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''The Plague of the Antibiotic Man'' is a ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' storyline told in ''Superman (Volume 1)'' issues #311-314 (May-August 1977). It was written and drawn by Creator/MartinPasko and Creator/CurtSwan.
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''The Plague of the Antibiotic Man'' is a ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' storyline told in ''Superman (Volume 1)'' issues ''ComicBook/Superman1939'' #311-314 (May-August 1977). It was written and drawn by Creator/MartinPasko and Creator/CurtSwan.
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* PlagueEpisode: The storyline revolves around Superman's efforts to find a cure for an alien plague spreading all around Central City.
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* ChairmanOfTheBrawl: Superman bludgeons Jevik's head with a ski-lift's chair.
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* IDidntMeanToKillHim: When Nam-Ek vanishes without a trace after getting a volcano tossed at him, Superman examines the lava, finds traces of Kryptonite, and becomes horrified thinking he has killed Nam-Ek by accident instead of stunning him.
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As Kal-El fights Nam-Ek -who has sided himself with the pirate-, Kara Zor-El engages Amalak, and discovers the plague unleashed by Amalak is merely a means to his real goal: breaking Superman morally and psychologically.
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As Kal-El fights Nam-Ek -who Nam-Ek--who has sided himself with the pirate-, Kara pirate--Kara Zor-El engages Amalak, and discovers the plague unleashed by Amalak is merely a means to his real goal: breaking Superman morally and psychologically.
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* EvilOnlyHasToWinOnce: Amalak mocks Superman's choice to leave him alive after defeating him by stating Superman is giving him more chances to kill him, and he only needs one successful try.
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* {{Panacea}}: The horns of a Kryptonian beast known as Rondor could heal any sickness. Given that his immortality-seeking experiments turned him into a Rondor-like monster, Nam-Ek's body produces antibodies which can cure anything.
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/theplagueoftheantibioticman.jpg]]
''The Plague of the Antibiotic Man'' is a ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' storyline told in ''Superman (Volume 1)'' issues #311-314 (May-August 1977). It was written and drawn by Creator/MartinPasko and Creator/CurtSwan.
Clark Kent and Lois Lane are visiting Central City, ComicBook/TheFlash's turf, where Lois is planning to move to, when people start to come down with a strange and unknown illness. After succoring the first victims, Superman looks for a mysterious, conspicuous figure whom he saw lurking about right before the plague outbreak. Eventually Superman finds his suspect-- Nam-Ek, a Kryptonian whose experiments to cheat Death turned him into an immortal monster a long time ago.
Nam-Ek states he is not responsible for the plague, but Superman doubts his claims. His scepticism stirs up Nam-Ek's rage, who attacks Superman. Their battle ends when Nam-Ek vanishes in circumstances which lead Superman to believe he has killed him by accident... which is unfortunate for the plague's victims, since Nam-Ek's mutated body contains antibodies which can heal any illness. To make matters worse, Lois has fallen sick.
As Superman is trying to contain the spread of the plague, ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} arrives in the city to check on her cousin. Linda is surprised and saddened to hear Clark intends to resign because of Nam-Ek's death, which might have doomed millions, and he is not willing to change his mind. However, when both cousins fly to the Watchtower to check on the Flash, who got hurt as helping Superman fight Nam-Ek, ComicBook/GreenLantern informs them about an odd energy surge interfering with his Power Ring as he rescued Flash.
The fact that said power surge happened right when Nam-Ek vanished raises both cousins' suspicions. Superman and Supergirl head towards the place where Nam-Ek vanished and find traces of a teleportation beam. The Kryptonian duo follow the energy trail until finding the mobile space base of Amalak, a space pirate who has sworn to kill all Kryptonians for reasons unknown to them.
As Kal-El fights Nam-Ek -who has sided himself with the pirate-, Kara Zor-El engages Amalak, and discovers the plague unleashed by Amalak is merely a means to his real goal: breaking Superman morally and psychologically.
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!!Tropes:
* TenMinuteRetirement: Superman decides to quit his hero career when he believes he has killed Nam-Ek by accident, a resolution strengthened when he theorizes Nam-Ek had the cure for the plague hitting Central City. Although Supergirl tries to dissuade him from it, Superman insists that he is going to tender his resignation from the League, and he will announce his retirement later that day. However, Superman abandons his plans when he discovers Nam-Ek was stealthily teleported away from the battle by his real enemy, Amalak.
* {{Ahem}}: Iris Allen is going to meet with her husband the Flash when she sees him talking to Lois Lane. Feeling a pang of jealousy, she coughs an "A-hem..." right behind them to draw their attention.
* AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs: Taking advantage that there are only two heroes in the JLA's base and one of them is bedridden, Amalak breaks into the Watchtower, disables Green Lantern and sets a trap for Superman.
* AntagonistTitle: The titular "Antibiotic Man" refers to Nam-Ek and his capability to produce antibodies.
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: Superman tries stops Jevik, a thirty-foot-tall, bipedal, yellow-furred alien monster which looks like a cross between a dog, an elephant and a lizard, from rampaging through Central City.
* BadassBoast: When Nam-Ek first fights Superman and the Flash:
-->'''Nam-El:''' ''"It is hopeless, Superman. Neither you nor Flash can stop me! Not only do I have super-powers, but I am immortal! And if not even the explosion of Krypton could stop me... How can you?!"''
* BadassInDistress: After managing to leave Supergirl blind and stunned for long enough to chain her to a chair, Amalak holds her hostage to force Superman to back off. However, Superman warns Amalak his cousin cannot be restrained by mere chains...
* BewareTheNiceOnes: When Superman and Supergirl burst into Amalak's spaceship, Kal, who is already feeling testy, suggests Amalak to ''not'' try his patience further:
-->'''Amalak:''' ''"What is this--? Two Kryptonians? Perfect! Today I am twice blessed!"''\\
'''Superman:''' ''"Don't get me mad, Amalak-- or the only blessings you'll be in for are last rites!"''
* BigBad: Amalak the Kryptonian-Killer causes a deadly plague in Earth as part of a scheme to exterminate the last Kryptonian survivors.
* BizarreAlienBiology: Jevik is a Klynn of the planet Tiburon. Klynns are weird beasts with dog-like orange-furred bodies, clawed hands, elephant trunk and ears, and lizard tails. Their life-cycle is even weirder, consisting of two phases: the living phase and the non-living phase, wherein their bodies shrink and their life processes halt, but they can still talk and move around.
* BizarreAlienSenses: Superman and Supergirl find Amalak's spaceship because they can see the trail of particles left by a teleportation beam.
