Superman: The Animated Series: Difference between revisions

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'''''Superman: The Animated Series''''' is an animated television series than ran from 1996 to 2000. After ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]'' proved to be an enormous success, [[DCAU|Bruce Timm and Paul Dini]] turned their attention to DC's other major hero: [[Superman]]. The new series would use the same "back to basics" approach to storyline and art stylings, [[Adaptation Distillation|giving the Superman mythos the same timeless feel that they brought to the Batman mythos.]]
 
Baby Kal-El, [[Last of His Kind]], is sent away from the dying planet Krypton and lands on Earth, where thanks to the bright yellow sun he develops [[Flying Brick|famous abilities]] far greater than a normal human. He grows up in Smallville, Kansas, where he was found and raised as a human ("Clark") by Jonathan and Martha Kent, who instill within him a powerful sense of right and wrong. As an adult he defends the city of Metropolis as an honest, virtuous hero christened "Superman" by its inhabitants. [[Batman: The Animated Series|Not like that nut in Gotham City.]]
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{{tropelist}}
=== This series contains examples of: ===
* [[Abusive Parents]]: Darkseid is, quite simply, not a nice person, and his children get no special treatment.
* [[Action Girl]]:
** Lois Lane, though traditionally a [[Distressed Damsel in Distress|woman in need of rescuing]], also has basic hand-to-hand combat training and some proficiency with light firearms. She is outclassed by the supervillains of the show, but when faced with normal human opponents, or when she is pushed into a corner without Superman to save her, she does well all by herself.
** Mercy Graves does not get many opportunities to show them off, but she has an impressive array of martial skills.
* [[Acquitted Too Late]]: When Superman and Lois Lane have found the proof to exonerate a man on death-row, they find that the governor is not at home because he decided to attend the execution personally, and Lois laments that they barely had time for him to make the phone call stopping the execution. Kenny is already in the gas chamber and the switch had already been thrown. {{spoiler|[[Subverted Trope|It is a good thing Superman]] [[Big Damn Hero|was able to save him anyway]].}}
* [[Adaptational Weakling]]: Superman, compared to the comics. He's still super, but not the [[Physical God|crazy]] [[New Powers as the Plot Demands|levels]] the character often reaches in his comics. Unlike the comics, these powers would remain consistent throughout the series -- flight, [[Super Strength]], X-ray vision, and heat vision-- complete in the ''[[Batman Beyond]]'' episode when Terry has to outfly {{spoiler|a brainwashed Kal-El}}.
* [[Affably Evil]]:
** Lex Luthor, who hides his villainy beneath a thin veneer of courtesy and suave sophistication.
** Edward Lytener, who even when making declarations of absolute hatred and murderous intent is always so briskly, cheerfully polite. This continues after he becomes Luminus.
** Metallo is often friendly and grinning, but unlike most examples of the trope he is usually assuming the pleasant persona to mock and insult his foes.
* [[A God Am I]]: Darkseid has something of an ego. A [[Physical God|completely justified]] ego.
* [[The Alcatraz]]: Stryker's Island. There there were only three known escapes from the island, the first involved a missile strike, the second involved an attack by [[Psycho Electro|Livewire]] and the third was part of a plan to ''blot out the sun''.
* [[All Amazons Want Hercules]]: Maxima will only mate with a man who can equal her in combat.
* [[All Girls Want Bad Boys]]: Lana Lang explains to Lex that she ''likes'' dangerous men, [[Subverted Trope|except it turns out she only likes dangerous men because she could never snag nice guy Clark Kent]].
* [[All the Myriad Ways]]: Brave New Metropolis
* [[Aluminum Christmas Trees]]: Ms. Gsptlsnz (Mxy's sexy girlfriend) is a character from mainstream DC, and [[Older Than They Think]] at that, having first appeared in ''Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #52'' (April 1964). Athough, it wasn't until 1999 when she appeared a second time, making her a rather obscure character.
* [[Ambiguously Brown]]: Lex Luthor. Fan speculation often mistook him for a light-skinned African-American, but [[Word of God]] says he is Greek and his appearance was based on [[wikipedia:Telly Savalas|Telly Savalas]], a Greek-American actor. He was given a lighter skin tone in ''[[Justice League]]'', probably to rectify confusion like this. Clark Kent/Superman had the same skin tone, which the creators refer to as a "reddish" tone in DVD audio commentary, but no fan ever confuses his intended color.
