Fire From Olympus
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| Batman: The Animated Series episode | |
|---|---|
| |
| "Fire From Olympus" | |
| Airdate: | May 24, 1993 |
| Production Number: | 63 |
| Airdate Order: | 60 |
| Written by: | Judith Reeves-Stevens & Garfield Reeves-Stevens |
| Directed by: | Dan Riba |
| Episode images (5) | |
"Fire From Olympus" is the sixtieth episode of Batman: The Animated Series.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Commissioner Gordon waits for an informant outside the ZΩrbΛs. Unbeknownst to him, however, the informant, Yanni Starvos, is being by a couple of thugs. They inform him that his meeting's been canceled and they chase him towards their boss. He is finally cornered in an alley filled with old tires. The boss comes out of his car and Starvos pleads with him. However, his words make the boss even angrier that he defied him, forced him to come to the mortal coil, and then claims that he doesn't know what he thinks. He condemns Starvos to Tarturus and a bolt of electricity strikes.
Gordon takes Starvos to the hospital where he is diagnosed as being struck by lighting and only alive due to the tires absorbing the shock. Gordon is skeptical of the diagnosis as it was a clear night.
Later, Gordon takes Starvos' file to Batman and the two talk about his past record of selling shipping schedules to hijackers. As a scheduler for Maximillian shipping lines he is well suited to this kind of work. Gordon then tells Batman that Starvos was going to tell Gordon about a new energy weapon capable of firing bolts of lightning. The weapon has been stolen and Batman fears that it may already be in the wrong hands. He heads out to see Maxie Zeus, owner of Maximillian Shipping.
On top of Maxie's office building (made to look like a Greek Temple) Maxie's assistant, Clio, tells Maxie about a case that's being built against him. Maxie (who is dressed like the Greek god Zeus) doesn't much care claiming that he's bored with tales of human concerns. Clio is upset that Maxie is acting like he's a god who thinks she is a muse of history. She tires to talk some sense into him but he will not hear reason. Just then, Batman arrives in the batwing. Zeus sees him and decides that this is Hades. Clio tries to tell Maxie that "Hades" is really Batman, but Zeus refuses to listen claiming that no mortal could make it to the top of Olympus. He sends Clio away and talks with Batman.
Batman asks Zeus about the electron cannon but Zeus claims he has no need for mortal weapons as he can summon thunderbolts of his own, revealing that he has a lighting staff capable of generating thousands of volts of electricity. Upset that reality is starting to enter into his world, Zeus tells Batman to leave and activates guns in his decorative stone harpies. Batman gets the message and leaves. After "Hades" leaves, Zeus reveals to his thugs that he has the electron cannon and will now cause mortals to tremble, "at the fury of Zeus reborn!"
Clio returns home and cries over her Boss' condition when Batman arrives. She explains that Maximillian Shipping started losing business and to save it, Maxie started handling cargo for the mob. However, the pressure and tensions became so great that he got confused and now lives inside a fantasy. Batman asks Clio to take him to Zeus so that he can be helped and she agrees. Clio drives Batman into the company building and heads up in an elevator. Unfortunately, Zeus' thugs capture her and take her to their boss.
On top of the building, Zeus sees a police blimp and believing they're trying to encroach on Mt. Olympus, he fires the electron cannon onto it setting the blimp on fire. Clio runs up to him and tries to talk to him into reality. For a moment it seems to work and Maxie is returned. However, he soon falls back into his delusions and claims that Clio is no longer fit to be around him. He orders his thugs to tie her to the cannon.
Meanwhile, Batman sneaks into the buildings but security systems detect him.
On the top of the building, Zeus prepares to fire the electron cannon with Clio on it. Before he can fire it, Batman arrives and stops the firing procedure. Zeus orders his henchman, Alexander, to take on Batman but he hesitates. Zeus takes this as a sign of defiance and activates his harpies having them fire on Batman and Alexander. Batman manages to destroy the harpies and Zeus attacks him with his lighting staff. Batman easily beats Zeus and deactivates the cannon. Unfortunately, Zeus fires his staff at Batman pushing him off the building, and then activates the cannon again. Batman climbs back onto the top of the building and grabs Zeus' staff. Hurling it into the cannon, he deactivates it. Zeus dives after the staff and is electrocuted when it overloads. He then falls onto a ledge and is knocked out.
Later, Zeus is taken to Arkham where he equates the inmates with the Greek gods. Although locked up, he's happy that he's now home.
[edit] Background Information
[edit] Production Inconstencies
- On Yanni Stavros' file, he is listed as a resident of Gotham City, New York - but his zip code is 90068, the zip code of Los Angeles. In "Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero", Barbara Gordon and Dead Abragast were given New York zipcodes starting with 100.
- Maxie Zeus recognizes Two-Face as Janus. Janus was a god of Roman mythology, not Greek, and does not have a Greek equivalent.
[edit] Cultural References
- Many references to Greek Mythology are made in this episode:
- The Hydra was a many headed dragon that would re-grow heads after they were cut off. It was eventually killed by Hercules and Iolaus.
- Although of Roman origin, Janus was in fact depicted as a two-faced god and was lord of beginnings and endings, doors and gates.
- Demeter, whom Maxie Zeus equates with Poison Ivy, was a goddess of fertility and was responsible for times of plenty. The winter and autumn months came when she was grieving over the loss of her daughter Persephone. In fact, Poison Ivy had already used Demeter as a pseudonym.
- Hermes, whom Maxie Zeus equates with the Joker, was the messenger of the gods. He was considered to be a trickster and a thief as well.
- Clio, whom Maxie Zeus equates with his assistant, was the muse of history and often depicted as being a daughter of Zeus. The muses were minor goddesses but they too were worshiped.
- Hades, whom Maxie Zeus equates with Batman, was the eldest of the Olympian gods and ruler of the underworld. Though considered a Dark God, he was not actually evil and kept the dead in check.
- Bellerophon whom Maxie equates a Police Blimp to, was a mortal warrior who managed to tame the winged horse Pegasus, he eventually tried to join the gods on Mount Olympus but was killed by a thunderbolt from Zeus.
- Harpies were creatures used by Zeus to punish evil people by eating and spoiling their food, and carrying them off for torture before their deaths. However, they were usually depicted as having heads of women and bodies of birds.
[edit] Trivia
- Fittingly, Starvos is captured next to the Zorbas, which has Greek letters Omega and Alpha in the title. The name is derived from a novel called Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis.
[edit] Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Kevin Conroy | Bruce Wayne/Batman |
| Bob Hastings | Commissioner Gordon |
| Bess Armstrong | Clio |
| Nicholas Savalas | Yanni Stavros |
| Steve Susskind | Maxie Zeus |
| Vernee Watson-Johnson | Doctor |
[edit] Uncredited Appearances
[edit] Quotes
Stavros: Please! Please! It's not what you think. I wasn't going to say anything. Honest. |
Maxie Zeus: You bore me with these tales of petty human concerns. |
Clio: Yeah that's me. Just a lowly muse. |
Clio: He's not living in the real world anymore. Maybe you can relate to that. |
Clio: But Maxie please you know I love you! |
Maxie Zeus: Now this is truly Olympus. Surely it can be no other place. There's beautiful Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest. And double-faced Janus, Lord of Beginnings and Endings. And merry Hermes, Trickster of the Gods! Now at last... Mighty Zeus is home! |
| Previously produced episode: "His Silicon Soul" | Episodes of Batman: The Animated Series | Next produced episode: "Read My Lips" |
| Previously aired episode: "Read My Lips" | Next aired episode: "Shadow of the Bat" |
