Part 2 remains Superman-centered, although Hawkgirl gets a few good moments sending Darkseid flying with a surprise attack and cutting loose Wolverine-style on the Brainiac robots. Superman beats up Darkseid, there's a lot of emphasis on his backstory (when he was brainwashed into conquering Earth), and his feelings for revenge pretty much drive the story.
If there's a problem with the story, it's that the focus is too much on Superman. For one thing, both Brainiac and Darkseid are Superman villains and the fight is over Superman - as in last year's "War World" the rest of the JL doesn't seem to have much to do. That's not necessarily a bad thing, given how Superman was diminished last year. Still, there's room for more of Supe's fellow Justice Leaguers.
Also, New Genesis gets shortchanged here - the Orion/Darkseid thing goes by pretty quick and Mr. Miracle and Forever People are reduced to cameos. This episode might have benefited from a third part - it doesn't look like we'll be seeing the New Gods again this season so a little more detail would have been nice. The bit with the whole Forager/bug/underclass thing seems abruptly tacked on and only barely connects at the end with the idea of orphans brought up 40 minutes earlier (if you get to watch both parts back-to-back).
In fact, part 2 tends to lose the epic feel and seeing the money spent up on screen - we only really get stalwarts Corey Burton and Michael Ironside. Most of the battle takes place in a big room with Brainiac robot-clones. It's just not quite as impressive as part 1.
It also seems as if Superman is...well, kinda brutal here - not particularly heroic. This gives us a major epic battle, but he never really overcomes his rage and it takes Batman to pull him off - at the end Superman still feels he was "right," presumably. Sure, Darkseid's a threat, has killed millions, and will undoubtedly show up again down the road. But he basically brought Superman down to his level here, and Superman doesn't seem to have realized it. File this one under "unresolved issues" - hopefully they'll cover this in the future, since Darkseid may or may not be showing up later in the season.
Overall, part 2 just managed to retain the strengths of part 1, and it's generally satisfactory, but it is somewhat of a letdown from part 1.moreless
The League are forced to battle both Darkseid and Brainiac, while Wonder Woman and Batman seek the aid of Orion, son of Darkseid.
 Kevin Conroy |
Batman/Bruce Wayne |
 Maria Canals |
Hawkgirl/Shayera Hol |
Susan Eisenberg |
Wonder Woman/Diana |
 Carl Lumbly |
Martian Manhunter/J'onn J'onzz |
George Newbern |
Superman/Clark Kent/Kal-El |
 Michael Ironside |
Darkseid |
Guest Star |
Mitch Ryan |
Highfather |
Guest Star |
Rob Paulsen |
Lightray |
Guest Star |
Corey Burton |
Brainiac |
Recurring Role |
 Ron Perlman |
Orion |
Recurring Role |
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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TRIVIA (3)
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After Hawkgirl hit Darkseid, there was a scene showing Superman's cape totally torn apart due to the energy of the device that was extracting his DNA. When Batman set him free Superman's cape was undamaged.
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How did Superman split the two beams from his heat vision to destroy Brainac's robots? Doesn't his heat vision focus on where he is looking?? Thus unless he can focus on different things with each eye he can only hit one thing at a time.
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Darkseid is conveniently forgetting that Superman humbled and defeated him in their last apparent battle (at the end of "Legacy"). On the other hand, given his egotism this oversight might be understandable and he might just consider his defeat a temporary setback.
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QUOTES (10)
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Superman: But why?!?
Darkseid: You of all people should know the universe is filled with chaos, confusion, and uncertainty. I will tear it down to nothing, and then rebuild it, bringing order and disciple at last. Think of it, Superman. A new universe created in with my image. -
Darkseid: (to Orion) I'm glad to see growing up with Highfather hasn't made you soft and weak. You make an old man proud.
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Darkseid: This is where you belong, Superman--under my heel.
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Superman: To get off this rock you'll have to go through me.
Darkseid: You really are a glutton for punishment. Time and again I've beaten you, humbled you. What makes you think today this outcome will be any different?
Superman: Because this time I won't stop until you're just a greasy smear on my fist. Let's go. -
Orion: (punching Darkseid) Hello, Father. Don't I get a hug?
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Brainiac: You deceived me, Darkseid. Used me.
Darkseid: It's what I do. -
Batman: Next time I let Superman take charge, just hit me. Real hard!
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Hawkgirl: (beating Brainiac to a pulp) Someone had to do it.
Superman: No problem. -
Brainiac: And this is your final decision?
Superman: Read my lips - go to...
Brainiac: (conveniently interrupting) Unfortunate, but predictable. -
Batman: Nothing could have survived that. Not even Darkseid.
Superman: You know something, Bruce... you're not always right.
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NOTES (6)
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DVD commentary by producers Bruce Timm and James Tucker, director Butch Lukic, and story editor Dwayne McDuffie.
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This episode was nominated for a Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing in Television Animation.
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When Superman stands up to Darkseid, you can hear the theme of Superman: The Animated Series.
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At the end we see other Jack Kirby/New God creations including the Forever People and Mr. Miracle.
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In the later SuperFriends series, Darkseid and Brainiac often allied together. Brainiac's spacecraft was also a giant facsimile of his head.
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Green Lantern and Flash do not appear in this episode
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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