History TearJerker / ManOfSteel

'''WARNING:''' Spoilers are unmarked.

-->'''Clark:''' [[IJustWantToBeNormal Can't I just keep pretending I'm your son?]]
-->'''Jonathan:''' You ''are'' my son. ''[they hug]''

* The destruction of Krypton, we all knew it was coming. But in this version, Jor-El dies and Lara is alone, [[WatchingTroyBurn just watching the destruction]].
** "[[FamousLastWords Make a better world than ours, Kal.]]" *sniff*
** Not to mention, Kelor the service drone suggests that Lara find some place of refuge, and she just numbly says that there's nowhere left to take refuge at, and they truly have reached the end.
** Also Zod and his followers reaction to the destruction of their homeworld after they're freed from the Phantom Zone. Even [[NotSoStoic the otherwise completely stoic Faora can't hold back tears]].
* After Clark learns he's an extraterrestrial (taken from ''ComicBook/SupermanSecretOrigin''):

-->'''Jonathan:''' You ''are'' my son. (''they hug'')
* The death of Jonathan Kent, which Clark feels he failed to stop.To make things worse, Jonathan ''refused'' to be saved, believing Clark should keep his powers hidden.
** And just before this tragic moment, Clark has an argument with Jonathan and unintentionally disowns his adoptive parents by reminding them they aren't his real mom and dad. Jonathan then promptly agrees, interrupted by the tornado before he could make his point. There's no time for reconciliation, which makes Clark's guilt much more potent. And it isn't until near the end of the movie when he learns he hadn't let his father down. Clark's probably thinking that he did in the sixteen years since Jonathan's death.

* After Jor-El helps Lois escape Zod's ship, he bids her farewell, saying they will probably never meet again. He's right, Zod seemingly deletes his program from the scout ship's systems.
** It's what Zod says as he does so that clinches it, telling Jor-El that he'll kill Kal-El.
--->'''Zod''': Tell me--you have Jor-El's memories; his conscience. Can you experience his pain? I will harvest the Codex from your son's corpse, and I will rebuild Krypton atop his bones.

--> '''Zod''': [[IDidWhatIHadToDo I exist only to protect Krypton; that is the sole purpose for which I was born, and every action I take, no matter how violent or how cruel, is for the greater good of my people.]] [[SanitySlippage And now, I have no people...]][[UnstoppableRage My soul...that. Is what you. Have taken! FROM ME!]]
** Despite being the villain, there are many reasons to pity Zod. His ranting makes it clear he just wants to be the protector of his race he was literally born to be (since it is the only way he knows how to define himself) despite [[{{Narcissist}} his narcissism]] and dogmatic, SocialDarwinist mindset blinding him to his own monstrosity. He just wants to preserve what to him is the last legacy of Krypton and her people, a legacy which, in his mind, Superman has cruelly destroyed. [[DespairEventHorizon Despair]] [[SanitySlippage drives him to madness]] and his hateful attempts to pointlessly and spitefully kill just a few humans when Superman obviously has his number in their battle to the death just kind of comes across as [[DeathSeeker Zod begging Superman to end his life]].
--> '''Zod''': (''holds out ash in his hand'') ''Look at this''. We could have built a new Krypton in this squalor...but you choose the humans over us.
* At the final battle, Superman has Zod in a headlock, but Zod's heat vision endangers a family. With no choice, Supes kills him. His cry of anguish shows he has never done that before and really didn't want to. This hits [[UpToEleven VERY, VERY]] hard if you're not a fan of that.
** It's essentially the same reaction he had to letting his human father die.

** WordOfGod confirms that he is ''so'' traumatized by this, it becomes a self-imposed rule that Superman doesn't kill.
** Clark spent most of his life looking for a purpose and connection to his people. He was overjoyed in the scout ship after talking to Jor-El, and when he destroys the ship and thus the chance to revive the Kryptonian race, you can see the pain on his face as he does it. When he snaps Zod's neck, thus removing the last living trace of his people from his life, the pain is even worse than just the horror of killing someone...

