My Adventures with Superman
Intro logo
Genre
Based on
Developed by
  • Jake Wyatt
  • Brendan Clougher
  • Josie Campbell
Voices of
Music byDominic Lewis
Daniel Futcher[1]
Opening theme"Up and Away" by Kyle Troop & The Heretics
Country of origin
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producers
ProducerJosie Campbell
EditorJohn Allen Soares
Running time22 minutes
Production companies
Animation studioStudio Mir
Original release
NetworkAdult Swim
ReleaseJuly 7, 2023 (2023-07-07) 
present

My Adventures with Superman is an American animated superhero television series based on the DC Comics character Superman. The series is developed by Jake Wyatt, produced by Warner Bros. Animation and animated by South Korean studio Mir. The series premiered on Adult Swim on July 7, 2023,[lower-alpha 3] with each episode releasing on Max shortly after broadcast.[2] A second season is currently in production.

Premise

The story follows Clark Kent as he builds his secret identity as Superman and explores his mysterious origins, and Lois Lane, whom Clark develops a crush on and vice-versa, who is on her way to becoming a star reporter. Teaming up with photographer and Clark's best friend Jimmy Olsen, the trio break the stories that matter and save the day against many villains in the city of Metropolis, while also contending with Task Force X.

Voice cast

Main

Recurring and guest

Episodes

Season 1 (2023)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date[3][4]Prod.
code[3]
Viewers
(millions)
11"Adventures of a Normal Man"Jen BennettJosie Campbell, Brendan Clogher & Jake WyattJuly 7, 2023 (2023-07-07)1010.21[5]
22Diana HuhCynthia Furey102

Part 1: In Smallville, Kansas, a young Clark Kent awakens the power of flight and strength to save a woman and her baby from a car accident. Years later, in Metropolis, Clark and his roommate Jimmy Olsen, a photography student and alien conspiracy theorist, start their first day as interns for the Daily Planet. Assigned to senior intern Lois Lane, she deceives them into helping her investigate a military-grade technology theft. With a lead from Flip Johnson's Newskid Legion, the trio finds the thieves loading military robots at the docks. The thieves' leader, Leslie Willis, unleashes a robot to attack them. Clark gets out of view and returns in disguise to destroy it. As Willis activates the remaining robots to battle Clark, Lois successfully deactivates them while he awakens his super-speed to destroy the final robot. Despite their efforts, Editor-in-chief (EIC) Perry White refuses to publish the story based on Jimmy's blurry photos without real proof of the new metahuman that Lois dubbed "Superman." Once the trio become friends, Lois invites the boys to help her get an exclusive interview with Superman.


