Superman: The Animated Series
Episode 12
Tools of the Trade
Bruno Mannheim is back and we finally see his connection to Intergang. He’s the leader of Intergang who’s being “funded” by a mysterious benefactor. This benefactor is using Kanto as his liaison. Intergang uses their hi-tech weapons to pull off robberies. Superman stops them but the weapons are an obstacle for him.
Dan Turpin and Maggie Sawyer are on the trail of Intergang. They are part of a super powered crimes division in Metropolis. It’s actually a very clever department to have in a city that’s constantly getting attacked by aliens. Maggie Sawyer wants Superman to help them, Dan Turpin is against it.
Turpin goes off on his own to bust Intergang and performs an illegal search of Mannheim’s property in order to catch him doing illegal stuff. Since he had no warrant, anything he saw would be inadmissible in court. Superman is looking for Turpin but ends up in a fight to the death with Intergang, during the battle Turpin helps, possibly saves Superman’s life.
Kanto runs away via a boom tube, Mannheim follows him through the portal. More cops and reporters show up. Superman tells the press Dan Turpin saved his life. Turpin thinks Superman is cool and because of that they’re now friends.
The big reveal in the episode is Mannheim ends up in Apokolips and we learn Darkseid was manipulating the events to try and destroy Superman so he can invade Earth. The first true start of an established story arc in the DCAU. This isn’t a two-parter episode, or follow-up to an introduction episode. Darkseid’s appearance was deliberately planned out in stages to culminate into an invasion of Earth. Lex Luthor was Superman’s greatest everyday villain. Darkseid is the big bad who Superman grows to hate. A solid introduction episode for a major villain in the DCAU.
Written by
Joseph Ammendolea
Owner/President
“I Like To Play With Toys” Productions®
ILikeToPlayWithToysProductions@Yahoo.com
