Line #41 WesternAnimation/SupermanManOfTomorrow


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3	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_2020_07_01_superman_manoftomorrow_1000742550_4k_oslv_2d_temp_dom_skew_jpg_webp_image_1604_2032_pixels_sca.jpg]]
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6	-> ''"My name is Kal-El of Krypton. And I come in peace."''
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8	''Superman: Man of Tomorrow'' is a 2020 ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' origin movie, part of the WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies line. Released digitally on August 23 and on home video September 8, the movie focuses on Superman's early life as Clark Kent and features the voices of Creator/DarrenCriss as Superman, Creator/AlexandraDaddario as ComicBook/LoisLane, Creator/ZacharyQuinto as ComicBook/LexLuthor and Creator/RyanHurst as Lobo, among others. It is also the first Creator/DCComics film to be released following the ''WesternAnimation/DCAnimatedMovieUniverse'' franchise concluding, while also being the start of a new shared universe [[FanNickname called]] the WesternAnimation/{{Tomorrowverse}}.
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10	The movie's first trailer debuted on June 23, 2020 and can be viewed [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD3N7hLTrrM&feature=emb_logo here]].
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13	!!Tropes featured in the Movie:
14	* AbnormalAmmo: Lobo has some strange alien weaponry. Like a shotgun that shoots live electrified slugs or a minigun that spits out knives.
15	* AdaptationalNiceGuy:
16	** Parasite is usually depicted as a greedy and selfish jackass who feels he’s entitled to whatever he likes. Here, however, he is depicted as a TragicMonster who was actually a good man and a war hero, and who [[spoiler: winds up pulling a HeroicSacrifice after regaining his senses.]]
17	** Downplayed with regards to Lobo. He's just as uncouth as he usually is. But past incarnations of Lobo have usually been guilty of committing genocide against their own people. This version of Lobo claims that he killed off his own people... but then says he's just kidding. If we're to take him at his word, then ''Man of Tomorrow's'' incarnation of Lobo didn't commit any genocide against Czarnia at all.
18	* AliensSpeakingEnglish: No explanation is provided for Lobo's knowledge of the English language.
19	* AmbiguousEnding: [[spoiler: Did Rudy absorb the reactor's energy in a HeroicSacrifice to save everyone, or did Parasite attempt to devour a massive power source and it proved to be too much? Or was it both?]]
20	* AntiVillain: Parasite, Lobo, and to a lesser extent, Lex Luthor. Parasite is a good man mutated into a horrific monster by circumstances beyond his control, Lobo is a ruthless mercenary with a (mild) sense of honor, and Luthor’s main motivation proves to be protecting Earth, no matter how ruthless and cruel he is about it.
21	* ApologeticAttacker: J'onn apologies to Pa Kent when he has to read his mind, psychically restraining Pa in the process. He apologizes again when they've set down for tea, and Pa accepts the apology.
22	* AssimilationBackfire: Depending on what Parasite absorbs, he gets all that comes with it. Strengths ''and'' weaknesses. By draining Superman, he gained all of the powers of a Kryptonian along with the KryptoniteFactor.
23	%%* {{BFG}}: Lobo has several of them. [[spoiler: Luthor also has one]].
24	* BigBadSlippage: Rudy Jones starts out as an average janitor at S.T.A.R. Labs. After getting accidentally mutated during Superman and Lobo's fight he turns into the monstrous Parasite, seeking to absorb power at all costs.
25	* BountyHunter: Lobo's day job. He came to Earth because someone placed a high bounty on the last living Kryptonian.
26	* BreathWeapon: [[spoiler:After becoming a giant monster, Parasite is able to shoot beams of purple light from his large mouth.]]
27	* TheCameo:
28	** Luthor's silent, unnamed guard who takes away Lois' phone at the press conference is clearly meant to be Mercy Graves.
29	** Batman is glimpsed on a photo.
30	* CostumeEvolution: Early parts of the film show Superman with a [[BetaOutfit prototype costume]] before he wears his classic costume.
31	* TheCynic: Having lived among humans for decades, and with genocide in his backstory, J'onn knows too well the kind of destruction and cruelty fear of the unknown begets.
32	* DisneyDeath: Both [[spoiler: Martian Manhunter and Lobo]] seemingly get killed by the Parasite only to turn up alive later.
33	* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: This film really leans into the immigration aspect of Superman more than previous version, creating comparisons to real life racism and xenophobia. Clark, while not being born on Earth, can pass for human and outwardly resembles a white man while having been raised in his adopted culture. J'onn's natural alien form forces him to shape shift to hide better, and since he wasn't raised on Earth this brings to mind immigrants who feel the need to hide their culture to fit in. Parasite meanwhile is human and a war vet, but to the rest of the world he looks like an alien invader and they treat him with hostility with Clark even telling the scared crowd that Parasite was born here (in America) and is just like them. This resembles situations where people experience racism and are accused of being immigrants for how they look despite being born in America.
