Consume All Media! Atom Man vs. Superman: "Chapter Eight: Into the Empty Doom!"

Joe Heath is a big fan of comic books and watching things in order. So they made this spreadsheet containing every serial, short, film, television episode, commercial, motion comic, and web series based on a comic book. Now they're watching them all. Previously, Joe watched the seventh chapter of Atom Man vs. Superman. This time, they continue with the eighth chapter.

Atom Man vs. Superman: “Chapter Eight: Into the Empty Doom!” - 17:09 (Available on Amazon)

Superman is brought to the Atom Man who is going to actually send Superman into the Empty Doom this time. The Atom Man asks Superman if he has any last words. He replies "I'll be back." Then vanishes. This serial just got real!

We see that the Empty Doom is basically just a side step away from reality. You can see everything going on, but you're basically intangible. This is clearly illustrated when a ghostly Superman fails to stop a crime.

He can't even grab cars anymore!

The saddest Superman has ever been.

Perry tells Lois that Clark is missing. Lois says maybe he's visiting his parents. I guess Clark never told them that his parents are dead? (Which is clearly established in a casual narration in the first serial.)

Perry wonders if Clark is actually Superman and tells Lois to write a story about it.

Spoilers: Yes.

The ghostly figure of Superman watches this helplessly.

Lois and Jimmy have a discussion about how even if Clark is Superman, they shouldn't air his business in public like that. So Jimmy calls Perry and does a dead-on Clark Kent impression to convince him that he's not Superman. (By dead-on Clark Kent impression, I mean Kirk Alyn clearly recorded those lines.)

Superman pulls a Patrick Swayze and manages to press the keys on Lois's typewriter.

Superman's message is incredibly wordy considering how difficult it is for him to type. Also, wouldn't it be hilarious if Lois was like "His writing style is just like Clark's!"

Superman tells them Clark Kent is also in danger and where the entrance to Atom Man's hideout is.

Lois and Jimmy go to the hideout, knock out the henchman keeping watch, and head inside. They find the Atom Man who offers them a choice. There's two switches on his machine. One will free Superman and one will seal his fate forever.

So Lois flips them both.

Should you watch it, though? This chapter is amazing. Everything just works. The Empty Doom concept is interesting and the cliffhanger is brilliant. Love love love it!

Tune in next time for Atom Man vs. Superman: "Chapter Nine: Superman Crashes Through!" (Available on Amazon.)

A version of this article was previously published on The Dipp.

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