Superman: The Animated Series (TV Series)

The Prometheon (1997)

Victor Brandt: Professor Hamilton

Quotes 

• Prof. Hamilton : The code was simpler than it seemed. They wanted others to translate it.

  Superman : They?

  Prof. Hamilton : The aliens who created that thing. It's a synthetic being. It was built for strength and given only minimal intelligence. They wanted to use it for heavy labor.

  Superman : Obviously, something went wrong.

  Prof. Hamilton : Very. Its fuel was supposed to be the heat from their suns, but that was hardly enough for the creature. Soon, it began to absorb heat from everything, and the more it absorbed, the stronger it got.

  Superman : No wonder it didn't burn up when it fell through the atmosphere. The heat just made it stronger.

  Prof. Hamilton : Exactly.

  Superman : So how do we stop it?

  Prof. Hamilton : You know those cold packs in first-aid kits? They work on the principle of mixing two chemicals that create instant cold. Watch.

  [as he mixes two liquids together in a beaker, it freezes and the beaker breaks] 

  Superman : Will it work with seawater?

• Superman : Emil, you'd better get over here.

  Prof. Hamilton : What's the problem?

  Superman : You have to see this for yourself.

  Prof. Hamilton : [as the ship moves into position]  My heavens!

• Gen. Hardcastle : People, we're in a war. The stakes are high. If we lose, that asteroid will hit Metropolis in a matter of hours. Ten million lives will be wiped out instantly. And they'll be the fortunate ones. It's up to us to destroy it as we would any other enemy, utterly and completely. Any questions?

  [his soldiers chorus "no, sir"] 

  Gen. Hardcastle : [to Professor Hamilton]  Still think we need the alien?

  Prof. Hamilton : I'd feel a lot better. Can't understand how he missed liftoff.

  Gen. Hardcastle : It's no loss. The last thing this mission needs is your friend's grandstanding.

  Superman : [tapping on the cockpit window]  Sorry I'm late. Earthquake in Albania.

  Prof. Hamilton : We're just glad you could make it. I'll get you the explosives.

  [to Hardcastle] 

  Prof. Hamilton : We'll keep your team on standby.

• Superman : I'm at 2,400 fathoms, Professor, about a hundred miles northwest of Metropolis. How's it going with that binary code?

  Prof. Hamilton : We're working on it. Any sign of the creature?

  Superman : Well, as a matter of fact, there is, and it looks like he's headed toward land.

• Prof. Hamilton : What are you doing?

  Gen. Hardcastle : Detonating the charges.

  Prof. Hamilton : But Superman's out there.

  Gen. Hardcastle : Wasn't his party to begin with.

• Prof. Hamilton : There's no doubt about it. The creature was slightly warmer than the asteroid. And listen to this.

  Gen. Hardcastle : [hearing a steady thumping]  Heartbeats?

  Prof. Hamilton : That's my guess. There's also a transmitter within the rock. It's broadcasting some kind of binary code. I'll need some time to decipher it.

  Gen. Hardcastle : You'll have all the time you want... after the demolition.

  Prof. Hamilton : Are you crazy? That's a living thing out there.

  Gen. Hardcastle : A living alien. And it would die when it hits the Earth's atmosphere, anyway.

  Prof. Hamilton : In good conscience, you can't...

  Gen. Hardcastle : Jeopardize the lives of millions? You're absolutely right, Professor.

  Superman : Gentlemen, there may be another way. I might be able to push the asteroid into Earth's orbit.

  Prof. Hamilton : Yes. Even if it was a decaying orbit, it would buy us some time.

  Gen. Hardcastle : That's not my mission. I'm under orders to destroy that thing.

  Prof. Hamilton : Superman, if you can alter the trajectory by five degrees...