10 Darkest Endings In The DC Animated Universe

1. Superman Sends Someone To The Gas Chamber - Superman: The Animated Series

You know what beats all of that though? All the terrifying transformations, heartbreaking deaths and ominous endings? A little old episode from Superman: The Animated Series called The Late Mr. Kent.

The episode, written by DCAU veteran Stan Berkowitz, is a homage to film noir and opens on the funeral of one Clark Kent, hence the title. Superman reveals how he, as Kent, was investigating a potential miscarriage of justice for a convict on death row, and was close to discovering the truth when he's taken out by a car bomb.

Rather than emerge from the waters unscathed - thus giving away his dual identity - Supes decides Kent should take the Big Sleep while he investigates as Superman, only resurfacing as Clark when the sole witness to his death reveals his eyesight is terrible.

In the meantime, Superman and Lois Lane discover that the convict is innocent, and that the real culprit, Detective Bowman, had framed him. Supes apprehends Bowman, who goes on trial and is found guilty. The episode then ends with him in the GAS CHAMBER, where he realises in his dying moments that Clark Kent and Superman are one and the same. Kent even writes the story about his execution!

Superman sent someone to the gas chamber, and the only reason his identity's safe is because he's dead. Stone. Cold.