What if Superman Had Stayed Dead?

[Lobo]

How do you think that would have effected the DC world? Who would step up to be "the man"? Who'd be Metropolis hero? What do you think would have happened to his supporting cast? Lois? Jimmy? Perry? etc. Would they have become cast members in others books? Like for instance the death of Superman makes Metropolis too much for Lois to handle and she writes for the Gotham Gazette. Or would these supporting cast members have fallen into obscurity or perhaps used as canon fodder in the next big event?

This is just something I was pondering and thought it could make for some cool discussion.

 

[WompuM]

Wouldn't have Mongul and Hank turned Earth into War World?

 

[Motown Marvel]

most everything and everyone surrounding superman is allowed popularity and relevance because of superman himself. without him, in a continuing story, they would all fall out of favor.

 

[Lobo]

Wouldn't have Mongul and Hank turned Earth into War World?

They could have possibly, or they could have been stopped by some combo of the JLA or JSA etc.

 

[Spike_x1]

I imagine the Earth would be destroyed by now. If not by Mongul & Henshaw during the Return of Superman story, then it would have been done in some other story that required a role to be filled by someone with Superman's specific powers and/or character. Y2K is a storyline like that that comes to mind.

Without Superman's return to life, Apokolips would have also been decimated by Doomsday, Darkseid would've been killed, and the Cyborg Superman wouldn't have had to wait so long before being recognized as a major universal threat after taking over what was left of Apokolips and rebuilding it, as he planned to do before a Superman-rescued Darkseid trapped Hank's consciousness in a little ball.

 

[dnno1]

How do you think that would have effected the DC world? Who would step up to be "the man"? Who'd be Metropolis hero? What do you think would have happened to his supporting cast? Lois? Jimmy? Perry? etc. Would they have become cast members in others books? Like for instance the death of Superman makes Metropolis too much for Lois to handle and she writes for the Gotham Gazette. Or would these supporting cast members have fallen into obscurity or perhaps used as canon fodder in the next big event?

This is just something I was pondering and thought it could make for some cool discussion.

Connor would have stepped in with Kara and Karen as his back ups.

 

[BigBlue1055]

Connor would have stepped in with Kara and Karen as his back ups.

Kara wasn't yet then on Earth, and Conner was a long ways away from tapping into his potential. The Eradicator would've been the best bet.

 

[Lobo]

Perhaps Power Girl would have risen to the occasion

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Haha, no.

 

[GyLocke]

Maybe Lex would've finally quit dicking around and start guiding mankind safely through the century, planning defenses against alien and supernatural threats, building a utopia.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

That would be an interesting idea. Lex could be a perfectly fantastic anti-hero if Superman weren't around. Imagine Lex taking Supes' place and actually doing a good job (with the odd underhanded method here and there, of course).

 

[BLACKVULCAN]

hey this is a pretty good question.
If Supes had never came back i think the Martian Manhunter( well before he kicked the bucket too) should have stepped up his game, grew a heart for more than just the JL ,embraced his new foster planet and rose to be the baddest Mother "shut your mouth" dude next to superman. Hell! the dude is already in Supes Power level and even has more powers than Supes does too. With Supes gone,it could have been MM moment to shine and become a real A-list character baby!

 

[BigBlue1055]

That would be an interesting idea. Lex could be a perfectly fantastic anti-hero if Superman weren't around. Imagine Lex taking Supes' place and actually doing a good job (with the odd underhanded method here and there, of course).

Or Lex could go on to integrate many of Superman's ideas into the new philosophy of "Luthorism" and form a "Global United States". Luthor could then preside over a string of scientific achievements, including the cure of all known disease, and colonization of the solar system. Lex could live for over two thousand years. At his funeral it is revealed that Superman survived and is apparently immortal, although this is unknown to Lois, who has outlived her husband (Lex).

Luthor's descendants, taking on the name of the House of L, could then culminate in Jor-L, whose intellect exceeded that of even Lex. Years in the future, it is revealed that Earth is being torn apart by tidal stresses from the sun, which has become a red giant. Jor-L and Lara send their infant son, Kal-L off into space as the last son and savior of a dying world.

/Red Son'd

 

[Lobo]

Maybe Lex would've finally quit dicking around and start guiding mankind safely through the century, planning defenses against alien and supernatural threats, building a utopia.

This is what I believe would most likely happen. Comics would have continued, so Earth would be saved by someone new, or a familiar face, now fighting on the side of the angels, Luthor. I could see Lex using his vast genius to save us from Armageddon time and again, instead of wasting his energies on a beloved Kryptonian. It would make for a great Elseworld tale IMO.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

It'd be awesome if they stretched the story out over a few years and the superhero community actually accepted Lex over time.

 

[GyLocke]

It'd be awesome if they stretched the story out over a few years and the superhero community actually accepted Lex over time.

I always thought they should put an emphasis on how Luthor is kind of a "Superman" himself, as in the best mankind has to offer without going metahuman. Smartest, fittest, strong willed. That's why he is cheated by the Kryptonian from his destiny, as "the man of tomorrow."

This is what I would do in Action Comics, if you must have Superman absent for a year: Have Lex pick up the Superman mantle for a while just to spite Kal-El's memory, but being more proactive, running more thought out operations and having the job actually change him for the better. Let him avert some great superthreat only using his wits, his tech and his will. Be a Champion for Humankind.

Then when Supes comes back, he is outmatched again, since the alien is "cheating" (he has superpowers handed to him) pushing him back into his villanious, machiavellian ways. (But now rehabilitated in the public view as a hero and a true Super-Man, as I can't stand mad scientist Lex)

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I'm not a fan of mad scientist Lex either. I miss the days when he was a super-smart schemer rather than an incompetent inventor.

 

[ultrasuperduckman]

Martian Manhunter was really that awesome?

I've just started to read comic books.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I love the Martian Manhunter, personally. He's certainly that powerful. A lot of younger fans tend to view him as the heart and soul of the JLA since he's almost always been on the team. Whether he's a suitable replacement for Superman is a matter of taste, really. I think he is, but like I said, I like him a lot.

 

[Czar Colossus]

The most suitable replacement would be Mon-el, but I do love Martian Manhunter he is very underrated, but the Justice League cartoon did give him some much deserved attention.http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=zKI6ibNaTu0

 

[GoblinWhirlwind]

I don't even want to think of a... world without Superman.

 

[JTStarkiller]

Then Bruce wouldn't have had that kickass line in Infinite Crisis.

 

[The Eagle Host]

I think you mean, "f***ing ******ed line in Infinite Crisis."

Seriously, that was the single worst part of that crossover. Worse than continuity punches.

 

[GL1]

I'm very curious... what line was this?

 

[Lobo]

I believe Bruce told Clark something along the lines of "The last time you inspired anyone, was when you were dead"