On Big Hero 6 season 2, episode 9, Jane Lynch guest-starred as Supersonic Sue, a supervillainous speedster who used to tangle with Fred’s dad, Boss Awesome. And what of Fred himself on this episode? He was making friends with Richardson Mole – no, really!
1. Rocket Racer
With her electified elbow pads, which she uses to devastating effect in combat, Supersonic Sue resembles the various speedsters on The Flash when in motion, but there’s another, more obscure character she more strongly resembles: I’m talking about Rocket Racer, the Spider-Man villain-turned-hero who also has a red color scheme and rocket-powered skates. Don’t believe me? Sue’s musical leitmotif is disco-inspired, a clear reference to the character’s creation in 1977: it’s a fun signal to Marvel fans like myself who’ve gone in way too deep and recognize every character, no matter how goofy. In its own way, it’s its own love letter to the legacy of Stan Lee, who I’ll talk about in a second…
2. Red Confusion
Given her affinity for rockets, it’s no surprise Sue grabs and makes off with one of Baymax’s rocket fists, leading to some moments where Baymax has to use some faulty replacements that Hiro had to rush produce. It was slightly confusing at first, because when she ran off with it, it looked she dumped it on a San Fransokyo cable car, because of the Chinese red lanterns hanging on the back of those vehicles (which, by the way, aren’t even the same shape as Baymax’s arms in real life). It’s definitely something that was overlooked due to a lack of time.
3. Love Your Enemies
Supersonic Sue breaks Boss Awesome’s other archenemy, Baron Von Steamer, out of prison, believing a team-up will draw out the old hero. At first though, Big Hero 6 believe she’s kidnapped the Baron to execute him (so she can claim the title of Boss Awesome’s greatest foe), and are a bit reluctant to help the old villain. However, as Stan the Man explains in-character, a true hero would always someone, no matter how rotten they are.
It’s a message reinforced by the subplot, where Fred and Richardson realize they actually have a lot in common, and Fred invites Richardson over to his home for a Kentucky Kaiju movie marathon. It turns out it was a ploy by the annoying kid to steal the underwear Fred’s dad wore in a movie, but when Fred uses his Chameleon suit to steal it back, he sees Richardson talking to his action figures, and realizing the depth of the boy’s loneliness, he decides to let him keep it. Reflecting on Lee/Boss Awesome’s message, Fred’s decision to ignore Richardson makes for a surprisingly mature and poignant denouement.
4. Lee’s Last Stand
Unlike his last appearance this season, this episode comes with a dedication to the late Stan Lee, indicating this was his last recorded appearance for the show. At first, his role is a little underwhelming, giving advice as always from a video call, while wrangling a bull, which is hardly battling yeti or mummies. However, it clicks into place when he shows up in person (for the first time on this show) after his two old enemies have subdued Big Hero 6, still wearing his cowboy hat and heels, like a sheriff in a classic final showdown. He then finally gets to be the hero instead of the creator making a cameo, effortlessly putting down his enemies.
It’s impossible that the show’s creators would’ve known this would be the last time they worked with Lee, but it’s an appropriate and unexpected final adventure for the late Marvel/Disney creator and his superhero alter-ego, especially since he didn’t film a cameo for Spider-Man: Far From Home. And it is very funny to think how Lee’s final acting role (that we know of), ends with him revealing – to Baron Von Steamer’s disappointment and Baymax’s anguish – that his greatest enemy was cabbage soup.
5. New Family
The episode sets up a fun rivalry between Sue and Go Go, but it’s underused thanks to the emphasis on Fred and his dad, which really reflects the show as a whole: I’d say 50 percent of the show is focused on Hiro and Baymax, then 30 percent on Fred, and the remaining 20 percent on the rest of the gang. I have no doubt it’s because the film introduced Hiro and Fred’s families, and the show’s staff are hesitant to do the same for the rest of the characters in case, someday, there’s a sequel to the film that could trample over what they’ve established. But with Stan Lee gone, the production team need to decide if they want to recast the role (there must be plenty of good impersonators), or move forward with the other heroes. Certainly, establishing Go Go’s an orphan would strengthen the dynamic with Sue, who could easily become a false mother figure the way many supervillains act as evil father figures for male heroes.
Continued belowBonus thoughts:
– Baron Von Steamer’s cell is exactly like Yokai’s prison in “Mini-Max.”
– The Baron calls Big Hero 6 millennials, but Hiro’s only 14, which would make Generation Z.
– Sue and the Baron literally competing over who can get the last laugh feels a lot like the awkward, neverending, laughter scenes in Austin Powers.
Join us next week for a look at “Lie Detector,” which, due to the show being on break, is the last episode of season 2 for now.
