The Main Man
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| Superman: The Animated Series episode | |
|---|---|
| |
| "The Main Man" | |
| Airdate: | November 9, 1996 (Part I) November 16, 1996 (Part II) |
| Production Number: | 008 (Part I) 011 (Part II) |
| Airdate Order: | 09 (Part I) 10 (Part II) |
| Animation Services by: | Koko Enterprises Co., LTD. |
| Written by: | Paul Dini |
| Directed by: | Dan Riba |
| Episode images (5) | |
"The Main Man" is composed by the the ninth and tenth episodes of Superman: The Animated Series. It depicts Lobo's first arrival on Earth. Lobo, intergalactic bounty hunter, has been hired by the Preserver, to capture the last Kryptonian: Superman. However, after capturing Superman Lobo now finds himself betrayed as he is the last Czarnian and also put into the Preserver's zoo. Now he and Superman must team up to escape the Preserver's ship and evade rival bounty hunters out for Lobo's blood.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
[edit] Part I
Superman gives his rocket a test run and proves that it's greater than any other ship on Earth. He finally comes to a stop and congratulates Professor Hamilton for his work on converting the rocket for manned space travel. Hamilton thanks Superman for the opportunity and wonders about other civilizations.
Elsewhere, Lobo causes trouble in an alien bar and captures Sqweek, a rat-like alien that apparently stole money from the alien Emperor Spooj. Before Lobo can take his bounty, Squeek's older brother Gnaww shows up and insists that it will be he that gets the bounty on Squeek. Lobo manages to beat Gnaww and his gang and takes off. As he flies through space, a creature orders Lobo brought onto his ship.
The creature introduces itself as "the Preserver," and explains it is a being who collects and preserves the last member of species across the universe. He wants Superman, the last Kryptonian, for his zoo and he believes only Lobo can capture him. At first Lobo refuses, but he agrees when he sees his payment.
Lobo goes to earth and starts trouble in the Metropolis Police Department. Superman shows up and Lobo attacks him. Superman fights back but Lobo proves to be just as strong as his adversary. The police attack with gas and Lobo shows that he has a weakness to it. Unfortunately, Lobo recovers too quickly and attacks again. The two continue to do battle and Lobo calls in his bike. This doesn't provide too much trouble until Lobo fires a missile. While it misses Superman it heads straight for a train. Superman intercepts the missile and takes the blow. Lobo now seems to have the upper hand until Lois intervenes. Lobo encroaches on her and Superman attacks him with newfound determination. Now Superman has the upper hand but Lobo manages to escape into space, vowing to return.
Determined to prevent Lobo from coming back, Superman uses his rocket to follow Lobo into space. Lobo attacks him in space but Superman seems to be winning the fight. The Preserver is informed that Superman is in range and captures him.
Superman wakes up in what he believes to be Krypton but learns he is in a small cage made to look like Krypton. Superman attempts to break out but finds that his powers are canceled out by a red light that gives the same radiation as the red sun of Krypton. Lobo mocks Superman but soon finds himself captured as well, since he is the last Czarnian.
[edit] Part II
After his humiliating defeat at the hands of Lobo, Gnaww tells Emperor Spooj that Lobo took a bribe to release Sqweek. Emperor Spooj orders Lobo returned either dead or alive.
The Preserver returns Superman's outfit but refuses to release him because he must be preserved. He also reveals that he has even taken some species from Earth. Lobo awakens in his cell and finds that there are two alien women with him but when he tries to escape they prove to be robots and strike him with knock out gas. Superman is determined to escape and notices a large rhinoceros/triceratops-like creature peacefully eating across from his cell. Using a large crystal, Superman provokes the creature into attacking thereby getting it to shatter the glass holding him in. Outside of his cell, Superman's strength begins to return and he sets out to leave. Lobo asks to be freed as well but Superman refuses. Enraged, Lobo vows to escape and take his revenge not only on Superman but all of Earth. Superman gets Lobo to promise that he'll leave Earth alone and frees him.
Shortly after Lobo's escape, security droids approach and insist the two return to their enclosures. When Lobo refuses, the droids attack with stun weapons. However, the droids are no match for the duo and are destroyed. The two continue on but are dropped into a pit with a huge snake-like creature that nearly eats Superman. Lobo, however, saves him.
Seeing the power of his captives, the Preserver decides that he may have to capture them himself. Just then, Gnaww hails his ship and demands Lobo be turned over to him. The Preserver invites him to come upon his ship and retrieve Lobo himself.
Back inside the ship, Lobo retrieves Sqweek but he and Superman are attacked by Gnaww and his gang. The two are no match for their weapons and all seems lost until Superman gets a plan. He tricks Gnaww into throwing him into one of the enclosures which contains a dodo from Earth. Superman basks in the light of a simulated yellow sun and regains his powers.
Lobo nearly makes it to his bike but finds the Preserver there waiting for him. The Preserver gives Lobo one last chance to go back to his enclosure but Lobo refuses. In response the Preserver transforms into a red, hulking clawed giant and attacks. Lobo is nearly killed but Superman intervenes. However, in his new form, the Preserver is a formidable opponent. Lobo decides to do his "good deed for the century" and opens the ship's door causing the Preserver to be sucked out into the vacuum of space.
