"My Adventures with Superman": Episode One Review, and making the Man of Steel fun again
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Before I begin reviewing the pilot, however, I did wish to make some general observations first. Personally, I love the direction the showrunners are taking with Superman here. Many newer depictions of Clark Kent’s story have shown him in a, quote-on-quote, “grittier” light. The Zack Synder films largely attempted to showcase this angle, both conceptually in Superman’s personality, and aesthetically in his fights. The “Injustice” games paint an even darker tale, showing a Clark twisted by tragedy and obsessed with controlling Earth’s criminals. Beyond DC, other franchises like “Invincible” and “The Boys” have similarly explored the idea of a less heroic Kal-El; The former’s analogue being an alien sleeper agent, the latter’s a psychopathic manchild. This is all fine, and I like my complex, morally grey comic characters as much as the next person. Still, Superman has his roots in optimism, and the antics of a colourful power fantasy. Clark’s core presence revolves around his boy scout demeanour and selfless outlook. For many fans, no property embodies this more than the much beloved Christopher Reeves movies (which I admittedly haven’t watched in their entirety...blasphemous, I know). “My Adventures with Superman'' seems to be hearkening back to that original idea, the charm of Reeves’ portrayal, and maybe a touch of “Smallville”. This Superman is young, inexperienced, and still trying to comprehend his full potential. He’s a kind hearted guy who enjoys helping people - sort of like a golden retriever with the body of an NFL linebacker. It’s a refreshingly lighter take on Kent’s story and persona, made even better by some spirited animation. The hues are vibrant, the lighting is bright, the movements are full of energy and quick cuts. Its style is clearly inspired by Japanese Anime, and it’s a style I quite enjoy. From a production standpoint, the show makes good use of its budget and crew. The animators aren’t changing the rules, per say, but they are applying proven visual gags and techniques to good effect.
Let's also talk about Lois Lane and her new design, which everybody on the internet was apparently going nuts over. Spunky and exuberant, this Lane has tanned skin, short hair and more casual clothing. It’s a bold new look for the character, and at the risk of insinuating anything, I’m all for it. Of course, that’s just one aspect of her depiction that’s worth talking about. Historically, Lane has been envisioned - at least in her better outings - as an opposite to Kent; The headstrong, assertive mortal woman, falling for the invulnerable yet mild mannered god. On paper, the duo works because of that balance in contrasts, and their shared chemistry. In many ways, “My Adventures with Superman” continues that tradition. This Lois is certainly smitten with Clark, and is certainly determined…maybe to a fault. Her initial actions involve barging into her boss’s office at the Daily Planet, making a grand presentation with Clark and Jimmy Olsen about a fantastical military theft. And when he refuses her privately, she outright lies to the new employees regarding his decision (it was literally their first day on the job!) Not the most charitable behaviour, I’ll admit, but also not an automatic deal breaker. Lois’ choices only get more complex as the show progresses, and more than anything, I think the writing around her character has generated the most criticism. For now, though, I’m definitely in favour of this depiction. I simply find Lane’s design, personality and interactions with Clark very entertaining.
With all that said, let’s proceed to the rest of the premiere episode - “Adventures of a Normal Man: Part 1”. As far as the pilot goes…well…it's the first episode. Its primary function is setting up the important Superman lore. Clark as a young boy first discovering his powers? Check. Him meeting Lois and starting work at the Daily Planet? Double check. Him being roommates with Jimmy? That might be a new idea, actually, though as with a lot of things I could be wrong. If any comic book veterans recognize that detail from an old run, please let me know. Bottom line…if you know even the most rudimentary details about Superman, you can predict the events of this episode. The only somewhat fresh plot element involves the military theft mentioned earlier. Our team soon discovers who's responsible; A group of thieves lead by Leslie Willis, who I didn’t realise was the character Livewire until researching the show further (Side note: Livewire, Electro, Magneto…what’s with all these electric based supervillains?) I’ll freely admit, the antagonists in this episode are pretty standard for the genre. There’s nothing too surprising or compelling about their characterizations, and to be particularly blunt…they haven’t stuck with me much after seeing the whole season. Maybe a rewatch will help my opinion, but if there was anything I thought was unique about their portrayals, I’m struggling to recall it.
Routine bad guys aside, what’s meant to be humorous in this episode is quite funny. It’s amusing to see Clark, a physically imposing guy by any standard, babied by an elderly shopkeeper. It's sweet to see the mutual crush between him and Lois develop, particularly in one adorable moment where he tries to help her through a window. A large portion of the show’s one liners come from Olsen, and the script makes no attempt to hide that he’s the comedic sidekick (with a keen ability to foreshadow). I can understand how this character might become grating for some, but overall he worked just fine for me. Even if Olsen’s jokes aren’t hilarious by themselves, Ishmel Sahid’s infectious, high energy performance helps them land well enough.
The episode isn’t short on more serious scenes either. For example, I’m glad Clark called Lois out on her fake story when he discovered her deception. The sudden friction between them is tangible, and it also sets up an important theme of the series - truth vs protection. The superhero persona innately creates that conflict, as the person bestowed with such power struggles to feel safe - or more frustratingly, struggles to ensure the safety of their weaker friends. That’s imperative to Superman’s image as well, and boy does this show have some strong words about secret identities (more on those scenes later). Also the pilot's central action set piece is pretty decent, and a solid enough start to a show filled with them. It’s suitably engaging on a choreography level, while also giving Lois something to do in the fight, instead of just standing on the sidelines. Furthermore, the visual effect of Clark channelling his full strength, and racing towards his foe in a blue cloak of electricity, is well executed. On another comedic note, though, it’s good that Lois couldn’t see Clark’s face under his Shazam hood - she won’t have that excuse for long.
Overall, this is a relatively safe beginning to a Superman animated series, but a fitting one. I appreciate the tonal shift from the character’s more recent appearances, and both the animation and dialogue do well to support that. Of course, we as the audience know nothing serious was going to come from the first episode. We knew Perry would have to let the three stay, in spite of them venturing out against his wishes. We knew Clark and Lois would make up relatively soon - it would be a missed opportunity otherwise. Without dropping the suspense too much, I can say right now this is a decent premiere to a more than decent series. I enjoy the vocal performances of Jack Quaid and Alice Lee, in their respective titular roles. I enjoy seeing these characters in such a breezy environment. And for the purposes of these reviews, I look forward to my coverage of the show’s subsequent outings.
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