History ComicBook / SupermanPhillipKennedyJohnson

Starting with this as part of the Infinite Frontier relaunch, a backup comic was added to both this series and PKJ's issues of the ''Superman'' title that spotlighted other DC characters. These including, so far, ''ComicBook/{{Midnighter}}'' by Creator/BeckyCloonan and Michael Conrad, ''Tales of Metropolis'' by Sean Lewis, and ''ComicBook/MartianManhunter'' by Shawn Aldridge

* ADayInTheLimelight: Action Comics #1041 follows Midnighter’s quest to free his fellow Authority members while also raising a rebellion along the way.

** Following the Authority's defeat Lia's body is one of the new bodies on display

An old name with a new owner consolidates power on Warworld as Superman finishes training his young son Jon Kent to take over his duties. Clark Kent has never felt weaker, as exposure to a "Breach" in space has left his powers fading. Unfortunately, early retirement isn't an option, as Superman has learned that among the long-suffering slaves of Warworld there exists descendants of a Kryptonian off-shoot race called the Phaelosians. When one of their numbers arrives on Earth, Superman resolves to put together a rescue mission aimed at liberating Warworld from the tyranny of Mongul. After an international intervention by Superman turns the world against him, he can't call on the Justice League to help, [[ComicBook/SupermanAndTheAuthority so he builds a team of his own.]] With the Authority backing him up, Superman is confident he will triumph once more over Mongul. But this is a '''new''' Mongul, and he has made plans of his own...

* SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil: All aspects of Warworld revolve around slavery and Mongul wishes to eventually put the entire universe "in chains".

-> ''"For years, I fought for truth and justice on a world that had become my home. Some '''''opposed''''' me in this. Others '''''joined''''' me. In the words of another writer, we were the "champions of the oppressed", able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Such feats may be beyond me now... but the work goes on."''

* IfYoureSoEvilEatThisKitten: Mongul orders the siblings Otho-Ra and Osul-Ra to prove themselves true Warzoons by killing each other.

* InsultBackfire: The Warzoons who fight Superman in the pits at first derogatively call him 'Un Bahle'na Gahl', the Unblooded Sword. It's meant to mock Superman for his refusal to kill, [[Main/ThouShaltNotKill except Superman feels no shame about his moral code against killing,]] and happily wears the title with pride. Eventually it becomes a name the Warzoon spectators chant out of respect.

* InsultBackfire: The Warzoons who fight Superman in the pits at first derogatively call him "Un Bahle'na Gahl", the Unblooded Sword. It's meant to mock Superman for his refusal to kill, [[Main/ThouShaltNotKill except Superman feels no shame about his moral code against killing,]] and happily wears the title with pride. Eventually it becomes a name the Warzoon spectators chant out of respect.

-> ''"For years, I fought for truth and justice on a world that had become my home. Some '''''opposed''''' me in this. Others '''''joined''''' me. In the words of another writer we were the "champions of the oppressed", able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Such feats may be beyond me now... but the work goes on."''

-> ''"For years, I fought for truth and justice on a world that had become my home. Some '''''opposed''''' me in this. Others '''''joined''''' me. In the words of another writer we were the "champions of the oppressed"... able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Such feats may be beyond me now... but the work goes on."''

-> ''"This only ends one way: with Mongul in chains, every slave on Warworld free, and me coming home to you."''

* TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized: Midnighter is organizing a rebellion aimed at freeing Superman and the other surviving Authority members. He's also willing to blow up the Star Forges, which hold Warworld together and would cause massive Warzoon casualties, to achieve that goal.

* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: Superman tells the Phaelosians this in ''Action Comics #1040'', urging them to take pride in their heritage as the descendants of scientists and explorers, rather than aspiring to follow the Warzoon lifestyle of killing and pirating.

* {{Angrish}}: Midnighter's reaction when The Unmade, one of Mongul's goons, [[spoiler:wounds Apollo]].

* TheChessmaster: Mongul is being built up as this. Observing that his father's old foe Superman has been weakened by the Breach, he provokes Superman into traveling to Warworld without the backing of the Justice League. On Warworld, he [[spoiler:changes Warworld's power source to run off of red solar radiation which further weakens Superman,]] stacking the odds of victory even greater in his favor.

* CorruptPolitician: Lord Premier Thaaros [[spoiler:who schemes to prevent the rest of the United Planets sending aid to Superman, for unknown reasons, and preventing the rest of the universe from knowing what happens after Mongul defeats Superman's team]]
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: Mongul crucifies [[spoiler:many Phaelosians]] and leaves their bodies as a trail for Superman to follow.
* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler:What the Authority's first fight against Mongul and his minions turns into, with half of the Authority killed.]]

** Following the Authority's defeat [[spoiler:Lia's body is one of the new bodies on display]]

* InTheBack: How Mongul [[spoiler:kills Superman]], stabbing him in the back as he was distracted by [[spoiler:the death of Lightray.]]

