Superman: The Animated Series
Episode 31
Father's Day
Darkseid is back and causing more passive aggressive problems for Superman. He sends a robot to cause some trouble and it fails. His son Kalibak volunteers to go kill Superman but Darkseid says no. Then Darkseid’s resident wizard lackey Desaad manipulates Kalibak into disobeying Darkseid and going anyway.
Kalibak arrives as Clark Kent’s parents are visiting and of course Jonathan Kent ends up in grave danger during the death battle. Superman keeps trying to rush and save his dad but Kaliback keeps being a huge jerk and getting in his way. Eventually Superman disables Kalibak and is able to save his dad. Then he goes to confront Kalibak but sees Darkseid blast him. You’re left to think he was killed but I guess the creators decided not to go that far because Kalibak comes back again later on. But it totally looked like he died.
Superman doesn’t like seeing anyone get killed (or blasted with a painful transport beam…) and has words with Darkseid. Darkseid uses his blaster powers on Superman and hurts him but then just leaves. Darkseid claims he can’t take Superman out in one stroke but it sure looked like he had the upper hand.
Forgiving the strength inconsistencies with Darkseid and the fake death of Kalibak the episode is great. Superman and Darkseid meet face to face and you get to meet one of the biggest villains in the DCAU. He’s the only dude Superman truly hates. Lex Luthor doesn’t even piss Superman off. Superman can’t really hate Lex since he can easily kill him but chooses not to. Darkseid on the other hand is a challenge of strength for the superhero. Also Darkseid is a total jerk and does some real petty stuff in later episodes.
Written by
Joseph Ammendolea
Owner/President
“I Like To Play With Toys” Productions®
ILikeToPlayWithToysProductions@Yahoo.com