* Superman visiting his mother Martha to make sure she's alright after Zod's "visit" and attack on the Kent Farm in search of the Codex, [[https://i.imgur.com/FWqP3CZ.png Clark is just so tense while waiting for a response or lack there of,]] that you have to truly feel sorry for him.

[[caption-width-right:350:''[[ThoseHandsHaveKilled Even doing the right thing can feel wrong.]]'']]

[[caption-width-right:350:''[[MyGodWhatHaveIDone Even doing the right thing can feel wrong.]]'']]

* The death of [[spoiler:Jonathan Kent]], which Clark feels he failed to stop. [[spoiler:To make things worse, Jonathan ''refused'' to be saved, believing Clark should keep his powers hidden.]]
** And just before this tragic moment, Clark [[spoiler:has an argument with Jonathan and unintentionally disowns his adoptive parents by reminding them they aren't his real mom and dad. Jonathan then promptly agrees, interrupted by the tornado before he could make his point.]] There's no time for reconciliation, which makes Clark's guilt much more potent. [[spoiler:And it isn't until near the end of the movie when he learns he hadn't let his father down. Clark's probably thinking that he did in the sixteen years since Jonathan's death.]]

* After Jor-El helps Lois escape Zod's ship, he bids her farewell, saying they will probably never meet again. [[spoiler:He's right, Zod seemingly deletes his program from the scout ship's systems.]]
** It's what Zod says as he does so that clinches it, telling Jor-El that [[spoiler:he'll kill Kal-El]].
--->'''Zod''': Tell me--you have Jor-El's memories; his conscience. Can you experience his pain? [[spoiler:I will harvest the Codex from your son's corpse, and I will rebuild Krypton atop his bones.]]

* At the final battle, [[spoiler:Superman has Zod in a headlock, but Zod's heat vision endangers a family. With no choice, Supes kills him. His cry of anguish shows he has never done that before and really didn't want to]]. This hits [[UpToEleven VERY, VERY]] hard if you're not a fan of that.
** It's essentially the same reaction he had [[spoiler:to letting his human father die]].

** WordOfGod confirms that he is ''so'' traumatized by this, it becomes a self-imposed rule that [[spoiler:Superman doesn't kill]].
** Clark spent most of his life looking for a purpose and connection to his people. He was overjoyed in the scout ship after talking to Jor-El, and when [[spoiler:he destroys the ship and thus the chance to revive the Kryptonian race]], you can see the pain on his face as he does it. When [[spoiler:he snaps Zod's neck, thus removing the last living trace of his people from his life]], the pain is even worse than just the horror of killing someone...

* Superman [[spoiler: visiting his mother Martha to make sure she's alright after Zod's "visit" and attack on the Kent Farm in search of the Codex, [[https://i.imgur.com/FWqP3CZ.png Clark is just so tense while waiting for a response or lack there of,]] that you have to truly feel sorry for him]].

[[caption-width-right:350:[[''MyGodWhatHaveIDone Even doing the right thing can feel wrong.'']]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:''MyGodWhatHaveIDone Even doing the right thing can feel wrong.'']]

[[caption-width-right:350:Even someone like Superman can be broken down]]

* The destruction of Krypton, we all knew it was coming. But in this version, [[spoiler:Jor-El dies and Lara is alone, [[WatchingTroyBurn just watching the destruction]]]].

** Not to mention, [[spoiler:Kelor the service drone suggests that Lara find some place of refuge, and she just numbly says that there's nowhere left to take refuge at, and they truly have reached the end]].

** Beautifully [[LampshadedTrope lampshaded]] when Clark finishes telling Lois what happened...and We see her fighting tears.

* Clark is talking to a priest about whether or not to turn himself in. Right behind him is a stained glass window, showing {{Jesus}} praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. The symbolism is far from subtle, [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped but also excellently done]].

** Clark spent most of his life looking for a purpose and connection to his people. He was overjoyed in the scout ship after talking to Jor-El, and when [[spoiler:he destroys the ship and thus the chance to revive the Kryptonian race]], you can see the pain on his face as he does it. When [[spoiler:he snaps Zod's neck, thus removing the last trace of his people from his life, coupled with the horror of actually killing Zod]], the pain so just so much worse...

