DC Just Changed Superman’s Meaning With A Shocking Doomsday Rewrite

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Superman is incredibly popular right now, thanks to strong comic books and the upcoming 2025 Superman movie, which showcase the character at his best. In fact, his current relevance hasn’t been seen in decades—some would say not since 1992, when DC Comics famously ‘killed’ him in a battle with Doomsday. That storyline, “The Death of Superman,” briefly revitalized interest in the character and reminded fans what he represented. It’s interesting that Doomsday is now playing a significant role in the Superman comics again, just as the character is experiencing a new surge in popularity.

Perhaps it’s not surprising that “The Death of Superman” actually enhanced Superman’s story. Introducing Doomsday gave the hero a villain who powerfully demonstrated Superman’s importance. Initially a basic monster, Doomsday’s backstory revealed him to be the ideal foil for Superman – they’re two sides of the same coin, both ultimately representing the legacy of Krypton.

Superman & Doomsday Represent the Extremes of Krypton

To follow my reasoning, we need to discuss Superman’s beginnings, the story of Doomsday, and the planet Krypton.

Sent to Earth as a baby from the doomed planet Krypton, Superman carried with him the best of his people’s culture and values. Though the details of Krypton have changed over time, the core idea remains: Superman’s parents, Jor-El and Lara, wanted to preserve everything they loved about their world by sending their son to safety. He was their last hope, a symbol of life and a gift to the universe.

Doomsday originated on Krypton as a terrifying weapon designed to eliminate its enemies. This creature is a force of pure destruction, possessing immense and seemingly limitless strength. Uniquely, Doomsday adapts and becomes even more powerful with each defeat, meaning he can never be truly vanquished the same way twice. He relentlessly returns, determined to obliterate everything in his path, making him a monumental threat not only to Superman but to the entire universe. Doomsday embodies the darkest aspects of Krypton’s past – a weapon created to extinguish all hope.

Krypton was a complicated world, just like any planet with a widespread civilization. Once, they were a dominant power in the galaxy, but they eventually turned inward, focusing on their technology and becoming more peaceful. Doomsday embodies Krypton’s former aggressive nature, prioritizing conquest. Superman, however, represents the path Krypton could have taken before its destruction – a beacon of hope for the universe. While Krypton had the potential to use its power for good, it ultimately became self-absorbed and proud.

Doomsday and Superman share a deep connection through their shared origin on the planet Krypton, and both their lives and eventual fates are tied to what Krypton stood for. A particularly compelling moment in Superman #31 involves Doomsday explaining this connection to Superman. It’s not simply a rivalry; they embody all that remains of Krypton, concentrated into two beings. Doomsday represents Krypton’s destructive potential – its advanced knowledge and technology twisted into a force of annihilation. Superman, on the other hand, embodies its hope, using that same knowledge to become a powerful protector.

Superman & Doomsday Are Two Sides of the Same Coin

We’ve traditionally seen Superman and Doomsday as straightforward hero and villain, united only by their immense power. But their relationship is actually much deeper. Both characters embody the best and worst aspects of their shared home planet, Krypton, which adds a fascinating layer to their conflict. They aren’t just fighting each other; they’re representing the fate of their world.

I’ve always seen Superman as more than just a symbol of human goodness. He embodies the best of what Krypton could have been – all the potential for kindness and progress that planet held. And it strikes me that Doomsday is the flip side of that coin. He isn’t just a monster; he represents the darkest possibilities of Krypton, the path it could have taken toward ruin. They’re both, in a way, pieces of that lost world, showing us the two extreme futures Krypton faced.

Superman #31 is on sale now.

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2025-10-24 01:11