🎬 Reign of the Supermen (2019)
Part of DC Universe Animated Original Movies
"Reign of the Supermen" is a 2019 animated film that directly adapts the third chapter of DC Comics' legendary "The Death of Superman" crossover event from 1993. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, it serves as an immediate sequel to 2018's "The Death of Superman," picking up six months after the Man of Steel's fatal confrontation with Doomsday. The film is the twelfth entry in the DC Animated Movie Universe and the thirty-fifth overall in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line.
The story follows a world still reeling from Superman's sacrifice, where crime has surged in Metropolis and four mysterious new Supermen have appeared to fill the void. Lex Luthor presents a cloned Superboy created by Project Cadmus, while the armored John Henry Irons fights crime as Steel, the Eradicator emerges as a violent and alien protector, and the cyborg Hank Henshaw masquerades as a resurrected Superman with sinister intentions. Lois Lane, caught between grief and suspicion, investigates each claimant to uncover the truth.
The animated adaptation condenses the sprawling comic storyline into a tight, action-driven narrative while remaining remarkably faithful to the source material's core themes of legacy and identity. The film reunites much of the voice cast from "The Death of Superman," including Jerry O'Connell as Superman and Rebecca Romijn as Lois Lane, and features the return of Rainn Wilson as Lex Luthor. It was released in limited theaters via Fathom Events in January 2019 before arriving on digital and Blu-ray, completing the two-part animated retelling of one of comics' most famous sagas.
"Reign of the Supermen!" is a major story arc that ran through DC Comics' Superman titles in 1993, forming the third and final part of the landmark "The Death of Superman" crossover event. Written primarily by Dan Jurgens, Roger Stern, Louise Simonson, Jerry Ordway, and Karl Kesel, the arc picks up in the months following Superman's fatal battle with Doomsday. With Metropolis descending into chaos and the world mourning its greatest hero, four mysterious new figures emerge, each claiming to carry on the Superman legacy in their own way.
The four contenders include the cold and visor-wearing Last Son of Krypton, the technologically armored Man of Tomorrow (who is secretly the villainous Cyborg Superman), the brash teenage clone Superboy, and the steel-wielding John Henry Irons, known as Steel. The storyline explores themes of grief, legacy, and what it truly means to be Superman, as Lois Lane and the supporting cast investigate which of these new heroes—if any—is the genuine article.
The arc was a massive commercial success, continuing the sales surge that began with Superman's death. It introduced the character of Steel, who would go on to headline his own series and later be adapted into a feature film, and reimagined Superboy for a new generation. The entire "Death of Superman" saga remains one of the most famous and influential comic book events ever published, fundamentally reshaping how the industry approached crossover storytelling and character death.
The Death of Superman is a pivotal comic book storyline and subsequent media collection centered on the demise and return of DC Comics' iconic hero. Originating in 1992 as a crossover event spanning multiple Superman titles, the narrative chronicles Superman's fatal battle with the unstoppable creature Doomsday, the global mourning that follows, and the emergence of four new characters—the Last Son of Krypton, Superboy, Steel, and the Cyborg Superman—each claiming to carry on his legacy. The story explores themes of heroism, sacrifice, and the irreplaceable nature of a true symbol, examining how a world copes when its greatest protector falls.
Beyond the original comics, the storyline has been adapted into various animated films, most notably within the DC Animated Movie Universe. These adaptations condense and reimagine the sprawling narrative, focusing on the emotional core of Superman's sacrifice and the subsequent power vacuum. The animated entries delve into the challenges faced by the new Supermen as they attempt to fill the void, while also highlighting the vulnerability of Earth in the absence of its champion. The collection showcases the enduring resonance of the Death of Superman mythos across different storytelling mediums.
Culturally, The Death of Superman became a landmark event in comic book history, generating unprecedented mainstream media attention and sales. It sparked debates about the commercial motivations behind major character deaths and influenced a wave of similar high-stakes storylines throughout the industry. The collection's legacy lies in its demonstration of how a single, shocking narrative beat can redefine a character's mythology and captivate a global audience, cementing the story as a touchstone for discussions about mortality and legacy within superhero fiction.
The Death of Superman is a DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU) collection adapting one of the most iconic storylines in comic book history. Originally published in 1992-93, the comic storyline depicted Superman's fatal battle with the monstrous Doomsday. The animated adaptation was released as a two-part saga beginning with The Death of Superman (2018), produced by Warner Bros. Animation, and is the 34th film in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line.
The sequel, Reign of the Supermen (2019), deals with the aftermath of Superman's death and the emergence of four individuals claiming to be his successor: Superboy, Steel, Cyborg Superman, and the Eradicator. Both films were later combined and re-released as The Death and Return of Superman. The collection holds a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is praised for its faithful adaptation of the source material and emotional depth.
