Written by Veda Kota
On July 6th, the first episode of the highly-anticipated DC series My Adventures with Superman premiered on Adult Swim. The show is an iteration of one of America’s favorite superheroes as he learns to navigate life, love, and the occasional lost cat. My Adventures with Superman offers a refreshing take on the much-revered superhero, providing an insight into the man behind the logo and his attempts to live as normal of a life as a super-person can do.
The show starts off with a shot of a young Clark Kent, still on the farm he grew up on. A kite is stuck in a tree and Kent, growing extremely frustrated, tries his very best to grab it. The music swells, and just as the audience thinks he’s about to discover his powers, he unceremoniously fails to grab the kite. The show then pans over to a speeding car, and Kent in his naivety, runs over, grabs the bumper, and stops the car from crashing headfirst into a tree. With this revelation, he discovers he can also fly, but vows to keep these secrets to himself.
We are then brought to the present day, as Kent (voiced by Jack Quaid, The Boys) and his roommate, Jimmy Olsen (Ishmel Sahid), prepare for their first day at The Daily Planet, Metropolis’ leading newspaper. The show switches between the perspectives of Kent and Lois Lane (Alice Lee, Heathers: The Musical), Kent’s crush and soon-to-be partner. Kent’s perspective is wrought with anxiety as he not only breaks his alarm clock, but his sink and shoes in all his nervousness and boyish charm. Lane presents a striking dichotomy, full of energy and extremely confident as she prepares to present her boss with a winning story.
This character introduction manages to set the tone for the rest of the show: humorous, endearing, but serious when it needs to be. Lane’s quips are perfectly balanced with Olsen’s excitement, and when paired with the witty nature of the Newskid Newspaper kids plus Kent’s “mother-hen” guidance, the show blossoms. Despite some characters having a more prominent speaking role, no one character overshadows another. The show is seamless, interweaving perfectly-timed comedic jokes while managing to convey pretty compelling messages.
The characterization of Kent also appears to be made for a newer generation. Long gone is the “macho-man” stereotype of the “alpha” that needs to assert his superiority and flex his muscles. This version of Kent is sweet and sensitive, if not a bit naive as he tries to balance his private and public life. With an intimidating height and broad shoulders, Kent should be absolutely terrifying to the smaller Lane, however, his personality puts him on equal ground with all the characters in the show, treating them with the utmost respect and kindness. Superman has always been a positive role model for children, but this anxious, clumsy version of him is more than that: he’s relatable. The choice to give Kent tangible flaws (and not just “he’s too kind” or “he’s too strong”) is a great one, as seeing oneself in the media is important, especially when it’s framed in a positive light.
One common critique of animation (at least in the West) is that the shows are only geared towards children, or appear to be obviously made for children. However, in the buildup to this show being released, I saw numerous adults on various social media platforms excited for this new reimagining of the show’s legacy. Many pointed out the stylizations of Lane and Olsen, noting the changes in Lane’s style with happiness. While the pacing of the show is obviously geared towards small children (takes a long time before Lane and Kent kiss), the show also appears to adults through overarching themes, allegories, and great characters.
The little details are what make this show truly great, like the decision to give Kent a “magical girl transformation” (a la Sailor Moon), or making Perry’s palms a different color than his skin (something that’s often missed when animating people of color!). While this may not be completely accurate to the mythos of one of America’s oldest superheroes, it provides a positive role model, beautiful animation, and a great message for those of all ages. If you like stories full of heart, hope, and humor, My Adventures with Superman is for you.
