History Recap / JusticeLeagueUnlimitedS2E7Clash

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Superman vs Captain Marvel. Despite Captain Marvel's reputation for being one of the very few beings who could honestly defeat Superman in the comics, their fight is thoroughly in Superman's favor the entire time. Captain Marvel may have the strength and durability to put up a good fight (the destruction to Lexor City can testify to that), but Superman is a veteran hero who has years of experience fighting gods and monsters under his belt that allows him to trounce Captain Marvel.

* WideEyedIdealist: Captain Marvel firmly believes that someone like Luthor can turn good. Superman, who has come to blows with the businessman/supervillain throughout the DCAU, believes it's not so simple.

* TheResenter: It's implied that part of the reason Superman gets irritated by Captain Marvel is that he's become in Batman's words more of a boy scout than Superman and is easily loved by people, both in Metropolis and within the League (with Batman of all people remarking that Captain Marvel is "sunny") the way he used to be. Superman, still burdened with the memories of Darkseid brainwashing him, and Cadmus' research, takes it out on the NaiveNewcomer. However, after realizing Captain Marvel is really a child, Superman lightens up towards him and at the end tries to apologize for his hostility, only to be [[RejectedApology rebuffed as the former announced his resignation]], while the latter has a HeelRealization.

* WouldHurtAChild: Until the end of the episode, Superman (who in general WouldntHurtAChild) was being absolutely oblivious that he was emotionally and then physically bullying a child beneath the Captain Marvel exterior until learning his secret identity, which horrifies Superman that he was being abusive towards a kid throughout the episode and his attempts to make up for it were rebuffed by Captain Marvel at the end.

* RightForTheWrongReasons: Superman is absolutely right about Lex, as Batman affirms at the end, but his reasons for that (paranoia, suspicion) are wrong, and the result is he alienates Captain Marvel and ruins his reputation and [[NiceJobBreakingItHero plays into the villains schemes]]. At the end, Batman sympathetically laments:

* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Luthor gains public sympathy following Luxor City's destruction no thanks to Superman. All of which is part of his plans.

* TheResenter: It's implied that part of the reason Superman gets irritated by Captain Marvel is that he's become in Batman's words more of a boy scout than Superman and is easily loved by people, both in Metropolis and within the League (with Batman of all people remarking that Captain Marvel is "sunny") the way he used to be. Superman, still burdened with the memories of Darkseid brainwashing him, and Cadmus' research, takes it out on the NaiveNewcomer. However, after realizing Captain Marvel is really a child, Superman lightens up towards him and at the end tried to apologize for his hostility, only to be [[RejectedApology rebuffed as the former announced his resignation]], while the latter has a HeelRealization.

* TheBadGuyWins: Lex's initial plan is to goad Superman into destroying the power generator, and then prove it is exactly what he said it was, costing Superman and the Justice League the public's trust. Over the course of the episode, Superman not only destroys the generator, but gets into a fight with the idealistic Captain Marvel, completely destroying Lexor City in front of the entire press. Lex rubs salt in the wound after all of this by refusing the League's offer to pay for the damages, stating they've "done enough" and he'll rebuild Lexor City out of his own pocket. Lex not only wins, but wins bigger than he expected to.

* KungShui: The brawl between Superman and Captain Marvel ends up demolishing Lexor City.

* CasualDangerDialog: Superman and Batman are fighting a group of anonymous masked criminals while casually talking about Captain Marvel. About halfway through the scene, one of the heroes suddenly realizes something:

* JerkassBall: It’s clear that Lex’s campaign, coupled with Cadmus specifically targeting him and his cousin has pushed Superman into a dark place to the point of lashing out at Captain Marvel and even sniping at Batman for not immediately assuming the STAR Labs heist is Luthor’s doing.

* JerkassRealization: Superman admits at the end of the episode that Captain Marvel’s WhatTheHellHero is dead on. Batman softens it a bit by telling Clark they (meaning Luthor and Cadmus) set him up.

** The fight is also a nod to Mad’s “Superduperman!” where parodies of Superman and Captain Marvel fight each other and cause massive property damage.

* WouldHurtAChild: Until the end of the episode, Superman (who in general WouldntHurtAChild) was being absolutely oblivious that he was emotionally and then physically bullying a child beneath the Captain Marvel exterior until learning his secret identity, which horrifies Superman that he was being abusive towards a kid throughout the episode and his attempts to make up for it were rebuffed by Captain Marvel at the end.

* HeelRealization: Superman admits at the end of the episode that Captain Marvel’s WhatTheHellHero is dead on. Batman softens it a bit by telling Clark they (meaning Luthor and Cadmus) set him up.

* CallBack: Superman comments to Marvel that "we don't sell deodorants on television" when speaking about the League's role as symbols of justice. At this remark, the Flash looks away with some embarrassment; the speedster himself once learned a very similar lesson in "Eclipsed".

* TheResenter: It's implied that part of the reason Superman gets irritated by Captain Marvel is that he's become in Batman's words more of a boy scout than Superman and is easily loved by people, both in Metropolis and within the League (with Batman of all people remarking that Captain Marvel is "sunny") the way he used to be. Superman, still burdened with the memories of Darkseid brainwashing him, and Cadmus' research, takes it out on the NaiveNewcomer. However, after realizing Captain Marvel is really a child, Superman lightens up towards him at the end tried to apologize for his hostility, only to be [[RejectedApology rebuffed as the former announced his resignation]], while the latter has a HeelRealization.

* UpToEleven: Manipulating Superman with a BatmanGambit is pretty standard for Lex, but Captain Marvel's unexpected opposition to Superman makes it all the better -- Superman's now not only painted as a reactionary, but as someone who [[BrokenPedestal alienated the highly moral Marvel]]. Lex only expected Superman to destroy the generator, then prove the generator was legitimate. Superman destroying Lexor City with a publicized fight against Captain Marvel in front of the entire press was more than Lex could have imagined. Lex made himself look even better by refusing reimbursement from the League, rebuilding Lexor City out of his own pocket.

* DownerEnding: The League loses one of its most powerful, popular, and promising members. Superman's PR takes a major hit. Luthor is also confirmed to be working with Cadmus.