History Characters / DCAUSuperman

* BadassBeard: He has one in "Hereafter" after he has been sent into the future. Despite Wonder Woman's compliment, he doesn't keep it.

* LovesMyAlterEgo: Lois isn't at all interested in Clark Kent while at the same time develops feelings and eventually a relationship by the time of ''Justice League Unlimited'' with Superman.

** Played for laughs in "Mxyzpixilated." When Mxyzpixilk first arrives on earth, Clark has no idea what to do and becomes incredibly agitated, but after inadvertently tricking Myxy into saying his name backwards, Supes' just waits for him every three months, and somehow manages to trick him in under a minute. In their final encouter of the episode, Myxy makes his presence felt with his RealityWarper powers, and all Clark can do is let out a bored "here we go."

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-->'''Superman:''' Humanity doesn't need protection from us.\\

-->'''Livewire:''' Well, what do you know? The boy scout brought protection.
-->'''Parasite:''' That ain't fair!
-->'''Superman:''' I didn't realize there were rules.

-->'''Doctor Fate''': 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. [[Heartwarming/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries I was wrong.]]

-->'''Lex Luthor:''' Let's be clear about this: we're not here to help you save the world — you're here to help me get revenge on Darkseid. When this is over, it's back at business as usual.
-->'''Superman:''' (glares at Lex for a long moment) Wouldn't have it any other way.

-->'''Batman:''' I've got some things to say. I should've said them when you were here, but... despite our differences, I have nothing but respect for you. I hope you knew... know that. You showed me justice doesn't always have to come from the darkness. I'll miss...
-->(explosion in distance)
-->'''Batman:''' What did you always call it, Clark? The Never Ending Battle?

-->'''Teen Clark''': It's not true. I'm not a freak. I'm not. (''punches a wall'') '''''I'M NOT!!'''''

--->'''Lois Lane''': I've been as tough on the Justice League as anyone, especially on Superman. That's just because he's always set such a high standard. I'm gonna cut him a break. He's only human. (Pause) You know what I mean.
--->'''Clark Kent''': Yeah, I do.

--->'''Superman''': (to Lex Luthor after Flash's apparent death) I'm not the man who killed President Luthor. Right now, I wish to Heaven that I were, but I'm not!

-->'''J'onn J'onzz''': The Man of Steel possessed many extraordinary gifts, and he shared them with us freely. None of these gifts were more remarkable than his ability to discern what needed to be done, and his unfailing courage in doing it, whatever the personal cost.

-->'''Darkseid:''' You really are a glutton for punishment. Time and again, I've beaten you, humbled you. What makes you think today's outcome will be any different?
-->'''Superman:''' Because this time, I won't stop until you're just a greasy smear on my fist. Let's go.

-->'''Superman:''' Then I guess I'll need a bigger fire.
-->(Beats and tosses Doomsday into a volcano)

-->'''Draaga''': Pathetic. The whole lot of you. Not a real warrior in the bunch. And you, the Kryptonian, you're the biggest disappointment of all. (Spits on Superman and walks away. Superman breaks out of his chains.)
-->'''Alien''': Why didn't you do that when Draaga was here?
-->'''Superman''': It's called "turning the other cheek."

* ArtEvolution: In ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', this Superman was initially redesigned to appear larger in physical girth than he was back in ''Superman: TAS'', along with a bit of a squint to his eyes and pronounced cheek bones that were meant to make him look older in addition to having a change in coloration and a noticeable shining streak to his hair. Fans did not like the older appearance and in the second season, he received another redesign (which he retained in the ''Unlimited'' seasons of the show): the streak was toned down to the point of almost disappearing and the age lines and pronounced cheek bones were removed, making this Superman to resemble how he looked back in ''Superman: TAS'' (although his design still retained the bulk, hairstyle, and coloration of the design he had during the first season).

* BadassBeard: He has one in "Hereafter" after he has been sent into the future. Despite Wonder Woman's suggestion, he doesn't keep it.

