Death of Superman Reading Order: Doomsday, Funeral, Reign and Return
The full Death of Superman saga in order: the Doomsday fight, Funeral for a Friend, Reign of the Supermen and the Return, with the collections that cover each phase and the editions worth buying.
By Web Admin
The Death of Superman is the 1992–93 saga in which Doomsday beats Superman to death in the streets of Metropolis, the world mourns, four replacement Supermen appear and the real one comes back. It ran weekly across four Superman titles plus a few tie-ins, which is why collecting it in order is confusing. This guide lays out the full Death of Superman reading order in four phases, says which collections cover each one, and picks the editions worth buying now.
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How we chose: we compared the Death of Superman collections listed on Amazon right now (contents, page counts, publication dates and stock) with our own reading of the saga. We only picked DC editions that show as in stock; omnibus and compendium editions without a stock status are covered in the buying section. Prices and availability change, so the buttons show Amazon’s current price.
Death of Superman reading order
In 1993 the four monthly Superman books (Superman, Action Comics, The Adventures of Superman and Superman: The Man of Steel) shipped one per week and told a single continuing story, with a numbered triangle on each cover to show the order. The saga splits into four parts.
| Phase | Key issues, in order | Collected in |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The Death of Superman (Doomsday!) | Superman: The Man of Steel #18, Justice League America #69, Superman #74, Adventures of Superman #497, Action Comics #684, Superman: The Man of Steel #19, Superman #75 | The Death of Superman |
| 2. Funeral for a Friend | Adventures of Superman #498, Action Comics #685, Superman: The Man of Steel #20, Superman #76, Adventures of Superman #499, Action Comics #686, Superman: The Man of Steel #21, Superman #77 (plus Justice League America #70) | Funeral for a Friend |
| 3. Reign of the Supermen | Adventures of Superman #500 as the bridge, then Action Comics #687, Superman: The Man of Steel #22, Superman #78 and Adventures of Superman #501, each introducing one new Superman | Reign of the Supermen |
| 4. The Return of Superman | The four titles continue weekly through Superman #82, with Green Lantern #46 as a tie-in | The Return of Superman |
Lead-in: Doomsday’s fist first appears punching out of his prison in Superman: The Man of Steel #17, a few weeks before the fight. You don’t need anything earlier to follow the story, but the supporting cast (and Clark and Lois’s engagement, which dates back to 1990) is already in place by then, and our full Superman reading order covers that era.
The four replacements: the Eradicator (a cold, violent “Last Son of Krypton”), Steel (John Henry Irons, an engineer in armor), Superboy (a brash teenage clone) and the Cyborg Superman (part man, part Kryptonian machine, claiming to be the real thing). Their debuts are the four chapters listed in phase 3, one per title.
| Pick | Best for | Why | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Death of Superman (New Edition) | Best place to start |
| $12.23as of Nov 13, 2026 7:21 am UTC | View on Amazon |
| Death of Superman: Absolute Edition | Best collector's edition |
| $75.15as of Nov 13, 2026 8:50 pm UTC | View on Amazon |
| Superman: The Return of Superman | Best for the ending |
| $24.95as of Nov 13, 2026 8:50 pm UTC | View on Amazon |
| Superman: Doomsday | Best for what came after |
| $10.98as of Nov 13, 2026 8:50 pm UTC | View on Amazon |
Prices and availability change; check Amazon for today’s price. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
1. The Death of Superman (New Edition) — Best place to start
The core story: Doomsday's rampage across America and the final battle in Metropolis.
Check price on Amazon$12.23as of Nov 13, 2026 7:21 am UTCWhy we like it
- The essential chapters in one paperback
- Ends on Superman #75's famous full-page spreads
- Short enough to read in an evening
- Part of DC's matching 2016 line
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Writers / artists | Dan Jurgens and the 1990s Superman teams |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Collects | Not stated in listing; the Doomsday! chapters |
| Pages | 168 |
| Format | Paperback |
| Reader age / content | Teen and up; superhero violence, a hero's death |
The Death of Superman (New Edition) — Jurgens and others, DC, 168 pages, paperback, 2016
This is the story everybody means when they say "the Death of Superman": a nameless, unstoppable creature breaks out of an underground prison and smashes through the Justice League on a path toward Metropolis. The final chapters cut the number of panels per page as the fight escalates, until Superman #75, told entirely in full-page splashes, shows the last exchange of blows. It was a huge mainstream news story in 1992 and the issue sold in enormous numbers.
The writing teams (Dan Jurgens on Superman, Roger Stern on Action Comics, Louise Simonson on The Man of Steel, Jerry Ordway on Adventures) keep the four books in one voice, and the art, from Jurgens, Jackson Guice, Jon Bogdanove and Tom Grummett among others, is pure early-1990s energy. As a story it is thin: one long fight. As a piece of superhero history it's essential, and the human moments around the edges, with Lois, Jimmy and the Kents, still land.
