Line #35 ComicBook/Superwoman


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/superwoman.jpg]]
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3	''Superwoman'' is a 2016 comic book, published by Creator/DCComics as part of their [[ComicBook/DCRebirth Rebirth]] initiative. It was initially written by Creator/PhilJimenez & drawn by Matt Santorelli and Emanuela Lupacchino, while K. Perkins took over as writer midway through its run.
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5	Set in the aftermath of ''ComicBook/TheFinalDaysOfSuperman'', ComicBook/LoisLane [[note]](the ''ComicBook/New52'' one, not the ''ComicBook/PostCrisis'' one appearing in Rebirth's ''Superman'' and ''ComicBook/ActionComics''. [[/note]] and ComicBook/LanaLang have been granted Franchise/{{Superman}}'s powers by a blast of energy the New 52 Superman released when he died -- Lois essentially becomes a human Kryptonian, while Lana can manipulate electricity.
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7	As awesome as that sounds, these new powers come with an inconvenient caveat: they're killing both of them. While Superman often got headaches because of his abilities, Lois and Lana suffer from {{deadly nosebleed}}s.
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9	Deciding two Superwomen are better than one, Lois and Lana take on their first nemesis as superheroes: ComicBook/LexLuthor, the "[[AntiHeroSubstitute new]]" Superman of Metropolis. Realizing Lex isn't the root of their problem, the Superwomen investigate further -- and Lois is then killed right before Lana's eyes by an unknown assailant.
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11	[[WhamEpisode And all of that is only in the first issue]]!
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13	This series is notable for being the first ongoing title at DC to actually be called ''Superwoman'', despite that name's history within the Franchise/DCUniverse.
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15	Not to be confused with any of the characters who've operated under the ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} or [[Characters/SupermanSupportingCast Superwoman]] name, the ''ComicBook/WhoIsSuperwoman'' storyline, nor the Website/{{Youtube}}r known as WebVideo/IISuperwomanII.
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18	!! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... ''Superwoman'' tropes!
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20	* ActionGirl: Lois and Lana do pretty well in their first shared outing as superheroes.
21	* AdaptationalSexuality:
22	** ComicBook/{{Steel}}'s niece Natasha Irons makes her post-''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}}'' debut here, and mentions that she used to date a female engineer back in college. Whether she's a lesbian or bisexual isn't stated, but she definitely isn't straight.
23	** Dr. 13's daughter Traci 13 also makes her post-''Flashpoint'' debut here as Natasha's girlfriend, having been ComicBook/BlueBeetle Jaime Reyes' girlfriend pre-''Flashpoint''.
24	* AlternateCompanyEquivalent: Comparisons have been drawn between this series and Creator/{{Marvel}}'s ''ComicBook/{{Thor\|2014}}'', as they're both about ordinary human women who gain the superpowers of their former (male) lovers at the risk of their own health. Lana especially qualifies for this, since her powers are (not unlike Thor's) electricity-based.
25	* BigBad: [[spoiler:Lena Luthor, who captures Lex and locks him away with the intention of destroying everything he's ever made.]]
26	* BroughtDownToNormal: Thanks to the events of ''ComicBook/SupermanReborn'', Lana is depowered.
27	* CallBack: Among other things, [[spoiler:the cloning technology that created Bizarro in ''ComicBook/ForeverEvil2013'']] and the Amazo virus in ''Justice League''.
28	* ContagiousPowers: Superman passes his powers onto Lois and Lana as he dies.
29	* ContinuityNod: Issue #2 contains a reference to Maggie Sawyer's breakup with ComicBook/{{Batwoman}}.
30	-->'''Maggie:''' I know what it's like to be close to someone in your line of work and ''lose'' them, Superwoman.
31	* DeadPersonImpersonation: [[spoiler:Lana is ''not'' happy with ComicBook/PostCrisis Lois impersonating New 52 Lois over in ''Action Comics''. New 52 Lois herself is bemused by how few people notice the difference. (An in-joke about how Clark manages to pull off ClarkKenting, maybe...?)]]
32	* ADeathInTheLimelight: [[spoiler:After spending five years in the New 52 as a supporting character, Lois becomes a superhero and finally gets a spotlight with her first ongoing title ... only to die in the first issue]].
33	* DeadlyNosebleed: Lois and Lana get these as a result of being irradiated by Superman's dying move.
34	* DecoyProtagonist: [[spoiler:The marketing ahead of this title's first issue led readers to believe it would be about Lois Lane. It's pretty safe to say nobody was expecting Lois to be dead by the first issue's end]].
