Keeping up with the Kryptonians

"**Keeping up with the Kryptonians**" is the fiftieth episode of Justice League Action.

## Summary

When Superman tells Supergirl that nature wins over nurture, Mr. Mxyzptlk decides to test it by giving them different places of origin, and with the the Justice League also erased from history there does not appear to be anyone left who can oppose the imp.

## Story

A televised news program presents an unfamiliar view of the world. In it, we are told that the West has been invaded by the forces of a militaristic, Soviet-style state called Kasnia and are spear-headed by a super-powered character called "The Superman." Then, moving on to entertainment, we are told about Kara Zor-El, the star of a popular reality TV show who is from Krypton, has super-powers and wears a Supergirl outfit but otherwise only seems interested in her business ventures and her appearance. The news presenter just laughs when he speculates that these two super characters could unite in the cause of justice.

At a promotional event, Kara steps out of a limousine onto the red carpet and basks in the attention of fans, reporters and photographers. In the crowd, a young woman addresses her as Supergirl and asks for help, yet Kara only dimly recognises the name and yet feels she ought to respond. Then out of the crowd steps her diminutive and garrulous agent Morty - who is a lightly disguised Mr. Mxyzptlk - and he tells her to forget about helping people and focus on her adoring public. Kara agrees, but then the Kasnian Superman descends suddenly and smashes her limousine, plants the enemy flag and flies off. A livid Kara decides to go and deal with him, while the duplicitous Morty now eggs her on as she flies off.

In front of the Daily Planet building, Kara confronts the Kasnian and there follows a back-and-forth fight between them. In the middle of this, a time portal opens and an unaffected Booster Gold steps out who quietly watches the fight continue. He notices Morty standing nearby and tells him that he has been away in his retreat beyond space-time (probably Vanishing Point) but on returning finds that Superman and Supergirl are dressed differently and are fighting one another and that the Justice League does not exist. He gets between the antagonists to stop the fight and speaking to the Kasnian Superman tells him that his opponent is his cousin and they are both from Krypton and Kansas. The last name jogs the Superman's memory as he remembers being with Supergirl on the Kent Farm in Kansas on a recent occasion where they wondered if their lives would have been different if they had not come from Smallville. But Mr. Mxyzptlk overheard and spoke to them from a television showing a phoney program called "The Mxy Zone". He told them he would test their belief that their place of origin makes little difference by sending one of them to wartorn Kasnia and the other to shallow Hollywood.

The Kasnian Superman realises that Mxyzptlk has tricked them but still has to convince Kara. When Booster reveals that Morty is the imp by asking for a spot on The Mxy Zone, Mxyzptlk changes to his normal appearance and drops the Daily Planet's globe onto Booster's head in revenge. Kara is now also convinced, and the Kasnian will no longer allow Mxyzptlk's mischief to continue, giving a saying in his own language as his reason. Mr. Mxyzptlk can understand it except for the last word which he repeats back, and it is inevitably his name backwards which causes him to vanish and the world to return to normal.

Restored to the Kent Farm, Superman and Supergirl can remember everything that happened and Superman tries to reassure that he would never do those things to her in normal life. Supergirl accepts this and hugs him in familial love. Then Booster shows that he has survived by appearing from inside the house but disappears again to avoid having to explain where the blueberry pie has gone.

## Notes

* The episode's title is a reference to the reality show *Keeping Up with the Kardashians*.
* The opening news report is in the style of old cinema 'newsreels' like *The March of Time*.
* 'The Mxy Zone' TV program imitates the old *The Twilight Zone* show of the early 1960s.

## Gallery

Kasnian Superman and reality TV Supergirl.