‘MAWS’ is Back and Better Than Ever!
My Adventures With Superman, S2 Ep. 1 & 2 Review
If you ask me what the breakout show was for 2023, I’ll have one answer: My Adventures With Superman. Premiering on Adult Swim in July, 2023, MAWS wasn’t just another retelling of the Man of Steel’s origins. It was a fresh, new, and unique take on the Superman Mythos, with a cast still trying to find its place in the world. And it showed: as the season progressed, we saw how Clark, Jimmy, and Lois each their own issues to deal with that kept them from being the paragons of good everyone knows them as. Additionally, while anyone familiar with Superman would know his origin story, the first season kept us guessing whether Clark was sent to Earth with good intentions in mind. The show even implied that the Kryptionians of this universe were more in line with the Viltrumites of Invincible. That would be terrifying!
Between the story, the characters, and the art style being inspired by Shonen anime, I quickly fell in love with MAWS. And while there were some pacing problems, I still think it was Superman’s best cartoon since the 90s. And after watching the two-part season premiere, my opinion on the matter only feels cemented. As Lois, Jimmy, and Clark try to love their best lives, new problems and old threats emerge. Some of which I’m convinced could lead to more drama down the line.
New Status Quo for MAWS
Four months have passed since the events at Thanksgiving at the Kent’s, and the DP Trio is adjusting to a new status quo. Thanks to their efforts last season, they have been promoted to full-time reporters, and Jimmy’s a millionaire from selling his Flamebird account to the Planet. And judging by the counter showing how much money he has, Jimmy’s going to be broke before the season’s out.
As an aside, it looks like one of the main side-plots for the season will revolve around Jimmy dealing with the fact that he has to run Flamebird under the Planet’s direction. Which includes working with people who don’t always listen to him. The irony of that is not lost on Perry or the audience, either. In addition, Jimmy also ends up giving advice to someone that he’s going to regret. More on that later, though.
Clark and Lois Remain Deeply in Love
Meanwhile, Lois and Clark remain very much in love with each other, and the episodes are filled with many sweet moments between the two. From Clark planning a low-key date for Valentine’s Day eating Ramen (which I think is sweet), to the two flirting with each other on the job, the show demonstrates there’s a good reason why Clark and Lois are one of the best ships in all of fiction. Moreso than many other incarnations, these versions of Clark and Lois complement and keep each other grounded. Lois helps Clark with his fears and insecurities, and Clark keeps Lois from going through with some of her more insane plans. Or at least make sure he’s there to help her.
However, despite how close the two are, I couldn’t help but notice a few cracks in their relationship.
Cracks in the Relationships
It starts in the first episode, when Clark’s spaceship, which he thought destroyed, crashes down in Antarctica. The three friends head to investigate, and there, Clark makes a big discovery, courtesy of the AI of his father, Jor-El. As it turns out, the Kryptonians of this universe were a race of conquerors like Task Force X feared. However, Jor-El also confirms that Krypton is long gone, destroyed in a war against an even more powerful enemy. That implication alone is terrifying, but what Clark cares about more is that he still has family left. He has a cousin, Kara, somewhere out there in the universe. And Task Force X happens to have the beacon that’s meant to summon her.
Clark tries to tell Lois about this, but it’s clear the two aren’t on the same page. Part of it is due to concerns Lois has about other Kryptonians, showing how much her brief time with the League of Lois Lanes affected her. However, another part is due to her being more concerned about finding her missing father.
This entire time, General Lane’s been held prisoner by Waller and his former subordinates at Task Force X, all of whom are still convinced that Superman is the enemy. And unlike General Lane, Waller’s not afraid to kidnap American citizens and experiment on them with Kryptonian tech. It doesn’t matter if they were in prison for minor offenses; they have rights! Superman and Lois manage to free everyone, but then Lois makes a pretty big call without Clark giving a say: she offers to let her Dad stay with Clark and Jimmy.
General Lane Could Become an Issue
Considering how Sam Lane thought Superman was an enemy combatant, that already makes this a bad idea. What makes it worse is that Lois’ dad doesn’t like Clark for letting her jump into danger. We know that’s not true but since Clark can’t say otherwise, it might as well be!
As sad as it may sound, it seems like the honeymoon phase of Lois and Clark’s romance is coming to an end. Now, they’re going to have to deal with the problems they face as individuals and as a couple. And considering how not being on the same page blew up in their faces last season, the results could be catastrophic.
And not helping matters is the fact that Task Force X now has a new recruit.
The Rise of Lex Luthor
Remember that advice that Jimmy gave? It was to Ivo’s former assistant, Alex. AKA, Lex Luthor. As many fans suspected, this guy is a young Lex Luthor, and thanks to Jimmy, he’s motivated to seek out Waller and join Task Force X. The man who becomes Superman’s worst enemy just got his origin story! That’s not good!
Ultimately, the season premiere did a really good job of preparing us for what’s coming this season. From foreshadowing the problems the DP trio will face this season to setting up even more villains down the line, MAWS has improved itself a lot over the break. And Warner Bros seems to have taken notice of how popular it is, because it’s now premiering every Saturday night on Toonami. That’s a pretty big deal! I’m looking forward to watching more of MAWS this summer!
I Give “More Things in Heaven and Earth” & “Adventures with My Girlfriend” a 4.5/5 Each
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Adult Cartoons, Animation, Blog Posts, My Adventures With Superman, TV Shows
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