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My Adventures With Superman S3 Ep 6 Review

What happens when you place your identity into one aspect of yourself and then lose it? You tend to have a serious identity crisis, that’s what. And right now, Clark Kent is having the biggest identity crisis of his life as he’s forced to contend with not having any superpowers. His powers and identity as Superman have been a part of him for so long that he has no idea who he is without them. And to make matters worse, his support group of his girlfriend, best friend, and cousin is too busy dealing with their own problems to give him the help that he needs. Especially Jimmy and Kara, whose own relationship problems threaten to sink the ship beyond repair. Good going, JIMMY!

Clark Hates Feeling so Useless

A month has passed since the defeat of Cyborg Superman, and Clark’s powers remain gone. Having had those powers since he was a kid, it’s understandable that he would tie a lot of his self-worth to his ability to help people. And without that ability, he is seriously depressed and doesn’t know what to do with himself. To add insult to injury, Lois and Clark are getting nominated for an award at a fancy gala, while Clark isn’t. Well, Superman was co-nominated alongside Kara, but he can’t show up as Superman.

I felt so bad watching Clark in this episode. I understand why he is so upset about losing his powers. All he’s ever wanted to do is help people; it’s his whole thing! And this entire episode, he’s basically trying to do his best to help others just to prove that he still can. And while he does end up helping, it’s not to the extent that he’s used to, so it doesn’t even register to him. And Kara and Jimmy are no help, either.

For the last month or so, Kara has been forced to fly solo as Supergirl to make up for her cousin’s absence. She doesn’t say it, but it’s heavily implied that the stress was starting to get to her. I don’t think she even had time to actually go on any dates as part of her plan to make Jimmy jealous!

It gets worse, though. Jimmy, as part of his contract with W.O.R.M.S., has to go on one last date. The upside is that this one is a princess from another country who’s attending the gala. The downside? She’s attending the gala that is meant to honor Kara.

Apparently, Kara’s previous claims of not being able to get jealous of Jimmy were inaccurate. The second she finds out that Jimmy brought a date, I could hear her mentally declaring nuclear war! I don’t think I’ve ever seen Kara this mad!

There’s a second downside, by the way. Jimmy’s date is a supervillain called Dr. Poison, who’s planning on turning everyone in Metropolis into animals as part of some ecoterrorist plan. I don’t know how that’s supposed to work or save the environment. The bottom line is that everyone gets caught up in it!

The most shocking moment of the episode, though, has to be this.

Clark Got Shot!

When the preview for this episode first dropped, I was genuinely scared that Clark had gotten himself seriously hurt. He could’ve died! Thank heavens I was watching this the morning after on Hulu, because I would have been freaking out during the commercial break!

Now, we as the audience know that what Clark did is truly heroic. Despite not having any powers, his first instinct had been to protect Flip and the other kids from harm. Not many adults would be willing to face down a gunman and do that! But from Clark’s perspective, he barely did anything. It’s sad, really. He’s still a hero with or without his powers, but he doesn’t recognize that.

Ultimately, Jimmy is able to rizz up Dr. Poison and foil her plans while Kara stops the rest (and Bizarro.) But while Lois wins the award over Vicki, no one is really happy. Clark still feels bad about himself and blows up at Lois despite her trying to compliment him. I was more focused on Jimmy and Kara, though.

Jimmy, get down on your knees and beg for Kara’s forgiveness!

We all knew that Jimmy was making a big mistake; there’s no argument about that. And we all knew that it was going to blow up in his face. However, it was still painful to see it play out as Kara confronted him about his jealousy. He may think he was doing this for her sake, but really, this was about his own insecurities. He’s been in love with Kara from day one, and she loves him. Some people just know they’ve found the one without any searching, and if I were Jimmy, I wouldn’t have blown things. But now, it might be too late.

Or it might not. Guess who’s back? Mr. Myx.

Uh-oh.

