Adult Swim’s My Adventures With Superman continues with its second offering of the season, Mobile Suit Toyman, written by Angela Entzminger. Although Toyman does not spring into villainous action until the end of the episode, this installment highlights the show’s wise inclusion of episodes that prioritize character over plot. This one is about Jimmy and Kara.

Superman’s Pal, Supergirl’s TBD

Mobile Suit Toyman takes place at Superfest, a convention dedicated to Metropolis’ superheroes. Clark Kent (Jack Quaid) intends to enjoy the event as a civilian, only donning his cape to briefly introduce Kara Zor-El (Kiana Madeira), Superfest’s guest of honor.

Despite her desire to be called Power Woman – a fun reference to Power Girl, Kara Zor-L of another dimension – the public has dubbed her Supergirl. Despite the accolades, Kara has another thing on her mind: Jimmy Olsen (Ishmel Sahid), whose gift of Flamebird-branded signal watches – another fun reference – is received as a token of his affection. But Jimmy reiterates to Lois Lane (Alice Lee) the same concern he voiced in the previous episode: that Kara only likes him because she has no other frame of reference, and that it is better to avoid a relationship entirely than to disappoint her.

There is nothing like poor timing to incite good drama, so naturally Kara picks this moment to declare her feelings to Jimmy. He doesn’t reject her outright, but he insists that she hasn’t experience enough to know who or what would make her happiest. It’s nice that he’s trying to be considerate, but his insecurity is going to make them both miserable.

Lois Lane, the Villain

Lois has her own frustrations. Not only does Jimmy’s new comic book Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen (we’re full of references today) paint her as some sort of villain, but she does not even want to be at this convention. She is a reporter, not an influencer. She should be chasing stories, not writing puff pieces like Daily Planet colleague Cat Grant (Melanie Minichino), who will be interviewing Supergirl in front of a live audience.

Seeking an outlet, Lois discovers that Winslow Schott, a.k.a. Toyman (Michael Yurchak), has opened a toy booth at the convention. Fans will remember Toyman from the season 2 episode Two Lanes Diverged. Lois remembers him too, and not at all fondly. After all, he betrayed Sam Lane on Amanda Waller’s behalf. He tried to kill Lois with an explosive teddy bear. If there’s a story to be found, it’s here. She tries to goad Toyman into a fight, and though he professes his innocence, she doesn’t buy it.

C Plot Superman

Moments after Superman introduces Supergirl to the crowd, duty calls him away, for the Kryptonite-wielding Whip (also Melanie Minichino) has attacked a bank to bait Superman. They fight for the duration of the episode. But this is not a critique. In fact, it speaks to Clark’s ability to stabilize his group of friends, because in his absence, their unchecked drama drives the story.

My Interview With Supergirl

After a pair of more superficial, personality questions, Cat Grant sets up the next beat in Supergirl’s narrative by suggesting that Metropolis doesn’t need a second superhero. Supergirl panics. After all, Brainiac doubted her nature, and Jimmy doubts her experience. Who is she if not Brainiac’s daughter, Jimmy’s paramour, or Superman’s cousin? “What exactly,” Cat asks her, “do you bring to the table?”

Fortunately, a member of the audience has an answer for her. A young girl offers her opinion that if Superman is a defender, Supergirl is a warrior. While Superman protects innocents from harm, Supergirl fights evildoers on their behalf. The notion makes Supergirl smile, and when asked, the girl gives her name: Jessica Cruz.

The same Jessica Cruz who will one day become a superhero herself among the Green Lantern Corps. Talk about a glowing review.

Misunderstanding: Good for Comedy, Good for Drama

Emboldened by Jessica’s praise and considering Jimmy’s concerns, Supergirl decides to gain more experience and insight by inviting all eligible suitors to meet her at her booth. It’s a comedic over-correction that the writers handle very well, and as Supergirl meets her adoring hopefuls, Jimmy looks on in agony.

Torn between insecurity and desire, Jimmy tries to convince himself that Kara will find somebody else and that he will have been right to ignore his own feelings for her. After all, he confides in Cat, he is only Superman’s pal, Jimmy Olsen.

Mobile Suit Toyman

By this point, Lois has made an utter mess of Toyman’s toy booth and earned the ire of a parent and child who had purchased a teddy bear. Clark, having just returned victorious, overhears the commotion and salvages the situation, and just as Lois acknowledges she may have overreacted and offers her apology, she spots weaponry and hardware in Toyman’s display that shouldn’t be there. She pivots and mocks him, saying that she is not sorry for having given him a hard time, but instead for having ever assumed he could be a threat. Insulted and provoked, Toyman unleashes his mobile suit. Yes, we got there.

Another Superman Enters the Chat

As Toyman prepares to wreak havoc, it seems Superman springs into action. But Clark never changes into his costume, and when the smoke clears, we see a Superman with a LexCorp symbol. Lex Luthor (Max Mittelman), also present at the convention, introduces a “homegrown American hero”: Captain Hank Henshaw, shot down during Brainiac’s invasion of Earth and seen to have barely survived at the end of last episode, Into the New World.

Through LexCorp’s hard work, Henshaw has not only saved him but improved him too. Henshaw tells Lois that he is saving humanity’s future, and later, as we see the extent of his cybernetic revival, he confirms to Lex that he wants to save the world from Superman.

Final Thoughts

By now, My Adventures With Superman has addressed much of the initial fear and distrust Superman faced when he first donned the cape. This time around, Supergirl poses the question of whether Lex and others like him are afraid because she has done something wrong since her arrival. Clark assures her that she hasn’t, and Jimmy reminds them that although there may now be a copycat, humanity can always rely on the real Superman and Supergirl.

I don’t know about you, but with Supergirl struggling with her identity, and with Bizarro and Cyborg Superman in play – not to mention Superboy still to come – that feels like a jinxed statement. How exciting!