Review - Superman: The Animated Series (1996-2000)

        Hey guys, Chuck here. Well, I recently picked up a popular DC Comics animated series from my childhood: Superman: The Animated Series. And now that I've watched through every episode of this series, I thought I'd give my thoughts on it. 

          So, Superman: The Animated Series, which aired as part of the Kid's WB block from 1996 to 2000, was produced by Bruce Timm and Paul Dini, who had previous success earlier in the '90s with Batman: The Animated Series, which aired on Fox Kids. The series opens with the three-parter "The Last Son of Krypton," which establishes the origins of Superman from his infancy on Krypton, his childhood and teen years in Smallville, and his eventual life in Metropolis as both Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent and as the costumed hero Superman. One really interesting detail that was exclusive to this series it that the artificial intelligence Brainiac was given a Kryptonian origin as well, and it showcases that Brainiac deliberately lied to the High Council of Krypton, leading them to dismiss Jor-El and his findings, but ultimately backing himself up in an orbiting satellite in an act of self-preservation. 

        Now, one thing I really enjoyed about this series was the cast. Tim Daly is definitely an excellent choice as the voice of Superman, as was Dana Delaney as the voice of Lois Lane. The two of them were definitely the right choices for the roles, and whenever I read a Superman comic, it's their voices I hear while reading. 

         I also loved the line-up of villains, both adapted from the comics and introduced in this series. I already mentioned Brainiac, and I absolutely loved Corey Burton's portrayal of the character. Cold and calculating, but still entertaining. Lex Luthor is in the series as well, and is voiced by Clancy Brown. Now, this is honestly my favorite version of the character of Lex Luthor, as he's presented as a genuine rival to Superman: someone whose company essentially made Metropolis what it is, and sees the Man of Steel as a threat to his position in Metropolis. The last main villain of the series is Darkseid, voiced by Michael Ironside. Now , this villain is definitely one of the more intriguing of the main three, as his only goal is to conquer the universe, and Superman is the one thing keeping him from that goal. Along with Darkseid, we have other villains from Apokolips, like Steppenwolf, DeSaad, Granny Goodness, and the Female Furies. By the way, Ed Asner is the voice of Granny Goodness, and he did a great job with the character. 

        Other recurring villains include Metallo, voiced by Malcolm McDowell, Parasite, voiced by Brion James, Toyman, voiced by Bud Cort, and Mr. Mxyzptlk, voiced by Gilbert Gottfried. We also have Kryptonian villains Jax-Ur and Malla, voiced by Ron Perlman and Sarah Douglas. As far as villains created for the series, we have the likes of Volcana, voiced by Peri Gilpin, Luminus, voiced by Robert Hays, and Livewire, voiced by Lori Petty. Of these three, I'd say my personal favorite is Livewire, as she's a villain of pure electricity, and she definitely has a witty attitude to boot. 

        The series also features other DC Universe heroes, like Kyle Rayner/Green Lantern, Doctor Fate, The Flash, Aquaman, Supergirl, the Legion of Superheroes, heck even Batman shows up in a few episodes, and Kevin Conroy even reprises his role as the Dark Knight Detective. This was honestly a prelude to what DC fans would be getting with the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited series on Cartoon Network. 

         The writing in this series was top notch, and the action was definitely a highlight. Bruce Timm and Paul Dini definitely did an excellent job with this series overall, as it took the Man of Steel, and gave him a series that is just as entertaining for adults as it is for kids. Luckily, the series is now on Blu-ray, and is definitely a worthwhile addition to any DC fan's collection. I give Superman: The Animated Series a rating of 5/5. 

        Anyway, this is Chuck signing off. Join me tomorrow for the official start of Will Smith Month, which will begin with my review of Bad Boys. 

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