Superman (1941 Cartoons) Episode: The Arctic Giant




 * "You'd probably faint if you saw the monster. You scare so easily."
 * --Lois Lane

Episode: The Arctic Giant Airdate: February 26th, 1942 Production Studio: Fleischer Studios Animation: Willard Bowsky and Reuben Grossman Writer: Bill Turner and Ted Pierce Musical Arrangement: Sammy Timberg Director: Dave Fleischer

Synopsis
Principal Characters:
 * Superman
 * Lois Lane

Main villain(s):
 * A Tyrannosaurus Rex

Other Characters:
 * Perry White

Locations:
 * Metropolis
 * Daily Planet
 * Museum of Natural History


 * Russia
 * Siberia

Items:
 * None

Summary: An archaeological expedition travels to Siberia where they discover a Tyrannosaurus Rex frozen in the ice in a state of perfect preservation. A team of workers moves the mammoth creature onto a boat equipped with a specially designed refrigeration system. They bring the specimen back to Metropolis, where it is stored inside of the Museum of Natural History. One of the museum professors telephones Perry White at the Daily Planet and tells them of their find. Perry gives Lois the assignment and asks her to cover a new angle on this “frozen monster” story. Clark asks her if she needs any assistance, but she thinks that the sight of the creature would cause him to faint.

Lois arrives at the museum and an engineer gives her a tour of the facility. He shows her a massive power generator that keeps the room temperature at an absolute minimum, but neglects to keep an eye on an oilcan which slips into the turbines. The machine malfunctions and the ice melts around the ancient dinosaur.

The animal comes to life and begins wreaking havoc inside the museum. Lois is trapped beneath a pile of rubble left behind in the creature’s wake. As the dinosaur begins to terrorize the streets of Metropolis, police officers arrive and open fire on it. Their bullets have little effect however and the creature continues to rampage through the city destroying cars, buildings and bridges.

Meanwhile, Clark Kent learns of the dinosaur’s rampage and quickly changes into Superman. In a series of giant leaps, he races to the museum and pulls Lois out from beneath the rubble. He deposits her on an upper balcony of the Daily Planet building and zooms off to fight the creature.

The Arctic giant meanwhile is busy tearing his claws through a dam. Superman quickly repairs all of the damage and then follows the monster as it lumbers towards a sports stadium. While Superman attempts to ensnare the creature in an electric line, Lois arrives and snaps a picture of the monster’s face. The dinosaur scoops Lois up into his mouth, but Superman leaps to her rescue once again. He manages to pin the animal down to the ground and proceeds to turn an iron street lamp into a makeshift restraining collar. He wraps the lamp about the animal’s neck, preventing it from moving any further.

Trivia

 * The dinosaur shown in this episode is reminiscent of the famous Toho Productions movie monster, Godzilla. However, Toho will not establish the Godzilla concept until 1954 – seven years after the release of this episode.

Related Episodes

 * Superman (The Mad Scientist)