Part 2: While Lois doggedly follows up on the robot theft for a lead to Superman, Clark returns to Smallville to investigate his past and understand his new powers. Digging up the space pod that delivered him to Earth, Clark activates an alien hologram and sees visions of an alien planet amid a space war being destroyed. After Clark gains new alien clothing from this, his mother Martha Kent adds a belt and shorts to complete the look. Meanwhile, Willis is hunted by the organization she stole the robot technology from, Task Force X, and arranges a meeting with leading agent Slade Wilson. When Willis threatens to detonate explosives across the city sewers if they continue hunting her, Lois and Jimmy's surprise interruption turns the meeting into a scramble for the detonator. Willis reveals her electrical super-suit to fight Wilson until Superman arrives to subdue her. Wilson damages her suit's power crystal, leading Superman to destroy it after it gives him another vision of the space war. Though Jimmy's clear photos convince Perry to publish the story, he gives the byline to uninvolved staff reporters. Later, Wilson tortures Willis at a black site for information about Superman.
33"My Interview with Superman"Jen BennettAman AdumerJuly 14, 2023 (2023-07-14)1030.17[5]
While Lois attempts to interview Superman, Clark struggles to figure out how to help her while protecting his secret identity. However, the interns must also contend with the Daily Planet's established "Scoop Troop" reporters, who Perry credited for their Superman story—Steve Lombard, Cat Grant, and Ronnie Troupe. Meanwhile, Mist and his friend Rough House use technology they obtained from Willis to break his sister Siobhan McDougal out of prison and equip her with sonic tech to rebuild their small-time crew Intergang. Despite Clark's misgivings, the interns impersonate the Scoop Troop to investigate Siobhan, discovering a clue to Intergang's next heist. When Intergang attempts to rob the Metropolitan City Bank, their ice cannon's power crystal malfunctions and begins to freeze everything in proximity. Seeing Lois and Jimmy in danger, Superman awakens his heat vision and destroys the crystal, granting him a vision of an invading robot army. While Wilson's organization secretly takes the defeated Intergang into custody, Superman accepts Lois's interview and discloses he is still figuring himself out, but is committed to saving people. However, to his dismay, Lois later tells Clark that she suspects Superman is lying.
44"Let's Go to Ivo Tower, You Say"Kiki ManriqueJosie Campbell & Brendan ClogherJuly 21, 2023 (2023-07-21)1040.18[5]
Perry assigns the interns to cover the AmazoTech gala held by CEO, Doctor Anthony Ivo. Lois is snubbed by attendees for her invasive questions while Clark stumbles upon an argument between Ivo and his chairman, Curtis, regarding the board of directors voting out Ivo. Ejected by Ivo's security, Lois sneaks Clark back inside. They open up to each other before discovering a secret technology room connecting Ivo to Willis and Intergang. An angered Ivo demonstrates the Parasite 1.0 armor and attempts to kill Curtis. Clark becomes Superman to save Curtis while Ivo traps the attendees in the Amazo Panic Room to make them witness him overpowering Superman. Realizing the armor absorbs energy from his attacks, Superman stops fighting Ivo directly as Lois and Jimmy deactivate the Panic Room. With the suit depowered, Superman removes it from Ivo, who became deformed from the suit's side effects. With Ivo under EMT care, the interns return to find the secret room empty. Lois kisses Clark, considering the night a date. Later, after submitting her exposé on Ivo, Lois finds a torn tabloid article involving Kansas miracle sightings in Clark's coat. After reworking her evidence board, Lois concludes Clark is Superman.
55"You Will Believe A Man Can Lie"Diana HuhStory by: M. Willis, Cynthia Furey & Aman Adumer
Teleplay by: M. Willis
July 28, 2023 (2023-07-28)1050.20[6]
