The Demon Reborn

Superman: TAS episode
"The Demon Reborn"
Airdate:	September 18, 1999 (USA)
Production Number:	051
Airdate Order:	52
Animation Services by:	TMS-Kyokuichi Corporation
Written by:	Rich Fogel
Directed by:	Dan Riba

"The Demon Reborn" is the fifty-second episode of Superman: The Animated Series. It depicts the coming of Ra's al Ghul to Metropolis and the last team up of Superman and Batman in this series. Looking to extend his life even further, Ra's Al Ghul steals a Native American Shaman's staff and kidnaps Superman. Now Batman has to save Superman before his Ra's Al Ghul manages to steal all his powers for his own.

Plot

Lois and Clark are waiting at the museum for the opening of a tribal arts exhibit. While they wait a train drives through Metropolis and is soon attacked by a group of people with high tech weapons. Clark runs off to become Superman and attacks the highjackers. The ninja highjackers fight but are ineffective against him. During the fight, however, a staff is discovered and Talia expresses interest. She then blows up a bridge and tells Superman that the breaks are already disabled. Superman has no choice but to try and stop the train. It seems that he'll fail to stop it in time but Batman arrives and switches tracks so that Superman can save the train.

After the train is saved Batman scolds Superman for his recklessness. Superman insists that Batman allows him to help. Together the heroes go to Ra's old hideout and Superman reveals that the staff is said to have healing powers. As he tells Batman this, Batman discovers wheelchair tracks.

Later, Lois is kidnapped and Superman sees her hanging off of a clock tower. However, when Superman catches "Lois" he discovers that she's really Talia in disguise. Talia uses the shaman's staff on Superman and knocks him out. Superman is taken to Ra's who is now extremely decrepit and barely able to speak. Ra's explains that he used Lazarus Pits to keep himself alive but the powers of the pits started waning. Now what he needs is Superman's strength.

Back at Lois' apartment Batman approaches her and asks for information. Lois explains about Talia's attack. Batman finds a piece of cloth on the ground and leaves. He has Alfred check the cloth and discovers it's tainted with jet fuel. Now knowing where to find Ra's men, Batman attacks and interrogates the men to find Ra's location.

Meanwhile, Superman is taken to a lost city that Ra's took over centuries before and made his fortune from. While Superman is dragged towards a machine meant to drain his powers with the staff, he manages to create a distraction and fight off Ra's men. Unfortunately, Talia manages to stop him with the staff. However, it's too late for Ra's who has died.

Deciding not to give up, Talia says to proceed with the process, as there is still a chance. Superman is connected to the machine and the staff drains his powers. Ra's body begins to heal and he revives. Batman arrives on the scene but not before Ra's has managed to take enough of Superman's strength to gain superhuman strength as well. Batman manages to defeat the thugs but Ra's proves to be far too strong for Batman. During the fight, Ra's causes the cave to collapse and the staff is thrown towards Superman. Superman takes the staff and destroys it just as Talia nearly falls off a cliff. Deciding that his daughter is more important than Superman's punishment, Ra's goes after her but both father and daughter fall into the river below.

Superman and Batman manage to get out of the caves but there is no sign of Ra's or Talia. Now that the trouble is over, the two leave each other and go back to their homes.

Background Information

DVD Release

• Superman: The Animated Series, Volume Three (DVD)
• Superman: The Complete Animated Series (DVD)
• Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2DVD, Blu-Ray only)

Production Notes

• The explosion of the bomb that Talia detonates from afar features 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.

Production Inconsistencies

• The distance between the hole in the railroad and the train changes between shots, as does the hole's size.
• When Talia makes her offer to Superman, she pulls the Shaman Staff from under her clothes. However, the staff is too large to be stored in an inside pocket. The angle at which she pulls it out - nearly horizontal - also seems impossible.

Trivia

• Olivia Hussey replaces Helen Slater as the voice of Talia.
• Ra's and Talia Al Ghul's "last" appearances in the DC Animated Universe. Ra's returns in Talia's body in the Batman Beyond episode "Out of the Past" but neither one of them is exactly the same character.
• Last time Superman and Batman team up in this series.

Cast

Actor	Role
Tim Daly	Superman/Clark Kent
Dana Delany	Lois Lane
Townsend Coleman	Thug Leader
Kevin Conroy	Batman/Bruce Wayne
John Rubano	News Anchor
David Warner	Ra's al Ghul
Olivia Hussey	Talia
Michael Horse	Ubu Professor Black Wing (uncredited)
Efrem Zimbalist Jr.	Alfred Pennyworth
Jeff Bennett	Guard

Quotes

Lois: Hard to believe all this commotion over a bunch of beads and blankets. Professor: The heritage of my people is hardly that trivial, Ms. Lane. Lois: Professor Black Wing! I didn't realize you w...I—I mean I was just joking of course. It's such a wonderful thing, this whole thing; it's (laughs nervously) so wonderful, really. Have you met Clark Kent?

Lois: Someone attacked me. A woman. Dressed in black. Batman: Talia! Lois: Talia? On a first name basis are we?

Ra's: Ah! The power! I've never felt anything like it!

Superman: I'm guessing you and that woman Talia had some history. Batman: Pretty much in line with all my other relationships.

Template:Epbrowser