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1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/supermandeath.jpg]]
2[[caption-width-right:350: ''[[TheHeroDies "...that a Superman died."]]'']]
3If the name itself didn't tip you off, then this comic is one hell of an eye-waterer.
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9[[folder: 1992 Comic]]
10* Look at the title of this arc and put yourself in the time. Superman, THE codifier of the entire superhero genre. The Big Blue Boyscout. America's Number One Son. The character everyone was confident could save the day. '''Dies'''. Beaten to death in a HeroicSacrifice by the monster literally called Doomsday. Popular culture was shocked at this event, with fans writing thousands of letters to DC begging them to bring him back and holding mock funerals for the Man of Steel. It was so large of a reaction it made multiple television and printed news stations for days.
11** The story loses little of its emotional impact today. Even if you know it's not permanent, even if you know he's coming back, the comic tears every last raw emotion out of you as you watch Superman die, and watch everyone around him try to process that the impossible just happened.
12** The death of Superman made the news. Not just the local news, THE NATIONAL NEWS! People were acting like Superman was real, and when he died, real life celebrities were seen wearing the black armband with the silver S symbol.
13* Watching Superman's last blows with Doomsday, as his friends, colleagues, and family watch helplessly, is truly heartbreaking.
14* Superman's last words are to ask if Doomsday's been stopped.
15* The image of Superman's torn cape fluttering in the breeze. It so succinctly and poignantly defines and encapsulates the entire story it's become a famous and iconic image, in-universe and out.
16* Mitch Anderson's ItsAllMyFault reaction.
17* Poor Jonathan and Martha can't attend their son's funeral because they'll blow his secret identity, and at first they don't believe that he ''is'' dead. All they can do is stay in their farmhouse and torture themselves with grief, and they eventually hold a private funeral for him. It's even worse when Jonathan has a heart attack and almost dies himself, especially the cover for the issue, which shows Martha running to him in the field with a cry of "JON!".
18** In issue 7 of Funeral For a Friend, flashbacks of Clark's childhood are intercut with the reality of his death as Jon and Martha are alone in their grief. The very first one, where Clark exults over a newborn calf, hits particularly hard.
19--->'''Young Clark:''' Thanks, Pa! If she wins, it'll be because of you! You're the one who taught me how to care!\
20'''Martha:''' Jonathan? Did I hear you talking to someone out here?\
21'''Jonathan:''' Nobody's ''here'', Martha. How could I be talking to ''anybody''?
22** Then Jon flashes back to Clark's first public appearance and how he had the idea for the costume and secret identity, blaming himself for his son's death.
23** Lois Lane, running on autopilot, finally gets the time to call Jon and Martha …… and her brave face crumbles as she breaks down and is at a loss for words. The Kents realize that this woman their son brought into their family is grieving even harder than them and console her, promising to be there in Metropolis by morning to help. Because that’s the kind of people they are.
24* The Funeral For A Friend storyline shows the whole world mourning Superman in their own ways, as well as the stress of the constant news cycle and Metropolis without their hero.
25* Bibbo Bibowski's reaction to Superman's death, after trying and failing to help revive him.
26-->'''Bibbo:''' God? 's me, Bibbo. Been awhile since we talked... I know my pal Superman is with you... So I guess he don't really need my prayers... But the rest o' us sure do. ''[prays the Hail Mary]'' Take good care 'o Superman... Okay, God? I miss 'im... I 'spect just about ever'body misses 'im... God? I gotta ask ya... why? Why should Superman die when a washed-up ol' roughneck like me goes on livin'? It ain't right, God... It just ain't right.
27* A cut-away to an apartment has Cat Grant's son Adam changing the channel in the middle of a live broadcast of Superman's funeral and bluntly saying that he never liked Superman, while all of the other people in the room (including many people who are friends of Supes) are [[KidsAreCruel aghast at his lack of respect]] [[LastDisrespects and then the kid adds that he always thought Supes was lame.]]
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31* Superman's death in the adaptation. Unlike the 1992 comic book, with no parting words besides Lois confirming Doomsday's demise, which finally let him rest, the adaptation showed Superman sharing a few parting words to Lois, while shedding [[ManlyTears a few tears of his own]], before [[GoOutWithASmile finally dying with a smile]].
32-->''Good, it's all I ever wanted. Except for you. [[ComicBook/TheFinalDaysOfSuperman What a lucky man I was...]]''
33** The image of the torn, fluttering cape was faithfully recreated in the adaptation. Shot by a crying Jimmy Olsen, it shows the rest of the world that Superman is truly dead. While the overall reactions of the people of the world watching is poignant, the most tearjerking reaction would be the kid Superman saved on the bridge earlier during the fight.
34* Seeing Jonathan and Martha grieving over their son's death will break your heart. Especially since, unlike in the comics, they ''do'' attend the grand funeral in Metropolis... as just some of the thousands of citizens there to pay their respects and mourn their hero. Just faces in the crowd. And a police officer actually asks them to step back from the barricade separating the "commoners" from the [=VIPs=].
35* Bibbo Bibbowski standing alone on the dock, lamenting how it's not fair that someone as good as Superman had to die while he, just an old sailor, gets to keep living, quoted directly (if abridged) from the equally tear-jerking comic speech above.
36* While being civil, there still appears to be some tension between Cyborg and his dad.
37* The Justice League showing they've come a long, long way from being [[TeethClenchedTeamwork barely tolerating each other]] to genuinely good friends and comrades in how they react to Clark's death. Even [[TheStoic Batman]] is left shocked and saddened.
38** The fact the League members, even those who had no chance at actually fighting Doomsday head-on like Bruce, came rushing back to try and help Clark. Only to find they [[TheCavalryArrivesLate were too late]].
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