History ComicBook / SupermanUnchained

* WouldHurtAChild: In his childhood, Clark was shot multiple times with a shotgun by [[CorruptHick Jedidiah Colder]], who [[BrokenMasquerade witnessed him flying]].

* SmallStepsHero: [[{{Reconstruction}} Reconstructed]]. Luthor says that for all of the world's admiration of Superman, in the end, he is just a man stumbling though life, capable of making mistakes as any human. He is trial and error. However, he also says Superman [[TheParagon still teaches people to do the right thing and inspire each other]], [[HoldingOutForAHero not to look to the stars in search for a savior]]. It's a rare moment where Luthor admits Superman is a WorthyOpponent.

* UnskilledButStrong: As Superman explains, [[spoiler:the fact that Wraith is a MilitarySuperhero means that he always had someone else to have his back, and thus he never had to truly learn how to fight, especially with his signature cloaking. As a result, when he manages to even the playing field in Issue 8 by forcing the fight into the mantle of the Earth to make Wraith's manipulation of his energy signature nigh impossible, he manages to fight him extremely effectively, since he had to learn how to fight on his own with minimal aid by comparison.]]

-> "Years ago, back when the world was on the brink of war, we sent a message into space. An equation that was more emotional than mathematical. An equation that added up to more than the sum of its parts–nonsensical, but aspirational. An equation that called out, and said ‘Help us be better’. We should never have turned to the stars for guidance. If there is an answer, it’s here on Earth with us. For years, I thought Superman was trying to be the answer to that infernal equation. And I hated him for it. But I see now what his actions say–There is no answer. Figure it out yourself. How to be better. As he is trying to do… And perhaps, now, at the end, I can admit that in being the farthest thing from an answer to that equation… he might have been the closest we’ll come to one."

NeedsWikiMagicLove

-> "Years ago, back when the world was on the brink of war, we sent a message into space. An equation that was more emotional than mathematical. An equation that added up to more than the sum of its parts–nonsensical, but aspirational. An equation that called out, and said ‘Help us be better’. We should never have turned to the stars for guidance. If there is an answer, it’s here on Earth with us. For years, I thought Superman was trying to be the answer to that infernal equation. And I hated him for it. But I see now what his actions say–There is no answer. Figure it out yourself. How to be better. As he is trying to do… And perhaps, now, at the end, I can admit that in being the farthest thing from an answer to that equation… he might have been the closest we’ll come to one."

NeedsWikiMagicLove

[[quoteright:324:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/superman_hero_1882.jpg]]

** BenevolentConspiracy: The goals of this conspiracy are to dispel danger zones, rather than enforce will. In essence, it militarizes a Superman.

* HeroAntagonist: Although he did perform horrible actions (such as destroying Nagasaki, a civilian population), Wraith seems to genuinely believe in the peace and safety of Earth, and is reluctant to hurt Superman. That said, their interactions are heating up considerably over time. [[spoiler:In the finale, however, Wraith sacrifices himself to save Earth from his own species.]]

--> ComicBook/LexLuthor, ''Superman Unchained'' #9

* WouldHurtAChild: In his childhood, Clark was shot multiple times with a shotgun by [[CorruptHick Jedidiah Colder]], who [[BrokenMasquerade witnessed him flying]].

* BackToBackBadass: Superman and Wraith, in the beginning of issue/part 3 of the trade: Answered Prayers.

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: The opening is this for Wraith, though it's not fully explained until a few issues in: he [[KickTheDog destroyed Nagasaki]] as a fake [[PeaceThroughSuperiorFirepower Fat Man]] nuke [[MyMasterRightOrWrong because he was told to do so]].

A mini series in the Creator/DCComics ComicBook/{{New 52}} for Franchise/{{Superman}} running in 2013 and 2014, featuring the Kryptonian's conflicts with the WesternTerrorists known as "Ascension" and experiences with a MilitarySuperhero with similar, but superior powers to his known as Wraith.