* [[Amazon Admirer]]: In the crossover with ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]'', this is why Bruce Wayne falls for Lois Lane. He sees that she's not afraid to speak her mind or try to rescue innocents. As he tells a suspicious Clark Kent, Lois deserves someone that knows the person she is. Lois is also no pushover; as she tells a would-be assailant, "Daddy was a black belt."
* [[Ambiguously Brown]]: Lex Luthor. Fan speculation often mistook him for a light-skinned African-American, but [[Word of God]] says he is Greek and his appearance was based on [[wikipedia:Telly Savalas|Telly Savalas]], a Greek-American actor. He was given a lighter skin tone in ''[[Justice League]]'', probably to rectify confusion like this. Clark Kent/Superman had the same skin tone, which the creators refer to as a "reddish" tone in DVD audio commentary, but no fan ever confuses his intended color.
* [[Amnesiac Dissonance]]: When Metallo surfaces after being lost at sea in his premier episode he has forgotten who and what he is. He is christened "Steelman" by the pair of children who find him and is (briefly) a hero, rescuing a truck driver from a flaming wreck. However, he recovers his memory at the end of the day and resumes his vendetta against Superman.
* [[Amusing Alien]]: Mr. Mxyzptlk.
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* [[Arms Dealer]]: Luthor apparently has numerous sources of income, since he claims to employ two-thirds of Metropolis whether they know it or not, but the only one that gets any screentime is his weapons manufacturing.
* [[A-Team Firing]]: Averted throughout most of the series, except for the crossover "World's Finest," which brought Batman and the Joker to Metropolis and seemed to be trying to make up for not using the trope before. When the Joker kidnaps Lois his [[Mooks|henchmen]] shoot at Bruce Wayne and, though they initially appear to be firing at his feet in a deliberate attempt to force him to fall off the roof, by the the time he actually falls they are firing dozens of shots at him from five feet away, [[Knife Outline|outlining his entire body]], without hitting him even once. When he finally does fall off the roof he lands on a scaffold and the criminals continue to shoot at him, firing so many bulets ''they knock the scaffold off the building and actually demolish the wooden floor he is standing on'', still without hitting Bruce.
* [[Attack of the 50 -Foot Whatever]]: Titano.
* [[Aw, Look -- They Really Do Love Each Other]]: It might not have reached the point of actual "love" just yet, but Lois's teary-eyed confession to Superman about her feelings towards his alter-ego Clark Kent (whom at the time was believed to be dead) in the episode "The Late Mr. Kent" reveals that she is starting to think about him as more than just competition from a small town in Kansas.
** [[Word of God]] said they wrote Lois as being attracted to Clark [[He Is Not My Boyfriend|but in denial.]]
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* [[Best Her to Bed Her]]: Maxima.
* [[Betty and Veronica]]: Lois and Lana can slip into this when they are in the same episode.
* [[Big Bad]]: [[Darkseid]], whose schemes drive the ongoing plot-arc, as opposed to Brainiac and Luthor, whose schemes are more self-contained.
* [[Big Damn Hero]]: When an innocent man is about to be executed, Superman breaks into the gas chamber ''after the gas has been released'' and blows it outside to let it dissipate in the atmosphere.
* [[Bigger on the Inside]]: The Tower of Fate.
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* [[Boring but Practical]]: When Lois Lane needs to go out in a heavy storm she dresses in an unflattering plain yellow rain poncho, [[Lampshade Hanging|pointing out]] that even if it is not particularly attractive or special it will keep her dry.
* [[Bouncer]]: The Metropolis Yacht Club had a bouncer outside its exclusive gala who refused to allow even people who bribed him to gain entry. Of course, [[Distracted by the Sexy|Volcana got in anyway]].
{{quote| '''Bouncer:''' "Behind the rope."<br />
'''Snooty Quest:''' "But I just gave you a hundred dollars!"<br />
'''Bouncer:''' "Thank you." }}
* [[Brainwashed]]: In the [[Grand Finale]] "Legacy"
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* [[Briar Patching]]: When Superman [[Brought Down to Normal|has lost his powers after being brought to an alien habitat that simulates Krypton's environment]], he explains to his assailants that they really do not want to throw him into the other habitat that he was trying to break into. It happens to be an ''Earth'' habitat, complete with yellow-sun projector. [[Oh Crap|The villains realize their mistake pretty quickly]].
* [[Bring It]]:
{{quote| '''Superman:''' "I'm waiting."}}
* [[Broken Pedestal]]: The writers explained that they wanted Jimmy Olsen to be a member of the resistance in "Brave New World," and explicitly wanted it to be ''him'' who began throwing rocks at Superman, because they felt that nothing would better demonstrate Superman's fall from grace than losing the adoration of his biggest fan.