-->'''Superman:''' ''"See it?-- A faint trail of electrically-charged particles-- a leftover trace of the teleportation-beam, I'd guess!"''\\
'''Supergirl:''' ''"I see it, all right... And I've just tracked it to its source!"''
* BlandNameProduct: When rampaging through Central City, Jevik tears down a [=MacTavish's=] burger restaurant, prompting Superman to comment Jevik is certainly no gourmet.
* BreakingTheBonds: After stunning Supergirl, Amalak chains her to a chair. Amalak believes Supergirl has been completely disabled, even though Superman warns him she can break those chains with one finger...and effectively, she easily shatters her chains by merely pulling her wrists apart.
* CantKillYouStillNeedYou: Amalak passes up the chance to use his star-cannon to kill Supergirl because he is planning to hold her hostage against Superman.
* CatchAFallingStar: Superman catches two members of the hotel's ski-patrol when they drop off a ski-lift.
* ChekhovsVolcano: When Superman takes his battle against Nam-Ek to a Caribbean Island, a volcano can be seen in the background. Naturally, it does not take long for it erupting.
* ChokeHolds: When Superman and Supergirl burst into Amalak's ship, Nam-Ek wraps his right arm around Superman's neck from behind and starts hitting his stomach.
* ClingyJealousGirl: Iris Allen gets mad when she finds Lois Lane talking to The Flash (Iris' husband Barry) because rumor has it that Miss Lane is obsessed with dating super-heroes. Hence, Iris and Lois have a heated argument in which Iris repeatedly and angrily warns Lois to stay away from the Flash, and Lois repeatedly protests she is not interested at all.
* ContaminationSituation: Lois Lane is one of the first persons to contract a mysterious plague which is spreading over Central City.
* ContinuityNod:
** Nam-Ek's life history was first narrated in ''Superman (Volume 1)'' #282.
** When Linda Danvers arrives in Central City, the characters' dialogue subtly reminds readers that Supergirl had been a camerawoman in her ''ComicBook/AdventureComics'' final run and a student counselor in ''ComicBook/SupermanFamily''.
* CrystalPrison: Superman defeats Nam-Ek by encasing him in a man-sized quartz prism. Since yellow sunrays bounce off the surface of his crystalline pod, Nam-Ek is cut off from his power source.
-->'''Superman:''' ''"All I need to do to cut off Nam-Ek's super-powers is mold and shape the glass...to form a giant prism! It'll filter out the yellow sun-rays-- that are present even in space-- and which give Nam-Ek his super-powers!"''
* DamselOutOfDistress: Amalak chains Supergirl and is about to shoot her brains off when he realizes his ray gun has been disabled. Supergirl then easily snaps her chains and uppercuts his jaw, smirking the whole time.
* DeathBySecretIdentity: Amalak dies shortly after revealing he has spied on Superman and discovered his secret identity.
* DyingDeclarationOfHate: When Amalak's final and desperate gambit -he shoots himself and tries to make Superman believe he caused his death- fails, the villain dies cursing Superman.
* EnergyBeings: In order to fight Supergirl, Amalak creates "electro-surrogates", human-like beings made of green energy who follow his mental commands.
* EvilGloating: Rather than shooting Supergirl right after forcing Superman to leave his ship, Amalak rants and raves about his plans as she listens, believing her helpless and powerless.
-->'''Amalak:''' ''"But be warned-- Resist it...and it will again burst into a flare intense enough to blind you! As if resisting any of my plans were not futile! Ha Ha!"''
* EvilLaugh: Amalak laughs very loudly several times during one single rant in which he gloats about his scheme's inevitable future success.
-->'''Amalak:''' ''"When my agent re-establishes contact with Kent... He will set into motion the final battle in my psychological war against Superman-- One that he can win only if he kills someone! Ha Hah! HA-HA-HAH!"''
* EvilPlan: Amalak puts in motion a complicated gambit whose final goal is to destroy Superman psychologically by forcing him to forgo his morals and kill someone.
* ExpoLabel: Amalak's teleportation raygun is placed on top of a pillar conveniently labeled "Teleportation Beam". Amusingly, he is his ship's only passenger, so he should not need to mark anything.
* FaceHeelTurn: Nam-Ek travels to Earth to warn Superman of Amalak's scheme to unleash a plague; but when Superman seems to doubt his old enemy's non-involvement, not only does Nam-Ek refuse to explain anything but also, he violently turns against Superman and sides with Amalak.
-->'''Nam-Ek:''' ''"I went to Earth after defeating you...to warn the Terrans-- and Superman-- of the impeding plague! But he refused my efforts-- turned against me! So now I shall turn against him...and join forces with you-- Amalak, the Kryptonian-Killer!"''
* {{Fainting}}: When Clark returns after his battle against Nam-Ek, Lois Lane falls ill with a mysterious malady and collapses on the hotel's floor.
* FlawExploitation: Amalak knows he cannot defeat Superman physically, so he intends to exploit his compassion and humanity to destroy him psychologically by tricking him into killing someone.
-->'''Amalak:''' ''"For that is his Achilles' heel-- His obsessive concern with preserving life...and his lily-livered refusal to take it! I need only put him in a situation where he must kill-- to destroy him psychologically!
* FrictionBurn: As battling Nam-Ek in space, Superman comes up with the idea of encasing him in a prison fashioned from a meteorite. But he needs heat to melt the quartz into reflective glass, and there is no air-friction in space, so he uses his heat vision.
* GreenAndMean: Amalak and his pawns Jevik and Nam-Ek wear green clothes. Likewise, Amalak's living energy constructs are green.
* GrievousHarmWithABody: The story opens with Nam-Ek grabbing Flash by the ankles and using him to clobber Superman.
* HammeredIntoTheGround: When Superman confronts Nam-Ek about the latter's possible involvement in the plague outbreak, the Kryptonian rogue refuses to explain anything, and pounds Superman into the ground with a doble hammer-fist.
* HeroicBSOD: When Nam-Ek vanishes during the battle, Superman freaks out for several reasons: he believes he has killed Nam-Ek; since Nam-Ek's strange mutant physiology could hold the cure for the plague ravaging Central City, unnumbered millions will die; and Lois Lane will be counted among those millions, since she has just contracted the plague. Superman feels so broken down when Lois falls sick that he falls on his knees, covers his face with his hands, and sobs.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Amalak tries to shoot Supergirl's brains off, but his star-cannon's trigger has been jammed by Superman's heat vision. Amalak drops his ray-gun and prepares to attempt to dispose of Supergirl in another way, but he does not realize cosmic energy is building up within the obstructed barrel. Finally, his star-cannon explodes, obliterating Amalak's own space base.
* HurlItIntoTheSun: Superman finally gets rid of Jevik by picking up his unconscious body and throwing him back to his home-world with a super-strong toss.
