Changes: New Kids in Town

Revision as of 16:44, 20 July 2020

"New Kids in Town" is the third episode of the third season of Superman: The Animated Series, and the 44th of the overall series. It depicts yet another attempt of Brainiac's to destroy Superman. This time Brainiac comes from a distant future into the Earth's past. Now he seeks to destroy Clark Kent before he ever becomes Superman. However, three members of the Legion of Super-Heroes follow after him to save Clark and the future.

Plot

It's the year 2979 A.D. and things are peaceful in Metropolis. However, Brainiac soon disrupts this peace by attacking a presumed power source called the "antimatter accelerator". He easily defeats the guards and reaches the main controls he modifies the accelerator to create a portal and enters into it.

File:Kids travel back.jpg

Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, and Chameleon Boy travel back in time.

The lead scientist calls in the Legion of Superheroes for help. Three members arrive: Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, and Chameleon Boy. They learn of Brainiac's escape into the portal and chase after him. The scientist warns them that he can't bring them back, but they don't care.

After going through the portal, the group ends up on a farm just outside Smallville. Unfortunately, they run into a farmer that mistakes them for pranksters. They easily chase him off and Saturn Girl erases his memories, and then leave to look for Clark.

Clark is at a school dance where he's having a good time until he's confronted by Kenny Braverman. They have a quick basketball match in which Clark hurls Kenny into a table thereby alarming everyone. Clark tries to explain to Lana that he's going through some changes, in reference to his gaining his powers, but she doesn't listen. Angered, Clark starts to head home. However, before he can go far, Brainiac attacks him. The three legion members arrive and rescue him. After a brief battle, Brainiac teleports away.

File:Brainiac attacks Kenny.jpg

Brainiac attacks Kenny Braverman in a diner.

The group hide out in an alley and in an attempt to disguise Clark, Saturn Girl puts a pair of glasses on him. She then reveals that Superman inspired beings from other worlds to work together for the greater good. She continues by telling him about Brainiac's reawakening and his plan. However, Clark runs off after hearing this.

Clark returns home and finds Lana there waiting for him. Unfortunately, before she can talk some sense into him, Brainiac, who had learned the Kents' residence through Kenny, arrives with his probes. The family hides in the basement and Clark reveals his power of X-ray vision. He then goes to confront the probes. He easily manages to destroy some of them but Brainiac takes control of a threshing machine and a bulldozer. Fortunately, Clark's invulnerability is great enough to take the power of the machines. He then confronts Brainiac but the Legionnaires step in and take over the fight.

File:Kids say Goodbye.jpg

The group says goodbye to a young Clark Kent.

After a brief fight, the Legionaries are defeated and Brainiac captures Clark. However, Saturn Girl telepathically tells Clark how to activate Brainiac's teleportation belt. He activates it and sends Brainiac into the Sun where he is destroyed.

That morning, the people of Smallville make repairs after "the worst twister to hit town in twenty years". Saturn Girl reveals that she altered their memories so that no one will remember Brainiac's attack. She then removes Clark's memories and the group leaves on Brainiac's hover chair. Lana then finds Clark and he shows her his new pair of glasses.

Continuity

Brainiac uses a space sled for the third time in the DCAU. The first two times (chronologically) are in "Stolen Memories" and the Justice League episode "Twilight".

Background information

Home video releases

Production notes

The model for 30th century Metropolis would later be used for Gorilla City in Justice League.
The shot where Brainiac awakens in Saturn Girl's exposition are reused storyboards from "Ghost in the Machine", though the sequences were reanimated.
When Brainiac blasts the two guards in the beginning, there's a full screen frame of a fire explosion, which is reused footage from "Where There's Smoke" when Volcana blasted Superman with a fire ball in the parking lot. This is recurrently used throughout the episode: when Brainiac is chasing down Clark and misses a fire, when the gas truck explodes, when Pa and Ma Kent shoot Brainiac, and finally when Clark smashes the tractor into the harvester.

