Rating:  -
With the latest Big Screen Superman film stuck in seemingly endless mud, Warner at least had the good sense to follow their successful Batman Animated series by giving one to the Man of Steel, and its the best thing that happened to Superman on-screen since Superman 2, even if it is the small screen.
This set collects 18 episodes in all, 13 from season one and 5 from season two. It features the same great, yet simple animation that made the Batman series so popular, although it's strikingly brighter and the colors bolder than that grittier series. In the three part opener, We see young kal-El sent to earth before his some planet of Krypton is destroyed. We see him grow into manhood and go to Metropolis and assume his role as Superman. Tim Daly provides the voice of Clark/Superman with Dana Delany as Lois Lane and Clancy Brown (Carnivale) as Lex Luthor.
I'd be hard pressed to say which is my favorite episode but here are a few of them:
"A Little Piece of Home" Lex Luthor discovers Superman's vulnerability to Kryptonite, and attempts to exploit this weakness to rid himself once and for all of the Man of Steel.
"The Way of All Flesh" - Lex Luthor poisons a terrorist named John Corben and withholds the antidote until he has extracted a promise: that Corben will become Metallo, a flesh and metal Kryptonite-hearted cyborg with evil intent and no emotions. His only mission is to destroy Superman.
"The Main Man" - One of DC Comics most popular characters the Intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo is employed to capture the Man of Steel, but thanks to a double-,cross by the rare-species-collecting Preserver, both Superman and Lobo end up trapped in the Preserver's personal zoo.
"Speed Demons" The Flash guest stars as he and Superman team-up to battle 'The Weather Wizard' who holds Metropolis hostage with the threat of unleashing a killer hurricane.
"Tools of the Trade" Bruno Mannheim and his Intergang terrorize Metropolis with high-tech weapons supplied by Kanto, an agent of the Darkseid who strikes a devil's bargain with Bruno, leaving him deeply indebted to Darkseid yet well equipped with weapons that can destroy Superman.
The thing so great about both the Supeman and Batman cartoons is seeing guest appearances by so many other characters from the DC comic universe. This never used to happen in cartoons from way back when. The stories stick pretty well to comic continuity and really have the look and feel of golden age stories with a modern edge. Highly recommended!
Rating: -
Like the proverbial bolt from the blue, the first season of the
highly-acclaimed SUPERMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES has finally been
gathered onto a 2-disc, 3-sided DVD set; one long awaited by
animation fans, comic page enthusiasts, and lovers of good
solid drama. Its extra featurettes and occasional commentary
adds an extra treat to what is easily one of the most
eagerly-anticipated DVD releases from Warner Home Video.
Amidst a sterling array of cartoon series which distinguished
the 1990s (from THE SIMPSONS to GARGOYLES and more),
the animated SUPERMAN is a standout classic. Fresh from
the success of BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, the ingenious
energies of Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett and
associates were focused upon rendering the saga of the
legendary Man of Tomorrow as the serious action-adventure
presentation that SUPERMAN was conceived to be over a
half-century ago.
Rendering SUPERMAN as a serious tale for tube and screen has
been no small order over the years. Consider the various
efforts to trivialize the character, and one can only wonder
how the character can continue to hold full interest and
inspire vehicles as well-struck as the current series
SMALLVILLE, or imaginative movie-makers such as Bryan
Singer, who is currently preparing a long-awaited
blockbuster promising to be as thrilling and evocative as
his pair of X-MEN epics.
From a mid-1960 Gilbert & Sullivan-esque Broadway musical
borne from the camp-ridden hokum of that era's so-called
BATMAN series, and the half-hearted efforts of the SUPERMAN
films of the 1970s and 1980s (hamstringing the superb work
of actor Christopher Reeve), to the even-cheesier camp of
the 1990s LOIS & CLARK series, the presentation of SUPERMAN
on screen has too often been the image of an ineffectual clod
in tights, a lantern-jawed strong man mouthing moral
platitudes which would have embarrassed even Dudley Do
Right.
