Warning: This article contains spoilers for all of DC’s 2024 releases.
2024 has been a deadly year for the DC Universe, with numerous movies and TV shows being released with a high body count. Compared to years past, which saw frequent releases of DCEU movies, 2024 constituted a gap year for DC’s live-action projects, with Batman villain solo stories like Joker: Folie Á Deux and The Penguin eating the lion’s share of the notoriety.
The DC movies of 2024 certainly proved that life can be cheap in the adapted comic universe. Superman dies twice in the final season of Superman & Lois, with Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman brought back to life after his arduous battle with Darkseid. However, Clark Kent dies for real in a flash-forward, passing the mantle of Superman on to his sons.
Lois Lane, who had been battling breast cancer throughout the series, finally succumbs to the disease in the season finale. The show’s poignant portrayal of Lois’ cancer made her eventual passing all the more emotionally effective.
In other DC releases, Arthur Fleck dies in the animated series Creature Commandos, killed by the sorceress Calypso in a shocking and tragic moment. Supergirl kills the Monitor in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Two, roasting him alive with heat vision. The Monitor’s death is a poignant moment in the film, as Supergirl struggles with the moral implications of her actions.
Finally, Darkseid is killed as an infant in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three, a dark and creative twist on the typical villainous character. The film’s exploration of this hypothetical scenario is both shocking and thought-provoking, raising questions about the morality of killing a child.
These deaths, along with others, have marked the end of an era for DC, with the final season of Superman & Lois bringing a sense of finality to the DC banner on the network channel. As DC looks to the future, it’s clear that the company is committed to pushing the boundaries of its storytelling and exploring the complexities of its characters.