User Reviews

Jimmy Olsen seems to have the mentality of a six year old. He is always amazed by things and tries them. Since he seems to survive (usually with the help of Superman) he continues to bumble into scrapes, often taking Lois with him. Here he has been to a variety show where he has seen a magician levitating someone. When Perry White, once an amateur magician himself, does the same to Lois, he is hooked. He has to know how to do this. The other plot going on is a man named Griswald who is the head of a bunch of jewel thieves who have been thwarted time after time by Superman. The hook up with a scientist who has found a way to pull Kryptonite from space and produce a rain-like set of rays. The idea is to attack Superman with these rays and kill him. Hmmm...I wonder what would draw Superman to a place where this can happen. Of course, Lois and Jimmy answer an ad that says magic can be taught for five bucks. They are kidnapped and put in a big concrete pit where Supreman eventually will go and be attacked by the scientist's invention. The conclusion is fun but absolutely ludicrous, even in Superman terms.

There are a lot of little stories in this episode but the most shocking wasn't anything to do with crime or Superman trying to be destroyed. The most memorable scene was Perry White levitating Lois Lane in the office!! Jimmy was recounting being amazed at a magician doing that at a recent show when Clark mentions Perry used to be somewhat of a magician. The boss then does his thing: in seconds he has Lois stiff as a board and floating. It is so outrageous I had to laugh out loud.

Anyway, in the main story, two jewelry store bandits are driving in the country back to their destination after the successful robbery when Superman stops them. He had been following them. The thieves, talking on the bulky cell phone-type apparatus, (yes, they had portable "phones" even back then. They looked like walkie-talkies.) Anyway, the boss at the end other end of the line, "Mr. Griswald" (Freeman Lusk) is not happy. That's the fourth straight time Superman has foiled his operation. He tells Superman on the phone that "I'll get you."

Later, a "Professor Von Bruner" comes to Mr. Griswald and offers his services as a guy who can kill Superman. He then shows him a 60-foot concrete hole in the dirty out in the country and relates his plan is to get Jimmy and Lois trapped down there. Then he advises to call Clark Kent, knowing he will call Superman, and then lure Superman down there. Then, he will zap him with his newly-invented machine that transfers Kryptonite particles on Superman. Voila - the end of Superman.

The plan works to perfection, so how did Superman survive this? A hint: levitation.