History Recap / JusticeLeagueUnlimitedS1E2ForTheManWhoHasEverything

* BewareTheNiceOnes: You do ''not'' want to remind Superman of what he lost on Krypton, or what he would have had it never blown up. Once he wakes from his dream, he decides to make Mongul pay for twisting that knife. If he didn’t glimpse the statue of his parents and come to his senses at the very last moment, Mongul would have ''died''.

* BewareTheNiceOnes: You do ''not'' want to remind Superman of what he lost on Krypton, or what he would have had it never blown up. Once he wakes from his dream, he decides to make Mongul pay for twisting that knife.

-->'''Superman''': '''Happy!?''' [[LastOfHisKind Do you know what I've lost!?]]

Superman finds himself distracted by the statues above him. This momentary distraction proves nearly fatal, as Mongul is able to take control of the fight once again, and prepares a spear to finally end the Last Son of Krypton once and for all.

As the screen closes in on Mongul's face, it fades to black as we hear the sound of distant screams...

* AdaptedOut: Jason Todd doesn't appear in the JLU adaptation, as he was never introduced in the DCAU. Similarly, Tim Drake, who held the title at the time the story was set, did not appear. This may have been because of [[ExiledFromContinuity the Bat-Embargo]], which went into effect partway into this season's production.[[note]]This also led to Hugo Strange being abruptly dropped after a cameo in "The Doomsday Sanction".[[/note]] According to quotes on [[http://jl.toonzone.net/episode27/episode27.htm this page]], the creative team had some say in this; Bruce Timm and others "didn’t hesitate for a moment to cut Robin" (though Dwayne [=McDuffie=] tried to keep him in before relenting). Likewise, Mongol's dream is left up to the viewer's imagination, instead of being shown, like in the original comic.

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: Averted in the animated version, however, where Krypton really ''is'' a paradise -- making it all the more painful for Superman to reject it.

* CastingGag: The mugger who shoots the Waynes (Joe Chill) is also voiced by Kevin Conroy, [[{{Irony}} who is the voice of Batman]].

** Mongul is unable to see what fantasy the Black Mercy is showing Superman, but instead of envisioning Superman's actual dream -- living a peaceful, quiet life with a loving family on Krypton -- he imagines Superman is "sitting on a throne, ruling the universe, all you human garbage fawning at his feet. More honest, don't you think, than this pretense of being a selfless hero?"
** It's implied at the end that Mongul is perfectly content with the fantasy of bloody conquest the Black Mercy is giving him; whereas Superman is able to break free because, being a hero, he was able to comprehend ''something wrong'' with the fantasy he was given.

-->'''Mongul''': I fashioned a prison you couldn't leave without sacrificing your heart's desire. It must have been like tearing off your own arm.
* LotusEaterMachine: The Black Mercy, a telepathic parasitic plant, subdues victims by showing them a perfect mental simulation of their greatest desires. For Superman, it's a fusion of a living Krypton and the life he's led on Earth (he lives and works on a Kryptonian farm, and his wife is an amalgam of Lana Lang and Lois Lane), and for Batman, it's his father overpowering Joe Chill and preventing the deaths of himself and his wife. Mongol's specific dream isn't seen, but sound effects imply he's living out his fantasy of bloody conquest.

* NotSoAboveItAll: When Diana asked if Batman brought Superman a gift certificate as a birthday present, Batman replies with a rather uncharacteristically defensive no.

-->'''Mongul:''' I suppose Superman told you about our previous encounter.\\

* SequelEpisode: To Season One's "War World".

Superman finds himself distracted by the statues above him. This momentary distraction proves fatal, as Mongul is able to take control of the fight once again, and prepares a spear to finally end the Last Son of Krypton once and for all.

* AdaptedOut: Jason Todd doesn't appear in the JLU adaptation, as he was never introduced in the DCAU. Similarly, Tim Drake, who held the title at the time the story was set, did not appear. This may have been because of [[ExiledFromContinuity the Bat-Embargo]], which went into effect partway into this season's production [[note]]and led to Hugo Strange being abruptly dropped after a cameo in "The Doomsday Sanction"[[/note]]. According to quotes on [[http://jl.toonzone.net/episode27/episode27.htm this page]], the creative team had some say in this; Bruce Timm and others "didn’t hesitate for a moment to cut Robin" (though Dwayne [=McDuffie=] tried to keep him in before relenting). Likewise, Mongol's dream is left up to the viewer's imagination, instead of being shown, like in the original comic.