I Give “Party Animals” a 3/5

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My Adventures With Superman S3 Ep 2 Review

I’m sorry that I didn’t post my review for last week’s episode of MAWS sooner, but I got distracted by other things. The good news is that this means that I am able to get the new reviews out back-to-back. The bad news? There are a few moments in this episode (and the next) that just feel so cringe! And it’s all thanks to Jimmy Olsen, who might have just fumbled the easiest romantic W I have ever seen! And I am so disappointed in him!!

I love Conventions!

It all starts when the gang heads to a fan convention for the day. Lois is going because Cat got her assigned the gig because she knew something crazy would happen around her, and Clark is supporting her. Jimmy is going as a guest because he turned his adventures into a comic book series that has made him a millionaire once again. And Kara? She’s going as the guest of honor, and wants to be close to Jimmy.

Jimmy, Why you Fumble the Ball?

This episode is really just three plots running concurrently with each other, but the one I was most invested in was the one with Kara and Jimmy. The two have such incredible chemistry together, and it’s obvious that the show wants us to ship them. But it’s insisting that the two go through the same relationship hurdles that Clark and Lois did in the first two seasons! In this case, Jimmy is the one who is insecure at the idea of dating a superpower alien. And it frustrated me to no end throughout this episode.

On the one hand, I wanted to feel proud of Jimmy for having the maturity to turn down Kara when she straight-up asks him to be her boyfriend. He doesn’t want to take advantage of her or ruin things if it goes wrong and that she should expand her horizons first. But as someone who’s never been able to get a girlfriend or have a romantic relationship, I’m super mad at him!!

JIMMY, DUDE! YOU ARE BEING GIVEN THE CHANCE TO DATE A BEAUTIFUL, SUPERPOWERED ALIEN GIRL WHO IS TOTALLY INTO YOU! DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO FIND THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE IN THIS DAY AND AGE?!?!? HOW CAN YOU BE FUMBLING THE BALL SO BADLY?!?

I know that the showwriters are only doing this for the sake of drama, but still, it frustrates me to have to see history repeat itself with our beta couple. I was practically foaming at the mouth when I saw Kara use the convention to announce she was looking for a date. Because despite what Jimmy js afraid of, there are plenty of guys and girls out there that could take advantage of Kara. In fact, I’m going to bet that that will end up happening before the season is out and Jimmy is going to regret doing that to her.

Not Interested in the other Stuff

The other main plots of the episode are not as interesting, sadly. Superman spends it fighting this woman with Kryptonite whips that is way too into him. Meanwhile, Lois sees the Toyman selling toys at the convention, and becomes convinced that he’s up to no good. All she manages to do at first is just make her out to be the bad guy that Jimmy initially makes her be in his comics. But it turns out she was right! Toyman managed to turn his entire booth into a mecha from Gundam, complete with the pose as he used it!

I know that should be a bad thing, but my nerdy half has to respect Toyman for doing that. Thank heavens it’s more acceptable for adults to play with toys now. Superman doesn’t even need to stop him, though, because another beats him to the punch. However, it’s who does it that is most concerning.

Hank Henshaw is gone. There is only Cyborg Superman. And if you know what he did in the comics, then you know to be afraid. Very afraid!

This is going to be a crazy season and I’m already enjoying where this will go. Though I have lost a lot of respect for Jimmy for that UNBELIEVABLE FUMBLE, and will only regain it when he steps up and gets the girl of his dreams!

I Give “Mobile Suit Toyman” a 2.5/5

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For Superman, life couldn’t be better right now. He’s got a fantastic girlfriend, and he’s proven to most of Metropolis that he’s a true hero. The only issue left is the fanatics of Task Force X, who remained convinced he’s an alien invader, but they haven’t tried anything since Parasite’s attack. However, Superman’s happy life takes another turn on Thanksgiving. What should be a simple dinner with Lois and Jimmy becomes a catastrophe when they invite Lois’ dad over. AKA, the General.

The Daily Planet Trio’s Finally Getting a Windfall

In the aftermath of Parasite’s attack on Metropolis, life couldn’t be better for the Daily Planet trio. Having managed to prove their worth time and again (and because they’re bad at being interns), Perry White promotes them to full-fledged reporters. They even get their names on their article about how Superman saved Metropolis! 