-->'''Jon:''' You ''are'' my son. (hug)

** And just before this tragic moment, Clark [[spoiler: has an argument with Jonathan and unintentionally disowns his adoptive parents by reminding them they aren't his real mom and dad. Jonathan then promptly agrees, interrupted by the tornado before he could make his point.]] There's no time for reconciliation, which makes Clark's guilt much more potent. [[spoiler: And it isn't until near the end of the movie when he learns he hadn't let his father down. Clark's probably thinking that he did in the sixteen years since Jonathan's death.]]
* At the final battle [[spoiler: Clark has Zod in a headlock, but Zod's heat-vision endangers a family. With no choice, Supes Kills him. His cry of anguish shows he has never done that before and really didn't want to.]] This hits [[UpToEleven VERY, VERY]] hard if you're not a fan of that.
** It's essentially the same reaction he had [[spoiler: to letting his father die.]]

** WordOfGod confirms that he is ''so'' traumatized by this, it becomes a self-imposed rule that [[spoiler: Superman doesn't kill.]]
** Clark spent most of his life looking for a purpose and connection to his people. He was overjoyed in the Scout Ship after talking to the Jor-El A.I., and when [[spoiler:he destroys the ship, and thus the chance to revive the Kryptonian race]], you can see the pain on his face as he does it. When [[spoiler:he snaps Zod's neck, thus removing the last trace of his people from his life, coupled with the horror of actually killing Zod]], the pain so just so much worse...
* The destruction of Krypton, we all knew it was coming. But in this version: [[spoiler: Jor-El dies and Lara is alone, just watching the destruction.]]
** "Make a better world than ours, Kal." *sniff*
** Not to mention, [[spoiler:the drone suggests that Lara find some place of refuge. She just numbly says that there's nowhere left to take refuge at, and they truly have reached the end.]]
** Also Zod and his followers reaction to the destruction of their homeworld after they're freed from the phantom zone. Even the otherwise completely stoic Faora can't hold back tears.
* Before they launched Kal-El into space, Lara laments that they will never see him walk or hear him talk.
* After the Jor-El program helps Lois escape Zod's ship, Jor-El bids her farewell, saying they will probably never meet again. [[spoiler: He's right, Zod seemingly deletes the program.]]
** It's what Zod says as he does so that clinches it, telling the program that [[spoiler: he'll kill Superman. Roughly paraphrased: "You're made of his memories, his consciousness. I wonder if you can feel his pain."]]
* Clark is talking to the priest about whether or not to turn himself in. Right behind him is a stained glass window, showing Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. The symbolism is far from subtle, [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped but also excellently done]].
* Zod's VillainousBreakdown, showing us that he [[WellIntentionedExtremist truly cared for Krypton]].
--> '''Zod''': [[IDidWhatIHadToDo I exist only to protect Krypton; that is the sole purpose for which I was born, and every action I take, no matter how violent or how cruel, is for the greater good of my people.]] [[SanitySlippage And now, I have no people...]][[UnstoppableRage My soul...that. Is what you. Have taken! FROM ME!]]
** Despite being the villain, there are many reasons to pity Zod. His ranting makes it clear he just wants to be the protector of his race he was literally born to be, (since it is the only way he knows how to define himself) despite [[{{Narcissist}} his narcissism]] and dogmatic, SocialDarwinist mindset blinding him to his own monstrosity. He just wants to preserve what to him is the last legacy of Krypton and her people, a legacy which, in his mind, Clark has cruelly destroyed. [[DespairEventHorizon Despair]] [[SanitySlippage drives him to madness]] and his hateful attempts to pointlessly and spitefully kill just a few humans when Clark obviously has his number in their battle to the death just kind of comes across as [[DeathSeeker Zod begging Clark to end his life.]]
--> '''Zod''': [holds out ash in his hand] "Look at this. We could have built a new Krypton in this squalor...but you choose the humans over us."
* The poor souls taken in the cross-fire of the World Engine might be this to some.
* Jenny trapped under the rubble of buildings as the World Engine beam gets closer and closer. She is completely terrified and, despite trying their best to get her out, it rapidly becomes clear that there is nothing Perry and Steve Lombard can do.
** And then when it looks as if their time has finally ran out, they ''refuse'' to run and leave her with Perry taking her hand and waiting for the end to come.

