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1[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/reign_of_the_supermen_bluray.jpg]]
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4Franchise/{{Superman}} is dead, [[WesternAnimation/TheDeathOfSuperman having fallen in battle defeating Doomsday]]. However, that's not the end of the story, as Superman's tomb is empty and four men -- [[ComicBook/{{Steel}} a man clad in]] PoweredArmor, [[ComicBook/{{Superboy}} a teenaged clone]], a ruthless vigilante with a willingness to use lethal force, and a {{cyborg}} -- rise up, each one believed to be the resurrection of Superman. But who, if any of them, is the real Superman?
5
6''Reign of the Supermen'' is a 2019 film in the ''WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies'' line and the second part of the story that started with ''WesternAnimation/TheDeathOfSuperman'', set in the WesternAnimation/DCAnimatedMovieUniverse. In addition to the returning voice actors including Creator/JerryOConnell as Cyborg-Superman, Creator/CressWilliams as ComicBook/{{Steel}}, Creator/RebeccaRomijn as ComicBook/LoisLane, Creator/RainnWilson as ComicBook/LexLuthor, Creator/JasonOMara as Franchise/{{Batman}}, Creator/RosarioDawson as Franchise/WonderWoman, Creator/ChristopherGorham as Franchise/TheFlash, Creator/NathanFillion as Franchise/GreenLantern, Creator/ShemarMoore as ComicBook/{{Cyborg}}, Creator/NyambiNyambi as the ComicBook/MartianManhunter, Creator/CharlesHalford as the Eradicator and Bibbo Bibbowski, Creator/PaulEiding as Jonathan Kent, and Creator/JenniferHale as Martha Kent, the cast includes Creator/CameronMonaghan (''Series/{{Gotham}}'') as ComicBook/{{Superboy}} and Creator/TonyTodd reprising his role from the ''WesternAnimation/LegoDCComicsSuperHeroes'' specials as ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} (replacing Creator/SteveBlum).
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8This film and its predecessor were rereleased on October 1, 2019 in a [[ReCut Extended Cut]] CompilationMovie, ''The Death and Return of Superman''.
9----
10!!Tropes in this film:
11* NinetiesHair: Superboy's undercut. Luckily, the look has come back into fashion in the New 10s.
12* AdaptationAmalgamation: While mostly based on ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'', this section does add elements of ''ComicBook/ForeverEvil2013'' with [[spoiler:Lex Luthor rescuing the Justice League and saving the world, and -- as hinted at in TheStinger and confirmed in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanHush'' -- Luthor joining the Justice League.]]
13* AdaptationalHeroism: The Eradicator is still a lethal enforcer kind of guy, [[spoiler:but in the original comic he honestly believed himself to be Kal-El of Krypton, and his use of the Fortress of Solitude to recharge slowed the ''real'' Superman's recovery as the Eradicator was siphoning energy from him. In this film, the Eradicator is following its directive to protect Kryptonian life, acting as a guardian for Kal-El and ''giving'' energy to him to aid in his recovery. Why the Eradicator decided to go out and incinerate criminals is left unexplored.]]
14* AdaptationalJobChange: The Joan Dale of the comics was a reporter when she wasn't out adventuring as Miss America. The version here, as a MythologyGag to the Clintons being present in the comics' version of the funeral and referring to UsefulNotes/HillaryClinton's 2016 Presidential run, is President of the United States.
15* AdaptedOut:
16** [[spoiler:Bertron, who was revealed to be the one who created Doomsday in ''ComicBook/SupermanDoomsdayHunterPrey'', and Mongul, who acted as an ally to Cyborg-Superman, are written out and their respective roles are given to Darkseid.]]
17** Two criminals Eradicator faced in the comic (a rapist he disintegrated and a safecracker whose hands he broke) are also AdaptedOut as part of his AdaptationalHeroism.
18* AmbiguouslyEvil: G Gordon Godfrey (especially given how he’s often TheMole for Darkseid) briefly appears at the beginning. On one hand he argues that humanity can’t trust the new Supermen due to knowing nothing about them (something that is especially true for [[spoiler:Cyborg Superman who is working for Darkseid]]) and Superboy being under Lex Luthor's control. His message against supers coming across as less hateful and forceful than previous versions of the character, and more concerned about humanity getting complacent, also clouds the interpretation of his character. Urging ordinary humans to rely on themselves and be their own super heroes isn't ignoble and can be read in different ways. On one hand, this could have been a manipulative method to [[spoiler:make more people willing to join the Cyber Corps]], but it also might have been a coincidence, and it’s likely that that message also indirectly foreshadowed or inspired the heroic actions of Bibbo and the others at the end (although this might be a case of NiceJobFixingItVillain). The fact that he isn't seen among Darkseid's followers during his third invasion of Earth and its aftermath in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDarkApokolipsWar'' adds to the possibility that this version of him was just an ordinary human.