34	* EndearinglyDorky: Clark's first costume is an [[CheapCostume old-timey aviator uniform]]. He later briefly considers adding a cape tied around his neck. He seems quite proud of how it looks, despite its very makeshift design.
35	* FakingTheDead: [[spoiler: To escape the Parasite, Martian Manhunter creates a psychic illusion of himself being burned alive.]]
36	* FallenHero: Rudy was a decorated and heroic war veteran, until he was turned into the monstrous Parasite.
37	* FemaleGaze: Clark ends up naked after all the damage his outfit takes during his fight with Lobo. Well-built muscles and bare buttocks are shown.
38	* FightingFromTheInside: Implied. Parasite is unable to control his urges and clearly horrified by the killings and murders he undertakes while under the influence of the biochemical weapon that infested him after he does them.
39	* FlippingTheBird: Lobo, cheeky as ever, gives Superman the finger while also wearing a ring with Kryptonite in it on said finger.
40	* {{Foil}}: Lobo to Clark. Both are aliens, but while Clark is kind-hearted and fights for noble reasons, Lobo is a boorish BloodKnight. Also, Clark fights bare-handed, while Lobo relies on long-range weapons and a kryptonite ring.
41	* FullFrontalAssault: Since Clark's BetaOutfit isn't [[MySuitIsAlsoSuper also super]], it burns up after Lobo throws a bomb at him, and then completely disintegrates when he flies into space. When he knocks out Lobo at the end of their fight he's completely naked.
42	* HealingFactor: [[spoiler:Lobo is functionally immortal. When he detonated his vest filled with explosives, he was blown to pieces. But we see those pieces slowly pulling themselves together. By the end of the film, he's perfectly fine.]]
43	* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: To prevent the power generator overloading, Rudy absorbs it, causing his cells to overload and turn him to ash.]] Doubles as a HeroicSuicide, as [[spoiler: it was unlikely there was anything close to a cure for Rudy's condition and at this point, he'd absorbed so much he was a danger to everyone and everything, with little control over himself.]]
44	* HurlItIntoTheSun: Clark gets rid of the rocket by taking into space and hurling it into the sun, where he realizes that the sun is what's giving him his power.
45	%%* IComeInPeace: Spoken word-for-word by Superman.
46	* IntrepidReporter: As always, Lois Lane. When Parasite [[spoiler: breaks into Lobo's cell]], she records it on her phone instead of running like hell.
47	* ItWillNeverCatchOn: Perry White says this about the name "Superman" Lois came up with for the Flying Man. Amusingly, ''Clark himself'' agrees.
48	* JustBetweenYouAndMe: Some champagne, a pretty face, Lex's arrogance and the mistaken belief that he owns Lois Lane because he underwrote her graduation means Lex brags about his scam with the rocket. Lois records the conversation and broadcasts it at Lex's press conference.
49	* {{Kaiju}}: [[spoiler: During the climax, Parasite transforms into one of these.]]
50	* LargeHam: Perry White.
51	--> "Heh heh, see, now they hate you! That couldn't have gone better!"
52	* LaserGuidedKarma: Lois ends up falling for the same "power move" she was planning to pull on Superman.
53	* LastOfHisKind: Clark is the last Kryptonian since their planet died. J'onn is also the last of the Martians. [[spoiler:{{Subverted}} at the end. Lobo claims that the "last of their race" thing is usually a bluff made by bounty hunters to get more money. He's admitted to seeing more Martians in the universe and would personally bet that there are more Kryptonians as well.]] He is proved right when [[spoiler:Clark's cousin ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} makes it to Earth]] in ''WesternAnimation/LegionOfSuperHeroes2023''.
54	* LighterAndSofter: The film is a much brighter and more idealistic superhero tale than some recent DC Universe Animated Original movies, especially when compared to ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDarkApokolipsWar''. For instance, [[spoiler: Parasite is much more sympathetic here than he is in other stories and even Lobo and Lex Luthor get moments of heroism.]]
55	* AMinorKidroduction: The movie opens with an elementary school-aged Clark still reeling from Ma and Pa telling him he's an alien from space.
56	* MoodWhiplash: Just as Clark agrees with Lois' heartwarming RousingSpeech, she suddenly pulls out a notepad and pencil, asking for Clark's source. He then realizes she was trying to steal the story out from him, turning to comedy.
57	* MythologyGag:
58	** Superman's BetaOutfit and the inclusion of Lobo seem to be inspired by ''ComicBook/SupermanAmericanAlien'', while the inclusion of Parasite seems inspired by ''ComicBook/SupermanSecretOrigin''. Both are mutually exclusive origin stories, but the movie overall isn't particularly bound by either.
59	** Lobo tells Lois there is an army of Kryptonians heading for Earth to get Superman and are going to kill everyone in their way until he reveals he's just messing with her. That happens in the film ''Film/ManOfSteel''.
60	** Multiple references to the famous opening-title speech from ''Series/TheAdventuresOfSuperman'':
61	*** Lex Luthor notes that Superman is as strong as a locomotive. Superman admits he's stronger. "More powerful than a locomotive."