* ImprovisedWeapon: As fighting Jevik's human form, Superman breaks a ski-lift's chair in his head.
* InMediasRes: The first issue begins with Superman and Flash fighting Nam-Ek in Central City as blaming him for the outbreak of a plague. After three pages, the story rewinds to explain how they got there.
-->'''Narrator:''' ''"No, gentle reader, you haven't missed anything-- You've merely joined the Man of Steel in the middle of the strangest struggle of his career... But to learn the who, what, when, where, how and why, we must review the mysterious events of the previous 36 hours..."''
* InTheBack: Amalak has just blinded Supergirl, but he does not want to run useless risks, so he shoots a stunning ray at her head from behind.
* ItsAllMyFault: When he is tricked into believing he has killed Nam-Ek, Superman freaks out because Nam-Ek's antibodies could cure the disease. Now, everybody will die, including Lois, and it will be his fault.
-->'''Superman''': "The Flash is critically injured... Lois Lane is dying! Central City will die, too-- and then the whole world! It's all my fault-- because I've just killed the only being in the universe who can save it!"''
* JustBetweenYouAndMe: When Amalak and Supergirl are left alone in the former's starship, Amalak stars gloating about his real scheme to destroy Superman.
* KilledOffForReal: Amalak kills himself as trying to destroy Superman's mind, and he stays dead. The last readers hear from Amalak is Supergirl saying she will take care of his corpse.
* KryptoniteFactor: Amalak creates a yellow energy cocoon around Green Lantern to nullify his Power Ring, and he uses Dr. Light's Kryptonite Light gadget to attempt to kill Superman.
* KryptoniteIsEverywhere: During his battle against Nam-Ek, Superman feels strangely weak as lifting a volcano. A quick XRayVision scan reveals tiny traces of Kryptonite in the magma.
* MadeOutToBeAJerkass: Superman discovers the origin of the plague is a shape-shifting creature called Jevik sent by his enemy Amalak. Unfortunately, Jevik is masking as a little dog adopted by his co-worker Steve Lombard's nephew Jamie. Hence, when Superman tries to dispose of Jevik, the horrified little boy thinks Superman is going to kill his pet.
* MuggingTheMonster: When he sees Clark Kent holding a glass of water as speaking to a woman, Steve Lombard slaps his back so that Clark's glass splashes the woman. Later, Superman pays Steve back by blowing Steve's water on the same woman's face, and he wonders what Steve's reaction would be if he ever found out who he is exactly picking on.
-->'''Superman:''' ''"I probably shouldn't have done that... But after what that jock did to me on the train, I just couldn't resist! Poor Lombard! If he only knew who he was ticking off every time he picked on meek Clark Kent--!"''
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Superman becomes horrified when he believes he has killed Nam-Ek, and later when Lois falls sick with a mysterious plague, and maybe Nam-Ek was the only who could cure it.
-->'''Superman:''' ''"I...I was wrong about Nam-Ek! He's gone-- But Lois still fell ill with the plague! Then...If...If Nam-El didn't cause the disease... He can cure it! My god! The woman I love is dying...and I've just killed the only one in the universe who can save her!!"''
* NeckLift: In the cover of issue #312, Superman is lifting and shoving Amalak into his ship's wall as grabbing his neck.
* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: Amalak gloats that Supergirl must be dead since she got caught by his spaceship's explosion. Later, she reappears and says she was merely knocked out.
-->'''Amalak:''' ''"You see, I noticed that my star-cannon was about to self-destruct... Just before it did, I teleported here! Supergirl, however, was on board my ship when it was blasted into nothingness! She could not have survived!"''\\
''Later''\\
'''Supergirl:''' ''"Amalak grossly overestimated the deadliness of his star cannon!"''
* NoSell: Supergirl punches Amalak when he reaches his weapons' console, but his force-field deflects the blow.
-->'''Supergirl:''' ''"You're stubborn, Amalak-- I'll give you that! But I'll-- Arggh!"''\\
'''Amalak:''' ''"My "energy nexus" is impenetrable-- even by you!"''
* NotEnoughToBury: Subverted. Superman throws a volcano at Nam-Ek, expecting to weaken him. Though, Nam-Ek disappears without a trace. Superman analyzes the lava, finds traces of Kryptonite, and feeling horrified, he believes Nam-Ek lost his powers and was burned to ashes by a tide of molten rock. Later, though, he discovers that Nam-Ek was merely teleported away.
* ObliviouslyEvil: Jevik is a barely sapient alien beast who does not understand why to spread a plague and hurt people is bad thing, since he only does what he is told.
-->'''Superman:''' ''"Who are you...Why are you attacking me--? [...] I want an explanation, Jevik--! What do you want with me--[...]"''\\
'''Jevik:''' ''"...Jevik not understand...Jevik only do what Jevik is told..."''
* OhCrap: After blinding and chaining Supergirl to a chair, Amalak believes he can kill her whenever he pleases thanks to his star-cannon ray-gun. When Supergirl easily breaks her chains after his star-cannon fails to function properly, Amalak freaks out so badly he cannot articulate even one word or notice he has dropped his weapon.
* ThePlague: A strange plague of unknown origin and nature -whose symptoms include loss of consciousness, fever and odd purple splotches all over the skin- is decimating the population of Central City, and Superman suspects it has been caused by one of his enemies.
* PlasmaCannon: Amalak's star-cannon is a plasma-powered ray gun able to kill a Kryptonian. Nonetheless, it can also be dialed down to stunning instead of killing.
* PolkaDotDisease: People infected with Amalak's alien plague develop large, irregular purple spots all over their bodies.
* PunchedAcrossTheRoom:
** Nam-Ek punches Flash into orbit by accident.
--->'''Superman:''' ''"Great Krypton! You hit Flash and knocked him into orbit!"''
** Shortly after, Superman punches Nam-Ek and sends him hurtling over half America and the Caribbean Sea.
--->''Instantly, the blow sends Nam-Ek hurtling hundreds of miles-- and immediately, Superman springs into the air in pursuit...''
* RightHandAttackDog: Amalak is accompanied by an alien shape-shifting critter named Jevik whom he uses to spread the plague and attack Superman.
* RuleOfPerception: The sounds emitted by Amalak's star-amulet are depicted as rows of musical notes wrapped in a yellow bubble speech.
* SadisticChoice: Superman bursts into Amalak's ship and finds out his enemy is holding Supergirl captive and forcing him to choose between two options: taking the cure for the plague back to Earth or saving his cousin's life.