19* BadBoss: Luthor.
20** He punishes Donovan, who nearly gave Lois the info on Superboy's cloning program, by leaving him brutally beaten and with a broken arm. When he breaks the news to Superboy that only ''[[HalfHumanHybrid half]]'' [[HalfHumanHybrid of his DNA is from Superman]], he tells the scientist "You're fired" [[YouHaveFailedMe and unleashes the failed clones on him.]]
21** Before she realizes it, Mercy is used by Luthor as a HumanShield to protect himself against the Eradicator's energy blast. [[spoiler:Fortunately, Superboy is able to get her to a hospital for immediate treatment.]]
22* BigBad: Hank Henshaw is in league with Darkseid, who made him into Cyborg-Superman to destroy the late Man of Steel's memory and prepare Earth for an Apokolips invasion. When the real Superman returns from the dead, Henshaw sabotages Darkseid's invasion so he can [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou kill Superman himself]], making him the main antagonist for the climax.
23* BigDamnHeroes: [[spoiler: Besides Superman's return,]] Luthor manages to rescue the Justice League from their outer-space exile, and they in turn go on to rescue Metropolis from the invading force.
24* BolivianArmyEnding: Not for the main cast but [[spoiler: Donovan]] is last seen trying to hold off several attacking [=LexCorp=] mutants with a pistol and then is heard screaming.
25* BrainwashedAndCrazy: [[spoiler: Henshaw uses Apokoliptan tech disguised as [[SuperEmpowering Super Empowerers]] to turn Metropolis citizens into mindless automatons that nearly open a Boom Tube to Apokolips and - when that falls through - are unleashed to destroy the city.]]
26* BrokenPedestal: Hank Henshaw used to idolise Superman, but after his fateful accident he's got a grudge.
27* BroughtDownToBadass: [[spoiler: The genuine article Superman isn't at full strength due to the hasty nature of his awakening, but he's still strong enough to take hits from Henshaw's cyborg-Kryptonian fists and get back up.]]
28* TheBusCameBack: After 7 years, ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} finally makes his return to Earth after ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueWar'', undoubtedly thirsty for vengeance.
29* CallBack: Diana [[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueWar still loves ice cream.]]
30* CastAsAMask: [[spoiler:Until he drops the act after Lois tells him she knows he's Henshaw, Creator/JerryOConnell voices Cyborg-Superman with Henshaw's talks with Darkseid and the scenes after he drops the act being voiced by Creator/PatrickFabian.]]
31* ChekhovsGunman: Eric, a man Superboy saves from a mugger in the opening montage, is later the first to volunteer to step up to Cyborg-Superman's DareToBeBadass, while his wife/girlfriend Becky [[spoiler: is one of the first to realize there's something wrong with the Cyber Corps when he fails to return her affections after stopping a mugger and doesn't seem to even recognize her at all]].
32* CompositeCharacter:
33** ComicBook/{{Superboy}} seems to feature the wardrobe and personality of the ComicBook/PostCrisis Conner Kent, but his overall design is closer to that of the ComicBook/DCRebirth Jonathan Kent, albeit a teenaged version. As well, he's working with Luthor, similar to how the Matrix Supergirl did during that time.
34** Speaking of Matrix Supergirl, Martian Manhunter took her role as the shapeshifter who made it possible for Superman and Clark Kent to appear together in public to explain Clark's survival.
35** [[spoiler:Bertron's role in ''ComicBook/SupermanDoomsdayHunterPrey'' as Doomsday's creator and Mongul's role as the power backing Cyborg-Superman are both given to Darkseid.]]
36* CostumeEvolution:
37** After spending the entire New 52 movie era in the original New 52 suit (and after wearing the black and silver suit for the final battle here), Superman makes his reappearance donning the ''ComicBook/SupermanReborn'' suit.
