40 Years Later, Alan Moore's Canon Ending For The Original Superman Is Aging Like Fine Wine
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After 40 years, Alan Moore’s canonical ending for the original Superman is aging like fine wine. In 1986, shortly after Crisis on Infinite Earths streamlined DC’s continuity, the publisher began revamping its biggest icons, bringing them into the modern era. Yet first, DC had to find a way to bring to a close these heroes’ classic eras. Enter: Alan Moore.
By 1986, Alan Moore was the hottest ticket in American comics. After breaking into the British comics scene in the early 1980s on the strength of titles such as V for Vendetta and Miracleman, Moore came to the States, kicking off a run on Swamp Thing, at the time one of DC’s underperforming titles. Moore and his collaborators revamped Swamp Thing, tossing out nearly everything fans thought they knew about him. Moore and company’s revisionist take on Swamp Thing resonated with fans, propelling the book to high sales and critical acclaim.
Taking his revisionist tendencies to their inevitable conclusion, Moore and artist Dave Gibbons did not just redefine a character: they changed the course of the entire comics medium.
Finally, that year saw the debut of what some consider Alan Moore’s magnum opus: Watchmen. Taking his revisionist tendencies to their inevitable conclusion, Moore and artist Dave Gibbons did not just redefine a character: they changed the course of the entire comics medium. Watchmen is a grim work which may seem to make Moore an unlikely choice to write any kind of Superman story, let alone one bringing to end decades of story points. Doubters were quickly silenced, however, when “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow” made its debut.
Metropolis · Daily Planet Edition
Superman
Trivia Challenge
🌏OriginsLast son
☠VillainsKneel!
⚡PowersInvincible
🎥FilmsBelieve
💫LegacyHope
01
Before he was Clark Kent, Superman was born Kal-El on a distant planet doomed to destruction. His parents Jor-El and Lara placed him in a rocket ship as an infant, sending him across the cosmos to Earth. What is the name of Superman’s home planet?
✓ Correct! Krypton was a scientifically advanced planet that exploded due to its unstable core. Jor-El, Superman’s father, was the only scientist who foresaw the catastrophe and managed to save his son by launching him toward Earth in a small spacecraft.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Krypton. Thanagar is Hawkman’s homeworld, Apokolips is Darkseid’s domain, and Oa is the headquarters of the Green Lantern Corps. Krypton’s destruction is the defining event of Superman’s origin story.
02
Superman’s greatest love is a fearless, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who works alongside Clark Kent at the Daily Planet. She’s known for her relentless pursuit of the truth and for being one of the few people who sees both the hero and the man. Who is she?
✓ Correct! Lois Lane has been Superman’s primary love interest since her debut in Action Comics #1 in 1938. A brilliant investigative reporter, she’s as iconic as Superman himself — tough, smart, and unafraid to chase the biggest stories in Metropolis.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Lois Lane. Diana Prince is Wonder Woman, Lana Lang is Clark’s high school sweetheart from Smallville, and Cat Grant is a gossip columnist at the Daily Planet. Lois Lane is Superman’s iconic partner.
03
Despite being nearly invulnerable under Earth’s yellow sun, Superman has one famous weakness — a radioactive mineral from the remnants of his destroyed homeworld. Exposure to it drains his powers and can even kill him. What is this substance called?
✓ Correct! Kryptonite is the irradiated remnants of planet Krypton. Green Kryptonite is the most common and deadly variety, but there are many other types — Red Kryptonite causes unpredictable behavior, Gold Kryptonite can permanently strip his powers, and Blue Kryptonite affects Bizarro.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Kryptonite. Vibranium is from Marvel’s Black Panther universe, Nth Metal is tied to Hawkman, and Red Sun Ore isn’t a real DC substance. Kryptonite is the iconic green-glowing mineral that is Superman’s ultimate weakness.
04
In 1978, a then-unknown actor donned the cape and made the world believe a man could fly. His portrayal of Superman became the gold standard for superhero films and he starred in four Superman movies. Who is this legendary actor?
✓ Correct! Christopher Reeve’s portrayal in Superman: The Movie (1978) is widely regarded as the definitive live-action Superman. His performance perfectly balanced the heroic confidence of Superman with the endearing clumsiness of Clark Kent, setting the template every Superman actor has followed since.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Christopher Reeve. Henry Cavill played Superman in the DCEU starting with Man of Steel (2013), Brandon Routh starred in Superman Returns (2006), and Tom Welling played young Clark in TV’s Smallville. Reeve was the original big-screen Superman.
05
Superman’s greatest enemy isn’t a superpowered alien — he’s a brilliant, ruthless human billionaire who believes Superman is a threat to humanity’s potential. This bald-headed genius has been Superman’s archenemy for over 80 years. Who is he?
✓ Correct! Lex Luthor is the ultimate foil to Superman — where Superman represents hope and selflessness, Luthor represents ambition and ego. Despite having no superpowers, his genius-level intellect and vast resources make him Superman’s most persistent and dangerous adversary.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Lex Luthor. Brainiac is an alien android who collects cities, Darkseid is the god-like ruler of Apokolips, and Doomsday is the monster who famously killed Superman. But Lex Luthor is the definitive archenemy — Superman’s dark mirror.
