Line #22 ComicBook/TheTrialOfSuperman


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3	''The Trial of Superman'' is a ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' story arc released between late 1995 through early 1996. Taking place concurrently with the DC event ''ComicBook/UnderworldUnleashed'', Superman is abducted by a group of aliens known as the Tribunal, judging Superman on [[SinsOfOurFathers the crimes of his ancestor]] which would have kept Krypton's natives unable to escape the doomed planet. Finding the charges to be bogus, Superman escapes prison with a group of inmates and goes on the lam, traveling from planet to planet on his quest to find his way home. Meanwhile, Alpha Centurion, Supergirl, Steel, Superboy, and the Eradicator join forces to locate and recover the Man of Steel. Will they be able to save Superman from his fate?
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5	!!This comic contains examples of the following tropes:
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7	* ArmorPiercingQuestion: When Superman complains about being labelled a criminal, his fellow prisoner Leeya, whose species feeds the males to their newborn children, compares her species traditions to that of Superman's ancestor causing Kryptonians to be unable to leave their dying planet. Superman protests that he can't be held responsible for what his ancestors did, only to find himself unable to answer when Leeya acidly asks if that means he thinks that ''she'' can be held responsible for what ''her'' ancestors believe.
8	* BackForTheDead: Minor villain Massacre is reintroduced as another prisoner on the Tribunal's planet and ends up beaten to death. [[DeathIsCheap He'd come back in a few years.]]
9	* BigBadEnsemble: Tribunal Prime is the main overarching villain in the story. He assigns the Cyborg Superman to capture Superman, but he turns out to be a DragonWithAnAgenda and eventually puts his own plan into motion.
10	* BittersweetEnding: Superman is freed to return home with the "sentence" of carrying out his neverending battle for truth and justice. However, Mope had to sacrifice himself to save Superman, and the stress of the events takes a serious toll on Clark and Lois' relationship, which would contribute to their temporary breakup months later.
11	* DeathEqualsRedemption: Even after learning the truth about Mope, Superman says he ended up dying a hero after giving his life up.
12	* DefectorFromDecadence: Pollux and Ternion gradually start questioning whether they're truly on the right side, both from Superman's conviction of his innocence and Prime's increasing ruthlessness. They eventually turn against him.
13	* DeusExitMachina: Superman's abduction in this story causes him to miss out on the events of the ''Underworld Unleashed'' crossover.
14	* FaceDeathWithDignity:
15	** Mope dies expressing regret over his actions and praying that he will fine some sort of forgiveness for his actions as a thief in whatever next life there is, as well as expressing some relief that he was at least able to save Kal.
16	** Realizing that his escape attempt has been thwarted and the guards are going to shoot him on sight under orders, Prime calmly accepts his fate.
17	* GrandTheftMe: Tribunal Prime takes over the Cyborg Superman's body in his final attempt to capture Superman.
18	* HeroicSacrifice: Mope takes Superman's place on the rocket aimed for Krypton.
19	* JokerImmunity: Cyborg Superman is last seen getting sucked through a black hole. He'd end up in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse, and return to the DCU no worse for wear following the events of the ''ComicBook/GreenLantern''[=/=]''ComicBook/SilverSurfer'' crossover.
20	* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope: Tribunal Prime starts employing increasingly dastardly methods, from employing a known a supervillain known for causing a mass genocide, to mind-raping and taking over the body of said supervillain, and engaging in ColdBloodedTorture.
21	* KarmicDeath: Tribunal Prime ultimately ends up being declared guilty by the other two members of the tribunal for his actions and is killed by guards during his escape attempt.
22	* MotiveDecay: Tribunal Prime gradually moves away from following the Tribunal's decrees and just wanting to finally get Superman killed, no matter what depths he has to sink to. It gets to the point that he starts rooting for the Cyborg Superman to succeed after he takes over the planet, even though if he wins he'll kill everyone there in the process.
23	* RedHerring: Throughout the story, Alpha Centurion begins acting suspiciously, and noticeably never appears at times when the Cyborg Superman does, suggesting that he's an alias the villain is using. It turns out Centurion is innocent.
24	* SaveTheVillain: Superman reluctantly saves the Cyborg Superman's life when the defenses of an alien ship nearly kill him, even though doing so leads to his recapture.
25	* ShutUpHannibal: After Tribunal Prime asserts that Superman will still be executed, he finally gets fed up and gives a massive talking down to the Tribunal, telling them they can take their laws and shove it.
26	* SinsOfOurFathers: The reason Superman is put on trial in the first place - the Tribunals believe that the sins of the fathers are forever visited on the sons, and so Superman must pay for his ancestor's crime.
27	* TimePassageBeard: Over the course of the story, Superman begins growing PermaStubble.
28	* UngratefulBastard: Superman saves the Tribunal's entire planet from extinction? Tribunal Prime simply asserts he's still guilty and will still face execution.
29	* {{Unishment}}: When the Tribunals finally wise up about how unfair they have been to Superman, they compromise by sentencing him to a life of "Atonement." Namely, since Superman has dedicated his life to the Neverending Battle for Truth and Justice, they order him to continue it, knowing full well that Superman wants nothing more than to do so.

Context ComicBook / TheTrialOfSuperman