Death of Superman

In 2017, the world was shocked when the alien creature known as Doomsday appeared in North America. Doomsday proceeded to run rampant throughout the western United States, defeating the assembled Justice League, Fantastic Four, the Titans, and X-Men when all attempted to intercede. Several metahuman heroes and many civilians were killed.

All were delaying tactics aimed at making Doomsday vulnerable until Superman arrived. The battle cut a swathe of destruction across the United States. News agencies followed the fight at a safe distance, and people around the world watched in horror as Superman fought the most savage and powerful foe he had yet encountered.

It was in the heart of Metropolis' New Troy that the fight finally came to an end. Superman killed Doomsday but was forced to use every ounce of his strength to do so and died shortly thereafter. A funeral was held for the Man of Steel and his body interred in a tomb constructed specifically for him in Metropolis' Centennial Park. In reality Superman had been so greivously wounded by Doomsday that he was taken to the Fortress of Solitude to recover from his near-mortal wounds in a specialized chamber. Even after healing, he felt himself too weak and weary to return to wearing the symbol of the House of El.

In the wake of the battle, new "Supermen" emerged to fill the yawning gulf left behind while the world mourned. The Justice League fell into disarray and largely dissolved, its members returning to their own individual concerns. With the deaths of Don Hall and Kole Weathers, and the grievous wounding of Caitlin Fairchild, the Titans dissolved as well.