Line #25 Heartwarming/SupermantheAnimatedSeries


1	For examples from the tie-in comics, check [[Heartwarming/TheSupermanAdventures here.]]
2
3	[[AC:[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS1E1To3TheLastSonOfKrypton Last Son of Krypton]]]]
4	* Martha Kent's first thought when she comes across an abandoned baby in a spaceship is pick him up and start caring for him. Like a mother.
5	* Jonathan, on the contrary, is skeptical given that the baby came out of a smoking rocket, but almost immediately warms up as soon as Martha observes, "Look how he's reaching out to you."
6	* In Part 2, Clark Kent, after telling his close friend Lana Lang about his problems (his powers are beginning to appear), he hears a bus accident about to happen. When he rushes in, he doesn't hesitate to save those in danger, even risking his life to save a little girl moments before the explosion. Even before he was Superman, Clark was raised with a great heart.
7	* A smaller one from the same episode, just prior to that moment: when Clark is telling Lana about all his powers and how much it's all scaring him, he tells her about his X-Ray vision and looks through the wall into the gym, where he sees an elderly teacher on a ladder hanging decorations for the school dance. Clark's next thought? 'She shouldn't be on that ladder at her age; she might get hurt'. Even in the midst of his own very understandable crisis, Clark can't help but think about other people's safety. He's just ''that'' good of a person.
8	* In most Superman stories that would come after, Clark discovering his powers might be met with angst, horror and drama, and this Clark does show that briefly as he runs off from the Kents upon learning his origins and thinking he's some sort of alien freak. Then he accidentally starts flying -- and seeing the wide world before him, briefly having fear before realizing TheWorldIsJustAwesome and ''embracing'' his powers and what he could do for others in mere minutes.
9	* After his first "public" appearance, he returns home to Smallville to confess some of his doubts about his identity, and which of [[ChildOfTwoWorlds his two heritages]] is the real one. Jonathan's response:
10	-->'''Jonathan''': No, son. It doesn't matter where you were born or what you can do, you'll always be Clark Kent. Superman just helps out now and then.
11	[[AC:[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS1E5ALittlePieceOfHome A Little Piece Of Home]]]]
12	* At the beginning of the episode when Superman grows weak and collapses unbeknown due to the kryptonite behind him in the display case at the museum, one of the thugs suggest they should help him to which the other thug quips sarcastically that "will send him chicken soup" but it's still the thought that counts.
13	[[AC:[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS1E9E10TheMainMan The Main Man]]]]
14	* Both Superman and Lois asking one, at the same time, if the other is okay. And then, sheepishly replying to the other's question, that he/she is okay. All the while, Superman has his arms around Lois, while she initially had her hand on his cheek.
15	** Superman petting the dodo bird he found in the Preserver's collection.
16	** Lobo's employer asks what happened to The Preserver's menagerie of endangered or extinct species, and Lobo says that Superman took them with him (Lobo himself said he'd either have left them to die or used them for a three-year barbecue). As the viewer sees, Superman created a habitat for them all in his fortress, allowing them to live out their days in peace.
17	--> '''Lobo''': I guess that boy's just a sucker for hard-luck cases.
18
19	[[AC:[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS1E11MyGirl My Girl]]]]
20	* A thug decides to shoot a deer for kicks. [[FriendtoAllLivingThings Superman saves it.]]
21	* After Superman saves Lana, Lex says that for the first time he is glad that Superman showed up. [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes Looks like Lex can care for someone]]
22
23	[[AC:[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS1E12ToolsOfTheTrade "Tools of the Trade"]]]]
24	* The episode has Superman publicly give Turpin thanks for saving him, and Turpin saluting as he flies off.
25
26	[[AC:[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E4SpeedDemons Speed Demons]]]]
27	* When Flash and Superman race, they still take the time to pay their toll at the booth, even though the attendant can't see anything except a sudden gust of wind.
28
29	[[AC:[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E6IdentityCrisis Identity Crisis]]]]
30	* Upon realising he's not Superman, Bizarro stays behind in a lab about to explode, holding it up so Supes and Lois can escape. The last thing he hears before the building goes up is confirmation of what he wanted to be:
31	-->'''Lois''': You ''are'' a hero.
