Line #11 TearJerker/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/superman_crying2.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:I knew something had upset him. He looked funny. He looked as if he'd been crying.]]
3
4	* The cover of ''Action Comics'' #583, with the sad expression on Supes' face as he flies off -- forever.
5	* The death of Krypto, who goes out biting into the Kryptonite Man while ignoring the villain calling him a "stupid animal" and pointing out that his kryptonite radiation is ensuring Krypto's death. The fact that Krypto wasn't deterred by the Kryptonite Man's words and kept right on killing the villain even when his own death was imminent makes the situation a most tragic end for Superman's pet.
6	* The death of Bizarro has got to be one of the saddest character deaths ever. Compounded by the fact that Bizarro clearly has no idea what is happening.
7	-->''"Hm, everything, him go dark... Hello, Superman. [-Hello.-]"''
8	* Luthor asking Lana to kill him, and her silently complying.
9	* ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} comes from the future with the ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes, before [[ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths her eventual death]].
10	-->'''Superman:''' You... You grew up beautiful, Kara!... Right now, Supergirl... [[HeroicSacrifice Supergirl is in the past]].
11	** In the same encounter, the fact that the Legion are here to see their friend one last time.
12	--->'''Cosmic Boy:''' Goodbye, Superman. We... We ''always'' miss you.
13	** Fridge Sadness: The reason the Legion brought Supergirl with them in the first place.
14	* Lois: ''"He never told me exactly what happened that night before the siege began, but as soon as I saw him the next morning, I knew something had upset him. He looked funny. He looked as if he'd been [[ManlyTears crying]]."''
15	* Lana Lang, after hearing from Superman's own lips (thanks to newly-gained super hearing) that he loves Lois and not her, flies off with [[Characters/SupermanJimmyOlsen Jimmy Olsen]] to their deaths in an attempt to end the villains' attack on his fortress.
16	-->'''Lana:''' We're only second-stringers, Jimmy, but we'll show 'em. Nobody loved him better than us. ''Nobody!''
17	** Superman screaming, "YOU HURT LANA?!" is also a GutPunch.
18	* The ComicBook/{{Justice League\|OfAmerica}} tried to get into Brainiac's shield, but despite their desperate pounding, this battle the Man of Steel would have to fight alone. Think of how sad that would be: TheParagon you always looked up to is in trouble, and all you can do is [[LockedOutOfTheFight watch helplessly]] as his enemies come at him one by one.
19	* Vartox, who was, in pre-Crisis chronology, engaged in a romantic relationship with Lana Lang, cradling her lifeless body in his arms, bawling like a baby. The man who is too powerful for Superman to contend with. This is a character whose earliest two appearances involved the loss of first his wife, and then his homeworld. When the first Crisis wiped out his existence, this poor bastard was probably grateful...
20	* "... And by the time I realised where he was heading, it was too late. As he walked into the blinding golden light he turned and looked back over his shoulder. He smiled at me... [[ExactWords I never saw Superman again]]."

Context TearJerker / WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow