Superman The Animated Series (1996)

Written By Justin Chung

Superman History

STAS The Last Son of Krypton 1-3: tells the final moments of Krypton. Introduces Lara, Superman’s mother, and Jor-El, Superman’s father, as a research scientist on Krypton. Introduces Brainiac as a computer system created by Krypton to oversee the planet but contradicts Jor-El’s findings leading to Krypton’s demise and Brainiac uploads himself to a satellite and also escapes. References Batman in Gotham City and Star Labs. Reveals that Lois and Lex Luthor used to date. Also introduces Lex Luthor’s female bodyguard named Mercy.

STAS A Little Piece of Home: reveals that Kryptonite is Superman’s weakness. Introduces Professor Hamilton of Star Labs who assists Superman in determining what Kryptonite is and that it is shielded by lead. Star Labs and Hamilton become recurring characters

STAS Little Girl 1 & 2: introduces Argo, a sister planet to Krypton that was affected by Krypton’s explosion. Introduces Kara, the last survivor from Argo who Superman brings to Earth and she becomes his cousin as well as Supergirl. Introduces Granny Goodness and cameos Intergang. Also introduces Lucider/Lashina?, Stomper, and Harriet who are Granny Goodness’ Female Furies

STAS Legacy 1 & 2: Superman is brainwashed by Darkseid and attacks Earth.

Recurring Elements

Lex Luthor and his female bodyguard Mercy are recurring villains and character throughout the series

Professor Hamilton and STAR labs are recurring help throughout the series

Bibbo Bibowski is a ship captain who works at the Metropolis City Harbor. He’s a recurring character

Crossover

STAS The World’s Finest 1-3: first crossover where Batman and Superman meet and they both discover each other’s identity. Joker and Lex Luthor team up to kill Superman

STAS Knight Time (POST “The Ultimate Thrill” from Batman): cameos Roxy Rocket, Penguin, The Riddler, Mad Hatter, and Bane. References Ra’s Al Ghul. The main villain is Brainiac.

STAS The Demon Reborn: Superman and Batman team up to fight Talia Al Ghul, Ra’s Al Ghul and the Society of Shadows

Darkseid

STAS Tools of the Trade: introduces Inspector Dan Turpin, Maggie Sawyer, and Darkseid, and Kanto who is one of Darkseid’s henchmen. Also introduces Mannheim who is a part of Intergang which is a criminal organization in Metropolis. Introduces Apokolips, the planet that Darkseid resides on.

STAS Father’s Day: introduces Dasaad and Kaliback who are additional henchman of Darkseid. Cameos Mannheim who is working for Darkseid. Lois begins to find out that Clark and Superman might be the same person. Superman also meets Darkseid for the first time.

STAS Apokolips Now 1 & 2: cameos Mannheim. Introduces parademons, Orion, the Mother Box, the planet New-Genesis, the Highfather, the New Gods, and Darkseid’s quest for the Anti-Life Equation. Cameos Dasaad, Kalibak. Introduces Steppenwolf as another one of Darkseid’s henchmen. The death of Dan Turpin.

Toyman

STAS Fun and Games: introduces the Toyman

  • STAS Obsession

The Parasite

STS Feeding Time: introduces the Parasite

  • STAS Two’s A Crowd: features the return of Parasite who Superman enlists the help of to find out where Garver hid bombs.

Metallo

STAS The Way of All Flesh: references John Corben who was the mercenary in the Last Son of Krypton . John Corben is transformed into Metallo by Lex Luthor

  • STAS Action Figures: cameo’s Lobo, Toyman, Parasite, Brainiac and Metallo

  • STAS Heavy Metal (POST “Monkey Fun” and “Prototype”): Bibbo Bibowski references “Monkey Fun” where Superman fought a giant monkey. First appearance of John Irons as the superhero Steel

  • STAS Superman’s Pal: references Parasite, Luminous, Intergang and Apokolips from “Apokolips Now”

