7/10
"I'll be watching you, Luthor."
1 June 2014
This is the three-part premiere of the Superman animated series from the '90s. The first episode only features Superman as a baby, dealing mostly with the events on Krypton leading up to its destruction and baby Kal-El being sent to Earth. Love the way they incorporated Brainiac into that. The second part deals with young Clark Kent in Smallville learning to deal with his powers and origins. This leads into his going to work for the Daily Planet in Metropolis and making his debut as Superman. The third part is about Superman's first clash with Lex Luthor and setting up that dynamic for the future.

I enjoyed the '90s Superman series a lot. Along with Batman: The Animated Series, it was a great time for DC animation. The voices are terrific. Tim Daly and Dana Delany have become so synonymous with Clark and Lois, every new voice actor they try to use these days is automatically compared to them. And Clancy Brown's Lex Luthor? Forget about beating that! The rousing music score is fantastic, just what a Superman score should be.

It's great to look back on this series and see a proper representation of Superman and his world. It's all gone now, in the comics and in the movies. The lighter, more colorful tone has given way to "realism" and bleakness. Superman's a shell of his former self. But this cartoon got it right. It's great fun for kids and adults. If you have never seen the series, this is the place to start.
3 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Recently Viewed