The Krypton Club Newsletter #203!

ISSUE #203
FEBRUARY 4,
2000

"I'm too young and boyish to go to jail."
-- Jimmy Olsen, "Top Copy"

HI AGAIN!
Only 5 days -- things are REALLY back on schedule now!

I wanted to get this issue out before the final episodes of the Superman animated series air this weekend, so, here ya go. Enjoy! And don't miss those new episodes!

By the way, check out the concluding chapters of the recent DC Comics "Superman Y2K" story to see Lex doing something so sick and so wrong, that only Lex could do it. It's pure Lex evil, and firmly establishes why HE is "the bad guy."

FUGITIVE CAST & OTHER NEWS
The new "Fugitive" TV series which will be airing this fall and produced by former "L&C" producer/writer John McNamara is set to star Tim Daly of Wings fame as Richard Kimble and Forrest Gump's Mykelti Williamson as the fugitive-chasing Lt. Gerard.

Warner Bros. is holding off on the proposed Bruce Wayne TV series until they are sure what they want to do with the Batman movie franchise.

SUPERMAN ANIMATED: THE CONCLUSION
By Russ Dimino (CKent15@aol.com)

A while back, the Krypton Club did a feature on the most recent animated incarnation of the Man of Steel, Kids WB's Superman, comparing it to our well-known and much beloved Lois and Clark. Since then, WB has aired some new episodes, and we decided to take a look at how the series has progressed.

First, some background for those who missed it. The new animated Superman is the creation of Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, and Alan Burnett, the minds behind the five-time Emmy-award winning Batman The Animated Series. This new version pays homage to the old Max Fleischer cartoons of the 1940's as well as the George Reeves Superman, while still keeping a modern spin on the classic super hero. In an animated form, Superman's powers are now beyond the limits of a live-action television series special effects budget.

In comparison to Lois and Clark, the cartoon seems eternally set in the "first season" era, with Lois in the dark about Clark's little secret, Lex Luthor running Metropolis's underworld, and Superman still getting the hang of being a hero. Here, Superman isn't quite as strong, and saving the world isn't as easy as it used to be. Let's see what's been going on since our last review in issue #190.

#46 "A Fish Story"
Air Date: May 8, 1999
Written by: Hilary J. Bader and Rich Fogel

SUMMARY: Lex Luthor is testing bombs in the ocean, and that isn't making someone very happy. Superman? Nope. That Urban Legend of the Seven Seas, Aquaman, is busting up Luthor's operation. Now Lex wants Aquaman dead, but it seems a slightly ticked off Aquaman wants to wage war on all "surface dwellers."

COMMENTS & CONNECTIONS: You may remember Aquaman from the old Hanna-Barbara "Super Friends" series. Those episodes were infamous for trying to somehow work water into the plot so Aquaman would have something to do. However this sure isn't the old campy Aquaman we're seeing here - he takes on an attitude similar to the current comic book version. This episode does feature some classic Lex, though, as the villain who has power and loves to throw it around. The original ending to this episode was to have had Lex setting off bombs all over the ocean that would totally destroy Aquaman's homeland, and a giant tidal wave would wipe out the entire city. The ending was toned down considerably by the time the episode saw production.

#47 "Unity"
Air Date: May 15, 1999
Written by: Paul Dini and Rich Fogel

SUMMARY: After a short stay with Clark in Metropolis, Kara (Supergirl) returns to Smallville and finds everyone under the control of a plant-like alien creature called Unity. Even Jonathan and Martha Kent.

COMMENTS & CONNECTIONS: We don't see nearly as much of dear old Ma and Pa Kent in the cartoon as we did on L&C. The reason for that may be simple. Jonathan and Martha's animated counterparts aren't as interesting. Whereas they always had some wise advice or support for Lois and Clark on the live action show, here they serve mainly as someone else for Superman to rescue. This is a surprisingly weak episode considering it has fan-favorite writer Paul Dini's name attached to it. The plot makes little sense, the violence is over the top, and except for the fact that the scantily clad animated version of Supergirl is in it, many people just won't really care.

#48 "The Demon Reborn"
Air Date: September 18, 1999
Written by: Rich Fogel

SUMMARY: The infamous Society of Shadows steals a rare artifact that is said to have mystic healing capabilities, which international crimelord Ra's Al Ghul hopes to use to steal Superman's power. When Batman comes to Metropolis to track down Ghul, he and Superman soon get in each other's way, but learn a thing or two from each other by the episode's end.