Start here if you've never read it. If you love it, carry on with Funeral for a Friend and the rest of the 2016 line, or go straight to an omnibus.
Pros
- The essential issues, nothing extra
- Easy entry point
- Matches the rest of the 2016 line
Cons
- Mostly one long fight
- Ends on a cliffhanger by design
- Standard-size paperback shrinks the splashes
Get The Death of Superman on Amazon
2. Death of Superman: Absolute Edition — Best collector's edition
An oversized Absolute hardcover of the Death of Superman, packed with replica memorabilia and new extras.
Check price on Amazon$75.15as of Nov 13, 2026 8:50 pm UTCWhy we like it
- Oversized pages suit Superman #75's splashes
- Over 200 pages of unseen artwork, per listing
- Comes with a funeral box of replicas
- Remastered Newstime magazine included
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Writers / artists | Roger Stern, Dan Jurgens and others; Dennis Janke among the artists listed |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Collects | Not stated in listing |
| Pages | 424 |
| Format | Absolute oversized hardcover in a black polybag, with a funeral box of memorabilia replicas |
| Published | January 2026 |
Death of Superman: Absolute Edition — DC, 424 pages, oversized hardcover with replica extras, 2026
DC's Absolute format is about 15 inches tall, which matters for a story whose climax is a run of full-page splash images. The listing also describes new essays, scripts and retrospectives, a trading card gallery, a reprint of Newstime: The Life and Death of Superman (the in-universe magazine DC published in 1993), and a "funeral box" of replica artifacts, all packed in a resealable black polybag with a bleeding S logo, echoing the original Superman #75 polybag.
The listing doesn't print an issue list, so we can't tell you exactly where its story content ends. At 424 pages with a lot of space given to extras, treat this as the deluxe version of the death itself rather than the whole saga. It's the edition for a fan who already knows the story and wants the object; new readers should start with the paperback.
Pros
- The best way to see the art
- Lots of new behind-the-scenes material
- A real event of a package
Cons
- Heavy, at over 6 pounds
- Issue contents not listed
- Overkill for a first read
Get Death of Superman: Absolute Edition on Amazon
3. Superman: The Return of Superman — Best for the ending
The finale of the saga: the real Superman comes back and the four replacements face their reckoning.
Check price on Amazon$24.95as of Nov 13, 2026 8:50 pm UTCWhy we like it
- The payoff to the whole saga
- The Cyborg Superman's betrayal
- Steel and Superboy at their best
- Big, chunky 480-page paperback
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Writers / artists | Dan Jurgens and the 1990s Superman teams |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Collects | Not stated in listing; the final phase of the saga |
| Pages | 480 |
| Format | Paperback |
| Reader age / content | Teen and up; superhero violence, mass destruction |
Superman: The Return of Superman — Jurgens and others, DC, 480 pages, paperback, 2016
The Reign of the Supermen section is the best part of the saga, and this volume is where it pays off. One of the four replacements turns out to be working with the alien warlord Mongul, and their attack wipes Coast City, home of Green Lantern Hal Jordan, off the map. A weakened Superman returns in a black suit with long hair, and Steel, Superboy and the Eradicator choose sides for the final battle at the newly built Engine City.
That destruction of Coast City has a long tail: it sets up Hal Jordan's breakdown in the Green Lantern books, which our Green Lantern reading order picks up. Steel and Superboy both got their own long-running series out of this story.
Read this after the death, the funeral and the arrival of the four Supermen. It doesn't work on its own, but it's where the saga stops being a stunt and becomes a good story.
Pros
- The strongest stretch of the saga
- Lots of story for the format
- Introduces lasting characters
Cons
- Needs the earlier volumes
- Very few copies left in stock
- Dense, crowded 1990s art
Get The Return of Superman on Amazon
4. Superman: Doomsday — Best for what came after
Dan Jurgens's later Doomsday stories, collected in DC's 2016 line.
Check price on Amazon$10.98as of Nov 13, 2026 8:50 pm UTCWhy we like it
- Superman finally gets answers about Doomsday
- Jurgens writes and draws
- Matches the 2016 paperbacks
- A rematch fans waited years for
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Writer / artist | Dan Jurgens |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Collects | Not stated in listing |
| Pages | 344 |
| Format | Paperback |
| Reader age / content | Teen and up; superhero violence |
Superman: Doomsday — Dan Jurgens, DC, 344 pages, paperback, 2016
The original saga never explains what Doomsday is. Jurgens did that later, most famously in the 1994 miniseries Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey, in which Superman goes into space after the monster and learns its origin on ancient Krypton. This 2016 volume gathers Jurgens's Doomsday follow-ups; the listing doesn't print its contents, so check the table of contents if you want one particular story.