38** After putting her hair back in a ponytail for the funeral, Wonder Woman is shown keeping her hair down in this movie and going into ''WesternAnimation/WonderWomanBloodlines''.
39* CueTheSun: [[spoiler:Lois turns the tide in the fight against Henshaw by lowering the solar shields in the Watchtower, giving Superman the solar radiation necessary to get his strength and heat vision back.]]
40* CurbStompBattle: In the first fight between the Supermen, Superboy is thoroughly trounced by Eradicator, and Steel doesn’t fare much better, Cyborg-Superman is the only one who actually manages to fight him on equal terms.
41* CyberneticsEatYourSoul: [[spoiler: The S-Shields given by Cyborg-Superman to the citizens completely deprive them of their personalities and memories as humans.]]
42* DareToBeBadass: Cyborg-Superman does so, offering S-shields that can give normal civilians SuperStrength and {{Flight}} like himself. [[spoiler: It's a deception that [[CyberneticsEatYourSoul turns them into mindless machines]].]] Bibbo Bibbowski does it later to inspire other civilians to fight for themselves since Superman isn't around to save them anymore.
43* DecapitatedArmy: [[spoiler:When Cyborg-Superman is finally killed, his army of cyborg civilians [[NoOntologicalInertia immediately drops dead]], no matter where they are. It's a small comfort that they [[DyingAsYourself revert to their original human appearances after death]].]]
44* DividedForAdaptation: The film is the second half of a ''Death of Superman'' duology that was started with [[WesternAnimation/TheDeathOfSuperman the eponymous film]].
45* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: Superboy and Lex's "relationship" resembles that of a child star and their [[StageMom Stage Parent]].
46* EarnYourHappyEnding: [[spoiler:After enduring a temporary death, Superman fully returns to life, reunites with Lois and regains his place as the world's premier superhero.]]
47* EmergencyTransformation: Cyborg-Superman claims to be the genuine article given cybernetic implants to survive his injuries, which he also uses to excuse his memory loss. [[spoiler:He's actually a creation of Darkseid, made from the corpse of Hank Henshaw.]]
48* EngineeredHeroics: The Parademon attack on the Watchtower launch site was set up to [[spoiler:make civilians and the President accept Cyborg-Superman as the real hero reborn.]]
49* FamilyEyeResemblance: Superboy looks exactly like a teenage version of Superman, ''except'' for the cold gray eyes of his human DNA donor, Lex Luthor.
50* FatherlyScientist: Dabney Donovan is implied to be one to Superboy, contrasting his [[MadScientist portrayal in the comics]]. He speaks gently to the boy, and lets him watch television programs Luthor doesn't approve of.
51* {{Foreshadowing}}:
52** When the Eradicator tells Superboy and Cyborg-Superman that "there is only one Superman", he's not only rejecting Cyborg-Superman's claims that he's the Superman, but [[spoiler:he's actually referring to the fact the real Superman is alive]].
53** When Parademons attack the launch site of the Watchtower, Cyborg-Superman takes a long time to get moving, only reacting specifically to save the President. [[spoiler:The whole thing was an engineered PR stunt to get rid of the League and make him seem like the real hero.]]
54* GreaterScopeVillain: [[spoiler: Darkseid's role, being the one responsible for Doomsday and for Hank Henshaw becoming Cyborg-Superman.]]
55* GuardianEntity: The Eradicator's true nature is [[spoiler:a HardLight hologram tasked with protecting and nourishing Superman with ion radiation while his spaceship brings him back to life.]]
56* HappilyAdopted: Superboy's fate, same as in the comics. [[spoiler:As of the epilogue, he has been renamed Conner, and is living as a normal boy with Ma and Pa Kent.]]
57* HardLight:[[spoiler: Eradicator]] is revealed to be a hologram of this type.
58* HeelRealization: After the grisly demise of Dabney Donovan, Superboy starts realizing his "father" Lex Luthor is ''[[{{Understatement}} not]]'' [[{{Understatement}} a nice man]]. [[spoiler:He takes Donovan's final words to heart - "Your father is a... hard man" and promptly quits [=LexCorp=].]]
59* HijackedByGanon: The Cyborg-Superman, the main threat of the movie, ultimately turns out to be working for [[spoiler:Darkseid]].
60* HologramProjectionImperfection: Part of the reveal that[[spoiler: Eradicator]] is not everything he seems to be.