* BigGood: Of the Justice League. Several heroes admitted they looked up to him. His "death" in "Hereafter" presents a huge loss and concern to the Justice League's future heroics. The Flash admitted he didn't always have to worry about the situation with Superman around, and Batman showed his respect admitting he learned from Superman that justice didn't always have to come from the shadows.

** For Captain Marvel in "Clash". It was Lex Luthor's [[XanatosGambit plot]] to make people distrust Superman and it worked well for Captain Marvel, that even Superman thought what he was doing was wrong, but the other founding members immediately showed that it was all a ploy.
** For [[spoiler: Professor Emil Hamilton]] revealed in "Question Authority". [[spoiler: Hamilton explains that he joined Cadmus to protect the world from people like Superman.]]

'''[[spoiler: Hamilton]]:''' I used to believe that. I thought you were a guardian angel come to answer our prayers, but Lucifer was an angel, too, wasn't he?

* CharacterDevelopment: Across the ''DCAU'', this Superman loses some of his innocence and lightness as he transitions from NaiveNewcomer at Metropolis during the early episodes of ''Superman: TAS'' to becoming hero for the planet (which also leads to him being confronted by Darkseid, a force who can't simply be beaten in a fight or with all his powers). By the time of ''Justice League Unlimited'' (especially during the Cadmus arc), this Superman becomes increasingly paranoid to the point that even Batman and Lois are concerned and receives a WhatTheHellHero speech from Captain Marvel. This Superman's development is also influenced by the [[EvilCounterpart Justice Lord Superman]], and while several characters fear him becoming the Justice Lord, this Superman chooses to adhere to being the TheCape, despite the tough choices he has to make.

* ClothingDamage: In "The Doomsday Sanction", this Superman takes a savage beating from Doomsday while fighting in a volcano, leaving him shirtless. This is the only instance in the ''DCAU'' where his costume is destroyed.

* EarlyInstallmentCharacterDesignDifference: During ''Justice League''[='=]s first season, this Superman sported cheek bones and a line under his eye in an attempt to make him seem more mature. After fan complaints that he looked too old, the design of his face was altered by the time of the second season to be more akin to his face in the design that he had back in ''Superman: TAS'' (which he retained in the ''Unlimited'' seasons).

** During the Cadmus story arc, he does what’s right, not what’s easiest. Consider the fact that this Superman is powerful enough to end Cadmus right away. Why doesn’t he? He tells Huntress why in "Question Authority". Later, despite his understandable anger and frustration, he talks about it with the rest of the Justice League (who he knows will disagree with attacking) instead of than after Cadmus. As J’onn points out, Superman came there to be talked down.

* TheLeader: Subverted, despite his Charismatic personality. Although he is the League's public face, the League makes decisions by consensus and other members (especially the Original Seven) tend to ignore Superman and do what they want if they disagree with him about something.
* {{Leitmotif}}: The opening theme song of the ''Superman: TAS'' (or a shortened variation of it with the same melody) is the music that tends to play whenever this Superman is around and/or does something heroic and/or awesome.

* RousingSpeech: Even more than his comic book counterpart, this Superman knows how to talk the talk as much as he can walk the walk [[PhysicalGod (all over your face)]]. If he can't beat the bad guy without killing him ([[IAmNotLeftHanded because he most certainly can]]), then he'll be TalkingTheMonsterToDeath.

* TakingTheBullet: This is discussed in "Secret Society". This Superman admits that he refuses to let the other Justice League members take any hits in a battle because of his superior invulnerability. In "Hereafter", Toyman takes aim at Batman and Wonder Woman. Superman throws himself in front of them and takes the blast, disappearing without a trace leading to his supposed death. Unknown to any of them, Superman had not been destroyed and was sent into the future.

** This Superman by the time of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' is voiced by Creator/ChristopherMcDonald.