Having seen them start the series at the bottom of the barrel, the fact that they’re finally getting the recognition they deserve is immensely satisfying. Even the Scoop Troop respects them! As for Vicki Vale, it’s likely her career will take a massive hit due to her libelous lies. In addition, Jimmy reveals at the end of the episode that he sold his Flamebird account to the Daily Planet, making him a millionaire. 

Life couldn’t be better for Superman and his friends, yet there’s still the spectre of Task Force X and what he learned hanging over about Zero Day hanging over his head. As a result, Lois and Jimmy opt to keep the sphere from the Legion of Lois’ a secret. It’s less because they don’t trust him, and more because they know the revelation would emotionally destroy him.

Alas, the universe works against them, as Thanksgiving proves to unravel everything.

The General Who Came to Dinner, and the Giant Spaceship

Clark invites Jimmy, Lois, and her dad to his parent’s house for Thanksgiving, wanting to help mend the rift between his girlfriend and her father. To his horror, though, he discovers what the audience already knew: Lois’ father is the General of Task Force X. 

This revelation was a whole season coming, and it works wonderfully. Everyone’s on edge when they realize who Mr. Lane is. Clark’s horrified and suffering from PTSD. His parents can’t understand how someone like Lois could have him for a father. It’s Lois’ reaction that is the most extreme, though. Not only does this explain why her Dad kept so many secrets growing up, but her own father tried to hurt and kill the man she loves. And things only get worse when Clark finds the sphere with the footage of his evil counterparts…and the rock inside.

Kryptonite has always been Superman’s greatest weakness, but the series cranks it up to eleven. Instead of severly weakening him here, merely being exposed to it comes close to killing him. Worse, it also activates his ship. Unlike most iterations, this ship isn’t a simple, single-person vessel. It’s a warship the size of a Star Destroyer, filled with machines of war. What follows is a repeat of Zero Day as they run amok and open a portal to allow another armada to come through.

Superman’s Toughest Battle is Yet to Come…

In the end, Superman only manages to stop the invasion by destroying the ship, an act that almost costs him his life. It’s only thanks to the AI of Jor-El that he survives at all. Worse, the event leads to General Lane likely burning his bridges with his daughter. When he has Superman in his sights and is prepared to kill him, Lois stands up to her father and chews him out for all the neglect and lies he’s had her deal with over the years. Ultimately, General Lane stands down, but he vanishes before the pair can speak any further. 

Things end with the remainder of the group enjoying Thanksgiving, but the episode doesn’t end there. It cuts to another world currently under attack by the same machines that tried to invade Earth, and their leader. Their face isn’t shown, but the fact that they say that the people of Earth “Will kneel,” says it all. It’s General Zod.

This opens up so many avenues for the next season. Was Krypton ever destroyed in this universe? Why was the first attack thwarted? These are genuine mysteries that most iterations of Superman rarely deals with, and it’s exciting, and terrifying. In other words, a great way to end the season.

I have no idea when the next season will come, but if manages to improve on what we got here, then I know I’m going to watch it. This was easily one of the better animated series to come out of 2023, and I wish it had only gotten more attention. Until then, though, we have the fanart.

I Give “Hearts of the Fathers” a 4.5/5

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My Adventures With Superman Ep 9 Review

Superman is, without a doubt, one of the strongest characters in fictional history. He’s capable of bench-pressing planets, traveling across the universe, fighting gods. When people create corrupted copies of him like Homelander, Omniman, or the Plutonian, they tend to be terrifying. Despite all of his power, though, Superman remains as human as anyone else. And like any human, he’s capable of being hurt emotionally. As Superman’s held captive by Task Force X, he almost gets emotionally broken.

It’s painful to watch in every sense.

Why the General Sucks at His Job

Last week, Task Force X managed to capture Superman thanks to him being exhausted from saving people non-stop, and the place they took him isn’t good. The first we see of him, he’s restrained in stocks and fitted with a shock collar that hurts him whenever he tries to move. So he’s forced to sit and listen as the General interrogates him about “the invasion” and what’s coming. Naturally, Superman doesn’t know what he’s talking about, so the General decides to reveal the truth in the worst possible way.

