Superman’s darker episode shows why Clark Kent matters

By Drew Dietsch | Published 1 hour ago

Is Superman Week and apart from some false dimwits that do everything possible to ruin the fun, I have been enjoying reviewing some of my favorite superman media.

One of Big Blue’s cornerstones in my education was Superman: The animated seriesThe monitoring of the game that changes Batman: The animated series. While that series had a reputation for darker and tragic stories, Superman: The animated series He often exemplified the brightest and best of the original superhero and his world.

But the show was willing to immerse his fingers in darker material. Although most will probably appoint the alternative future episode “Brave New Metropolis” as the darkest exit of the program, there is an episode that goes to an even more gloomy place than a fascist superman. And it reminds us why Clark Kent is Superman’s most important part.

“The late Mr. Kent”

In “The Fall Mr. Kent”, the episode begins with the funeral of Clark Kent. It turns Clark was investigating the alibi of an inmate of the sliding of death and discovered evidence that exonerated him. On his way to deliver the evidence, a car pump explodes and Superman believes that he is put in a stage in which he cannot reappear as Clark Kent without giving his secret identity.

It is a solid premise for a Superman story that allows reflection on why Clark Kent is such an important part of this world. Not only is he a legitimate research journalist who tries to do the right thing, but his alleged death also reveals how much it means for his co -worker, Lois Lane.

There is also a small but crucial moment when Clark is back at home with his parents. They begin to discuss how they will advance. Pa Kent says Clark can’t be Clark. “But I’m Clark! I need to be Clark. I would go crazy if I were superman!”

This is where the episode really comes home and the need for Clark Kent. It is not an act that is presented only for the benefit of others. It is not a costume for Superman to use. Clark Kent is Clark Kent and needs to be because Superman is a role he plays. If I had to play it forever, it would not really be faithful to himself.

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

I copy bad, no donut

It turns out that the detective Bowman in the Metropolis Police Force is the true murderer and has been doing everything in his possession to cover his footprints, including the judgment of an innocent man until death. Only the idea that an animated series mainly aimed at children would create a plot like this is dark enough alone. But it gets more unpleasant!

We not only have a corrupt and murderous policeman as the bad one, but his final destination is one of the most shocking in any superhero cartoon. After Superman stops execution and saves the innocent man, the end has Bowman on his way to his own execution.

I will not go to the death penalty for this piece, but I will say that even touching this type of theme is dark material for a show for children, especially because the last moments are Bowman realizes that Clark Kent is Superman and the executioner throwing the switch.

“The Late Mr. Kent” is rightly celebrated as one of the best episodes of Superman: The animated series. It gives more approach to Clark instead of Superman and argues why there is no Superman without Clark Kent. Then, it extends from the background with an end that must be seen to believe.