Warrior Queen (Superman: The Animated Series)

"Warrior Queen (Superman: The Animated Series)"

"Warrior Queen" is the thirty-seventh episode of Superman: The Animated Series. It depicts the first appearance in the DC Animated Universe of Maxima, the rambunctious and spoiled queen of Almerac. Searching the universe for her ideal mate, she settles on Superman and comes to earth to pursue him.

Plot

On Almerac, Maxima duels with De’Cine, one of her courtiers, who is apparently fighting for the right to marry her. She bests him easily, then turns away in disgust.

In her bath, Maxima laments that there is no man in the universe who is fit to marry her. Her attendant, Sazu, tries to draw her attention to several matters of state, but Maxima brushes her off. Maxima’s scouts report that they’ve found a likely candidate: Superman. Seeing footage of him, Maxima is unimpressed; while he is handsome enough, he doesn’t look like a formidable warrior. They assure her of his powers, and she decides to visit Earth to see for herself.

Arriving on Earth, she sees a news report on Superman and forces her way into the studio, announcing herself as Superman’s fiancée. Angela Chen eagerly interviews her, but the interview goes downhill fast when Maxima, impatient, starts tearing the studio apart. Superman arrives, and Maxima is enthralled.

Superman says he’s flattered by her interest, but politely declines her offer of marriage. In response, Maxima attacks him, determined to beat him into submission. The fight rages across Metropolis, and Superman traps her by wrapping her in a steel girder. Far from being angry, she is enraptured: “No man has ever lasted this long against me. You… you are my equal!”

Before he can object, she transports both of them back to Almerac with a boom tube-like device. To her surprise, she finds that De’Cine has pulled off a coup d’etat in her absence, with Sazu’s help. When Maxima protests, saying her people will never follow De’Cine, Sazu coolly informs her that “her” people are only too happy to be rid of their spoiled, inattentive queen. Then De’Cine, who has seduced Sazu, surprises her by ordering her locked up along with Maxima and Superman.

All three are thrown into a sewer-like dungeon beneath the palace. Maxima uses her powers to instantly forge a sword out of some nearby debris. Her first impulse is to kill Sazu, but Superman stops her, reminding her that her petty, tyrannical ways are part of what’s led her to this situation.

The lesson is interrupted by a ferocious beast, the Camorite – Maxima admits that in the past she’s fed dissidents to it. She and Superman manage to overcome the beast, and make their way back to the surface, where De’Cine is lounging in the lap of luxury.

Superman and Maxima defeat De’Cine and his guards. Maxima’s first impulse is to kill him, but taking the hint from Superman, decides to turn over a new leaf and just throw him in prison. She settles back on her throne, resolving to be a more conscientious ruler, with Sazu’s help.

Superman politely but firmly gives a final “no” to her proposal, and she reluctantly allows him to return home. Before he goes, he comforts her with the thought that there’s someone out there for everyone. After he’s gone, Maxima sighs… and then Lobo blasts through the ceiling on his bike, yelling that he’s here to collect a bounty on De’Cine, “and no one better stop me!” Maxima is ecstatic.

Cast

Actor	Role
Tim Daly	Superman/Clark Kent
Sharon Lawrence	Maxima
Miguel Ferrer	De’Cine
Shannon Kenny	Sazu
Lauren Tom	Angela Chen
Unknown	Old Lady
Unknown	Old Man
Frank Welker	Voice of Camorite
Brad Garrett	Lobo

Trivia

• Lobo's last appearance in this series. He later appears in Justice League cartoons.

• Though Maxima's powers are psyonic in the comics, there is no indication of this in the show.

Quotes

Maxima: "Are you refusing the royal throne of Almerac? Are you refusing... me?"
Superman: "Well... yes." (Maxima attacks him.)

Luciel: "Murray, there's a man and a woman fighting!"
Murray: "Stop spying on the neighbors Luciel."

See also

• List of Superman: The Animated Series episodes