Superman on Television

Adventures of Superman: Episode Reviews

Season 2 - Episode 12: "Panic in the Sky"

Original Broadcast Date: November 30, 1953

Writer: Jackson Gillis

Director: Thomas Carr

Guest Cast:
Jonathan Hale as Professor Roberts
Jane Frazee as the Lady Farmer
Clark Howat as Professor Roberts' Assistant
Thomas Moore as the Shop Owner

"Panic in the Sky"

An asteroid that is five and a quarter miles in diameter is on a collision course with Earth, and only Superman can stop it. Professor Roberts of the Metropolis Observatory is worried for his safety. However, the Man of Steel is more concerned with the lives of those living on his adopted home planet. Should Superman fail in stopping the space rock, the entire world is doomed to certain death.

Superman's impact with the asteroid has prevented the death of millions of people, but the chunk of rock is still orbiting Earth. Both Clark Kent and Superman are missing. Even Daily Planet editor Perry White and reporters Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen are looking for them. Worse yet, Professor Roberts believes the danger has not completely passed. With the Metropolis Marvel nowhere to be found, how can Earth be saved from imminent destruction?

Superman has landed on Earth. However, his actions show us a man who is confused and unaware of who he is. He mainly relies on instinct, first to put on the civilian clothes of Clark Kent before a lady farmer drives him to Metropolis, and then to go to Kent's apartment, where cub reporter Jimmy Olsen is waiting for him. He sees that Clark is acting strangely. His mind in a fog, Kent begins to unbutton his shirt as his back is turned to Jimmy. The blue tunic with the red S is gradually becoming visible. Clark may unwittingly reveal his secret identity to Jimmy Olsen.

Superman's double life is safe for now. Jimmy has gone for some coffee and sandwiches while Clark is showering. Jimmy returns and suddenly hears the sound of glass breaking in the bathroom. A dazed Clark has fallen in the shower. Now, Lois Lane and Perry White are with Jimmy making sure Clark is okay. Unfortunately, Clark cannot seem to remember them, himself or even Superman. Metropolis and the entire planet may be safe, but the price could very well be the loss of the world's greatest hero's memory.

As Lois, Jimmy and Perry try to help Clark get his memory back so he can contact Superman, Professor Roberts is becoming more worried. Superman had only sidetracked the asteroid, and it is currently disturbing Earth's rotation. Quakes, tidal waves and intense storms are just a few of the things caused by the large rock. Professor Roberts has warned Perry and Lois that more disasters are on the way. Superman must be found at all costs, otherwise every living thing on Earth will be doomed. Everything depends on Clark realizing that he is Earth's only hope for survival.

As Clark struggles to understand why Superman's costumes are in a secret compartment in his apartment, Jimmy has come to see how the mild mannered reporter is doing. With one outfit hidden under his chair's cushion, Clark asks him about Superman's powers and uniform. Jimmy tells him that the suit is not the source of the Man of Steel's unique abilities. Jimmy says to Clark that only Superman can do super things. At this point, Clark reassures Jimmy that he is okay. He behaves like he wants Jimmy to leave in a hurry. This makes young Mister Olsen a little suspicious at first, but he then thinks nothing of it. Now, Clark is wearing the clothes of Superman. Can he recall how to be the Last Son of Krypton before it's too late for his adopted home planet?

Clark Kent is frustrated, and he slams his fist into a table. Smashing it to pieces has helped him remember. He is Superman. He rushes to the observatory, where Professor Roberts has given him an explosive device to place on the asteroid. After the Man of Tomorrow flips two switches, the dangerous rock should be destroyed. The caped hero places the bomb on the space menace and does as instructed. The deadly chunk of matter has been reduced to dust after an atomic chain reaction begins. The planet Earth is once again safe from harm thanks to Superman.

Clark Kent is back and has written the story of Superman's return for the Daily Planet. Lois wants to know how he got the story. He tells her that he remembers everything, even who Superman really is. Lois is very curious about this particular bit of information.

"Oh, just knock me on the head sometime. You'll find out," Clark says.

"Mister Kent," Lois replies, "I'm really very glad you're well again, but I'm not so sure it's much of an improvement."

Rating - 5 (out of 5): You'll most likely recall Jonathan Hale from "The Evil Three". He was the insane Colonel Brand. Hale is no stranger to comic strip characters as he played Dagwood's boss J.C. Dithers in the Blondie movies from 1938 until 1946.

Jane Frazee is one of three actresses to play Alice McDoakes in the sixty-three Joe McDoakes short films. Another leading lady who portrayed the character was Phyllis Coates, who was Lois Lane in season one. "Panic in the Sky" was Ms. Frazee's only episode of The Adventures of Superman.

Like Jane Frazee, Clark Howat's only Superman credit is "Panic in the Sky". Howat is, perhaps, best known for the role of Doctor John Petrie in The Adventures of Doctor Fu Manchu.

Thomas Moore's filmography is relatively small with only three roles to his credit. Check him out as the judge in the Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder comedy Stir Crazy.

There are two noticeable bloopers in "Panic in the Sky". The first occurs in Clark Kent's apartment. As he unbuttons his shirt to reveal the Superman costume, it is clear that Reeves' shirt is sleeveless. The second mistake is on the asteroid. As Superman is placing the bomb on it, birds can be heard singing.

This episode adapts the World's Finest Comics #68 story "The Menace from the Stars", cover dated January 1954.

In addition to being a fan favorite, "Panic in the Sky" has greatly influenced Superman lore over the years. "All Shook Up" from Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman was a remake of "Panic". Plus, a comic book story arc from 1992 and an episode of the Justice League animated series are both titled "Panic in the Sky" as an homage to this episode.

Okay, let's discuss something that has been on the minds of the fans that have seen "Panic in the Sky". How can Perry, Lois and Jimmy not notice that Clark looks like Superman without his glasses in the scene when they are at Clark's bedside? Noel Neill and Jack Larson humorously say in their "Panic in the Sky" DVD commentary that they didn't want to lose their paychecks. That's all well and good, but my point of view could make sense to the story. The world was in the middle of a crisis, and they had other things on their minds besides Superman's true identity for the moment. Plus, they probably didn't want to believe that the Man of Steel was right under their noses, at least on a subconscious level. Perhaps, Lois, Perry and Jimmy had their suspicions and merely wanted to wait until Clark was back to his old self to investigate them. These are only theories, but I think they are sound ones.

I mentioned before that this is a fan favorite. In fact it's among the top episodes at TV.com, and I can see why. The acting, script, directing and special effects are really fantastic. Every second of this half hour left me utterly impressed. George Reeves does superbly as a Man of Steel with amnesia, and the rest of the cast also handles their parts well. This, in addition to some great flying sequences, make "Panic in the Sky" spectacular.

The villain in this episode technically is not an evildoer. The asteroid is merely going through space, and Earth happens to have the misfortune of being in its path. This really gave Thol "Si" Simonson a chance to really stretch his legs as a special effects artist for the series. The ending results show up well and give the viewer some stunning visuals that accompany this fantastic episode marvelously.

This is a show where the plot summary really does not do it justice. I cannot stress enough how incredible "Panic in the Sky" really is. The entire thirty minutes will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. It's not only the best episode of season two, it's among the best of the entire series. Watch it right now if you haven't already.

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