Superman on Television

Adventures of Superman: Episode Reviews

Season 6 - Episode 4: "The Mysterious Cube"

Original Broadcast Date: February 24, 1958

Writers: Robert Leslie Bellem and Whitney Ellsworth

Director: George Blair

Guest Cast:
Bruce Wendell as Paul Barton
Keith Richards as Steve Barton
Ben Welden as Jody Malone
Everett Glass as Professor Lucerne
Joel Riordan as the Acetylene Torch Operator
John Ayres as the Navy Admiral

"The Mysterious Cube"

From espionage to murder, Paul Barton is wanted for various crimes throughout the country. Seven years ago, he disappeared. His brother Steve can declare him legally dead at noon tomorrow. This will prevent the police from arresting him for the deeds in which he is charged. It is believed that Barton has been hiding out in a cube made of an unusual metal created by a scientist who has passed away. Nothing, even an acetylene torch, has been able to cut through it. Metropolis Police Inspector Bill Henderson is running out of ideas on how to discover if Paul is within the structure. The only thing that has not been tried yet is Superman. The Man of Steel may soon face the ultimate test of his tremendous powers by the Barton brothers and their henchman Jody Malone should he choose to aid the authorities in this strange case.

Paul Barton has really been inside the mysterious cube for seven years with an adequate supply of food tablets, vitamins, water and air. Steve can communicate with him via a stethophone that works similarly to a doctor's stethoscope. Sound can be transmitted back and forth with it. However, only a special acid, when placed on the walls, can aid Paul to exit from the metal sanctuary. Even Superman's powers have difficulty with it. His eyes can neither see through nor burn the material. Plus, his powerful fists cannot smash it. In addition to that, Steve has admitted to Superman that his brother is in the cube. For now, the Last Son of Krypton is unable to get to Paul Barton to bring him to justice, but he has no intention of giving up until the criminal is in prison. However, Steve Barton has come up with a plan that can stop Superman's relentless pursuit of Paul. It's one that may put some of our hero's friends in grave danger.

Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen have been captured by Steve Barton. He has them bound and gagged inside the gang's hideout near his brother's cube. Should Superman do something Steve doesn't like, a pellet will be dropped into a vat of acid. A string outside the house will do this when it's pulled. When the projectile enters the lethal liquid, a poisonous gas will fill the room, killing Lois and Jimmy. It looks like Steve Barton has an insurance policy that will prevent Superman from taking Paul to prison.

Unaware of Lois and Jimmy's predicament, Superman has gone to Professor Lucerne for help. As many of you recall, Lucerne aided the Man of Tomorrow during his adventure in South America. The scientist guesses that if Superman could spread out his molecules, he could pass through Barton's cube like water does through certain objects. The caped hero tests Lucerne's theory with the laboratory's walls. The experiment is a success. However, Superman phased through concrete. Paul Barton's structure is made of an unknown metal. There is a chance Superman could be trapped inside its barriers with no method of escaping. If this happens, there may be no hope of rescuing Lois and Jimmy or making the Bartons pay for their numerous crimes.

Superman has successfully used his new ability to pass through the walls of Paul Barton's cube. Unfortunately, as he is halfway to his goal of capturing the criminal, he overhears Steve tell of the peril to Jimmy and Lois. The Man of Steel returns to Steve and Jody. They warn him to never come back. Superman seems weakened by the ordeal and flies away. Is there any way for our hero to save his friends and take Paul Barton to jail before noon tomorrow?

Steve Barton says he will free Lois once his brother is out of the cube at noon. The clock inside the structure runs on naval observatory time by radio from Arlington, Virginia. This gives Superman an idea. The Metropolis Marvel may seem defeated, but the Barton brothers and Jody Malone may find the shoe on the other foot when this adventure is over.

The President of the United States and a naval admiral have approved Superman's plan. Meanwhile, it's 11:35. Paul is pouring the special acid on the cube's inner wall. Steve has ordered Jody to drop the poison pellet into the vat with Lois and Jimmy when Paul exits. The clock has just struck 12:05. Paul Barton is free as a bird. Jody drops the venomous projectile. However, there is nobody in the house. In the meantime, Inspector Henderson has arrived to arrest Paul. The criminal believes that police can do nothing until he learns the truth. Superman had Arlington speed up its time signals. Since yesterday, Paul's clock gained a fraction of a second every minute. When he left the cube, it was actually five minutes before noon. Superman had also rescued Lois and Jimmy over an hour ago while Henderson's men have arrested Steve Barton on his way to the courthouse. Paul and Jody will join him in prison thanks to the powerful brain of Superman.