32	* There is also this exchange:
33	-->'''Lois''': You think he survived?
34	-->'''Superman''': I hope so, he had a good heart.
35	-->'''Lois''': Of course, he came from good stock.
36
37	[[AC:[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E8Mxyzpixilated Mxyzpixilated]]]]
38	* Jimmy Olsen as a turtle. Mxy hopped on his shell.
39
40	[[AC:[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E11SolarPower Solar Power]]]]
41	* Luminus gives a hostage ultimatum to the Man of Steel, [[IHaveYourWife informing him that he has Lois and Jimmy]] and if he wants them, he'll have to come and get them. Dr. Hamilton reminds him that he's almost completely [[BroughtDownToNormal depowered]] and warns him that Luminus is trying to trap him. [[TrapIsTheOnlyOption Superman's response]]? "And doing a good job." Vulnerable or not, the Man of Steel will ''never'' give up on someone he loves who needs his help.
42
43	[[AC:[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E16To18WorldsFinest World's Finest]]]]
44	* Lois discovers that Bruce Wayne (whom she is dating at the point) is Batman. As she tends to his wounds, she bemoans how she is sitting atop the biggest story in history, the true identity of Batman, yet there's "not a blasted thing" she can do about it. Bruce smiles at her and says "then you really do care about me".
45
46	[[AC:[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E19TheHandOfFate The Hand of Fate]]]]
47	* Superman goes to retired superhero Dr. Fate for help when an EldritchAbomination captures the ''Planet'' building and transforms all the employees. Dr. Fate refuses to help. So what does our hero do? Taking the minor bit of magic help given him by Fate's wife, Inza, he goes back to the building. Even Fate was touched by this.
48	-->'''Superman''': What made you change your mind?
49	-->'''Fate''': You.
50	-->'''Superman''': Something I said?
51	-->'''Fate''': Something you ''did.'' You went back. You didn't stand a chance and you went back. Till then I thought it was only the forces of evil that wouldn't give up. I was wrong.
52
53	[[AC:[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E20BizarrosWorld "Bizarro's World"]]]]
54	* Just look at the way Bizarro's face lights up when someone finally tells him who he is and where he comes from. True, it's an error on the part of the Fortress, falsely filling him in on Kal-El's origins, but the poor guy has been so confused for so long it's nice he finally has a sense of self.
55	* Bizarro, finding out about Krypton and in his own warped way deciding he will turn Metropolis into Krypton (blowing it up) actually immediately changes his mind and stops the rocket he had fired when Superman points out Lois will be hurt by the blast.
56	* A small moment. When Bizarro sees Superman, adorned in his lead suit carrying a chunk of Kryptonite, and cheerfully proclaims he's happy to see him Supes responds by saying "likewise." Despite the circumstances, there's no question Clark is truly glad Bizarro survived, having discussed it earlier with Lois.
57	* Once the crisis is averted, Superman finds a solution: he sends Bizarro to a small, uninhabited planet for him to protect. When Bizarro complains that there's no one on the planet for him to protect, Superman simply smiles and says "Actually, I thought of that" and brings out a vicious little alien creature that Bizarro had earlier 'adopted' and named Krypto... and as he sits there on the ground of his new home, playing with 'his dog', he says probably the simplest, but most heartwarming line he ever uttered.
58	-->'''Bizarro''': Me am happy now.
59
60	[[AC:[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E22TheLateMrKent The Late Mr. Kent]]]]
61	* Lois confesses to Superman that, despite her teasing, she really did respect and like Clark (who, as the title would indicate, is believed to be dead at this point); Creator/DanaDelany's delivery just breaks your heart.
62	* Despite how much being Clark means to Superman, he's willing to give his secret identity up to save an innocent man on death row.
63
64	[[AC:[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E23HeavyMetal Heavy Metal]]]]
65	* The final exchange.
66	-->'''Superman''': "Steel", uh? Well, Steel... You're gonna be get this a lot, so you might as well hear it from me first.
