Writer-artist Dan Jurgens got to do what the combined forces of Lex Luthor, Brainiac and that thankfully aborted Nicholas Cage movie never could: He got to kill Superman.
Jurgens was part of the DC Comics team who in 1992 made the risky decision of killing off the Man of Steel. Of course, nobody dies forever in comics, but the storyline turned out to be a blockbuster for DC, and fans across the world reacted as tragically as the friends of Big Blue in the comic books.
Jurgens, who turns 54 later this month, is credited with creating the Superman-pummeling villain Doomsday and Cyborg Superman. He’s worked on a number of other DC and Marvel titles since then, most recently Green Arrow and Justice League International. You can find him in an upcoming Superman annual too.
On the opening weekend of “Man of Steel,” it seemed only fitting to check in with one of Superman’s best known creators of the last 25 years.
What was the first comic you bought?
The first comic I ever bought was Superman No. 189 (from 1966). I had wanted to buy a Batman comic but the corner drugstore was sold out of them, and I was intrigued with this because it had Krypto looking like he was about to attack Superman. For a young kid, that’s rather enticing! I don’t have the original one that I purchased but have since replaced it.
What’s your all-time favorite single issue?
My all time favorite issue, for unusual reasons, is Batman No. 217 (from 1969). It’s my favorite because I was actually in the hospital with a broken arm. I had to spend the night and my dad bought me a couple of comic books so I could pass the time. It was a somewhat transformational story for Batman as Robin — Dick Grayson — left Wayne Manor to go to college. Batman was suddenly off on his own, much more the creature of the night. I was so taken by the story that I must have read it about five times that night. And, like the one above, I had to replace it in later years.
What are your five favorite comics storylines?
Wow– that’s hard to do. However, I’d go with:
5: Avengers Nos. 89-97 (1971-72) This is known as the “Kree-Skrull War,” written by Roy Thomas with art by Sal Buscema, John Buscema and Neal Adams. Probably the first wide-ranging, intergalactic, cosmic epic in comics. It upped the game in terms of a multipart story that became a staple for the Avengers.
4: Fantastic Four Nos. 48-50 (1966) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Fans refer to this as “The Galactus Trilogy,” which makes sense because it was these three issues that introduced the concept of Galactus, a god-like being who devours planets. Lee and Kirby were at the top of their games here, and as though Galactus weren’t enough, this also featured the first appearance of the Silver Surfer.
3: Green Lantern Nos. 76-89 (1970-72) by Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams. I think this is generally referred to as the “Hard Traveling Heroes” story, in which Green Lantern and Green Arrow get in an old pickup and drive across America to see what the country has to offer. Very different for its time and an important turning point for the industry.
2: The Manhunter storyline in Detective Comics #437-443 (1973-74) by Archie Goodwin and Walter Simonson. It featured a re-envisioned Manhunter character as a backup story that was tremendously sophisticated and compelling for the day, all of which ended in a fitting climax. Outstanding work by a couple of creative giants with a truly fitting, and undisturbed ending– a rarity in comics.
1: X-Men Nos. 129-138 (1980) by Chris Claremont, John Byrne and Terry Austin. “The Dark Phoenix Saga.” This has everything a rollicking good superhero story needs in terms of epic concepts balanced against the personal conflicts of the characters involved, most notably the romance between Jean Grey (Phoenix) and Scott Summers (Cyclops). An absolute must-read.
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