Superman and Lois: Season 2, Episode 7 - Anti-Hero

  For a summary of the episode guide layout & categories, click here.

Plot

As Superman pleads with Anderson to investigate Ally Allston from the confines of a red sun cell, Lois struggles to help Lana take the fight to Mayor Ford. Meanwhile, relations between Jordan and Jonathan strain further as Jonathan's secret is exposed to his family and Sarah seeks advice from an unexpected source.


Influences

The Supermen of America series and Euphoria (anti-drug storyline)


Goofs

After disabling the red sun filter in their cell, both Tal-Rho and Superman are able to escape their cell at superspeed. However, as shown in previous episodes of Supergirl and Superman and Lois (most notably in Crisis On Infinite Earths) a Kryptonian needs to be exposed to yellow sunlight before their powers are restored even partially after an extended period absorbing red sunlight. 


Performances

Once again, Elizabeth Tulloch steals the show, selling Lois' torment over what her sons have done and the idea that she's failed them as a mother.

The interactions between Tulloch and Emmanuelle Chriqui are also incredible. It's gratifying to see Lois and Lana discussing motherhood and their own issues with barely a mention of Clark and the friendship is well played here.


Artistry

The fight scene between the various Supermen and Anderson is fantastic.


Super Trivia

This episode was originally titled "Fallout." The same title was previously used for episodes of Arrow, The Flash and Supergirl.


Technobabble

The Smallville sheriff does not classify X-Kryptonite or Yellow Mist as a drug, but does have dogs trained to sniff the substance out.


Dialogue Triumphs

(Lois and Lana discuss Mayor Dean's strategy.)
Lois: If it was up to me, I would run your ads for free every single day up until the election, but I'm afraid that would violate every campaign finance law imaginable.
Lana: So what do I do? I mean, Dean's got the power of his office and the town gossip all working in his favor.
Lois: But you have the truth. Don't underestimate that. 

Tal-Rho: I pity you, brother. I mean, after everything you've done for humanity, to find yourself here...
Superman: Do you ever stop talking?
Tal-Rho: Cast out, imprisoned. It's humiliating.
Superman: Yes. Well, the real punishment is having to listen to you. 

Lana: Please just promise me--
Sarah: Not to smoke space drugs? Yeah, I'm not that stupid. 

Mayor Dean: But my point is this... if you can't keep control of your own family, if you don't really know what's going on in your own home, how are we supposed to trust that you'd know what's going on with all of us?
Lana: Because I love this town, George, and everyone in it.
Mayor Dean: Well, Lana... I just can't be sure, given your current situation, if we can be sure of that.
Lana: Well, I guess I'll just have to make it clear to everybody during our debates. But what should really be in question here, George, is what kind of person you are-- someone so willing to attack a member of this family during one of the most painful moments of their life.Does that sound like family values to you?

(Clark comes into Jonathan's room.)
Jonathan: You're back.
Clark: Yeah, I am, and you know what? I was not expecting to hear what your mother just told me.
Jonathan: Dad, I can explain.
Clark: Jonathan, no! Your mom gave you multiple chances to tell her the whole story, you chose not to.
Jonathan: I'm sorry.
Clark: What were you thinking?
Jonathan: I just--I-I wanted to be better.
Clark: By taking drugs? Have we taught you nothing? Have not heard a single word that either of us has ever said to you?
Jonathan: Yes.
Clark: Then, damn it, act like it. Tomorrow you will go, and you will apologize to Principal Balcomb. Then you will apologize to Coach Gaines. And after that, you will apologize to the entire football team. Your mother and I are gonna figure out how you're gonna finish out the school year, whether it's in the next town over, online, or somewhere else. And after all that, Jonathan, you and I are gonna have a long talk about all the important things I thought you already knew so that you don't ever misrepresent yourself or this family again. Do you understand?
Jonathan: Yes, sir. 
(Clark leaves. Jonathan immediately starts crying. Clearly his father's disapproval was the last straw.)


Continuity

As the episode opens, Superman is locked in the same cell as Tal-Rho.

Anderson tells Superman he will remained locked up until he reveals the location of Bizarro.

Superman says he'll gladly hand Bizarro over for trial, but they need to destroy the pendant Bizzaro had first.

Anderson says he has no intention of bring Bizarro to trial or bargaining with Superman. He also blows off Superman's warning about Ally Allston.

Sam Lane tells Lois he's still trying to work his connections to get details about why Clark has been arrested and that he's trying to arrange a face-to-face meeting with General Hardcastle.

Lois tells Jordan and Jonathan to settle whatever dispute they have themselves because she doesn't have time to deal with it.

Lana Lang came from a broken home and hoped to avoid putting her daughters through the same thing.

Sarah helps Lana with gathering Kyle's belongings and says she blames Kyle for this situation - not Lana and says Lana shouldn't blame herself either.

Lana sees that Mayor Dean has an add in the paper, billing himself as a Family Values candidate and promoting a meeting to discuss that topic.

Sarah is ignoring Jordan's calls and texts. He goes to her before their first class and tries to empathize, but Sarah says she doubts he can really understand what is going on.

Candice meets Jonathan at his locker with more Yellow Mist. However, Jonathan tells her he is done taking the drug.

While they are talking, the sheriff's office arrive with drug-sniffing dogs, apparently trained to look for Yellow Mist.

Jonathan takes all of Sarah's stash with the intention of dumping it. However, the dogs single him out before he can walk away.

Lana confronts Lois at the office regarding Mayor Dean's add.

Lois says that Dean paid $3000 for the advertisement which is far more than Lana can afford.

Lois is called about Jonathan being caught with the Yellow Mist.

Anderson puts a Kryptonite collar on Tal-Rho and threatens to kill him slowly if he doesn't tell him where Bizarro is hidden.

Lana confronts Sarah over Jonathan using Yellow Mist. Sarah denies knowing about it or using the drug herself, but she says Jordan is freaking out over it.

Sarah tells Lana that she knows Jordan means well, but that the biggest problems he has with his family is Clark wearing nerdy shorts when he's at work as a football coach. 

Lana suggests Sarah find another friend she's comfortable venting to to discuss her father.

Jonathan was caught with 20 Yellow Mist inhalers.

Jonathan denies selling drugs and claims he was going to get rid of them when he was found with them.

While the Sheriff is not pressing criminal charges against Jonathan (X-K is not technically a drug) the school is still discussing whether or not to expel Jonathan. 

Jonathan refuses to explain how he came into that much X-K.

Jordan walks in as Lois is grilling Jonathan and is asked if he knew anything about this. Jordan presumes she means Jonathan using Yellow Mist and admits he found out the night before. This is actually the first inkling Lois had that Jonathan was using Yellow Mist and not just protecting a drug dealer.

Jonathan admits to using Yellow Mist for a couple of weeks, but says he swore he'd quit after Jordan caught him with it.

Superman lies and tells Anderson that Bizarro is at 76.2 N longitude, 100.4 W latitude. This is later revealed to be the location of his old Fortress of Solitude. These coordinates would place it somewhere in Northern Russia in our world, on the land mass between the Kara and Laptev Seas.

Lois goes to Lana to vent about the situation with Jonathan.

Lana advises Lois that sometimes listening is the best thing you can do for your teenager.

Lois says Lana is a great mom and suggests she take the fight to Mayor Dean regarding his "family values' talk.

Jordan confronts Jonathan and asks if he was dealing drugs. Jonathan tells him to leave him alone.

Anderson and his team discover what remains of Bizarro's armor at the old Fortress of Solitude site. He takes this as proof that Superman has been lying to him and that all the Kryptonians are working together.