--> '''Zod''': [[IDidWhatIHadToDo Every action I take, no matter how violent or cruel, is for the good of my people.]] [[SanitySlippage And now, I have no people...]] [[UnstoppableRage My soul... that is what you have taken from me!]]

--> '''Zod''': [holds out ash in his hand] "Look at this. We could have built a new Krypton in this squalor... but you choose the humans over us."

** Despite being the villain, there are many reasons to pity Zod. His ranting makes it clear he just wants to be the protector of his race he was literally born to be, (since it is the only way he knows how to define himself) despite [[{{Narcissist}} his narcissism]] and dogmatic, SocialDarwinist mindset blinding him to his own monstrosity. He just wants to preserve what to him is the legacy of Krypton and her people, a legacy which, in his mind, Clark has cruelly destroyed. [[DespairEventHorizon Despair]] [[SanitySlippage drives him to madness]] and his hateful attempts to pointlessly and spitefully kill just a few humans when Clark obviously has his number in their battle to the death just kind of comes across as [[DeathSeeker Zod begging Clark to end his life.]]

** Despite being the villain, there are many reasons to pity Zod. His ranting makes it clear he just wants to be the protector of his race he was literally born to be, (since it is the only way he knows how to define himself) despite [[{{Narcissist}} his narcissism]] and dogmatic, Social Darwinist mindset blinding him to his own monstrosity. He just wants to preserve what to him is the legacy of Krypton and her people, a legacy which, in his mind, Clark has cruelly destroyed. [[DespairEventHorizon Despair]] [[SanitySlippage drives him to madness]] and his hateful attempts to pointlessly and spitefully kill just a few humans when Clark obviously has his number in their battle to the death just kind of comes across as [[DeathSeeker Zod begging Clark to end it.]]

** Despite being the villain, there are many reasons to pity Zod. His ranting makes it clear he just wants to be the protector of his race he was literally born to be, (since it is the only way he knows how to define himself) despite [[Narcissist his narcissism]] and dogmatic, Social Darwinist mindset blinding him to his own monstrosity. He just wants to preserve what to him is the legacy of Krypton and her people, a legacy which, in his mind, Clark has cruelly destroyed. [[DespairEventHorizon Despair]] [[SanitySlippage drives him to madness]] and his hateful attempts to pointlessly and spitefully kill just a few humans when Clark obviously has his number in their battle to the death just kind of comes across as [[DeathSeeker Zod begging Clark end it.]]

** Clark spent most of his life looking for a purpose and connection to his people. He was overjoyed in the Birth Ship after talking to the Jor-El A.I., and when [[spoiler:he destroys the ship, and thus the chance to revive the Kryptonian race]], you can see the pain on his face as he does it. When [[spoiler:he snaps Zod's neck, thus removing the last trace of his people from his life, coupled with the horror of actually killing Zod]], the pain so just so much worse...

* Jenny trapped under the rubble of buildings as the World Engine beam gets closer and closer. She is completely terrified and, despite trying Their best to get her out, it rapidly becomes clear that there is nothing Perry and Steve Lombard can do.

* After Clark learns he's an extraterrestrial (taken from ''[[SupermanSecretOrigin Superman: Secret Origin]]''):

* The poor souls taken in the cross-fire of the World Engine might be this to some.

* The poor souls taken in the cross-fire of the World Engine, is this to some.

--> '''Zod''': [[IDidWhatIHadToDo Every action I take, no matter how violent or cruel, is for the good of my people.]] [[SanitySlippage And now, I have no people...]] [[UnstoppableRage My soul... that is what you have taken from me!]]