Metropolis Natural History Museum
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Real Identity: Not Applicable
Appearances: Party Animals and The Ex Games
Powers/Skills: Not Applicable
Voiced By: Not Applicable
The gala for Metropolis' tenth annual The Curt Swan Awards For Humanitarian Excellence was held at the Metropolis Natural History Museum in mid-December. Lois Lane believed Jimmy Olsen's latest scientifically matched date from W.O.R.M.S. would again turn him into something. Olsen assured her it would be a perfectly normal gala. Flip Johnson jumped Olsen and revealed Perry White left the Daily Planet interns in his care. Clark Kent, now powerless and unable to attend as Superman, offered to watch them since he needed something to do. Kara Zor-El arrived and Lane noticed no date then got her attention. A vehicle suddenly pulled up between them. Princess Maru, of Markovia, and her security detail stepped out. It turned out she was Olsen's date. Cat Grant asked Princess Maru if Jimmy Olsen really was her date. Kara Zor-El was not pleased he brought a date to the gala where she was receiving an award.
Vicki Vale immediately started goading Lois Lane, still surprised she turned down her job offer to stay with her deadweight boyfriend. Lane retorted she didn't need to work for her to be a good reporter and pointed out they were nominated in the same categories. Vale countered Lane was co-nominated with Jimmy Olsen and can't even win an award without one of her boy toys by her side. She challenged Lane to a game of finding the biggest scoop at the gala. Lane retorted she talked a big game but everyone knew what really counted was what you can do. Kent heard her words. Lane asked him if he was okay but he lied everything was great and walked off with the Newskids. Kara asked Olsen to introduce his date. Maru told her she and Superman were greatly admired, even in Markovia, and thought Metropolis was fortunate to have them both. Kara deferred all the credit to Superman. Olsen disagreed then started rambling about feelings but Maru commended him for being so kind to his platonic friend. Silver St. Cloud began her hosting duties.
The Newskids were quickly bored by the festivities and sneaked off. Maru's henchman took out the guards at receiving and carted in her gas containers. Kara boiled as Maru flirted with Olsen. Kent noticed and tried to direct her attention to the bones of the blue whale on display but he finally realized the children were gone. He promised to return by the time Kara's award came up. Bizarro watched the gala from the roof of the museum. During Kara's speech, Maru's henchmen locked all exits, disabled all the alarms, and redirected the local feed of the security cameras. Vale approached Princess Maru and asked if she feared public backlash or even persecution for her endorsement of free expression. Maru admitted she received several death threats but she always took the necessary precautions. Lane noticed the increased security detail and left the table to investigate. Vale taunted her. Lane imitated her. The Newskids ran down a hall and came upon Maru's containers and a tied up guard. Flip Johnson wondered if they should tell someone but a henchman found them.
Kent searched for the children but heard a creepy voice and saw a fiery vision of his Fortress of Solitude. Johnson's scream jilted him. St. Cloud noticed Lois Lane grilling a guard and told her she was a fan of her work but the interrogations were bringing down the vibe. St. Cloud revealed the added security was Princess Maru's private detail. Lane apologized and revealed she was taking part in a competition with Vicki Vale to find the best scoop. St. Cloud was surprised the awards weren't enough for them. Lane mused she was always in competition with Vale and wondered what was enough. St. Cloud reckoned she should just do her best and celebrate that with the people you love rather than letting an award tell you you're enough. Kent defended the children and took out the henchman but suffered a gunshot to his left arm. They ran away from more henchman and hid in a janitorial closet. Lois Lane soon joined them. She sprayed Vulture in the face so Kent could lock the door. He radioed Fox to confirm when they had hands on the Princess.
St. Cloud welcomed Maru to the stage to deliver her keynote speech. She declared she wanted to be called Dr. Poison and she was curing Mother Earth of the disease of mankind. Olsen mused he had a type. Dr. Poison's gas turned nearly everyone into various animals. Kara grabbed Dr. Poison but she revealed she had henchman stationed at the Metropolis Dam, ready to release her gas directly into the city's water supply. Olsen told Supergirl to save the city while he dealt with Poison. Vulture kicked the door in but the room was empty. He was transformed by the gas into a crocodile. Kent, Lane, and the Newskids escaped into the ventilation shaft. Olsen called Kent and Lane for advice on dealing with Poison. Lane suggested using his boyish charms. Olsen transformed into a turtle. Vulture cut them off in the shaft. They reversed course. Poison ordered her team to the helicopter. Olsen confronted her about their animal connection. She hesitated.
Lane accidentally pushed a shaft cover down and got an idea. She pounded a shaft repeatedly until the section containing Vulture fell down below. Her section fell down, too. She jumped back up to the others in the form of a cat. Maru admitted to Olsen he was just a pawn. He wanted to tell her one more thing then he yanked her gas mask off. She transformed into a fox. Bizarro prevented Dr. Poison and her henchman from escaping by helicopter and left without anyone else seeing him. Supergirl returned and discovered them restrained with a piece of debris from the helicopter. S.T.A.R. Labs technicians helped turn victims of Dr. Poison back into humans. Poison told Olsen he would find true love someday. He admitted he was already in love with someone but was really, really stupid about it. Poison thought he was talking about her. Olsen stated it was Kara. Supergirl heard all of it. A leash was placed on Poison and she was led away.
Silver St. Cloud presented an award to Lane. Lane pretended to be modest about how the work was the real reward and handed the award to Flip Johnson. Vale stormed off. Lane took the award back and marveled at it. Supergirl confronted Olsen. He tried to apologize for not telling her how he felt. Kent was distraught over not being able to help as Superman. Lane tried to tell him he couldn't spend the rest of his life comparing himself to someone he may never be again. He had no idea who or what he was supposed to be. Portals suddenly appeared under Kent, Lane, Olsen, and Supergirl and transported them to another dimension. They were returned to the front of museum after thwarting Mr. Mxyzptlk and Gsptlsnz.