Hoping to confess his burgeoning feelings for Lois, Clark asks for her help in developing a story about the stolen military technology spreading throughout Metropolis and a mysterious individual kidnapping anyone using them. However, she sees it as an opportunity to expose him as Superman. Using an old dispatch scanner, she chases down Superman as he foils various crimes before eventually meeting him after he defeats Heat Wave, another criminal empowered by the stolen technology. While Superman is distracted, Heat Wave escapes, believing he is behind the kidnappings. After he drops off Lois at the Daily Planet to keep her safe, he re-confronts Heat Wave and discovers the true culprit behind the abducted criminals is an armored Wilson aided by similar robots that Willis used. Their subsequent fight soon endangers civilians, leading to Wilson's superiors, the General and Amanda Waller, ordering him to withdraw so Superman can save them. After returning to Lois, she forces Clark to reveal his secret identity to her and is left distraught. Meanwhile, Jimmy is disappointed to learn Clark and Lois failed to attend a pre-planned camping trip to investigate Bigfoot sightings with him. He goes alone, but a large gorilla kidnaps him.
66"My Adventures with Mad Science"Kiki ManriqueStory by: Aman Adumer, Angela Entzminger & Cynthia Furey
Teleplay by: Angela Entzminger
August 4, 2023 (2023-08-04)1060.21[5]
After failing to locate Jimmy, Clark reaches out to Lois for help. Despite still being mad at him, she agrees. Scouring the woods, the pair find an abandoned military installation called Area 52, but upon crossing the fence, Clark's powers falter due to the area being exposed to red solar radiation before they are chased by OMAC robots. Meanwhile, inside Area 52, Jimmy meets and befriends the gorilla Monsieur Mallah and his partner the Brain. The pair reveal they originally worked for Project Cadmus, a branch of Task Force X that focused on developing futuristic technology, before the latter organization betrayed them and raided Area 52. Ever since, the Brain and Mallah have been attempting to create a wormhole to access other dimensions where they will be accepted. Eventually breaching Area 52, Clark and Lois reconcile with each other and Jimmy, who reveals he knew of Clark's secret identity, before joining the Brain and Mallah in defeating the OMACs. Successfully opening their wormhole, the Brain warns Clark that Task Force X is after him before leaving with Mallah. Concurrently, the General recruits Ivo to help him use Cadmus' technology to kill Superman.
77"Kiss Kiss Fall in Portal"Jen BennettStory by: Paul Chang, Cynthia Furey & Aman Adumer
Teleplay by: Paul Chang
August 11, 2023 (2023-08-11)1070.19[5]
After Clark shows Lois and Jimmy his spaceship and clarifies his incomplete alien origin, Clark and Lois plan their first date. However, he is interrupted by Mister Mxyzptlk, a multiversal imp who deceives him into helping him steal a recorder from a museum on Earth-1, revealing Clark is from the planet Krypton in the process. Meanwhile, Lois and Jimmy are recruited by the multiversal "League of Lois Lanes" to help them stop Mxyzptlk and Clark. Suspicious of their intentions, Lois searches their files, stumbling onto the redacted "File X". Upon finding them, the League attack Clark while Mxyzptlk hijacks the League's vessel and travels to their headquarters with the recorder and Lois' help. As she steals the original File X, he retrieves his hat, regains his full strength, and causes chaos until Superman distracts him, allowing Lois to depower him and Jimmy to restrain him. While the League arrest Mxyzptlk, Jimmy's counterpart, Jalana, secretly brings the interns back to their native Earth-12, where Clark and Lois finish their date. Following this, she opens File X and finds recordings of evil alternate universe Supermen and a sample of a green crystal the League used to injure Superman.
88"Zero Day"Diana HuhCynthia FureyAugust 18, 2023 (2023-08-18)1080.18[7]
99Kiki ManriqueAman AdumerAugust 25, 2023 (2023-08-25)1090.20[8]