Production inconsistencies

Saturn Girl is credited as "Saturn Girl/Irma Ardeen". However, in the DC Comics, her first name is spelled "Imra". This mistake was noted and rectified by Paul Dini on the episode's audio commentary.
When Kenny is thrown from the coffee bar, the "Special" sign reads "ALL YOU CAR EAT" as opposed to "ALL YOU CAN EAT", and later, as he is hauled down from the coffee bar's sign, it reads "COEFES" rather than "COFFEE".
As noted in the commentary, Smallville is in a part of Kansas that should not have hills in the background.

Trivia

In the comics, Kenny Braverman becomes the villain Conduit.
This is the second and last episode of this series not featuring Clark as Superman. The other one was "The Last Son of Krypton, Part I"
Brainiac's last appearance in this show.
Chameleon Boy's line "Up, up, and away!" is a reference to the old Superman radio shows in which he would utter that phrase before taking off. The Joker also cited this line in the Batman: The Animated Series episode, "Make 'Em Laugh" (see list of classic Superman tributes).
Kairi Tanaga from the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Day of the Samurai" can be seen in the crowd at the party.
The scene where Clark throws the tractor is, according to the commentary, a reference to the cover of Action Comics #1.
When Brainiac says "At last, the son of Jor-El kneels before me", it is a reference to Superman II and long time Superman enemy General Zod.
As in the comics, Cosmic Boy and Saturn Girl were two of the three first Legion members to meet Clark Kent. However, in the comics, Chameleon Boy was not the third member, but rather Lightning Lad.

Cast

Actor	Role
Jason Marsden	Young Clark Kent
Corey Burton	Brainiac Sheriff (uncredited)
Shelley Fabares	Martha Kent
Mike Farrell	Jonathan Kent
Tony Pope	Scientist
Scott Menville	Kenny Braverman
Kelly Schmidt	Lana Lang
Melissa Joan Hart	Saturn Girl/Irma Ardeen
Jason Priestley	Reep Daggle/Chameleon Boy
Chad Lowe	Rokk Krinn/Cosmic Boy

Uncredited appearances

Quotes

Scientist: This is crazy.
Chameleon Boy: You asked for heroes; you didn't say anything about sanity.

Lana: What's this strange power you have?
Clark: What do you mean?
Lana: The ability to attract every airhead in Smallville!

Clark: Like a pair of glasses is going to fool anyone.

Clark: (After seeing his future costume) Red underpants? Now I know you're crazy!

Kenny: (After seeing Brainiac) Whoa! Check out Darth Vader! Que Pasa man? Take a wrong turn at Tatooine?

Brainiac: (holding Kenny up high) Where does Clark Kent live?
Kenny: Clark? What is this?
Brainiac: Insufficient response. (throws Kenny across the street)

Martha: (Seeing Jonathan preparing to help Clark) Don't be foolish! You need something better than a shovel!

Brainiac: At last, the son of Jor-El kneels before me.

Chameleon Boy: Up, up, and away! Heh, I always wanted to say that!