* {{Badass}}: In addition to Superman, we have Wraith, who is stronger, faster, and more durable than he is, and absorbs far more solar energy.

A mini series in the DCComics ComicBook/{{New 52}} for Franchise/{{Superman}} running in 2013 and 2014, featuring the Kryptonian's conflicts with the WesternTerrorists known as "Ascension" and experiences with a MilitarySuperhero with similar, but superior powers to his known as Wraith.

* AppliedPhlebotinum: Earthstone, an Earth-based variation similar to Kryptonian Sunstone, but much more dangerous, and capable of disabling large quantities of technology. [[spoiler:And, as shown by Issue 6, anything its affected cannot operate under the commands given by it after it is brought a select distance away from Earth.]]

-> "Years ago, back when the world was on the brink of war, we sent a message into space. An equation that was more emotional than mathematical. An equation that added up to more than the sum of its parts–nonsensical, but aspirational. An equation that called out, and said ‘Help us be better’. We should never have turned to the stars for guidance. If there is an answer, it’s here on Earth with us. For years, I thought Superman was trying to be the answer to that infernal equation. And I hated him for it. But I see now what his actions say–There is no answer. Figure it out yourself. How to be better. As he is trying to do…And perhaps, now, at the end, I can admit that in being the farthest thing from an answer to that equation…he might have been the closest we’ll come to one."

* ObviouslyEvil: Subverted with Wraith. Despite being one of the main villains, having a rocky face akin to {{Darkseid}}, and having a [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver black and red color scheme]], Wraith isn't all that evil. He just follows the orders of his masters. [[spoiler:His species, however, plays this straight.]]

* LockingMacGyverInTheStoreCupboard: While incarcerated and working on a model city for community service, LexLuthor escapes captivity by reengineering his model into a MiniMecha.

* DissonantSerenity: Luthor calmly monologues on the history of origami while JimmyOlsen (who he kidnapped as part of a plan to kill Superman) screams at him to stop the machine working on his hand.

--> General Lane, SupermanUnchained #9

* TokenHeroicOrc: [[spoiler:Wraith is revealed to be this. Since he was raised on Earth, he is more beholden to his adopted home than his original people.]]

* HistoricalInJoke[=/=]AllohistoricalAllusion: The United States didn't drop a warhead on Nagasaki--they dropped Wraith.

* GoodVersusGood: Barring [[WesternTerrorists Ascension]], both sides of the conflict in the comic are ostensibly good. Superman is [[TheParagon as he usually is]], but Sam Lane just wants to get US government property (Earthstone) to better protect the United States, and Wraith is a reluctant villain. [[spoiler:Eventually subverted on that last part, when Wraith begins to break down and goes after Batman for revenge, not because he was told to.]]

* KarmaHoudini: Sam Lane faces no comeuppance after spending the entirety of the book antagonizing Superman, to the point he declares him an enemy of the U.S. and attempts to destroy the Fortress of Solitude. The closest thing he gets to a punishment is having his anti-Superman technology destroyed. Later story arcs. such as ''ComicBook/SupermanDoomed'', have him promoted to U.S. Senator.

* SmallStepsHero: [[{{Reconstruction}} Reconstructed]]. Luthor, of all people, says that for all of the world's admiration of Superman, in the end, he is just a man stumbling though life, capable of making mistakes as any human. He is trial and error. However, he also says Superman [[TheParagon still teaches people to do the right thing and inspire each other]], [[HoldingOutForAHero not to look to the stars in search for a savior]]. It's a rare moment where Luthor admits Superman is a WorthyOpponent.

* ObviouslyEvil: Subverted with Wraith. Despite being one of the main villains, having a rocky face akin to {{Darkseid}}, and having a [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver black and red color scheme]], Wraith isn't all that evil. He just follows the orders of his masters. [[spoiler:His species, however, play this straight.]]