My Adventures With Superman (HBO Max / Adult Swim)

Pure pleasure. A delight. A breath of fresh air. The diversity feels entirely organic and not a big deal so it feels NORMAL instead of something to complain about. I expect this show WILL get its share of complaints about the diversity. The thing is the show is so wonderful and refreshing and fun, those complaints will be roundly ignored. I think it's safe to say YouTubers are going to find this show as easy to pick on as it was for Ted Cruz to start a Twitter fight with Elmo. The openly loathsome vs the openly lovable is not much of an actual contest for onlookers.

Despite this airing on Adult Swim, the entire show IS kid friendly and could easily air on Cartoon Network. It's my understanding that Adult Swim is attempting to branch out into animation that appeals to both kids and adults since it's starting earlier than ever, but the truth is it still feels wrong for the block and wrong to be premiering at midnight. We thought the Saturday Morning 6:00-7:00 AM deathslots for Justice League Action and the last couple of Transformers cartoons were bad. Sheesh.

Seeing kid Clark discovering his powers and being equally amazed and confused by them as he enjoys inexplicably flying like the little kid he is shows me exactly how inferior an origin story Smallville actually was. The "no tights, no flights" mantra was basically that show deciding to leave out the best and most famous parts of Superman. And ten seasons of underwhelming nonsense speaks to that dumb decision for itself. We could have had THIS? Holy cow!

Lois is interesting because she's given notable faults, which is why the show feels wrong for Adult Swim. The precise lessons Lois learns were intended to be imparted to the kids watching the show... at midnight. Yeah, I don't get it either.

I don't enjoy much DC animation. Basically the three franchises I liked before this were the DC Animated Universe shows, Batman: The Brave And The Bold, and Justice League Action. Everything else, Teen Titans, The Batman, Young Justice, DC Super Hero Girls, Harley Quinn, I could take or leave. What was it about those three franchises that spoke to me so much? They were kid-friendly. They were fun. And they were well-written. And those three things are literally the only three DC animated projects where all three of those things were true. My Adventures With Superman is a much appreciated new member of that exclusive club and I am delighted to enjoy it. 5 stars.

I LOVE this version of Livewire. She really puts the loudmouth Superman: The Animated Series version to shame. She is such a badass. She's also shockingly competent at villainy, which is a nice (and rare) treat in a kids show.

Clark entering the spaceship for the first time as a kid has suddenly become terrifying for the first time ever. I love that little Clark instantly reburies it and then hugs his parents because they are what matter. That right there is good and EARNED drama. Surprisingly powerful and gripping stuff on such a light and fluffy show.

Any person who goes out of their way to describe their organization as "The Good Guys"? Are actually the bad guys. Without fail. That is some quality writing and voice acting on this show.

Speaking of quality, this is the first episode I've enjoyed being wowed by the anime inspired animation. It's the best animated DC TV project in years.

Lois is so freaking tiny! I can't believe Jimmy is taller than her.

I am already obsessed with the show. Fun, kid-friendly, AND well-written? I am in Heaven. 5 stars.

Sophomore episodes are always disappointments. This show is no exception.

It felt kind of slight and low-stakes. I liked the animation on the heat-vision though. And it's interesting that although this version of Superman answered Lois' questions far more honestly than most versions wind up doing, she still thinks he's a liar.

The Superman premise of glasses being enough to disguise Clark remains ridiculous, but the show is fun enough that I don't mind it for once. Still, a step down from the first episode. But at least it turns out the show has a main title after all! After last week, I was worried we were stuck with a boring title card. ***1 removed link

If I had written the show, and knew I was gonna have Lois find out the secret SUPER early, I would have waited a couple of episodes. I thought the show had a brilliant subversion of the Lois / Clark / Superman triangle. She actually adores and loves Clark, and distrusts and is annoyed by Superman. It's always the other way around. It's a beautiful and original idea and they should have kept the status quo for a couple of more episodes at least. To more firmly establish that the problem with Clark telling her the truth is that because she doesn't like Superman, she'd like Clark less. I would have liked to have stewed in that conflict for a short while before going where this episode did.