Having doubted Superman and his new ability, Lois and Jimmy witness him phase through the cube wall firsthand. After he comes out of the structure, they return to the Daily Planet in hopes of scooping Clark Kent on the Barton story. Unfortunately, Lois and Jimmy are too late. Clark has already written the article. He phoned it in through Inspector Henderson, and an extra was on the streets at the very moment Paul Barton was arrested. Lois wants to know if Superman told Clark everything.

"Now Miss Lane, you know very well a good reporter never reveals his sources," Clark says to her.

Rating - 4 (out of 5): Look for Bruce Wendell in various parts in such shows as Science Fiction Theatre, Rawhide and Sea Hunt.

Keith Richards was Wayne Monroe in 1947's Queen of the Amazons.

Ben Welden will be back in "The Gentle Monster".

Everett Glass played Doctor Ed Pursey and Timmek respectively in the 1956 cult classics Invasion of the Body Snatchers and World Without End.

Joel Riordan portrayed Joel Weintraub in the 1982 horror film Boardinghouse.

John Ayres was Congressman Walker in 1952's Something for the Birds.

After Paul Barton is told by Inspector Henderson that he came out too soon, actor Bruce Wendell says, "That's impossible. My clock couldn't be running that slow." He is correct because it was fast. His dialog was an error that was left in the script.

Superman's phasing through walls is a first for the Man of Steel. However, Dean Cain would do something similar by moving so fast he vibrated his molecules through a force field in Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman for season three's "Don't Tug on Superman's Cape".

In all honesty, "The Mysterious Cube" does merit a five. However, there are some plot holes that need to be discussed. We'll get to them shortly. Don't worry. Aside from those things, this episode is as enjoyable as the one reviewed last week. I hope this season does continue to be as good as it has been so far.

Okay, I can buy that the mysterious cube has baffled police since Paul Barton disappeared seven years ago. That's all well and good, but one thing is just too hard for me to swallow. Why on earth did Superman wait so long to do anything about it? One has to consider that said cube would probably stick out like a sore thumb. Inspector Henderson tries everything on its walls, but Superman takes no action until the good inspector is convinced by the Daily Planet staff to get him involved. That's just too difficult for me to believe as one would think that Superman would take action right away.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's discuss the next problem I have with "The Mysterious Cube". In addition to Superman not doing anything about the cube for seven years, he does not explore all of his options before asking Professor Lucerne for assistance. I have no qualms with him going to Lucerne. In fact, I like the character. (More on him later). Superman just should have tried to lift the structure or dig underground until he got to the floor. Sure, he did that in "Divide and Conquer," and perhaps this is why it wasn't done in "Cube". Still, Superman should have attempted other things before talking to Professor Lucerne.

In spite of the missing plot points involving Superman, I did like how it feels like the Barton gang has him up against the wall until it is revealed that the Man of Steel outsmarted them in the end. This provides a wonderful twist in the episode. This is just one of the many things that make "The Mysterious Cube" an extremely fantastic episode.

The Barton brothers really give Inspector Henderson and Superman a run for their money. This makes them more interesting and entertaining villains like much of what we've seen in the previous episodes this year. I see a positive trend in bad guys and writing in season six so far. Let's hope it continues until the end of the show's run.

As I said before, I like the Professor Lucerne character. He seems like a predecessor to Emil Hamilton. I wish more episodes had been done with him. Plus, it would have been nice to get some background information on his friendship with Superman. For example, how did they meet? That sadly will be an unanswered question for fans for generations, but at least we have these stories with Professor Lucerne to watch and enjoy.

"The Mysterious Cube" gives us yet another new power for Superman. Purists will probably hate that, but I found that it worked well into the story. Plus, it gave Si Simonson and company a chance to stretch their special effects legs. As a result of this, the episode feels like some of the best Silver Age comics featuring the Man of Steel, thus providing the audience with the fun atmosphere that had been missing from The Adventures of Superman for quite some time.

Do you want a fun, entertaining thirty minutes featuring Superman, a good story, great acting, tremendous special effects and villains that challenge the hero? If your answer is yes, than you will love "The Mysterious Cube". Like the previous episodes in season six, it has what much of the color episodes have been lacking - the quality entertainment that make The Adventures of Superman television series so magical and beloved by all its fans. Watch this one whenever you get the chance.

Back to the main TELEVISION page.