* PoliceAreUseless: Superman requests the aid of the United Planets in liberating Warworld, but no help is sent. [[spoiler:[[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that the Lord Premier of the United Planets, the Durlan Thaaros, does not want the Phaelosians to be freed for some reason. He ensures that the United Planets does not respond to Superman's request, inform Earth that Superman's initial attempt has failed, or mount their own attack on Warworld in reprisal for Superman's death.]]

* ReformedButNotTamed: Manchester Black. He's joined forces with Superman and seems to be (begrudgingly) attempting to reign in his preference for lethal force. [[spoiler:He's still willing to beat one of Mongul's servants to death in combat when said servant is immune to his powers.]]

* EnfantTerrible: Orphan, one of Mongul's champions, is it has the appearance of a yellow-skinned baby. It appears to be in a [[TheSymbiote symbiotic relationship]] with another of Mongul's champions, Darling.

* TeachMeHowToFight: Superman invokes this trope, asking the Phaelosian Kryl-Ux to teach him how to fight like a Warworlder

[[ComicBook/SupermanBrianMichaelBendis After Bendis' run on Superman,]] and the events of [[ComicBook/DCFutureState Future State]], ''Superman'' and ''Action Comics'' were taken over by Creator/PhillipKennedyJohnson. Coming under the the ''ComicBook/DCInfiniteFrontier'' initiative, Johnson's aim was to focus on the SUPER side of Superman, thrusting him into a bold new era of cosmic adventures.

An old name with a new owner consolidates power on Warworld as Superman finishes training his young son Jon Kent to take over his duties. Clark Kent has never felt weaker, as exposure to a "Breach" in space has left his powers fading. Unfortunately early retirement isn't an option, as Superman has learned that among the long-suffering slaves of Warworld there exists descendants of a Kryptonian off-shoot race called the Phaelosians. When one of their number arrives on Earth, Superman resolves to put together a rescue mission aimed at liberating Warworld from the tyranny of Mongul. After an international intervention by Superman turns the world against him, he can't call on the Justice League to help, [[ComicBook/SupermanAndTheAuthority so he builds a team of his own.]] With the Authority backing him up, Superman is confident he will triumph once more over Mongul. But this is a '''new''' Mongul, and he has made plans of his own...

Johnson wrote the main ''Superman'' title for issues 29-32 before the book ended to make way for [[ComicBook/SupermanSonOfKalEl Tom Taylor launching a new Superman book starring Jon Kent as the Superman of Earth in his dad's absence]]. Johnson is also the writer of ''Action Comics'', which is still ongoing, and follows the adventures of Clark Kent and the Authority out in space. Aside from a brief two part crossover between ''Superman'' #29 and ''Action Comics'' #1029 which covers Clark and Jon dealing with the Breach, the two series are separate and neither is required reading for the other.

Starting with this as part of the Infinite Frontier relaunch, a back-up comic was added to both this series and PKJ's issues of the ''Superman'' title that spotlighted other DC characters. These including, so far, ''ComicBook/{{Midnighter}}'' by Creator/BeckyCloonan and Michael Conrad, ''Tales of Metropolis'' by Sean Lewis, and ''ComicBook/MartianManhunter'' by Shawn Aldridge

** To which Superman gives an Main/ArmorPiercingResponse:

* CoDragons: Teacher, Mother, Orphan, Darling, and The Unmade are Mongul's Champions, and his counter to Superman's Authority team.
* CorruptPolitician: Lord Premier Thaaros [[spoiler:who schemes to prevent the rest of the United Planets sending aide to Superman, for unknown reasons, and preventing the rest of the universe know what happens after Mongul defeats Superman's team]]

* HopeSpringsEternal: After their failure to defeat Mongul and his champions, ''Action Comics'' #1038 gives a very bleak showcase of Superman and the Authority's situation. Superman is thrown into the slave pens with the Phaelosians he came to save. Lightray is dead, her body displayed as a trophy showcasing Mongul's victory. Enchantress is either dead or imprisoned by Mother. Manchester Black and Apollo are turned over to the Champions to be their playthings. OMAC and Steel II are forced to wear chains and fight in the gladiator arenas. Only Midnighter is still free and he has lost faith in Superman's leadership. Everything seems hopeless... but then the last page shows Khaljo, a former servant of Mongul and a Warzoon whom Superman spared rather than kill him as Mongul ordered, draws Superman's symbol in the dirt.

* LegacyCharacter: What Mongul is revealed to be. Turns out there's a long line of Monguls going back centuries, with even the three Monguls Superman has faced over the course of his career being merely the latest to claim the title. This Mongul is specifically Mongul MDCCXCII [[note]] 1792 [[/note]]

* OffingTheOffspring: An unknown stranger offers the heads of Mongul's sons to gain his trust, which Mongul gladly accepts given that the sons of Mongul must [[Main/KlingonPromotion kill their fathers in order to take their place,]] with the newcomer having thus eliminated potential threats to his rule.
* PoliceAreUseless: Superman requests the aid of the United Planets in liberating Warworld, but no help is sent. [[spoiler: [[Main/JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that the Lord Premier of the United Planets, the Durlan known as Thaaros, does not want the Phaelosians to be freed for some reason. He ensures that the United Planets does not respond to Superman's request, inform Earth that Superman's initial attempt has failed, or mount their own attack on Warworld in reprisal for Superman's death.]]