** Mongul is unable to see what fantasy the Black Mercy is showing Superman, but finds it easy to guess:
-->''Sitting on a throne, ruling the universe, all you human garbage fawning at his feet. More honest, don't you think, than this pretense of being a selfless hero?
** In reality, Superman dreams of living a peaceful, quiet life with a loving family on Krypton.
** In both versions, it's implied at the end that Mongul is perfectly content with the fantasy of bloody conquest the Black Mercy is giving him; whereas Superman is able to break free because, being a hero, he was able to comprehend ''something wrong'' with the fantasy he was given.

* HopeSpot: A deeply cruel one for Batman; in his dream, he sees his father overpower and savagely beat Joe Chill, but as the Black Mercy is pried off him, Chill overpowers Thomas and shoots him dead.

* InvulnerableKnuckles: Averted; Wonder Woman's knuckles are visibly, painfully bruised from her punching Mongul.
* 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".

* MadeOfIron: Mongul stands out as ridiculously tough even compared to Superman and Wonder Woman; Diana painfully bruises her knuckles from punching him, and none of her blows do more than stagger Mongul. Superman does better, but his heat vision, though painful, doesn't severely injure Mongul, and despite the savage beating the villain suffers, all he needs is a moment's reprieve to get back up and regain the upper hand.

* UnreliableNarrator: Subverted, much to Mongul's irritation.

* WrestlerInAllOfUs: Again, Wonder Woman trying a German Suplex on Mongul at one point.

* BadassBoast: Courtesy of Mongul, who illustrates that Superman being indisposed means he's unstoppable after Wonder Woman [[InvulnerableKnuckles only hurts her own hands trying to punch him out]].

They arrive at his fortress' interior to find Superman standing in one spot, a distant expression on his face and a huge black-and-purple plant attached to his chest. Batman examines him and notes that he appears to be in a comatose trance. Wonder Woman [[IncrediblyLamePun wonders]] aloud who got this for him and why, before [[HurricaneOfPuns wandering]] off to find anything to help take the thing off of Superman's chest.

* FateWorseThanDeath: Mongul is trapped by the Black Mercy.

* AdaptedOut: Jason Todd doesn't appear in the JLU adaptation, as he was never introduced in the DCAU. Similarly, Tim Drake, who held the title at the time the story was set, did not appear. This may have been because of [[ExiledFromContinuity the Bat-Embargo]], which went into effect partway into this season's production [[note]]and led to Hugo Strange being abruptly dropped after a cameo in "The Doomsday Sanction"[[/note]]. According to quotes on [[http://jl.toonzone.net/episode27/episode27.htm this page]], the creative team had some say in this; Bruce Timm and others "didn’t hesitate for a moment to cut Robin" (though Dwayne [=McDuffie=] tried to keep him in before relenting). In the end on the comic Mongul’s dream is about vaporizing Robin and ripping off Superman’s head to use it as a war trophy. The episode cut all this out only referencing it in how you can hear Superman’s scream.

* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: The animated version has only Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman present, and it's Diana who gets in the final shot with the Black Mercy.

* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: While trying to pry loose the Black Mercy, Batman keeps talking to Superman.
-->"He'll kill her, Clark, and then he'll kill us all. Come back to us."\\
"Yes, that's it. Fight it, Clark. ''Fight it.''"

Inside of Bruce's head, a familiar Noir-esque scene plays. A young boy and his father and mother are walking through an alley after a performance of Zorro, when a mugger arrives, brandishing a gun and demanding they hand over their valuables. But this time, Thomas Wayne charges forward and pushes the gun aside before beating the tar out of the mugger, to the delight of his son.

* InnocuouslyImportantEpisode: In a sense to the Cadmus arc, which hadn't even started yet. [[Recap/JusticeLeagueUnlimitedS2E12DividedWeFall Superman is angrier than he's ever been and about to kill his hated enemy, but he hesitates at the last moment because he's]] TheCape.

