Tobias De Guzman, colors: Glenn Whitmore. Superman's body is barely cold in his tomb before it is discovered missing.

Part VI: Supergirl In Action Comics #686 (1993 #8) Cover: artist: Jackson Guice.
Who's Buried In Superman's Tomb? writer: Jerry Ordway, pencils: Jackson Guice, inker: Dennis Rodier, letters: Bill Oakley, colors: Glenn Whitmore. Superman's body was traced to Project Cadmus (the subject of podcast episode #34).

Cover dated March 1993:

Part VII: Superman: The Man Of Steel #21 (1993 #9), January 12, 1993. Cover: pencils: John Bogdanove, inks: Dennis Janke.
Ghosts: writer: Louise Simonson, pencils: Jon Bogdanove, inks: Dennis Janke, letters: Bill Oakley, colors: Glen Whitmore. At the end of the issue Pa Kent suffered a heart attack.

Part VIII: Superman #77 (1993 #10), January 19, 1993. Cover: pencils: Dan Jurgens, inks: Brett Breeding.
The End: writer/penciller: Dan Jurgens, inker: Brett Breeding, letterer: John Costanza, colors: Glenn Whitmore. Superman's body was returned to his tomb, and Pa Kent's heart stopped in the hospital.

The Legacy Of Superman #1 (of 1), February 2, 1993. Cover: Art Adams.
- Guardian: The Guardians Of Metropolis: (11 pgs.), writer: Karl Kessel, art: Walt Simonson, letters: John E. Workman, Jr., colors: Glenn Whitmore.
- Rose & Thorn: Sister Act: (11 pages), writer: Roger Stern, pencils: Dennis Rodier, inks: Ande Park, letters: Albert Tobias De Guzman, colors: Glenn Whitmore.
- Gangbuster: Gangbuster Of Suicide Slum: writer: Jerry Ordway, pencils: Dennis Janke, inks: Mike Machlan, letters: John Costanza and Albert Tobias De Guzman, colors: Glenn whitmore.
- Lex Luthor: Funeral Pyres: (11 pages), writer: William Messner-Loebs, pencils: Curt Swan, inks: Josef Rubinstein, letters: Bill Oakley, colors: Glenn Whitmore.
- Waverider: Vanishing Point: writer/penciller: Dan Jurgens, inker: Trevor Scott, letters: John Costanza, colors: Glenn Whitmore.

Supergirl And Team Luthor #1 (of 1), 1993, March 9, 1993. Cover: pencils: Kerry Gammil, inks: Bob Wiacek.
- The Future Of Metropolis: (38 pages), writer: Roger Stern, pencils: June Brigman, inks: Jackson Guice and Dennis Janke, letters: Albert Tobias De Guzman, colors: Glenn Whitmore.
- Shelter: 11 pages), writer: Louise Simonson, artist: Dennis Rodier, letters: Albert Tobias De Guzman, colors: Glenn Whitmore.

Cover dated June 1993:

The Adventures Of Superman #500 (1993 #11), April 13, 1993. Cover: pencils: Tom Grummett, inks: Doug Hazlewood.
Life After Death: writer: Jerry Ordway, pencils: Tom Grumett, inks: Doug Hazlewood, letters: Albert Tobias De Gusman, colors: Glenn Whitmore. Pa Kent pulled Clark back from the afterlife and then revived in the hospital.
This issue also featured four page previews of the next issues of Superman comics:
Steel: writer: Louise Simonson, pencils: Jon Bogdanove, inks: Dennis Janke.
Eradicator: writer: Roger Stern, pencils: Jackson Guice, inks: Denis Rodier.
Superboy: writer: Karl Kessel, pencils: Tom Grummett, inks: Doug Hazlewood.
Cyborg: writer/penciller: Dan Jurgens, inks: Brett Breeding.

Reign Of The Supermen:

Note: The following four issues were all published on the same day, April 27, 1993.

Action Comics #687 (1993#12). Cover: pencils: Kerry Gammil, inks: Jackson Guice.
Born Again: writer: Roger Stern, pencils: Jackson Guice, inks: Denis Rodier, letter: Bill Oakley, colors: Glenn Whitmore. The character that will come to be called the Eradicator first appeared in this issue.