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!!! '''Voiced by:''' Creator/TimDaly (''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries''), Creator/GeorgeNewbern (''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague''/''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Unlimited''/''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueVsTheFatalFive'' and ''WesternAnimation/StaticShock''), Creator/ChristopherMcDonald (''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''; old man), Jesse Batten (''Superman: The Animated Series''; baby) Creator/JasonMarsden (''Superman: The Animated Series''; teenager), Kevin Conroy (''Superman: The Animated Series''; impersonating Batman), Shane Haboucha (''Justice League Unlimited''; magically rejuvenated)

!!! '''Voiced by:''' Creator/TimDaly (''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries''), Creator/JasonMarsden (''Superman: The Animated Series'', teenager), Creator/ChristopherMcDonald (''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'', old man), Creator/GeorgeNewbern (''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague''/''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Unlimited''/''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueVsTheFatalFive'' and ''WesternAnimation/StaticShock'')

!!! '''Appearances:''' ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' | ''WesternAnimation/StaticShock'' | ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' | ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' | ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueVsTheFatalFive'' | ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''

* OlderThanTheyLook: By the time of ''Batman Beyond'', Clark has clearly aged better than Bruce since he's Kryptonian.

* YoungerThanTheyLook: It's revealed in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' that, due to his Kryptonian physiology, Superman will age at a much slower rate than humans, looking like he's still in his late 40s or 50s despite being about the same age as Bruce. It's never revealed how this will affect his secret identity.

* AndThisIsFor: Darkseid got one for Dan Turpin. Unfortunately, Darkseid is merely [[ButForMeItWasTuesday amused and bewildered]].

* BadassArmFold: While in midair no less.

** "Mxyzpixilated" is an entire episode of Superman playing Mxy every time the rules are set, especially in their last battle.

* BigBrotherMentor: He's good at being there for young people, usually Supergirl or Jimmy Olsen. With Supergirl and him refering to each other as cousins. He even managed to be this for ''Robin'' when forced to sub for Batman in "Knight Time."

* GoshDangItToHeck: Objecting to trusting Luthor and the Legion of Doom in helping the Justice League to combat Darkseid's third invasion of Earth.

*** SuperReflexes: In his fight with Captain Marvel in "Clash", Marvel grabs him in a bear hug and calls down a [[LightningCanDoAnything magic lightning bolt with his word of power]]. After two painful strikes, Superman reacts to the third and reverses the bear hug, [[HoistByHisOwnPetard so Marvel is struck by the magic lightning and transformed into the harmless Billy Batson]].

** In “The Last Son of Krypton”, teenage Clark was played by Creator/JasonMarsden.

* VoiceChangeling: Superman is able to mimic voices thanks to precise muscle control and a really good ear, which severely creeps out Robin when he demonstrates it in "Knight Time."

He was a Kryptonian orphan named Kal-El who was launched to Earth as an infant to avoid suffering a cataclysmic death on his home planet of Krypton. His craft landed in a Kansas field, where he was discovered by Jonathan and Martha Kent, who raised the boy as their son under the name "Clark". As Clark matured under Earth's yellow sun, he gained superhuman powers such as nigh-unlimited physical strength and the power of {{flight}}. As an adult, he moved to Metropolis to work as a newspaper reporter at the ''Daily Planet''. It was that here he became aware of the corruption and evil in the world, deciding [[ComesGreatResponsibility he must use his gifts]] to right these wrongs and taking the name "Superman" after a story of his deeds is published in the ''Daily Planet'' by Lois Lane, who uses the term.

After having to work long and hard to regain the world's trust in him as of a result of being brainwashed by Darkseid and forced to lead his second invasion of Earth, Superman was the one who first suggested that he and the other superheroes form the WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague in order to deal with future threats as great as the Imperium. He was shown to be the face of the Justice League as well as the peacemaker for the other members.

* SecretIdentity: Clark Kent.