* [[Brought Down to Normal]]: Several episodes revolve around Superman losing his powers, either through the lack of a yellow sun or [[Powers as Programs|when they are stolen]].
* [[Brought to You by The Letter "S"]]: [[Trope Codifier|Obviously]]
* [[Bury Your Gays]]: [[Inverted]] (That is, if [[Hide Your Lesbians|you managed to notice it at all]]). Maggie Sawyer is blown out of her car during an attack by Intergang and the next shot has her badly burned and motionless beneath a crushing pile of rubble, ''without'' [[Eye Awaken|moving her eyes]] or [[Finger-Twitching Revival|her fingers]]. Dan Turpin even calls the attackers "murderers" as he screams at them, so everything seems to be indicating that she [[Killed Off for Real|is really dead]]...[[Not Quite Dead|except she is alive]], and she returns later on in this and future episodes. The intent of the trope, to hide or eliminate homosexuality in a work, is then reversed, as her subsequent recovery in the hospital features the very first appearance of a woman the credits and DVD commentary identify as Toby Raines, her partner in the comics.
* [[The Cape (trope)]]: The original, and most would say still the best.
* [[Canon Foreigner]]: Volcana, Luminus, the Preserver, Sgt. Corey Mills, General Hardcastle, Detective Kurt Bowman, Darci Mason, Angela Chen and Unity. Mala is a somewhat complex example; see her entry under [[Composite Character]].
* [[Canon Immigrant]]: Mercy Graves, Livewire.
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* [[Cover-Blowing Superpower]]: In "The Late Mr. Kent," Clark Kent is "killed" by a car bomb and Superman wonders how he is going to continue living his life, since if people see him fly away from the wreck they will know his secret.
* [[Cowboy Cop]]: Dan Turpin.
* [[Crazy Prepared]]: Creating typos that spelled Mr. Mxyzptlk's name backwards right before he re-appeared
* [[Creator Backlash]]:
** Although they all praise the performance of the voice-actors (Especially Jimmy Olsen's VA), the production team has a very low opinion of ''Superman's Pal'', an episode of the third season [[A Day in the Limelight|focusing heavily on Jimmy Olsen]].
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* [[A Day in the Limelight]]: "Superman's Pal," which focused heavily on Jimmy Olsen.
* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: Lois Lane. Clark (And Superman) often matches her snark-for-snark.
* [[Death by Adaptation]]: {{spoiler|Dan Turpin}}.
* [[Death by Secret Identity]]: {{spoiler|Detective Bowman}} is executed mere ''seconds'' after figuring out Clark's secret.
* [[Death Trap]]: Not quite once-an-episode, but explored. The episode "Target" featured several unique traps all focused on killing Lois Lane that were set up at an awards reception, her car, her office and finally in the lab of the man plotting her death.
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* [[Disney Villain Death]]: The Preserver, assuming he ''is'' dead.
* [[Distracted by the Sexy]]: Volcana gains entry to a private party, and draws the eye of on-duty photographer Jimmy Olsen, through raw sex appeal.
{{quote| '''Rejected Party Guest:''' "Hey, what's ''she'' got that I haven't got?"<br />
'''Bouncer:''' "''Everything.''" }}
* [[Distressed Damsel in Distress]]: Lois Lane is the traditional damsel, frequently being rescued by Superman, but the trope is discussed in the episode "Target." Despite a madman consistently attempting to murder her she remains unconcerned and defiant, continuing her own invesitgation against the advice of others. She points out that she remains in control of her life despite the danger she is in and, even if she needs Superman to physically save her, [[Will Not Be a Victim|she will never]] ''[[Will Not Be a Victim|let]]'' [[Will Not Be a Victim|herself become a damsel]].
* [[Does Not Know His Own Strength]]: When his powers first began to manifest, Clark Kent had a lot of trouble adjusting to his newfound strength. When engaging in a "friendly" game of basketball, he accidentally threw his opponent across the court and through a refreshment table.
* [[Does This Remind You of Anything?]]: In "Double Dose", Livewire makes it pretty clear she likes to associate her powers with her... femininity. Which adds a whole rape subtext to Parasite attempting to forcibly take them from her.
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* [[Downer Ending]]: As the series ends in ''Legacy'', Superman has finally defeated Darkseid, free of the brainwashing that forced him to lead an invasion of Earth, and he tosses Darkseid to the masses of Apokolips for judgment, freeing the planet after eons of slavery. However, instead of dethroning their oppressor the people of Apokolips raise Darkseid to their shoulders and carry him off to heal, begging for his recovery. As they leave, Darkseid speaks one final line to Superman: "[[Despair Event Horizon|I am many things Kal-El, but here, I am god]]." Unable to defeat Darkseid, even after physically crushing him, Superman returns to Earth where he has lost the trust of humanity and will be feared and hated for years to come.
