2. Lex Luthor Made A Cure For Cancer (That's Also Kryptonite)
The Death Of Superman is actually not the first time DC have published a story with that title. The original Death Of Superman! appeared in 1961's Superman #149, and was written by the Man Of Steel's co-creator Jerry Siegel perhaps hoping the death of his creation would end his constant royalty battles with DC. That would've been in the case if there weren't a disclaimer at the beginning of each part of the story that THESE ARE IMAGINARY TALES HE WON'T BE DEAD REALLY FOLKS, because apparently some fictional stories are more fictional than others. It's probably good this wasn't canon, though, cos it was a bit depressing. Lex Luthor is released from jail for inventing a cure for cancer which makes life better for all mankind. But then it turns out that cure is also similar to Kryptonite, so he shoots a ray of it into Superman and the Man Of Steel fades quickly, strapped to a table writhing in agony as the staff of the Daily Planet watch horrified as he dies. Bleak.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
