The Death and Return of Superman The books listed below are arranged in the order that they should be read. This is the full listing of issues, not just keys. You WILL NOT be able to see the non-key issues from this list in the actual database. They are specific to this category only. Check out the interesting facts and plot plotpoints on these featured issues
Clicking on the eBay link and making a purchase may result in this site earning a commission from the eBay Partner Network.
Superman: The Man of Steel #17
DC
•
1992
•
Vol. 1
1st cameo appearance of Doomsday, his gloved fist punching a metal door with a caption that reads '...Doomsday Is Coming!'
Doomsday is an ancient Kryptonian monster, bio-engineered to adapt to his environment and opponent
1st cameo appearance of Doomsday, his gloved fist punching a metal door with a caption that reads '...Doomsday Is Coming!'
Doomsday is an ancient Kryptonian monster, bio-engineered to adapt to his environment and opponent
Superman #73
DC
•
1992
•
Vol. 2
2nd cameo appearance of Doomsday, bones now protruding from the ripped glove of a fist that continues to punch a steel door with a caption that reads '...Doomsday Is Coming!'
2nd cameo appearance of Doomsday, bones now protruding from the ripped glove of a fist that continues to punch a steel door with a caption that reads '...Doomsday Is Coming!'
Adventures of Superman #496
DC
•
1992
•
Vol. 1
3rd cameo appearance of Doomsday, a panel shows the opposite site of the door as the bone-spiked fist pierces through the steel with a caption that reads '...Doomsday Is Coming!'
3rd cameo appearance of Doomsday, a panel shows the opposite site of the door as the bone-spiked fist pierces through the steel with a caption that reads '...Doomsday Is Coming!'
Action Comics #683
DC
•
1992
•
Vol. 1
4th cameo appearance of Doomsday, the mysterious fist succeeds in punching a hole through the steel door with a caption that reads '...Doomsday Is Here!'
4th cameo appearance of Doomsday, the mysterious fist succeeds in punching a hole through the steel door with a caption that reads '...Doomsday Is Here!'
Superman: The Man of Steel #18
DC
•
1992
•
Vol. 1
1st full appearance of Doomsday, mostly obscured by a containment suit with one arm bound behind his back as he wreaks havoc across the countryside
1st full appearance of Doomsday, mostly obscured by a containment suit with one arm bound behind his back as he wreaks havoc across the countryside
Justice League America #69
DC
•
1992
•
Vol. 1
Battle of Doomsday vs the Justice League: Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, Guy Gardner, Maxima, Fire, Ice, Bloodwynd
Doomsday vs the Justice League
Battle of Doomsday vs the Justice League: Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, Guy Gardner, Maxima, Fire, Ice, Bloodwynd
Doomsday vs the Justice League
Superman #74
DC
•
1992
•
Vol. 2
First battle of Superman versus Doomsday
A short scuffle gives the first partial view of what Doomsday looks like beneath the damaged suit
First battle of Superman versus Doomsday
A short scuffle gives the first partial view of what Doomsday looks like beneath the damaged suit
Adventures of Superman #497
DC
•
1992
•
Vol. 1
Second battle of Doomsday versus Superman
If this issue were being scored the same as a boxing match, Superman would have won the round
Throughout this issue, the action occurs in four panels on every page
Second battle of Doomsday versus Superman
If this issue were being scored the same as a boxing match, Superman would have won the round
Throughout this issue, the action occurs in four panels on every page
Action Comics #684
DC
•
1992
•
Vol. 1
Doomsday reaches the city limits of Metropolis
Every page of this issue has exactly three panels except the first page
Doomsday reaches the city limits of Metropolis
Every page of this issue has exactly three panels except the first page
Superman: The Man of Steel #19
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Doomsday is fully revealed in this issue after most of the suit has been destroyed
Throughout this issue, the action occurs in two panels on every page
The lone 9.9 sold for $1,600 in February 2024.
Doomsday is fully revealed in this issue after most of the suit has been destroyed
Throughout this issue, the action occurs in two panels on every page
The lone 9.9 sold for $1,600 in February 2024.