* [[Drop the Hammer]]: [[Steel]] guest-stars towards the end of the series.
* [[Dystopia Justifies the Means]]: Darkseid. Apokolips is a nightmarish hellhole where he rules as a [[God Is Evil|God]], and he plans to conquer the Earth and enslave the human race purely [[For the Evulz]]. To say nothing of his ultimate goal of finding the Anti-Life Equation to eliminate [[The Evils of Free Will]], so that he may remake the universe in his own twisted image.
* [[Easily-Conquered World]]: Almarec. When Maxima leaves her maid and enemy take over by...you know, it is never revealed. They are just in charge when Maxima gets back, with no explanation for how they executed their coup.
* [[El Cid Ploy]]:
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** Metallo, who is played by [[Malcolm McDowell]], the king of this trope.
** Kanto, even though [[Human Aliens|he is not actually human]].
* [[Evil Gloating]]: Lampshaded and averted in "In Brightest Day":
{{quote| '''Kyle Rayner''': "Wait! Don't you want to talk first? You know, banter back and forth to show me your innate superiority?" <br />
'''Sinestro''': "No." }}
* [[Eviler Than Thou]]: When [[The Joker]] goes to Metropolis, [[Lex Luthor]] at first considers him beneath his notice due to his inability to destroy his "[[Batman|mere mortal in Gotham]]". Eventually, they strike up a partnership and the entire time, Lex believes that he's got the Joker's strings. After the Joker fails to kill Superman (though he came DAMN close), Lex decides to betray the Joker. [[Not So Harmless|The Joker anticipates this and turns it right back on him, taking a bomber Lex was building and nearly kills Lex and nearly levels all of the buildings he built in Metropolis (half of the city).]] He's only stopped by the timely intervention of Batman and Superman.
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* [[For Want of a Nail]]: In "Brave New World," Jimmy explains that Superman was a split-second late when Intergang put a bomb in Lois Lane's car. Because of that Lois died and Superman decided to [[Knight Templar|take a more proactive role in running the city]].
* [[Free-Range Children]]: "Action Figures" features two children on a volcanic island, which is suffering from frequent earthquakes, running around with no more supervision than the admonition to return to the camp ''if the volcano erupts''.
* [[Freeze-Frame Bonus]]: In the episode ''Mxyzpixilated'', Jimmy hands Clark a comic strip page featuring the titular Mr. Mxyzptlk. There are other comics on the page, Dini The Meany (parodying [[Calvin and Hobbes]] and [[Dennis the Menace]]), Gleen (parodying [[Peanuts]]), Dan Danger (parodying [[Dick Tracy]]) and Zub Street (Parodying ''Momma''). The Mxyzptlk strip itself is by Siegel and Shuster, [[Mythology Gag|the creators of Superman]]. [httphttps://s852web.archive.org/web/20200218020843/https://photobucket.com/albums/ab85user/dariaRTthread/media/Pan02.jpg.html Check out the screengrab!]
* [[Frickin' Laser Beams]]: Most humans use traditional firearms, but as the series progresses energy weapons are gradually introduced being used by LexCorp and the Special Crimes Unit.
* [[From a Single Cell]]: Brainiac
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* [[Genre Savvy]]: The Joker, bizarrely enough. When he guest stars and tosses Bruce Wayne off a Metropolis roof he instructs his men to go make sure that Bruce is really dead, since in this town it is far too likely that somebody could actually catch him in mid-air. When it turns out Bruce is alive (He landed on a scaffold) his men decide to stop trying to knock him off the building [[Why Don't You Just Shoot Him?|and instead just try to shoot him]] ([[A-Team Firing|not that that helps]]).
* [[Getting Crap Past the Radar]]
{{quote| '''Lois''': (While looking at a photo of Superman) Nice 's'.<br />
'''Clark''': Excuse me?<br />
'''Lois''': Right here. (Points at the "S" symbol on Superman's chest) }}
** In the episode "Double Dose" with Parasite and Livewire there are a lot of sex references, especially rape innuendos as Parasite continually tries to, uh, feed off of her.