-->'''Amalak:''' ''"I assume you recognize the star-cannon, Superman...and are acquainted with its power! So I am prepared to propose a trade: I let you take Nam-Ek back to Earth-- and in exchange, Supergirl remains here as my prisoner! Either that-- Or I'll kill her right before your eyes!"''\\
'''Superman:''' ''"What can I do? The minute I leave, he'll kill Supergirl-- and yet there's Central City...And Lois--!
* SecretIdentityChangeTrick: Clark Kent twice scares the dog of Steve Lombard's nephew to create a diversion which lets him sneak out and change clothes.
* SensoryOverload: When Supergirl fights Amalak's energy construct, it explodes in a flash of light more intense than a super-nova, blinding her temporarily.
-->'''Supergirl:''' ''"M-my eyes! I can't see! Great Krypton! I'm blind!"''\\
'''Amalak:''' ''"Of course, Supergirl-- And exactly as I planned! Your super-optic nerves may be capable of unique perceptions...but they are not invulnerable to severe shock! I am merely the first person in history to have discovered a means of producing light bright enough to blind you!"''
* SinisterSuffocation: When they fight, Amalak's energy creature puts its hands around Supergirl's throat and tries to choke her.
* SpinningOutOfHere: Nam-Ek teleports on the top of the Sheridan Central Hotel by spinning around.
* SpottingTheThread: Jevik changes himself into Supergirl to trick Superman into letting his guard down. However, Superman knows right away something is wrong because Jevik did not think of changing his distinctive voice pattern.
* StormingTheCastle: Superman and Supergirl find Amalak's mobile space base as tracking down a trail of particles left by a teleportation beam, and they swiftly smash their way into the ship's deck.
* StunnedSilence: Amalak is struck dumb when he sees Supergirl, who he believed helpless, breaking the chains he had tied her to a chair with.
* TakeAThirdOption: When Amalak holds Supergirl hostage, Superman has two options: leaving Supergirl behind, knowing that Amalak will kill her, and saving the plague's victims...or fighting Amalak as people keep dying. At the end, Superman leaves Amalak's ship and goes back to Earth, but when Amalak is about to shoot Supergirl, he finds out Superman sneakily melted his ray-gun's barrel.
* TeleportGun: Amalak's teleportation device is a blue ray gun.
* TemptingFate: When Amalak shows he is holding Supergirl hostage, Superman warns she can break those chains with minimum effort. Amalak replies she will not, and several minutes later she shatters her chains and punches his face (right after he claims he can kill her easily).
* ThanatosGambit: Subverted. Since Amalak's original plan to trick Superman into taking a life fails, he kills himself and tries to make it look like his death caused by Superman; though, Superman sees through his scheme, and Amalak dies cursing both Superman and his failure.
* ThenLetMeBeEvil: When Superman disbelieves that Nam-Ek is not involved in the plague, the latter declares that if Superman will treat him as a villain, then he will be one. Subverted because Nam-Ek barely makes a token effort to convince Superman that he is not his enemy.
* ThereWasADoor: When Superman and his cousin find Amalak's spaceship, the Man of Steel is definitely in a bad mood -what with an incurable plague spreading, Lois falling sick, and him being fooled into believing he killed someone-, so he enters the ship deck by furiously plowing through the hull.
* TheseHandsHaveKilled: Superman has a breakdown when he believes he has killed Nam-Ek by accident.
-->'''Superman:''' ''"Kryptonite is deadly to all Kryptonians! So-- while the lead in the magma kept the K from affecting me...the concentration of it...in the lava...was enough to destroy Nam-Ek...disintegrating him utterly! I... I've broken my solemn vow never to kill!"''
* ThirdPersonFlashback: As he chases Nam-Ek over the ocean, Superman has a flashback showing the events which led the Kryptonian scientist to become an immortal monster five hundred years ago... no one of which were witnessed by Superman.
* ThouShaltNotKill: Aware that he cannot kill Superman, Amalak tries to destroy him psychologically by forcing him to kill. When his original plan fails, Amalak tries to trick Superman into believing he has killed him.
-->'''Superman:''' ''"I must be true to my vow! Now that I've taken a life...my career as a super-law-enforcer is over! Superman must hang up his cape forever!"''
* TrapIsTheOnlyOption: Superman flies into the JLA Watchtower and finds out Amalak has broken into the base and threatens to kill the Flash and Green Lantern if Superman does not come to the Trophy Room at once. Superman calls it an obvious trap out loud, but he cannot risk Barry and Hal's lives.
-->'''Superman:''' ''"Amalak?! Aboard the Satellite-- Speaking over the intra-vessel hailing frequency?!"''\\
'''Amalak:''' ''"Correct!"''\\
'''Superman:''' ''"Obviously, you've prepared a trap for me-- And I can't be sure you'll keep your word!"''\\
'''Amalak:''' Obviously-- Correct again! But then-- you have no way of knowing I will not keep it, either!"''\\
'''Superman:''' ''"All right, All right! I get the idea-- So I'm here!"''
* UnderestimatingBadassery:
** After blinding and capturing Supergirl, Amalak gloats that he can kill her whenever he wants because she is less clever than Superman. Smirking, Supergirl dares him to try. Amalak pulls his plasma weapon's trigger and discovers several unpleasant facts: first, his ray-gun has been damaged and is useless; second, Supergirl can break her chains easily despite his assumption that she could not; and third, her fist on his face really hurts.
--->'''Amalak:''' ''"If I cannot take Superman's life...I shall settle for his career! You, however, are less resourceful than your cousin-- I can kill you-- easily!"''\\
'''Supergirl:''' ''"Can you? Your weapon merely stunned me earlier!"''\\
'''Amalak:''' I shall be happy to lay your doubts to rest...along with your dead body!"''\\
''One knockout punch later''\\
'''Supergirl:''' (thinking) ''"Amalak never had a chance!"''
** Amalak believes Supergirl got killed by the explosion which destroyed his space base, but it merely knocked her out.
* UnwittingPawn: Amalak's alien pet Jevik is a barely sapient beast who only does what he is told, so he does not realize his owner intends him to be killed by Superman in order to break Kal-El's spirit.
* VillainTeamUp: Superman's old enemies Amalak the Kryptonian Killer and Nam-Ek join forces to destroy the Man of Steel and the Maid of Might.
* VillainTeleportation: Amalak uses a teleportation beam to bring Nam-Ek to his spaceship when the latter is fighting Superman.
* VirtueIsWeakness: Amalak believes Superman's unwillingness to kill anyone is a sign of weakness and stupidity. He even gloats that Superman and Supergirl should have killed him when they had the chance because he does not intend to waste his second chance to kill them.
-->'''Amalak:''' '''"'Last rites'? Come on, Superman-- You do not really mean that! It is against your personal code to kill any living being! And that will be your undoing! You two should have killed me-- when you had the chance! You will not get another!"''
