Original subtitles

[instrumental music]

[grunts]

You will never take me.

For I am evil incarnate!

[grunts]

[grunts]

Clang

[growls]

Easy there, evil incarnate. You almost dropped your axe.

[growling]

Hey, that hurt.

Sorry.

So how'd I do?

That bad, huh?

If you're going to infiltrate Imperiex's inner circle

you can't just look like Persuader.

You've got to act the part full out.

Maybe this is a bad idea.

I know how important it is to uncover Imperiex's plans

for this rumored super missile

'but what if Chameleon Boy can't pull it off?'

No, I-I can do it.

I can be as vicious and as savage as he is.

Yeah, that's you to a T, Cham.

(Braniac) Maybe not yet.

But he will be when I'm done with him.

What is this thing, Brainy?

It's an identity implanter.

It'll allow me to reprogram your mind

so that you actually believe you are Persuader.

Beep beep

Since staging his mock breakout on Takron-Galtos and bringing

him here, I've been digitally scanning Persuader's mind.

It's like copying files?

Files that are ready to be downloaded... into you.

So what do you say?

Are you ready to become one of our worst enemies?

You don't have to do this, Cham.

No one should have to give up who they are for any reason.

We'll be giving up a lot more than that

if Imperiex is left unchecked.

Well, how long will I have to go on believing I'm Persuader?

Until we get the intel we need.

But if something goes wrong, this emergency shutoff

will dissolve the implant and restore Cham's personality.

Okay, then, let's bring out the bad boy in me.

[instrumental music]

[Cham groans]

I can feel it. Feel him.

His rage. His hatred.

So... much..

Cham!

Hatred.

The Legion. How did I get here?

It doesn't matter. I will destroy you all!

[theme music]

[instrumental music]

[grunts]

[growls]

[Braniac grunts]

[grunting]

[roars]

I dare anyone to get in my way.

(Lightning Lad) 'So... what makes you so sure he'll seek out Imperiex?'

I've implanted the desire to do so into his mind.

Along with undetectable nano-monitors that will

allow us to see and hear what he does.

You thought of everything.

Let's hope so.

[instrumental music]

Gentlemen, it appears we have a visitor.

Bring him in.

You are the one known as Persuader?

Then persuade me why I shouldn't

squash you like an insect right now.

You and your Dominator allies

have plans to create a new galactic order.

To succeed, you'll need great warriors like me

capable of spreading fear and brutality

across the cosmos.

Let's see how great you really are.

[growls]

[grunts]

[grunts]

(Imperiex) 'Enough!'

Well done, Persuader.

You have proven yourself and will be richly rewarded.

What is that?

A new weapon that will change

warfare as we know it.

In a few days it will be used to invade the planet Mada.

Beep beep beep

- How's it going? - See for yourself.

Five days and Imperiex is already including him

in strategy sessions.

And have we learned anything we don't already know?

Not yet... but we will.

(man on speaker) 'Everyone, report to the brig.'

'We've got a problem.'

The real Persuader's escaped.

Any idea where he'll head?

Yes, he will do everything he can to get back

that which gives him power. His axe.

Cham!

[groaning]

Who are you?

I am Persuader

and I believe this belongs to me!

[grunts]

[both yelling]

Beep beep beep

Physically and mentally, both of them are an exact match.

There's no way to tell them apart.

Fool. I'm the real Persuader!

He's lying. He is a spy!

Sent here by the Legion!

(Imperiex) Suggestions, gentlemen.

Destroy them both.

An elegant solution.

[intense music]

Rumble rumble

boom

[roars]

[grunts]

Don't worry. We'll have you back to normal in no time.

[grunts]

You will not take me!

Teleport our forces out of here. And destroy the ship.

Pity.

Beep

We gotta get out. Now!

- Hey, where's... - Right behind you.

Boom

boom

That was too close of a call back there.

But it was worth it. We got the intel we needed.

We now know Imperiex's next move.

You cannot stop Imperiex.

Nor can you possibly hold me.

I think it's time we brought back our old friend.

[yells]

He'll just need some rest now.

(Persuader) What have you done to me?

What have you turned me into?

I don't understand. I..

I can't get his mind to rebalance.

Apparently the Durlan mind is more sensitive than I realized.

That personality we implanted him with went deep.

Too deep. He still believes he's Persuader.

He could stay this way..

Forever.

Do you realize what you've done?

Superman! No!

Sorry, Brainy.

Guess I'm more upset about Cham than I realized.

[grunts]

[growls]

[growls]

Ow!

Man Of Steel. You at least remember that, I hope.

(Persuader) You may have found some way to change my body.

But if there's one thing a man knows

maybe the only thing, it's who he is.

That's what I'm banking on.

Computo.

- What is this place? - I think you know.

I've never seen this miserable place in my life.