** This exchange in "My Girl":
{{quote| '''Reporter''' (to Lana Lang about a present from Lex Luthor): "Miss Lang! Are the jewels real?"<br />
'''Lana''': "Everything's real, boys."<br />
'''Reporters''': <collective ooohs> }}
** In "The Main Man," the bar Lobo is introduced in is called 'The Steaming Load.'
** In "The Way of All Flesh," Metallo tells Lois about how he has been thinking about her a lot, [[A Date with Rosie Palms|especially in prison]].
* [[The Glasses Come Off]]
* [[A God Am I]]: Darkseid has something of an ego. A [[Physical God|completely justified]] ego.
* [[Gone Horribly Wrong]]: The origin of maybe a quarter of Superman's enemies.
* [[Gosh Dang It to Heck]]: "Frag!"
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* [[Hometown Nickname]]: Lois calls Clark "Smallville".
* [[How Do I Shot Web?]]: Parasite figures out his ability to drain energy rather quickly, but was confused when he began to lose what he had gained after a few hours. It took him a while to recognize the time limit and need to re-drain people.
* ~[[Hulk's Cooldown Hug Corollary~]]: The episode with Lois' pet chimp, [[Attack of the 50 -Foot Whatever|which had become gigantic]].
* [[Human Aliens]]: Kryptonians, of course, as well as the [[New Gods]] (Apart from the Parademons and a few of the ruling class).
* [[Humongous Mecha]]: Superman's first battle is against the Lexo-Suit 5000, a combat machine which, at this point, is regarded as the most powerful weapon on the planet.
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** The [[Lobo|Main Man's]] word is his bond.
** When Mr. Mxyzptlk is put on trial by his superiors, they list numerous charges against him, but cap it off with the most heinous of all his actions: Going back on his word.
* [[Ignored Expert]]: Jor-El, the former [[Trope Namer]].
* [[Ignore the Fanservice]]: Mr. Mxyzptlk's wife blatantly attempts to seduce him, magically changing into a dozen revealing outfits, but he does not even look up from the killer robot he is building. Eventually, she smashes a plate on his head and walks away.
* [[Inadvertent Entrance Cue]]: This exchange in "My Girl:"
{{quote| '''Clark Kent:''' [[Just Friends|I know you'll find that special someone someday.]]<br />
'''Lana Lang:''' So will you. [[I Just Want My Beloved to Be Happy|You deserve it.]] Someone quiet, understanding, patient...<br />
'''Lois Lane:''' (yelling impatiently from across the room): Hey Smallville, get your tail in here! Perry's got an assignment for us! }}
* [[I Need to Go Iron My Dog]]: When Clark and Lois notice a breakout from Stryker's Island, Clark runs off to turn into Superman by telling Lois that he will find a phone to call this in. [[Reality Ensues|Lois pulls her cell-phone from her purse]], but Clark is already gone.
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* [[I Never Said It Was Poison]]: In "Target", Lois finds out it was her acquaintance Edward Lytener who is trying to kill her when he says he watched Lois's award on the TV while in his workshop. But he does not ''have'' a TV on his workshop.
* [[In-Series Nickname]]: In "Identity Crisis":
{{quote| '''Clone!Superman:''' What... am... I?<br />
'''Mercy Graves:''' Bizarro is what you am? }}
* [[In Spite of a Nail]]: In the [[Alternate Universe]] of "Brave New Metropolis" the city and people in it have all been transformed since Lois Lane died, except for Lex Luthor. When Lois is transported there from the primary universe, she explains that he is the one person who is ''exactly'' the same.
* [[Intrepid Reporter]]: Lois Lane, whose introduction revolves around her discovery of a wide-spread gun smuggling ring, and Clark Kent himself. In fact, it kind of bothers Lois that he is [[Always Someone Better|the only person who can out scoop her]].
* [[Invincible Hero]]: Averted. The writers were generally quite good about coming up with new ways to challenge him, ranging from kryptonite, to red sun rays, to messing with his head and/or senses, attacking him with things his powers don't cover, to villains who were simply [[Physical God|more powerful than him]].
* [[Invoked Trope]]: Ra's al Ghul wants to arrange a meeting with Superman and, since he does not have the personal relationship with him as he does with Batman, [[Distressed Damsel in Distress|he kidnaps "Lois" and leaves her in mortal peril]], since he knows Superman always shows up to save her.
* [[I Own This Town]]: Luthor states it outright in the pilot.
* [[Just a Flesh Wound]]: Subverted. Dan "Terrible" Turpin is shot in the knee while trying to storm Garver's base in "Two's a Crowd," but he explains to Captain Swayer that it is "just a singe." However, he then limps away, assisted by another officer, and is absent from the rest of the episode.
