Supergirl Namedrops Intergang Leader Bruno Mannheim

CBR

Supergirl Teases Another Longtime Superman Villain

By Meagan Damore

Published Oct 15, 2018

In the Supergirl Season 4 premiere, Lena Luthor namedropped a longtime Superman villain who once worked with her brother Lex.

SPOILER WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for "American Alien," the Season 4 premiere of Supergirl.

Another Superman villain may be headed to Supergirl. In "American Alien," the Season 4 premiere, Lena Luthor namedropped mobster and Intergang leader Bruno Mannheim.

During a conversation with her mother Lillian, Lena dredged up Bruno's name as they discussed Lex's downfall. "I don't know if it was all Superman. In my opinion, it was his relationship with Bruno Mannheim that started him down the wrong path," she suggested.

"That miscreant? They were business partners, sure, but Bruno was only in it for the money laundering," Lillian revealed. "It's a shame how he used your brother's business and then dumped him."

"I didn't know Bruno laundered money through LuthorCorp!" Lena replied, feigning surprise. "Is there anything on the books I need to worry about? Since you know where all the bodies are buried."

"I guess it's time I educated you," Lillian said, then proceeded to reveal some Luthor family secrets.

However, this was all a ploy by Lena to get enough leverage to bargain for an end to the charges against James Olsen. In a meeting with the District Attorney, Lena put everything she learned from her mother on the table. "My mother goes on to name five more shell companies owned my Mannheim," she explained. "You're the District Attorney. Subpoena the books. You'll find enough RICO violations to send Mannheim away for as long as Al Capone." As a result, the DA dropped all the charges against James.

Created by Jack Kirby, Mannheim debuted in 1971's Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #139. The comic book version of the character leads Intergang, a crime organization armed with weapons from the New Gods' planet Apokolips. He has appeared in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Superman: The Animated Series, Smallville and Young Justice.

So far as the Arrowverse goes, he was only namepdropped once in the Arrow episode "Docket No. 11-19-41-73," as Oliver Queen researched the prosecutor that brought down Intergang. However, he has never been seen in person, on Green Arrow's Earth or otherwise. This is the first time he has been mentioned in connection to Supergirl's Earth. Seeing as he originated as a Superman villain, it's very possible he could show up on Supergirl, though no appearance has been confirmed at this time.

Airing Sundays at 8 pm ET/PT on The CW, Supergirl stars Melissa Benoist as Kara Danvers, David Harewood as Martian Manhunter, Mehcad Brooks as Jimmy Olsen, and Chyler Leigh as Alex Danvers.