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: When questioned about how he can destroy Jevik when he has a code against killing, Superman replies that Jevik is not truly alive in his current life phase. When Jevik's heart begins to beat, Superman says that he cannot kill him because he's come alive somehow.
* WhatTheHellHero: As Superman fights Nam-Ek, Amalak tries to keep him confused and unfocused by pointing out that his opening attack nearly killed him.
-->'''Amalak:''' ''"You are a fool, Superman! So disturbed by the prospect of having killed Nam-Ek that you have become careless! Why, you almost killed me just now! When you burst into this pressurized cabin, the oxygen in it began to escape...until an energy-patch appeared over the puncture to seal it! I might have suffocated...If not for the oxy-aura around me now! You would have had another death of your conscience! Face it, Kryptonian-- You are not the hero you think you are!"''\\
'''Superman:''' ''"He's attacking me psychologically-- trying to confuse me! And he's nearly succeeding--"''
----
''The Plague of the Antibiotic Man'' is a ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' storyline told in ''Superman (Volume 1)'' issues #311-314 (May-August 1977). It was written and drawn by Creator/MartinPasko and Creator/CurtSwan.
Clark Kent and Lois Lane are visiting Central City, ComicBook/TheFlash's turf, where Lois is planning to move to, when people start to come down with a strange and unknown illness. After succoring the first victims, Superman looks for a mysterious, conspicuous figure whom he saw lurking about right before the plague outbreak. Eventually Superman finds his suspect-- Nam-Ek, a Kryptonian whose experiments to cheat Death turned him into an immortal monster a long time ago.
Nam-Ek states he is not responsible for the plague, but Superman doubts his claims. His scepticism stirs up Nam-Ek's rage, who attacks Superman. Their battle ends when Nam-Ek vanishes in circumstances which lead Superman to believe he has killed him by accident... which is unfortunate for the plague's victims, since Nam-Ek's mutated body contains antibodies which can heal any illness. To make matters worse, Lois has fallen sick.
As Superman is trying to contain the spread of the plague, ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} arrives in the city to check on her cousin. Linda is surprised and saddened to hear Clark intends to resign because of Nam-Ek's death, which might have doomed millions, and he is not willing to change his mind. However, when both cousins fly to the Watchtower to check on the Flash, who got hurt as helping Superman fight Nam-Ek, ComicBook/GreenLantern informs them about an odd energy surge interfering with his Power Ring as he rescued Flash.
The fact that said power surge happened right when Nam-Ek vanished raises both cousins' suspicions. Superman and Supergirl head towards the place where Nam-Ek vanished and find traces of a teleportation beam. The Kryptonian duo follow the energy trail until finding the mobile space base of Amalak, a space pirate who has sworn to kill all Kryptonians for reasons unknown to them.
As Kal-El fights Nam-Ek -who has sided himself with the pirate-, Kara Zor-El engages Amalak, and discovers the plague unleashed by Amalak is merely a means to his real goal: breaking Superman morally and psychologically.
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!!Tropes:
* TenMinuteRetirement: Superman decides to quit his hero career when he believes he has killed Nam-Ek by accident, a resolution strengthened when he theorizes Nam-Ek had the cure for the plague hitting Central City. Although Supergirl tries to dissuade him from it, Superman insists that he is going to tender his resignation from the League, and he will announce his retirement later that day. However, Superman abandons his plans when he discovers Nam-Ek was stealthily teleported away from the battle by his real enemy, Amalak.
* {{Ahem}}: Iris Allen is going to meet with her husband the Flash when she sees him talking to Lois Lane. Feeling a pang of jealousy, she coughs an "A-hem..." right behind them to draw their attention.
* AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs: Taking advantage that there are only two heroes in the JLA's base and one of them is bedridden, Amalak breaks into the Watchtower, disables Green Lantern and sets a trap for Superman.
* AntagonistTitle: The titular "Antibiotic Man" refers to Nam-Ek and his capability to produce antibodies.
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: Superman tries stops Jevik, a thirty-foot-tall, bipedal, yellow-furred alien monster which looks like a cross between a dog, an elephant and a lizard, from rampaging through Central City.
* BadassBoast: When Nam-Ek first fights Superman and the Flash:
-->'''Nam-El:''' ''"It is hopeless, Superman. Neither you nor Flash can stop me! Not only do I have super-powers, but I am immortal! And if not even the explosion of Krypton could stop me... How can you?!"''
* BadassInDistress: After managing to leave Supergirl blind and stunned for long enough to chain her to a chair, Amalak holds her hostage to force Superman to back off. However, Superman warns Amalak his cousin cannot be restrained by mere chains...
* BewareTheNiceOnes: When Superman and Supergirl burst into Amalak's spaceship, Kal, who is already feeling testy, suggests Amalak to ''not'' try his patience further:
-->'''Amalak:''' ''"What is this--? Two Kryptonians? Perfect! Today I am twice blessed!"''\\
'''Superman:''' ''"Don't get me mad, Amalak-- or the only blessings you'll be in for are last rites!"''
* BigBad: Amalak the Kryptonian-Killer causes a deadly plague in Earth as part of a scheme to exterminate the last Kryptonian survivors.
* BizarreAlienBiology: Jevik is a Klynn of the planet Tiburon. Klynns are weird beasts with dog-like orange-furred bodies, clawed hands, elephant trunk and ears, and lizard tails. Their life-cycle is even weirder, consisting of two phases: the living phase and the non-living phase, wherein their bodies shrink and their life processes halt, but they can still talk and move around.
* BizarreAlienSenses: Superman and Supergirl find Amalak's spaceship because they can see the trail of particles left by a teleportation beam.
-->'''Superman:''' ''"See it?-- A faint trail of electrically-charged particles-- a leftover trace of the teleportation-beam, I'd guess!"''\\
'''Supergirl:''' ''"I see it, all right... And I've just tracked it to its source!"''
* BlandNameProduct: When rampaging through Central City, Jevik tears down a [=MacTavish's=] burger restaurant, prompting Superman to comment Jevik is certainly no gourmet.
* BreakingTheBonds: After stunning Supergirl, Amalak chains her to a chair. Amalak believes Supergirl has been completely disabled, even though Superman warns him she can break those chains with one finger...and effectively, she easily shatters her chains by merely pulling her wrists apart.
* CantKillYouStillNeedYou: Amalak passes up the chance to use his star-cannon to kill Supergirl because he is planning to hold her hostage against Superman.
* CatchAFallingStar: Superman catches two members of the hotel's ski-patrol when they drop off a ski-lift.
* ChekhovsVolcano: When Superman takes his battle against Nam-Ek to a Caribbean Island, a volcano can be seen in the background. Naturally, it does not take long for it erupting.