It's strictly optional. Read it after The Return of Superman if you want more Doomsday. Readers who just want the main saga can stop at the return.
Pros
- Fills in Doomsday's backstory
- Consistent creator throughout
- Completes the 2016 shelf
Cons
- Not part of the core saga
- Contents not listed
- Only one copy left at last check
Get Superman: Doomsday on Amazon
Which Death of Superman collection should you buy?
| Edition | Covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| The Death of Superman (2016 paperback) | The fight with Doomsday | First-time readers |
| 2016 paperback line (Death, Funeral for a Friend, Reign of the Supermen, Return of Superman) | The whole saga in four books | Reading in order on a budget |
| Death and Return of Superman Omnibus (2022 edition) | The whole saga, 1,408 pages | One-book hardcover shelf copy |
| Death and Return of Superman Compendium (2025) | The whole saga, 1,368 pages | The whole thing in paperback |
| Absolute Edition (2026) | The death, oversized, with extras | Collectors and gift buyers |
For most readers, the cleanest route is the 2016 paperback line in the order above, because those four books map neatly onto the four phases. Funeral for a Friend (366 pages) and Reign of the Supermen are listed on Amazon but weren't showing stock in print when we checked, which is why they aren't picks.
If you'd rather own one book, the 2022 omnibus and the 2025 compendium both run the whole saga in order, and neither listing showed a stock status when we checked, so look again before buying. The omnibus is a large hardcover; see our best comic omnibus guide for what to expect from the format. There was also a 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition hardcover in 2022, but it was temporarily out of stock.
Skip: loose single issues sold as sets, unless you collect 1990s comics. Superman #75 had an enormous print run, so the standard copies are common, and the polybagged "black bag" edition is the only version collectors usually care about.
Is the Death of Superman worth reading today?
Yes, with the right expectations. The death itself is a blunt, loud spectacle built for a news cycle. What makes the saga last is everything after it: the funeral issues are surprisingly tender, and Reign of the Supermen is a clever mystery about which of four very different characters is the real Superman, if any. Read the whole run rather than stopping at the death.
If you want a Superman story that's better written from first page to last, All-Star Superman is the one we'd hand anyone, and our list of the best Superman comics has more. For the wider history of DC event comics and how the 1990s boom shaped them, see our history of DC Comics and the best 90s comics.
Frequently asked questions
What issue does Superman die in?
Superman #75, cover-dated January 1993 and released in November 1992. It's the final chapter of the Doomsday! story.
Do I need to read Funeral for a Friend?
You can skip it and still follow the plot, but it's the emotional heart of the saga and sets up the mystery of the four replacement Supermen.
How many parts is the Death of Superman saga?
Four phases: the death, Funeral for a Friend, Reign of the Supermen and the Return of Superman. They ran across the four Superman titles with a few Justice League and Green Lantern tie-ins.
Is the animated movie the same as the comic?
DC's 2018 animated film The Death of Superman and its 2019 sequel Reign of the Supermen adapt the saga loosely, with a different cast of supporting heroes and a condensed plot. The comics are longer and stranger.
Which edition has the whole story in one book?
The Death and Return of Superman Omnibus (hardcover) or the Death and Return of Superman Compendium (paperback). Check stock, because neither was showing availability when we compared listings.
Who are the four replacement Supermen?
The four replacement Supermen in Reign of the Supermen are Superboy, a cocky teenage clone; Steel, John Henry Irons in a suit of armour; the Eradicator, a cold, violent Kryptonian program; and the Cyborg Superman, a half-machine figure claiming to be the real Superman. Each one represents a different side of Superman, and the mystery of which, if any, is the real hero drives the story.
Who is Doomsday?
Doomsday is the monster who kills Superman in The Death of Superman. He is a nearly unstoppable creature engineered on ancient Krypton to evolve and adapt every time he is killed, which is why he can overpower even Superman. His origin was expanded in later stories, but in the original saga he is a mindless force of destruction that tears across America toward Metropolis.
Is The Death of Superman connected to Batman v Superman?
The Death of Superman loosely inspired the ending of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which features Doomsday and Superman's death. The film borrows only the core idea and changes Doomsday's origin and the surrounding story. The DC animated films The Death of Superman and Reign of the Supermen are much closer adaptations of the comic saga if you want something more faithful.
Is The Death of Superman good for new readers?
The Death of Superman is good for new readers who want a big, fast, action-heavy event, since the fight with Doomsday needs little background. The later Funeral and Reign phases reference early-1990s supporting characters and subplots, which can feel busy without context. Starting with the New Edition collections and reading straight through usually gives enough grounding to enjoy the whole saga.