* SignatureMove: The famous single or double-fisted flying punch, actually called a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_punch Superman punch]] in real life. He uses it against Darkseid in "Destroyer".
* SkilledButNaive: He is this during the early point of his career, always thinking the best of everyone and often having people take advantage of him. Because of this, he gets a lot more cynical as time goes on to the point of receiving a WhatTheHellHero speech from [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]] in ''JLU''. Eventually, he finds a middle ground, though some [[KnightTemplar alternate versions of himself]] took it to [[PoliceState much more extreme]] lengths.
* StrongAsTheyNeedToBe: This Superman’s strength seems to be all over the place sometimes. In "Paradise Lost", Wonder Woman was a match for him and there was no cause to hold back as they were both seeing each other as monsters. In "For the Man Who Has Everything", Wonder Woman gets handed a CurbStompBattle by Mongul, who Superman nearly beats right afterwards.

* SuperpowerLottery: He is Earth's most devastating FlyingBrick - and he has a generous helping of additional powers. In general, his only serious challenges are beings of the DimensionLord or galactic conqueror level.

** NighInvulnerability: He and Doomsday have their only showdown in the ''DCAU'' inside of a volcano. In "Flashpoint", he was hit by the outer fringes of a blast from the Watchtower's Binary Fusion Generator, which was directly stated to have the punch of a small nuclear weapon, although Superman was left floating unconscious in space.
*** In "Destroyer", Darkseid unleashes the [[AgonyBeam The Agony Matrix]] on Superman, although immobilized, he survives.
--->'''Darkseid:''' Imagine the worst pain you've ever felt in your life, times a thousand. Now imagine that pain continuing forever. Oh, that's right. You don't have to imagine.
** SuperBreath: He can be hurricane-force winds or arctic cold. In "Starcrossed", Kragger attempts to use one of Mr. Freeze's freeze guns on Superman, but is easily overpowered by Superman's own freeze breath.

*** He uses Microscopic Vision in "Dark Heart" to discover that at the centre of the alien structure is a [[TitleDrop Dark Heart]] which is replicated in each of the alien attack robots.
** SuperSpeed: He is able to move at a very fast rate, although he's not quite as fast as Flash. In "The Call", he had no trouble catching up to Batman's flying batmobile which traveled at mach 3.

*** SuperReflexes: In his fight with Captain Marvel in "Clash", Marvel grabs him in a bear hug and calls down a [[LightningCanDoAnything magic lightning bolt with his word of power]]. After two painful strikes, Superman reacts to the third and reverses the bear hug, [[HoistByHisOwnPetard so Marvel is struck by the magic lightning and transformed into the harmless Billy Batson.]]

* VoiceChangeling: This Superman is able to mimic voices thanks to precise muscle control and a really good ear, which severely creeps out Robin when he demonstrates it.

** In "Twilight", to the shock of his teammates, Superman is willing to let Apokolips be destroyed due to his grudge, but Darkseid notes that Brainiac will not stop with Apokolips. Batman has to lecture Superman to help him stop Braniac.
** In "The Doomsday Sanction", Batman calls him out for casting Doomsday into the phantom zone.

-->"My whole life, I've looked up to the League. You were my heroes. Every one of you. And you (Superman)... you were more than a hero. I idolized you. I wanted to be you. Whenever I was out there facing down the bad guys, I'd think, "What would Superman do?" Now I know. I believe in fair play. I believe in taking people at their word and giving them the benefit of the doubt. Back home, I've come up against my share of pretty nasty bad guys, but I never had to act the way they did to win a fight. I always found another way. I... I guess I'm saying I-I like being a hero, a symbol, and that's why I'm... quitting the Justice League. You don't act like heroes any more. "
* WillfullyWeak: This Superman has the tendency of holding back his powers during most of his battles in order to prevent people from getting killed, which also allows villains to get the best of him in some occasions. There is also the fact that the first season of ''Justice League'' subjected him badly to TheWorfEffect.

