History ComicBook / ForTheManWhoHasEverything

* FantasyCounterpartCulture: In Superman's vision of Krypton in the comics, the UnfortunateImplications of Krypton's black population, the Vathlo, are invoked by Moore for all they're worth.[[note]]Originally created as a way to introduce ethnic diversity to Krypton, the Vathlo Islanders were a dark-skinned and highly intelligent but isolationist people, who chose to remain separate from the other, all-white Kryptonian continents; writers for years had avoided mentioning them in detail because, in hindsight, the concept seemed like a well-meaning but misguided attempt to ''justify'' racial segregation.[[/note]] Vathlo immigrants attempting to integrate into greater Kryptonian culture are cited by Jor-El and the Sword of Rao as one of the signs of modern society's decadence, and Kal-El mentions a "Little Vathlo" neighborhood of Kryptonopolis, suggesting that racial bigotry has forced them into ethnic enclaves by necessity, not choice.

* SignificantBirthDate: Superman's birthday is on [[LeapDay February 29]].

* FakeBetterAlternateTimeline: Superman's dream world created by the Black Mercy qualifies, with it initially seeming wonderful for Kal-El until the worse parts, like Jor-El's political turn, start to creep through.

** Lyla Ler-Rol's replacement in ''Justice League Unlimited'', Loana, whose name is a combination of '''Lo'''is Lane and L'''ana''' Lang, the two loves of Superman's life.

The story works around the idea of TheFinalTemptation: Superman's mind is trapped in an illusion [[HappilyEverAfter of him living a happy life]] on an intact [[DoomedHometown Krypton]]. In the illusion, he's married to a former actress and has a large, loving family. However, Krypton is shown to have changed since the time it would have been destroyed, turning from the [[CrystalSpiresAndTogas idyllic representations]] in the {{Canon}} to [[TheEighties a dystopia teetering on social collapse]]. Amongst other things, [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} Kara]] is in the hospital after being assaulted by a anti-PhantomZone protester. Further compounding the problem is Kal-El's estrangement from his father, [[IgnoredExpert Jor-El]]; while the latter was often portrayed as a heroic visionary in UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}}, this Jor-El is a bitter shell who turned to [[StrawCharacter radical reactionary politics]] after [[CryingWolf wrongly predicting]] Krypton's self-destruction (his wife [[MissingMom dying]] of [[SoapOperaDisease "wasting sickness"]] might have something to do with it, too).

While Superman [[IJustWantToBeNormal feels contentment with his family and his career]] (being free from [[{{Angst}} the conflict]] inherent with being a superhero), he realizes all is not as it seems as the dream deepens. Through [[IKnowYouAreInThereSomewhereFight sheer force of will]] (Mongul comments that the sensation is akin to Superman [[ToThePain tearing off his own arm]]), Kal-El tells his beloved son that [[{{TearJerker}} he doesn't think he's real]]. With this revelation, the illusion is dispelled, and Superman is freed in time to [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown save his friends]] from Mongul. During the ensuing fight, the Black Mercy attaches itself to Batman; we see briefly images of his idea of an idyllic life (which involves his parents never being gunned down in front of him). Jason Todd manages to pry the Black Mercy off of Batman using Mongul's special gauntlets.

The story works around the idea of TheFinalTemptation: Superman's mind is trapped in an illusion [[HappilyEverAfter of him living a happy life]] on an intact [[DoomedHometown Krypton]]. In the illusion, he's married to a former actress and has a large, loving family. However, Krypton is shown to have changed since the time it would have been destroyed, turning from the [[CrystalSpiresAndTogas idyllic representations]] in the {{Canon}} to [[TheEighties a dystopia teetering on social collapse]]. Amongst other things, [[Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} Kara]] is in the hospital after being assaulted by a anti-PhantomZone protester. Further compounding the problem is Kal-El's estrangement from his father, [[IgnoredExpert Jor-El]]; while the latter was often portrayed as a heroic visionary in UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}}, this Jor-El is a bitter shell who turned to [[StrawCharacter radical reactionary politics]] after [[CryingWolf wrongly predicting]] Krypton's self-destruction (his wife [[MissingMom dying]] of [[SoapOperaDisease "wasting sickness"]] might have something to do with it, too).

