Line #1 Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E23HeavyMetal


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/metallo_meets_steel.png]]
2	The episode depicts the debut of ComicBook/{{Steel}}. After the failure of his previous battle suit, former [=LexCorp=] employee John Henry Irons has decided to work on a new suit, safer than the last one. This suit is soon put to the test when Metallo returns and nearly kills Superman. Now Irons has to don his suit to try and defeat the evil cyborg.
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4	!! Tropes:
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6	* AndIMustScream: Metallo describes his fate at the end of "Action Figures" as this.
7	-->"Remember how you left me, Superman? Buried in rock? I couldn't move. I couldn't see. I couldn't hear. But I could think, and all I thought about was how I was going to make you pay!"
8	* AttackItsWeakPoint: This is how Steel defeats Metallo, by throwing his hammer right into Metallo's Kryptonite heart, destroying it and taking Metallo out.
9	* BankRobbery: Metallo helps Intergang for their bank robberies.
10	* BigDamnHeroes:
11	** Subverted by John when Metallo first tries to kill Superman. Try as he might, a pipe just isn't going to stop a powerful cyborg. Played straight by Natasha.
12	** The recovered Superman saves Steel from Metallo delivering a sledge hammer bashing.
13	** Steel saves Superman in the end.
14	* CallBack: Several to the events of "[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E21Prototype Prototype]]", including Superman and Irons's last conversation:
15	-->'''Irons''': You said if someone could get it to work, you'd be glad to have the help.\
16	'''Superman''': And I meant it.
17	* CarFu: Natasha crashes the van into Metallo.
18	* ADayInTheLimelight: Steel is the episode's star. Superman being incapacitated by Metallo's kryptonite heart is the occasion for him to step in and kick much ass to help the Man of Steel.
19	* {{Determinator}}: Metallo describes himself as such.
20	-->"No escape, Superman. Not this time. You can drown me, you can bury me, you can send your foot soldiers to do your dirty work, but I can take anything you can throw at me."
21	* DramaticUnmask: How Metallo reveals to Superman that he's one of the masked robbers.
22	* ExorcistHead: Because Metallo can now shoot Kryptonite blasts from his eyes, Superman tries grabbing him from behind. Metallo then demonstrates that turning his head around 180 degrees is another new feature of his.
23	* ExpressiveMask: Steel's mask shows his expressions, just like in the comics.
24	* EyeBeams: One of the new improvements Intergang has made on Metallo's body.
25	* AFriendInNeed: As soon as he sees Superman is in danger due to Metallo's kryptonite heart, John Irons/Steel steps in and helps Superman the best he can.
26	* FriendlyEnemy:
27	-->'''Steel:''' Call me Steel.\
28	'''Metallo:''' Steel, Metallo. The meeting of the metals. Well then, Mr. Steel, may the best alloy win.
29	* HeroOnHiatus: Superman is rendered unconscious by Metallo's kryptonite during the first fight. Steel takes him at his workshop and helps him recover with sunlight lamps and goes to confront Metallo and his goons with his suit.
30	* HeyYouHaymaker: Just as Superman is once again at the mercy of Metallo, Steel calls the cyborg and throws his hammer right into his kryptonite heart.
31	* MeaningfulName: John Irons, a former [=LexCorp=] engineer and metalworker, makes himself a battle suit and takes the alias "Steel".
32	* NotQuiteDead: Metallo didn't die stuck in solid lava ("Action Figures"), he was freed from it by Intergang.
33	* PoweredArmor: Steel's armor, of course.
34	* PragmaticAdaptation: Steel had to have his origin tweaked, because ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'' never happened in ''Superman: The Animated Series'' (or at least [[Recap/JusticeLeagueS2E19And20Hereafter won't happen until]] ''Justice League'').
35	* SequelEpisode: Follows up on the ending of "[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E21Prototype Prototype]]" with John making good on developing a new battle suit.
36	* SeriesContinuityError: At the beginning of "[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E9ActionFigures Action Figures]]", Metallo's skin and clothes had all been destroyed, exposing his full robotic body. Here and for the remainder of the DCAU, he's somehow reverted back to his half-human, half-robotic appearance from the climax of "[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS1E7TheWayOfAllFlesh The Way of All Flesh]]".
37	* TabloidMelodrama: Discussed. Metallo guesses John will be hounded by tabloids for being "The man who watched Superman die."
38	* TemptingFate: After Metallo boasts he can take anything Superman can throw at him.
39	-->'''Steel:''' Yo, Metallo, take this! ''[throws his sledge hammer at him]''
40	* TookALevelInBadass: Metallo notes that Intergang didn't just make repairs; they gave him new improvements to make him more deadly to Superman.
41	* VillainBall: Averted. Metallo and his Intergang pals don't care about bank money when they have a chance to finally kill Superman.
42	* WoundedGazelleGambit: Metallo (still disguised as a mere bank robber) feigns giving up just so he can get close enough to sucker punch Superman and reveal his true self.

Context Recap / SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E23HeavyMetal