Part 1: The General uses shock collars to forcibly recruit Willis, Intergang, and Heat Wave into assisting Wilson and Ivo capture Superman. Meanwhile, after developing super-hearing and hearing everyone in the city crying for help, Clark runs himself ragged helping everyone and soon becomes sleep-deprived and weakened. When Gotham Gazette journalist Vicki Vale arrives to cover his activities, Lois is starstruck to meet her, only to be disappointed when Vale runs a biased story defaming Superman as a menace to gain a promotion. Superman saves an invisible Mist from being hit by a truck but accidentally causes an accident, turning public opinion against him. Mist says Task Force X kidnapped Siobhan, and Superman offers to rescue her, only to be led into a trap and attacked by the group. Though he holds his own despite his weakened state, Superman is eventually knocked out by Ivo via his upgraded Parasite armor and Willis. The General stops Ivo from killing him as he wants to interrogate Superman. Mist regrets luring Superman into the trap as Lois and Jimmy rush to the scene but arrive to see the group carry Superman away.


Part 2: In flashbacks to "Zero Day", the General, Waller, and their forces were attacked by an alien army led by a Superman-like figure codenamed "Nemesis Omega" before a mysterious event forced the army into a retreat that left their technology behind. In the present, the Newskid Legion helps Lois and Jimmy search for Superman while the General interrogates him for information on Zero Day. From Superman's anguished reaction, the General doubts his connection to it while a displeased Waller secretly helps the prisoners escape, during which Willis electrocutes Wilson's right eye. A vengeful Ivo attacks Superman, but inadvertently frees him. Flip eventually finds and takes him to safety. Clark believes he was sent to Earth to destroy it, but Lois assures him otherwise. Upon learning Ivo is siphoning the power grid and going on a rampage, Lois and Jimmy use social media to petition Metropolis' citizens to turn off their power, weakening Ivo so Superman can use his newly-awakened X-ray vision to locate and remove Ivo from the suit. As Superman and Lois declare their love, Jimmy finds File X. On Checkmate's behalf, Waller demotes the General and gives him Ivo's last invention, the Omega Cannon, with orders to kill Superman.
1010"Hearts of the Fathers"Jen BennettSerena Wu and Jake WyattSeptember 1, 2023 (2023-09-01)1100.20[9]
Haunted by nightmares about Zero Day, Clark swears to halt any invasion. After Perry officially promotes Clark, Lois, and Jimmy to reporters for their article on Ivo's defeat, they have Thanksgiving dinner with Clark's parents. Lois invited her father, General Sam Lane, who fails to recognize Clark. When Jimmy tries to talk with Lois and Clark, he drops File X, revealing the Supermen recordings to a devastated Clark and exposing him to the Kryptonite. Clark's space pod also reacts, rising and sending a signal that prompts an invasion similar to Zero Day. While Superman and Sam battle the invaders, Jimmy deduces that the crystal also hurts them. A weakened Superman takes the crystal to destroy the mothership, halting the invasion as the hologram of his father helps return him to Earth. Sam prepares to kill him, but Lois pleads for his life and reminds her father that Superman had saved them, causing Sam to leave. At dinner, Jimmy reveals he sold his Flamebird channel to the Daily Planet, becoming a millionaire. Meanwhile, across the universe, Brainiac informs a Kryptonian warrior of the rebellious Earth as a new planet to conquer. The undeterred warrior vows humanity will kneel.

Production

Development

In May 2021, it was announced that a two-season order had been placed for My Adventures with Superman, with the series initially planned to air on Cartoon Network and stream on HBO Max. It was revealed that Jack Quaid and Alice Lee would play Clark Kent / Superman and Lois Lane respectively. Jake Wyatt and Brendan Clogher were onboard as co-executive producers, and Josie Campbell was a producer. Sam Register was also an executive producer.[10] No major updates were given until March 2023, when it was announced that the series would no longer air on Cartoon Network, but rather on Adult Swim, despite the series not necessarily being produced for a young adult demographic.[11] Following the formation of DC Studios, the production crew showed the series' opening sequence to co-CEO James Gunn, who reportedly "liked" the series and allowed it to continue production without interference.[12]

Writing

The team behind the show wanted to explore the early years of Clark, Lois, and Jimmy Olsen and their jobs at the Daily Planet, something that Campbell felt had rarely been touched in previous Superman media. Campbell described the three characters as the heart of the show, adding that their bond and time with each other drives "the series and the character arcs for both season one and two." She also expressed the romance between Lois and Clark as being very important to the team and something that would unfold as the series progressed.[13]

Campbell cited Superman (1978) as a huge influence for the series, especially for the interplay between Margot Kidder's Lois and Christopher Reeve's Superman: "We loved their chemistry; we loved how smart and feisty Lois was, and loved the heart and altruism of Reeve’s Superman / Clark Kent. The movie was clever, fun, and modernized Superman in a way that felt organic to the time period, while also respectful of what came before. It truly is one of our favorite pieces of Superman media." Just like the film, they sought for My Adventures with Superman to have a "wide co-viewing audience, where kids, teens, and adults can all sit down and watch together." Influences for the series include the 1986 comic book limited series The Man of Steel, as well as the works of Dan Jurgens, Jon Bogdanove, and Louise Simonson.[13] Additionally, Superman's transformation sequence is inspired by Pretty Cure, specifically Cure Mermaid from Go! Princess PreCure.[14][15]

