Doomsday’s most infamous moment in DC history is his killing ofSuperman, a groundbreaking sequence that’s become a staple of the Man of Steel’s history. However, that isn’t Doomsday’s first kill; there’s another that carries just as much, if not more, thematic weight. The first murder committed by Doomsday defines his role in DC lore as an unyielding force of evil, proving that he is the moral opposite to Superman.
Superman: The Man of Steel#18 – written by Louise Simonson, with art by Jon Bogdanove – features thefirst proper appearance of Doomsday in DC canon, as he begins his destructive rampage. Before any of the human casualties, though, Doomsday partakes in a first kill that stands out from the rest. A bird flies into his outstretched hand as he looks upon the distant city, and without a second thought, Doomsday crushes the bird.
This first on-page kill from Doomsdaydemonstrates his carelessness towards life and thus solidifies him as DC’s ‘Satan’ in response to the god-like figure that is Superman.
Doomsday’s First Kill Gave Him Immediate “Satan” Status In DC Comics Lore
Superman: Man Of Steel#18 – Written By Louise Jones Simonson; Art By Jon Bogdanove; Ink By Dennis Janke; Color By Glenn Whitmore; Lettering By Bill Oakley
Doomsday’s first killbeing a harmless bird, instead of something more powerful, is a dark testament to his moral character - or, rather, his lack thereof. To not only kill the bird in cold blood, but then laugh about it after the fact, suggests that he takes pleasure in harming innocent creatures;Doomsday has no regard for the sanctity of the lives he vanquishes, whereas Superman believes every life is worth saving.Doomsday goes on to wreak havoc across the city and dispose of other beings, and the flaming imagery and wicked laughter that accompany his conquest raise satanic implications.
Doomsday killing a sparrow in his introduction sets him up as the antithesis to goodness, which is exemplified by Superman.
There’s biblical significance to this Doomsday kill as well, further expanding upon this perspective of his role in Superman lore. According to Matthew 10:29,“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.“What this Scripture quote means is that, though sparrows seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, their lives still matter to God. Therefore, Doomsday killing a sparrow in his introduction sets him up as the antithesis to goodness,as exemplified by Superman. This satanic imagery for Doomsday persists even past his debut.
Doomsday’s Satanic Imagery Makes Him King Of DC’s Hell
Superman’s Demonic Foe Embraces His Hellish Roots
Doomsday’s time spent in Hellmakes the satanic metaphor at play in his depiction all the more prevalent. Doomsday’s torment in the underworld only makes him stronger, as is the nature of his being. His inability to die makes him a twisted mirror ofthe immortal Superman, acting as yet another parallel between the two as conflicting forces.The damned souls in Hell even hail him as their king like they would Satan, as seen inAction Comics Presents: Doomsday Special#1.
Action Comics Presents: Doomsday Special#1 – was written by Dan Watters, with art by Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Adriano Lucas, and Dave Sharpe. In the story, Martian Manhunter and Supergirl visit Hell when Doomsday prepares to escape, and they convince the souls to form a blockade so he can’t break free. The issue is available now from DC Comics!
Although Martian Manhunter and Supergirl succeed at trapping Doomsday in Hell for a while, the monster never stops trying to punch his way out of his fiery captivity. It’s taken time, but Doomsday has broken out of Hell at long last, and he makes his shocking return to the world above inSuperman#19, by Joshua Williamson and Dan Mora. Now that Doomsday has come back to the land of the living, his long-awaited rematch with Superman draws near. With this, DC sets the stage for the ultimate face-off between its otherworldly manifestations of good and evil.
Superman’s Role As Protector Of Life Makes Him The Perfect Thematic Foil For Doomsday
Superman & Doomsday’s Conflict & Its Biblical Implications
In contrast to Doomsday,Superman embodies good within the DC Universe. He protects all living things, both on Earth and beyond it - evidenced by hisepic “Warworld Saga” storywhere he fought for the people of a distant planet. If Doomsday is the one inflicting harm upon an innocent sparrow in the biblical passage, Superman is the one watching over the sparrow and caring for it as he would any other life. As such,Superman takes on a god-like role in this metaphor, as he’s destined to combat Doomsdayin defense of the precious lives he treats as sacred.
Doomsday Returns to Superman Lore, Revealing He’s Secretly Been [SPOILER] All Along
Superman’s darkest foe, Doomsday, makes a long-awaited return in a shocking reveal of his secret identity that rewrites DC lore in a major way.
DC has confirmed thatSuperman and Doomsday will be the final hero and villainat the end of the universe, engaging in a last climactic showdown. This apocalyptic imagery of their clash cements these two as symbols of good and evil in DC lore. Light cannot exist without darkness, or vice versa, making this battle between the divine and the damned one that will endure throughout the universe’s entire lifespan. When all else is gone,Supermanwill make his stand against the monster and prove that good triumphs over evil - thereby avenging every lifeDoomsdayhas taken, however small.
Superman: The Man of Steel#18is available now from DC Comics!
Superman
The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.
