Solar Power
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| Superman: The Animated Series episode | |
|---|---|
| |
| "Solar Power" | |
| Airdate: | September 26, 1997 (USA) |
| Production Number: | 024 |
| Airdate Order: | 24 |
| Animation Services by: | TMS-Kyokuichi Corporation |
| Written by: | Robert Goodman |
| Directed by: | Kazuhide Tomonaga |
| Episode images (4) | |
"Solar Power" is the twenty-fourth episode of Superman: The Animated Series.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Things are as normal in Stryker's Prison but Edward Lytener walks toward a helicopter that has landed in the prison yard. A guard tries to stop him but Lytener activates a device that enables him to become invisible and steals the helicopter. The guards try to track him, but the helicopter itself becomes invisible.
The weather turns stormy. At the Daily Planet, Clark is working. He accidentally drops a pen under his desk. Unable to reach it, he looks around to make sure no one is watching, then lifts the desk. But to his surprise, he feels his strength waning, and drops the desk, feeling a pain in his arm. Lois gives him a call and tells him she's heading for Stryker's Island to interview the guards. Clark warns her that Lytener may try to come after her again, but she brushes it off.
However, Lois finds herself in peril when the cable trolley she's riding stops, and a planted laser device starts cutting through the support. Lytener's also left a recording, saying that, this time, it isn't personal - Lois is just the bait.
Superman appears to save Lois but finds himself unable to handle the trolley's weight. As he struggles to hold it up, Lytener appears floating beside him, now calling himself Luminus. He says that things will only get worse. Superman barely manages to save Lois, after which he tests his powers, and finds that they are still fading.
The clouds part and much to Superman's surprise, the sky is red.
Scientists explain that Lytener has hijacked an array of LexCorp satellites and used them to project a force field over the Earth; the sun is still yellow, but only the red rays are getting through the field, effectively making a red sun like that of Krypton. Lois calls up Luthor and accuses him of being an accomplice to Lytener's plan but he denies it.
In spite of Luthor's denial, Jimmy, Clark, and Lois follow up on the lead. Clark notices a signal in the sky (similar to the Bat-Signal) and leaves. Superman finds Luminus waiting for him on a building. Superman attacks, but Luminus proves to be nothing more than a hologram. Several more appear; though not solid, the holograms are capable of firing laser beams at him. Severely weakened, Superman manages to find the real Luminus by spraying him with water from a broken pipe. Luminus is stunned, but manages to escape. Superman notices that he's so weak now that he's bleeding.
Lois and Jimmy follow a lead to an address, but find only a vacant lot. Lois sees a bird sitting down in midair, and realizes that there's still a building there, only it's invisible. The two enter, but are captured.
Elsewhere, Superman prepares to go into space to disable the satellites, but Luminus shows him an image of Lois and Jimmy tied up, and an invitation to his hideout. Superman has no choice but to go after his friends.
Inside the building, Superman finds a variety of fantasy settings, placed by holograms: an old-fashioned western bar, a train track, and a pirate ship at sea. Luminus attacks him throughout these settings, using holograms capable of delivering solid blows (according to Luminus, this is accomplished through the use of laser fields).
Superman manages to open a hole in one of the holographic worlds, and makes his way into a real room, where Lois and Jimmy are tied up. Luminus attacks him with a laser gun. Superman is weak, but manages to grab a satellite dish and deflect the laser beam into destroying the satellite controls, also destroying half the building.
Luminus rises from the debris of the explosion and sees the force field is gone, letting in yellow sunlight. Luminus attacks Superman with his bare fists, but Superman regains his powers far more quickly than he expected, and easily subdues Luminus. He hands him over to the police, and flies off into the bright blue sky and the big yellow sun.
[edit] Continuity
- Luminus assures Lois that this time his attack is not personal. This refers to the episode "Target," in which Lytener repeatedly attempted to kill Lois for having spurned him.
[edit] Background Information
[edit] Trivia
- As Luminus, Lytener seems very much like other character from the DC Universe such as Mirror Master, and Dr. Light.
- The background music in the saloon hologram is used again in the Justice League Unlimited episode "The Once and Future Thing Part One: Weird Western Tales".
- The trainyard hologram is really the trainyard that was featured in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "It's Never Too Late".
[edit] Cast
[edit] Uncredited Appearances
[edit] Quotes
Luminus: See you soon... even if you don't see me. |
(On the phone) |
Luminus: Getting weaker, I see. You must be at-- what? Half strength by now? |
Superman: And how are holograms suppose to kill me? |
Lois: If you had an invisible door, would you bother to lock it? |
| Previously produced episode: "Double Dose" | Episodes of Superman: The Animated Series | Next produced episode: "Brave New Metropolis" |
| Previously aired episode: "Double Dose" | Next aired episode: "Brave New Metropolis" |
