Superman The Animated Series
We are heading towards the finale of "Superman: The Animated Series," and the show is adding more classic DC characters to the show. Let's get to it.
Cosmic Boy: "Wouldn't hurt to have a disguise."
Saturn Girl: "Hold still."
[puts glasses on Clark]
Saturn Girl: "Well?"
Young Clark Kent: "Like a pair of glasses is going to fool anyone."
Cosmic Boy: "It better."
In the 30th Century, Brainiac goes back in time to Smallville to try to kill a teenage Clark Kent before he has a chance to become Superman. He is followed by three members of the Legion of Super-Heroes, Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, & Chameleon Boy. They are trying to save Clark so their future remains intact. Can they do it with a Man of Steel that is just starting to figure out himself and his powers?
 |
| Future heroes. |
The Legion of Super-Heroes are a classic part of the Superman mythos. They are heroes from the 30th Century who pattern their lives after the example that Superman set. Because of the way that DC continuity is kind of a confusing mess, sometimes a young Superboy is a member of the team and sometimes it isn't.
This episode feels like kind of an homage and a wink to that. The episode begins with Brainiac creating a temporal vortex and it's some things don't really change no matter how much time passes and apparently one of those things is Brainiac, which is kind of terrifying. Though, I did laugh out loud when he used his "go-go Gadget Arm" to take out the security guard and I loved that the same guard had a future style bandage on his head when he's talking to the Legion. I love continuity.
We haven't seen a ton of young Clark Kent in the series aside from the three part premiere and wow, what a douchebag this kid is. Clark is apparently just at the moment in his life when he is coming into his powers and he is not handling it well. He's with Lana at a dance and is spending his time flirting with these blonde "airheads" to quote Lana. Then some of the other guys from the basketball team show up and want to mess with Clark. They are led by some ginger tool, but Clark isn't much better. He doesn't seem to care about showing off his powers and he ends up throwing ginger tool into the concession table. Lana isn't impressed. Also, it's hilarious to watch these two, white Midwestern teams show of their basketball skills.
Speaking of ginger douche, he's another character that should definitely be dead because of the stuff that happens to him in this episode. Not only does his body break a heavy table in two after he's tossed by Clark, which would have caused him many broken bones, he's also tossed around by Brainiac. He gets thrown throw a heavy glass diner door onto the concrete. Then after he gives up Clark's address, he's thrown through a neon sign! Seriously. He's dead. But instead, it's played for laughs when the firefighters take him down at the end of the episode.
There are some fun action scenes in this episode. It's great to see the Legion take on Brainiac. I loved Cosmic Boy telekinetically using the wrecking ball on Brainiac until he teleports away, but it's the action set piece on the Kent farm that is really top tier. I loved Clark going against the Kent farming equipment until his shirt is shredded. It just goes to show, live action or animation, any chance to get Superman shirtless. It continues as the Legion takes Brainiac on in the barn. I love when action scenes are smart and unconventional and this one definitely is. Though, I do wonder how the Kents are going to afford all this.
I don't love how quickly Clark's attitude changes here. It seems awfully convenient. I never love the introduction of real guns in cartoons as a way of problem solving. Speaking of, what were these kids doing to that farmer in the beginning that he was going to shoot them? It's crazy. And Saturn Girl wiping the minds of everyone including Clark makes you wonder why any of this even matters. But overall, it's a fun little romp through Clark's past with some classic characters.
Grade: B
Toy Guards: "Halt! Friend or foe?"
[Superman destroys the guards with his heat vision]
Superman: "Foe."
At Lana Lang's most recent fashion show, her star model, Darci Mason, is attacked by robots. It turns out that they belong to Toyman who seems to have a rather unhealthy obsession with Darci. Toyman continues to attack Darci with Superman trying to thwart him at every turn. But is there more to Darci than meets the eye?
What a weird episode this is. It's basically about Toyman's weird, sexual obsession with this model which is very disturbing. Toyman is portrayed as this like Howdy Doody doll and it gives big like child energy. So, watching him have like giant posters of this woman all over his hideout and continuously sending his giant toys after her makes me extremely uncomfortable. I kind of hate it. OK, I don't kind of hate it, I really hate it. The reveal that Darci is actually a robot that Toyman created to be his life companion doesn't make me feel any better. Darci is a doll line that is basically the Barbie of the DCAU according to... Darci. Lana even admits to having a bunch of them and that is the reason that she chose Darci as her muse for this collection. But like, shouldn't she have realized that before now?
I think that is my main issue with this episode in general. I don't know how we are supposed to feel about Darci and I don't understand Darci has been able to live so easily since escaping Toyman. She's not real. Clark pretty easily doesn't find any record of her when he's investigating her. Lana didn't do a background check on this woman? Do those not exist in Smallville? Does no one else recognize that this model is the spitting image of a famous doll?
Are we supposed to feel sympathy for Darci? I think we are, but it's really difficult when she tries to kill Lana. That whole scene really baffled me. So, Darci tells Lana she's a robot and basically became sentient. She is trying to get away from her abductor and is planning on killing him. Lana calls the police. Doesn't try to reason with her at all and then Darci tries to kill Lana. It's just kind o fall over the place? Is Darci a victim? Is she just as bad as Toyman? Do I care? No.
There are some pretty cool action sequences in this episode which are kind of its saving grace. The opening fight at the fashion show with Superman taking on Toyman's giant robots modeled after famous toys is pretty dope. I love when Superman fights against robots because he can really let loose. The giant windup kangaroo fight is the highlight of the episode. It's so crazy and kind of twisted. I loved it. The culmination of the fight being Superman dropping it on some snooty Richie Rich's car after she scoffs at no parking laws is the cherry on top.
But, I wasn't super into the fight between Superman and Toyman's robot ninja. Like, I wasn't buying that this robot was really giving Superman a run for his money. I feel like Superman should have been able to take him down just as easily as he did his other robots. For the climactic, third act battle, it was kind of a let down.
The episode ends with Toyman and Darci both presumed dead whens he brings down his helicopter but the episode ends with Darci very much alive. She's carrying a heavy trunk that clearly contains Toyman's body. If you're curious about these two, you can watch the "Static Shock" episode, "Toys in the Hood." I think I'm good.
Grade: D+
Next up, Mister Mxyzptlk teams up with Bizarro and Superman stumbles upon... New Krypton?
What did you all think of these episodes? Do you need more Darci? Are you a Legion of Super-Heroes fan? Let me know in the comments.
No comments:
Post a Comment