A fight breaks out between Superman and Tal-Rho, after Tal-Rho threatens to reveal Superman's secret identity to Anderson. However, this is all part of a plan to lure the guards into their cell to try and break up the fight, allowing them to get their guns and use them to disable the red-sun lamps.

Anderson tracks both Superman and Tal-Rho back to the new fortress in the Bad Lands. He goes chasing after them, despite having an order to report to General Hardcastle over what just happened.

Anderson takes a supply of Yellow Mist the Department of Defense apparently confiscated with him, along with a gun and Kryptonite bullets.

Bizzaro says that, on his world, he and his version of Tal-Rho were inseparable allies until his Tal-Rho betrayed his family and his wife tried to kill Bizarro. (While this is not confirmed directly, it is believed this might be the shadow Lana Lang seen in 206.)

Sarah meets with a girl named Aubrey at the diner in Smallville. She is confirmed to be the girl at camp whom she kissed once.

Aubrey lives in the town of Clover, which is a two hour drive from Smallville.

Sarah apologies for not keeping in touch after camp, but Aubrey says she understands the kiss weirded her out and made things weird since she had a boyfriend.

Aubrey's parents also went through a rough divorce, so Aubrey knows exactly what Sarah is dealing with.

Sarah says part of her wants to talk to Kyle, but she thinks it is disrespectful to Lana to do so.

Aubrey tells Sarah that she didn't talk to her dad for a year and it didn't help things. In fact, she thinks it made her meaner and she got into two fights that semester and chipped a tooth.

Sarah and Aubrey agree to be friends again and to stay in touch.

Jordan tells Lois he doesn't think Jonathan was selling drugs and is covering for someone.

Lois thanks Jordan and says she hopes he's right but he still isn't off the hook for not telling her Jonathan was using X-K.

Jonathan admits he started using X-K to try and keep up with Timmy Ryan because football was the one thing he could do that made him as great as everyone else in the family. He once again denies selling drugs.

Lois says she thinks Jonathan is telling the truth but she's still incredibly disappointed.

Jonathan still refuses to say where he got the Yellow Mist from, even after Lois tells him that the principal told her that he'd be expelled unless he could prove the inhalers weren't his.

Anderson fires a missile at the new Fortress and attacks the Fortress single-handed, manifesting heat vision as he uses the Yellow Mist.

Tal-Rho takes several Kryptonite bullets intended for Superman.

The hologram of Lara releases Bizarro and begs him to save her sons.

Anderson's green Kryptonite weapons do nothing to Bizarro. However, he figures out that the X-Kryptonite weakens him and begins using it like pepper spray to weaken Bizzaro before killing him.

Superman uses his heat vision to vaporize the Kryptonite fragments in Tal-Rho.

Superman takes Tal-Rho back to his cell. He says Anderson is a wanted fugitive and that he has made his peace with the Department of Defense.

Tal-Rho apologizes for hurting Jordan and Superman addresses him as "brother" after telling him that maybe someday he can apologize to Jordan himself.

According to Sam Lane, Anderson is wanted for going AWO and stealing X-K and Kryptonite weapons from Project 7734.

Sam Lane offered to lead the manhunt himself, despite being retired, since he had suggest Anderson be promoted into the position of replacing him.

Clark likes red wine and Chinese food after a long day.

Lana confronts Mayor Dean and says she doesn't think a person with family values would attack someone during one of the worst times of their life. This gets several people to walk out of the meeting with Mayor Dean after she leaves.

Sarah tracks down Kyle as he's grocery shopping and asks to talk to him.

Clark reads Jonathan the riot act and this finally causes Jonathan to breakdown crying.

Anderson goes to Ally Allston and gives her the pendant Bizzaro had.

Location

The undisclosed location where Tal-Rho's cell is kept.


The Bottom Line

Another great episode that moves all the subplots forward  and builds the drama across the board.

Superman and Lois: Season 2, Episode 6 - Tried and True

  For a summary of the episode guide layout & categories, click here.

Plot

Lucy surprises Lois by showing up at the Kent Farm with their family, apparently ready to make peace. Meanwhile, as Lana and Sarah cope with the aftermath of Sarah's quinceañera, Jordan becomes suspicious of Jonathan's newfound success on the football field and the tensions between Superman and Lt. General Anderson grow even more strained.


Influences

The Supermen of America series, various Superman comics detailing Bizarro World, the Rebirth Superwoman comic and Euphoria (anti-drug subplot)


Performances

Once again, the interactions between Elizabeth Tulloch and Jenna Dewan are credible and you truly believe they are feuding sisters.


Artistry

The effects work for the scene where Superman stops an avalanche is amazing.

The fight scenes between Superman and the soldiers are fantastically filmed and perfect mirrors of one another. It's also a subtle confirmation of the fact that this version of Superman has had some combat training, given he's able to fight multiple soldiers even without his powers.


Super Trivia

The episode title comes from the Ween song "Tried and True", which is played under the opening and closing scenes.

During the fight scene on Bizarro World, Bizarro Superman is shown fighting a woman who resembles Lana Lang, wearing Kryptonian armor with the House of Rho symbol on it.  This could be a nod to the comics, where Lana Lang briefly became Superwoman on several occasions - most recently in a 2016 Rebirth series where she and Lois Lane seemingly acquired the powers of Superman following his death.

This episode reveals Lieutenant General Mitch Anderson's commanding officer to be a woman addressed as General Hardcastle. In the reality of Superman: The Animated Series, General Hardcastle was a xenophobic US Army General who was shamed after Superman's peaceful tactics with the Promethean saved the world. He later joined forces with Lex Luthor, leading an Anti-Superman squadron after Superman was briefly brainwashed by Darkseid. He was later shown to have connections to the Cadmus Project and was killed by the Supergirl clone Galatea.

The General Hardcastle of the Arrowverse seems to be a much more reasonable figure, quickly blaming Anderson for Superman's change in attitude and refusal to work with the Department of Defense. 


Dialogue Triumphs

(Clark is brushing his teeth as he and Lois are getting dressed in the morning.)
Clark: Everything about this me is (muffled) bizarre.
Lois: Huh?
(Clark spits into the bathroom sink.) 
Clark: Bizarre.
Lois: Oh.

Jordan: Are you sure it's a good idea to be playing?
Jonathan: Dude, relax. It's gonna be fine.
Jordan: What if you have an ocular discharge?
Jonathan: (cringing) Please don't ever say that word ever again.
Jordan: We need to tell Mom and Dad.
Jonathan: No! No, okay? What is with you? It's like I kept your secret all last year, and now that I have one, you want to put me on lockdown or something.
Jordan: That's not what this is about.
Jonathan: Okay, well, that's what it feels like. All right? So look, can you just... just give me this one? I finally feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be.
Jordan: (without enthusiasm) Yeah, okay.
Jonathan: I promise I've got everything under control. Fraternals, right? 
(Jonathan closes his locker and leaves, Jordan still looking skeptical.)

Sam: I hate to break it to you, but being a parent never gets easier.
Lois: That could only be said by somebody who didn't have to breastfeed at 3:00 a.m.
Sam: Too much information.
Lois: Or change twins' diapers when they both pooped at the same time.
Sam: All right, point taken. Maybe it gets a little easier. It's still hard, though.
Lois: I appreciate you trying.
Sam: Anything for my girls. I mean that.
Lois: I know you do.

Continuity

The opening scene takes place on Bizarro Superman's Earth and reveals several subtle details about the other Earth.

Based on the color of the sky, Bizarro Earth has a red sun.. 

Bizarro Superman owns a cat.

