Hereafter (2)

Episode Summary & Review

Summary

A band of supervillains team up to get revenge on Superman. When they attack Metropolis, Toyman shoots from an experimental weapon towards Batman and an injured Wonder Woman, but Superman sacrifices himself to save them and is seemingly vaporized. The League attempts to cope with the loss of Superman by defending Metropolis in his absence. Eventually Lobo arrives at the Watchtower and nominates himself as Superman’s replacement, but does more harm than good. Superman wakes up 30,000 years in Earth’s future, and is powerless because the sun has turned red. He is aided by Vandal Savage who is the only human left alive as the result of an attempt at world domination staged a few months after Superman’s disappearance.

Our Take

A surprisingly quiet, contemplative hour for a superhero show, and it lands. Superman powerless in a ruined future with a reformed Vandal Savage gives us one of the series’ best odd-couple pairings, while the League’s mourning and Lobo’s chaos back home provide welcome laughs. The emotional beats feel earned rather than manipulative. Worth your time, easily one of season two’s high points.