| “ | I did love being a hero... but if this is where it leads, I'm done with it. | „ |
| ~ Superman before he murdered President Lex Luthor with his Heat Vision. |
| “ | I've done a lot of things I thought I'd never do these last two years... One more won't hurt. | „ |
| ~ Superman showing his true nature to the Flash. |
Kal-El, also known as Clark Joseph Kent, and best known as Lord Superman, is a minor antagonist in the DC Animated Universe.
He is an alternate universe counterpart of Superman who after the death of the Flash by his arch-nemesis Lex Luthor, was warped into a ruthless and magisterial dictator of the Earth that gladly crushed his enemies into a pulp in order to preserve the "greater good" and who thought that what he did gave people peace and security.
Like his counterpart, he was voiced by George Newbern.
Biography[]
Superman tried and pushed the Justice Lords to conquer other realities, despite the fact that many in his native reality had begun to question him (especially Lois Lane) - yet the Justice Lords obeyed his will regardless and soon the two teams clashed as the Justice Lords Superman tried to replace the mainstream "Man of Steel" but was clearly a more ruthless anti-villain and a potential tyrant, who lacked the restraint that Clark had (which often seemed to limit him, but in reality, may have been one of his greatest strengths as a hero).
In the end, the Justice Lords version of Superman showed just how far down the path of darkness that he was willing to go when he showed a willingness to kill the mainstream Flash (whose death in his world had caused him to become the dictator that he was) - yet, in an ironic defeat, he was permanently depowered by the mainstream Lex Luthor, who formed a brief alliance with the mainstream Superman in order to bring down the would-be-conqueror. Before he leaves, he calls out to the mainstream Superman, outright stating that letting Luthor live could result in him becoming President and killing Flash like his did. The good Superman, however, retorts and states he is willing to take the risk. His fate after this is unknown but it's possible he's sent for life in prison in his world.
Throughout Justice League: Unlimited, the government and several civilians began to believe that the mainstream Justice League could have become just like the Justice Lords, after they saw that the League had a gigantic laser gun on their Watch Tower. The Question also argued with Superman that if Lex Luthor was to become President of the United States, Superman would do exactly the same thing that his evil-counter part did, but Superman denied it. During the battle with Luthor/Brainiac (the true masterminds behind all the hysteria against the Justice League), an android of Justice Lord Superman appeared to fight the original Superman. Then, when it seemed that the Flash had perished, mainstream Superman prepared to kill Luthor, but refused, and firmly stated that he was not the monster that his counterpart was. He does, however, wished that he were, but he said he isn't.
Quotes[]
| “ | Superman: Even this wasn't enough for you, was it? You had to have it all. Now we're on the brink of a war that could destroy the whole planet. Luthor: Could have been so perfect. Paradise. Superman: And I let it get this far because of the law... and the will of the people. Luthor: Of the people? This is all their fault. And they're going to burn for it. Burn. Superman: You're nothing but a mad dog now, are you? Luthor: Ooh. A threat. But this old dog still has a few teeth. [opens up a cabinet to reveal the trigger for nuclear missiles] Superman: There are at least six different ways I can stop you right now. Luthor: But they all involve deadly force, don't they? And you don't do that. No, you need me. You wouldn't be much of a hero without a villain, and you do love being a hero, don't you? The cheering children, the swooning women, you love it so much, it's made you my most reliable accomplice. Superman: Accomplice? What are you...? Luthor: You could've crushed me any time you wanted, and it wasn't the law or the will of the people that stopped you. It was your ego. Being a hero was too important to you. You're as much responsible as I am. So go ahead, fix it somehow, put me on trial, lock me up, but I'll beat it and then we'll start the whole thing all over again. Superman: ...I did love being a hero. But if this is where it leads, I'm done with it. |
„ |
| ~ Superman and President Lex Luthor's final conversation. |