61* HumanShield: When the Eradicator shows up to eliminate Lex for his crimes, Lex thanks Mercy then tosses her in the path of the first beam before running like hell.
62* HypocriticalHumor: Steel at one point complains about the Eradicator taking up the 'S' shield and dispensing his own brand of justice. [[spoiler:Superman]] just gives a pointed look at Steel's own costume. Steel meekly replies, "I'm just saying..."
63* InsigniaRipOffRitual: [[spoiler:Superboy does it after Lex has Dabney Donovan killed and he realizes his "father" is evil.]]
64* IrrationalHatred: [[spoiler:Henshaw, having gone crazy after his transformation, blames Superman for his wife's death, even though he had nothing to do it. Darkseid does brainwash him into thinking Superman failed him, but even after shaking off the mind control, Henshaw still blames Superman.]]
65* ItIsDehumanizing: Luthor makes it a point to talk about Superboy as though he's a fancy tool for him to use, profit off of and, if need be, [[DeadlyEuphemism discard]]. Given that Superboy looks to be on the skinny side, it's easy to assume his "home" at [=LexCorp=] doesn't include regular meals.
66* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:Lex somehow escapes punishment for engineering Donovan's death, even though it was this incident which caused Superboy's HeelRealization and made him quit being [=LexCorp=]'s stooge.]]
67* LawfulStupid: The Eradicator, unaware of the intricacies of human understanding about law and social order, unceremoniously appears at Lex Luthor's party to execute him on the spot for the simple fact that he is a known criminal.
68-->'''Lex Luthor:''' What do you think you're doing?
69-->'''The Eradicator:''' [[LiteralMinded At this point, I am answering a question posed by Lex Luthor.]]
70-->'''Lex Luthor:''' Okaaay, well, here's another one: Why ''the hell'' are you here?
71-->'''The Eradicator:''' Lex Luthor is a known criminal. Criminals must be ''eradicated''.
72* LikesOlderWomen: Superboy hits on Lois. Lois is... less than enthused.
73-->"Well. That was revolting."
74* MachineMonotone:
75** The Eradicator only speaks in an even, matter-of-face tone because [[spoiler: he's the semi-physical form of an A.I.]]
76** A more humorous instance comes near the movies end, when J'onn disguised as Superman described how he "found" Clark Kent, much to the real Clark's bemusement.
77* MisplacedRetribution: Hank blames Superman for the death of his wife because he wasn't there to stop Doomsday from destroying their space station, [[spoiler: when the one responsible is Doomsday's creator, Darkseid]].
78* MythologyGag:
79** The Eradicator's design features elements of the ''Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse'' version of Superman, including all of his hair being slicked back and the design of the "S"-shield.
80** The Cyborg-Superman throws a missile into outer space, looking very similar to a scene from ''Film/SupermanTheMovie'' where Superman throws one of the missiles Luthor hijacked into space.
81** Superboy tends to speak in TotallyRadical terms, which an irritated Lex attributes to his watching sitcoms from the 90's. His original debut, of course, was in the very same era.
82** Mercy Graves ending up being Lex's sacrificial lamb is becoming a regular thing. At least he didn't [[WesternAnimation/SupermanDoomsday shoot her outright for knowing too much]] or [[Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice blowing her up as part of a plan]].
83** Wonder Woman is (again) given the famous "spinning" from the [[Series/WonderWoman1975 live-action television series]].
84** One of Superboy's fangirls resembles Miss Martian's human form from ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010''.
85** Superboy relates his malformed clones to [[spoiler:the real Superman]] as a "bunch of bizarros". The ones we see look [[BodyHorror far removed]] from the eponymous clone from the comics, though.
86** Near the end, Superman and Lois does the iconic kiss from ''ComicBook/AllStarSuperman''.
87** The final scene of Superman flying up into Earth's orbit bears a strong resemblance from the iconic scene from [[Film/SupermanTheMovie the original live-action movie.]]
88** During their fight on the Watchtower, Clark rips out a cable and shocks Cyborg-Superman with it, just like Supergirl did (with more success) to her more powerful clone in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague''.
89** During the montage of the various Supermen making headlines, the photos of Steel, the Eradicator, and the Cyborg are designed to resemble actual covers from the original ''Reign of the Supermen'' comic story: Steel's from ''Man of Steel #22'', Eradicator's from ''Action Comics #690'', and the Cyborg-Superman's from ''Adventures of Superman #503''.
