One of Superman's much earlier deaths has a similar plot line, but a much more entertaining antagonist. Zunial, aka Murder Man, made his first and last appearance in the 1966 story The School For Superman Assassins!, because superhero comics were somehow lacking even more subtlety than their contemporary equivalents. Zunial is part of that aforementioned school where villains from all over the universe go and train to murder the Man Of Steel, because they prefer Batman or something. They do this by practising their murder skills on Robot Superman, and if you think that plot point might come up later, you've read a comic before. The Murder Man and his fellow students all have a crack at taking down the Last Son Of Krypton but it's Zunial himself who finally does the deed, blasting him with Kryptonite radio waves. The Man Of Steel falls! At least until one of those aforementioned Robot Supermen comes along and bravely gives up his life force so the real Superman may live.
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/