Casting

In June 2022, Michael Emerson announced that he would play Brainiac.[16] In April 2023, it was confirmed that Ishmel Sahid would play Jimmy Olsen.[17]

Campbell greatly enjoyed working with Quaid. She said that he had great comedic timing as Clark but was also able to "sell the kindness, strength, and dignity of Superman."[13]

Release

My Adventures with Superman premiered on Adult Swim on July 7, 2023 with a 2-episode special, and on Max shortly after its televised airing.[18][19] It then encores on the network's Toonami programming block on Saturday nights with reruns on Cartoon Network’s ACME Night.[20] The first season consists of 10 episodes.

Marketing

A teaser trailer was released in April 2023.[21] A full-length trailer announcing the premiere date released on June 5, 2023.[22] A promotional clip of season one was revealed on June 29, 2023.[23]

International broadcast

My Adventures with Superman airs on Cartoon Network and Adult Swim in Canada and on Cartoon Network and HBO Max in Latin America.[24][25] In the United Kingdom, the series was made available for streaming on Channel 4 on October 17, 2023, and premiered on television on E4 on October 20, 2023.[26] The series became avalible for streaming in Europe on December 11, 2023 on HBO Max, in countries where the service is avalible.[27]

Reception

Critical response

The series received positive reviews from critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series has a rating of 96% based on 23 reviews, with an average score of 8.2/10. The critics consensus reads, "Seamlessly transposing Superman into the style of shonen anime, these Adventures give the character a refreshing paint job while retaining his quintessential charm."[28] Polly Conway of Common Sense Media rated the show 4/5 stars, describing the show as "a lighthearted and fun fresh start for the classic superhero," and adding that "kids who aren't quite ready for serious superhero movies will be thrilled with the battles and challenges the crew must face."[29]

Samantha Nelson of IGN rated the show an 8/10, saying it "fuses DC Comics canon and shonen anime tropes to put a fresh and charming spin on the Man of Steel," and adding that "while there are a few weaker characters, the show's first seven episodes show huge potential driven by weird villains, complex fights and a tight ensemble."[30] Lauren Sarner of the New York Post described it as "nothing revolutionary, or especially clever, but it's lighthearted and peppered with some amusing moments."[31] Michael Thomas of Collider stated that "while the series does have a few pacing issues, and a lack of a strong supporting cast, it more than makes up for it with its slick art and strong leading trio."[32]

Accolades

Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref
2023 Saturn Awards Best Animated Television Series or Special Nominated [33]

Notes

  1. Production
  2. Animation
  3. Adult Swim lists the series as premiering on July 6, 2023, at 12:00 a.m. (24:00) EDT/PDT, which is effectively July 7.