06
After crash-landing on Earth as a baby, Kal-El was found and adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent, a kind farming couple. They raised him with strong moral values in a small rural town. Where did Clark Kent grow up?
✓ Correct! Smallville, Kansas is the quintessential American small town where Jonathan and Martha Kent raised Clark with heartland values of honesty, compassion, and humility. It’s the foundation of who Superman is — not the powers from Krypton, but the character instilled by his Kansas parents.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Smallville, Kansas. Gotham is Batman’s city, Metropolis is where Clark moves as an adult to work at the Daily Planet, and Coast City is Green Lantern’s home. Smallville is where the Kents raised Clark on their farm.
07
As Clark Kent, Superman disguises himself as a mild-mannered reporter working at Metropolis’s most famous newspaper, alongside Lois Lane and photographer Jimmy Olsen. Their editor-in-chief Perry White runs the newsroom. What is the name of this newspaper?
✓ Correct! The Daily Planet, with its iconic globe on the rooftop, is one of the most recognizable fictional newspapers in pop culture. Working there gives Clark Kent both a cover identity and a way to stay informed about threats to the city and the world.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is the Daily Planet. The Daily Bugle is Spider-Man’s Marvel universe newspaper, the Metropolis Star and Gotham Gazette are lesser DC publications. The Daily Planet — with its spinning globe — is Superman’s journalistic home.
08
This Kryptonian military commander was banished to the Phantom Zone for treason before Krypton’s destruction. He escaped and came to Earth seeking vengeance, famously demanding that others “Kneel before” him. His iconic portrayal by Terence Stamp cemented him in pop culture. Who is this villain?
✓ Correct! General Zod is one of Superman’s most terrifying foes because he has all of Superman’s powers but none of his morality. Terence Stamp’s portrayal in Superman II (1980) made “Kneel before Zod” one of the most quoted villain lines in film history. Michael Shannon later reimagined the role in Man of Steel (2013).
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is General Zod. Bizarro is a flawed clone of Superman, Parasite drains powers through touch, and Metallo is a cyborg with a Kryptonite heart. General Zod is the Kryptonian military leader whose cry of “Kneel before Zod!” echoes through decades of Superman stories.
Mission Complete Your Kryptonian Record
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Are you the Man of Steel — or still stuck in a phone booth?
Alan Moore Brought Superman's Story To A Brilliant End
"Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow" is Regarded as a Superman Classic
Running in Superman #423 and Action Comics #583, “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow,” was written by Moore and drawn by long-time Superman artist Curt Swan. Set ten years after Superman’s final public appearance, “Whatever Happened…” is the story of the Man of Steel and his allies’ final stand against Luthor, Brainiac and the rest of his rogue’s gallery, who begin attacking seemingly out of nowhere.
What follows is a tour through nearly 50 years of Superman lore, disguised as a thrilling adventure story. Many of Superman’s friends and foes are featured throughout “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow,” and Moore and Swan bring all of their arcs to a close. Sadly, some of Superman’s allies, including Krypto, did not make it to the end of the story, yet they all still got heroic ends. Other aspects of the Superman mythos, such as the classic Fortress of Solitude, made appearances too.
When “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow” hit its climax, the truth was revealed. The attacks on Superman’s family and friends were being orchestrated by Mister Mxyzptlk, who took the occasion to show fans his true, demonic self. The story ends with Superman seemingly depowered, but in a postscript, fans learn he, Lois and their family “lived happily ever after.”
Alan Moore Effortlessly Guides Readers Through Decades of Superman Lore
“Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow” succeeds on every level. Many feel it is one of the best Superman stories ever told, and this assessment is not too far off base. It honors Superman’s history in multiple ways, by spotlighting not just Clark Kent, but Lois, Jimmy Olsen and the rest of the gang as well. While Superman is central, his allies have been just as integral to the mythos as he had, and “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow” celebrates them all.
The story also acknowledges the contribution Superman’s villains have made to the lore as well. Luthor and Brainiac teamed up often in the Silver Age, and they do so one last time in “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow.” The Kryptonite Man, a low-rank villain, gets perhaps the story’s most devastating kill: he attacks the Fortress, provoking Krypto. The dog bites the Kryptonite Man, and while it takes the villain out, it also kills Krypto, and all Superman can do is listen to his pet’s death howl.
"Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow" Hides a Dark Story Underneath Its Silver Age Veneer
Underneath the Silver Age, retro vibes of “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow” lurks a surprising darkness. Superman’s villains are now out for blood in a way they never had been before. The Brainiac/Luthor fusion erased the latter’s remaining humanity. The revelation of Mister Mxyzptlk’s true nature was jarring for long-time Superman fans, and one that has not been followed up on by modern Superman writers. The story’s beauty lies in the juxtaposition of Moore’s dark script and Swan’s classic art style.
"Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow" ended the original Superman's story, while John Byrne's The Man of Steel began the character's modern incarnation.
All of these factors have made “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow” one of the best Superman stories ever committed to paper. Alan Moore could simply do no wrong in the 1980s, and this story was another feather in his cap. It successfully brought one era of Superman’s history to a brilliant and definitive end, clearing the stage for a new one that would update the Man of Steel for a new generation. “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow” has aged like fine wine, and is worth reading even 40 years later.
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.