FIF#186-My Adventures with Superman

Clark Kent arrives in Metropolis, looking to start his career as a reporter alongside his best friend Jimmy Olsen.  But Clark finds more than just the big city waiting for him.  There’s the ambitious but beautiful fellow intern Lois Lane.  And there’s a destiny that Clark never knew was his.  When super powered villains begin terrorizing the city, Clark must use his special abilities to stop them and keep his friends out of danger.  For unknown to Lois and Jimmy, Clark isn’t human.  He’s something else entirely and now the world is about to meet him…as the Man of Steel, Superman.

 
It hasn’t been an easy couple of years for DC when it comes to TV and Movies.  With the inevitable reboot of the DC Movies coming in 2025, many projects are either being cancelled, flopping at the box office or just aren’t getting any real attention from audiences.  Thankfully, it looks like they’re willing to take a chance on projects unrelated to James Gunn’s retooling of DC’s Cinematic Universe or whatever it’s going to be called.  Enter My Adventures with Superman, a new animated series airing on Adult Swim.  Not only does this show tap into a medium DC hasn’t done nearly enough with, it also gives us the brightest Superman in ages (to be fair though, Tyler Hoechlin is incredible on Superman & Lois on the CW but that show can be very, very serious…still highly recommend it though). 
 
The world of DC Comics is just as ripe as anything else for an Anime adaptation, especially Superman.  If One Punch Man taught us anything it’s that with Anime, you can really showcase the proper scope and power of the Man of Steel’s strength and capabilities.  However, while I’m sure we’ll get some of that later on, the opening of My Adventures with Superman makes its goals clear: Be funny and stay true to the core of what makes Superman, Superman.  And in both of those regards, it succeeds.  Warnes Bros. Animation is working with Studio Mir on this one, so no wonder the Anime influences are out there in welcome sight.  Mir is the group that gave us The Legend of Korra and Voltron: Legendary Defender and they bring that same comedic energy that helped those shows thrive even when the drama was kicked into high gear.  From Clark’s transformation sequence into Superman to Lois’ exaggerated expressions, basically every little moment shows us that Superman and Anime were meant to be a thing.
 
The voice talents are top notch and well chosen too.  Ishmel Sahid is the Sokka to Clark and Lois’ Aang and Katara, a supportive goofball who’s prone to gushing over conspiracy theories.  Alice Lee imbunes Lois with that energy fitting of a legend just starting out as a hungry journalist who will do anything and manipulate anyone to get what she wants, though she learns to actually lean on Jimmy and especially Clark for help and reassurance.  Then, of course, there’s Clark Kent himself.  I was excited to hear Jack Quaid of The Boys and Star Trek: Lower Decks fame was taking on the role.  At first, it was hard not to chuckle at hearing Brad Boimler’s voice coming from Superman.  But Quaid is a natural, selling Clark’s awkwardness but his always good hearted nature and he nails some of the more emotional scenes too.  This series is meant to be funny but it doesn’t shy away from the tougher topics like Clark’s starcrossed origins, or Clark’s determination as Superman.  Probably the best line from the two part into is when Clark is trying to get a handle on an out of control villain and says “I’m not trying to stop you, I’m trying to save you.”  THAT is Superman in a nutshell right there and I love it.  Also those core three actors have such infectious chemistry together, it’s cute, especially Clark and Lois with their immediate attraction to one another (Lois especially, wow she’s drawn nicely).
 
I’ve been looking forward to My Adventures with Superman since it was announced and I am definitely on board for it.  The cast is well chosen and Studio Mir is bringing it’s usual A Game to give Superman the Anime esque adventure he’s always needed.  See, Anime doesn’t have to be saved specifically for Batman or his rogues gallery (I know I’m off but the only DC Anime or Anime-ish projects I can think of are Batman: Gotham Knight, Batman: Ninja and Catwoman: Hunted).  Plus it’s good to see a colorful, fun and funny spin on Superman without sacrificing the qualities that make him one of the greatest heroic icons of all time.  Also I heard this show got a two season order right out the gate.  In a time of tough decisions for DC, that might be the smartest move they’ve made so far this year (that and renewing Superman & Lois for a 4^th Season).