This one starts off with a cops-and-robbers chase scene, and when the crooks are safely in their warehouse, a new character emerges out of the wall: "The Toyman," someone who looks like Howdy Doody. Apparently, he is the son of somebody who used to work for a big crook in the town called Bruno Manheim. The Toyman leaves a memento before he leaves: a deadly bouncing ball that keeps ricocheting around the warehouse smashing everything it hits and killing one of the gang members. Superman, just flying around, hears the gang's cries for help as the "ball" is about to kill them, too, and rescues the thugs.
This was a fun episode to watch, by far the best I've seen so far. The Toyman's gadgets are what makes this entertaining, as he stalks Manheim: model airplanes that fire real bullets; a huge metal "ducky," the Toyman's poisonous bubbles; and the Miss Nighty Night doll with her magical wand which knocks out Lois.
I like the overhead drawings of the city as we see just above Superman, the overhead shots in Lois' cool apartment and the wild child's room in which she wakes up after being knocked.
There's a ton of great visuals, interesting characters and wild action scenes. This is what I was hoping for when I took a shot at buying the DVD sight-unseen. I can only hope more episodes are as entertaining as this one.