67	-->'''Steel''': What?
68	-->'''Superman''': Thanks. ''[Steel rejoices, the two shake hands]''
69
70	[[AC:[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E25E26ApokolipsNow Apokolips Now]]]]
71	* Supes' farewell to Dan Turpin: "Goodbye, old friend. In the end, the world didn't need a superman... just a brave one."
72	* Turpin's tombstone reads as follows: "Daniel Turpin: Earth's Greatest Hero". In a world of superheroes, there is no higher praise.
73	* Among those attending the funeral are Lex Luthor and Lois Lane (who's been giving Turpin so much hard time, as shown in "Tools of the Trade" and "Apocalypse... Now!: Part II").
74	* Toby Raynes staying at her (implicit) lifemate, Maggie Sawyer's side at the hospital, while Maggie was recovering from injuries. And, later on, at Turpin's funeral.
75	* And of course, the dedication to Creator/JackKirby at the end.
76	** The dedication, which simply reads: "This episode was dedicated to '''Jack Kirby. Long Live The King.'''"
77
78	[[AC:[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E27E28LittleGirlLost "Little Girl Lost"]]]]
79	* Superman upon discovering the remains of Krypton, laments that there is no sign anything could have survived, that he is indeed the last of his kind... but then he gets a distress signal from a nearby world. It too had suffered from the explosion of its sister planet, Krypton. Just as it seems like Superman was too late, that everyone on that sister planet perished too, Superman notices one sleeping chamber not destroyed by the harsh weather and climate that ruined the planet... and it's still active and working. The life form sleeping inside is still alive, and that lifeform he comes to adopt as his cousin, bringing her back to his adoptive world Earth, Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}.
80	* What makes this even more sweet is how even though Clark constantly nags at Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} in the two-parter she's introduced... the two seem to act as if akin to a Big Brother and Little Sister, because they are the last of their kind - so they found instant kinship with each other. Daaaw!
81	** Speaking of Superman's big brother instinct, there's the scene in which he joins the fight between Kara and the Female Furies. As Supergirl is down and stunned, Stompa tosses a sewer grate at her and just before it hits her, Superman [[FlashStep Flash Steps]] into the scene and catches it. Then [[BewareTheNiceOnes he glares at the Furies and Granny Goodness like someone confronting the people who were just beating up his sister and crushes the grate menacingly]], prompting them to step back scared. [[https://youtu.be/95Ep29OGB9I?t=2m44s The BGM that plays definitely sells the scene.]]
82	** When Superman and Supergirl are fighting the Female Furies and they get buried by rubble. Superman instantly gets out and then starts digging into the rubble as fast as he can, concern written on his face, utterly ignoring the Furies, which ends up getting him beaten up and taken to Apokolips. You can tell his {{big brother instinct}} got the better of him to the point of overriding his logic and common sense.
83	* Jimmy gets a moment to show why he's not only Superman's friend, but why he's so well liked in the series. When the Furies start whaling on Superman, [[HeroicBystander he actually rushes forwards in an attempt to help]], completely heedless of the danger to himself, only just being saved from being crushed by a member of Intergang who'd just undergone a HeelFaceTurn. Doubles as a moment of Awesome for Jimmy, who shows exactly ''why'' Superman considers him a close friend in ''both'' of his identities.
84
85	[[AC:[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS3E2KnightTime Knight Time]]]]
86	* The end, where Superman tells Bruce how well Tim was able to take care of things in his absence. "For someone who's supposed to be a loner, you sure know how to pick a partner."
87
88	[[AC:[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS3E7InBrightestDay In Brightest Day]]]]
89	* When Jimmy takes a picture of Kyle Rayner taking down a thief who tried to steal his camera, he proudly said it would be front page. Turns out he tried to pitch it to the ''Daily Planet'' but was even rejected for the classified. Nonetheless, Jimmy makes sure to tell Kyle he's still a hero in his books.