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Episode
 | series     = stas
-| image      = New Kids in Town.jpg
+| image      = New Kids in Town.png
 | episode    = New Kids in Town
 | airdate    = October 31, 1998 (USA)
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 | writer     = [[Stan Berkowitz]] & [[Rich Fogel]]
 | director   = [[Butch Lukic]]
+| music      = [[Kristopher Carter]]
+| prevprod   = "[[Knight Time]]"
+| nextprod   = "[[Obsession]]"
 }}
+"'''New Kids in Town'''" is the third episode of the third season of {{stas}}, and the 44th of the overall series. It depicts yet another attempt of [[Brainiac]]'s to destroy [[Superman]]. This time Brainiac comes from a distant future into the Earth's past. Now he seeks to destroy [[Superman|Clark Kent]] before he ever becomes Superman. However, three members of the [[Legion of Super-Heroes]] follow after him to save Clark and the future.
-"'''New Kids in Town'''" is the forty-fourth episode of {{stas}}. It depicts yet another attempt of [[Brainiac]]'s to destroy [[Superman]]. This time Brainiac comes from a distant future into the earth's past. Now he seeks to destroy [[Clark Kent]] before he ever becomes Superman. However, three members of the [[Legion of Super-Heroes]] follow after him to save Clark and the future.
 == Plot ==
-It's the year 2979 A.D. and things are peaceful in [[Metropolis]]. However, Brainiac soon disrupts this peace by attacking the "antimatter accelerator" (presumably used for power). He easily defeats the guards and reaches the main controls he modifies the accelerator to create a portal and enters into it.
+It's the year 2979 A.D. and things are peaceful in [[Metropolis]]. However, Brainiac soon disrupts this peace by attacking a presumed power source called the "antimatter accelerator". He easily defeats the guards and reaches the main controls he modifies the accelerator to create a portal and enters into it.
+[[File:Kids_travel_back.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Cosmic Boy]], [[Saturn Girl]], and [[Chameleon Boy]] travel back in time. ]]
 The lead scientist calls in the Legion of Superheroes for help. Three members arrive: [[Cosmic Boy]], [[Saturn Girl]], and [[Chameleon Boy]]. They learn of Brainiac's escape into the portal and chase after him. The scientist warns them that he can't bring them back, but they don't care.
-After going through the portal, the group ends up on a farm just outside [[Smallville]]. Unfortunately, they run into a farmer that mistakes them for pranksters. They easily chase him off and Saturn Girl erases his memories. They then leave to look for Clark.
+After going through the portal, the group ends up on a farm just outside [[Smallville]]. Unfortunately, they run into a farmer that mistakes them for pranksters. They easily chase him off and Saturn Girl erases his memories, and then leave to look for Clark.
-Clark is at a school dance where he's having a good time until he's confronted by [[Kenny Braverman]]. They have a quick basketball match in which Clark hurls Kenny into a table thereby alarming everyone. Clark tries to explain to [[Lana Lang|Lana]] that he's going through some changes (in reference to his gaining his powers) but she doesn't listen. Angered, Clark starts to head home. However, before he can go far, Brainiac attacks him. The three legion members arrive and rescue him. After a brief battle, Brainiac teleports away.
+Clark is at a school dance where he's having a good time until he's confronted by [[Kenny Braverman]]. They have a quick basketball match in which Clark hurls Kenny into a table thereby alarming everyone. Clark tries to explain to [[Lana Lang|Lana]] that he's going through some changes, in reference to his gaining his powers, but she doesn't listen. Angered, Clark starts to head home. However, before he can go far, Brainiac attacks him. The three legion members arrive and rescue him. After a brief battle, Brainiac teleports away.
+[[File:Brainiac_attacks_Kenny.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Brainiac]] attacks [[Kenny Braverman]] in a diner.]]
 The group hide out in an alley and in an attempt to disguise Clark, Saturn Girl puts a pair of glasses on him. She then reveals that Superman inspired beings from other worlds to work together for the greater good. She continues by telling him about Brainiac's reawakening and his plan. However, Clark runs off after hearing this.
-Clark returns home and finds Lana there waiting for him. Unfortunately, before she can talk some sense into him, Brainiac, (who had learned of Kent's residence through Kenny) arrives with his probes. The family hides in the basement and Clark reveals his power of X-ray vision. He then goes to confront the probes. He easily manages to destroy some of them but Brainiac takes control of a threshing machine and a bulldozer. Fortunately, Clark's invulnerability is great enough to take the power of the machines. He then confronts Brainiac but the Legionnaires step in and take over the fight.
