Superman: The Death of Clark Kent — David Michelinie

When Kenny Braverman, a childhood friend and bitter rival of Clark Kent, learns the true identity of Superman, the former Smallville resident devises a plan of revenge and retribution. As Conduit, a kryptonite-radiating super-villain, Kenny sends an assortment of heavily-armed assassins and killer robots after the people who matter most in Clark's life. Now as Superman fights devastating battle after devastating battle, the Man of Steel comes to a heartbreaking realization: in order for his friends and family to live, his secret identity must die.

Collecting: Adventures of Superman #523-525, Action Comics #709-711, Superman #99-102, and Superman: The Man of Steel #43-46 -- written by Dan Jurgens, Louise Simonson, Karl Kesel, and David Micheline; and illustrated by Stuart Immonen & Jose Marzan Jr, Dan Jurgens & Brett Breeding, Jon Bogdanove & Dennis Janke, Jackson Guice & Denis Rodier, and Gil Kane & Josef Rubinstein -- all culminating in the dramatic return of Lex Luthor in the first issue of Superman: The Man of Tomorrow, written by Roger Stern and illustrated by Tom Grummett & Brett Breeding.