90	* Kyle takes a walk in the park to figure out why the Green Lantern ring (which he thinks at this point is a Crackerjack prize) can do what it does. Then he sees a little girl running after her ball, heedless of the incoming truck about to hit and/or fall on her. Kyle's first instinct is to try and save the little girl, and the ring responds. He flies into action, saving the little girl from the truck and the truck driver from the fire caused by the wreck, and putting out the fire to boot. In this short time span, Kyle proves he is indeed worthy of being a Green Lantern.
91	* Even though he has defeated Sinestro, Kyle Rayner still thinks he's unworthy of being a Franchise/GreenLantern member.
92	-->'''Guardian:''' The ring has chosen ''you'', Kyle Rayner.
93	-->'''Kyle:''' But, I'm just an artist. I doodle in the margins of notepads, I daydream about color form and monster trucks. I live half my life in a fantasy world.
94	-->'''Superman:''' You sound perfect.
95
96	[[AC:[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS3E8SupermansPal Superman's Pal]]]]
97	* One man who approaches Jimmy early on to ask him a favor mentions that Superman saved his life once. The only thing he wants Jimmy to do is to give Superman a thank-you card because he never got the opportunity.
98	* The ending of the episode. Superman gave Jimmy a watch that sends out a signal that Superman can hear, any time Jimmy might be in danger, saying that Jimmy will need it - now that the world knows that the two are close friends. What really hits the mark is that Jimmy has spent the entire episode denying that someone as important as Big Blue could possibly be his friend. When Superman tells him to find a way to "clear up this whole mess", it seems to confirm his perspective. But Superman pretty much tells Jimmy, "Yeah, you ''are'' my friend, and I'll always have your back." Usually [[MutuallyUnequalRelationship when two people find out they perceive their relationship differently]], it's a time of disillusionment and even horror. Leave it to [[AllLovingHero Superman]] to play it for heartwarming.
99	** This is especially true if you remember the beginning of the story where Jimmy describes himself as "[[IJustWantToBeSpecial just a nobody]]" to Clark Kent. The Man of Tomorrow takes the time to assure his young colleague that [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre that's not true]], both as Clark ''and'' as his alter-ego. Moments like this make you realize anew ''why'' they call this guy "Superman" -- and it's not just his powers.
100	* The way the two saved each other from Metallo, and their conversation was also very akin to a Big/Little Brother relationship almost. [[BigBrotherMentor Superman clearly has a knack for being there for teenagers in this show]].
101	* Overlaps with HeartwarmingInHindsight; even though the title wasn't his idea to begin with, ''ComicBook/TheSupermanAdventures'' and ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' do show that Superman quickly adopted "my pal" as an AffectionateNickname for Jimmy, underlining that Angela hit closer to the mark than she realized.
102
103	[[AC:[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS3E12E13Legacy Legacy]]]]
104	* Superman hears the cries and distrust of all the people around him in Metropolis (super hearing after all)...Lois tells him not to listen because the people are wrong. He disagrees saying the people are right, then asks out loud, how can he get the people of his adoptive planet to ever trust him again. Lois's response...
105	-->'''Lois''': One person at a time...''they kiss''
106	* Jimmy's "man on the street" moment in the aftermath of Superman's brainwashed rampage. [[UndyingLoyalty Despite having seen everything that his hero did]] and being unnerved by Superman in his brainwashed state, the teen doesn't berate him, doesn't express fear, seems angry at the way everybody else is reacting. "Superman's saved the world hundreds of times. We ''owe'' him another chance!" [[AFriendInNeed No better way to prove it]] -- [[AFriendInNeed he really]] ''[[AFriendInNeed is]]'' [[AFriendInNeed Superman's pal]].
107	* Supergirl's last scene in the series. The last time we saw her, she was in critical condition as an indirect result of the actions of a brainwashed Superman. Then near the end, as Superman has beaten Darkseid to a pulp in Apokolips and is about to end him, Kara suddenly arrives talks him out of it, not wanting Clark to lose himself to revenge. Despite being badly battered and wounded, she went to Apokolips by herself just to aid him. Then just as Superman looks down feeling guilty, Kara hugs him, showing her forgiveness. Clark returns the embrace, and the two get ready to return home.

Context Heartwarming / SupermantheAnimatedSeries