Ivo is neither funny nor charming, but sociopathic businessmen lost ALL of their entertainment value after Trump and Musk, so I do sort of understand why they went and made Ivo so completely irredeemable. I don't like it, but it's the parallel that society says must now be raised. Don't blame the writers for how openly obnoxious Ivo is. Blame the voters. Same people ACTUALLY responsible for Flanderization by the way, while we are throwing stones. Just saying. Real life politicians and businessmen have become so cartoonishly unambiguously contemptible, this is how far you to go to have some of the audience say "Oh, this is a bad guy." If this sort of thing were more evident across a broader section of the public, we might not have these cartoon supervillain (or psycho Ned Flanders) problems.

I have something to bash. I love bashing things, and since I love the show, it rarely gifts me that. But this thing to bash leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Ivo naming the suit "Parasite" is bad writing. Period. No businessman would name their new superpowered endeavor that. As far as branding goes, it's so negative or borders on genocidal. And I mention branding because that's the only reason the show did it, to tie into the DC brand. But namedropping Parasite for this specific scenario, hurt the credibility of the narrative. I became very aware this isn't just a cute Superman show. It's a borderline commercial for the entire DC brand. And while I don't mind discussing that notion after I've seen an episode, it breaks the magic if I'm noticing it WHILE I'm watching an episode.

Normally, I be a little more delighted in a great show's rare screw-up. But this specific screw-up felt a bit cynical and commercial, which is just the worst thing to have to complain about when watching a cute Superman show. I wish they had given me something fun to bash instead of trying to convince me Parasite is a great branding name for a supersuit.

Still, the rest of the episode was strong. I particularly liked Lois and Clark's conversation about her estrangement with her father. Forget never learning Clark is Superman, Superman: The Animated Series never got that far with Sam Lane either! I love that the show seems to be setting up family elements for the characters to be explored later on.

I liked it, but the thing I didn't like, I REALLY didn't like. ****.

This is my favorite version of Monsieur Mallah and the Brain! Like EVER! After one freaking episode!

I love that before they kill Jimmy, Mallah becomes concerned with his mental health problems. It turns out they're good guys, or at least misunderstood guys, which is totally refreshing. But the thing I love the most about them is that the love affair they had in the comics was played for sick laughs. You were supposed to be grossed out by it and roll your eyes. It's freaking sweet here and actually romantic! Why does stuff like this HAVE to be SUCH a freaking ordeal in every other project? I love this show.

So all three know and they all now know they all know. These kids are gonna be fine.

Refreshing Brain figured out the identity too. But since he's not really evil, he won't use it against him.

I loved this episode. I love Clark, Lois, and Jimmy. And I love Mallah and the Brain. This is definitely one of my favorite DC cartoons ever. 5 stars.

I'm not gonna spend this review ragging too much on Young Justice. Other than to say none of its various "plot twists" are ever actually any kind of real surprise. Greg Weisman spends his time rubbing the viewers' faces in how brilliant he is for his predictable storytelling. Weird brag, but that's why I don't like Young Justice. Justice League Unlimited however got me good a few times with its twists and turns. This show is the first real unpredictable DC cartoon since that one.

This Mxyzptlk is unlike any other and actually sinister. And while I kind of felt that because the show is mostly focused on lesser rogues and Intergang, that a LOT of the Superman mythos has so far been ignored (still no Lex, Brainiac, Metallo, or Darkseid, although that last one is probably coming) it did hit the Multiverse angle quicker than any other DC toon, firmly wedging itself into DC Animated Universe continuity with brief looks at DCAU Superman and Lois. Also the League of Loises is a complete shock and departure. And though Dana Delaney's Lois could be seen in the hologram museum, I was disappointed they didn't snag Delaney as a guest star and put her in the League themselves. In reality, the fact that the Lois we most know and love has nothing to do with them, proves they are misguided at best, and on the wrong side at worst. The sphere Lois views at the end suggests it's the former, but this is the most untrustworthy Mxy I have ever seen. The entire thing could be a con not just against OUR Lois, but the entire League too.

I still think this show is inappropriate for Adult Swim, and find it perfectly kid-friendly. But the thing is, if this were a show produced for Cartoon Network, there would be no romance. Certainly not a kiss and affirmation of love between Lois and Clark in Episode 7.

This is unlike any other DC cartoon. High praise from me for that reason. 5 stars.

I don't feel like this episode was very well-written. At least not compared to everything else. The story and dialogue felt a bit arch and hamfisted. And I HATE Vicky Vale.