+Clark returns home and finds Lana there waiting for him. Unfortunately, before she can talk some sense into him, Brainiac, who had learned the Kents' residence through Kenny, arrives with his probes. The family hides in the basement and Clark reveals his power of X-ray vision. He then goes to confront the probes. He easily manages to destroy some of them but Brainiac takes control of a threshing machine and a bulldozer. Fortunately, Clark's invulnerability is great enough to take the power of the machines. He then confronts Brainiac but the Legionnaires step in and take over the fight.
+[[File:Kids_say_Goodbye.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The group says goodbye to a young [[Superman|Clark Kent]].]]
 After a brief fight, the Legionaries are defeated and Brainiac captures Clark. However, Saturn Girl telepathically tells Clark how to activate Brainiac's teleportation belt. He activates it and sends Brainiac into the Sun where he is destroyed.
 That morning, the people of Smallville make repairs after "the worst twister to hit town in twenty years". Saturn Girl reveals that she altered their memories so that no one will remember Brainiac's attack. She then removes Clark's memories and the group leaves on Brainiac's hover chair. Lana then finds Clark and he shows her his new pair of glasses.
+{{-}}
+== Continuity ==
+* [[Brainiac]] uses a [[Blasting Space Sled|space sled]] for the third time in the DCAU. The first two times (chronologically) are in "[[Stolen Memories]]" and the {{jl}} episode "[[Twilight]]".
 == Background information ==
@@ Line 34: / Line 40: @@
 * {{stasdvd3}}
 * [[Superman: The Complete Animated Series (DVD)]]
-* [[Superman SuperVillains: Brainiac (DVD)]]
+* [[Superman Super-Villains: Brainiac (DVD)]]
 === Production notes ===
@@ Line 43: / Line 49: @@
 === Production inconsistencies ===
 * Saturn Girl is credited as "Saturn Girl/Irma Ardeen". However, in the DC Comics, her first name is spelled "Imra". This mistake was noted and rectified by [[Paul Dini]] on the episode's {{stasdvd3|audio commentary}}.
-* When Kenny is being hauled down from the coffee bar's sign, the sign on the roof says "COEFES" rather than "COFFEE".
+* When Kenny is thrown from the coffee bar, the "Special" sign reads "ALL YOU CAR EAT" as opposed to "ALL YOU CAN EAT", and later, as he is hauled down from the coffee bar's sign, it reads "COEFES" rather than "COFFEE".
 * As noted in the commentary, Smallville is in a part of Kansas that should not have hills in the background.
@@ Line 52: / Line 58: @@
 * Chameleon Boy's line "Up, up, and away!" is a reference to the old ''Superman'' radio shows in which he would utter that phrase before taking off. The [[Joker]] also cited this line in the {{btas}} episode, "[[Make 'Em Laugh]]" (see [[list of classic Superman tributes]]).
 * [[Kairi Tanaga]] from the {{btas}} episode "[[Day of the Samurai]]" can be seen in the crowd at the party.
-* When Clark surprises Pa Kent, he tells Clark, "You almost gave me a heart attack", a clear reference to the way Pa Kent originally died in the comics.
-* Ma Kent tells Pa that the ''Dukes of Hazzard'' is on; actor John Schneider starred in ''Dukes of Hazzard'' and went on to portray Pa Kent in ''Smallville''.
 * The scene where Clark throws the tractor is, according to the commentary, a reference to the cover of [[w:c:dcdatabase:Action Comics Vol 1 1|''Action Comics'' #1]].
 * When Brainiac says "At last, the son of Jor-El kneels before me", it is a reference to ''[[Wikipedia:Superman II|Superman II]]'' and long time Superman enemy [[Wikipedia:General Zod|General Zod]].
-* Like in the comics [[Cosmic Boy]] and [[Saturn Girl]] were two of the three first Legion members to meet Clark Kent.  However, in the comics, [[Chameleon Boy]] was not the third member, but rather [[Lightning Lad]].
+* As in the comics, [[Cosmic Boy]] and [[Saturn Girl]] were two of the three first Legion members to meet Clark Kent. However, in the comics, [[Chameleon Boy]] was not the third member, but rather [[Lightning Lad]].
 == Cast ==
@@ Line 63: / Line 67: @@
 ! Actor !! Role
 |-
-|[[Jason Marsden]] || Young [[Clark Kent]]
+|[[Jason Marsden]] || Young [[Superman|Clark Kent]]
 |-
-|[[Corey Burton]] || [[Brainiac]]<br />Sherriff ''(uncredited)''
+|[[Corey Burton]] || [[Brainiac]]<br />Sheriff ''(uncredited)''
 |-
 |[[Shelley Fabares]] || [[Martha Kent]]
@@ Line 124: / Line 128: @@
 == See also ==
 * [[List of classic Superman tributes]]
-{{epbrowser
-|series    = stas
-|prevprod  = [[Knight Time]]
-|prevaired = [[Knight Time]]
-|nextprod  = [[Obsession]]
-|nextaired = [[Obsession]]
-}}
 [[Category:A to Z]]
 [[Category:Superman: The Animated Series episodes]]
+[[Category:Episodes directed by Butch Lukic]]
+[[Category:Episodes written by Rich Fogel]]
+[[Category:Episodes written by Stan Berkowitz]]