I grew up with Batman the Animated series. While I wasn't alive when it aired, I was when Arkham Asylum was released on PlayStation 3 and that is what truly lit my spark of a genuine Batman obsession that lasted over a decade. The animated series was brought to my attention soon after playing Arkham Asylum a million times. To this day, Batman the Animated Series is treasured by me and considered one of the best tv shows. I remember seeing Superman the Animated series on google, probably when I was looking into the casting of Batman TAS, but I have to admit... I have never been a big Superman fan. In fact, I have been a huge Superman critic most of my life and found his character boring.
That is until I saw Superman the Animated Series.
I love this show. It's simple, a lot more than Batman TAS, but, god, if there isn't such an immense 50s sci-fi charm to the metropolis of Superman TAS. It's the antithesis to TAS Gotham in every way but the crime. I'd probably rather live in Gotham truth be told. I'll deal with insane mob bosses and rampant thugs over frequent alien invasions any day.
Anyway, this show introduced me to many Superman villains, such as Metallo and Parasite. Many of them had heartbreaking stories and there was surprising depth and nuance to them for a kids show. Especially Metallo - the man who's consciousness was transplanted into a robotic body and lost all feeling in the process. Certain scenes with him, especially on the island with the children, nearly brought me to tears.
The episode where the thug took over parasites mind was gut wrenching as well and had me on the edge of my seat.
There is so much fun and thrill to be had in this show. I binged the whole thing in two weeks, more or less. Nearly every episode was great... but it did become quite repetitive. Very repetitive. It's a little disheartening because the first three episodes of the show fooled me. I thought I was in for an emotional retelling of Superman for all ages. There were many emotionally potent moments here but the repetition is really the show's kyroptonite.
We see Lois Lane poking her head into a dangerous illegal behind-the-curtain operation almost ever episode, followed by Superman coming to her rescue. That is literally the plot to almost every episode that does not involve alien invasions or Darkseid. It got old fast. I was hoping to see more of the nuance shown early on and with Metallo, but, sadly, much of this show becomes the same formula with new window dressing.
However, the fun, thrill, and charm of Superman TAS heavily overshadow the repetitious damsel in distress scenarios. I highly recommend this to any Superman skeptic or Batman TAS fan. I guarantee you will find a new appreciation for Superman here - I know I did. I'm already set on buying and reading All Star Superman and many more Superman stories in the near future.
PS: I would love to see a Bizarro Superman show. The episode with him and Mr. Mxyzptlk had me rolling.
That is until I saw Superman the Animated Series.
I love this show. It's simple, a lot more than Batman TAS, but, god, if there isn't such an immense 50s sci-fi charm to the metropolis of Superman TAS. It's the antithesis to TAS Gotham in every way but the crime. I'd probably rather live in Gotham truth be told. I'll deal with insane mob bosses and rampant thugs over frequent alien invasions any day.
Anyway, this show introduced me to many Superman villains, such as Metallo and Parasite. Many of them had heartbreaking stories and there was surprising depth and nuance to them for a kids show. Especially Metallo - the man who's consciousness was transplanted into a robotic body and lost all feeling in the process. Certain scenes with him, especially on the island with the children, nearly brought me to tears.
The episode where the thug took over parasites mind was gut wrenching as well and had me on the edge of my seat.
There is so much fun and thrill to be had in this show. I binged the whole thing in two weeks, more or less. Nearly every episode was great... but it did become quite repetitive. Very repetitive. It's a little disheartening because the first three episodes of the show fooled me. I thought I was in for an emotional retelling of Superman for all ages. There were many emotionally potent moments here but the repetition is really the show's kyroptonite.
We see Lois Lane poking her head into a dangerous illegal behind-the-curtain operation almost ever episode, followed by Superman coming to her rescue. That is literally the plot to almost every episode that does not involve alien invasions or Darkseid. It got old fast. I was hoping to see more of the nuance shown early on and with Metallo, but, sadly, much of this show becomes the same formula with new window dressing.
However, the fun, thrill, and charm of Superman TAS heavily overshadow the repetitious damsel in distress scenarios. I highly recommend this to any Superman skeptic or Batman TAS fan. I guarantee you will find a new appreciation for Superman here - I know I did. I'm already set on buying and reading All Star Superman and many more Superman stories in the near future.
PS: I would love to see a Bizarro Superman show. The episode with him and Mr. Mxyzptlk had me rolling.