References

  1. "Dominic Lewis & Daniel Futcher Scoring Adult Swim's 'My Adventures with Superman'". Film Music Reporter. June 27, 2023. Archived from the original on June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  2. ""My Adventures with Superman" Premieres July 6 on Adult Swim" (Press release). June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "My Adventures with Superman – Listings". The Futon Critic. Archived from the original on July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  4. "My Adventures with Superman Episode Guide". TV Passport. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "My Adventures with Superman". USTVDB. September 2, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  6. Rebecca Bunch (August 4, 2023). "Thursday Cable Ratings 7/27/23: Shark Week Slips, What We Do In The Shadows Rises, The Five Takes Cable News Lead". The TV Ratings Guide. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  7. Rebecca Bunch (August 18, 2023). "Thursday Cable Ratings 8/17/23: Gutfeld! Stays #1 in Cable News, Project Runway and What We Do In The Shadows Rise, NFL Preseason and Superstar Racing Experience Slip". The TV Ratings Guide. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  8. Rebecca Bunch (August 27, 2023). "Thursday Cable Ratings 8/24/23: CNN Leads Coverage of Latest Trump Arrest, NFL Preseason Wins the Night, What We Do In The Shadows and Project Runway Decline". The TV Ratings Guide. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  9. Rebecca Bunch (September 1, 2023). "Thursday Cable Ratings 8/31/23: What We Do In The Shadows Ends on a New Low, College Football Dominates, CNN Edges Out Fox News to Lead Cable News". The TV Ratings Guide. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  10. Rosario, Alexandra Del (May 19, 2021). "'My Adventures With Superman': Jack Quaid-Fronted Animated Series Gets Two Season Order From HBO Max & Cartoon Network". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  11. Bonthuys, Darryn (March 29, 2023). "My Adventures With Superman Now Coming To Adult Swim". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  12. Thompson, David (July 24, 2023). "Superman Producer Addresses Concerns Over James Gunn Interference on New Show". The Direct. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 "Exclusive Interview with "My Adventures With Superman" Animated Series Co-Producer Josephine Campbell". Superman Homepage. November 4, 2022. Archived from the original on June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  14. Huh, Diana (July 7, 2023). "Not sure if this would be interesting to anyone, but these are some thumbnails of plussing the transformation scene that Jessica Zammit boarded from way back when! Sometimes when I cannot figure things out on computer i gotta go back to pencil and paper". Twitter. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  15. Huh, Diana (July 7, 2023). "It was Cure Mermaid, specifically the part in her transformation when her back ribbons and hair were formed! I watched it on repeat for inspiration haha". Twitter. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  16. "Michael Emerson is Brainiac in "My Adventures With Superman" Animated Series". Superman Homepage. June 22, 2022. Archived from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  17. O'Rourke, Ryan (April 6, 2023). "'My Adventures With Superman' Teaser Shows Clark Kent Coming to the Rescue". Collider. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  18. Mitovich, Matt Webb (June 5, 2023). "My Adventures With Superman Gets Adult Swim and Max Release Dates". TVLine. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  19. Good, Owen S. (June 5, 2023). "My Adventures With Superman looks like the best summer of your life". Polygon. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  20. Legacy, Spencer (April 1, 2023). "My Adventures with Superman to Premiere on Adult Swim This Year". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  21. Dinsdale, Ryan (April 6, 2023). "My Adventures with Superman Gets First Trailer, Premieres Summer 2023". IGN. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  22. Legacy, Spencer (June 5, 2023). "My Adventures With Superman Trailer Previews Jack Quaid-Led Series". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  23. Dominguez, Noah (June 30, 2023). "My Adventures With Superman Clip Shows Clark Discovering His Origins". SuperHeroHype. Archived from the original on July 14, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  24. "'MINHAS AVENTURAS COM O SUPERMAN' estreia dia 7 de julho no Cartoon Network e na HBO Max". cebolaverde.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  25. ANMTV (July 6, 2023). "Minhas Aventuras com o Superman: animação terá transmissão pelo Cartoon Network". ANMTV (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  26. ""My Adventures With Superman" UK Premiere Date Announced". Superman Homepage. October 11, 2023.
  27. "Estos son los estrenos de HBO Max en diciembre". mundoplus.tv (in Spanish). November 30, 2023.
  28. "My Adventures with Superman". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  29. Conway, Polly (July 7, 2023). "Parents' Guide to My Adventures with Superman". Common Sense Media. Archived from the original on July 9, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  30. Nelson, Samantha (June 26, 2023). "My Adventures With Superman Review". IGN. Archived from the original on June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  31. Sarner, Lauren (July 1, 2023). "'My Adventures With Superman' is a youthful, energetic spin on the hero's tale". New York Post. Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  32. Thomas, Michael (June 26, 2023). "'My Adventures with Superman' Review: The Man of Steel Soars to New Heights". Collider. Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  33. Hipes, Patrick (December 6, 2023). "'Avatar: The Way Of Water', 'Oppenheimer', 'Star Trek' Series Lead Nominations For Genre-Focused Saturn Awards". Deadline.
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