Superman #75
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 2
Death of Superman
Death of Doomsday
Every page of this issue is a full or double-splash page
Six-million issues sold
Death of Superman
Death of Doomsday
Every page of this issue is a full or double-splash page
Six-million issues sold
Justice League America #70
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Begins the Funeral for a Friend story arc
A number of DC heroes gather, wearing the same armband that was included with Superman #75
Begins the Funeral for a Friend story arc
A number of DC heroes gather, wearing the same armband that was included with Superman #75
Adventures of Superman #498
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
‘Funeral for a Friend' part 1
Action Comics #685
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
'Funeral for a Friend' part 2
Cover art inspired by Action Comics #1 (1938)
'Funeral for a Friend' part 2
Cover art inspired by Action Comics #1 (1938)
Superman: The Man of Steel #20
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
'Funeral for a Friend' part 3
Lobo takes his anger out on the patrons of a space bar
Bill and Hillary Clinton give a speech at Superman's public memorial procession
'Funeral for a Friend' part 3
Lobo takes his anger out on the patrons of a space bar
Bill and Hillary Clinton give a speech at Superman's public memorial procession
Superman #76
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 2
Non-Key
'Funeral for a Friend' part 4
Adventures of Superman #499
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
'Funeral for a Friend' part 5
Action Comics #686
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
'Funeral for a Friend' part 6
Superman: The Man of Steel #21
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
'Funeral for a Friend' part 7
Legacy of Superman, The #1
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
'Funeral for a Friend' tie-in
1st appearance of Auron
Nightstalkers #4
Marvel
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Hannibal King, the vampire companion of Blade from Marvel Comics, pays his respects to Superman one month after Superman #75
Hannibal King, the vampire companion of Blade from Marvel Comics, pays his respects to Superman one month after Superman #75
Action Comics #688
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
Supergirl and Team Luthor #1
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
One-shot team-up of Supergirl (Matrix) and Lex Luthor
Adventures of Superman #500
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of John Henry, later becomes Steel
1st appearance of Superboy, Conner Kent
1st appearance of Cyborg Superman, formerly Hank Henshaw
1st appearance of the Eradicator
Each character was introduced briefly in this issue, then featured in their own individual issues thereafter
1st appearance of Angora Lapin, later becomes White Rabbit
[March 2025 - IMDb credits claim Brey Noelle will depict White Rabbit in Peacemaker S2 but DC has yet to confirm this casting]
1st appearance of John Henry, later becomes Steel
1st appearance of Superboy, Conner Kent
1st appearance of Cyborg Superman, formerly Hank Henshaw
1st appearance of the Eradicator
Each character was introduced briefly in this issue, then featured in their own individual issues thereafter
1st appearance of Angora Lapin, later becomes White Rabbit
[March 2025 - IMDb credits claim Brey Noelle will depict White Rabbit in Peacemaker S2 but DC has yet to confirm this casting]
Superman: The Man of Steel #22
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance and origin of John Henry as Steel, in costume, previously appeared in Adventures of Superman #500 but not in costume
1st appearance and origin of John Henry as Steel, in costume, previously appeared in Adventures of Superman #500 but not in costume
Superman #78
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 2
First solo story featuring Cyborg Superman
Action Comics #687
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
First solo story featuring Eradicator, referred to as The Last Son of Krypton
Introduction of the Kryptonian Regeneration Matrix, the technology that would resurrect Superman
First solo story featuring Eradicator, referred to as The Last Son of Krypton
Introduction of the Kryptonian Regeneration Matrix, the technology that would resurrect Superman
Adventures of Superman #501
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
First solo story featuring Superboy, Conner Kent (Kon-El), the cloned combination of Superman and Lex Luthor's DNA
1st appearance of Tana Moon
First solo story featuring Superboy, Conner Kent (Kon-El), the cloned combination of Superman and Lex Luthor's DNA
1st appearance of Tana Moon
Superman: The Man of Steel #23
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
Superman #79
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 2
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
Superman: The Man of Steel Annual #2
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
1st appearance of Babe, a vampire
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
Superman Annual #5
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 2
1st appearance of Myriad, an assassin with the power to absorb personalities
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
1st appearance of Myriad, an assassin with the power to absorb personalities
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
Action Comics Annual #5
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of Loose Cannon
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
Adventures of Superman Annual #5
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of Sparx, a metahuman with the ability to manipulate the electromagnetic field
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
1st appearance of Sparx, a metahuman with the ability to manipulate the electromagnetic field
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
Adventures of Superman #502
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
Action Comics #689
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Resurrection of Superman
Debut of Superman's black suit, intended to aid in his regeneration
Resurrection of Superman
Debut of Superman's black suit, intended to aid in his regeneration
Superman #80
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 2
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
Superman: The Man of Steel #24
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
Adventures of Superman #503
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
Action Comics #690
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
The Last Son of Krypton becomes the Eradicator
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
The Last Son of Krypton becomes the Eradicator
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
Superman: The Man of Steel #25
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
Superman #81
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 2
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
1st cover appearance of Superman's black suit
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
1st cover appearance of Superman's black suit
Adventures of Superman #504
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
Action Comics #691
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
Green Lantern #46
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 3
Non-Key
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
Superman: The Man of Steel #26
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
'Reign of the Supermen' tie-in
Superman #82
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 2
Non-Key
Adventures of Superman #505
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Final chapter of the 'Reign of the Supermen' story arc
Superman #83
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 2
Non-Key
'Funeral for a Friend' epilogue
Action Comics #692
DC
•
1993
•
Vol. 1
Non-Key
Final issue of the 'Death of Superman' saga
Superman stages Clark Kent's return, pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building
Final issue of the 'Death of Superman' saga
Superman stages Clark Kent's return, pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building
Adjust Your Filters To See More Comics!
By default Key Collector searches for Standard Cover Key Issues.
Adjust the "Variants" search filter above for additional content:
- Variant Covers ([[totalVariants]])
At Key Collector, our primary focus is on unearthing those rare Standard Cover Key Issues for you. However, the world of comic collectibles is vast and varied. We want to make sure you have the tools to explore it all!