History GoodIsNotSoft / TheDCU

* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'':
** Being a FlyingBrick and an idealist, [[Characters/SupermanTheCharacter Superman]] tries to stop villains peacefully, and if they fight back, exert the least amount of force needed to resolve the situation. But if a villain [[MoralEventHorizon crosses the line]], [[BewareTheSuperman they're in for a world of hurt]].
*** In one issue, [[BullyingADragon Major Force mocked Superman for being "too polite"]]. In response, Superman [[BodyHorror melted him]] into a [[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516002155/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment10.jpg pile]] [[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516001929/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment11.jpg of]] [[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516002303/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment12.jpg slag]] while calling him out for this. He lived through it, but that's [[AndIMustScream not much of a comfort]].

** Being a FlyingBrick and an idealist, Superman tries to stop villains peacefully, and if they fight back, exert the least amount of force needed to resolve the situation. But if a villain [[MoralEventHorizon crosses the line]], [[BewareTheSuperman they're in for a world of hurt]].
** In one issue, [[BullyingADragon Major Force mocked Superman for being "too polite"]]. In response, Superman [[BodyHorror melted him]] into a [[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516002155/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment10.jpg pile]] [[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516001929/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment11.jpg of]] [[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516002303/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment12.jpg slag]] while calling him out for this. He lived through it, but that's [[AndIMustScream not much of a comfort]].

** ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'s kind-hearted, caring and compassionate. This causes a lot of villains to underestimate her. Then they learn the hard way that she's also a short-tempered, fierce, vicious fighter with power to crush mountains and little patience for evil guys.
** In ''ComicBook/LastDaughterOfKrypton'', [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Simon Tycho]] lures Kara into a trap, captures her, tortures her and kills the person who helps her out. In response, Kara trashes his troops, blows his satellite base up, and after manhandling him, she tells him to NOT go after her again.

* [[DependingOnTheWriter Some]] interpretations of Franchise/{{Batman}}, specifically ''Series/Batman1966'' and ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', have Batman/Bruce Wayne as this. The various ComicBook/{{Robin}}s however, and the original ComicBook/{{Batgirl}} (Barbara Gordon) fit closer.

** Princess Diana has always been an icon of kindness and nobility, preferring peace and diplomacy to war and aggression. Yet, of all of the members of the Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica, she alone (post ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'') does not hesitate to use lethal force when needed, reminding everyone the Amazons are, at heart, still a [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy proud warrior race]]

* The Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse version of ComicBook/{{Superman}} is every bit the [[NiceGuy altruistic and compassionate individual]] one expects him to be, as demonstrated in his rescue of the soldier firing at him during the battle of Smallville. He also does not hold back his phenomenal strength in his battles with similarly superpowered opponents like the Kryptonians and [[spoiler: Doomsday]], frequently throwing devastating shockwave-creating punches; and when left with absolutely no choice, [[spoiler: ''[[NeckSnap snaps]]'' Zod's neck.]]

** Oliver starts out as JudgeJuryAndExecutioner but eventually takes up ThouShaltNotKill. After a while in this mode, we find out his attitude on it stops short of the Batman level; killing isn't a non-option, it's just a ''last resort.'' {{Mooks}} in his way get the fight taken out of them with tranq or taser arrows. {{Mooks}} chasing him once his work is done get left in the dust with smoke or flashbang arrows. The VillainOfTheWeek gets captured. ...And villains who convince him they're too dangerous to live get ''pointy'' arrows. Also, 'captured' can still mean "impaled to the wall [[OnlyAFleshWound through a non-fatal part of your body]]."

* Terry from ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' is far kinder than his mentor, but while he ''is'' Batman and like Bruce will not actively kill, unlike Bruce, he won't [[SaveTheVillain save villains]] [[SelfDisposingVillain from their own fate]].

** Superman's NoHoldsBarredBeatdown of the Elite in ''ComicBook/WhatsSoFunnyAboutTruthJusticeAndTheAmericanWay'' and its film adaptation, ''WesternAnimation/SupermanVsTheElite'', is a horror to behold. And the Elite were nominally on his side before they started taking things too far...

