Superman's Saddest Story Killed His Parents All Over Again

The parents of DC Comics’ superheroes have a pretty poor track record. We’ve seen Thomas and Martha Wayne gunned down innumerous times across several mediums, but it actually might be The Man of Steel himself, Superman, who has the worst history regarding his parents' mortality, considering the fact that they managed to die not once - but twice - with the second instance coming in Action Comics #283.

Everyone knows the broad strokes of Supe’s backstory: he was jettisoned into space as a baby while his native planet of Krypton exploded, taking with it his mother and father, Lara and Jor-El. But in this 1961 story, the family is reunited. Kind of. Two shapeshifting time travelers from the 30th century named Zo-Gar and Jan Dex (yes, seriously), members of the Legion of Super Outlaws (again, seriously) arrive on a small island just outside of Metropolis with a plan to collect various forms of Kryptonite. Once they have the materials in hand, they set forth on their mission to ambush and annihilate Superman. They use the Red Kryptonite they'd collected to build a taunting statue of The Man of Steel himself, hoping the totem would draw his attention. 

Related: Superman's First Reboot Made Him EAT Kryptonite (Literally)

Knowing Superman's true identity, the villains trick The Daily Planet's Jimmy Olsen into investigating strange happenings on the island, bringing with him his colleagues Clark Kent and Lois Lane. Upon arrival, Clark is startled by the presence of Red Kryptonite, knowing Kryptonite's effects are unpredictable at best. Feeling the Kryptonite's effects starting to take hold, Clark wishes for a dense fog so he'll be cloaked from his colleagues. Sure enough, the fog appears and Clark uses it as an excuse to usher away his compatriots. Using his super breath, he launches their boat away at unnatural speeds. Dismantling the Red Kryptonite totem, Superman wishes Sherlock Holmes actually existed so as to help solve the mystery of what was happening. Sure enough, in the next instant, the legendary detective appears from thin air.

Realizing the rocks are granting him the ability to conjure people from his mind, both real and fictional, Clark wishes for guidance from his parents. Instantaneously, Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Lara and Jor-El appear at his side. After pleasantries are exchanged, the resurrected Jor-El immediately goes to work, using his scientific genius to find Superman a cure for Red Kryptonite and its wild effects. Before he's able to complete his work, however, Superman's quartet of parents de-materialize in front of his very eyes, Infinity War-style. And with no clear explanation.

Despondent, Superman returns to Metropolis to continue his heroism, eventually tracking down the shapeshifters and somehow flying them back to the 30th century to face their punishment. But the damage was done. After already having lost his birth parents once, Superman has now had to suffer through it a second time, while also watching his adoptive parents get dusted. Top that, Batman.

More: Superman Became a Green Lantern in The WEIRDEST Way

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