Season one will debut with two back-to-back episodes, followed by one new episode every Thursday. Encores of new episodes will air Fridays at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT on Adult Swim and Saturdays at midnight on Toonami. New episodes will also stream Fridays on Max.
Synopsis
A serialised coming-of-age story catching up with twenty-somethings Clark Kent, the bright and driven Lois Lane, and their best friend Jimmy Olsen as they begin to discover who they are and everything they can accomplish together as an investigative reporting team at the Daily Planet.
Review
Whilst we have to wait until 2025 to see the Man of Steel back on the big screen, it’s just a few short weeks before Kal-El splashes down on the small screen with a brand new series. My Adventures With Superman is a deliciously anime-inspired series that tackles Supes origin story from exciting new angles.
I’ve had the great pleasure of watching the first seven episodes of the ten episode season. This review will be spoiler-lite because I want everyone to enjoy the My Adventures With Superman journey on their own terms.
The series starts in earnest with a two-episode premiere, “Adventures of a Normal Man”. There’s no immediate flashback to the catastrophic events which saw the end of Krypton and Kal-El’s journey to Earth. Instead the series breaks with tradition, dropping us in to the story at the young Clark (Jack Quaid, Star Trek: Lower Decks) first discovers his powers. In a few short beats the series is able to communicate that this is a familiar setting but perhaps not exactly as we’ve seen it before.
Across the seven episodes I’ve seen the series does choose to veer off from tradition slightly. It takes a measured approach to introducing each of Clark’s powers, starting with flight and slowly introducing the classic gifts that Earth’s sun bestows on the legendary hero. The biggest liberty is taken in Clark’s connection with his Kryptonian heritage. As the series shifts to the present day and Clark begins his internship at The Daily Planet he’s completely unaware of his roots. This approach is refreshing and not something we’ve seen before in live-action or animation. It makes My Adventures With Superman unpredictable and for that I’m incredibly appreciative.
Everything about the series’ setting is exciting. Rather than dropping Clark in to a fully fledged career as a reporter it’s cool to see Clark, Lois (Alice Lee, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist) and Jimmy (Ishmael Sahid, The Mindy Project) as interns. The younger skewing approach is the perfect entry point for a younger audience catching the series on Max. It’s first-run on Adult Swin seems somewhat baffling as there’s no extreme violence or language anywhere to be seen in these first seven episodes. Creating younger versions of the characters instantly makes them more fallible. We’re able to see them make bad choices and learn from them as their friendship and professional lives develop.
But that’s not to say these characters aren’t recognisable. Lee’s version of Lois is tenacious and fiercely ambitious. She chases after the biggest stories in Metropolis like we would expect. But this version also has lessons to learn about how far she will go to make a name for herself. Lois fans should be particularly excited for episode 7 which introduces a cool concept centred on the character.
Similarly, Sahid’s Jimmy Olsen is a dedicated friend to both Clark and Lois. Rarely without his camera he’s learning about what it means to be a hero in his own right. His character is often the lynchpin of the trio as they all embark on their own personal journeys. In that respect the writers of My Adventures With Superman are able to show across these seven episodes that the show can capably balance its human and Kryptonian sides.
Whilst the trio is front-and-centre of every episode, it’s Quaid’s Superman whose name is in the title. Ultimately the success of the show hangs on not only his chemistry with Lee and Sahid but also his ability to imbue the Man of Steel with the right level of strength and hope that the character stands for. Quaid’s younger sounding voice, whilst perfect for this characterisation, will definitely not be for everyone. However, I am not everyone. The shades of light and dark in Quaid’s voice land perfectly for this version of the character. There are reflections of Christopher Reeves’ clumsy Clark perfectly evoking the character’s past. Across these seven episode his Superman is still finding his voice but there’s a character defining strength which sets apart the two alter egos appropriately.
Though each episode has a standalone story there are serialised elements which span the course of the season. Each episode beautifully builds out the worlds beyond the core trio. There are familiar villains, cameos and Easter eggs galore. I’m not going to spoil any of those here but look out for name drops right from the series’ outset as My Adventures With Superman sets out an impressive and potentially universe spanning storyline.
The series wears its anime-inspired heart on its sleeve in the character designs and art style. It’s not outright anime in its execution. There’s plenty of fluidity to the animation as the series blends US and Japanese styles together to create something which is a true hybrid of the two. There are even visual clues to My Adventures With Superman’s potential endgame storyline baked in to its visual style. Pay close attention to certain design language and the visualisations of Clark’s powers. It’s all there if you know what to look for.
That kind of close attention to detail is exactly why the series is such a success right out of the gate. It’s a Superman series which is clearly made with a love for the character the his mythology. I hope the final three episodes can land the series with as much excitement as how it started.
Verdict
My Adventures With Superman is off to a brilliant start. These seven episodes feature some of the most exciting and consistent storytelling in animation. Teamed with a dynamic cast and exciting visual style and the series looks set to become an instant classic.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