* TheWorfEffect: Throughout the first season of ''Justice League'', this Superman was portrayed as being unnaturally weak and vulnerable to the point where he was was often the first to be defeated in battle. The writers apologized for it and did their best to make up for it in the second and ''Unlimited'' seasons.

-->''"[[Franchise/{{Batman}} That man]] won't quit as long as he can still draw a breath. None of [[ComicBook/JusticeLeague my teammates]] will. Me? I've got a different problem. I feel like I live in a '''[[TropeNamer world made of cardboard]]''', always taking constant care not to break something, to break ''someone''. Never allowing myself to lose control even for a moment, or someone could ''die''. But you can take it, can't you, [[ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} big man]]? What we have here is a rare opportunity for me to cut loose and show you just how powerful I really am."''

-->'''Livewire''': At least we know you hit girls.

* YoungerThanTheyLook: It's revealed in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' that due to his Krytonian physiology, Superman will age at a much slower rate than humans, looking like he's still in his late 40s or 50s despite being about the same age as Bruce. It's never revealed how this will affect his secret identity.
* YourHeartsDesire: In "For the Man Who Has Everything", Superman is subdued by a [[LotusEaterMachine telepathic plant from a distant galaxy that renders its victims helpless and delusional in a dream world]] created from their heart's desires. Superman's fantasy is a Krypton that never exploded. He lives on a small farm, married to a Kryptonian woman named Loana, with his son Van-El, and Brainiac is a helpful AI attendant of his home.

He was a Kryptonian orphan named "Kal-El" who was launched to Earth as an infant to avoid suffering a cataclysmic death on his home planet of Krypton. His craft landed in a Kansas field, where he was discovered by Jonathan and Martha Kent, who raised the boy as their son under the name "Clark". As Clark matured under Earth's yellow sun, he gained superhuman powers such as nigh-unlimited physical strength and the power of {{flight}}. As an adult, he moved to Metropolis to work as a newspaper reporter at the ''Daily Planet''. It was that here he became aware of the corruption and evil in the world, deciding [[ComesGreatResponsibility he must use his gifts]] to right these wrongs and taking the name "Superman" after a story of his deeds is published in the ''Daily Planet'' by Lois Lane, who uses the term.

!!! '''Abilities:''' (Under a yellow Sun) Vast superhuman strength, speed, stamina, near invulnerability, duper hearing, duper breath, x-ray vision, telescopic vision, microscopic vision, heat vision, flight, voice synthesization

!!! '''Abilities:''' (Under a yellow Sun) vast superhuman strength, speed, stamina, near invulnerability, duper hearing, duper breath, x-ray vision, telescopic vision, microscopic vision, heat vision, flight, voice synthesization

!![[Franchise/{{Superman}} Superman / Clark Kent / Kal-El]]

** He is a very, very strong believer in this code, and most of the time he makes it work. "A Better World" revealed what he'd be like without it - essentially, [[Literature/NineteenEightyFour Big Brother.]] There ''are'' a few cases where he felt obliged to use lethal force, but as he admits in "Divided we Fall" that he cannot bring himself to abandon his code - even though it's tempting.

** In the [[FiveEpisodePilot Three Episode Pilot]], teenage Clark was played by Creator/JasonMarsden.

* AdaptationalWimp: Only in regards to his super powers when compared to his mainstream counter-part. Personality and competency wise they are virtually the same although mainstream clark is more of an AllLovingHero and IncorruptiblePurePureness than this version. What really sets them apart it the scale when comparing their respective strength levels. Animated Superman can at his highest levels punch Darkseid across the city, destroy meteors single handedly, tank a nuke with minimal damage, has senses that let him keep tabs on all of metropolis, and fly around the world in a matter of minutes. Mainstream comicbook superman can fly faster than light, widthstand a sun going supernova, break planets apart with nothing but brute force, and can keep tabs on anyone and everyone in the entire world with his senses.

