Creator Corner: Dan Jurgens on The Death of Superman

2022-11-08

Thirty years ago, Superman died. Then, he came back. We remember the event as a gimmick done to boost sales. Sure. Okay. However, the storyline had a massive impact on the readership, including our young Brad. Today, DC Comics recalls the fictional catastrophe in The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special, exploring the lingering trauma of Kal-El's death. We chat with Dan Jurgens, the original Death of Superman co-architect, about what it was like to kill the Man of Steel, resurrect him, and revisit the narrative thirty y...

Thirty years ago, Superman died. Then, he came back. We remember the event as a gimmick done to boost sales. Sure. Okay. However, the storyline had a massive impact on the readership, including our young Brad. Today, DC Comics recalls the fictional catastrophe in The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special, exploring the lingering trauma of Kal-El's death.

We chat with Dan Jurgens, the original Death of Superman co-architect, about what it was like to kill the Man of Steel, resurrect him, and revisit the narrative thirty years later through the eyes of Superman's son, Jon Kent. In his story, "The Life of Superman," Jurgens reveals how Superman's demise at the hands of Doomsday continues to affect Metropolis as well as Kal-El and his family.

Jurgens recalls his earliest Superman memories, the George Reeves television icon of his youth. He considers the character's impact on the culture and the stress and joy it was to challenge such an image in 1992. We worm our way through his emotional experience, contemplating those long-ago feelings ignited while steering the splash page apocalypse that was Superman #75 (Volume 2). We work out our own fee-fees regarding the eradication of the Man of Tomorrow.

The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special is now available wherever fine comic books are sold. Along with Dan Jurgens, the book features the work of Brett Breeding, Roger Stern, Butch Guice, Louise Simonson, Jon Bogdanove, Jerry Ordway, Tom Grummett, Glenn Whitmore, Doug Hazelwood, and more. It's a who's who of the Superman offices; and an incredibly thoughtful reflection on the nineties event to end all nineties events.

Be sure to follow Dan Jurgens on Twitter and Instagram, and keep up to date on his work through his website.