** In one issue, [[BullyingADragon Major Force mocked Superman for being "too polite"]]. In response, Superman [[BodyHorror melted him]] into a [[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516002155/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment10.jpg pile]] [[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516001929/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment11.jpg of]] [[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516002303/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment12.jpg slag]] while calling him out for this dumb error. He lived through it, but that's [[AndIMustScream not much of a comfort]].

** In one issue, [[BullyingADragon Major Force mocked Superman for being "too polite"]]. In response, Superman [[BodyHorror melted him]] into a [[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516002155/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment10.jpg pile]][[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516001929/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment11.jpg of]][[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516002303/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment12.jpg slag.]] He lived through it, but that's [[AndIMustScream not much of a comfort]].

** In one issue, [[BullyingADragon Major Force mocked Superman for being "too polite"]]. In response, Superman [[BodyHorror melted him]] into a [[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516002155/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment10.jpg pile]][[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516001929/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment11.jpg of]][[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516002303/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment12.jpg slag.]] He lived through it, but that's [[AndIMustScream not much of a comfort]].

** In one issue, Major Force mocked Superman for being "too polite". In response, Superman [[BodyHorror melted him]] into a [[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516002155/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment10.jpg pile]][[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516001929/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment11.jpg of]][[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516002303/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment12.jpg slag.]] He lived through it, but that's [[AndIMustScream not much of a comfort]].

* Laurel Lance in {{Series/Arrow}} is generally kind to those around her and has made a career of helping those who need it most, but that doesn't mean she's going to let the bad guys get away with abusing people.

** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': Long before ''Infinite Crisis'' made more violent the only one of DC's big three to have had a [[ThouShaltNotKill no killing rule]] from her debut there was a period while ComicBook/{{Artemis}} was acting Wonder Woman after ComicBook/TheContest during which a number of criminals seemed to think they didn't need to fear reprisals from Diana for causing harm in her presence due to her loving forgiving reputation. She swiftly reminded them that just because she doesn't kill and tries to redeem criminals doesn't mean she won't put them in a world of pain for hurting others.

** In one issue, Major Force (trope-namer for StuffedIntoTheFridge) [[BullyingADragon mocked Superman]] for being "too polite". In response, Superman [[BodyHorror melted him]] into a [[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516002155/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment10.jpg pile]][[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516001929/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment11.jpg of]][[http://web.archive.org/web/20170516002303/https://arousinggrammardotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/supermanmoment12.jpg slag.]] He lived through it, but that's [[AndIMustScream not much of a comfort]].

* Death from ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' is the best person you want to be with at a time of, well, death. A really sweet, caring person, she's also TheGrimReaper and when the need arises she can be really scary.
* [[DependingOnTheWriter Some]] interpretations of Franchise/{{Batman}}, specifically ''Series/Batman1966'' and ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', have Batman/Bruce Wayne as this. The various Robins however, and the original Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) fit closer.

** Though usually TheCape who genuinely wants to succeed Batman, [[ComicBook/Batgirl2000 Cassandra Cain]] can be absolutely terrifying if angered, especially because she is the [[NotHyperbole literal]] [[WorldsBestWarrior best hand-to-hand fighter in the DCU]]. In one instance, a hired assassin kills one of his own allies to get a clear shot at her. This angers her so much that she ''stops his heart'' for several seconds, to give him a good idea of what he had just done.

* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':

* In ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice,'' [[TheDragon Psimon]] assumes that because [[SuperpowerLottery M'gann]] is a cheerful, friendly NaiveNewcomer, she'll fall apart with a BreakingSpeech and a selection of her worst fears. It works for about a minute. [[MindRape Then she gets PISSED]]. (Something which [[HeWhoFightsMonsters becomes a bit too common]] after the TimeSkip, to the point that the much gruffer GoodIsNotNice hero Superboy calls WhatTheHellHero.)

!!Franchise/TheDCU

* Most of the protagonists in Comicbook/{{Fables}} have adopted this view, given the cynical nature of the setting and their desperate circumstances. While none of them are really cruel, there's very little any of them would ''not'' do for the safety and survival of their loved ones.

** Being a FlyingBrick and all, Superman tries to exert the least amount of force he can to resolve a situation. But if a villain [[MoralEventHorizon crosses the line]], [[BewareTheSuperman they're in for a world of hurt]].