* AdaptationalWimp: Only in regards to his super powers when compared to his mainstream counter-part. Personality and competency wise they are virtually the same although mainstream clark is more of an AllLovingHero and IncorruptablePurePureness than this version. What really sets them apart it the scale when comparing their respective strength levels. Animated Superman can at his highest levels punch Darkseid across the city, destroy meteors single handedly, tank a nuke with minimal damage, has senses that let him keep tabs on all of metropolis, and fly around the world in a matter of minutes. Mainstream comicbook superman can fly faster than light, widthstand a sun going supernova, break planets apart with nothing but brute force, and can keep tabs on anyone and everyone in the entire world with his senses.

!!! '''Voiced in Latin-American Spanish by''': Orlando Noguera (''Superman: The Animated Series''), Creator/LuisMiguelPerez (''Batman Beyond'', ''Justice League'' and ''Justice League Unlimited''), Víctor Hugo Aguilar (''Static Shock'')

-->''"I always try to help people whenever possible."''

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!!! '''Voiced in Latin-American Spanish by''': Orlando Noguera (''Superman: The Animated Series''), Luis Miguel Pérez (''Batman Beyond'', ''Justice League'' and ''Justice League Unlimited''), Víctor Hugo Aguilar (''Static Shock'')

** This backfired in “The Doomsday Sanction” when he responds to Batman’s concern over how they could be stopped if they went rogue by jokingly reminding Batman that he still has kryptonite. This only pisses Bruce off as he feels Clark isn’t taking the matter seriously. Clark apologizes and reaffirms he’d never go rogue.

* IAmNotLeftHanded: During his fight against Doomsday in "The Doomsday Sanction", he takes a brutal beating until he's forced to go all out. And in the grand finale of ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Unlimited'', he unleashes all his strength on ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} after giving him ''[[TropeNamer the]]'' WorldOfCardboardSpeech.

** Throughout the Cadmus story arc, he does what’s right, not what’s easiest. Consider the fact that this Superman is powerful enough to end Cadmus right away. Why doesn’t he? He tells Huntress why in "Question Authority". Later, despite his understandable anger and frustration, , he talks about it with the rest of the Justice League (who he knows will disagree with attacking) instead of than after Cadmus. As J’onn points out, Superman came there to be talked down.

* NiceGuy: He is courageous, idealistic, noble and benevolent and treats everyone with kindness and respect.

* OlderThanTheyLook: By ''Batman Beyond'', Clark has clearly aged better than Bruce since he's Kryptonian.

* ProperlyParanoid: During his tenure on the Justice League, Superman tends to be very distrustful of villains coming with olive branches such as Darkseid in Twilight and Lex Luthor in “Clash”. And he’s usually right. He also takes the existence of Cadmus as a personal affront to his very being and is the Leaguer with the most emotional investment in bringing them down.

* BerserkButton: Superman has two. Don’t harm his loved ones and don’t mess with his sense of reality. The former is what creates Lord Superman and the reality of "Brave New Metropolis". Mongul does the latter, sparking an UnstoppableRage. Darkseid takes the cake by pushing both buttons—- killing Dan Turpin and brainwashing Superman into being his vassal. As a result, Superman no longer cares about upholding his no-kill rule against the tyrant.

* BatmanGrabsAGun: After “Legacy,” Superman decides Darkseid is a permanent exception to his no-kill rule. He also, in a fit of desperation, tries to pull a heat vision lobotomy on Doomsday in a similar move to his Justice Lord version. It fails, causing Superman to TakeAThirdOption though Batman himself finds himself disillusioned by Superman’s actions.
* BerserkButton: Superman has two. Don’t harm his loved ones and don’t mess with his sense of reality. The former is what creates Lord Superman and the reality of “Brave New Metropolis”. Mongul does the latter, sparking an UnstoppableRage. Darkseid takes the cake by pushing both buttons—- killing Dan Turpin and brainwashing Superman into being his vassal. As a result, Superman no longer cares about upholding his no-kill rule against the tyrant.