The Death and Life of Superman [Paperback]

Roger Stern (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1994

"Superman-dead!"--The Daily  Planet. On November 18, 1992, news of  Superman's death shocked the world as the legendary  Man of steel was killed defending Metropolis from  the monster called Doomsday. Here at last is the  dramatic story behind the best-selling comic book  of all time: the fates of Clark Kent, Lois Lane,  Ma and Pa Kent, the Justice League, and the reign  of the four super-beings who mysteriously appeared  after Superman's funeral, each claiming to be the  real Last Son of Krypton. And finally, here is  the complete incredible story of Superman's  triumphant retum! In this thrilling novel, Roger Stern, a  veteran writer of Action  Comics, chronicles the most amazing comeback in comic  book history--told with more gripping detail and  background than ever before.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Veteran comics writer Stern's novel about Superman's duel with a monster called Doomsday was a four-week PW bestseller.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A thoroughly  entertaining ride."--The Tampa Tribune  And Times.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Spectra (October 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553569309
• ISBN-13: 978-0553569308
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #604,946 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read, Superman fan or not, February 19, 2003

By 

N. Durham "Big Evil" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Death and Life of Superman (Paperback)

When DC Comics killed off Superman and and then resurrected him, the three storylines (Death of Superman, Funeral For a Friend, Reign of the Supermen) went from good, to excellent, to lackluster (in that respective order). Long time comic scribe Roger Stern turns all of that into one exceptional story that is a nonstop thrillride from beginning to end. It starts out when a mysterious hulk of a monster named Doomsday begins to destroy and kill anything and everything in his path, and naturally it's up to Supes to stop him. After he takes out the Justice League, Doomsday makes his way to Metropolis where he and Superman fight until both are dead. The next chapter picks up at a mass funeral for Superman where Stern's writing talent truly shines (the emotionative punch when Lois Lane sees and hears a woman claiming to have been Superman's secret wife packs a wallop), and culminates in the disappearance of Superman's body. The third story arc begins when four mysterious beings appear all claiming to be Superman (The Cyborg, The Eradicator, Steel, and Superboy), and when the true adversary is revealed, it is a nonstop fight to the finish culminating in the return of the true hero. As I said before this is a great read and it packs more emotion and action than any of the comics the story is taken from (it even flows so well that it could be used a screen play; hmmm...), and is a must own for comics fans or Superman fans alike.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A True Comic Book Epic, April 17, 2003

By 

Eric S. Terrell (Keene, NH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Death and Life of Superman (Paperback)

The Death and Life of Superman is an excellent novelization of a long series of comics originally published in 1992-93. Roger Stern does an great job of fleshing out the story and adding details that you just can't get from a comic book. I remember when these comics first came out they were almost impossible to get. There were several from the Doomsday battle that I never did get to read. Stern captures the spirit and feel of the comics perfectly. The only issue I had with this book was that it really started to drag halfway through. After Superman's death the plot seemingly stops while everyone grieves for dozens of pages. I know that everyone's reactions to Superman's death was a major focal point of the story, but it just really caused the novel to drag at that point. When the new 'Supermen' started appearing things picked up quickly. This lag was the only thing that stopped me from giving the book four stars. I highly recommend this to any Superman fan, or to anyone who enjoys a good action adventure novel.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Thrilling Read!, September 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Death and Life of Superman (Paperback)

Roger Stern's "The Life & Death Of Superman" is a thrilling, action-packed adventure that I enjoyed from the first page to the last. It's almost like watching a movie! This novel has all the great elements of a great story: Romance, action, bone-crunching battles, and thrilling drama. I recently read Cinescape and read how the Superman movie project has gone down the tubs. They should simply adapt this booK! Imagine the incredible movie this novel would be! All the characters here are really interesting and the storyline is complex, intelligent, and full of some dynamite action sequences. "The Death & Life Of Superman" is superior to the comic book series it is based on!