SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 11 Min.
Directed by Jake Castorena, this episode first aired in the U.S. on September 9, 2017. Due to mistaken identity, Clark Kent’s snide Daily Planet rival, Sid Sharp, is abducted by Darkseid’s bumbling forces. Inevitably, it’s up to the Man of Steel to single-handedly invade Apokolips to rescue Sid.
Sid Sharp: Jon Lovitz
Superman / Clark Kent / DeSaad: Jason J. Lewis
Darkseid: Jonathan Adams
Kalibak / Perry White: Piotr Michael
Jimmy Olsen: Max Mittleman
Granny Goodness: Cloris Leachman
Kalibak / Perry White: Piotr Michael
Kanto: Troy Baker
Batman: Kevin Conroy
Metropolis Cabbie: Uncredited
Metropolis Uniformed Cop: Uncredited
Darkseid’s Parademon: Uncredited
Notes: Lois Lane makes a brief, non-speaking cameo. Also, for whatever reason, data re: official episode numbers and original air dates for this series vary depending upon its source, so such info should really be taken as a best guess.
REVIEW:
Close in spirit to Superman: The Animated Series, this middling sitcom doesn’t really involve the League, notwithstanding Batman’s cameo. Jason J. Lewis does excellent work conveying Superman/Clark Kent, as does Jonathan Adams’ Darkseid – Adams recaptures the same ominous aura as Frank Welker’s rendition from The Super-Friends‘ last two seasons.
The problem lies more with Lovitz’s snarky Sid Sharp — even a little goes a long way, much like Gilbert Gottfried’s nasal-powered vocals as Mxyzptlk in this same series. With Sharp even drawn to resemble Lovitz, it’s easy to visualize Lovitz pitching his character’s droll putdowns. Hence, the contrived plot necessitates Darkseid’s top henchmen being played as incompetent and slow-witted boobs. Depicting Superman capable of easily retrieving Sid from Apokolips doesn’t bolster Darkseid and Co.’s credibility as major baddies for this series, either.
Worst of all, the ultra-predictable (and unimaginative) plot twists make this episode the worst installment of Justice League Action. One can sense where this episode is going the entire time. Yet, if one is hoping for a celebratory Daily Planet staff reaction shot that the obnoxious Sid might forever be gone, the script doesn’t even offer that can’t-miss gag.
Another avenue it doesn’t explore is O. Henry’s patented “Ransom of Red Chief” formula where exasperated kidnapper, Darkseid, should gladly punt Sid back to Earth. Instead, an over-reliance on Lovitz’s unfunny jibes concedes that the series’ underwhelming animation is actually a better asset than the mediocre script. For whatever reason, “Superman’s Pal, Sid Sharp,” is a dubious homage to Superman’s gimmicky, best-forgotten Silver Age adventures.
BRIAN’S 10-STAR RATING: 3 Stars
Note: This episode is on the Justice League Action: Battles from Beyond! 2-disc DVD set (which collects the series’ second half).
