Superman took to the skies on The CW last week in his new original series “Superman and Lois” with raving reviews caught in his wake. Superman and Lois’ 90-minute premiere drew 1.75 million viewers and a 0.37 rating among adults 18-49, giving The CW two consecutive strong series debuts. The show has since been renewed for a second season.
Warning: Possible spoilers ahead
In the special extended Feb. 23 premiere viewers were shown a strong set of characters portrayed by an incredibly talented cast. After years of facing supervillains, monsters and alien invaders, the world’s most famous superhero, the Man of Steel aka Clark Kent (Tyler Hoechlin) and comic books’ famed journalist Lois Lane (Elizabeth “Bitsie” Tulloch) come face to face with one of their greatest challenges ever –– dealing with being working parents in today’s society.
Complicating the already daunting job of raising two boys, Clark and Lois worry about whether their sons, Jonathan (Jordan Elsass) and Jordan (Alex Garfin), could inherit their father’s Kryptonian superpowers as they grow older. Returning to Smallville to handle some Kent family business, Clark and Lois are reacquainted with Lana Lang (Emmanuelle Chriqui) and her Fire Chief husband, Kyle Cushing (Erik Valdez). The adults aren’t the only ones rediscovering old friendships in Smallville as the Kent sons are reacquainted with Lana and Kyle’s rebellious daughter, Sarah (Inde Navarrette). Of course, there’s never a dull moment in the life of a superhero, especially with Lois’ father, Gen. Samuel Lane (Dylan Walsh) looking for Superman to vanquish a villain or save the day at a moment’s notice. In the new series, Morgan Edge (Adam Rayner) is portrayed as a major contender for the series’ inaugural seasons top villain, only beaten out by Captain Luthor (Wolé Parks).
In comics, Morgan Edge is an established villain dating all the way back to 1970. He was created by Jack Kirby and made his first appearance in “Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen” no. 133. Originally a supporting character, he was portrayed as a media mogul who acquired the Daily Planet and employed Clark Kent as a television journalist for his WGBS TV network. He also combined WGBS with the Planet and, in The New 52 iteration, rebrands them both into PGN (Planet Global Network). In “Superman and Lois,” the Daily Planet also provides breaking news via their own network called DPN (Daily Planet Network or News).
In his widely accepted origins of Post-Crisis comic canon, Edge grew up the son of wealthy media magnate Vincent Edge, who often abused Morgan relentlessly. One day, Morgan’s father was publicly disciplining him when his mother intervened. In his rage, Vincent pushed his wife away from the confrontation and she fell into a busy Metropolis street, where she was struck by an oncoming bus and instantly killed. Vincent never accepted accountability for his actions.
The incident was extremely traumatic for young Morgan. One evening, a grief stricken Morgan expelled his hatred for his father to the heavens. This is when Morgan’s life changes forever. As he was shouting his paternal discontent, lightning struck nearby and an otherworldly being revealed himself. It was Darkseid.
As many know, Darkseid is often recognized as the Apokoliptian God of doom and destruction, ruler of the distant planet Apokolipse. Darkseid seized the moment and promised Morgan Edge everything he ever wanted, as long as he do his bidding.
As time progressed, Morgan forced his father into early retirement and inherited his position of president and CEO of Galaxy Communications, the main shareholder for WGBS. Still working with Darkseid, Morgan Edge used his resources and access to Apokoliptian technology to forge a criminal underground designed to sow chaos throughout Metropolis.
This organization soon became known as Intergang. Edge controlled the underworld of Metropolis, acquired the city’s main communication networks and eventually discovered that he never had a partnership with Darkseid at all, but rather, he was dealing with Darkseid’s weapons-master and right-hand, DeSaad. DeSaad had used his illusion skills to take on the image of Darkseid.
Morgan was eventually exposed by the Daily Planet, in articles published by Clark Kent and Cat Grant. Cat was working for WGBS undercover as their main news anchor. Soon after, Edge was imprisoned, but managed to cause further trouble when he published his autobiography “On the Edge,” which dumped upon his father as well as Cat Grant, claiming that she “slept her way into a scoop,” discrediting her.
Adam Rayner as Morgan Edge in “Heritage.” Photo by Dean Buscher/The CW 
Adrian Pasdar as Morgan Edge in “Supergirl.” Photo courtesy of The CW
In The CW’s Pre-Crisis universe, Edge first appeared on “Supergirl’s” season three episode “Girl of Steel.” He was originally portrayed by Adrian Pasdar and was perceived as the former corrupt CEO of Edge Global and the former top real estate mogul of National City. He was arrested and incarcerated for his crimes of lead poisoning and the attempted murder of Lena Luthor respectively, after his crimes were exposed to the public.
In The CW’s new Post-Crisis multiverse, Morgan (Portrayed by Adam Rayner) is a majority shareholder of Galaxy Holdings and the new owner of the Daily Planet. In the series Pilot, Morgan was mentioned multiple times by an enraged Lois Lane. Edge has fired multiple Daily Planet employees, including Clark Kent, and is attempting to buyout half of Smallville’s farmland.
“Superman and Lois” will be produced by Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter with Todd Helbing executive producing. Gregory Smith from Everwood will be Supervising Producer/Director.
