In 1993, DC Comics editor Michael Carlin green-lit a controversial storyline in which Superman was to be killed off pro tempore. The idea was that, in the face of flailing sales in the post-Crisis on Infinite Earths era, and, in a period where speculative "investors" were buying up copies of every supposedly valuable first issue they could find, thinking they could get rich, they needed to shake up the status quo.
"The Death of Superman" was indeed a hot commodity for a while. However, what those "investors" didn't realize was that these books weren't as short-printed as they were led to believe. A small thrift store in Wynantskill, for example, was able to acquire at least one copy of an early chapter in the arc, but blew customers' minds by marking up the price to an obscene $10. Today, that same issue doesn't command even half that much.
14 years later, Warner Bros. attempted its first adaptation with "Superman-Doomsday" (previously reviewed). Unfortunately, trying to cram both the "Death" arc and the subsequent "Reign of The Superman" arc, at least part of it, into a 90 minute proved problematic.
Warp ahead 11 years, and WB finally got it right.
"The Death of Superman" is a more faithful adaptation of the 1993 story, save for the adjustments to accomodate for modern technology, as smart phones weren't yet a thing back then.
Anyway, an asteroid-turned-meteor crash lands on Earth, bringing with it the monstrous Doomsday. Meanwhile, Superman (Jerry O'Connell) is struggling with his relationship with his reporter-girlfriend, Lois Lane (Rebecca Romjin, aka Mrs. Jerry O'Connell). The Man of Steel foils Bruno Manheim's assassination attempt on Mayor Booker, and suspects that Lex Luthor (Rainn Wilson, ex-The Office) might be behind it. In this continuity, Supes is estranged from Wonder Woman (Rosario Dawson). Go figure.
We're also introduced to Dr. John Henry Irons (Cress Williams, Black Lightning), who figures prominently in some mid-credits teasers for "Reign", which was released in January 2019.
Here's a trailer from DC's YouTube channel:
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