My Adventures with Superman returns Saturday, June 13 at midnight ET/PT as part of its Toonami anime/action block, next day on HBO Max in the US. Across Europe the series will premiere on June 14
Synopsis
In season 3, Clark has truly become Superman and made peace with his Kryptonian origins – he’s ready to settle down! But Lois, who has finally become the Planet’s star reporter, is NOT. Jimmy has evolved from freelance photographer to celebrity journalist—but he’s still intimidated by the romantic attentions of the newly arrived Kara Zor‑El, who’s trying to find her place on Earth.
In our latest action, comedy, and romance-packed season, this found family will have to confront powerful new enemies that challenge Superman, threaten their future, and test the bonds holding them together. Can our heroes save their tomorrow–before it destroys today?
Review
It has been almost two years since the season 2 finale of My Adventures with Superman. After an initial order for twenty episodes the show took a self-imposed break to prepare the troops for round three. This week fans will get a first look at what comes next as the season 3 premiere arrives in the US on June 13th and then here in the UK on June 14th.
I’ve had the chance to see all ten episodes of the season and whilst there’s plenty of plot details to be kept under wraps, I’m excited to share with you just how strongly the series has returned with a new storyline inspired by the events of all-time classic Superman comic book stories The Death of Superman and Reign of the Supermen.
Showrunner Jake Wyatt and the series writing team has nimbly taken apart those comic books, supplementing a truly original story about the Super-family with the core themes of what Dan Jurgens was able to achieve. It means that My Adventures with Superman’s latest batch of episodes feel different and unpredictable but at the same time they maintain the essence of the character and the world that has been built across the first two seasons.
The season opens in the calm that came after the epic season 2 finale. Kara (Kiana Madeira) has integrated herself into the lives of Clark (Jack Quaid), Lois (Alice Lee) and Jimmy (Ishmel Sahid) making her a core character for season 3. Kara’s relationship with Jimmy is a recurring theme throughout the season. Kara and Jimmy find themselves at the centre of the season’s romantic storyline, their relationship still finding its footing while Clark and Lois navigate something altogether more overwhelming which is absolutely not going to be spoiled here.
The shift in relationship dynamics is part of how My Adventures with Superman has continued to mature across seasons. Across season 3 Clark and Lois are tested by the arrival of Superboy, Cyborg Superman and plenty of other Super-variant across the season. But rather than breaking them apart, the writers approach the entire Reign of the Supermen arc as a way to test them as a unit. Quaid and Lee are so comfortable in their roles now that they’re really able to have fun with Clark and Lois as a couple, as professional journalists, as future parents and heroes for Metropolis.
Of the two it’s Alice Lee who is given the biggest opportunity to show a broader emotional range this season. The arrival of the Supermen shows Lois a version of herself she was already afraid to confront. But at the same time it leaves her with a sense that her path is already written. As someone who prides herself on defining her own journey she feels that power has been taken away from her and much of the season leads up to her having to embrace exactly what that means for her career and her family.
Meanwhile Quaid continues to grow in confidence as the Man of Steel. His journey with this role continues to be unexpected and impressive. Superman starts out the season in a secure place. Following the Kryptonian invasion he has finally found a connection to his people through Kara. Likewise his relationship with Lois is strong and so really he couldn’t be happier and already planning for the future. So the arrival of other super-powered characters really shakes his foundation in a fundamental way.
Outside of their relationship as Kara and Jimmy, Madeira and Sahid are both having a lot of fun this season. Jimmy continues to be one of the series’ most consistent characters with Sahid’s performance never faltering for even a second. His ability to cut through any tense moment with comedy is perfect for the series tone. Now applying that to the development of his romantic relationship with Kara we see Jimmy in a different light that only makes the character even richer. Whilst Kara has an arc which is almost as huge as Clark’s. Supergirl takes on some of Superman’s place in the Death and Reign storylines which makes for an interesting shift in the status quo… and yes you should be worried!
Season 3 succeeds in presenting fans with a complex, rich and rewarding storyline that feels fresh despite its roots existing in a comic book from the 90s. Recognisable elements from the comics appear with completely new context. Characters are given the kind of unique origin we’ve come to expect from My Adventures with Superman. It earns all of this season’s astonishing gut punch moments through hard graft and genuine character development rather than simply manufacturing drama. Without venturing into plot details, this is a season that will make you feel things you weren’t prepared for. Grief. Hope. Pride. All are baked into the DNA of season 3 exquisitely, leaving us floating uncomfortably between all three in the most compelling way possible.
As with previous seasons there are a mix of episode-of-the-week and the overarching story. But even in those standalone episodes there are still breadcrumbs which signal the overall direction of travel for the season. The themes of the season all fall beautifully into place when Lois utters the line “this is a job for Superman”. The context in which the line is spoken is devastating for both the audience and Clark. But the resolution which comes from hearing them does nothing but galvanise our love for this character and his dedication to his mission.
For anyone worried that My Adventures with Superman would suffer from a dip in quality due to the gap in production: fear not, the series looks as beautiful as ever. There is no major shift in character design or animation style. If anything season 3 feels even more alive and dynamic. Perhaps absence has made the heart grow fonder. But after the two year gap it feels like everything about My Adventures with Superman has matured, presenting the absolute best version of itself it possibly can. Whilst seismic changes in the finale offer up a glimpse of what could be coming next for season 4, hopefully after a shorter gap this time…
Verdict
My Adventures with Superman returns from a two-year hiatus with its strongest season to-date. Featuring a remarkable storyline that is both completely incomparably MAWS but still echoes the character’s long storied history in comics. Never mind the Reign of the Supermen, this is the reign of My Adventures with Superman and season 4 can’t come soon enough.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
