Death of Clark Kent Reading Guide

Overview:

The Death of Clark Kent was published by DC Comics in 1995. Written by Dan Jurgens with contributions from Louise Simonson and Karl Kesel, it features art primarily by Jurgens and Tom Grummett. The story centers around Superman’s alter ego, Clark Kent, being targeted by a villain who has discovered his secret identity. As a result, Clark’s loved ones, including Lois Lane and his parents, are placed in grave danger. The villain responsible is Conduit, who has a personal vendetta against Clark.

Throughout the arc, Clark is forced to consider abandoning his civilian identity entirely, putting him in a difficult emotional situation. The storyline highlights his internal struggle to protect those he loves while maintaining his responsibilities as Superman. Other major characters include Jimmy Olsen and members of the Justice League, who make brief appearances.

At the time of its release, The Death of Clark Kent received mixed-to-positive feedback. Fans appreciated the high stakes and personal drama, while some critics felt that the plot stretched credibility. Nevertheless, it remains an important arc in the Superman mythos, further exploring the duality of Superman and his human side, Clark Kent.

Best Way To Read:

• Superman: The Death of Clark Kent
  • Collects: Adventures of Superman #523-525, Action Comics #709-711, Superman #99-102, and Superman: The Man of Steel #43-46

For crossover and significant events, I typically only read the main story the first time I encounter it. Trying to read all of the tie-ins with the story tends to make them increasingly convoluted and are not crucial to the main narrative. However, I think they are important to read, as many series-shifting plotlines can happen.

For the tie-in issues, I only read them as they come up in the reading guide that I am working through. This can become problematic because the tie-in issues are not always included in collected editions of the event. So you may need to hunt for them.

Reading Order:

Feature image from Superman: The Man of Steel #45 cover art by Jon Bogdanove and Dennis Janke