Plot summary: Orion of New Genesis arrives in Metropolis to warn Superman that Darkseid is finally making his move to invade Earth.
Notes and Trivia
Episode: 38 (S2.E25)
Original Air Date: November 22nd, 1997
Directed: Dan Riba (10)
Written: Bruce Timm (1) (story) & Rich Fogel (5) (teleplay)
Animation: Koko Enterprise Co., LTD & Dong Yang Animation Co., LTD. (22)
Music: Kristopher Carter (10)
Bruce Timm has talked about the struggles to think of major adversaries for the show as he felt Superman’s rogues gallery was a little… lacking. He and Paul Dini spent long hours trying to solve this and hit upon Jack Kirby’s semi-forgotten Fourth World Saga, which for Timm was a lightbulb moment.
They’re careful about it, but Maggie Sawyer getting to have a girlfriend holding her hand in the hospital was somewhat of a rarity for the era.
While they aren’t named and don’t speak, there are cameos from New Gods characters Lightray and Granny Goddness. Highfather’s child from the hostage exchange grows up to be MY MAN, Mister Miracle. He made a tiny cameo in Beyond‘s ‘The Call‘, but he’ll get a proper appearance in Justice League Unlimited.
Darkseid calls Mannheim the ‘King of Fools’. This was meant to be ‘King of Hell’ (given he dies) but the censors wouldn’t allow it and they had to pick their battles given the events of Part II…
Recap
Maggie Sawyer & Dan Turpin drop off some laundered money seized from Intergang to a high-security facility. Unfortunately Intergang respond by sending a flying gunship to breach the building and reclaim it.
Superman arrives to help but the ship’s Apokalips tech absolutely wrecks his shit and they get away, leaving destruction and injured citizens in their wake, including a hospitalised Maggie Sawyer!
The thieves bring the haul back to Bruno Mannheim, back in Metropolis and revelling in his riches. Unfortunately Darkseid is displeased with him using the loaned tech for robberies so destroys the money and reminds Bruno there’s a larger plan…
Turpin holds a press conference championing the need for Metropolis to learn to fight its own battles rather than always relying on Superman. Right on cue a Boom-Tube opens and a different alien in a gaudy costume crash lands.
‘Orion’ is taken to STAR Labs to heal up but furiously demands to see Superman. Explaining that he escaped from Apokalips, he warns that Darkseid is preparing to invade.
He further explains that Darkseid agreed to a truce with the neighbouring planet ‘New Genesis’ so he could turn his attention to seeking out ‘The Anti-Life Equation’ that will grant him control over all living beings.
Intergang attack an air base with TWO of the gunships from earlier, so Superman and Orion spring into action to defeat them. Orion believes it was too simple and drops the bombshell that he is Darkseid’s son, adopted by New Genesis as part of the peace treaty.
Orion leaves behind a means of contacting him and then teleports home… just as he’s proven correct about it being too easy, as Darkseid has Mannheim blow up a powerplant!
To be continued…
Best Performance
This is a really strong episode for voice acting.
Joseph Balogna has been excellent every time, but after his debut in ‘Tools of the Trade‘ he’s been kept to only a handful of lines so they can keep his character visible. He’s back with a proper feature performance though and he’s wonderful. That fast-talkin’ 1950’s gumshoe schtick always works on me, whether it’s making threats to guys he has no chance against or projecting as much optimism as possible when trying to banter with his friend and boss in the hospital, he’s just a great little character. Excellent for one-liners (“strap on your six-gun, space cowboy”), but just as good for emotional drama.
But then you also have Michael Ironside’s definitive take on Darkseid. The total opposite of Turpin, his measured, quiet pattern of speech is chilling. A simple line like “I play for higher stakes” while dismissing the $20million haul tells you that while Luthor may be Superman’s nemesis, this is The Final Boss. But his coldest read is for sure his parting mockery to Mannheim at the end as his plan continues to unfurl.
In any other episode Steve Sandor might be in with a shot as Orion. It’s a perfectly solid performance, capturing his ‘hero with a temper’ gimmick nicely, but just can’t match the roaring talent of Bologna and Ironside.
While it’s close I think I’d give the edge to Balgona as Darkseid is keeping his cards close to his chest in this opening salvo, while Turpin is scrambling to try and react to everything, with leadership thrust upon him due to Sawyer’s injuries.
Episode Ranking
I would have to call this one of the more effective Part I’s they’ve done to date (‘World’s Finest’ is probably the best), as it does so much to set up the far grander second act, while providing some genuinely high stakes drama. Generally the first half of these things is all talking and character work and the second is all action to pay everything off. That’s usually meant I have much preferred the former but was always painfully aware I was getting an incomplete story. They seem to have finally figured out how to give you more of a blend, as the expository talking is illustrated with wonderful work from the art team (more below), and while Darkseid’s plan is entirely unclear, it’s accompanied by a series of exciting set-pieces.
The gunships follow the same rules as the Wayne/Lex Kill-Bots from ‘World’s Finest’, with one by itself wreaking utter havoc so that when they later deploy multiples you’re immediately invested despite it somehow being easier than fighting one solo. Last time the goal was to show how effective Batman & Superman were when they joined forces, whereas this is mostly just a power display for Orion as Superman continues to get his ass kicked by them while his new ally takes both down.
