Today we look at how Superman faced a similar scenario to the Injustice Universe in the DC Universe, with a much different resolution.
In Comic Book Questions Answered, I answer whatever questions you folks might have about comic books (feel free to e-mail questions to me at brianc@cbr.com).
A few months back, I discussed an old issue of Action Comics from 1996 on Twitter and asked people if they thought that Superman's actions in the issue fit into their idea of how Superman would handle a scenario. Reader Bob H. wanted to learn more about the issue in question, so, well, here we are!
WHAT CAUSED SUPERMAN TO KILL THE JOKER IN THE INJUSTICE UNIVERSE?
First off, I suppose we should address the Injustice aspect of the story. As you likely know by know, Injustice: Gods Among Us was a very popular video game that has spawned a sequel and an upcoming animated film. The idea behind the game is that the heroes of the DC Universe are sent to an alternate reality where Superman has become a tyrant and Batman is the head of an Insurgency against the Man of Steel.
The event that kickstarted Superman's descent into tyranny was that the Joker drugged him and forced him to think that his pregnant wife, Lois Lane, was actually Doomsday. Superman inadvertently then killed his own wife and unborn child and in the process also set off a nuclear device in Metropolis. A despondent Superman was then taunted by the Joker (as revealed in the Injustice prelude comic book series by Tom Taylor, Mike Miller and Jheremy Raapack) and Superman finally had enough and punched a hole through the Joker's chest...
That was the moment Superman snapped (it's a similar thing that leads to Superman turning evil in the "Knightmare" scenario at the end of the Zack Snyder Cut of Justice League). But in the DC Universe, Superman faced an awfully similar scenario and went the complete other direction!
SUPERMAN AND JOKER FIGHT OVER...TOYS?
1995's Action Comics #714 (by David Michelinie, Kieron Dwyer and Denis Rodier) was based around a clever premise. In the DC Universe, a toy company has had a hit monetizing the Joker's name and likeness, under the theory that the Joker can't really sue him, now can he? So Anson Turley of Turley Toys has had a great deal of Joker-related merchandise and any fan of "The Killing Fish" will now that when the Joker feels that he is being taken advantage of, he does not react well, at all.
So the Joker takes Turley hostage, but notes that they are now partners and at a big parade, Joker plans to kill a bunch of kids using modified Turley toys...
Naturally, Superman saves the day, but just like that famous musical parody of "Jingle Bells" sung on school playgrounds all across the country, the Joker got away. At the end of the issue, though, he sends Lois Lane a Joker doll for some reason...
JOKER REVEALS ONE OF HIS MOST TWISTED PLANS AND IT INVOLVES SUPERMAN...KILLING HIM?
Five issues later, in 1996's Action Comics #719 (by Michelinie, Dwyer and Rodier), we learn WHY the Joker sent Lois the doll. You see, it was coasted with a ingenious poison that even Superman missed and that Lois being exposed to it over time led to her being seemingly fatally poisoned (it was on a shelf that Lois meticulously dusts every week, so she cam into contact with it each time). Superman not getting a doll sent to Lois Lane from the JOKER was probably a bit unlike the Man of Steel, but whatever, we need to buy into the conceit for the story to work, so let's just go with it.
Superman turns to Batman for help and at first, Batman tries to come to a solution on his own, feeling that Superman was too emotional about the situation due to Lois' impending death, but Superman soon made it clear that they were going to be doing this together, as he was not going to be ditching Superman any longer.
After they discovered a dead poison expert with a note that taunted them with suggesting that only the Joker himself knew how to save Lois, the World's Finest heroes headed to Joker's cell at Arkham Asylum (presumably he had been caught by Batman sometime after the whole toys incident) and the Clown Prince of Crime revealed that the only way to save Lois was to inject the Joker with a serum that would create antibodies that would save Lois, but the process would kill the Joker!
When Superman expressed incredulity over why he would do this, the Joker explained that he was still angry at Superman for foiling his toy explosion plot and since he knew he couldn't PHYSICALLY hurt Superman, he figured he would hurt him MENTALLY, as he knows that the last time that Superman took a life, it messed him up so much that he created an alternate personality and even exiled himself from Earth briefly. Plus, even if that didn't happen, the Joker knew that it would tarnish the Man of Steel's reputation.
Superman was so distraught and Batman ended up being a bit of his punching bag as the Dark Knight explained why Superman couldn't agree to these terms...
Superman eventually agrees and Batman is there by his side when Superman allows Lois to die a few hours later! Only, of course, suddenly she springs back to life...
It turns out that Joker's plot was for Superman to kill him to save Lois, only to learn that he never had to kill the Joker in the first place, as Lois would have lived no matter what! Lois, for her part, is a bit put off that her fiance was just planning on letting her die (she eventually calls off the engagement soon after this, but there were other reasons for it, as well)...
This was a dark storyline, but it showed that Superman has a limit where he won't go, unlike in the Injustice universe.
Thanks for the question, Bob! If anyone else has a comic book question, feel free to drop me a line at brianc@cbr.com.