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Thanks to the Death of Superman, the Death of the Justice League may reveal the DC’s universe’s unluckiest number.
The recent revelation that nine out of the ten current members of the Justice League will die in April’s Justice League #75 has sent shockwaves throughout DC fandom, and many are already noticing distinct similarities between the announcement of the “Death of the Justice League” and that of the infamous Death of Superman.
Incoming Justice League writer Joshua Williamson has openly admitted in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that he’s drawing inspiration from the iconic storyline, which is approaching its 30th anniversary, and eagle-eyed fans have already picked up on several key details connecting the events. The most notable is the fact that the fatal confrontation between the League and the mysterious Dark Army will occur in the series’ 75th issue, just as Superman met his end in Superman #75 (by Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding, Glen Whitmore, John Costanza)
Numbers, and number-related terminology, have always been prevalent within DC, from the 52 Earths that existed in the multiverse before the Infinite Frontier relaunch to the many examples of time-based symbolism present in Doomsday Clock (by Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, and Brad Anderson). While both of these universe-changing events falling on the same issue number could be nothing more than a simple coincidence, or a clever nod, the build-up to Death of Superman could provide valuable insight on how the downfall of the Justice League may play out, and how the DC universe could change in response to the loss of its greatest team of heroes.
The build-up to Superman’s death at the hands of Doomsday was one of the most carefully-constructed storylines in DC history. Although the decision to kill Superman was made as a last-minute attempt to fill in a massive production gap created by editorial interference, the writers and artists behind the various Superman comics running at the time worked together to give the death of an iconic hero the build-up and payoff it deserved. From the first hint at Doomsday’s existence in Superman: The Man of Steel #17 (by Louise Simonson, Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Jenke, Glenn Whitmore, and Bill Oakley), the monstrous villain was built up as an unprecedented threat, effortlessly taking down the Justice League and brushing off attempts to kill him as if they didn’t even happen. As more and more heroes failed to stop Doomsday, villains like Lex Luthor found themselves stepping in to help fight the threat, only to fail. As all this went on, the people of Earth fell into a deep despair that only lifted when Superman finally arrived, culminating in the infamous battle within the heart of Metropolis that saw both combatants beat each other to death.
Through its slow build-up of a cataclysmic threat, Death of Superman is very similar to many other large-scale comic book crossover events, but it’s the key element that separates it from other events that best foreshadows how the death of the Justice League will play out. Unlike other major DC events, Death of Superman focuses on the aftermath of a superhero’s death, showing not only how their friends and loved ones react to their loss, but also the attempts made by various imposters and potential successors to fill the void that they left behind. In doing this, Death of Superman demonstrated how important the Man of Steel was to the world, making his death all the more impactful.
Since the beginning of the Infinite Frontier era, Joshua Williamson has been steadily building towards the threat that the Justice League will face in Justice League #75 by building up the countless threats that lurk within the newly-restored multiverse, closely following the pattern set by Death of Superman. Justice League #75 will more than likely focus on the Justice League’s grueling battle against the Dark Army before settling down to show the aftermath, likely following the one hero destined to survive. Following this, the League’s funerals, and the struggles of their bereaved comrades and sidekicks as they step in to continue their friends and mentors’ legacies, will take center stage as the DC universe adjusts to the deaths of some of its greatest champions. Although there is a strong chance that the lead-up and aftermath of the Justice League’s demise won’t follow the template of Death of Superman, the timing of its release and Williamson’s own words are grim omens for the team.
If the events of Justice League #75 play out like Superman #75, then that number may very well become the DC’s universe’s unluckiest. Superman’s death changed the world of DC in ways that are still felt today, and the annihilation of the Justice League could easily damage the superhero community beyond the hope of recovery. DC has always enjoyed referencing its most iconic storylines whenever they reach an anniversary, but the timing of Death of Superman‘s anniversary could spell disaster for the DC universe.
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