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Due to spotty preservation, this episode is the only surviving record I can find from this particular story arc in the Superman radio series. Sponsored by Kellogg’s Pep, the plot centers on a flaming meteor that has crashed onto a nearby farm.
When Clark Kent goes to investigate, he suddenly grows weak and dizzy. Fearing a doctor’s examination might expose his secret identity as Superman, Clark tries to refuse medical attention, but Perry White insists he get checked out anyway. During the exam, Clark’s impervious skin breaks the doctor’s hypodermic needle.
As today’s episode opens, Clark is still at the doctor’s office, though he manages to wrap up the visit without revealing his secret. Meanwhile, a mysterious word keeps flashing through his mind: “Krypton.” He feels certain this name holds the key to both his strange weakness and the fallen meteor. There is something intensely familiar about the word, yet he cannot place where he has heard it before.
Back at The Daily Planet, Perry and Lois Lane hound Clark about what he is hiding. Are they finally on the verge of discovering his secret identity? Lois reveals that a small group of scientists recognizes the name “Krypton” as a distant planet, and they are convinced the meteor originated from there.
In subsequent episodes, the mounting pressure causes Clark to lose his temper with his friends as he struggles to unravel the mystery behind the strange glowing rock. Ultimately, he makes sense of the riddle, overcoming his weakness while keeping his secret identity safe.
Bonus Tracks:
- Cab Calloway (1932): “Minnie the Moocher”
- Graham McNamee (1940): Commentary on Mike Checks
- The Andrews Sisters: “Ragtime Cowboy Joe”
- Minnie Pearl (1945): “Brother’s New Girlfriend”
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