That being said, the ending of Superman being ambushed and taken by the villains was legit dire and tense, and landed big. Maybe the characters talked a little too "big" in the episode to be believable. But the "big" ending? Landed and was totally effective and worrisome. Very good cliffhanger there. And yes, the General is both evil incarnate and almost certainly Sam Lane.

Trouble ahead. The episode was hit and miss though. 3 stars.

The thing I love most about this show is how empowering it is not just to the heroes, but to the people of Metropolis too.

And what changes Sam Lane's mind? Evidence? No. It's meeting Superman up close. That guy's demeanor does NOT add up with the behavior of the invaders.

I feel like Superman beat and saved Ivo at the exact same time, which is great.

And I love that it's a kids show that gets a mutual declaration of love between Superman and Lois and a big passionate kiss. This is VERY outside of other kids programming, and it might be the reason Adult Swim seized the opening to poach it from the kids part of the network.

SO great. What a rare and wonderful show this is. Probably my favorite DC toon since Justice League Unlimited. 5 stars.

Here is why I value the show so much. Like all great superhero projects, there is life and death melodrama, and the characters are pushed to their emotional breaking points. The show is not afraid to lay down The Big Hurt on the characters, and explore every inch of their personal pain and conflicts.

What sets this show apart from the other stuff, and is the reason it's better, is that it also allows the characters good moments, and victories together. The show is an affirmation of the positivity of the character of Superman after so many projects are obsessed with telling us why he sucks deep down, and that somehow manage to turn the character's intended goodness and altruism into a cautionary tale about worshipping false Gods. I don't get that bit either, but the show is good because it raises the question without every violating the integrity of Clark himself. Whatever is going on, Clark is innocent and trying to stop it. And that may be a controversy and open question to some of the characters. To the viewer it's refreshingly obvious, and refreshing to see a take on Superman not designed to make the audience feel guilty for being impressed by, or even liking him. We're allowed to like him. His personality is very accessible too. Like the Timmverse Superman and the one from Superman & Lois, the producers of this show are very invested in making Clark recognizable as an actual person. With human hopes, fears, and dreams. And they are downplaying the alienness other takes seem to saddle him with to set him apart from, and even against, the other heroes.

I think the DC Animated Universe is the best DC project. Live-action, animated, OR comic book. But while some of it is to do with melodrama, very little of it went towards Superman himself. By the end of Justice League Unlimited they were making us question Superman's morals just like other projects. Was the DCAU actually fun and enjoyable while doing so? Yes. Did they manage to hit the right melodramatic soap opera notes with Batman, Green Lantern, and Hawkgirl? Also yes. But this show is not just a humanistic take on Superman. It shows Superman can be a character the audience emotionally relates to. And here's the kicker. It's effortless. I would love to praise the show for supposedly doing the impossible, but the show is actually only taking the correct dramatic role other DC properties would be taking if they didn't have it stuck in their heads that Superman is the DC franchise that is supposed to be dull and unfun, and make you feel wary about him being out there. He wasn't always that, but once he became that, he essentially became nothing else. And this show is suggesting it can still explore those fears while saying Clark is good and won't ever hurt his friends. And this is all stuff I already knew by the way, which is a big reason most Superman projects frustrate me so much. The show giving the audience a Superman it can like, root for, sympathize with, and yes, even understand, is something DC would have been doing all along if I had been running it. This is not a revelation to me. A celebration of Superman and the power of love between Lois and Clark being great is pretty low-hanging fruit as far as great entertainment goes. And yet, DC still rarely refuses to pick it.

I speak of celebrating the victories? Jimmy is all of the sudden rich at the end of the episode, and it's all right, and doesn't change anything on the show. Different scenarios can and will be explored from it next season. But the Clark, Lois, Jimmy friendship hasn't changed a jot. Which suggests the writers not only know the characters and their relationships to each other. But they love and value them and only want to strengthen them. Again, this is actually not something the show should necessarily be celebrated for. Because it's actually pretty freaking obvious.

Michael Emerson as Brainiac? Good casting.

This is not as good as the DC Animated Universe. Yet. But I think it's the second best DC project after it, and truthfully IS actually better than the DCAU in many fundamental ways regarding the Superman mythos. The DCAU is the better all around DC project. This show is the better Superman take. 5 stars.