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* [[Kryptonite-Proof Suit]]: Superman wears a lead-lined suit to protect himself from actual Kryptonite, and also has an insulated plastic suit that protects him from both Livewire and Parasite ([[Fridge Logic|Although they never get around to explaining how he can breath through the plastic]]).
* [[The Lancer]]: Inspector Dan "Terrible" Turpin of the Special Crimes Unit serves as the lancer to Capain Maggie Sawyer, Superman's [[The Commissioner Gordon|contact on the police force]], and occasionally to Superman himself.
* [[Last of His Kind]]: It's revealed that Lobo is one of these, and seems at first that this would be a point that reveals why Lobo's as psychotic as he is...until he nostalgically reflects on how he destroyed his entire planet for a school science project.
{{quote| Lobo: "Gave myself an 'A'."}}
* [[Left Hanging]]: The episode "The Prometheon." It ends with Superman and Dr. Hamilton subduing the eponymous creature, a heat-absorbing android the size of a skyscraper, by freezing the entire Metropolis Reservoir. And that is it. Fade to black. What do they do with it? They do not say. How do they keep it from waking back up when the water melts? They do not say. And how do they deal with the fact that, until they do figure out a solution, they have frozen ''the entire Metropolis water supply''? Again, they do not say.
* [[Les Collaborateurs]]: Bruno Mannheim.
* [[Lesser of Two Evils]]: During the events of "The Main Man," both Superman and the psychotic bounty hunter Lobo are imprisoned, on account of both being the [[Last of His Kind]]. Superman breaks out of his cell, and Lobo pleads for Superman to release him, too. Superman initially refuses, thinking that his imprisonment is a fitting punishment. Lobo, understandably enraged, vows that..
{{quote| "It might take me a week, it might take me ''ten years'', but I'm gonna bust out, and [[Getting Crap Past the Radar|kick that big red 'S' of yours all over the galaxy,]] right after I'm done nukin' the Earth into guacamole! And that's *coughs* a promise!" }}
** In the short time that Lobo was on Earth, he ''built a small nuke'' when simple wanton destruction wasn't summoning Superman quickly enough. And, both from Lobo's canon and his status as a famed bounty hunter, he's a man of his word. It also helps that he's the [[Last of His Kind]] because he created a doomsday device that wiped out his entire planet...for a highschool science project. Needless to say, Superman thinks that allowing the [[Chaotic Neutral]] Lobo roam the galaxy is a preferable alternative to the prospect of a fully [[Chaotic Evil]] Lobo gunning for Earth's destruction, and lets him go after making him swear to leave the Earth and its people in peace.
** This even gets carried over into the [[Justice League]] animated series: after Superman is apparently killed, Lobo shows up at the League watchtower, and the heroes initially believe him there to wreak vengeance for Superman having defeated him. Turns out he thought Superman's departure [[Token Evil Teammate|left a job opening]] for a [[Flying Brick]].
* [[Lighthearted Rematch]]: At the end of "Speed Demons," Superman and the [[Flash]] recognize that they never did determine who was the Fastest Man Alive and close the episode starting a private race. The winner is not revealed, but signs in the Flash Museum in the sequel series ''[[Justice League Unlimited]]'' signal that the Flash was the victor.
* [[Lightning Can Do Anything]]: Including turn people ''into'' lightning.
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** In ''Last Son of Krypton, Part 3'' Lois tells Bibbo to have Clark call "Commissioner Henderson" if she is not heard from soon. Inspector William Henderson was a character originally introduced in [[The Adventures of Superman (radio)|the 1940's radio series]] as [[The Commissioner Gordon|Superman's contact on the police force]]; he was later adapted into the television series and, eventually, the comics. His role was eventually supplanted by Daniel Turpin and Maggie Sawyer, two characters who would become important recurring characters within this series, and he is currently Metropolis's Police Commissioner. He is given a small role in ''Feeding Time'' and appears in the background in ''Apokolips...Now!''
** In "New Kids in Town", Brainiac has one to ''[[Superman (film)|Superman II]]''
{{quote| "At last, the son of Jor-El kneels before me."}}
** In "Target," when Lois Lane is trapped in the [[Death Trap|elevator]] Superman rescues her and says that "I believe this is your floor," the same line he spoke to Lois when rescuing her from an elevator in ''[[Superman II]]''.
** The comet that Darkseid will use to destroy the Earth in "Little Girl Lost" is [[Fleischer Studios|Fleischer's Comet]].
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** At Mr. Mxyzptlk's trial, his wife appears to offer up evidence that his obsession with Superman means he is not responsible for his actions. One of the pieces of evidence she puts forth is a copy of ''[[Action Comics]]''.
