The Superman Statue was a fifteen-foot tall commemorative statue located at Heroes Park in Metropolis, dedicated to Superman for his heroic acts during the Black Zero Event.
History[]
Conception[]
Barely two weeks after the Black Zero Event, relief efforts continued to clear away the wreckage and restore communication. With the help of Superman, more and more civilians were recovered from the wreckage, with more cell towers being quickly restored to operational status. In the midst of the event, the reporter Lois Lane declared that the Mayor of Metropolis had announced plans to create a statue to commemorate Superman's heroic efforts.[1]
Creation[]
The Superman Statute inaugurated
In the months that followed in the aftermath of the Black Zero Event, Heroes Park was constructed, and the statue was erected to pay tribute to Superman for defeating the Sword of Rao.[2] Controversy erupted during the statue's creation as a result of the debate over Superman's perceived culpability in not doing enough to stem the destructive aftermath that resulted from the Black Zero Event.[3]
Vandalization[]
Sometime in 2015, the statue was vandalized by former Wayne Enterprises employee Wallace Keefe, who spray-painted the phrase "False God" on it. This was done as a protest for losing his job, family, and his legs, all a result of the Kryptonian invasion.[4]
Destruction[]
Following the Duel at Gotham Port, the statue was destroyed by the monstrous Doomsday shortly after its creation, seemingly precluding the death of Superman at the same creature's hands only minutes after. During the funeral for Superman, a new commemoration was placed at the site in honor of his sacrifice which read: "If you seek his monument look around you."[4]
Hope Arises[]
More than a year after the death of Superman, Lois found that she could not move on from his death. Thus, every day for an unspecified amount of time, Lois found herself visiting the destroyed monument and giving coffee to Jerry, the on-duty Metropolis Police Department officer assigned to guard the site from further vandalism or destruction.
Finally, on a particular day, Lois felt that the time was right to move on. She then visited the site for what she believed to be the last time and bade her final farewell. As she was about to leave, the impossible happened: Superman came back to life.
Superman was spotted hovering over the monument by multiple witnesses including Lois. He then dropped down to inspect the remnants of the statue, seemingly confused and not yet having full grasp of his memories.[5]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The Superman Statue is similar to the golden Superman statue from the Post-Crisis continuity in DC Comics that was erected to honor Superman following his death at the hands of Doomsday.
Behind the Scenes[]
- The commemoration at the statue, "If you seek his monument, look around you," is from the epitaph on Christopher Wren's tomb in St. Paul's Cathedral (Latin: "Si monumentum requiris circumspice").
- Early designs of the Superman statue for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice depicted the Kryptonian flying upwards, with a waterfall behind him resembling his cape. While the final film has Wallace Keefe spray-painting the message "False God" on the statue's chest, the concept art for the statue suggests that he or someone else would have spray-painted "Nazi God" instead.