Doomsday (DC Comics)

Doomsday is a formidable supervillain in DC Comics, primarily known as one of Superman's most deadly adversaries. Created by writer-artist Dan Jurgens, along with contributions from the Superman editorial team including Jerry Ordway, Louise Simonson, Roger Stern, and Mike Carlin, the character was conceived during a 1991 brainstorming session as a mindless, unstoppable force embodying raw physical power. Doomsday made his cameo appearance in Superman: The Man of Steel #17 (November 1992), with his full debut in Superman: The Man of Steel #18 (December 1992). His origin traces back to prehistoric Krypton, where alien scientist Bertron engineered him through relentless cycles of cloning, death, and resurrection in the planet's harsh environment, forging "The Ultimate"—a being that evolves to overcome any threat that kills it, ultimately developing an instinctive hatred for all life, particularly Kryptonians.

Doomsday's most iconic role came in the 1992–1993 storyline "The Death of Superman," where he emerged from underground confinement on Earth, rampaged across the United States, effortlessly defeated the Justice League, and engaged Superman in a brutal battle in Metropolis that ended with both seemingly perishing from their wounds in Superman (vol. 2) #75 (January 1993). This event marked a landmark in comic book history, boosting sales and public awareness of Superman. Doomsday possesses extraordinary superhuman strength rivaling or exceeding Superman's, near-invulnerability, rapid regeneration, and the unique ability to adapt and develop immunities or countermeasures to whatever previously harmed him, complemented by protruding bony spikes that serve as weapons and armor.

Following his initial defeat, Doomsday returned in subsequent arcs, with his full backstory elaborated in the 1994 miniseries Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey, revealing his interstellar rampages and clashes with entities like Darkseid. He has been revived multiple times—often growing more intelligent or gaining new abilities—featuring prominently in stories such as "Our Worlds at War" (2001), where he battled Imperiex; "Reign of Doomsday" (2011), involving clones and widespread destruction; and New 52/Rebirth continuities, including imprisonments in the Phantom Zone and infections spreading his essence. In recent developments under the DC All In initiative (2024–2025), Doomsday has reemerged with ties to ancient Kryptonian threats and temporal variants, continuing to pose existential challenges to Superman and the Justice League.

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