Bizarro Superman has several piles of newspapers stacked around the Kent farm house. They are from the Daily Planet, but the writing is backwards, with the banner giving the paper's name as TENALP YLIAD

There are two pictures of Bizarro Superman's family. One of them is ripped and only shows Jordan Kent. The other has Jonathan and Lois's faces crossed out, leaving Clark and Jordan untouched.

Bizarro is shown using an inhaler of Yellow Mist. However, the cloud that comes out of it is green rather than yellow. This suggests that Bizarro can get power boosts from regular Kryptonite and, conversely, that Superman might find his power increased by processed X-Kryptonite. 

Bizarro is shown to be wearing the space suit he was wearing earlier in the season before flying into space after boosting his powers. This suggests that, rather than confining him, the suit was meant to protect him when he traveled between Earths.

Bizarro is shown fighting several American soldiers in what appears to be the Department of Defense. He is confronted by a woman who resembles Lana Lang, who wears Kryptonian armor with the symbol of the House of Rho on it. 

Bizarro confronts Ally Allston, whose office is apparently in the Department of Defense. He takes a pendant from her before knocking her down. This is the one he was wearing earlier in the season.

Bizarro is shown to be holding the pendant before he leaves his Earth.

Bizarro confirms that he wound up in the Shuster Mines and was weakened by the presence of the X-Kryptonite.He later says he loses strength in the presence of a yellow sun.

Bizarro says he does not share Superman's prohibition against killing and that he is not as well liked on his world as Superman is on Earth-Prime. This was why he reacted violently to the Supermen of America. 

Bizarro says the pendant he took from Ally Allston is an artifact as old as time, born when the multiverse was formed and their worlds split off from one another. Paired with its counterpart on Earth-Prime, it could give the person who possesses both the power of a god.

Bizarro says that Ally Allston will almost certainly seek to send them all into oblivion. 

Bizarro says he intended to destroy both pendants, but he was too weak to do so once he got to Earth-Prime. He suggests that Clark may be strong enough to manage it on Earth-Prime, but also says killing Ally Allston would prevent her from finding both pendants and merging with her Bizarro self.

Clark tells Lois what he learned from Bizarro. She points out there's no way to know he's being truthful, but what he says about Ally Allston's goals matches her teachings about becoming whole with your "shadow self."

This episode takes place the day after the events of 205.

Lois says she and Chrissy are going to do more research on the Inverse Society.

Clark says he is going to try and get the pendant from Anderson.

Superman is confirmed to have been working with the Department of Defense and the Threat Reduction Agency for over 20 years.

Anderson's CO is General Hardcastle. She blames Anderson for the fiasco with the Supermen of America and orders him to bring down the Bizarro Superman or be prepared to be stripped of his command.

Jordan says that he got freeze breath shortly after he got super hearing and that it leaves his breath feeling wintery fresh all the time.

Jonathan says he hasn't gotten freeze breath or superhearing yet.

Jordan suggests that they should at least tell Sam Lane about Jonathan's powers so they can start training together.  He suggests they could call themselves the Fraternals. 

Jordan spies the Yellow Mist inhaler in Jonathan's bag.  Jonathan covers by saying that it belongs to Candice and that she has asthma.

Jonathan is scheduled to start in the next Smallville Crows' football game. Clark applauds him for his hard work, though Jordan points out the only reason he is starting is that Timmy Ryan, the first-string quarterback, is out sick.

Lois suggests that Clark might check on Lana and see how she is doing. 

Sophie does not like eggs.

Lana reminds Sarah to write thank you notes for all her quinceañera gifts.

Sarah wants to return them after the fiasco her party became, but Lana says that is not going to happen.

Kyle did not come home with Lana and she has no idea where he is.

Sam Lane brings Lucy to the Kent farm to talk to Lois. The two start to fight over Ally Allston immediate, but Sam breaks it up and says he refuses to keep doing this for the rest of his life.

Clark attends the funeral of the two fallen Superman of America as Superman.

The blonde female hero who died is identified as Jessie Vance.

Clark talks to Jessie's mother briefly and tells her that Jessie saved his life once, referring to the fight in 202.

Jessie's mother slaps Anderson, blaming him for Jessie's death and Bizarro Superman getting away.

Superman asks to talk to Anderson privately after the funeral regarding Bizarro. 

Jordan once again tries to persuade Jonathan to tell their parents about his powers, but Jonathan says he wants to just have this one game first. Jordan reluctantly agrees.

Jordan offers his support to Sarah when he sees her in class. She thanks him but says she is more worried about her mom.

Kyle meets with Lana while their kids are in school.

Kyle says his affair with Tonya lasted six months and that he had her in their house once.

Kyle denies ever having loved Tonya and says he ended the relationship with her the minute he realized how much it might hurt their family.

Lana tells Kyle to leave the house, saying she can't deal with him right now.

Sam Lane's love of military life extends to his tastes in movies. He never saw any of the Pirates of the Caribbean films but loves the Delta Force movies.

Peanut is Sam Lane's pet name for Lucy.

Superman tells Anderson that he captured Bizarro and that he needs the pendant that Tag Harris took from him s  that he can destroy it.

Anderson agrees to go up the chain of command to see if he can request permission to give the pendant to Superman. However, before he can finish questioning Superman regarding the pendant and how much he learned from Bizarro, Superman leaves to stop an avalanche in Russia.

Superman is able to speak fluent Russian.

Lucy knows a lot about football and is able to discuss plays and formations with Jonathan and Jordan.

Anderson determines that Superman was in Russia. 

Anderson contacts General Hardcastle and requests permission to treat Superman as a hostile combatant. 

Clark meets with Lana at the diner to see how she is doing before the football game.

Lana says she can't trust Kyle and take his word that there was only one other woman.

Lana asks Clark if he could trust Lois if she confessed to cheating on him. Clark says it would depend on the circumstances but that he thinks he could still trust her and love her afterward.

Clark does suggest that Lana needs to make her decision based on what is right for her and not think about her kids or her campaign or anything else.

Lana goes to the bar where Tonya works to confront her.

Jonathan uses Yellow Mist right before the game starts.

Sam Lane set two state records his senior year when he played football. He says that Jonathan got his throwing arm.

Lois and Lucy agree that retirement has soften their father's edges.

At one point in the past, Lois and Lucy snuck out together with a bottle of their fathers rum.  

Lois does not like rum and won't drink it as a result of the bad reaction she had to it that one time.

Lois taught Lucy how to step quietly in their old house so as not to wake their father.

Tonya tells Lana that she loved Kyle and thought that he loved her and would leave Lana for her but suspects now she was fooling herself.

Tonya confirms that Kyle broke off their relationship after Sarah's suicide attempt two years earlier.

Tonya tells Lana that Kyle is a good man and that he ended things the moment he realized his family needed him.

Clark hears Anderson's alarm in the middle of the game and leaves to answer it.

Lois tries to apologize to Lucy for what happened between them but Lucy becomes combative about how Lois has seen the truth now.

Lois admits there is something to Ally's beliefs, but asks how Lucy can justify drugging people against their will or blackmailing them.

Lucy leaves the game, saying she cannot deal with Lois, who she says can't admit to being wrong ever.

The Crows win their first game against the Gators in 6 years, 45 to 14. 

Jonathan throws 356 years during the game.

Jonathan is officially named the new starting quarterback of the Crows.

Jordan finds out that Jonathan's promotion had nothing to do with his performance that night and everything to do with Timmy Ryan being pulled from the team after his mother caught him huffing some weird drug from an inhaler.  He's also told a lot of students at Smallville High have apparently been using it.

Sam says that he ran into Mayor Dean while getting some chilli dogs for the family and complains that he wouldn't shut up.