These are the fields of Meerwan on your home world, Durla.

How are you doing this?

Creating these longings for a life I never lived.

It looks like Superman is making some progress.

Then, we should start preparing a defense for Mada.

When Imperiex tries to take that planet

we'll be there to take him.

Computo, scan Chameleon Boy's brain and find another memory.

(Computo) 'Accessing.'

I can't tell you how cool it is to be working with you.

I mean, you're the Superman!

I'm sure my adventures have been exaggerated over the centuries.

Exaggerated? Y-you're the greatest hero who ever lived!

Th-the inspiration for the Legion.

We learned everything from you.

Learned from me?

The truth is..

It was the Legion who taught me I could be a hero.

Wait. When did this happen?

I... I remember that.

I.. No, no, it's a trick!

I'm not some stupid shape-shifting teenager!

I'm Persuader. I'm Persuader. I'm..

Superman?

Cham! You're back!

Computo, scan my brain.

Find the memory that corresponds to the one we just saw.

(Computo) 'I am unable to locate a parallel memory.'

Then show me another memory!

Something... powerful, something..

[dramatic music]

'The Legion of Super Villains.'

No. It's not possible.

Superman, what are you..

That's just it.

I'm not Superman!

[groans]

I'm... Ron-Karr.

[intense music]

Take down that shape-shifting spy!

[roars]

[grunts]

Spread out. Ron-Karr could be anywhere.

Anyone.

Huh?

Got ya!

Don't make us ask twice. Where's Superman?

We took him during the battle on Imperiex's ship.

Imperiex knew all along that you weren't Persuader.

He has agents inside Takron-Galtos.

That's how I got out.

So he decided to turn the tables and send one of

his shape-shifters to infiltrate us.

Spying on us through his own nano-monitors.

But instead of destroying them, I've rigged it so that

Imperiex is now getting a false feed.

That way he won't know we're on to him.

Let's turn this loser over to the Science Police.

Wait! I want to help you save Superman and stop the invasion.

I can't explain it

but I feel ashamed of what I've done.

My past. Who I am.

Yeah, sure you do.

Actually, it is quite possible, Ron-Karr is sincere about

the desire to do good.

What happened in the sim chamber may have awakened

his repressed memories.

But until Imperiex reverses the Superman ID implant

the Man Of Steel's goodness, his decency, will override

Ron-Karr's normal evil impulses.

Then that must be why I want to be a hero.

Let me help you.

It might be my only chance in a long and wretched life

to redeem myself.

Thanks, but I think we can stop the invasion

of Mada without the help of a super villain

in the middle of an existential meltdown.

That's just it! Mada isn't the target.

Imperiex knew who Chameleon Boy really was

and he lied.

Then which planet will be attacked?

Durla.

My home?

One question, Imperiex. Why Durla?

It's a central hub for dozens of space routes.

Control Durla, and control this entire sector of the galaxy.

Besides, your friend Chameleon Boy tried to make a fool of me.

And he needs to be punished.

The Durlans are strong. They won't be easily conquered.

No, they won't.

'Which is why I've decided to employ..'

'...an unconventional invasion method.'

Launch the missile!

Okay, you guys head for Imperiex's ship

and get Superman out. We'll protect Durla.

[dramatic music]

Boom

boom

rumble

[gasps]

It's split into hundreds of missiles.

Boom boom boom

There's no way to stop them all.

That's my home down there.

My friends. My people.

There has to be something we can do!

The memories are still hazy.

But I think there's a weakness to the weapon's design.

If I could just remember what it was, I could..

You could what?

Save the day?

Beep

[groans]

What are you doing to him?

Dissolving the implant.

Brainiac 5 wasn't the only one who anticipated the need

for an off-switch.

- Master! I'm sorry! - Ron-Karr, listen to me!

You don't have to go back to the way it was before.

You can help us save my planet.

Why should I help save Durla

when I can revel in its destruction?

I believe you have more pressing, though futile

matters to attend to.

Crash

[grunts]

Hurry. We've got to help them stop the invasion.

It was a strange thing, wanting to help the Legion.

It made me question everything I believed.

This is why peons such as yourself should not think.

Only follow orders.

That way you can be whoever I say you are.

Boom

[roars]

What happened to Ron-Karr?

Reverted back to type.

Maybe not.

Boom boom boom

That missile must have been transmitting

the data to the others.

Once Ron-Karr took it out, the feedback blew up the rest.

[instrumental music]

I still can't believe Ron-Karr helped save Durla.

It was just an after effect of the identity implant.

A part of Superman still alive in him.

Oh, I'm not so sure.

I mean, what if Superman's personality

only brought out the goodness that was always

inside of Ron-Karr?

But that would mean the potential for evil is also

within... all of us.

Maybe who we are is simply a matter of believing in..

Who we can be.

[instrumental music]

[theme music]