* ChokeHolds: When Superman and Supergirl burst into Amalak's ship, Nam-Ek wraps his right arm around Superman's neck from behind and starts hitting his stomach.
* ClingyJealousGirl: Iris Allen gets mad when she finds Lois Lane talking to The Flash (Iris' husband Barry) because rumor has it that Miss Lane is obsessed with dating super-heroes. Hence, Iris and Lois have a heated argument in which Iris repeatedly and angrily warns Lois to stay away from the Flash, and Lois repeatedly protests she is not interested at all.
* ContaminationSituation: Lois Lane is one of the first persons to contract a mysterious plague which is spreading over Central City.
* ContinuityNod:
** Nam-Ek's life history was first narrated in ''Superman (Volume 1)'' #282.
** When Linda Danvers arrives in Central City, the characters' dialogue subtly reminds readers that Supergirl had been a camerawoman in her ''ComicBook/AdventureComics'' final run and a student counselor in ''ComicBook/SupermanFamily''.
* CrystalPrison: Superman defeats Nam-Ek by encasing him in a man-sized quartz prism. Since yellow sunrays bounce off the surface of his crystalline pod, Nam-Ek is cut off from his power source.
-->'''Superman:''' ''"All I need to do to cut off Nam-Ek's super-powers is mold and shape the glass...to form a giant prism! It'll filter out the yellow sun-rays-- that are present even in space-- and which give Nam-Ek his super-powers!"''
* DamselOutOfDistress: Amalak chains Supergirl and is about to shoot her brains off when he realizes his ray gun has been disabled. Supergirl then easily snaps her chains and uppercuts his jaw, smirking the whole time.
* DeathBySecretIdentity: Amalak dies shortly after revealing he has spied on Superman and discovered his secret identity.
* DyingDeclarationOfHate: When Amalak's final and desperate gambit -he shoots himself and tries to make Superman believe he caused his death- fails, the villain dies cursing Superman.
* EnergyBeings: In order to fight Supergirl, Amalak creates "electro-surrogates", human-like beings made of green energy who follow his mental commands.
* EvilGloating: Rather than shooting Supergirl right after forcing Superman to leave his ship, Amalak rants and raves about his plans as she listens, believing her helpless and powerless.
-->'''Amalak:''' ''"But be warned-- Resist it...and it will again burst into a flare intense enough to blind you! As if resisting any of my plans were not futile! Ha Ha!"''
* EvilLaugh: Amalak laughs very loudly several times during one single rant in which he gloats about his scheme's inevitable future success.
-->'''Amalak:''' ''"When my agent re-establishes contact with Kent... He will set into motion the final battle in my psychological war against Superman-- One that he can win only if he kills someone! Ha Hah! HA-HA-HAH!"''
* EvilPlan: Amalak puts in motion a complicated gambit whose final goal is to destroy Superman psychologically by forcing him to forgo his morals and kill someone.
* ExpoLabel: Amalak's teleportation raygun is placed on top of a pillar conveniently labeled "Teleportation Beam". Amusingly, he is his ship's only passenger, so he should not need to mark anything.
* FaceHeelTurn: Nam-Ek travels to Earth to warn Superman of Amalak's scheme to unleash a plague; but when Superman seems to doubt his old enemy's non-involvement, not only does Nam-Ek refuse to explain anything but also, he violently turns against Superman and sides with Amalak.
-->'''Nam-Ek:''' ''"I went to Earth after defeating you...to warn the Terrans-- and Superman-- of the impeding plague! But he refused my efforts-- turned against me! So now I shall turn against him...and join forces with you-- Amalak, the Kryptonian-Killer!"''
* {{Fainting}}: When Clark returns after his battle against Nam-Ek, Lois Lane falls ill with a mysterious malady and collapses on the hotel's floor.
* FlawExploitation: Amalak knows he cannot defeat Superman physically, so he intends to exploit his compassion and humanity to destroy him psychologically by tricking him into killing someone.
-->'''Amalak:''' ''"For that is his Achilles' heel-- His obsessive concern with preserving life...and his lily-livered refusal to take it! I need only put him in a situation where he must kill-- to destroy him psychologically!
* FrictionBurn: As battling Nam-Ek in space, Superman comes up with the idea of encasing him in a prison fashioned from a meteorite. But he needs heat to melt the quartz into reflective glass, and there is no air-friction in space, so he uses his heat vision.
* GreenAndMean: Amalak and his pawns Jevik and Nam-Ek wear green clothes. Likewise, Amalak's living energy constructs are green.
* GrievousHarmWithABody: The story opens with Nam-Ek grabbing Flash by the ankles and using him to clobber Superman.
* HammeredIntoTheGround: When Superman confronts Nam-Ek about the latter's possible involvement in the plague outbreak, the Kryptonian rogue refuses to explain anything, and pounds Superman into the ground with a doble hammer-fist.
* HeroicBSOD: When Nam-Ek vanishes during the battle, Superman freaks out for several reasons: he believes he has killed Nam-Ek; since Nam-Ek's strange mutant physiology could hold the cure for the plague ravaging Central City, unnumbered millions will die; and Lois Lane will be counted among those millions, since she has just contracted the plague. Superman feels so broken down when Lois falls sick that he falls on his knees, covers his face with his hands, and sobs.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Amalak tries to shoot Supergirl's brains off, but his star-cannon's trigger has been jammed by Superman's heat vision. Amalak drops his ray-gun and prepares to attempt to dispose of Supergirl in another way, but he does not realize cosmic energy is building up within the obstructed barrel. Finally, his star-cannon explodes, obliterating Amalak's own space base.
* HurlItIntoTheSun: Superman finally gets rid of Jevik by picking up his unconscious body and throwing him back to his home-world with a super-strong toss.
* ImprovisedWeapon: As fighting Jevik's human form, Superman breaks a ski-lift's chair in his head.
* InMediasRes: The first issue begins with Superman and Flash fighting Nam-Ek in Central City as blaming him for the outbreak of a plague. After three pages, the story rewinds to explain how they got there.
-->'''Narrator:''' ''"No, gentle reader, you haven't missed anything-- You've merely joined the Man of Steel in the middle of the strangest struggle of his career... But to learn the who, what, when, where, how and why, we must review the mysterious events of the previous 36 hours..."''
* InTheBack: Amalak has just blinded Supergirl, but he does not want to run useless risks, so he shoots a stunning ray at her head from behind.
* ItsAllMyFault: When he is tricked into believing he has killed Nam-Ek, Superman freaks out because Nam-Ek's antibodies could cure the disease. Now, everybody will die, including Lois, and it will be his fault.