Orion is a character I used to dislike but I’ve really come to appreciate how useful he can be to play off other characters, given his more brutal approach to heroism. Superman puts himself at great risk to rescue the Intergang goons from an explosion while Orion couldn’t give a shit if his enemies live or die. He’s also not overly careful about innocent bystanders, taking a big picture approach to warfare. They don’t really dwell on that here as Clark doesn’t seem to object to his recklessness, and gives him all the credit for saving the day in the aftermath. Alas, money left on the table, but it’s still a solid outing for Orion and his inherently compelling backstory as Darkseid’s son, hellbent on killing his evil father. Also his first line being ‘Superman’ as he staggers towards Clark is a great little fake-out before you realise he’s just expressing a need to speak to The Man of Steel and Clark happened to be the first face he saw. Cute!
Something to acknowledge is that much of The Fourth World mythos is kind of goofy if you’re unfamiliar with it. You either learn to roll with that and embrace it for what it is or it can be off-putting. Mother Boxes, The Source, The Anti-Life Equation, Orion’s bizarre flying gear, Darkseid’s various followers in their weird costumes. If you weren’t into it I can relate if I cast my mind back to my first exposure to this stuff. But I stuck with it and have come to really love this entire corner of the DC universe. Thus I really enjoyed Mother Box’s exposition video, complete with Jack Kirby style artwork. New Genesis and Apokalips both looks gorgeous, from the former’s sprawling heights and fountains to the latter’s slave-powered hellscape of statues and brimstone. These two planets have vastly different aesthetics, both from each other and Metropolis, and I appreciate how much work they put into the entire montage. Darkseid’s mystery machines, dragon tanks, Parademons, the whole deal. Look at (and click through) all this:
I’ve covered enough BTAS in depth to know how difficult it is to convince the network to allow the main character to bleed, so seeing Superman with blood trickling from his nose and ears from the sonic device was startling. Not only is it blood, but a really unsettling location for it to be coming from. I suspect the difference with Superman is they’re able to portray that he’s absolutely fine much faster. Karkull made him bleed with a slash to the chest and I think it may have happened at least one more time, but it’s been a relative rarity, so the opener does an excellent job of setting up how much trouble our boy in blue would be in if Darkseid unleashes his full arsenal.
So yeah, overall this episode does its job and feels bigger than the average Superman adventure. The mythos is expanded in a huge way, with two alien planets that aren’t just throwaway concepts, but distinct worlds with their own looks and populaces. We get another bombastic guest character, more Darkseid fun, and they bring a supporting character into the spotlight.
I won’t go too far though; there’s plenty of good stuff but I wouldn’t say any of it is truly exceptional, though on a personal level I adored the Kirby montage. But they’re in an excellent position for Part II to push the collective ranking further up the list.
- The Late Mr. Kent
- Brave New Metropolis
- World’s Finest
- Livewire
- Double Dose
- Fun and Games
- Apokalips… Now! (NEW ENTRY)
- Warrior Queen
- Father’s Day
- The Hand of Fate
- The Last Son of Krypton
- Ghost in the Machine
- Stolen Memories
- Action Figures
- The Prometheon
- Tools of the Trade
- The Main Man
- Mxzypixilated
- Blasts from the Past
- Target
- The Way of All Flesh
- Solar Power
- Protoype
- My Girl
- A Little Piece of Home
- Feeding Time
- Speed Demons
- Two’s a Crowd
- Identity Crisis
- Heavy Metal
- Monkey Fun
- Bizarro’s World
Rogues Roundup
Darkseid (Michael Ironside) (third appearance)
This is a slightly more subdued appearance for Darkseid as the entire episode is a prelude to him kicking it up a notch next time. Therefore his role is limited to threatening Mannheim via holograms and being talked about in exposition dialogue. Speaking of which, throwing in the wrinkle that he psychically absorbs misery and despair from those around him for sustenance is some Big Brain design work, making him sound impossibly powerful.
Also capitalism’s grip is so strong that even a staunch leftist like me was dismayed to see Darkseid disintegrate Mannheim’s fat stacks of cash. And that he’s able to do it remotely is a good flex of his power. Betraying Mannheim and then dunking on him with his final words is a great bit of villainy too.
Bruno Mannheim (Bruce Weitz) (fourth appearance)
Per an episode commentary from Season 3, Bruno dies despite his escape attempt at the end. RIP in peace, ‘Ugly’.
Poor Bruno. Finally back on home soil and able to acquire unprecedented amounts of wealth… but has to abandon all that to play general for Darkseid, only to be left to die in the process. I think his desperate attempts to flee the island when he’s obviously doomed are a really great way to restore some character to him after his last appearance was so brief. It’s just so human. In fact I may bump him one spot for going out like a champ!
- Livewire
- Darkseid (–)
- Lex Luthor
- The Joker
- Toyman
- Queen Maxima
- Metallo
- Parasite
- Karkull
- Brainiac
- Mr. Mxyzptlk
- Kalibak
- Harley Quinn
- Lobo
- Luminus
- DeSaad
- Detective Bowman
- Bruno Mannheim (and Intergang!) (↑)
- The Preserver
- Kanto
- Mala & Jax-Ur
- Mercy Graves
- The Prometheon
- De’Cine
- Corey Mills
- Earl Garver
- Titano
- Bizarro
- Weather Wizard
The Matt Signal 
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