Twenty-two years ago, the General and Amanda Waller were the only survivors of an attempted invasion by what appeared to be Kryptonians, only for them to mysteriously stop, most likely with Krypton’s destruction. They’ve spent all that time studying their tech preparing for what they think will be a second invasion. In other words, they’re convinced Superman is the vanguard for something that may never happen.

The General (all but confirmed to be Lois’ father)…really sucks at his job, and this episode makes it apparent. If he stopped and considered the fact that Clark’s only twenty-three, he’d realize it’s impossible for him to be involved. He’s just a refugee trying to do the right thing, and they’re blaming him for everything. Worst of all, learning everything leaves poor Clark in tears. All he wanted to do was help, and now he thinks he’s a weapon meant to destroy. 

Good going, General. You made Superman cry. Not. Cool.

Lois and Jimmy are True Friends

During all of this, Lois and Jimmy are frantically trying to look for Clark, with Lois being especially heartbroken. The last time they spoke, she wasn’t there for him; she even doubted him thanks to the manipulations of Mr. Myx. So she, Jimmy, and the Newskid Legion are running around the city trying to find him, which they do. However, when they see him again, he’s absolutely broken. 

I applaud the show for handling Superman’s emotional issues in a mature manner like they do in this episode. The look on Superman’s face as he admits that he was sent to destroy everything is haunting. It’s looking into the face of someone who wants to die. And the last time I saw a fictional character look like that, it was just as heartbreaking. 

Thankfully, like with Luz, Superman has friends that make him see that all his haters are wrong. He’s not a weapon, and he’s not a monster. He’s a good person, and the world’s better with him in it. And together, they manage to convince Metropolis of this, as well.

I found this scene where Jimmy and Lois rally Metropolis to help Superman fight Parasite inspiring. Besides getting to help out a godlike character like Superman, Lois also makes good points in her speech. Humans are quick to judge things they don’t understand; it’s a part of us that helped us survive. However, it often comes at our detriment and leads to fear and hatred. Thankfully, not everyone’s like Waller or the General or Alex, and when given the chance, most people will do the right thing. 

Truly inspiring.

Waller Is Still too Stubborn to Listen

By the end of the episode, Superman does it again. He takes down Ivo and his Parasite armor (which grows to the size of a Kaiju), and saves Metropolis. Now all but his most stubborn haters will distrust him. And, this is just a nitpick, but I’m hoping that Vicki Vale gets fired since her report’s been proven incorrect. 

The problem is, the prisoner’s that Task Force X captured escaped during Ivo’s rampage. Worse, Amanda Waller, who’s too bullheaded to even see sense, is not only still out for Superman, but she’s now in charge of Task Force X. And she wants the General to take him out. If the General is Lois’ dad like everyone thinks, then he better get his head on straight soon.

This was such a good episode and it shows why Superman remains such a great hero. For all his power, he’s not a god; he’s human, and he can be hurt like one. That’s the thing most people forget these days about him, and Jack Quaid’s done a brilliant job of conveying that. With only one episode left, I’m eager to see how they’ll end things. Especially since Jimmy’s discovered the sphere that Lois had.

I Give “Zero Day, Pt. 2” a 4.5/5

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My Adventures With Superman, Ep 8 Review

In my review of episode four, I talked about the conflict between Superman and Ivo boiled down to idealism vs cynicism. Since then, I’ve revised that assessment to encompass the main conflict of the season. So many people either can’t understand or refuse to understand that all Superman wants to do is help people. As a result, they look at him with as something to be feared without getting to know him first. While they’re not wrong about how he could be dangerous if he ever became bad, they’re not helping things. Now that bias has led to a worst-case scenario: Superman falls victim to cancel culture.

Superhearing is the Worst!

Besides his flight, super strength, and heat vision, one of Superman’s greatest powers has always been his superhearing. It allows him to hear anyone or anything even when it’s happening well out of earshot. At its height, he can hear sounds across the entire planet. Given his mission to help people, having the ability to hear when people need help sounds like a useful power.