Finally back with Emperor Spooj, Lobo finishes his story by saying that's why he was so late in delivering his bounty. Emperor Spooj, claims that he knew Lobo would never let him down and reveals his displeasure with Gnaww and his gang. However, he is curious about the fate of Superman and the animals. Lobo explains that Superman took the creatures to his Fortress of Solitude so that they might still be preserved.
[edit] Continuity
- Starro is briefly seen in this episode. It later makes an important appearance in the Batman Beyond episode "The Call, Part II."
[edit] Background Information
[edit] Production Inconsistencies
- The episode title featured in Part I displays an Arabic numeral (1), whereas in Part II it features the conventional Roman numeral (II).
- When Lois steps out of the cab, she exits the driver's door.
- In Part I, Hamilton claims that they've never tested Superman's ship in deep space before, but Superman had previously gone to the Alpha Centari system.
- This statement is, however, accurate when viewing the show in production order. Superman went to the Alpha Centari system in "Stolen Memories," which was produced after "The Main Man, Part I." On the other hand, Part II was produced after "Stolen Memories" and "My Girl," which breaks continuity, seeing as Part II picks up right after where Part I left off. So, the events of "Stolen Memories" must either take place before Part I or after Part II. However, if this two-parter takes place after "Stolen Memories," then Hamilton's statement remains untrue; but if it occurs before "Stolen Memories," then Superman's comment about his newly found fortress, in the end of that episode, is out of place, because he would already have stored the Preserver's abducted specimens in it by then. Either way, there's an incongruity.
[edit] Trivia
- This is the last episode to have parts of it featured in the opening credits.
- One of the ships in the Preserver's docking bay bears a resemblance to the Batwing.
- The poster of "KIZZ" is a reference to the 70's hard rock band KISS.
- When 'The Main Man' aired on Toon Disney, most of Lobo's pseudo-obscenities were edited out.
[edit] Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Tim Daly | Superman/Clark Kent |
| Dana Delany | Lois Lane |
| Clancy Brown | Lex Luthor |
| Victor Brandt | Professor Hamilton |
| Lauren Tom | Angela Chen |
| Brad Garrett | Lobo |
| Sherman Howard | Preserver |
| David L. Lander | Sqweek |
| Don Harvey | Gnaww |
| Frank Welker | Serpent |
| Lara Cody | Alien Girls |
| Richard Moll | Emperor Spooj |
| Bruce Timm | Robot (uncredited) |
[edit] Quotes
Professor Hamilton: To study a vehicle like this is any scientist's dream. Where did you say you kept it all these years? |
Lobo: I'm giving you geeks ten seconds before I frag everything in sight! One... TEN! |
Lobo: It's always sweeter collecting a reward knowing that you beat some other geek out of it. |
Lobo: Oh, yeah. Somebody's definitely tired of breathing. Show yourself, you slimy geekwad! |
Lobo: Hey, how's it goin', chief? Maybe you can help me, I'm new in town and I'm looking to find this geek here. |
Lois: I'm confused, Kent. See, I've lived in Metropolis most of my life and I can't figure out how some yokel from Smallville is suddenly getting every hot story in town. |
Lobo: (yawns) Ah, this is gettin' lame. I thought he'd be here by now. Whoa! Mosquito! (fires) |
Lobo: Finally! Been tryin' to get in touch with you all day. |
Lobo: The name's Lobo. That's L as in 'lacerate', O as in 'obliterate', B as in 'disembowel', and O as in, uh... ah, I guess I can use 'obliterate' twice, huh, what do you think? |
Police Officer: What is it? |
Lobo: You actually care about them geeks! |
Lobo: Now, the more you move, the worse it will hurt. So feel free to go crazy! |
Lobo: KILL-REND-FRAG-DESTROY! |
Lois: Give him one for me. MAKE IT A DOZEN! |
Lobo: You know, I believe that Lois gal might be getting a tad lonely now that you're doing time in a cosmic petting zoo. Maybe I go back and cheer her up. |
Lobo: You ain't gonna bail without your old pal Lobo, are ya? |
Lobo: It might take me a week, it might take me ten years, but I'm gonna bust out, and kick that big red "S" of yours all over the galaxy! Right after I'm done nuking the Earth into GUACAMOLE! And that's a promise! |
Superman: If I let you out, do you swear to leave me and everyone else on Earth in peace? |
Lobo: Hey, Blue, thanks (punches him). |
Sentry Droid: Return to your enclosures! |
- Part 1
| Previously produced episode: "Feeding Time" | Episodes of Superman: The Animated Series | Next produced episode: "Stolen Memories" |
| Previously aired episode: "Stolen Memories" | Next aired episode: "The Main Man (Part II)" |
- Part 2
| Previously produced episode: "My Girl" | Episodes of Superman: The Animated Series | Next produced episode: "Tools of the Trade" |
| Previously aired episode: "The Main Man (Part I)" | Next aired episode: "My Girl" |
