When it comes to Superman, reinterpretations that will appeal to multiple generations of comic book fans are difficult to implement as he is one of DC’s oldest and most beloved heroes, with people having been drawn to him in one form or another for decades. Everyone knows the basics of the Man of Steel storyline, but what feels “right” or “true” about the character often depends on when, where, and how you first meet him. And because Superman has been around for so long, there are as many different takes on him in DC comics as there are realities.
For that reason, it’s always at least a little iffy when DC or Warner Bros. Discovery debut Superman riffs meant to feel fresh and hark back to his earliest days as a simple symbol of hope, such as Adult Swim’s new “My Adventures with.” Superman series from executive producer Sam Register does. At a time when WBD has already announced plans to work on another live-action version of Superman, it’s easy to dismiss an animated series like Superman as a snappy, snappy entry point for a young (bigger) audience. In truth, this is the anime-inspired series produced by Studio Mir – especially the first few episodes. But it’s also one of the heartiest, most humane portrayals of Clark Kent DC has ever released, and it feels like exactly the kind of updated origin story the character deserves in 2023.
Set in a world where supervillains and metahumans are just beginning to unravel, My Adventures with Superman chronicles the escapades of young Daily Planet interns Lois Lane (Alice Lee), Jimmy Olsen (Ishmel Sahid) and Clark Kent (Jack Quaid). ) in their early days as aspiring journalists trying to make a name for themselves in Metropolis.
With the Daily Planet being one of the country’s most important newspapers, muscular, burly Clark, extraterrestrial conspiracy theorist Jimmy and accomplished daredevil Lois know it could be the key to their rise to fame in editor Perry White’s (Darrell Brown) favor to remain well-known and respected journalists. But for all of Lois’ boldness, Jimmy’s attention to detail, and Clark’s work ethic, White is reluctant to see them as anything more than rookie reporters, inspiring each of them – but especially Lois – to take matters into their own hands.
Rather than radically changing too many of his main characters, My Adventures with Superman breathes new life into the Superman origin myth by exploring the lives of those around Clark, at a time when he still hasn’t figured out where he’s from and how it all works his skills work. “My Adventures With Superman” Lois longs to spread big, haunting stories, and Jimmy dreams of taking photos that make front pages. But this Clark — a suave and clumsy man who Quaid infuses with a gentle boyishness — isn’t quite sure how he fits into the world, and the series doesn’t rush to give him an answer because it knows you ( probably) already know what the future holds for them.
What’s interesting about My Adventures With Superman is how by focusing more on Lois, Jimmy and their work at the Daily Planet, the series is able to turn what might otherwise be an all-too-familiar Young Superman™ story into an engaging story that’s more dynamic Story that adopts a number of narrative cues from series like Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon.
As with Son Goku and Usagi, this Clark’s clumsy stupidity isn’t really a bit – it’s a central part of who he is, as are his weird superpowers and his drive to help people. Clark’s Kryptonian physiology makes him strong, but it’s his connections to others that make him truly powerful, both literally and figuratively, and My Adventures With Superman nails it by focusing on Lois and Jimmy poses, rather than just having them act as supporting characters in another straightforward Superman story.
Like any Shonen tale worth its salt, My Adventures With Superman balances its lighthearted humor and hint of romance with a healthy dose of action, thanks to the many villains Clark faces as a newly minted vigilante – many of whom manage to really letting him work the unique way his powers work on the show. It’s worth seeing for yourself how My Adventures With Superman sees Clark’s powers and boundless compassion for others as intertwined. But after years of watching Superman on the big screen brutally mow down people in the name of justice, this is a welcome change that reflects much more the ideals that Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster defined with their iconic creation wanted to.
Also starring in My Adventures With Superman are Jeannie Tirado, Kiana Madeira, Michael Emerson, Chris Parnell, Reid Scott, Kari Wahlgren, Zehra Fazal and Jason Marnocha. The show airs on Adult Swim on Thursday nights and appears on Max the next day.