History TearJerker / WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow

* The cover of Action Comics #583, with the sad expression on Supes face as he flies off - forever.

* The Franchise/{{Justice League|of America}} tried to get into Brainiac's shield, but despite their desperate pounding, this battle the Man of Steel would have to fight alone. Think of how sad that would be: TheParagon you always looked up to is in trouble, and all you can do is watch helplessly as his enemies come at him one by one.

* Supergirl came from the future with the Legion of Super-Heroes, before [[ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths her eventual death]].

** Fridge Sadness: The reason the League brought Supergirl with them in the first place.

** For what little it's worth, he's alive in the post-Crisis DC 'verse, and much, much happier on the whole.

* Supergirl came from the future with the Legion of Super-Heroes, before [[CrisisOnInfiniteEarths her eventual death]].

* Vartox, who was, in pre-Crisis chronology, engaged in a romantic relationship with Lana Lang, cradling her lifeless body in his arms, bawling like a baby. The man who is too powerful for Superman to contend with. This is a character whose earliest two appearances involved the loss of first his wife, and then his homeworld. When the first Crisis wiped out his existence, this poor bastard was probably grateful. . .

* "...And by the time I realised where he was heading, it was too late. As he walked into the blinding golden light he turned and looked back over his shoulder. He smiled at me... [[ExactWords I never saw Superman again.]]"

--> Hm, everything, him go dark...Hello, Superman. Hello.

--->'''Cosmic Boy''': Goodbye, Superman. We...we ''always'' miss you.

* The JusticeLeague tried to get into Brainiac's shield, but despite their desperate pounding, this battle the Man of Steel would have to fight alone. Think of how sad that would be: TheParagon you always looked up to is in trouble, and all you can do is watch helplessly as his enemies come at him one by one.

* Lana Lang, after hearing from Superman's own lips (thanks to newly-gained super hearing) that he loves Lois and not her, flies off with Jimmy Olsen to their deaths in an attempt to end the villains' attack on his fortress.

** Superman screaming, "YOU HURT LANA?" was also a GutPunch.

* The death of [[spoiler:Krypto]].
* The death of [[spoiler:Bizarro]].

** This has got to be one of the saddest character deaths ever. Compounded by the fact that [[spoiler:Bizarro]] clearly has no idea what is happening.

* Lana Lang, after hearing from Superman's own lips (thanks to newly-gained super hearing) that he loves Lois and not her, flies off with Jimmy Olsen [[spoiler:to their deaths]] in an attempt to end the villains' attack on his fortress.

* Vartox, who was, in pre-Crisis chronology, engaged in a romantic relationship with Lana Lang, [[spoiler: cradling her lifeless body in his arms, bawling like a baby.]] The man who is too powerful for Superman to contend with. This is a character whose earliest two appearances involved the loss of first his wife, and then his homeworld. When the first Crisis wiped out his existence, this poor bastard was probably grateful. . .

* "...And by the time I realised where he was heading, it was too late. As he walked into the blinding golden light he turned and looked back over his shoulder. He smiled at me...[[spoiler: [[ExactWords I never saw Superman again.]]"]]

* "...And by the time I realised where he was heading, it was too late. As he walked into the blinding golden light he turned and looked back over his shoulder. He smiled at me...[[spoiler: I never saw Superman again."]]

** The cover of Action #583, which had the added layer of three DC Comics personalities waving bye to him as well.

* The JusticeLeague tried to get into Brainiac's shield, but despite their desperate pounding, this one one battle the man of steel would have to fight alone. Think of how sad that would be: TheParagon you always looked up to is in trouble, and all you can do is watch helplessly as his enemies come at him one by one.

* "...And by the time I realised where he was heading, it was too late. As he walked into the blinding golden light he turned and looked back over his shoulder. He smiled at me...[[spoiler: I never saw Superman again."]]

** For what little it's worth, he's alive in the post-Crisis DC 'verse, and much, much happier on the whole.

* Vartox, who was, in pre-Crisis chronology, engaged in a romantic relationship with Lana Lang, [[spoiler: cradling her lifeless body in his arms, bawling like a baby.]] The man who is too powerful for Superman to contend with. This is a character whose earliest two appearances involved the loss of first his wife, and then his homeworld. When the first Crisis wiped out his existence, this poor bastard was probably grateful. . .

---> '''Superman:''' You... you grew up beautiful, Kara!... Right now, Supergirl... [[HeroicSacrifice Supergirl is in the past.]]

--->'''Lana:''' We're only second-stringers, Jimmy, but we'll show 'em. Nobody loved him better than us. ''Nobody!''

---> '''Superman:''' You... you grew up beautiful, Kara!... Right now, Supergirl... [[HeroicSacrifice Supergirl is in the past."]]

---> ''Superman: "You... you grew up beautiful, Kara!" "Right now, Supergirl... [[HeroicSacrifice Supergirl is in the past."]]''