* ReformedButNotTamed: Manchester Black. He's joined forces with Superman, and seems to be (begrudgingly) attempting to reign in his preference for lethal force. [[spoiler:He's still willing to beat one of Mongul's servants to death in combat, when said servant is immune to his powers.]]

* SmashTheSymbol: One of Superman's first acts when arriving on Warworld is to destroy a statue of Mongul and tossing its head into the center of a gladiatorial arena.

* {{Angrish}}: Midnighter's reaction when The Unmade, one of Mongul's goons, [[spoiler:kills Apollo]].

Johnson wrote the main ''Superman'' title for issues 29-32 before the book ended to make way for [[ComicBook/SupermanSonOfKalEl Tom Taylor launching a new Superman book starring Jon Kent as the Superman of Earth in his dad's absence]]. Johnson also is the writer of ''Action Comics'', which is still ongoing, and follows the adventures of Clark Kent and the Authority out in space. Aside from a brief two part crossover between ''Superman'' #29 and ''Action Comics'' #1029 which covers Clark and Jon dealing with the Breach, the two series are separate and neither is required reading for the other.

* {{Angrish}}: Mightnighter's reaction when The Unmade, one of Mongul's goons, [[spoiler: kills Apollo]].
* ArmorPiercingQuestion: Midnighter asks one of Superman after Superman tells Middy he plans on still trying to to help the Warzoons free themselves, rather than write them off as a lost cause.

* TheChessmaster: Mongul is being built up as this. Observing that his father's old foe Superman has been weakened by the Breach, he provokes Superman into traveling to Warworld without the backing of the Justice League. On Warworld he [[spoiler: changes Warworld's power source to run off of red solar radiation which further weakens Superman,]] stacking the odds of victory even greater in his favor.

* CorruptPolitician: Lord Premier Thaaros [[spoiler: who schemes to prevent the rest of the United Planets sending aide to Superman, for unknown reasons, and preventing the rest of the universe know what happens after Mongul defeats Superman's team]]

* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler: What the Authority's first fight against Mongul and his minions turns into, with half of the Authority killed.]]

** Following the Authority's defeat [[spoiler: Lia's body is one of the new bodies on display]]

* InTheBack: How Mongul [[spoiler: kills Superman]] stabbing him in the back as he was distracted by [[spoiler: the death of Lightray.]]

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Midnighter gives one to Superman in ''Action Comics #1038'' after Superman rejects Middy's plan to blow up Warworld's red sun synthesizers, taking Superman to task for how he failed to lead them to victory against Mongul and undersold the challenge of freeing Warworld
-->'''Midnighter''': You lied to us. There's no hope here. These people '''''don't want''''' to be freed. Not by us.
* ReformedButNotTamed: Manchester Black. He's joined forces with Superman, and seems to be (begrudgingly) attempting to reign in his preference for lethal force. [[spoiler: He's still willing to beat one of Mongul's servants to death in combat, when said servant is immune to his powers]]

->'''Midnighter:''' Are '''''their''''' lives really worth more to you than '''''ours'''''?

-->'''Superman:''' No. Not more. But not less.

-->'''Midnighter''': You '''''lied''''' to us. There's '''''no hope''''' here. These people '''''don't want''''' to be freed. Not by us.\\

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Midnighter gives one to Superman in ''Action Comics #1038'' after Superman rejects Middy's plan to blow up Warworld's red sun synthesizers
->'''Midnighter''': You '''''lied''''' to us. There's '''''no hope''''' here. These people '''''don't want''''' to be freed. Not by us.\\

'''Midnighter: You '''''lied''''' to us. There's '''''no hope''''' here. These people '''''don't want''''' to be freed. Not by us.\\

* HopeSpringsEternal: After their failure to defeat Mongul and his champions, ''Action Comics'' #1038 gives a very bleak showcase of Superman and the Authority's situation. Superman is thrown into the slave pens with the Phaelosians he came to save. Lightray is dead, her body displayed as a trophy showcasing Mongul's victory. Enchantress is either dead or imprisoned by Mother. Manchester Black and Apollo are turned over to the Champions to be their playthings. OMAC and Steel II are forced to wear chains and fight in the gladiator arenas. Only Midnighter is still free and he has lost faith in Superman's leadership. Everything seems hopeless... but then Khaljo, a former servant of Mongul and a Warzoon whom Superman spared rather than kill him as Mongul ordered, draws Superman's symbol in the dirt.

* EnfantTerrible: Orphan, one of Mongul's champions, is it has the appearence of a yellow-skinned baby. It appears to be in a [[TheSymbiote symbiotic relationship]] with another of Mongul's champions, Darling.

[[ComicBook/BrianMichaelBendisSuperman After Bendis' run on Superman,]] and the events of [[ComicBook/DCFutureState Future State]], ''Superman'' and ''Action Comics'' were taken over by Creator/PhillipKennedyJohnson. Coming under the the ''ComicBook/DCInfiniteFrontier'' initiative, Johnson's aim was to focus on the SUPER side of Superman, thrusting him into a bold new era of cosmic adventures.