62	*** When the launched rocket begins to fail, Ron Troupe says, "Look! Up in the sky!"
63	*** In her RousingSpeech, Lois says that journalists like her and Clark fight for truth and justice in their own ways. Superman is known to fight for "truth, justice, and the American way".
64	** When remarking how the three of them are respectfully the LastOfHisKind, Lobo declares how he himself probably doesn't count since he's the one who killed all his people in the first place before he laughs it off as a joke. In the comics, this isn't a joke; Lobo genuinely ''did'' kill all the other Czarnians.
65	** J'onn has dinner with the Kents in a scene nearly ripped right out of the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' episode "Comfort and Joy."
66	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Or actually antihero here, as it's completely Lobo's fault that Rudy Jones becomes the Parasite, even though it was accidental.
67	* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Perry White’s design, voice, and mannerisms resemble Creator/GeorgeCScott.
68	* NotHyperbole: Superman notices that the power plant where they plan to lure Parasite is void of people. His partner in the mission says he called in a bomb threat to evacuate the place. Superman says you shouldn't lie about bombs. [[spoiler:Lobo opens up his vest to reveal over a dozen explosive devices underneath, proudly declaring he ''didn't'' lie.]]
69	* NotSoStoic: Lois Lane is able to keep a cool head to get her story... until she interviews Lobo and begs him to stop giving her TooMuchInformation about his sexual escapades.
70	* PowerUpgradingDeformation: The more energy Parasite absorbs and the stronger he becomes, the more he mutates into a monstrous creature.
71	* RousingSpeech: After his first fight with Parasite, Clark's at his lowest with his weakened powers and [[spoiler:the apparent death of Martian Manhunter]]. Lois, in the context of journalism, tells Clark that he chose a job that constantly puts him in danger, that he's fighting for the right reasons and sometimes it's okay to seek help from someone smarter when the going gets tough.
72	* SecretSecretKeeper: When Clark tells Lois he's thinking about quitting journalism, Lois tells him that the job he signed up for is full of risks and that people are depending on him to fight for truth and justice. Her exact choice of words strongly implies that Lois knows Clark is Superman.
73	* SemperFi: Rudy was a Marine, and he served two tours in Iraq.
74	* ShoutOut: Parasite's final form in the climax is slightly like Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'s design in the [[Film/Godzilla1998 1998 American film]] but with a scrawny build and without a tail, and also shoots blasts from his mouth like Godzilla's long tradition.
75	* SirSwearsALot: Lobo has a filthy mouth. Both in English and [[PardonMyKlingon alien profanities]].
76	* StrongFamilyResemblance: Pa Kent is Clark's adopted father, but at a glance, you would believe them to be blood-related.
77	* SuperheroesWearCapes: Superman wears a cape because he and Martha Kent were inspired by Batman who also has one while Martian Manhunter also has a cape.
78	* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome:
79	** As Lois only just started at the Daily Planet straight out of grad school, when Perry rewards her with a top reporter position, she finds herself unwelcome and regarded as a gatecrashing glory-hound by all the veteran reporters and staff.
80	** Being new to Metropolis and just starting out interning at the Daily Planet, Clark's apartment is only a rather cramped studio.
81	** Superman plans to have Luthor shoot him into space to regain his powers, only for Luthor to point out that Superman has no training in space travel and would likely die in the process.
82	* TakeThat: To movies about aliens. Clark tells the ComicBook/MartianManhunter that he thought Martians only existed in movies. J'onn's response? "Those movies are terrible." Doubles as a MythologyGag, as J'onn in ''ComicBook/DCTheNewFrontier'' considered the sci-fi movies of the time to be so narmful he mistook them for comedies.
83	* ThereIsAnother: [[spoiler: At the end, Lobo admits the whole "LastOfHisKind" thing is just an excuse to raise the bounty, and he hints there are more Martians and Kryptonians out there.]]
84	* TragicMonster: Rudy Jones is just a regular joe who gets caught in the crosshairs of two aliens' brawl, and he ends up a horrifying mutant.
85	* VampiricDraining: Parasite leaches energy from anything he physically touches. On humans, it drains them of energy and everything else until they become shriveled husks.
86	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Whoever it was that hired Lobo to find Clark is never mentioned, even obliquely. Even after Lobo pulls a HeelFaceTurn.
87	* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre:
88	** Clark considers resigning from the Daily Planet at one point, but Lois tells him he's got what it takes.
89	** How Clark tries to stop Parasite's rampage; he tries to appeal to the humanity still inside him, as well as the "essence" of himself that Rudy absorbed. [[spoiler: It works.]]
90	* YouGetMeCoffee: Clark's "job" as an intern at ''The Daily Planet'', to the point he has to correct himself from giving his name as "Coffee Boy". Being the NiceGuy he is, he applies himself and perks up his coworker's orders.

Context WesternAnimation / SupermanManOfTomorrow