Brainiac

STAS Stolen Memories: Brainiac makes first contact with Brainiac as Brainiac comes to Earth. Clark is able to save an orb containing all the data of Krypton and stores it in Antartica which foreshadows the beginning of the Fortress of Solitude

  • STAS Ghost In The Machine: Brainiac blackmails Lex Luthor into helping him rebuild Brainiac’s body

  • STAS New Kids in Town: in the year 2979 AD, Brainiac goes back in time to kill a younger Clark Kent in high school. Introduces the Legion of Super Heroes, Chameleon Boy, Cosmic Boy, and Saturn Girl. Features Lana Lang

Lobo

STAS The Main Man 1 & 2: introduces Lobo, a galactic bouty hunter and the last Czarnian and the Preserver. Cameo’s Starro who is a part of the Preserver’s collection. Superman takes the Preserver’s collection and puts them in the Fortress of Solitude.

Phantom Zone

STAS Blasts from the Past 1 & 2: introduces the Phantom Zone and the projector that transports people there. Introduces Mala, who was second-in-command to General Jax-Ur, a Kryptonian general who tried to overthrow the Kryptonian leaders but was stopped by Jor-El and sentenced to the Phantom Zone. This episode is where the Fortress of Solitude officially gets it’s name. Lois also references Wonder Woman.

STAS Absolute Power (1 year POST “Blasts from the Past”)

The Prometheon

STAS The Prometheon: introduces the Prometheon

The Flash

STAS Speed Demon: introduces the Flash from Central City and the Weather Wizard

Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner)

STAS In Brightest Day: introduces Abin Sur (Green Latner of sector 2814), Sinestro, the Guardians of the Universe, Oa, and Kyle Rayner, an artist at the Daily Planet. Origin story of Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner) and the Green Lantern Corp. References Hal Jordan’s name on a fighter jet during the battle with Sinestro. Cameos Kilowog, another member of the Green Lantern Corp.

Aquaman

STAS A Fish Story (POST “Superman’s Pal”): introduction of Aquaman and Atlantis, Jimmy uses the watch Superman gave him in “Superman’s Pal”

Livewire

STAS Livewire: origin story of Livewire

  • STAS Double Dose: Livewire and Parasite team up to battle Superman

Bizarro

STAS Identity Crisis: origin story of Bizarro

  • STAS Bizarro’s World

  • STAS Little Big Head Man: cameos Mxyzptlk and the different dimension, Zrfff, which Mxyzptlk is from, as well as the Tribunal

Luminus

STAS Target: origin story of Luminus who is Lytener, a former employee of LexCorp who likes Lois Lane but is rejected so wants to get revenge on her

  • STAS Solar Power

Mxyzptlk

STAS Mxyzpixilated: introduces Mxyzptlk

Volcana

STAS Where There’s Smoke: origin story of Volcana (Project Firestorm)

Misc.

STAS My Girl: features the return of Lana Lang who used to date Clark Kent in high school in Smallville and who knows that Clark is Superman. Lana Lang is dating Lex Luthor but wants to help Clark stop Lex. She references Batgirl

STAS Brave New Metropolis: Lois enters an alternate dimension where Lois was killed in a car. As a result Superman works with Lex Luthor and they rule over Metropolis

STAS Monkey Fun: we learn that Lois Lane’s dad was a colonel who sent a monkey called Titano off into space

STAS Prototype: introduces Sergeant Corey Mills who is the test subject for an experimental armor developed by Lex Corp and created by John Irons. Foreshadows John Irons becoming Steel.

STAS The Hand of Fate: introduces Dr. Fate and Karkull

STAS Warrior Queen: introduces Lady Maxima, the warrior queen of Almerac. References events from “The Last Son of Krypton”. Cameos Lobo

STAS Unity (POST “Where There’s Fire”): introduces Unity, an alien parasite. Kara references Barbara (Batgirl), cameos Volcana

Justin Chung
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