Source: Superman Animated Series, Justice League, Justice League Unlimited, etc. (1996-present)
Type: TV
As good as the WB's Batman animated series was, it was great to see Bruce Timm's team exchange their trademark black paper for white and take on the Superman mythos. The WB Superman rarely gets the praise it deserves, though it lasted three seasons and was THE AWESOME. Very much grounded in John Byrne's version of the character (businessman Luthor, space plane and all), it still managed to create its own continuity which I sometimes prefer to that of the comics (indeed, to any other). Tying Brainiac to Krypton, in a way combining him with the Eradicator, was a stroke of genius and has produced one of the most viable versions of Brainiac I've ever encountered. This Superman also had the better Toy-Man and managed to make Lobo work as a cartoon character. The show owes a huge debt to Jack Kirby, as Intergang and the New Gods were integrated into the Superman mythos, producing some of the most kickass sequences of Bruce Timm's early years. Animated Dan Turpin even had Kirby's face!
I also have to praise the impressive voice cast. Tim Daly made for a likable (if young-sounding) Clark/Superman, Dana Delany as Lois Lane is one of my favorite castings ever, and Clancy Brown quickly became THE Lex Luthor voice. But there's more! Joanna Cassidy as Maggie Sawyer. Michael Ironside as Darkseid. Lisa Edelstein as Lex's bodyguard Mercy. Malcolm McDowell as Metallo. Michael Dorn as Steel (and Kalibak). Even Gilbert Gottfried as Mr. Mxyzptlk made sense.
Superman would eventually move on to co-star in Justice League, this time voiced by George Newbern. It was a low point for the character (though a high point for almost every other Justice Leaguer). In the first season especially, Superman's powers were downplayed to give other members a shot. Bottom line: They over-compensated. Superman would too often get pwned by a stray energy beam, sometimes from a henchman's gun. Though meant to show him as more of a veteran, the lines under his eyes and sunken cheeks simply made him look more tired and gaunt.
He got better attention in Justice League's second year, then on into Justice League Unlimited and the WB animated films that can reliably be considered part of the various shows' continuity, like the by-all-accounts awful Superman: Doomsday, and the much better Crisis on Two Earths.
If you'd like to learn more about Superman: The Animated Series, may I suggest blogger pal Max G. Robison's weekly watch'n'review at the Hive of Scum & Villainy?
Type: TV
As good as the WB's Batman animated series was, it was great to see Bruce Timm's team exchange their trademark black paper for white and take on the Superman mythos. The WB Superman rarely gets the praise it deserves, though it lasted three seasons and was THE AWESOME. Very much grounded in John Byrne's version of the character (businessman Luthor, space plane and all), it still managed to create its own continuity which I sometimes prefer to that of the comics (indeed, to any other). Tying Brainiac to Krypton, in a way combining him with the Eradicator, was a stroke of genius and has produced one of the most viable versions of Brainiac I've ever encountered. This Superman also had the better Toy-Man and managed to make Lobo work as a cartoon character. The show owes a huge debt to Jack Kirby, as Intergang and the New Gods were integrated into the Superman mythos, producing some of the most kickass sequences of Bruce Timm's early years. Animated Dan Turpin even had Kirby's face!I also have to praise the impressive voice cast. Tim Daly made for a likable (if young-sounding) Clark/Superman, Dana Delany as Lois Lane is one of my favorite castings ever, and Clancy Brown quickly became THE Lex Luthor voice. But there's more! Joanna Cassidy as Maggie Sawyer. Michael Ironside as Darkseid. Lisa Edelstein as Lex's bodyguard Mercy. Malcolm McDowell as Metallo. Michael Dorn as Steel (and Kalibak). Even Gilbert Gottfried as Mr. Mxyzptlk made sense.
Superman would eventually move on to co-star in Justice League, this time voiced by George Newbern. It was a low point for the character (though a high point for almost every other Justice Leaguer). In the first season especially, Superman's powers were downplayed to give other members a shot. Bottom line: They over-compensated. Superman would too often get pwned by a stray energy beam, sometimes from a henchman's gun. Though meant to show him as more of a veteran, the lines under his eyes and sunken cheeks simply made him look more tired and gaunt.
He got better attention in Justice League's second year, then on into Justice League Unlimited and the WB animated films that can reliably be considered part of the various shows' continuity, like the by-all-accounts awful Superman: Doomsday, and the much better Crisis on Two Earths.If you'd like to learn more about Superman: The Animated Series, may I suggest blogger pal Max G. Robison's weekly watch'n'review at the Hive of Scum & Villainy?
Comments
Such a relief when they stopped slamming down Superman after JL season 1. TV Tropes calls that "The Worf Effect".
Seeing Jack Kirby kicking Parademon ass is nothing short of awesome. We also have the quiet acknowledgment of Maggie Sawyer's relationship, that whimsical New Gods theme music, a Jewish funeral (rarely seen on TV yet alone in animated form), and that title card thanking Jack for the Fourth World.
Hell, this makes me tear up just typing it out.
S:TAS also boasts smartest version of Jor-El yet, the only one who had a workable plan that was immediately actionable (put everyone in the Phantom Zone, then have one man fly to another world in a rocket and free everyone).
Episode two of the three-part origin was remarkable for telling its story so compactly and yet not missing anything vital. They spent the time on all the right things (such as Clark's elation at discovering he could fly), while wasting no time on the things we don't need to see (such as the details of Clark leaving Smallville and arriving in Matropolis). Even the scene where Superman saves Lois for the first time conveyed how strange it must have been: you open your eyes and there's a guy in tights keeping a beam from squishing you.
Anyway, I have to opine that S:TAS peaked on the three-part origin story, which is a shame, but then again I can't fault them for it. It just proves that Superman's origin is a fine story to tell, even if you've heard it before, and even if it can be condensed into as few as eight words if you want.
S:TAS actually goes against this, but it still works. Partially because, after we've gotten to Earth, Jor-El doesn't reappear every 5 minutes. And also because it adds depth without being too angsty. By showing Lana and Jor-El as good parents, AND also showing the Kents as being the same, it feels like a legitimate adoption. (Although I can't quite remember the throwaway line, but what excuse do they use in this? Adoption? Natural son?)
Also, this origin keeps Johnathan alive, which is another good thing that Bryne did. Killing off the dad is such a cliche by now that, by giving Clark a normal, loving, living pair of parents he's actually in the minority.
One other thing to love about Jor-El on Krypton ... ? It shows that it's in Kal-El's blood to be a man who rights wrongs and isn't afraid to risk his life. I don't mean that in a literal sense -- that he is genetically inclined to fight evil -- but rather I like to think that Jor-El would "get" the man his son grew up to be, and would be proud of him. Damn you, S:TAS, for making me care about what a fictional dead alien would think!
I would also give credit to the two Superman/Batman movies, if only for the voice acting. They are about as stupid as the comics they're based on at times, though.