Anderson and his soldiers ambush Superman in a hallway lit with red sun lamps/

Candice approaches Jonathan after the game and invites him to her car later.

Jordan talks to Jonathan in private and confronts him on whether or not he is using Yellow Mist.

Jonathan denies his drug use and accuses Jordan of being jealous that he isn't special anymore.

The two brothers fight briefly and Jonathan's eyes begin to glow red for a few seconds.

Sarah breaks up the fight.

Lana meets with Kyle at the firehouse and tells him that things are over.  She says Kyle can pick his things up in the morning once the girls are in school and she's left the house.

Lana tells Kyle that the problem is she knows he ended his affair to save his family but she can't help but wonder if he would do the same to save their marriage.

Los and Sam notice the tension between Jordan and Jonathan, but are too focused on what happened with Lucy and Lois.

Lois tries to apologize for what happened but Sam blames himself, saying Lucy wouldn't be in Ally's thrall if he'd paid more attention to his daughters when they were young.

Jonathan tries to apologies to Jordan, but Jordan is unsympathetic.

Jordan tells Jonathan that Timmy Ryan was caught with an inhaler and that apparently the police are investigating now.

Lois gets a call from Sam, telling her that Superman is arrested for treason and his being held until he reveals the location of Bizarro Superman.

Superman is locked in the same special cell as Tal-Rho.

Location

Bizzaro World.
Tal-Rho's Fortress

The Bottom Line

Another solid episode, heavy on the sibling rivalry drama, but with a plentiful helping of superheroic action to balance it out.

Superman and Lois: Season 2, Episode 5 - Girl... You'll Be a Woman, Soon

  For a summary of the episode guide layout & categories, click here.

Plot

As Chrissy goes searching for the truth about Lois and Ally Allston's organization, Lois and Clark help Lana and Kyle prepare for Sarah's quinceañera. Unfortunately, a problem from the past may ruin the evening and Lana's bid for mayor. Meanwhile, as Clark continues the hunt for Bizarro, Jonathan learns about Jordan's superhero training and is recruited to help him, even as he starts to manifest his own abilities.


Influences

The Supermen of America series and Euphoria (anti-drug subplot)


Performances

Sofia Hasmik has a great performance as Chrissy this time, perfectly playing her frustrations with Lois, even though we're meant to believe Lois is in the right.


Artistry

The special effects for the Superman vs. Bizarro fight are top-notch.


Super Trivia

The episode title is taken from a Neil Diamond song.

Neither Tayler Buck or Wolé Parks appear in this episode.

As in the comics, Bizarro Superman has freeze vision rather than heat vision.


Technobabble

General Anderson says that the energy field generated by the Bizarro pendant appears whenever Superman or Bizarro Superman get near it. He believes it is empowering them, somehow.


Dialogue Triumphs

Lois: Chrissy, I know that you're mad at me, but we're supposed to be working on this story together.
Chrissy: Except we aren't. Because whenever I work with you, Lois, I can't help but feel like I'm working for you.
Lois: That's not fair.
Chrissy: May not be fair, but it's the truth. Everything with you is on a need-to-know basis... you deciding what I need to know. Why didn't you tell me the whole Lucy story?
Lois: I didn't think it was relevant.
Chrissy: To whom? You can't just pick and choose what facts you think are important. You did the same thing with Morgan Edge. You only give me the information that you want me to have, and... I wind up looking like an idiot. Makes it really hard for me to trust you.
Lois: I'm sorry that you feel that way.
Chrissy: It's fine. Just confirms what I've always known.
Lois: Which is what?
Chrissy: If you want the truth, you have to find it yourself. 

(Sarah and Jordan are on the Kent house porch, having escaped the party.)
Sarah: God, my feet are killing me. I don't know why anybody would willingly wear those.
Jordan: Want me to, like, massage them or something?
Sarah: Maybe later, when we're old and, like, in our 40s. 

Bizarro: I should've killed you.
Superman: You tried more than once.
Lara: Why are you here, Kal-El?
Bizarro: To save my world... And yours. 


Continuity

The pendant worn by Bizarro is revealed to be a Allston family heirloom, which Ally Allston was given in 1979 when she was eight years old.

Ally's inheritance was contingent upon her accepting the pendant. Her uncle David discouraged her from taking it, saying that it destroyed her father and their family.

It is said that the pendant is tied to Ally's father's life's work and that he was close to completing it before his death.

Lois makes banana muffins for Clark to take to the hospital for Natalie and John Henry. 

Clark plans to go to the hospital to visit Tag Harris, who is still bed-ridden with several broken ribs after the fight with Bizarro Superman.

Lois is starting to think that maybe Lucy was telling the truth about what she experienced and that Ally Allston's talk of shadow dimensions and mirror selves might be real, based on their experiences with Bizarro Superman.

John Henry is reportedly out of the ICU, but is still facing a long road to recovery.

Despite everything that is going on, Lois and Clark have still agreed to host Sarah's quinceañera on their farm.

Kyle is practicing his dancing with Sarah. She is embarrassed when he then starts dancing with Lana.

Sarah does not know who Patrick Swayze is.

The bartender from 204 is identified as Tonya Martinez. She has apparently been trying to call Kyle on his phone for several days.

It is revealed that the Cushings' original surname was Cortez.

Sarah has decided to take back the family's last name as part of her quinceañera. She has yet to tell her grandmother about this decision, however.

Tag tells Superman that he gave the Bizarro pendant to Anderson during his debriefing.

Jonathan learns about Jordan and Sam's secret training.

Sam recruits Jonathan to help him and Jordan measure Jordan's baseline.

Chrissy complains to Lois that she feels more like she is working for her rather than with her.

Lois recognizes Dr. Faulkner (last seen in 203) in one of Ally Allston's old videos.

Bizarro is revealed to be watching Lois from a distance.

General Anderson refuses to give the pendant to Superman, claiming that there's evidence that it is empowering him and the Bizarro Superman.

Jordan and Jonathan are both able to do 50 push-ups in a minute. Sam says that's impressive for a high-school athlete, but Jordan should be capable of more.

Sarah is revealed to not know how to walk in high heels when she tries on the dress for her quinceañera.

Lois offers to call her father and get him to intercede on Clark's behalf, but Clark says he has to settle things with General Anderson himself.

Clark heads to the dry cleaner to pick up his and Lois' party clothes, as she goes to the Shuster Mines to seek out Dr. Faulkner.

Ally Allston claims her family was chosen to reveal the secrets of what she calls The Ascension to the world.

Ally drugs Chrissy's tea to put her through the Ascension. This process involves her wearing the Bizarro pendant.

Lois finds Dr. Faulkner dead in her office as the Amertek camp, with Bizarro in the same room.

Bizarro flies away rather than try to hurt Lois. This leads Clark to wonder if he is married some version of Lois on his world and if they are chasing the same enemy.

Chrissy wakes up from the Ascension process, after being close to death for some time.

Jonathan offers to spar with Jordan, despite Sam's objections.

John uses Yellow Mist right before he fights Jordan. He is able to easily fight Jordan, dodging his punches and taking him down.

Chrissy describes her time in the other world as if she was her, but not her. Ally claims that the "bizarro" version of Chrissy is her other-half.

Chrissy says that everything in the other world was "off" and that Ally was everywhere in it.

Superman and Lois arrive to warn Ally that Dr. Faulkner is dead and that she may be next.

Dr. Faulkner's first name is given as Kit.

Bizarro is confirmed to be speaking backwards rather than another language.

Bizarro has freeze vision rather than heat vision.

Superman is able to knock Bizarro out by using X-Kryptonite shards as knuckle dusters.

Lois notes that Ally was not surprised with the Bizarro Superman showed up.

