The Batman/Superman Story Pt. 2

**"The Batman/Superman Story Pt. 2"** is the second part of the two-part first episode of the fifth season of *The Batman*. It is also the fifty-fourth episode overall.

## Synopsis

Batman and Robin must battle Superman, who is now under the mind control of Lex Luthor, as the villain plans to launch a wave of Lex Corps' robots and take over all of the world's armies.

## Plot

The Batman and Robin try to find the missing Superman and go to Lex Luthor’s empty office. Batman finds a vial and they take it back to the Batcave where he figures out that it contains traces of Poison Ivy’s mind-control spores, mixed with Kryptonite. They go to Luthor’s weapons lab and while Robin stands guard, Batman breaks in and finds newly-manufactured battle-robots. He also finds Poison Ivy sealed in a glass cell. Clayface, still working for Luthor, attacks but Batman uses a flash-dehydrant to dehydrate him into dust.

Luthor enters the lab… with Superman wearing a rebreather unit that pumps the Kryptonite plant spores into his lungs. Luthor boasts that he is working for humanity, building an army of robots so that Earth will never be vulnerable to alien invaders again. His battle robots not only are designed to fight, but can transmit an override signal to take over all military hardware. Luthor plans to bring together all the armies of the world under his command.

Batman is unimpressed and destroys the rebreather with Batarangs. He then slips away as Luthor sends Superman after him, cornering him on the roof. Batman uses a piece of Kryptonite against Superman to get free and Robin rescues him as they fall out of the sky. A couple of boys come to Superman’s aid and inadvertently get the Kryptonite away form him.

Batman and Robin return to the tech lab where Batman explains to Robin that he gave Superman a fake piece of Kryptonite and kept the real stuff. Superman bursts in, having used his x-ray vision to find them, and Batman tries to hold him off with the big chunk of Kryptonite. Superman uses his super-breath to knock it away while Batman gets into the Batbot. He tells Robin to slow down Superman while he flies away to formulate a plan.

Superman follows after him and Robin tries to run interference. A newscopter broadcasts the fight over the news and Luthor watches, satisfied that Superman will win while distracting the world. The mind-controlled Superman catches Batman outside a plant and rips away his armor, but Robin hits him with rockets and Batman slips into the chemical plant. As Superman moves in on him for the kill, Batman opens a tank releasing gas into the room. Superman hesitates then recovers from the spores: the gas is the basic ingredient in plant-killer. Superman reluctantly admits there may be something to teamwork.

The three heroes go to LexCorp as Luthor launches his battle robots. Superman flies after them while Batman and Robin go after the control panel. Robin destroys the control panel but Mercy holds them off while Luthor descends through a hatch in the floor.

While Superman takes down the robots, the Dynamic Duo beat Mercy but Luthor emerges from the basement in a giant battle robot. Batman hits it with an electrical disruptor-Batarang and Superman disposes of it in the air.

Later, Batman is aboard the orbital Justice League base when Superman arrives and thanks Batman for his help. Batman tries to turn over the Kryptonite but Superman insists he keep it in case someone controls him again. Superman is interested in the Justice League,and asks Batman on an overview of how it is like,now willing to join the League.

## Cast/Characters

* Rino Romano as Bruce Wayne/The Batman
* Evan Sabara as Dick Grayson/Robin
* George Newbern as Clark Kent/Superman
* Clancy Brown as Lex Luthor
* Lex Lang as Clayface
* Gwendoline Yeo as Mercy Graves
* Piera Coppola as Poison Ivy
* Alfred Pennyworth (mentioned)
* Lucius Fox (mentioned)
* Martian Manhunter (mentioned)
* Justice League (mentioned)

## Events

- Superman is freed from Lex's control.

- Superman joins the Justice League.

- The Batbot 2.0 is destroyed.

## Trivia

* The Batman vs. Superman battle was clearly a homage to the *Batman: Hush* story arc issue - *Batman* #612.
* Superman entrusting the Kryptonite into the care of Batman at the end of this episode is a reenactment to comic version of this scene found in *Action Comics* #654.
* A few notes of John Williams' iconic Superman theme could be heard during certain points of the final fight.
* Much like *The Joining, Part 2*, the opening sequence plays right as the episode starts.
* Luthor mentions an alien invasion,which happened in *The Joining, Part 2*.
* This is one of the few times in the series where guns are fired.
* Ivy is not credited.Action Comics #654.

## Errors

* Batman takes off his cape easily even though it is connected to the cowl; there are no scratch marks so he did not cut it. In addition, the cape on the robot has the cowl for some reason.
* When Robin throws Batarangs at Lex, they do not make the whirring sound. The same happens when Batman throws a Batarang at Lex's giant robot.
* Lois and Metallo are in the credits despite not appearing.Credits error.