35	* {{Deuteragonist}}: Lana Lang. [[spoiler:Until Lois' death, then ComicBook/{{Steel}} becomes Lana's]].
36	* DiscardAndDraw: Once Natasha gives up the red energy of Superman and Lois for the ''ComicBook/SupermanReborn'' arc, she's depowered. Two issues later, wearing the Insect Queen armor designed by Natasha that she used while she had her powers [[ClothesMakeTheSuperman lets her still use them]].
37	* FirstPersonPeripheralNarrator: [[spoiler:The series is narrated from Lana's POV, hinting from the get-go that Lois isn't the character we should be most invested in]].
38	* {{Foreshadowing}}: That "Lois Lane ghost"? Explained in ''ComicBook/SupermanReborn''.
39	* GoneHorriblyRight: [[spoiler:Lex Luthor used an experiment to try to revive his sister Lena. It worked and she repaid him for it by attempting to destroy him.]]
40	* HeelFaceTurn: The series' B-plot is about Atomic Skull being a member of Maggie Sawyer's team.
41	* HeroicBSOD: [[spoiler:Lana ''really'' doesn't take Lois' death very well.]]
42	* ItsAllAboutMe: [[spoiler: Lana finds out that Lex claims he built [=LexCorp=] in honor of Lena and further claims that he's always loved her very deeply. Lana deconstructs Lex's statement by listing how he crippled her for life because he thought he knew better then Lena's doctors and could cure her paralysis, patented the discoveries Lena made and used them to build a billion dollar company while giving her absolutely no credit or money, and then kept her hidden underground so she could keep working for him. Lana caps this off by stating it's likely Lex ''does'' love his sister, but his enormous ego keeps putting him in the way of that.]]
43	* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: [[spoiler:Lana's visions of Lois. Is she starting to crack up? Is Lois a ghost or scientific equivalent? Or something else? Further muddled when one of the Bizarro Superwoman clones reveals she can see Lois too, which surprises ''Lois''. We find out in ''ComicBook/SupermanReborn'', it's the "red energy" of the New 52 Lois Lane that eventually merges with the "blue energy" of the pre-''Flashpoint'' Lois Lane.]]
44	* MostCommonSuperpower: Unsurprisingly averted, since Phil Jimenez is outspoken about empowering female characters without objectifying them. Helps that one of the series' artists, Emanuela Lupacchino, is a woman.
45	** Later comics notably make Lana far bustier then she started in. Just compare her bust in 4 and 12.
46	* MythologyGag:
47	** Lana's Superwoman powers and costume are those of the late 90s Superman Red.
48	** An Insect Queen costume appears in issue #2.
49	** Traci 13 makes her post-''Flashpoint'' debut here, calling back to her very first appearances being in the ComicBook/PostCrisis ''Superman'' titles.
50	* NeverTrustATitle: This series is called ''Superwoman''. [[spoiler:Nobody said ''Lois'' was the one they were talking about]].
51	* NoBodyLeftBehind: [[spoiler:Lois is killed and immediately turns to ash]].
52	* NotSoInvincibleAfterAll: [[spoiler:Looks like Lois' powers weren't enough to keep her alive for very long]].
53	* PowerDegeneration: Lois and Lana are being physically harmed by their new powers.
54	* PoweredArmor: How Lana, thanks to the Insect Queen suit, is able to remain Superwoman despite being a normal human.
55	* RedHerring: [[spoiler:Lois isn't the Superwoman named in the title -- it's Lana]].
56	* RedOniBlueOni: Lana is the red to Lois' blue, in both personality ''and'' appearance.
57	* RefusalOfTheCall: Lana isn't interested in being a superhero like Lois is. That changes pretty quickly.
58	* ShockAndAwe: While Lana doesn't get the classic Superman skillset, she does obtain the ability of electrical manipulation.
59	* StoryArc: Follows on from [[spoiler:''ComicBook/DarkseidWar'', with Lena Luthor having access to an Anti-Mother Box and [[CainAndAbel seeking revenge on Lex]].]] Also interlinking with plot elements of the other Super-family titles.
60	* TakeUpMySword: Lois sees her new superpowered self as an opportunity to honor the late Clark's legacy.
61	* WalkingSpoiler: Look how many of these tropes are whited out! You can't discuss it at much length without spoiling the first issue, let alone what comes after.
62	* WeaksauceWeakness: Lana's powers becoming dependent on wearing her metal exosuit also comes with a vulnerability to being immobilized by magnetism.
63	* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: Superman convinces Lana in issue #9 she can be Superwoman without powers.

Context ComicBook / Superwoman