10 Mind-Blowing Facts You Didn't Know About '90s Superman Cartoon

Jack Kirby is one of the most influential people in comic history. He co-created Marvel, concocted hundreds of characters, and devised the Fourth World mythos in DC Comics. Because Kirby died shortly before STAS was green-lit, the writers felt obligated to commemorate the writer/artist in some way. When the creators incorporated Detective Dan Turpin into the show, they based Turpin's face and attitude on Kirby.

Turpin was a brash inspector who followed his gut rather than protocol, much to the chagrin of his co-workers. Turpin was confrontational and bull-headed but he was also loyal and uncompromisable. He always had his friends' backs and would never back down from a fight.

When the writers decided to kill off a character, Emil Hamilton was considered to bite the dust. Bruce Timm didn't like Hamilton and argued his death would carry no emotional weight. In the end, they decided Turpin would be the one to die. After chastising Darkseid in the story, Apokolips Now, the despot obliterated Turpin with his Omega beams.

This episode ends with a funeral for Turpin and a tribute to Kirby's legacy. As a nod to Kirby's work, Stan Lee and Nick Fury can also be briefly observed at Turpin's funeral in the original broadcast.