90** At the end of the film, Superman has now switched to an outfit resembling his second one from the ComicBook/DCRebirth era.
91** President Joan Dale is named after the early superheroine Miss America (formerly of Quality Comics before they were purchased by DC).
92** [[spoiler:Clark]] at one point says "[[ComicBook/MisterMiracle2017 Darkseid Is...]]" [[ShutUpKirk before being interrupted]].
93* NeverFoundTheBody: Hank's wife was found in the wreckage of the shuttle that Doomsday crashed into, but Hank's body was not. [[spoiler:Coupled with Cyborg-Superman leaving a rose on her grave, this allows Lois to deduce his identity.]]
94* NeverMyFault: [[spoiler:Similar to his comic book persona, Hank Henshaw blames Superman for his transformation into the Cyborg-Superman and the death of his wife Teri. Lois calls out his reasoning as complete rubbish. During the movie's final battle, Henshaw has the gall to claim to Superman's face that Lois' impending death will be [[PunctuatedForEmphasis ALL! (HIS)! FAULT!]] despite being the one who put them all in danger in the first place.]]
95* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed:
96** President Dale looks like [[UsefulNotes/HillaryRodhamClinton Hillary Clinton]], who in real life lost the 2016 election to UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump. This also serves as a MythologyGag of sorts, as Hillary had appeared in the ''Death of Superman'' comic arc as the First Lady to her husband [[UsefulNotes/BillClinton Bill]], the President at the time.
97** Lex also stands in front of a sign that says [[UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump "Make Metropolis Safe Again"]] when introducing Superboy.
98* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: Luthor doesn’t take Donovan showing Superboy the truth about his origins very well.
99* NotSoAboveItAll: Batman has a moment of this when Superboy is brought as extra protection for the president, and Green Lantern puts him in the sights of a ring-construct rocket launcher.
100-->'''Green Lantern:''' ''(cheerfully)'' I have the shot.\
101'''Batman:''' I say take it.
102* NotQuiteDead: The Justice League appears to be killed by a Boom Tube crashing on top of them during an assassination attempt, but are instead warped to an unknown corner of the galaxy to fight off an endless horde of monsters and be out of the BigBad's greater scheme.
103* NoWarpingZone: [[spoiler: The strange location the League is sent to somehow prevents Cyborg from using his built-in Mother Box to Boom Tube them back home. Lex has to activate one he scavenged after Darkseid's failed invasion to open a portal from Earth to their location, allowing them to return.]]
104* OhCrap: Even Lex Luthor is shocked when [[spoiler:the Boom Tube swallows up the Justice League.]]
105* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou:
106** [[spoiler: Henshaw turns on Darkseid and sabotages his invasion after learning that the real Superman is BackFromTheDead. He proceeds to rip the Apokoliptan interface and Mother Box from his body and prepares to fight the Man of Steel himself.]]
107** [[spoiler: Darkseid was setting up for this himself after learning Doomsday failed to finish the job.]]
108* PermaStubble: [[spoiler: The real Superman has this after he's revived, and keeps it all the way through the final showdown; it isn't until the epilogue that he becomes clean-shaven again.]]
109* PowerCableAttack:[[spoiler:Superman stuns Hank Henshaw by shoving a loose cable into his mouth.]]
110* PoweredArmor: John Henry Irons becomes Steel in this movie.
111* PragmaticVillainy: Lex is genuinely helpful in thwarting the evil plot in the climax of the film, which he insists is because nothing about said plan is beneficial to him.
112* ProjectedMan:[[spoiler: Eradicator]].
113* TheReveal: [[spoiler: Doomsday was, appropriately, a "doomsday weapon" created by Darkseid to kill Superman as the first stage of a large-scale invasion.]]
114* RevengeBeforeReason: [[spoiler: Hank Henshaw is insanely determined to make Superman suffer as much as possible before finally killing him. When he overcomes Darkseid's mind control, he immediately orders the converted cyborg civilians to destroy Metropolis as part of his revenge. During the movie's final battle, Henshaw delays killing Lois several times and [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim refrains from immediately killing a weakened Superman]], eventually giving both of them the opportunity to finally defeat him.]]
115* RocketPoweredWeapon: Steel's hammer has a thruster on the head to enhance his swings.