Mayor Dean shows up at the quinceañera, despite Lana being certain he'd refuse to show his face there.

Sarah apologizes to Jonathan for not inviting his girlfriend, Candice, due to a limited guest list. 

Clark tells Lois that he's holding Bizarro in Tal-Rho's fortress, where the hologram of his mother is analyzing him.

Lois says she hasn't asked Chrissy what she was doing with Ally Allston but she is going to ask her while she is there.

Jonathan is acting more aggressive and argues with Jordan over which of them should be getting trained to be a superhero.

Kyle gets another text from Tonya, telling her she is outside the party.

Jordan tells Sarah about how Jonathan is acting strange.  She says something has to be up and points to her own depression as proof.

Tonya warns Kyle that she told one of her friends about their affair and she thinks that friend might have sold the story to Mayor Dean.

Tonya denies having told Mayor Dean about the affair herself and claims she honestly thought Kyle was going to leave Lana for her.

Jordan and Sarah accidentally overhear this converesation.

When Kyle returns to the party, he sees Mayor Dean talking with his mother.

Kyle confirms that the entire Cushing family is taking the Cortez name again.

Chrissy tells Lois that Ally drugged her and about how the visions she had of another world were more intense than when she did mushrooms during her junior year. 

Chrissy says that everything Lucy described in her visions about seeing a parallel universe is accurate, but that Ally has taken over the United States and possibly the world in that reality and the parallel version of her father was scared to death of her. She agrees with Lois that Ally is dangerous, but not for the reasons she thought.

Sarah has a panic attack during the father-daughter dance and leaves.

Sarah confronts Kyle over the affair in front of Lana.

Lana had suspicions about Kyle and Tonya, but believed him when he said it was just harmless flirting while blowing off steam after work.

Lana gives a speech about how honest and strong Sarah is.

Clark leaves the party after hearing the Lara hologram say they need to talk about Bizarro.

Jordan confronts Jonathan on his behavior. This angers Jonathan, which causes his eyes to glow red as if he were about to unleash heat vision.

Jordan presumes that Jonathan is developing powers naturally.

Jonathan asks Jordan to give him some time before he tells their parents because he is sure dad will make him quit football if he has powers.

Bizarro claims to cave to Earth-Prime too kill Ally Allston in order to save his world and Earth-Prime.


Location

The flashback at the start of the episode is set in Metropolis in 1979.


The Bottom Line

A solid episode with one heck of a twist ending.

Superman and Lois: Season 2, Episode 4 - The Inverse Method

  For a summary of the episode guide layout & categories, click here.

Plot

Lois and Chrissy go off on a mission to find Lois' estranged sister Lucy, as Jordan and Jonathan become more unsettled by their father's visions and panic attacks. Meanwhile, John Henry and Natalie bond, as Lana and Sarah discuss Kyle's plans for Sarah's quinceanera.


Influences

The Supermen of America series and Euphoria (anti-drug subplot)


Performances

Elizabeth Tulloch and Jenna Dewan have amazing chemistry playing against each other as Lois and Lucy. You truly believe they are estranged sisters.


Artistry

The special effects for the fights with Bizarro are amazing and of cinematic quality.


Super Trivia

This episode marks the first appearance of Lucy Lane in the Arrowverse following Crisis on Infinite Earths. Her last appearance was in S120, where she was also played by Jenna Dewan. This is similar to how Victoria Cartagena, who played Renee Montoya in Gotham, was cast to play a different version of the same character in Batwoman season 3.

The Post-Crisis Lucy Lane is a radically different character than the one Jenna Dewan played on Supergirl, where she was depicted as a daddy's girl who followed in her father's footsteps and enlisted in the military before going on to earn multiple law degrees at Harvard. While she was an antagonist to Kara in both her identities, being a romantic rival for Jimmy Olsen's affections and a foil as the temporary DO head, Lucy was fair-minded and eventually stepped aside when she realized Jimmy's feelings for Kara were stronger. 

The new Lucy Lane's occupation is not detailed, but it seems unlikely she ever served in the military and she isn't a lawyer. Reference is made to her suffering severe mental trauma after losing her job and her fiancé, but the details are not defined. She is also presented as a less honest individual, working to help Ally Allston set up her sister.

Strangely enough, both interpretations of Lucy Lane are true to the comics, depending on the era. More recent Superman comics gave her a military background but made her a subservient follower of her father. Conversely, in the Pre-Crisis comics, Lucy was more independent but fell in with the criminal gang The 100 and helped them with their schemes.

Self-help guru Ally Allston makes her first full appearance in the series, after briefly appearing at the end of the previous episode. The name, plus Lois' reference to her being a parasite, suggest that she's an adaptation of a DC Comics character named Alexandra Allston.

First appearing in Adventures of Superman #630 in September 2004, Alexandra Allston was created by writer Greg Rucka and artist Matthew Clark. One of two new versions of the Parasite created by the villain Ruin, Alexandra and her brother were teenagers who were empowered with the same abilities as Rudy Jones, the first Parasite. Alexandra reveled in her ability to get revenge on her bullies, whereas her brother only agreed to help Ruin in exchange for a cure for his condition. He died while attempting to escape prison, whereas Alexandra went on to join Lex Luthor's new Secret Society of Supervillains.

Bizarro Superman is shown to have flame breath instead of ice breath. This is consistent with the comics, where Bizarro had the exact opposite of many of Superman's powers. 


Technobabble

Natalie says that she'll upgrade the sensors for the Steel suit after she gets home from school.

John Henry doesn't need gauntlet to summon glove, but it does shield his hand.

The drug made from X-Kryptonite is called Yellow Mist. It is delivered through an inhaler and reportedly has different effects on the user apart from inspiring a feeling of euphoria. Most acquire super strength, but one girl reported being able to hear her mother's voice from miles away. In the case of Jonathan Kent, it seems to give him telescopic vision, enabling him to throw more accurately


Dialogue Triumphs

Lois: You should be in prison for the rest of your life.
Ally: You certainly tried to make that happen, didn't you? But your one-sided exposé failed.
Lois: It shut you down.
Ally: Only for a while. I suggest you listen to our podcast tomorrow morning. Who knows? After the world hears what Lucy has to say, maybe you'll be the one who's canceled.
Lois: Whatever I have to do, I am gonna make sure that Lucy and everyone else you have infected sees you for the absolute fraud that you are. And then I'm gonna take you down once and for all.
Ally: I don't respond well to threats, Lois.
Lois: Neither do I.

(A panicked Jordan answers his phone. We alternate between him and Sam Lane, who is on a golf course.)
Jordan: Granddad?
Sam Lane: Why in the hell were you using your cold breath in a quicky mart?
Jordan: Some guys were just trying to steal some booze, and my friend Denise's family just opened up the store and they're already in debt. I was just trying to help.
Sam Lane: You did a noble thing. Dumb as hell, but noble.
Jordan: I actually have the security footage in the back. You need to do something. They're gonna look at the video, like, any second.
Sam Lane: You mean the video I just sent you?
(Jordan checks his messages. Sure enough, there's a scrambled video file.)
Sam Lane: Don't worry. I scrambled the original.
Jordan: How did you...?
Sam Lane: Son, I used to run the United States Department of Defense. Cleaning this up is easier than Candy Crush.
Jordan: Thanks for doing that so fast.
Sam Lane: I'll always help out family, even if I'm playing the round of my life. (chuckles) Two over with three birdies. Look, you shouldn't be using your powers like this, especially not to stop shoplifters. You're not trained.
Jordan: I know. I'm sorry.
Sam Lane: You just have to always be aware of your surroundings. A little to the left, you would have been in a blind spot.
(Jordan looks up and notices what he means.)
Sam Lane: Got to go, kiddo. 