Superman: The Man Of Steel #22 (1993 #13). Cover: pencils: Jon Bogdanove, inks: Dennis Janke.
Steel: writer: Louise Simonson, pencils: Jon Bogdanove, inks: Dennis Janke, letters: Bill Oakley, colors: Glenn Whitmore.

Superman #78 (1993 #14). Cover: pencils: Dan Jurgens, inks: Brett Breeding.
Alive: writer/penciller: Dan Jurgens, inks: Brett Breeding, letters: John Costanza, colors: Glenn Whitmore. The first appearance of the Cyborg Superman.

The Adventures Of Superman #501 (1993 #15). Cover: pencils: Tom Grummett, inks: Karl Kessel.
When He Was A Boy: writer: Karl Kesel, pencils: Tom Grummett, inks: Doug Hazlewood, letters: Albert Tobias De Guzman, colors: Glenn Whitmore. The first appearance of the new Superboy, who would become known as Connor Kent.

Cover dated July 1993:

Action Comics #688 (1993 #16), May 11, 1993. Cover: pencils: Kerry Gammil, inks: Jackson Guice.
An Eye For An Eye: writer: Roger Stern, pencils: Jackson Guice, inks: Denis Rodier, letters: Bill Oakley, colors: Glenn Whitmore.

Superman: The Man Of Steel #23 (1993 #17), May 18, 1993. Cover: pencils: Jon Bogdanove, inks: Dennis Janke.
Ambush: writer: Louise Simonson, pencils: Jon Bogdanove, inks: Dennis Janke, letters: Bill Oakley, colors, Glenn Whitmore.

Superman #79 (1993 #17), May 25, 1993. Cover: pencils: Dan Jurgens, inks: Brett Breeding.
Prove It: writer/penciller: Dan Jurgens, inks: Brett Breeding, letters: John Costanza, colors: Glenn Whitmore.

The Adventures Of Superman #502 (1993 #19), June 1, 1993. Cover: pencils: Tom Grummett, inks:Doug Hazlewood.
Boy Meets Girl: writer: Karl Kesel, pencils: Tom Grummett, inks: Doug Hazlewood, letters: Albert De Guzman, colors: Glenn Whitmore.

Action Comics #689 (1993 #20), June 8, 1993. Cover: pencils: Kerry Gamil, inks: Jackson Guice.
Who Is The Hero True?: writer: Roger Stern, pencils: Jackson Guice, inks: Dennis Rodier, letters: Bill Oakley, colors: Glenn Whitmore. At the Fortress Of Solitude a regeneration matrix cracked open to reveal a regenerated Superman. Mongul's spaceship approached Earth to attack.

Cover dated August 1993:

Superman: The Man Of Steel #24 (1993 #21), June 15, 1993. Cover: pencils: Jon Bogdanove, inks: Dennis Janke.
Ambush: writer: Louise Simonson, pencils: Jon Bogdanove, inks: Dennis Janke, letters: Bill Oakley, colors: Glenn Whitmore. Cyborg Superman attacks the Eradicator.

Superman #80 (1993 #22), June 22, 1993. Cover: pencils: Dan Jurgens, inks: Brett Breeding.
Deadly Alliance: writer/penciller: Dan Jurgens, inks: Brett Breeding, letters: John Costanza, colors: Glenn Whitmore. Coast City was destroyed by Mongul, who it is revealed served the Cyborg Superman. An engine city is built on top of the ruins. Their plan is to build another one over a destroyed Metropolis to boost Earth out of its orbit in order to create a new Warworld. Coast City's destruction would later play a part in Hal Jordan becoming Parallax.

The Adventures Of Superman #503 (1993 #23), June 29, 1993. Cover: tom Grummett, inks: Doug Hazlewood.
Line Of Fire: writer: Karl Kessel, pencils: Tom Grummett, inks, Doug Hazlewood, letters: Albert Tobias De Guzman, colors: Glenn Whitmore. the Eradicator returned to Antarctica to rejuvinate himself again. At the end of the issue a Kryptonian battlesuit leaves the Fortress.