-->'''Superman''': "The Flash is critically injured... Lois Lane is dying! Central City will die, too-- and then the whole world! It's all my fault-- because I've just killed the only being in the universe who can save it!"''
* JustBetweenYouAndMe: When Amalak and Supergirl are left alone in the former's starship, Amalak stars gloating about his real scheme to destroy Superman.
* KilledOffForReal: Amalak kills himself as trying to destroy Superman's mind, and he stays dead. The last readers hear from Amalak is Supergirl saying she will take care of his corpse.
* KryptoniteFactor: Amalak creates a yellow energy cocoon around Green Lantern to nullify his Power Ring, and he uses Dr. Light's Kryptonite Light gadget to attempt to kill Superman.
* KryptoniteIsEverywhere: During his battle against Nam-Ek, Superman feels strangely weak as lifting a volcano. A quick XRayVision scan reveals tiny traces of Kryptonite in the magma.
* MadeOutToBeAJerkass: Superman discovers the origin of the plague is a shape-shifting creature called Jevik sent by his enemy Amalak. Unfortunately, Jevik is masking as a little dog adopted by his co-worker Steve Lombard's nephew Jamie. Hence, when Superman tries to dispose of Jevik, the horrified little boy thinks Superman is going to kill his pet.
* MuggingTheMonster: When he sees Clark Kent holding a glass of water as speaking to a woman, Steve Lombard slaps his back so that Clark's glass splashes the woman. Later, Superman pays Steve back by blowing Steve's water on the same woman's face, and he wonders what Steve's reaction would be if he ever found out who he is exactly picking on.
-->'''Superman:''' ''"I probably shouldn't have done that... But after what that jock did to me on the train, I just couldn't resist! Poor Lombard! If he only knew who he was ticking off every time he picked on meek Clark Kent--!"''
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Superman becomes horrified when he believes he has killed Nam-Ek, and later when Lois falls sick with a mysterious plague, and maybe Nam-Ek was the only who could cure it.
-->'''Superman:''' ''"I...I was wrong about Nam-Ek! He's gone-- But Lois still fell ill with the plague! Then...If...If Nam-El didn't cause the disease... He can cure it! My god! The woman I love is dying...and I've just killed the only one in the universe who can save her!!"''
* NeckLift: In the cover of issue #312, Superman is lifting and shoving Amalak into his ship's wall as grabbing his neck.
* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: Amalak gloats that Supergirl must be dead since she got caught by his spaceship's explosion. Later, she reappears and says she was merely knocked out.
-->'''Amalak:''' ''"You see, I noticed that my star-cannon was about to self-destruct... Just before it did, I teleported here! Supergirl, however, was on board my ship when it was blasted into nothingness! She could not have survived!"''\\
''Later''\\
'''Supergirl:''' ''"Amalak grossly overestimated the deadliness of his star cannon!"''
* NoSell: Supergirl punches Amalak when he reaches his weapons' console, but his force-field deflects the blow.
-->'''Supergirl:''' ''"You're stubborn, Amalak-- I'll give you that! But I'll-- Arggh!"''\\
'''Amalak:''' ''"My "energy nexus" is impenetrable-- even by you!"''
* NotEnoughToBury: Subverted. Superman throws a volcano at Nam-Ek, expecting to weaken him. Though, Nam-Ek disappears without a trace. Superman analyzes the lava, finds traces of Kryptonite, and feeling horrified, he believes Nam-Ek lost his powers and was burned to ashes by a tide of molten rock. Later, though, he discovers that Nam-Ek was merely teleported away.
* ObliviouslyEvil: Jevik is a barely sapient alien beast who does not understand why to spread a plague and hurt people is bad thing, since he only does what he is told.
-->'''Superman:''' ''"Who are you...Why are you attacking me--? [...] I want an explanation, Jevik--! What do you want with me--[...]"''\\
'''Jevik:''' ''"...Jevik not understand...Jevik only do what Jevik is told..."''
* OhCrap: After blinding and chaining Supergirl to a chair, Amalak believes he can kill her whenever he pleases thanks to his star-cannon ray-gun. When Supergirl easily breaks her chains after his star-cannon fails to function properly, Amalak freaks out so badly he cannot articulate even one word or notice he has dropped his weapon.
* ThePlague: A strange plague of unknown origin and nature -whose symptoms include loss of consciousness, fever and odd purple splotches all over the skin- is decimating the population of Central City, and Superman suspects it has been caused by one of his enemies.
* PlasmaCannon: Amalak's star-cannon is a plasma-powered ray gun able to kill a Kryptonian. Nonetheless, it can also be dialed down to stunning instead of killing.
* PolkaDotDisease: People infected with Amalak's alien plague develop large, irregular purple spots all over their bodies.
* PunchedAcrossTheRoom:
** Nam-Ek punches Flash into orbit by accident.
--->'''Superman:''' ''"Great Krypton! You hit Flash and knocked him into orbit!"''
** Shortly after, Superman punches Nam-Ek and sends him hurtling over half America and the Caribbean Sea.
--->''Instantly, the blow sends Nam-Ek hurtling hundreds of miles-- and immediately, Superman springs into the air in pursuit...''
* RightHandAttackDog: Amalak is accompanied by an alien shape-shifting critter named Jevik whom he uses to spread the plague and attack Superman.
* RuleOfPerception: The sounds emitted by Amalak's star-amulet are depicted as rows of musical notes wrapped in a yellow bubble speech.
* SadisticChoice: Superman bursts into Amalak's ship and finds out his enemy is holding Supergirl captive and forcing him to choose between two options: taking the cure for the plague back to Earth or saving his cousin's life.
-->'''Amalak:''' ''"I assume you recognize the star-cannon, Superman...and are acquainted with its power! So I am prepared to propose a trade: I let you take Nam-Ek back to Earth-- and in exchange, Supergirl remains here as my prisoner! Either that-- Or I'll kill her right before your eyes!"''\\
'''Superman:''' ''"What can I do? The minute I leave, he'll kill Supergirl-- and yet there's Central City...And Lois--!
* SecretIdentityChangeTrick: Clark Kent twice scares the dog of Steve Lombard's nephew to create a diversion which lets him sneak out and change clothes.
* SensoryOverload: When Supergirl fights Amalak's energy construct, it explodes in a flash of light more intense than a super-nova, blinding her temporarily.
-->'''Supergirl:''' ''"M-my eyes! I can't see! Great Krypton! I'm blind!"''\\
'''Amalak:''' ''"Of course, Supergirl-- And exactly as I planned! Your super-optic nerves may be capable of unique perceptions...but they are not invulnerable to severe shock! I am merely the first person in history to have discovered a means of producing light bright enough to blind you!"''
