History ComicBook / WhatEverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow

Superman makes his last stand, and survives by the skin of his teeth. He defeats Brainiac, but realizes there's one last villain: [[Characters/SupermanMisterMxyzptlk Mr. Mxyzptlk]]. Bored after spending 2,000 years as [[HarmlessVillain a mischievous imp]], Mxyzptlk has decided to try being [[NotSoHarmlessVillain truly evil]]. Superman is no match for Mxyzptlk's godlike power, but thanks to a warning from the ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes, he's able to kill Mxyzptlk using the Phantom Zone projector. Appalled that he's violated his [[ThouShaltNotKill code against killing]], Superman exposes himself to gold kryptonite ([[DePower permanently robbing himself of all powers]]) and apparently commits suicide by exposure to the elements.

Characters/{{Superman|TheCharacter}} really hit his stride in UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, which introduced things like multi-colored Kryptonite, Characters/{{Supergirl|TheCharacter}}, [[Characters/SupermanBizarro Bizarro]], and the Fortress of Solitude. Even today, much of what the average person knows about Supes (not counting [[ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman his death]]) comes from that period.

Just as this story was [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] Superman's "epilogue" following ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'', a similar story has come in the wake of ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'', Characters/{{Batman|TheCharacter}}'s ''ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheCapedCrusader'' The two stories are similar in presence, but while "Tomorrow" was a tribute to the Silver Age Superman (whose tenure is typically dated to last all the way through UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks and ended with ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''; the [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] Superman, Kal-L would later return in ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis''), "Caped Crusader", which followed in the death of Bruce Wayne in ''Final Crisis'', is a tribute/epilogue to '''all''' versions of the Bruce Wayne Batman, as told by the various versions of his allies and enemies. Both storylines, however, maintain a theme of renewal: "Tomorrow" sees the future of Superman passed onto the next generation, and "Caped Crusader" sees Batman reborn to continue his crusade against injustice.

* AsideGlance: This being one of the very last Superman stories from UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|Of Comic Books}}, it naturally ends with Supes' signature closing trope.
* AnyoneCanDie: Since it was the swan song of UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|Of Comic Books}} Superman, Alan Moore was given a free hand on who would die. As a result , most of Superman's supporting cast and nearly all of his antagonists (with the exceptions of the Legion of Super-Villains and possibly Toyman, the Prankster and Metallo) perish.

* GrandFinale: This story serves as the final ending for [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] Superman, as it has many of his greatest enemies defeated for good and concludes with him [[EarnYourHappyEnding earning his happy ending]].

** This is arguably the resolution of UsefulNotes/{{the Bronze Age|OfComicBooks}} Superman's entire character arc as the writers, attempting to make him more interesting, had been focusing for a long while on Superman's isolation from humanity and lack of true peers and companions. What had always stopped him from taking this step was the assumption that the world couldn't get along without him.

* DarkerAndEdgier:
** Invoked by Lois when Mxyzptlk appears.
--->'''Lois:''' He didn't look ''funny'' anymore.
** Compare this story to any other [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] Superman story. Let's just say it's made clear very quickly that this is ''final'', given the number of deaths that occur.
* DeadGuyJunior: After retiring from superheroics, Superman takes the name Jordan Elliot, which is clearly based on his dead father Jor-El.
* DeadSidekick: Bye, Pete Ross, Jimmy Olsen and Krypto.

** In a more straightforward sense, Mxyzptlk is caught by surprise and panicking after seeing the Phantom Zone projector, so he literally ''does not thing through'' and says his own name backward, the fastest escape route that comes to his mind, which ends up being his own undoing. [[spoiler: Just as Superman planned.]]

Characters/{{Superman|TheCharacter}} really hit his stride in UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, which introduced things like multi-colored Kryptonite, Characters/{{Supergirl|TheCharacter}}, [[Characters/SupermanBizarro Bizarro]], and the Fortress of Solitude. Even today, much of what the average person knows about Supes (not counting his death) comes from that period.

Back at the FramingDevice, Tim Crane thanks Lois for her story, leaves, passing Lois's husband Jordan Elliot. It's revealed that '''Jor'''dan '''El'''liot is actually Superman and that he's in his retirement, happy to enjoy an ordinary life for once. Jordan, crazy in love with Lois, [[AsideGlance winks at the audience]], enjoys a HappyEnding... and misses the fact that his infant son is exhibiting SuperStrength.

Franchise/{{Superman}} really hit his stride in UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, which introduced things like multi-colored Kryptonite, ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}, [[Characters/SupermanBizarro Bizarro]], and the Fortress of Solitude. Even today, much of what the average person knows about Supes (not counting his death) comes from that period.

Then came the ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'', a mega-event that reset the continuity of every DC title. Thus began the modern, Creator/JohnByrne era of Superman which strove to be more "realistic". Realizing that Silver Age Superman deserved a GrandFinale, editor Julius Schwartz hired Creator/AlanMoore, and Superman ur-artist Creator/CurtSwan. The first issue was inked by none other than Creator/GeorgePerez and the second issue was inked by Kurt Schaffenberger (who was also best known for defining the look of ComicBook/LoisLane, and his work on ''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}'' and the Captain Marvel Family tales), and made the last Silver Age tale -- an "imaginary story." Published in September, 1986. For Moore, a lifelong Superman fan, specifically the Silver Age Superman, this story was the "final" Superman story. For many writers, it's one of the greatest Superman stories ever written, with Creator/NeilGaiman claiming that the opening is the greatest triple entendre in comics and a goodbye to a Superman that existed in Moore's heart.

[[FramingDevice Daily Planet reporter Tim Crane]] comes to interview Lois Elliot (née [[ComicBook/LoisLane Lane]]) on the anniversary of the death of Superman. [[FirstPersonPeripheralNarrator Lois tells the story]] in a WholeEpisodeFlashback.

After Superman's life has settled into an easy groove as all the villains lie low, he spends his time helping UsefulNotes/{{NASA}} with experiments. Of course, the villains then go berserk, attacking Metropolis in increasingly grisly ways. Superman takes his friends to the Fortress of Solitude, pursued by the Kryptonite Man, the Legion of Supervillains, and creepiest of all, an enslaved ComicBook/LexLuthor, [[MindRape mind-raped]] and taken over by the remains of ComicBook/{{Brainiac}}.

Just as this story was [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] Superman's "epilogue" following ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'', a similar story has come in the wake of ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'', Franchise/{{Batman}}'s ''ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheCapedCrusader'' The two stories are similar in presence, but while "Tomorrow" was a tribute to the Silver Age Superman (whose tenure is typically dated to last all the way through UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks and ended with ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''; the [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] Superman, Kal-L would later return in ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis''), "Caped Crusader", which followed in the death of Bruce Wayne in ''Final Crisis'', is a tribute/epilogue to '''all''' versions of the Bruce Wayne Batman, as told by the various versions of his allies and enemies. Both storylines, however, maintain a theme of renewal: "Tomorrow" sees the future of Superman passed onto the next generation, and "Caped Crusader" sees Batman reborn to continue his crusade against injustice.

** The heroes trying to help Superman include Franchise/{{Batman}}, Robin, Franchise/WonderWoman, [[Comicbook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]], ComicBook/MartianManhunter, ComicBook/GreenArrow and Hawkman. None have that significant role to play since they were all locked out.

* DeadSidekick: Bye, Pete Ross, ComicBook/JimmyOlsen and Krypto.

* SuperEmpowering: Lana and Jimmy use devices in Superman's Fortress to give themselves temporary super powers to help Superman.