| “ | Superman: You gonna tell me what's wrong? Lois Lane: After two years, you don't know? Superman: Here we go. Lois Lane: The world's on permanent lockdown. Free speech is all but dead. And you don't know what's wrong? Superman: Lois, we've been over this a thousand times. Why can't you see the bigger picture? Lois Lane: I can see just fine, thank you. You're the one who can't see where this is leading. Superman: Lois, we're doing everything we can... (gets a call from Batman) Ah... Just a sec. Yeah? Lois Lane: Go ahead... Finish. You're doing everything you can to what? Make sure everyone bows down to worship you. Is that what you were going to say? Superman: That's not what we want. Can't you just listen for a second? |
„ |
| ~ Superman and Lois Lane has an argument. |
| “ | Superman: You've been a busy little Bat, haven't you? Batman: What else is there to do around here anymore? |
„ |
| ~ Superman and Batman opens a gate to the dimension of the Justice League. |
| “ | John Stewart: Look at that thing. Hawkgirl: You wanted excitement. Superman: And when we stop it, they'll be so grateful. They'll roll right over for us. J'onn J'onzz: If we can stop it. |
„ |
| ~ The Justice Lords sees that Doomsday has arrived. |
| “ | Superman: What do you want? Doomsday: Same as you, I imagine. Power, control: but I had to see the best this planet had to offer. I am not impressed. |
„ |
| ~ Superman fighting against Doomsday. |
| “ | Lois Lane: [after the Justice Lords defeat Doomsday] You... lobotomized him. Superman: What's your question, Lois? Lois Lane: It's... it's so out of character. Reporter: It's about time if you ask me. Snapper Carr: And what's with the new costumes, guys? Superman: We just felt it was time for a change. |
„ |
| ~ The Justice Lords answers questions from Lois Lane and other reporters. |
| “ | Violent behaviour will not be tolerated. Nor will a bad attitude. | „ |
| ~ Android Replicas of Justice Lord Superman attacking the Justice League. |
| “ | J'onn J'onzz: It's Luthor. Superman: Escaped again? J'onn J'onzz: Yes. And he's taken a hostage, and... Hawkgirl: Don't do it. Superman: Why not? It worked pretty well back home. Hawkgirl: But here, they're not ready for it. Superman: We'll see about that. Green Lantern: Maybe we should all go. Superman: All right, I'm patient. |
„ |
| ~ The Justice Lords about to hunt Lex Luthor. |
| “ | Superman: Where's the hostage? J'onn J'onzz (in disguise): There never was one. [shifting back into his own form] Sorry. |
„ |
| ~ The Justice Lords falls into a trap set up by the Justice League. |
| “ | Justice League Superman: Hold it. Justice Lord Superman: [Seeing Superman and Lex Luthor together] Nice company you're keeping. Must be your true colors. Justice League Superman: It's just one of the hard choices I've had to make today. Go for it! Lex Luthor: [Raising his power disruptor] Oh, yes. (then Superman (Justice Lords) gets permanently depowered by the disruptor) |
„ |
| ~ Justice Lord Superman gets defeated by Justice League Superman and Lex Luthor. |
| “ | Justice Lord Superman: Everything he does from now on is YOUR fault. Justice League Superman: It's a high price, but it's better than the alternative. |
„ |
| ~ Justice Lord Superman warns Justice League Superman before being returned to his own dimension. |
| “ | We've lost their trust. The people are afraid of us. Power corrupts after all, and who has more power than Superman? | „ |
| ~ Android Replica Justice Lord Superman. |
Trivia[]
- The concept of an evil alternate reality Superman who would conquer the world due to the death of one of his loved ones would later be revisited with Superman from Injustice: Gods Among Us. Ironically, that version would also kill that universe's Lex Luthor, although for completely different reasons (the latter was because Luthor had attempted to stop Superman after he realized that the latter went too far, and unlike the mainstream Lex, was a genuinely good person). Furthermore, this version of Superman did not sink to the levels of his Injustice counterpart, who was far more ruthless, as Lord Superman really wanted peace and prosperity, despite the methods he used. Thus, making him more of an anti-villain rather than a true supervillain compared to his Injustice counterpart.
- That was not the first Superman to be a global Dictator over the Earth. In fact, Superman's original characterization was as a villain via the character William Dunn in the comic: The Reign of the Superman.
- He told his prime counterpart that allowing his Lex Luthor to go free was a huge mistake. This was eventually proven to be true when Lex Luthor conspired with Amanda Waller and others to create an organization called Cadmus to eliminate the Justice League, only to betray them for his own nefarious purposes. However, he was also proven wrong when Lex Luthor later served as a key-figure in saving the planet from Darkseid and his forces, when he presented him the only thing Darkseid was after, and would be responsible for his ultimate defeat: the Anti-Life Equation.