COMMENTS & CONNECTIONS: Ra's gets Superman's attention by having his daughter Talia pose as Lois Lane in need of rescue. He must have been a fan of L&C. It's not too unusual for someone to try and steal Superman's powers, either. Let's not forget Resplendent Man, the Newtrich sisters, Dr. Gretchen Kelly and Dr. Veeda Doodsen who all tried to tap Superman's super powers for various reasons on L&C. Also note, this episode may mark the last appearance of the animated Batman in his current, "modern day" form.

WHAT IS TO COME: The producers have announced that they are bringing the Superman series to an end. They are, instead, focusing on their new hit series, Batman Beyond, which focuses on the future of the Batman legend. While rumor has it that Superman may eventually appear in that series, for now they are bringing his story to a close with the much anticipated two-part "Legacy." The episodes were shown last year at the San Diego Comic Con, and were reportedly very well done and also quite shocking. The story will apparently settle the ongoing feud between Superman and Darkseid, Lord of Apokolips, which has been carried throughout the series.

"Legacy" Part One will air THIS SATURDAY, February 5th, at 8 a.m. EST and Part Two will air on the 12th. We will, of course, carry a summary and review of this epic conclusion, so stay tuned!

FROM THE ARCHIVES....
From Krypton Club Newsletter #89 (Feb. 10, 1996), here's a press release from ABC revealing a new episode to air that Sunday:

AIRING ON SUNDAY: "I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU..."
After two-and-a-half years of deception, romantic turmoil and battles with
evil villains, feisty investigative reporter Lois Lane and secret super hero
Clark Kent are primed for their biggest challenge yet -- a walk down the
aisle. The legendary pair are at last set to be wed in a pre-Valentine's Day
ceremony on "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," SUNDAY, FEB. 11
(8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

In "I Now Pronounce You. . .," numerous obstacles stand between Lois, Clark
and their pending wedding vows. Will Lois escape the clutches of a maniacal
biologist (guest star Tony Curtis) intent on killing the President of the
United States? Will Lois' sister, the maid-of-honor, make it to Metropolis
for the wedding? Will part-time comic Reverend Bob arrive in time to perform
the ceremony? And just who is sending those threatening wedding presents to
the bride and groom? These questions and many more will be answered on
Sunday, February 11!

Guest starring are Tony Curtis as Dr. Mamba, Fred Willard as the President,
Beverly Garland as Ellen Lane, Harve Presnell as Sam Lane, Brad Garrett as
Reverend Bob, Forry Smith as Agent Walker, Wesley Mann as Phil, Oliver
Muirhead as the manager, Paul Linke as the Church Deacon, Ria Pavia as Cindy,
Joshua Devane as Agent Roberts, Charles Gunning as the delivery driver and
Natalie Strauss as the maid.

"I Now Pronounce You..." was written by Chris Ruppenthal and directed by Jim
Pohl.

What color was the Kryptonian battle-suit that Clark wore when he was summoned to New Krypton?

Look for the answer in the next newsletter. The answer to last issue's trivia: Jonathan (Tim Lake) Frakes is now an executive producer for the sci-fi TV series "Roswell" on the WB. He has also made a few appearances on the show.

Editor/Krypton Club President: Craig Byrne
Special Thanks To: Russ Dimino

THE KRYPTON CLUB NEWSLETTER, Volume 1, Issue 203, February 4, 2000. Published online weekly for now, quarterly some other time, and whenever I darn well please the rest of the time. Copyright (c) 2000 The Lois & Clark Krypton Club. All rights reserved. Any material within is property of the Krypton Club and/or respective individuals unless otherwise noted as coming from elsewhere. Any opinions within belong solely to the individuals who express them. Copying or any unauthorized publication of material from this newsletter without permission is illegal. if you have any friends who are or were fans of "Lois & Clark" who are not on AOL and would still like to subscribe to the Krypton Club Newsletter, send them over to the new Krypton Club list at ONElist. You can find it at http://www.onelist.com/community/PlanetKrypton Three new episodes of Pokemon are also airing on Saturday morning on Kids' WB! Oh wait, I'm not supposed to know that, am I? Meeeee-owth!

OPERATION: DON'T TUG ON SUPERMAN'S TAPE!
Remember to send e-mail to vl_customer_service@columbiahouse.com and tell them you want "Lois & Clark" as their next available classic TV series. Perhaps if they get enough people writing in, they may decide "L&C" will be their next addition!