Superman: The Animated Series
Episode 28 29 30
World's Finest Part 1, 2, 3
It should have been a feature film! The three-part epic where Batman meets Superman is pure brilliance. The joker steals a jade statue that’s actually kryptonite and solicits Lex Luthor. Joker agrees to kill Superman for one billion dollars. Luthor agrees to the deal.
Meanwhile Batman is on the case and Bruce Wayne travels to Metropolis to do some corporate team-up with LexCorp while doing Batman shenanigans at night. Batman is causing havoc trying to track down the Joker. In one of the most epic appearances ever, he crashes straight through a glass ceiling. It’s the biggest F-you to the Fox censors the writers ever dreamed up. Fox Kids were known for their restrictive rules in children’s programs, worse than government regulations. One of the big rules was no crashing through glass. Hence the weird animated sequence in the BtAS episode I Am the Night. Since Superman was now on Kids WB that rule was gone and Batman crashed through glass in as epic a fashion as creators could ever imagine.
Superman arrives as Batman is interrogating a mobster for information. Batman uses some judo moves and tosses Superman across the room. That just pisses Superman off and he strong arms Batman and uses his x-ray vision to discover he’s Bruce Wayne. A serious violation of the superhero code. Batman whips out a small shard of kryptonite and messes up Superman’s mojo then tells him Joker is trying to kill him with a much larger piece.
Superman returns home and discovers a homing device on his cape. Batman is watching from a rooftop across the way. Point to Batman! They each know one another’s identities promising mutually assured destruction if either blabs.
A few days go by, Bruce Wayne is dating Lois Lane because Superman never makes a move and she doesn’t even acknowledge Clark Kent exists. The Joker shows up, causes problems, kidnaps Lois Lane because he knows it will draw Superman out. Bruce Wayne is unable to stop it, he puts in a good effort though.
Superman shows up after the excitement, while Bruce Wayne is giving a police statement. Bruce warns Superman of the trap but Superman has to save his girl. Superman traces them to a LexCorp lab but is wearing his toy selling lead suit. Joker sprays it with acid because the suit is always destroyed when kryptonite is involved, (so why even have the suit? Oh yes, to sell toys). The kryptonite is revealed, and Superman’s allergy acts up. Batman shows up and destroys the kryptonite. Superman gets his strength back and flies Lois and Batman out as Joker blows the building up.
Lex is pissed Joker used a LexCorp location to attempt his murder and their partnership is crumbling. An awesome chic fight between Mercy and Harley is happening in the background while Joker and Lex negotiate new terms.
Batman pays a visit to Lex Luthor while he’s sleeping in bed trying to shake him down for information. Mercy sneaks up behind him and Batman punches her out with the most awesome back hit you can imagine. Batman makes some threats and leaves. This freaks Luthor out so he ups his game.
Joker creates a distraction for Superman while he sends the Wayne/Lex T-7 to kill Batman. Batman is outmatched so he heads to the Daily Planet in hopes of finding Superman, only to find Lois Lane there. At which point Batman is stuck trying to save both of them from the killer robot while trying to hold out long enough for Superman to show-up. In the chaos Batman gets unmasked and Lois Lane learns his secret identity. Superman arrives to destroy the robot. While in Lois’ apartment she’s super pissed off but states she won’t reveal Batman’s secret because she’s in love with Bruce. Batman is off to save the day again and Lois is upset because she doesn’t want to be with a guy who can die trying to save the world. I guess Superman is exempt for some reason…The best part of their relationship is Dana Delaney was also the voice of Andrea Beaumont in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. It’s as if her and Kevin Conroy are destined to be voiceover “tragic lovers.” It’s a great dynamic between the two of them.
Once Luthor realizes the Joker failed again he goes to kill him but Joker and Harley are able to turn the tables and anarchy ensues. We get more killer robots, a giant plane, the city is going to be wrecked. While Lex and Joker’s relationship falls apart, Superman and Batman’s becomes stronger, they are able to team up and stop all the destruction and save the day. Joker is presumed dead until he reappears again.
Lois states she can’t be in a relationship with Bruce because of his nightlife and they part ways. Bruce and Clark come to an understanding and depart one another’s company as friends.
Everything about this is done right. The entire meeting, the characters, the story, the epic battles. The creators got it perfect. It takes the two biggest characters in DC comics and tells one of the greatest stories. They aren’t friends right away but they come to a mutual respect for one another. If a live-action film just copied this story it would be the best comic movie ever made. A can’t miss even if you skip the rest of the DCAU.
Written by
Joseph Ammendolea
Owner/President
“I Like To Play With Toys” Productions®
ILikeToPlayWithToysProductions@Yahoo.com