* SinisterSuffocation: When they fight, Amalak's energy creature puts its hands around Supergirl's throat and tries to choke her.
* SpinningOutOfHere: Nam-Ek teleports on the top of the Sheridan Central Hotel by spinning around.
* SpottingTheThread: Jevik changes himself into Supergirl to trick Superman into letting his guard down. However, Superman knows right away something is wrong because Jevik did not think of changing his distinctive voice pattern.
* StormingTheCastle: Superman and Supergirl find Amalak's mobile space base as tracking down a trail of particles left by a teleportation beam, and they swiftly smash their way into the ship's deck.
* StunnedSilence: Amalak is struck dumb when he sees Supergirl, who he believed helpless, breaking the chains he had tied her to a chair with.
* TakeAThirdOption: When Amalak holds Supergirl hostage, Superman has two options: leaving Supergirl behind, knowing that Amalak will kill her, and saving the plague's victims...or fighting Amalak as people keep dying. At the end, Superman leaves Amalak's ship and goes back to Earth, but when Amalak is about to shoot Supergirl, he finds out Superman sneakily melted his ray-gun's barrel.
* TeleportGun: Amalak's teleportation device is a blue ray gun.
* TemptingFate: When Amalak shows he is holding Supergirl hostage, Superman warns she can break those chains with minimum effort. Amalak replies she will not, and several minutes later she shatters her chains and punches his face (right after he claims he can kill her easily).
* ThanatosGambit: Subverted. Since Amalak's original plan to trick Superman into taking a life fails, he kills himself and tries to make it look like his death caused by Superman; though, Superman sees through his scheme, and Amalak dies cursing both Superman and his failure.
* ThenLetMeBeEvil: When Superman disbelieves that Nam-Ek is not involved in the plague, the latter declares that if Superman will treat him as a villain, then he will be one. Subverted because Nam-Ek barely makes a token effort to convince Superman that he is not his enemy.
* ThereWasADoor: When Superman and his cousin find Amalak's spaceship, the Man of Steel is definitely in a bad mood -what with an incurable plague spreading, Lois falling sick, and him being fooled into believing he killed someone-, so he enters the ship deck by furiously plowing through the hull.
* TheseHandsHaveKilled: Superman has a breakdown when he believes he has killed Nam-Ek by accident.
-->'''Superman:''' ''"Kryptonite is deadly to all Kryptonians! So-- while the lead in the magma kept the K from affecting me...the concentration of it...in the lava...was enough to destroy Nam-Ek...disintegrating him utterly! I... I've broken my solemn vow never to kill!"''
* ThirdPersonFlashback: As he chases Nam-Ek over the ocean, Superman has a flashback showing the events which led the Kryptonian scientist to become an immortal monster five hundred years ago... no one of which were witnessed by Superman.
* ThouShaltNotKill: Aware that he cannot kill Superman, Amalak tries to destroy him psychologically by forcing him to kill. When his original plan fails, Amalak tries to trick Superman into believing he has killed him.
-->'''Superman:''' ''"I must be true to my vow! Now that I've taken a life...my career as a super-law-enforcer is over! Superman must hang up his cape forever!"''
* TrapIsTheOnlyOption: Superman flies into the JLA Watchtower and finds out Amalak has broken into the base and threatens to kill the Flash and Green Lantern if Superman does not come to the Trophy Room at once. Superman calls it an obvious trap out loud, but he cannot risk Barry and Hal's lives.
-->'''Superman:''' ''"Amalak?! Aboard the Satellite-- Speaking over the intra-vessel hailing frequency?!"''\\
'''Amalak:''' ''"Correct!"''\\
'''Superman:''' ''"Obviously, you've prepared a trap for me-- And I can't be sure you'll keep your word!"''\\
'''Amalak:''' Obviously-- Correct again! But then-- you have no way of knowing I will not keep it, either!"''\\
'''Superman:''' ''"All right, All right! I get the idea-- So I'm here!"''
* UnderestimatingBadassery:
** After blinding and capturing Supergirl, Amalak gloats that he can kill her whenever he wants because she is less clever than Superman. Smirking, Supergirl dares him to try. Amalak pulls his plasma weapon's trigger and discovers several unpleasant facts: first, his ray-gun has been damaged and is useless; second, Supergirl can break her chains easily despite his assumption that she could not; and third, her fist on his face really hurts.
--->'''Amalak:''' ''"If I cannot take Superman's life...I shall settle for his career! You, however, are less resourceful than your cousin-- I can kill you-- easily!"''\\
'''Supergirl:''' ''"Can you? Your weapon merely stunned me earlier!"''\\
'''Amalak:''' I shall be happy to lay your doubts to rest...along with your dead body!"''\\
''One knockout punch later''\\
'''Supergirl:''' (thinking) ''"Amalak never had a chance!"''
** Amalak believes Supergirl got killed by the explosion which destroyed his space base, but it merely knocked her out.
* UnwittingPawn: Amalak's alien pet Jevik is a barely sapient beast who only does what he is told, so he does not realize his owner intends him to be killed by Superman in order to break Kal-El's spirit.
* VillainTeamUp: Superman's old enemies Amalak the Kryptonian Killer and Nam-Ek join forces to destroy the Man of Steel and the Maid of Might.
* VillainTeleportation: Amalak uses a teleportation beam to bring Nam-Ek to his spaceship when the latter is fighting Superman.
* VirtueIsWeakness: Amalak believes Superman's unwillingness to kill anyone is a sign of weakness and stupidity. He even gloats that Superman and Supergirl should have killed him when they had the chance because he does not intend to waste his second chance to kill them.
-->'''Amalak:''' '''"'Last rites'? Come on, Superman-- You do not really mean that! It is against your personal code to kill any living being! And that will be your undoing! You two should have killed me-- when you had the chance! You will not get another!"''
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: When questioned about how he can destroy Jevik when he has a code against killing, Superman replies that Jevik is not truly alive in his current life phase. When Jevik's heart begins to beat, Superman says that he cannot kill him because he's come alive somehow.
* WhatTheHellHero: As Superman fights Nam-Ek, Amalak tries to keep him confused and unfocused by pointing out that his opening attack nearly killed him.
-->'''Amalak:''' ''"You are a fool, Superman! So disturbed by the prospect of having killed Nam-Ek that you have become careless! Why, you almost killed me just now! When you burst into this pressurized cabin, the oxygen in it began to escape...until an energy-patch appeared over the puncture to seal it! I might have suffocated...If not for the oxy-aura around me now! You would have had another death of your conscience! Face it, Kryptonian-- You are not the hero you think you are!"''\\
'''Superman:''' ''"He's attacking me psychologically-- trying to confuse me! And he's nearly succeeding--"''
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