-->'''Mongul:''' "If you don't already know my name, then you're not worthy of an introduction. I'm the new manager around here. Naturally, I shall need time to settle in and adjust to your many interesting customs... I know, for example, that your society makes distinctions on a basis of gender and age. Perhaps, then, you could advise me... Which of you would it be polite to kill first?"

* KarmaHoudini[=/=]KarmicDeath: Mongul's fate. Death being figurative here, of course. Depending on if Mongul's dream turns sour or if he's dissatisfied with it, he got exactly what he wanted and was satisfied with it. In the ''Justice League Unlimited'' episode, Batman bitterly states that whatever he sees is "too good for him".

** Rather obviously, it becomes a CurseCutShort in ''Justice League Unlimited'', as Wonder Woman fires the weapon just before she can say "hell".

-->'''Mongul:''' [[ThisCannotBe You... insufferable... little... speck... You HURT me.]] '''YOU!''' (''pound'') '''HURT!''' (''pound'') '''ME!'''

* RuleOfThree: The narration of the comic includes three uses of the phrase, "He is content", which is also the same number of people who become affected by the Black Mercy.
* SayMyName: In the comic, after Robin ripped the Black Mercy off, Superman screamed Mongul's name so loud that he knocked Robin over.
** Not only that, the word "'''MONGUL'''" fills the ''[[PaintingTheFourthWall entire panel]]''. See [[http://maxlevelgeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/supermanannual11a.jpg here.]]

* NoodleIncident: We only learn a bit of Batman's fantasy in the comics.
-->'''Batman:''' It was so strange... I was married to Kathy Kane (the original Batwoman) and we had a teenage daughter...

** Lyla Ler-Rol's replacement in ''Justice League Unlimited'', Loana, whose name is a combination of '''Lo'''is Lane and L'''ana''' Lang.

While Superman [[IJustWantToBeNormal feels contentment with his family and his career]] (being free from [[{{Angst}} the conflict]] inherent with being a superhero), he realizes all is not as it seems as the dream deepens. Through [[IKnowYouAreInThereSomewhereFight sheer force of will]] (Mongul comments that the sensation is akin to Superman [[ToThePain tearing off his own arm]]), Kal-El tells his beloved son that [[{{TearJerker}} he doesn't think he's real]]. With this revelation, the illusion is dispelled, and Superman is freed in time to [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown save his friends]] from Mongul. During the ensuing fight, the Black Mercy attaches itself to Batman; we see briefly see images of his idea of an idyllic life (which involves his parents never being gunned down in front of him). Jason Todd manages to pry the Black Mercy off of Batman using Mongul's special gauntlets.

* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: Mongul breaks Wonder Woman's arm and mops the floor with her, then gets Superman in a death grip. He finally gets taken out by ''Robin'', who cleverly uses the Black Mercy as a weapon. A rare BigDamnHeroes moment for [[TheScrappy Jason Todd]].

* ManlyTears: In the comic, Jor-El sobs after angrily smashing a crystal bird feeding its young after Kal tells him he's no longer the loving father he used to be after his wife died.

* ShipTease: Alan Moore has Superman and Wonder Woman having a long kiss on the mouth, with this exchange:
-->'''Superman:''' Mmmm. Why don't we do that more often?\\
'''Wonder Woman:''' I don't know. [[LampshadeHanging Too predictable?]]

* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Superman deals one to Mongul in a fit of rage. Even Mongul, who during the Pre-Crisis era was consistently protrayed as being slightly stronger than the Man of Steel, was afraid that he was going to kill him.

->He is content.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSubtitute: Jason Todd for Dick Grayson as Robin. Wonder Woman meets Jason for the first time in this story, and even remarks on how much he looks like Dick that she briefly forgot it wasn't the latter. [[ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths Pre-Crisis]] Jason in a nutshell.

* UnstoppableRage: Superman when he wakes from his dream and realizes what Mongul has done to him.

** Zig-zagged in the comic, where Mongul guesses that Superman's fantasy is him going back to "whatever aboriginal backwater" he was raised in. He's wrong in this case, but it's a perfectly valid assumption considering Supermans love for the Kents and Smallville.