Father's Day
From DC Animated Universe Wiki, the DCAU Database
| Superman: The Animated Series episode | |
|---|---|
| |
| "Father's Day" | |
| Airdate: | October 3, 1997 (USA) |
| Production Number: | 028 |
| Airdate Order: | 28 |
| Animation Services by: | TMS-Kyokuichi Corporation |
| Written by: | Mark Evanier Steve Gerber |
| Directed by: | Dan Riba |
"Father's Day" is the twenty-eighth episode of Superman: The Animated Series. It depicts the coming of Kalibak to Earth. Hoping to prove himself worthy of being Darkseid's son, Kalibak goes to Earth and attempts to kill Superman in battle. Superman proves stronger but is distracted by the fact that his adoptive father, Jonathan Kent, is trapped in a crumbling building. Because of this distraction Kalibak keeps coming back for more while the building gets weaker.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
On distant Apokolips, Desaad activates a machine that is watching over Metropolis Park. Lois Lane is out for a jog and finds it: a huge metallic sphere that sprouts arms and starts tearing the place apart. Lois calls it in to the newspaper and is overheard by Clark Kent. Kent then takes off as Superman to deal with the machine.
Superman arrives on scene just in time to save Lois. He then finds that the sphere is equipped with a variety of weapons such as a laser, a lighting generator, and a chain saw. None of the weapons are very effective. Observing this, Darkseid orders Desaad to transmit the self-destruct sequence. Superman manages to get the machine away before it explodes.
After the destruction of the machine, Desaad tries to cover up his failure by claiming the machine was only a way to gauge Superman's powers and asks for another chance. Darkseid refuses him so Mannheim asks to be returned to earth to restart Intergang. He too is refused. Kalibak then approaches and asks for the chance to destroy Superman. Darkseid refuses him as well claiming that the destruction of Superman is too important. Manheim asks how Darkseid can take Kalibak seriously and is put into a slave pit as punishment.
Desaad decides that Kalibak can cover his failure and convinces him to go to Earth to destroy Superman in spite of his being told not to. Desaad assures him that Kalibak will finally be accepted as Darkseid's son. Believing this, Kalibak heads to Earth.
Back on Earth, Clark's parents show up and invite Lois to lunch. Unfortunately, Kalibak shows up nearby them and heads directly to the restaurant that Ma and Pa Kent are going for lunch. Kalibak then starts wreaking havoc in order to draw Superman's attention. Pa Kent foolishly waits inside believing someone should confront Kalibak. The roof caves in and Jonathan is trapped inside.
Superman goes to investigate and learns of his adoptive father's fate. He attempts to save his father but Kalibak attacks him. The two fight and it seems that Kalibak may win but Superman manages to force him out of the building. Superman attempts to leave Kalibak while he goes to save his father. Insulted, Kalibak attacks again. The fight goes into the subway and nearly causes a train wreak but Superman manages to stop the fight just without any damage. Kalibak is still not unconscious and attacks once more. He still fails to defeat Superman but remembers Darkseid's lack of faith in him. He then redoubles his efforts. This time, Superman is nearly defeated. Kalibak claims that he'll finally prove himself to his father. Upon hearing the word "Father" Superman stops holding back and hurls Kalibak several miles away.
With Kalibak too far away to start any more trouble, Superman finally manages to save his adoptive father just before the roof caves in. With Pa Kent saved, Superman heads off to find Kalibak and finish the fight. However, Darkseid gets there first and blasts Kalibak with his Omega Beams. Superman confronts Darkseid but he too is hit by the omega beams. However, Superman is only hurt, not destroyed. Darkseid then vows that Superman and Earth will swear allegiance to Darkseid.
Darkseid returns to Apokolips and explains to Desaad that Superman cannot be destroyed with only one stroke. He then promises that he will cause as many deaths as it takes to destroy Superman and take Earth.
[edit] Cast
[edit] Trivia
- First meeting of Superman and Darkseid.
- First appearance of Desaad and Kalibak in this series.
[edit] Quotes
Ma Kent: Your editor wasn't angry with Clark was he? He certainly seemed upset. |
Pa Kent: Somebody should take the bruiser down a peg! |
Kalibak: You see, Superman, life breeds death. Everything that lives must kill something to survive. And I am a survivor. |
Superman: Whoever you are... |
Desaad: You sacrificed your s--, ah, Kalibak? |
| Previously produced episode: "The Prometheon" | Episodes of Superman: The Animated Series | Next produced episode: "The Hand of Fate" |
| Previously aired episode: "Ghost in the Machine" | Next aired episode: "World's Finest" |