Lois: I messed up. I tried so hard to protect Lucy, and now she does this. No one's ever gonna believe a word I say if Ally goes public with that recording.
Clark: Babe, you don't know that for sure yet.
Lois: Chrissy doesn't, and she's my partner.
Clark: She'll come around, and when she does, the two of you will figure out how to fix this.
Lois: Driving over there today, I honestly thought that I could save her. So stupid.
Clark: My mom always said it's never stupid to try to help someone.
Lois: What if they don't want help? Then what do you do?

Continuity

Five years ago (2017) Lucy Lane was living with Lois and Clark in Metropolis, shortly after she lost her job and her fiancé. 

Lois and Lucy's mother also died during this time. While Lois remained estranged from her, apparently Lucy and her had reconciled. 

Lois leaves the Kent-Lane home to stay with Aly Allston, whom Lois describes as a parasite.

Lucy says that seeing Lois and her perfect life up close is just making her depression worse.

Ally Allston describes her followers as congregants. They are collectively known as the Inverse Society.

Heather Ackerman was the follower of Ally Allston who died under her care, whom Lois mentioned earlier in the season.

Allston claims Ackerman's death was due to a heart condition she didn't disclose and that her methods are usually safe.

Lois' reporting on Ackerman's death and Lucy's experience shut down Allston's group, but only for a while.

Lucy Lane is confirmed to be the surprise guest on Ally's podcast who will testify that Lois Lane altered her account for her story.

Bizarro is shown to also be able to see from Clark's perspective, as he has a vision of Jordan and Jonathan at the breakfast table.

Lois is listening to the podcast in private. Jordan accidentally overhears her and confirms to Jonathan and Clark that it is Aunt Lucy on the podcast.

Lois says she's determined to bring her sister back, whatever the cost.

John Henry's armor is said to be barely function and the hammer barely works.

John Henry says if they can't get the parts to fix it from the Department of Defense, they may have to go to Metropolis to get them.

Emily Phan tells Lana the Mayor is digging up dirt on her family and has been asking about Sarah in specific.

John Henry says he used to live in Washington DC and Metropolis on his Earth and has never known anyplace as peaceful as Smallville.

Clark says that his father, Jonathan Kent, served in the US Army and that he joked it was a nice break from all the work on his farm.

Clark has another vision of Bizarro, just before he arrives at the Kent Farm.

Bizarro is show clearly enough that his costume is revealed to have an inverted House of El shield.

Chrissy Beppo is able to find a lead on Lucy's location after spending a night searching the Dark Web.

Chrissy's alias on-line is Penelope "Penny" Collins, whom she presents as an impressionable young blonde trying to find herself.

"Penny" gets an invite to an Ally Allston event in New Carhage.

Kyle and Lana discuss how to handle Mayor Dean investigating Sarah. They are afraid this may undo all the progress she has made.

Lana refuses to go after Mayor Dean's son in the same way, despite Kyle's urging.

Jordan and Sarah plan to meet at a store run by their friend Denise after school.  Jordan offers to buy her whatever she wants.

Candice sells Jonathan an inhaler of Yellow Mist and tells him Timmy Ryan just bought five of them.

John Henry isolates the energy signature of the item Bizarro wears around his neck. Unfortunately, he thinks tracking it will require the Department of Defense satellite network.

John Henry tells Clark his suit is busted and his hammer cracked, so there's nothing he can do to help Clark if he fights Bizarro again. He suggests working with Lt. Anderson and his steam.

Denise was a cheerleader, but quit to focus on helping her family with their business after school.

Candice is confirmed to be the Captain of Smallville High's cheerleading team and Denise says most of the other girls are acting weird since then.

Jordan stops two other boys from shoplifting liquor from the store, but is caught on camera using his ice-breath to do it.

General Lane reveals that he is watching over Jordan and he had the video footage scrambled. He praises Jordan for his good intentions, but says he can't go playing vigilante.

Chrissy wears a blonde wig to go undercover at the Ally Allston event.

Superman gives his signal device back to Lt. Anderson and gives him the energy signature of Bizarro.

Jonathan uses the Yellow Mist inhaler and develops enhanced vision that lets him throw a football more accurately.

Lucy finds Lois hiding in a car and tells her to meet her at room 452 of the hotel.

Lucy says that Lois' article ruined her life.

Chrissy is recognized by Ally Allston. However, rather than trying to drive her out, she encourages her to stay and learn the real truth about Lois Lane.

It is revealed that there is a hidden camera in Lucy's room, recording her conversation with Lois.

Lucy claims that Lois drove their mother to leave their family. Lois says she was only 8 when it happened.

Lucy claims that Lois altered her account of Ally's treatment and how she honestly did "cross over" as she described after her suicide attempt.

Lois admits to leaving that out of her article because it made Lucy sound crazy.

Lucy reveals that she recorded the conversation and tells Lois to stay out of her life.

It is revealed that the reason why Sarah is in therapy is that she attempted suicide.

Natalie reveals that she knows something is up with Jonathan, who reacts to a bird as if it were closer to him than it was. She suggests he cut back on his new medication and says he's acting like a weed smoker.

The Department of Defense trace Bizarro to Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, which is the world's largest salt flat.

Lt. Anderson sends in his team, which is officially identified as the Supermen of America. However, he does not call Superman.

Superman doesn't find out about Bizarro and the Supermen until he has a vision of two of them dying.

Tag Harris is the only Supermen of America member who gets away. He runs off with Bizarro's necklace, which seems to drain the energy out of Superman.

John Henry tries to help Superman fight Bizarro, despite his suit only having 10% functionality.

John Henry is sent to a secret Army hospital.

Natalie blames Clark for her father's injuries.

Mayor Dean tells Lana he agrees their children should be out of bounds but teases Kyle about his drinking problem.

John Henry is later revealed to be breathing on his own, but is still in bad shape.

Sam Lane lives close to Smallville.

Jordan talks to Sam and asks him to help train him so he can help his father.

Sam agrees, but requires it be kept secret - presumably because he knows how Clark will respond to Jordan training to become a superhero.

Kyle goes to a bar and it is revealed he had an affair with the bartender.

Chrissy calls Ally and asks for truth about Lois.


Location

The flashback that opens the episode is set five years earlier in Metropolis.
New Carthage
Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia


The Bottom Line

Another tense episode, with a firm focus on the whole ensemble.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Five #20 - A Review

Bizarro's quest for answers regarding his creation has led him to The Fortress of Solitude, where a brainwashed Doomsday is waiting for a target. As Superman races to discover the mystery of his strange doppelganger, Lex Luthor is left with a moral quandary - should he take advantage of this situation to deal with an increasingly despotic Superman?


This issue is good for what it is - an old-fashioned, beat-em-up brawl. There's none of the humor Brian Buccellato is famous for, though the action is well written. Mike S. Miller's artwork is serviceable, though oddly stiff in some panels. J. Nanjan's colors remain bright and thematic throughout.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Five #19 - A Review

At long last, "Bizzaro am home". This proves quite the pickle for his "daddy", Lex Luthor, who had told Superman that he had destroyed all of the Super-Clones he had made back when Superman was presumed dead. This leaves Lex with two problems - how do you destroy a Superman clone quietly and how do you do it with an increasingly impatient Fastest Man Alive on your doorstep?


This issue is light on action but high on the screwball comedy that Brian Buccellato excels at. Things don't quite descend into a full farce but it is ironically amusing to see a heroic Lex Luthor hiding evidence of his "treachery" from an evil Superman. Mike S. Miller and J, Nanjan illustrate all this with their usual aplomb.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Five #18 - A Review

The partnership between The Trickster and Bizzaro comes to a sudden and violent end. Now, as Bizzaro turns to the only other friend he has seeking a way to save the funny man who introduced him to cheeseburgers, Superman scours the globe looking for his "evil" counterpart.


