# Superman Funeral Scene: who's in the box? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 22, 2016, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596 "2016-08-22T01:56:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596/1 "2016-08-22T01:56:25Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkA-aS2hfqE) “Superman” is buried in Arlington Cemetery, apparently. Clark Kent was buried in the family plot in Smallville. Who/What was in Superman’s casket? ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596/2 "2016-08-22T02:10:39Z")
A bunch of weights distributed to make the casket feel like it had the body of an adult man inside. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596/3 "2016-08-22T02:55:24Z")
You don’t bury Superman without all the governments and scientists of the world wanting the most thorough autopsy in history. If the government said, “well no body but we assume he’s dead” who on Earth would believe that? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596/4 "2016-08-22T10:52:24Z")
It was his cat. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596/5 "2016-08-22T12:46:00Z")
Gwyneth Paltrow’s severed head. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596/6 "2016-08-22T12:48:09Z")
Just following that scene Broody Wayne, at the funeral in Kansas, says something to Wonder Woman about “…circus back east - burying an empty box.” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596/7 "2016-08-22T13:48:40Z")
I saw that movie (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) last week and remember the line about the empty coffin. And I’m kind of glad I didn’t waste the money seeing that movie in the theaters. It was not good and dragged on far too much. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596/8 "2016-08-22T13:50:43Z")
BTW, did the authorities know about the dual identity? Otherwise, why didn’t they question the absence of the corpse? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596/9 "2016-08-22T14:11:09Z")
Why would they bury Superman? He can’t die. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596/10 "2016-08-22T14:27:49Z")
Bruce/Batman likely secretly swapped out the body—substituting one of the dead Robins. There’s usually a couple of 'em just laying around. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596/11 "2016-08-22T14:39:33Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Why would they bury Superman? He can’t die. Well, it’s _unlikely,_ since his powers come from sunshine, and so he rejuvenates like crazy as long as nobody buries him in a dark coffin, is the thing. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596/12 "2016-08-22T15:08:39Z")
If Superman himself isn’t in the coffin, then why is dirt levitating off it? ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596/13 "2016-08-22T15:11:52Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Just following that scene Broody Wayne, at the funeral in Kansas, says something to Wonder Woman about “…circus back east - burying an empty box.” There were two funerals, right? One big public pompous one for Superman, and a small quiet family-and–future-JL only one for Clark Kent. The Superman one is empty, and the Kent one has the body? I think that makes sense? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596/14 "2016-08-22T15:12:07Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > If Superman himself isn’t in the coffin, then why is dirt levitating off it? He was in _that_ coffin (in Kansas). The one buried in Arlington was the empty one. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596/15 "2016-08-22T15:12:10Z")
Superman isn’t in the coffin in Arlington, but he/Clark _is_ in the coffin at the Kent family plot. ---
**Author:** ![NeonMadman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@NeonMadman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NeonMadman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596/16 "2016-08-22T20:12:31Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > If Superman himself isn’t in the coffin, then why is dirt levitating off it? My question would be, if Superman \*\*\*is \*\*\*in the casket, why does that make dirt levitate off it? ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596/17 "2016-08-22T20:54:30Z")
Comics did it better. Superman was buried at a memorial in Metropolis (at least until the Eradicator stole the body and took it to the Fortress), Clark was just missing and presumed dead (except by those who knew his identity like his parents and Lois) like thousands of other civilians after the Doomsday battle. Movie Clark will have a hell of a time resuming his life after he comes back. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596/18 "2016-08-22T21:05:06Z")
Pretty sure he ain’t dead. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596/19 "2016-08-22T21:28:36Z")
> [@NeonMadman](#): > > My question would be, if Superman \*\*\*is \*\*\*in the casket, why does that make dirt levitate off it? It’s basically the same effect we saw when he first flew, in MAN OF STEEL: stuff swirls around right before he launches himself into the sky, as if – well, you asked why _dirt_ would levitate? Reckon he makes _himself_ levitate: him, and an aura around him. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596/20 "2016-08-23T00:49:55Z")
> [@NeonMadman](#): > > My question would be, if Superman \*\*\*is \*\*\*in the casket, why does that make dirt levitate off it? We’ll find out in the Justice League movie. > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > BTW, did the authorities know about the dual identity? Otherwise, why didn’t they question the absence of the corpse? Yes, the authorities know about the dual identity. A lot more people know about it than is usually the case. As to why how Martha got his body back my theory is now that Superman is a global hero the politicians are scared shitless at the prospect of Martha going public & crying to the media about how the government won’t let her bury her son. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-funeral-scene-whos-in-the-box/763596.md?page=2)