This page covers the DC comicbook event Death and Return of Superman . If this is not the page you were looking for check here.
The Death of Superman
Another normal day for Superman, fighting the Underworlders, while elsewhere a green-clothed fist beats its way out of an underground chamber. Once the monster is above ground, he instantly starts to destroy, crushing a bird in his hand, and snapping the neck of a deer.
As it continues crushing, maiming, and destroying, it wanders into a department store, where he hears a TV commercial in which he hears the word "Metropolis" and moves on. News spreads quickly about this monster, and the Justice League Of America prepares to attack it.
As they move towards it, they see the monster's path of destruction, Booster Gold dubs the creature Doomsday. The JLA fight the monster. Guy Gardner is hit in the face just once, and his eyes are swollen shut. Ice is knocked unconscious. Blue Beetle is also knocked unconscious and beaten bloody. Booster Gold takes a hit from Doomsday, which causes his shield to malfunction.
Superman arrives. He and Bloodwynd, Fire, and Guy Gardner shoot Doomsday with their respective energy weapons. It does nothing. Doomsday punches Superman, who stands unharmed, but when Doomsday kicks him in the stomach, Superman gets knocked into the air.
Doomsday makes his way to Metropolis, and Superman realizes he must stop him. They fight a huge battle, shattering windows with their blows, and finally ending with one hit from each. Doomsday was seemingly dead. But so was Superman.
Funeral For a Friend/World Without a Superman
A huge funeral is held for Superman that the entire Justice League of America, the people of Metropolis, and all the world leaders attend. A plaque is laid in front of the Daily Planet that reads "IN MEMORY OF SUPERMAN DIED ON THIS SPOT DEFENDING METROPOLIS". Superman was laid to rest in Centennial Park where a memorial statue is erected in to serve as his tomb. Lex Luther JR. took care of everthing saying "If I could kill him then I will bury him." Without Superman, crime skyrockets, and to help quell this, Supergirl and Gangbuster take a more prominent role in crimefighting, but it hardly helps.
Reign of the Supermen/Return of Superman
Four new Supermen emerge, two of which actually claim to be superman. One, John Henry Irons, or the Man of Steel, inspired to make his life worth more by Superman. Kon-El, later to be known as Conner Kent, first appeared claiming to be Superman, eventually settled into the title Superboy. The Eradicator, a kryptonian program that took over the body of a man named Doctor David Conners and reverted it into a human/kryptonian hybrid. And the Cyborg Superman, who eventually turned evil and tried to kill the real Superman when he returned.