Much as I want to grouse over just how the heck The Trickster could ever fall to his death (Air-Walking shoes, anyone? It's his main gimmick!), I still enjoyed this issue. Brian Buccellato draws off of both Frankstein and Of Mice and Men in his portrayal of Bizzaro to rich effect. And the artwork by Tom Derenick and Rex Lokus is equally impressive.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Five #17 - A Review

The Trickster may have gotten himself into a mess even he can't fast-talk his way out of. He's befriended the Bizzaro Superman but keeping the big guy under control is a tricky task even for him! Still, he's managed to steer the big guy in the direction of doing good. Well, sort-of.


For the most part, this issue is a perfect palette cleanser after several weeks of darkness. The relationship between Trickster and Bizzaro is oddly sweet once if you look past the fact that Trickster is only making nice with Bizzaro in an effort to gain an advantage or, at the very least, not die. The ending of the issue, however, sparks an odd parallel with the conclusion of last week's issue, begging the question what is worse - a mad god or a vengeful one? Or is there even a difference?


Tom Derenick's artwork for the issue is impressive. Derenick boasts an exaggerated style which well-suits the cartoonish nature of this issue. And the color art by Rex Lokus is as wonderful as ever.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Five #12 - A Review

The bizarre clone of Superman has finally found the real deal. And the timing couldn't be better for Solomon Grundy. Now, a three-way-fight for dominance is about to erupt with dozen of civilians caught in the middle!


The better portion of this issue is taken up by a massive fight scene. And it's a darn good fight scene, as far as these things go, with Iban Coello and J. Nanjan blocking and rendering the whole affair beautifully. Yet Brian Buccellato's script doesn't let the action dominate the story. There's also a number of small character moments that show that as far gone as Superman is now, his first priority is still protecting the innocent.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Five #11 - A Review

A Superman impostor is on the loose and The Regime is desperate to bring him to heel quickly. As Superman questions Lex Luthor about his involvement, The Trickster finds himself in the unenviable position of befriending this bizarre clone and instructing him as to what Superman should do to save the world.


There s a grand irony to Brian Buccellato's script for this issue, in that The Trickster has become a hero in his manipulation of Bizarro, though his motives for setting him on the real Superman are hardly noble. In this, the rogue among The Rogues remains the only honest villain among them. And yet he has inadvertently accomplished more good than the likes of Weather Wizard and Heatwave, who were honestly trying to go straight!


I wish I could be as generous in describing the artwork this week. There's a number of forced poses, elongated bodies and odd perspective shots that leave this issue looking awkward throughout. It's not bad as such, but this is not Mike S. Miller's best work.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Five #10 - A Review

Disaster strikes The Rogues!  Superman was hot on their trail and now they're under attack by something... bizarre. And with Mirror Master out-cold and no back-up on the way, this could be the end for Batman's latest allies.


Brian Buccellato writes a good action scene. And this issue is, for the most part, one good action scene. Yet there are still plenty of the touching, more dramatic moments that have made this series so enjoyable as well as a gut-punch of an ending.


The art team exceeds their usual high standard this week. Bruno Redondo is as skillful at staging high-octane action scenes as Brian Buccellato is at writing them. The inks by Juan Albarran perfectly enhance the original pencils. And the colors by Rex Lokus are all well-chosen.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Five #9 - A Review

Under Batman's command, The Rogues Gallery orchestrate a coordinated attack on multiple Regime bases simultaneously. This does little to soothe the temper of Superman, who is already angry due to delays in the construction of a new super-prison and the loss of the drugs needed to enhance his army of Super-Soldiers. Despite this, things are looking bleak for The Resistance, though they may have just found the most unexpected of allies...


It's always a treat when Brian Buccellato writes The Rogues Gallery and this issue proves no exception to that truism. I'm curious as to the absence of Captain Cold but I'm certain he's being saved for something special later on. I would like to see more of this world's version of The Trickster, however, who seems to be cut from the same mold as the TV series' Joker-Lite - a characterization I've never been fond of but find preferable in this case to the idea of James Jesse selling out his fellow Rogues.


The artwork this week is competently done but not as fine as usual. Tom Derenick's pencils seem rushed in some places and Juan Albarran's inks seem a little too heavy at times. The colors by Rex Lokus are as fine as ever and the artwork doesn't look bad - just not quite up to the usual standard.

Supergirl Episode Guide: Season 1, Episode 12 - Bizarro

For a summary of the episode guide layout & categories, click here.


Plot

Kara's nervous about her first date with Adam Foster. But her real test of courage this week will come in the form of a mysterious evil twin, who challenges Supergirl's reputation as a champion of good as she begins causing trouble around National City. Meanwhile, J'onn must deal with the consequences of his White Martian prisoner and ponder the threat of their invading the Earth.


Influences

The Bizarrogirl arc of Sterling Gates' run on Supergirl and the Terror Incognita arc of Mark Waid's run on JLA.


Goofs

We're told Maxwell Lord began abducting Jane Does two years ago. Granting that Lord is the kind of sleaze who would do that sort of thing for all manner of experiments, how could he have been abducting women the same size and hair-color as Kara for the past two years when she has only been Supergirl for a few months?

Why did Maxwell Lord give Bizarro Girl a new costume with darker colors and a backward-S after she's changed by the exposure to Kryptonite? It's stylish, sure, but what's the point?

How the heck did James survive Bizarro's flame breath after trying to kick-activate his signal watch?


Performances

While his performance is hardly subtle, Peter Facinelli does a fine job of making Maxwell Lord the kind of smug. creepy villain you love to hate in this episode.

It;s a quick moment, but the scene between Winn and James discussing their problems is a nice bit of work from both Mehcad Brooks and Jeremy Jordan. We haven't gotten much interaction between James and Winn except as adversaries so it's gratifying to get a scene of the two as equals.

The scene between Kara and Bizarro at the end is deeply moving.


Artistry

The fight sequences between the two Supergirls are handled well and the direction does a good job of disguising the stunt doubles needed for Melissa Benoist to fight herself.

The script does a fine job of suggesting it will be Alex, not James, who will wind up being the target of a revenge-crazed Bizarro. So it's all the more surprising when Bizarro kidnaps James.


Super Trivia

The concept of the Bizarro duplicates first appeared in Superboy #68. In this story, a scientist developed a duplication ray which accidentally created an impure clone of Superboy. The clone was as noble as Superboy, but shunned by all the people of Smallville due to his ugly appearance, except for one blind girl. The story was intended as a tribute to Frankenstein.

Years later, Lex Luthor - having learned of this incident - rebuilt the duplication ray to create a clone of Superman he could manipulate. It turned out the Bizarro clone was as noble as Superman, but his efforts to do good often caused harm instead. Eventually, Bizarro left Earth along with a Bizarro clone of Lois Lane, and used the raygun to create a Bizarro world on which they could live.

In most modern retellings of the Superman legend (post-Crisis and Superman: The Animated Series, in particular) Bizarro clones are the result of Lex Luthor's failed attempts to clone Superman. The clones have varied in temperament, with most fitting the earlier mold of easily manipulated but basically noble monster.

The Bizzaro Supergirl in this episode fits the same mold, being a creation of Maxwell Lord's super-science who is manipulated into fighting Supergirl.

