We all look back on the Death/Funeral/Return of Superman as being a publicity stunt, but as I recall it was a pretty good story, at least the Return bit was. Keep in mind I haven't read this storyline in over a decade, so I may be looking at it through rose-tinted glasses. I have half a notion to pick up the trades, but I'm afraid it won't be as good as I remember, and POOF! a part of my early adolescence gone.
Shaun | Homepage | 05.15.06 - 2:42 pm | #

The Return part was actually pretty good, especially considering the drek it was surrounded by. The Death - not so much. I just re-read it a few months back, and it starts out strong, but by the actual "death" issue, it just kind of peters out. Even the final fight sequence is just - not very dramatic, I guess (it doesn't help that you KNOW how it has to end - it was called "The Death of Superman" after all).

As for the whole thing, it was a stunt, but it was a pretty good one. It added five new characters to the comics - two new villains and 3 new heroes, and didn't kill off anyone for "shock value" (outside of Superman himself, of course). Two of the new heroes had actual staying power (Superboy and Steel), while the villains were - less than spectacular, but Doomsday got some good use in the JLU cartoon, so I even count him as a win in the end. The stories themselves were either pretty fun (especially Kesel's Superboy and Simonson's Steel issues) or at least not bad (the other two, as I recall). Pretty good for something that was basically a homage to stories that were done in one issue back in the Silver Age.
Jer | 05.15.06 - 4:34 pm | #

C'mon, the Reign of Supermen had that great splash page of Bill Clinton shaking hands with the Cyborg Superman, hee hee hee, who in the next issue blows up a city!

Bwa Ha Ha!

Er, um, yeah, my first comic was Adv. of Superman #500, and it was this story-line that got me seriously into comic book reading. So it had to be at least that good.

The death itself, eh, not so much.
Steven | Email | Homepage | 05.15.06 - 6:09 pm | #

So, um...

You guys ever throw anything away?


I'm Chalk!
Chalk | Email | 05.17.06 - 5:41 pm | #