Chi of Steel (8 Jan. 1995)

After Perry's men's club is robbed and all his savings taken, Lois and Clark begin to investigate and find that the same martial arts expert who robbed the club is responsible for several ... See full summary »

Director:

James Hayman

Writers:

Joe Shuster (creator), Jerry Siegel (creator),

Stars:

Dean Cain, Teri Hatcher, Lane Smith

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Dean Cain	...	Clark Kent / Superman
Teri Hatcher	...	Lois Lane
Lane Smith	...	Perry White
Justin Whalin	...	Jimmy Olsen
Eddie Jones	...	Jonathan Kent
K Callan	...	Martha Kent
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brian Doyle-Murray	...	Harlan Black
Steve Eastin	...	Doorman
James Hong	...	Grandfather Chow
Nathan Jung	...	Jzuk-Mao
Dana Lee	...	Tong Gang Leader
Michael Leopard	...	Police Detective
Yuji Okumoto	...	Chen Chow
Leila Hee Olsen	...	Lin Chow
Michael Yama	...	Chinese father

Storyline

After Perry's men's club is robbed and all his savings taken, Lois and Clark begin to investigate and find that the same martial arts expert who robbed the club is responsible for several other robberies. The thief uses special power totem bracelets which allow them to use Superman's strength against him.

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 January 1995 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 14, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

December 3rd Productions, Gangbuster Films Inc., Roundelay

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Clark's parents are visiting Metropolis to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary here, but in season 4 they celebrate their 35th.

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Quotes

[after hugging Lois who is disguised as a man]
Perry White: [to a passerby] It's a girl! Ok, it's a girl!

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Connections

References Hogan's Heroes (1965)

User Reviews

Superman learns that strength is not always his biggest asset.

When most of Perry's life savings is stolen from his men's club by a ninja-like figure in black possessing unusual powers, his best reporters start to dig into the issue. Lois, however, is sidetracked somewhat when she is forbidden to enter the Men's club to investigate. Their search leads them to Chinatown, and to a reporter with the Chinatown newspaper. Chen, it turns out, is a friend of Clark's and looks remarkably like him. This "Chinese Clark Kent" tells Lois that he knows Clark because "we go to the same optometrist." That obvious smile-getting allusion aside, Lois is offended yet again when she is told by Chen's grandfather that women are not allowed to participate in his advanced level martial arts classes. She arrives as Clark's apartment (where Clark's parents are visiting) in a huff and an ill-considered comment by Clark's father starts a debate about why Men's clubs should exist. Jonathon tries to appeal to his wife for help, but she stands beside Lois and tells him to explain it HER. They eventually agree to switch chores while they are visiting Clark.

Lois and Clark find out there have been similar robberies and all of places owned by the same company and linked to illegal importation of indentured servants. The perpetrator is a martial arts master who possesses two bracelets with supernatural powers, which make him able to defeat even Superman and disappear almost as if by magic. He is also giving the money back to the indentured servants so that they can pay off their debt.

Clark proposes that it might be Chen who is the supernatural robber. Lois says "a mild mannered reporter is really some kind of superhero," which makes all three (Lois, Perry, and Jimmy) laugh. Clark just smiles as if to say "how silly of me for suggesting it." Clark still thinks it's worth checking out. Apparently so do the people who want the bracelets, because they beat up Chen, thinking it is him.

Eventually, Superman finds that he and the would-be Robin Hood are on the same side and, to defeat the bad guys, he has to learn how to use his "strong Chi" and fight using martial arts.

Jonathon Kent, meanwhile, tires himself out doing the list of chores that Martha hands him. She, however, sits and plays checkers for three days. In the end, he cooks dinner (Chinese) for all the Kents and Lois, and Martha casually suggests that she usually likes to order from a different restaurant. Clark comments "Mom, we have a guest" and she replies, over the closing credits "oh, she's family."

This storyline is right out of the 1990s, in a good way. It's also great to think of Superman using martial arts as well as traditional muscle.