116* RuleOfSymbolism: When [[spoiler: Cyborg-Superman rips an implant out of his head to break Darkseid's control, blood spurts on the floor and forms a rough approximation of the S-shield]].
117* SelfDeprecatingHumor: When Lois calls John Henry Irons out on being the Man of Steel, she notes that she's ''rubbish'' with secret identities, and she ''still'' figured him out (calling back to the prior film).
118* ShoutOut:
119** Superboy calls Cyborg (Vic Stone, not Cyborg Superman) "[[Music/KilroyWasHere Mr. Roboto]]".
120* SingleTear: [[spoiler: One came out of Hank Henshaw after he was killed by Eradicator. Probably thinking about his wife.]]
121* SmashTheSymbol:
122** [[spoiler: Cyborg-Superman tears off the S-shield on his chest towards the climax to reveal a Mother Box beneath it. He later tears that out, too, revealing Darkseid's omega symbol behind it.]]
123** For a heroic example, Superboy [[InsigniaRipOffRitual tears]] the [=LexCorp=] logos from his jacket after getting sick of Luthor controlling him.
124* SomethingOnlyTheyWouldSay: Lois [[InvokedTrope invokes]] this, as she knew Superman better than anyone, and knows what to ask the Supermen to determine which one is the real thing: "What was your last secret?"[[note]]Answer: "I love you"[[/note]]. [[spoiler: Her conversation with Cyborg-Superman convinces her that he's not the real thing, but it also clues him in to how close she was with the real Superman, and makes him intend to use that as part of his revenge.]]
125* SophisticatedAsHell: Steel has a tendency to speak this way.
126--> '''Steel:''' Excuse me. Mind if we... kick your ass?
127* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler: The action remains in Metropolis and, since Mongul was AdaptedOut, Coast City is spared his and Cyborg-Superman's wrath. As well, the Eradicator doesn't die at the end.]]
128* StealthSequel: Granted, it's already in the same universe, but this and ''WesternAnimation/TheDeathOfSuperman'' are ultimately this to [[spoiler: the first full movie in this universe, ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueWar'', as Darkseid is revealed to be the one responsible for both Doomsday and Cyborg-Superman]].
129* TheStinger: [[spoiler: The Justice League, with Superman, discuss in the Watchtower how the events of the movie are the most brazen attack by Apokolips since ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueWar'' and propose mounting a counterattack. They're then joined by a jovial Lex Luthor wearing his ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends'' outfit.]]
130* SwissCheeseSecurity: Steel's hideout has some pretty questionable security, to say the least. Lois breaks in very easily.
131* TaughtByTelevision: Superboy seems to have learned all his social graces from TV reruns, given [[ReallyWasBornYesterday how old he is]]. It's left the boy a wee bit stunted, since he doesn't know how to respond to Lois offering her hand to shake, nor that flirting with her is inappropriate.
132* TemptingFate: [[spoiler:Henshaw taunts Lois that Superman isn't around to save her. Cue Superman piloting his rocket into Henshaw. Likewise, Henshaw wanting Superman to open his eyes so he'll be ForcedToWatch Lois's death? Heat vision taking off his cybernetic arm.]]
133* TotallyRadical: Superboy's 90's flavoured speech patterns are explained as one of his creators letting him watch 90's sitcoms.
134* TruerToTheText: Much like its predecessor, it's set to be a more faithful adaptation than the very first WesternAnimation/{{DC Universe Animated Original Movie|s}}, ''WesternAnimation/SupermanDoomsday'', despite the ''ComicBook/New52'' stylings, including the presence of ComicBook/{{Steel}}, ComicBook/{{Superboy}}, Cyborg-Superman, and the Eradicator, the former of whom was outright AdaptedOut and the latter three of whom were [[CompositeCharacter merged into a single character]] for ''Doomsday''.
135* ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend: A more subdued version than usual but [[spoiler: Becky is one of the first to join Bibbo in facing the Cyber Corps due to recognizing it's done something bad to Eric]].
136* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Aquaman is absent this time around, as is Shazam again.
137* WouldHurtAChild: When Superboy falls short of expectations as a hero, Luthor considers and nearly goes through with giving him a lethal injection and starting fresh. Given Superboy's nature as a clone, it also counts as WhatMeasureIsANonHuman.
138* YouHaveFailedMe: Lex kills the scientist running his Superboy project for twice failing to keep his mouth shut.

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