Tear Jerker / Superman: Birthright

• Early on, Clark explains that the reason he's a vegetarian and follows Thou Shall Not Kill is that he can see the aura around all living things, and that he never wants to see it disappear. When his friend Kobe is stabbed, Clark makes quick work of the terrorists, then picks Kobe up and urges him to hold on while he takes him to the hospital. We are treated to Clark's POV, where everything is black and grey, except for Kobe, who is surrounded by an absolutely beautiful, rainbow glow. Then the glow fades...and disappears.
• The final panels reveal that, in their last moments, Jor-El and Lara witnessed the unclear image of a man bearing an "S" shield telling them:
  Kal-El: Mother...Father...I made it.
  • There's also the fact that Superman will never know he got through to his parents.
• The employees of the Daily Planet ditch Clark Kent at a restaurant to hang out together at another restaurant without him. Lois is the only one who feels guilty about it when she finds out and tries to defend him as they proceed to insult and gossip about him, thinking he can't hear since he's across the street. He, of course, can, and listens to it all as he sits at an abandoned table still full of empty plates—a reminder that even with all his incredible power, Clark is just as vulnerable to the loneliness of being singled out as any normal human.
  Lois: He's not hurting anybody. What if he walked in here right now and saw what you did to him?
  Coworker: Then maybe he'd show a little emotion. Maybe we'd get a glimpse at what's inside the guy. Why would that be so awful.
• Near the beginning, when it becomes increasingly obvious to the Kents that Clark isn't human, Jonathan takes a stroll down memory lane that ends at Clark's spaceship. Then he snaps and starts whaling on it with a sledgehammer, furious at the permanent reminder that his son is so different from him. It's just so sad and disturbing to see a loving father like Pa Kent lashing out like that.
• On the villainous side of things, Luthor's entire backstory is absolutely miserable, and his defeat at the end surprisingly poignant.
  Superman: I think he just wanted somebody to talk to.

---