Action Comics #690 (1993 #24), July 13, 2009. Cover: pencils: Kerry Gammil, inks: Jackson Guice.
Lies And Revelations: writer: Roger Stern, pencils: Jackson Guice, inks: Denis Rodier, letters: Bill Oakley, colors: Glenn Whitmore.The Eradicator returned to the Fortress only to find the regenration matrix broken. It was revealed in this issue that, after failing to possess Superman's body because the Man Of Steel's spirit blocked him somehow, took the body back to the Fortress and placed inside the regeneration matrix, and was the source of his powers. Was the renewed Superman in the battlesuit?

Cover dated September 1993:

Superman: The Man Of Steel #25 (1993 #25), July 13, 1993. Cover: pencils: Jon Bogdanove, inks: Dennis Janke.
The Return: writer: Louise Simonson, pencils: Jon Bogdanove, inks: Dennis Janke, letters: Bill Oakley, colors: Glenn Whitmore. The Kryptonian battle suit arrived at Metropolis and is attacked by the Superman family of super heroes. The armored suit disgorged a figure to reveal the revived Superman. Superboy revealed that Cyborg Superman was responsible for the destruction of Coast City.

Superman #81 (1993 #26), July 20, 1993. Cover: pencils: Dan Jurgens, inks: Brett Breeding.
Resurrections: writer/penciller: Dan Jurgens, inks: Brett Breeding, letters: John Costanza, colors: Glenn Whitmore. The black-suited Superman tried to convince Lois that he is Superman returned, by mentioning Clark's favorite movie, To Kill A Mockingbird. The Cyborg Superman was revealed as Hank Henshaw, who premiered in The Adventures Of Superman #'s 465 and 466. He would be the only surviving member of the crashed space shuttle Excaliber. When cosmic radiation ate waya his body he was able to transfer his consciousness into a body it constucted out of mechanical and electronic parts. He created another body that allowed him to explore space, where he subjugated Mongul, in return for the creation of another Warworld.

The Adventures Of Superman #504 (1993 #27), July 27, 1993. Cover: pencils: Tom Grumett, inks: Doug Hazlewood.
Assault On Engine City: writer: Karl Kessel, pencils: Tom Grummett, inks: Doug Hazlewood, letters: Albert Tobias De Guzman, colors:Glenn Whitmore. Superboy destroyed the missle that targeted Metropolis. Superman joined the fight at the Coast City Engine City.

Action Comics #691 (1993 #28), August 3, 1993. Cover: pencils: Kerry Gammil, inks: Jackson Guice.
Secret Weapon: writer: Roger Stern, pencils: Jackson Guice, inks: Denis Rodier, letters: Bill Oakley, colors: Glenn Whitmore.

Cover dated October 1993:

Superman: The Man Of Steel #26 (1993 #29), August 17, 1993. Cover: pencils: Jon Bogdanove, inks: Dennis Janke.
Blast Off: writer: Louise Simonson, pencils: Jon Bogdanove, inks: Dennis Janke, letters: Albert Tobias De Guzman, colors: Glenn Whitmore. Steel disabled Engine City while Superman battles Cyborg.

Green Lantern #46 (tie-in), August 24, 1993. Cover: pencils: Mark D. Bright, inks: Romeo Tanghal.
Death City: writer: Gerard Jones, pencils: Mark D. Bright, inks: Romeo Tanghal, letters: Anthony De Guzman, colors: Anthony Tollin. Hal Jordan defeated Mongul.

Superman #82 (1993 #30), August 24, 1993. Cover: pencils: Dan Jurgens, inks: Brett Breeding.
Untitled story: writer/penciller: Dan Jurgens, inker: Brett Breeding, letters: John Costanza, colors: Glenn Whitmore. Cyborg broke open the container which held Engine City's kryptonite power core. Superman closed the chamber, protecting Steel and Supergirl from the radiation. Cyborg pulled one of the giant cables from the core to blast Eradicator and Superman. Eradicator shielded Superman with his own body, somehow converting the radiation and recharging Superman's powers. Superman punched through Cyborg's body, vibrating until Cyborg's body disintegrated. At the end of the issue Superman returned to his iconic blue, red and yellow uniform.

I recently was a guest host on Scott Gardner's Back To The Bins episode #21 on his podcast Two True Freaks! The link to the episode is: http://media.libsyn.com/media/twotruefreaks/Back_to_the_Bins_-_Episode_21.mp3 .

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