My Adventures With Superman never takes itself too seriously. While the journalist trio of Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and Jimmy Olsen are always hot on the heels of new stories over at The Daily Planet, there’s still time for cutesy shenanigans and romantic outings away from the great evils threatening to destroy Metropolis. It’s swift and adorable in its interpretation of timeless characters and stories, confidently taking on an anime-esque aesthetic with all the blushing cheeks and excessive melodrama one would expect from such inspiration.
I’m not much of a Superman fan, often finding the character underwhelming in all of his mainstream appearances, and it’s hard to care about him when his greatest weakness is a space rock. My Adventures With Superman throws us in at the first floor to tackle this lacking investment, with Clark Kent joining The Daily Planet as a muscle-bound intern in the first episode. He isn’t even Superman yet, and is still failing to hide his powers during the trials and tribulations of everyday life. So obviously it isn’t long until things take a turn.
Jack Quaid of The Boys fame lends Clark Kent an immature yet hopeful demeanour that is impossible not to root for. He’s a clumsy, loving himbo still grasping with the majesty of what powers are at his disposal, all while chipping away at the dark secrets of his past. Scenes on the family farm as he bonds with his very much still alive parents as he unearths the spaceship that brought him here in the first place are filled with warm humour, with Clark blushing at the mere mention of Lois Lane and the excitement unfolding at work. He’s a conflicted yet light-hearted character seldom overwhelmed by the usual boiling pot of angst. And when he is, it at least feels justified, albeit a little rushed when it comes to his secret identity.
Lois Lane, the ‘My’ in the show’s title, is easily the show’s brightest spark. Every small action she takes is spunky, flirtatious, and hopeful - even if it means going against direct orders to fight evil robots or bag an interview with Superman. The show is unashamed in its romantic pursuits. The majority of scenes prior to them finally becoming an item has Clark and Lois blushing up a storm in one another’s presence, or asking friends if they’re single or happen to have their contact information.
There’s a genuine love here, and I quickly bought into it, because of course two dorks in their 20s would be swept up in an avalanche of love at their first job. Part of me wishes some of the romantic revelations were given longer to bear fruit, since big scenes do land flat, but otherwise this is a take on Superman that was always bound to win my heart. Everyone in it is just so damn cute and fighting for the right things.
The dialogue can be hamfisted at times, often sacrificing world building and logic, so it can reach certain romantic or dramatic milestones in record time.I would much rather it slowed down the development despite so much of its world being familiar. A handful of episodes wasn’t enough for its strongest moments to feel earned even if they still surfaced a smile or two, although perhaps I’m expecting too much for a show aimed at young fans. It’s not trying to be Harley Quinn, with much of its drama flanked by sudden bits of humour and even more prods at the romantic bear. This all changes when big players like Supergirl and Brainiac begin rearing their heads, kicking into action a wider narrative thread now that Clark Kent and Lois Lane have finally laid the foundations.
My Adventures with Superman mixes the chemistry and altruism of the 1978 film with a dose of Millennial anime energy. You’ll find countless references to Japanese animation through its character designs and writing, and there’s even an entire episode named after the one and only Ouran High School Host Club. All of these influences are worn on its sleeve along with a nostalgic love for the Man of Steel’s legacy.
As a consequence it feels fresh, channeling classic comics as much as it does recent shows like Voltron and She-Ra, which is no surprise given the crew behind it. The first season is seldom concerned with saving the world or painting Superman as an untouchable titan. If anything, it wants him to feel naive and vulnerable in his inexperience and unafraid to make mistakes or chase his emotions even if they lead him astray. He’s flawed where it matters.
To watch Clark and friends fumble their way through life is oddly refreshing for a genre perpetually infatuated with the apocalypse. The slice of life hijinks found in some of these episodes isn’t too distant from anime classics like Lucky Star or Azumanga Daioh, levity which provides characters room to have fun, make jokes, and establish interpretations we haven’t seen before. I’m also a hopeless romantic, so of course I was going to fall for this show when it’s more concerned about Clark Kent and Lois Lane flirting than supervillains destroying the city. We weren’t given access to the final duo of episodes prior to embargo, and I can’t wait to see precisely where this first season finishes up. Alongside Harley Quinn and a handful of other projects, DC is letting its animated adaptations soar pretty damn high.