User Reviews

Very good episode dealing with human determination in the face of overwhelming threat of permanent enslavement. Shows the raw power of the human spirit against evil. The tribute to Jack Kirby at the end was a nice tear-jerking moment.

Aired on the WB's Saturday morning lineup, "The Animated Adventures of Superman," like its predecessor, "Batman-the Animated Series", sometimes took a much darker tone than the usual "kiddie fare". Parts one and two of "Apokolips" featured the malevolent "Darkseid" (expertly voiced by veteran "villain" Michael Ironside), a creature bent of universal domination. Darkseid is intent on destroying Apokolips' sister world, New Genesis, and then go on to conquer Earth and the rest of the universe.

In this, the second half, Darkeid and his minions, including son Kalibak (performed by Michael Dorn from "Star Trek: The Next Generation"), make a frontal assault on Earth. Superman (Tim Daly, doing his heroic best), along with the Earth's defenses, do their best to thwart the attack but succumb to the evil lord's all-encompassing power.

However, warriors from New Genesis arrive just in time to add their support to Superman, yielding defeat to Darkseid.

As he prepares to leave, Darkseid leaves, but not before murdering Dan Turpin (Joe Bologna), security chief and ally of Superman.

It is this unexpected occurrence that makes this 'toon much more intense than others of the genre. It is, definitely, a show that is a bit too adult for children to view alone and without discussion.