Superman’s darkest episode shows why Clark Kent is important

By Drewsch
| Announce 2 days ago

It is Superman a week and except for some Dimwits inhuman do their best to ruin the funI’ve been enjoying revisiting some of my favorite Superman media.

One of the cornerstones of Big Blue in my upbringing was Superman: the animated seriesthe sequel to the game change Batman: The Animated Series. Although that series has a reputation for darker, more tragic stories, Superman: the animated series Often shown the brightest and best of the original superhero and his world.

But the show was ready to immerse her toes into darker material. While most will probably name the chapter alternately in the future “Brave New Metropolis” as the darkest excursion of the show, there is one chapter that goes to a place even grimmer than a fascist Superman. And it reminds us why Clark Kent is the most important part of Superman.

“The late Mr. Kent”

In “the late Mr. Kent”, the episode opens with Clark Kent’s funeral. Clark appears to be investigating the alibi of the prisoners of death and discovering evidence that he had deported. On its way to achieve the evidence, a car bomb explodes and Superman believes it is put into a scenario where he cannot reappear as Clark Kent without giving away his secret identity.

It is a solid precedent for a Superman story that allows reflect on why Clark Kent is such an important part of this world. Not only is he a legitimate investigative journalist trying to do the right thing, but his presumed death also reveals how much he means to his coworker, Lois Lane.

There is also a small but essential moment when Clark is back home with his parents. They start to discuss how they are going to move on. Pa Kent says Clark can’t be Clark anymore. “But I’m Clark! I need to be Clark. I’d go crazy if I was Superman all the time!”

She is here where the episode hits home the importance and necessity of Clark Kent home. It is not just some action that is given for the benefit of others. It is not a dress for Superman to wear. Clark Kent is Clark Kent and he needs to be because Superman is a role he plays. If he had to play him forever, he wouldn’t really be true to himself.

While that is all a good thematic meat to chew on, the darkness of the episode becomes much incier when the villain is revealed.

Bad cop, no donut

Detective Bowman on Metropolis Police appears to be the real murderer and has been doing everything he could to cover his tracks, including sentencing an innocent man to death. The idea that an animated series aimed primarily at children creating such a plot would be dark enough on its own. But it gets more nasty!

Not only do we have a corrupted, murderous cop like the Baddie, but its ultimate fate is one of the most shocking in any charters. After Superman stopped the execution and saved the innocent man, the Bowman ending has on his way to his own execution.

I will not go away on the death penalty for this piece, but I say that even touching on this type of subject is a dark material for a children’s show, especially as the final seconds are Bowman realizing that Clark Kent is Superman and the executioner throws the switch.

“The late Mr. Kent” is correctly celebrated as one of the greatest episodes Superman: the animated series. It gives Clark more focus than usual to replace Superman and argues why there is no Superman without Clark Kent. Then, it goes off the deep end with a finale that has to be seen being believed.