* NothingIsScarier: Unlike the comic version (where we see Mongul's fantasy of triumph and conquest), we never actually get to see what it is that Mongul sees in his fantasy. And yet, it is so much worse...

* StockSoundEffect: The "Howie Scream" is played as Wonder Woman fires her {{BFG}} at Mongul.

* AdaptedOut: Jason Todd doesn't appear in the JLU adaptation, as he was never introduced in the DCAU. Similarly, Tim Drake, who held the title at the time the story was set, did not appear. This may have been because of [[ExiledFromContinuity the Bat-Embargo]], which went into effect partway into this season's production [[note]]and led to Hugo Strange being abruptly dropped after a cameo in "The Doomsday Sanction"[[/note]]. According to quotes on [[http://jl.toonzone.net/episode27/episode27.htm this page]], the creative team had some say in this; Bruce Timm and others "didn’t hesitate for a moment to cut Robin" (though Dwayne [=McDuffie=] tried to keep him in before relenting).
** In the end on the comic Mongul’s dream is about vaporizing Robin and ripping off Superman’s head to use it as a war trophy. The episode cut all this out only referencing it in how you can hear Superman’s scream.

* CastingGag: The mugger who shoots the Waynes (theoretically Joe Chill) is also voiced by Kevin Conroy, [[{{Irony}} who is the voice of Batman]].

* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Mongul is unable to see what fantasy the Black Mercy is showing Superman, but finds it easy to guess:

** Franchise/WonderWoman (Franchise/{{Batman}} in the comic) bred a new rose as a gift for Superman, calling it "The Krypton". It's ruined at the end of the story.

** TheWorfBarrage: After being physically overpowered by Mongul, Wonder Woman tries firing an alien energy weapon (a "neural impactor" according to the villain) at him, to no effect at all.

* VillainRespet: Played with. While Mongul is misogynistic towards Diana for the entire episode, he does give Batman a nod of respect (albeit still condescending and mocking) for his intellect and deductions re: the Black Mercy.

* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Mongul speculates that the Black Mercy is showing Superman as ruler of the universe; in reality, Superman's having a dream of living a peaceful, quiet life with a loving family on Krypton. In both versions, it's implied at the end that Mongul is perfectly content with the fantasy of bloody conquest the Black Mercy is giving him. Whereas Superman is able to break free because, being a hero, he was able to comprehend ''something wrong'' with the fantasy he was given.

* LotusEaterMachine: The Black Mercy, a telepathic parasitic plant, subdues victims by showing them a perfect mental simulation of their greatest desires. For Superman, it's a fusion of a living Krypton and the life he's led on Earth (he lives and works on a Kryptonian farm, and his wife is an amalgam of Lana Lang and Lois Lane), and for Batman, it's his father overpowering Joe Chill and preventing the deaths of himself and his wife.

* DarkReprise: When Superman flies off to take on Mongul, a brief metal minor-key snippet of the original ''Justice League'' theme plays, showing that Superman is certainly not the heroic character he was in that series.

** TheWorfBarrage: After being physically overpowered by Mongul, Wonder Woman tries shooting an alien energy weapon at him, to no effect at all.

** WorfBarrage: After being physically overpowered by Mongul, Wonder Woman tries shooting an alien energy weapon at him, to no effect at all.

And he is '''''[[BewareTheNiceOnes pissed]]'''''.

Outside, Superman and Mongul are trading punches, with Superman demanding to know if Mongul had any idea what he did to Superman. Mongul smugly replies that he fashioned a prison Superman couldn't escape from without sacrificing his heart's desire, before rubbing salt in the wound by saying it must have been like tearing off his own arm. Superman doesn't take that well.

-->'''Superman''': Happy!? [[LastOfHisKind Do you know what I've lost!?]]

* TheWorfEffect: Mongul's [[TookALevelInBadass increased]] threat level is solidly established when he tanks blows from Wonder Woman and throws her around like a ragdoll.

* BewareTheNiceOnes: Oh, dear God.