** During Maxima's tenure with the [[Justice League of America]], it was revealed that her heavy-handed and reckless methods of ruling Almarec caused a lot of resentment among her subjects, to the point that when the elders banished her there was a great deal of support for said banishment. In this series, as soon as she leaves the planet to court Superman her handmaiden organizes a coup to save her people from her rule.
** The episode "Monkey Fun" was apparently a remake/homage to a similar episode of the 60s Superman cartoon.
* [[Naughty Tentacles]]: That one scene with Supergirl in "Unity" comes awfully damned close...
* [[A Nazi by Any Other Name]]: The planet occupied by Mala and Jax-ur has a few general similarities, including references to an economic depression and internecine warfare that was stopped by the new regime which taught discipline and efficiency, but the parallels become hard to miss when they use the ''Hitlergruß'' (Nazi Salute).
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* [[Noir Episode]]: "The Late Mr. Kent".
* [[Nosy Neighbor]]: A 50-year-old wife is watching Superman and Maxima fight at a construction site. Her husband, newspaper blocking his view, tells her to stop spying on the neighbors.
{{quote| '''Wife''': Now they're kissing!<br />
'''Husband''': Don't get any ideas! }}
* [[Not Me This Time]]:
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** When Metallo [[Amnesiac Dissonance|lost his memory]], he saved a couple of children from a landslide and later rescued a truck driver from a crash.
* [[Phantom Zone]]: The original zone appears numerous time throughout the series. Jor-El originally planned to use the zone to save all life on Krypton, as they would place the population of the planet into the zone and, using the ship he had built, fly to a new home and retrieve the people. Though the Kryptonian government refused this plan, Jor-El's ship still had a Phantom Zone projector which Superman would use on Earth to parole Kryptonian criminals who had served their sentence, and also to help human research progress in the area of inter-dimensional travel and observation.
* [[Physical God]]: Darkseid. Superman himself is an arguable example, though he never [[A God Am I|calls himself a god or accepts worship]].
* [[Planet Looters]]: Brainiac travels from planet to planet, collects its knowledge, and then destroys it to move on to the next.
* [[Playing with Fire]]: Volcana
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* [[Ruritania]]: Kaznia (which plays a larger role in ''[[Justice League]]'').
* [[Sarcastic Confession]]: "The Main Man" (watch it [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0QVvbhMm24&playnext=1&videos=4-hvtNwEmKA here]):
{{quote| '''Lois Lane:''' I'm confused, Kent. See, I've lived in Metropolis most of my life, and I can't figure out how some yokel from Smallville is suddenly getting every hot story in town.<br />
'''Clark Kent:''' Well Lois, the truth is I'm actually [[Clark Kenting|Superman in disguise]], and I only pretend to be a journalist in order to hear about disasters as they happen and then squeeze you out of the by-line.<br />
'''Lois Lane:''' ...you're a sick man, Kent.<br />
'''Clark Kent:''' You asked. }}
* [[Second-Person Attack]]: Done frequently.
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* [[Swiss Cheese Security]]: Lampshaded by Lois after someone broke into her apartment for the second time in the same episode. "I need to get better locks."
* [[The Syndicate]]: Intergang.
* [[Tailor-Made Prison]]: Livewire's cell and the surrounding hallways.
* [[Take That]]: "[[Spider-Man|Spider powers?]] Ew."
* [[Taking the Bullet]]: Superman dives in front of Bizarro to take a sonic cannon shot that probably would have killed the already-weakened Bizarro. When Bizarro asks why, especially when they had been fighting only moments ago, Superman explains that it is because he is Bizarro's friend, and he knows Mr. Mxyzptlk tricked him.
* [[Tank Goodness]]: Intergang commits its first on-screen crime by robbing a bank ''with a tank''.
* [[Tear Jerker]]: The ending to "Apokolips...Now!" has Superman crying within the episode.
* [[Technology Marches On]]: Metropolis is a bright shining city of the future, yet Lois has a ''car phone'' (explicitly referred to by name), a technology that was on its way out in 1996 (when cell phones were already pocket sized).
* [[Teleporters and Transporters]]:
** Boom Tubes, the preferred method of transportation for the [[New Gods]], appear throughout the series used by Apokolips, New Genesis and Superman himself.
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* [[There Is Another]]: Supergirl, surviving as a [[Human Popsicle]]
* [[There Was a Door]]: When Bizarro takes Lois Lane out to dinner, he enters the restaurant by smashing through the wall next to the door. When they leave, Lois asks him to use the door this time and, happy to oblige, he smashes ''through'' the door.