As with several other things in the Superman mythos, MAWS deconstructs this concept to demonstrate how bad it would to have superhearing. While Clark finds he can help more people than ever, he soon realizes he can’t turn it off. In addition, his seflessness prompts him to save everyone he hears in trouble, even at his own detriment. Once Lois and Jimmy find him, he’s already been awake for days. As a result, he starts to come off as unsafe to those around him, and Task Force X makes it worse. They manage to make Superman out as someone dangerous, causing everyone to turn on him. He gets cancelled by Metropolis!

Things only get worse from there, though.

This Universe’s Vicki Vale is a Horrible Person

Meanwhile, Lois gets the surprise of a lifetime when Perry White asks her and Jimmy help guest reporter Vicki Vale write an editorial piece. Lois considers Vicki Vale her idol and inspiration for becoming a reporter, and at first, she’s over the moon to work with her hero. However, it soon becomes apparent that Vicki is not the kind of person she should look up to. 

Firstly, Vicki tells them that her goal’s to write a report on why Superman is dangerous. That alone should draw some red flags, but Lois chalks it up to the natural skepticism of their job. However, Lois’ attempts to turn things around by getting quotes from people Superman’s helped is also not a smart move. Part of being a reporter is not showing bias towards subjects, which is hard, considering Superman is Lois’ boyfriend. 

Whatever mistakes Lois makes, though, are nothing compared to what Vicki does. Not only does she ignore the positive things people say about Superman, the one person she wants to interview happens to be Alex, AKA the guy who helped Ivo endanger people at his party. That’s a biased source, and Lois calls it as such.

Alex is Full of it

To Alex’s credit, he does point out something that Lois can’t deny: if Superman became evil, no one could stop him. Fans have already seen evil versions of Superman before; The Boys and Invincible gave us evil, corrupted copies of him. Even Lois has seen what an evil Superman could do. However, his argument becomes less persuasive when one considers the following things. 

1. Ivo deliberately put people in danger to goad Superman into a fight. It’s his own fault his company went bankrupt and thousands lost their jobs.
2. Alex assisted Ivo in his actions. He’s a biased source.
3. Alex’s opinion of Superman is that of a racist. He says Superman doesn’t belong because he’s “not normal.”

None of that matters to Vicki, though.All she wanted her opinion validated while ignoring the larger evidence. She doesn’t even write the report for The Daily Planet, either. She uses it to get promoted at the Gotham Gazette.

Yeah, this version of Vicki Vale sucks.

Task Force X Captures Superman

The reason why Superman was running himself ragged all episode is because he overheard the General talking in Metropolis. He’s the one whose been abducting all the criminals who got the stolen tech, and he’s planning something big. That led him to chase after Intergang member Mist, which led to him looking like he caused an accident in front of everyone. While Task Force X didn’t plan it, the outcome favors them since they’re convinced Superman’s evil.

Once again, Superman proves to be anything but evil. When Mist tells him they’re moving his friends, he doesn’t hestitate to offer help to free them simply because it’s the right thing to do. Sadly, it turns out to be a setup for an ambush, and Livewire, Intergang, Slade, and even Ivo gang up on Superman to take him down. Thanks to his exhaustion, they manage to do so, allowing Task Force X to finally capture him while Jimmy and Lois can only look on, horrified. 

While the ending to episode five seemed bleak, it’s nothing compared to the ending of this episode. Superman’s been captured by a paranoid soldier who wrongly thinks he’s the enemy. The preview’s for next week’s episode show it gets even worse. 

Superman Must Prove Everyone Wrong…& Get Un-Cancelled

While the fight against the Suicide Squad proved anti-climatic, the episode still holds up pretty well. It continues the season’s overarching theme: can someone as selfless as Superman still work in a world that seems so cynical? So far, the show’s been determined to break that idealism by throwing every hurdle at Superman, Lois, and Jimmy. However, that will only make their eventual triumph all the more enjoyable. Really looking forward to seeing all the people who cancelled Superman get proven wrong.