In the post-Crisis DC Universe, one Bizarro traveled into space and built a cube-shaped world near a blue sun. The blue sun gave him the power of Bizarro-Vision, which allowed him to create new Bizarros.  One of the Bizarros he created was a Bizarro Supergirl, whom he later sent to Earth in a rocket to keep her safe.  This led to the Bizaro Supergirl running amok on Earth, as seen in Sterling Gates run on Supergirl.

The Bizarro duplicates in the comics have the equivalent yet opposite powers of their regular Kryptonian counterparts, such as Flame Breath instead of Ice Breath or Freeze Vision instead of Heat Vision. This is also true of the DCTVU version of Bizarro.

Bizarros also react differently to Kryptonite than regular Kryptonians, with the common Green Kryptonite isotope making Bizarros stronger rather than weakening then. Bizzaros are made weak in the presence of Blue Kryptonite, which is harmless to regular Kryptonians.

Though never named as such, the reversed-Kryptonite J'onn devises in this episode glows blue, in reference to the Blue Kryptonite of the comics.


Technobabble

J'onn says the Jane Done he examined at Lord Technologies was comatose and her cerebral cortex function was practically non-existent.

Alex says the evil Supergirl can't be the result of cloning because even if someone had gotten a hold of her DNA, the clone would still be an embryo. This suggests there is no scientific way to accelerate a clone's growth in the DCTVU - at least not with the technology known to the DEO.

Maxwell Lord used an elementary genetic synthesis to create Bizarro. He isolated Supergirl's genome and then flooded the Jane Doe with a concentrated infusion of DNA. He got Supergirl's DNA from the arm of the Red Tornado, which Alex gave him in 106.

J'onn suggests that they can reverse engineer the chemical compound of the DEO's synthetic Kryptonite, theorizing that if regular Kryptonite makes Bizarro stronger,reversing its ionic charge should have an oppositional effect.


Dialogue Triumphs

(Watching footage of the evil Supergirl in action)
J'onn: (To Kara) Not exactly one for your "greatest hits" reel.
Alex: I sent a team to scan the area. No signs of extra-terrestrial activity, so we can probably rule out an alien shape-shifter. (looking at J'onn) Unless there's something you're not telling us?
J'onn: The skirt was surprisingly comfortable, but no.

Kara: She's as strong as me. She flies like me. She fights like me. Except for the fact that she talks like Cookie Monster, she is exactly like me!

Cat: You two have not had your first kiss yet?  Kiera, you are like a character from a Jane Austen Novel. (glancing up at a screen) Bizarro.
Kara:  (sputtering) That's not that weird!  I mean, we've only been out a couple of times!
Cat: No. I named HER Bizarro.

Maxwell Lord: I ordered you to kill Supergirl.
Bizarro: You say... Supergirl bad. But Supergirl help people.... Supergirl not bad.

Alex: He made the Bizarro you.
J'onn: Is that what we're calling it?!
Kara: Another CatCo trademark.

James: How do you feel about drowning our sorrows?
(James begins pouring two drinks from a bottle of whiskey.)
Winn: I know what my sorrows are. What, uh... what sorrows exactly do you have, sir?
James: (chuckles) Bottoms up.
Winn: Yeah.
(The two clink glasses and drink. After taking a sip, Winn stares at James.)
Winn: What are you doing, man?
James: Having a drink with a friend.
Winn: No! With Kara.
James: Huh?
Winn: Why - why did you tell her that you were happy about her and Adam?
James: Because she likes him. And that's what she wants me to say, man. C'mon.
Winn: No!  Look, dude... Dude, I've been stuck in the friend zone so long that I'm just thinking about buying some investment property here. But you? Man, you could be with her and you know it. Literally, all you have to do is say the word. So why don't you?
James: Winn. I'm in a relationship.
Winn:  Look, dude, I know that you care about Lucy. You don't have to convince me. I get it. But nobody wants to be in a relationship with somebody who wants to be with somebody else.
(Winn downs the rest of his drink and sits back down at his desk as James rises, looking thoughtful.)
James: Good talk.
Winn: Yeah.
(James gets up and starts to walk off with the bottle of whiskey)
Winn: Leave the bottle.
(James sighs and puts the bottle on Winn's desk.)

J'onn: We're going to put her under. The way she was when I first saw her. 

Kara: She won't feel any pain, will she?

J'onn: She won't feel anything.
Kara: We have to try and help her.
J'onn: We will.
(Kara takes Bizarro's hand)

Kara: I'm going to hold your hand until you fall asleep, okay?
Bizzaro: Afraid!
Kara: I know. I once went to sleep for a long time too. I was afraid. But when I woke up, I wasn't alone. You're not going to be alone either.

Bizarro: Thank. You. Kara. 

Continuity

Maxwell Lord began "disappearing" Jane Does over two years earlier. Seven women have disappeared in that time, being transferred Lord's private facility - Prometheus Genetics.  He began working on the woman who became Bizarro three months ago.

J'onn refers to his invasion of Lord Technologies in 110 and the Jane Doe he examined there.

Kara's go-to coffee order is a spiced pumpkin latee with extra foam and a little cinnamon sprinkled on the top.

J'onn refers to The Red Tornado from 106 and how it was programmed to mimic Kara's powers.

Cat Grant dubs the evil Supergirl "Bizarro".

The DEO does not have legal authority to arrest people.

Alex and Kara determine that Maxwell Lord knows Kara's secret identity and about their relationship, but decide to keep this information secret from J'onn.

Maxwell Lord is being held indefinitely in DEO Cell 19 at episode's end.


The Fridge Factor

It seems remarkably foolish for Alex to insist on keeping Maxwell Lord's knowledge of Kara's secret identity a secret from J'onn.  Forget all the problems that keeping secrets from one another has caused their team before - HE'S A FREAKING TELEPATH AND A DAMN GOOD DETECTIVE!


The Bottom Line

A welcome return to form after last week. Oddly, the only bits that don't work are Kara's romance with Adam but that's mainly because it's clear that subplot is a distraction from the main meat of the episode.  Everything else is spot on.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Five #5 - A Review

Normally, I start my reviews off with a set-up of the action of the issue. This time, however, I feel compelled to do something different. This time, I'm going to start off singing praises of Bruno Redondo.


I can't recall Redondo indulging in a variety of visual gags before but there's quite a few clever ones in this issue.  From the Lex-Us car adverts to the way Batgirl rolls her eyes as Penguin blatantly lies over how completely innocent he is, there is hilarity aplenty to match Brian Buccellato's script.


It's not all laughs, however. Indeed, the sequence in which Damian Wayne - now officially going by Nightwing - is confronted by League of Assassins members in need of a new leader - may be the most brutal in the series' history. Comedy or drama, the whole issue is one great read and well-paced.


I can't neglect the rest of the art team in all this praise.  Juan Albarran does his usual stellar job on the inks. Rex Lokus continues to impress with his well-chosen colors. And the lettering by Wes Abbott is clear and easily read.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Five #4 - A Review

As Catwoman begins to approach the super-criminals with codes regarding an alliance with Batman, so too does Superman begin to allow willing villains to work for his Regime. Meanwhile, a Bizzaro clone of Lex Luthor's design is on the loose and confused in Germany, with no clue of who he is or the power he possesses...


Even at this late point in the series, Brian Buccellato still finds ways to surprise the readers. The introduction of Bizzaro in this issue was brilliantly foreshadowed. One wonders where they will go next with the revelation that there is someone who can match Superman physically in play. The cliffhanger at this issue's end proves equally stunning.


What can I say about the art of Mike S. Miller and J. Nanjan that hasn't been said already? Not much, without pulling out a thesaurus to find even more synonyms for 'stupendous', 'wonderful' and 'amazing'. So I think I'll simply say that this book looks as great as ever and leave it at that.