- Stopped
- Superman (vol. 2) #75, 1993
- Revived in
- The Fortress regeneration matrix
- During
- Reign of the Supermen
- Kryptonite heart
- Metallo's
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Stopped. A flicker. Beating.
His heart stopped after Doomsday in 1992. The Fortress's regeneration matrix brought it back.
The short answer
Superman's heart stopped after his battle with Doomsday in Superman (vol. 2) #75 (1993), the most famous death in comics. During Reign of the Supermen, his body was revived in the Fortress of Solitude's regeneration matrix, powered by the sun. In his stories, the best-known heart besides his own is Metallo's, which is made of kryptonite.
In depth
The full story.
When Superman’s heart stopped
In Superman (vol. 2) #75 (cover-dated January 1993), Superman dies stopping Doomsday, the first villain to kill him in physical combat without kryptonite. His heart stopped. The issue went on sale on 18 November 1992 and sold more than six million copies. See Superman’s greatest feats. (Confirmed)
How he came back
During “Reign of the Supermen” (1993), his body was taken to the Fortress of Solitude and placed in a Kryptonian regeneration matrix by the Eradicator. The egg-like birthing matrix drew on solar energy to revive him slowly (Action Comics #687, June 1993, onwards). His return builds through The Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993) and ends in Superman (vol. 2) #82 (October 1993). (Likely)
Other famous hearts: Metallo’s kryptonite
The best-known heart in Superman’s stories belongs to Metallo, whose heart is kryptonite. The New 52 Metallo gets his kryptonite heart in Action Comics (vol. 2) #8 (April 2012), Ultraman rips it out in Forever Evil #4 (February 2014), and John Corben offers it to Superman, knowing he’ll die, in Superman (vol. 3) #49 (April 2016). (Confirmed)
On TV, Superman & Lois season 4 has Doomsday take Superman’s heart to Lex Luthor, who destroys it. That’s a TV-only story. (Likely)
His recovery depends on the sun: see Superman’s solar battery, and for his body more generally, the Kryptonian biology FAQ.
Era by era.
The same Superman, rewritten for every generation.
Post-Crisis (1992–1993)
Doomsday kills Superman in Superman (vol. 2) #75; he is revived in the Fortress's regeneration matrix during Reign of the Supermen.
Questions.
Did Superman's heart stop when he died?
Yes. Superman's heart stopped after his fight with Doomsday in Superman (vol. 2) #75 (1993). During Reign of the Supermen, the Eradicator placed his body in a Kryptonian regeneration matrix in the Fortress of Solitude, which used solar energy to revive him.
Next: weaknesses
Every weakness, A to Z.
What really hurts the Man of Steel.
Keep exploring.
All powers
Solar batteryEarth's yellow sun, stored in every cell.
Super-strengthHow strong is strong enough?
FlightHe used to leap. Then he flew.
Heat visionSunlight. Focused. Fired.
X-ray visionHe sees through everything. Except lead.
Super-speedFaster than a speeding bullet.
InvulnerabilityBullets bounce. But not everything does.
Super-breathGale-force breath and freezing cold.
Super-hearingA whole city, one voice at a time.
Kryptonian biologyEating, sleeping, ageing: Kryptonian biology.
FortressPlaces
FeatsFeats and stats