I Give “Zero Day: Part One” a 3.5/5

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My Adventures With Superman Ep 3 Review

The fans have spoken: My Adventures With Superman is an absolute blast. The animation is gorgeous, the characters are fun, and the fact that it doesn’t take itself too seriously thus far feels like a breath of fresh air for DC. One of the best aspects of this show, though, is seeing Superman grow into his role in front of our eyes. He doesn’t have everything figured out, especially regarding his relationship with Lois. Speaking of Lois, she remains more determined than ever to learn about Superman, much to Clark’s dismay.

Lois Refuses to Get Scooped

At the end of last week’s premiere, Lois, Jimmy, and Clark’s byline about Superman got published in The Daily Planet. Instead of getting the respect they’re due, Lois is outraged to learn Editor Perry White gave credit to “The Scoop Troop,” a trio of senior reporters that get assigned the Superman beat. Besides 2/3rds getting played up like they’re Team Rocket, but lamer, they add insult to injury by stealing all their research. And Lois’ coffee. 

Few things are as frustrating in work as seeing yourself get passed over to do a job you’re qualified for in favor of someone who isn’t. And besides one person, the Scoop Troop isn’t qualified at all. Lois being Lois, though, won’t admit defeat. And, much like in the first episode, she’s willing to disregard those in charge to do so. Which wouldn’t be a problem if it didn’t involve potentially getting her friends in trouble.

These first few episodes have done an excellent job establishing Lois’ personality: she’s determined and supremely confident in herself. While those are admirable qualities, they come at the expense of disregarding what those around her want. She even admits to Clark that she plans on telling everyone what Superman would say to her, not caring what he wants. Hence, Clark keeps ducking her when she tries to interview him as Superman. 

Insecurities and Intergang Reign

On the other end of the spectrum, we have Clark dealing with his newfound role as Superman. He’s still figuring out what he is and how he should interact with the people of Metropolis, a far cry from the hero who projects confidence to everyone. Not helping matters is that he remains torn between wanting to help Lois but also being unwilling to open up to her as his alter-ego. This only gets harder as the chemistry between Lois and Clark becomes more obvious than it already is as they investigate the villains of the week

Clark does make some progress in becoming open with Lois, though. While he does scold her for swiping the Scoop Troop’s IDs (and the keycard to the prison warden they visit), he can’t help but get impressed. These are the kind of moments that make shippers go nuts: two people bringing out the best in each other. It’s why Clark and Lois Lane are one of the best couples in fiction.

Besides his insecurities, Clark has to deal with another issue as he develops more of the familiar powers everyone knows. In this case, heat vision. While still awesome, the show chooses to play it up for drama, to great effect. Clark has no clue what’s happening to him and thus panics as his new power sets in. It isn’t until Lois and Jimmy are in danger from the Intergang that he gains control over them. That’s good character writing: giving them a new power that requires an emotional catalyst to control!

Intergang Was just the Start of Superman’s Rogue Gallery.

As for the villains of the episode, the Intergang, they are enjoyable to watch. Using the tech that Livewire spread around Metropolis, they’re determined to go from being two-bit criminals into villains to be feared. In this way, they’re a good foil to the Daily Planet trio: they’ve got big aspirations, but no one takes them seriously due to their shortcomings. Case in point, their stolen tech backfired on them and threatens to destroy Metropolis.

Even though Superman takes them down in the end, and they’re taken into custody by a disguised Slade, I don’t want this to be the last we see of the Intergang. They’re an entertaining group of villains with good team chemistry. Plus, if it weren’t for them, Superman never would’ve decided to reach out to Lois. 

Too bad Lois knows Superman is lying.

I See a Lot of Drama in the Works

If it wasn’t obvious already, this show will have a good amount of drama. Lois is smart enough to know that Superman’s hiding something. This makes her more determined to learn about him, much to Clark’s concern. There’s a chance that the Lois and Jimmy in this show might end up learning Clark is Superman. That would make a great twist! In addition, there’s the fact that Lois seems to be falling for Superman like she often does. If that happens, she might get stressed over the perceived love triangle.

To put it bluntly, this show is fantastic. It’s a must-watch for Superman fans, and it’s only getting started. 

I Give “My Interview With Superman” a 4/5

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