* [[Thou Shalt Not Kill]]: Superman, [[The Cape (trope)|of course]], is a prime follower of this philosophy.
* [[Thrown From the Zeppelin]]: Lex is not afraid to do this, or to make sure that there is nothing left of someone for the police to find.
* [[Time Travel]]: In the third season, Brainiac [[Legion of Super-Heroes|from the thirty-first century]] goes back in time to Smallville to kill Clark Kent before he can become Superman. Three Legionaires travel back as well [[Terminator Twosome|to make sure he does not succeed]].
* [[Too Kinky to Torture]]:
{{quote| '''Lobo:''' "If they drag us back into those cages, they'll probably strap our butts to the floor with razor wire. Not that it ain't a pleasurable way to perk up an otherwise ho-hum evening, but I do have me that prisoner to deliver."}}
* [[Turn in Your Badge]]: Inverted. Maggie Sawyer remarks that if she had a nickel for every time Dan Turpin turned in his badge of his own volition, she would be richer than Luthor.
* [[Ugly Guy, Hot Wife]]: Mr. Mxyzptlk, a man approximately three feet tall with half his height occupied by his head, is married to the [[Statuesque Stunner|tall]], [[She's Got Legs|leggy]] Gsptlsnz.
* [[Undying Loyalty]]: The end of the series has probably the darkest version of this trope imaginable. Darkseid is about as evil as you can get and treats his slaves horribly. Yet even after Superman beats him and throws him down to the slaves' mercy, they pick him up to treat him. Why?
{{quote| Darkseid: "I am many things Kal-El, but here I am god."}}
* [[Unusual Euphemism]]: Shoot my monkey.
* [[Up, Up, and Away]]: Superman's classic pose, and a line Chameleon boy [[I Always Wanted to Say That|always wanted to say]].
* [[Villainesses Want Heroes]]: Maxima to Superman. And then she met [[All Girls Want Bad Boys|Lobo]].
* [[Villainous Breakdown]]: When Superman manages to stop his machine and return the sunlight to its normal hue, the usually [[Affably Evil]] Luminus goes into a full-on rage and tries to beat Supes to death with his bare hands before Superman's powers return. He is not fast enough.
* [[Villain Team-Up]]: Several examples.
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* [[We Can Rule Together]]: Luthor, Brainiac and Darkseid all give this speech to Superman in separate episodes.
* [[Weirdness Magnet]]: Superman brings out all the aliens, demons, and mad scientists. Lois Lane seems to attract more than her share of freaks and killers, too, as lampshaded by Dan Turpin:
{{quote| '''Lois Lane:''' Bizarro?<br />
'''Dan Turpin:''' You know this guy? Figures. All the whackos come to you. }}
* [["Well Done, Son" Guy]]: Kalibak's original reason for attacking Supes was that he wanted to please Darkseid.
{{quote| '''Darkseid''': I can't believe he's blood. (After watching his son get one-shotted by a furious Superman)}}
* [[Western Terrorists]]: John Corben and crew, Luthor's buyers in "My Girl", and the hijackers in "World's Finest, Part 1".
* [[What Have I Become?]]: John Corben finally realizes what a monster he has become [[Sense Loss Sadness|after he discovers he can not even feel a kiss]].
* [[What Measure Is a Non-Human?]]: Superman's [[Thou Shalt Not Kill]] rule tends to become more of a guideline when dealing with [[Starfish Aliens]] and [[AIA.I. Is a Crapshoot|artificial intelligences]].
* [[What Measure Is a Non Unique]]
* [[When All You Have Is a Hammer]]: Averted, despite public perception of Superman as a character who simply uses his [[New Powers as the Plot Demands|ever-evolving powers to solve his current problems]]. Nowhere is this more apparent than in ''Mxyzpixilated'' where Superman not only continually tricks Mr. Mxyzptlk back to his own dimension, but successfully gambits him into staying there permanently. What is more, he convinces him that he was simply toying with the annoying imp the entire time (and very well might have been).
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** "Your usefulness to me has ended." -- Brainiac to his brainwashed victim, {{spoiler|[[Batman]]}}, in "Knight Time."
** Darkseid does not say the actual line, but when Bruno Mannheim has served his purpose in "Apokolips...Now!" he is left to die on an island about to be destroyed by a nuclear explosion.
{{quote| '''Mannheim''': You said you'd make me a king!<br />
'''Darkseid''': And so you are. King of FOOLS! * teleports* }}
*** The DVD commentary suggests "king of Hell" as an alternative.
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