For all the superlative efforts of Kirk Alyn, George Reeves,
Mr. Reeve (despite lackluster producers), and the Fleischer
brothers in capturing the power and fortitude of the Man
of Steel, the overwhelming image most have of SUPERMAN on
screen is the wooden bilge of SUPER-FRIENDS, its voice
actors mumbling dead lines masking as derring-do, its
studios ripping off American myth & folklore with stolid
four-color blow chow odiously passed-off as "nostalgia",
"pure entertainment" or, perhaps most contemptuously,
"popular culture".
Thankfully, Mssrs. Dini, Timm, Burnett, Glen Murakami and
crew would have none of this nonsense. The animated SUPERMAN
is a class act from the get-go, its rendition of the legendary
origin a heart-stopper in itself. From its brief-but-telling
look at the planet Krypton (featuring the most chilling
portayal of nemesis Brainiac to date), to the injection of
a young Clark Kent fleetingly wondering if he might be some
sort of freak, "The Last Son Of Krypton" delivers the point
of the series' compelling drama for all to see.
In fact, the theme of participation vs. alienation is a
running topic of this saga. Nowhere is this presented more
effectively than in the consistent intolerance of the saga's
arch-nemesis Lex Luthor (superbly voiced by Clancy Brown).
His ominously-smooth tones dripping with snide racism, this
Luthor is the perfect foil to Kal-El's humble tolerance, and
sets the stage for the discomforting paranoia which will
frequently confront SUPERMAN in later episodes (from "The
Prometheon" in this collection to -most exceptionally- the
series' finale in the third season , the gripping "Legacy").
As the series' creators created a classic film noir setting
for the animated BATMAN, so do they conceive a Metropolis
whose sun & spires are worthy of the Fritz Lang epic of
the same name. Just like that film's METROPOLIS, the famed
home of SUPERMAN bears its hidden flaws and arrogant
by-products, awaiting the chance to manipulate or usurp
what is best for all.
A superb team of composers delivers an ever-evolving
score which portrays the grandeur and gravity of the
drama as magnificently as the best work of big screen
composers such as John Williams and Danny Elfman. Led
by the amazing Shirley Walker (whose SUPERMAN theme is
among the finest works ever conceived for symphony
orchestra), this team ably continues the grand tradition
of Warner cartoon composer Carl Stalling in their ability
to meld modern thrust and timeless taste into a musical
juggernaut which can sweep you into the heart of the story,
or touch your sensibilities with the delicacy of a feather.
One would hope that Warner and Rhino will finally collect
this work onto a CD collection, especially considering
that the animated SUPERMAN is fast approaching its 10th
anniversary.
Not enough can be said about the voice-acting, easily
among the finest to grace any cartoon. Highest compliments,
once more, to Executive Producer Jean MacCurdy and Voice
Dircetor Andrea Romano for their uncanny ability to
assemble the finest artists around to bring such gripping,
versatile expression to bear in such a consistently
wonderful manner.
I'll leave it to you stalwart readers to discover the vast
array of dramatic talent contained here, but special
mention must go to the lead work of Timothy Daly and Dana
Delany. Daly, best known for his work on WINGS and a brief-
but-well-rendered FUGITIVE series, is exceptional as both
SUPERMAN and Clark Kent; delivering a strong, flexible
heroism and warm, perceptive humanity. None of Dean
Cain's sappy diffidence here.
Likewise, the star of CHINA BEACH and TOMBSTONE brings
home a Lois Lane who's rat-a-tat pro, hapless target,
and vulnerable friend all rolled up in one. Sharp, saucy,
and full of heart, Delany puts Teri Hatcher's bubble-
headed depiction of the intrepid reporter to shame.
Aptly reflecting the finer changes of the DC comic series
since the late 1980s, the classic Fleischer cartoons of
the 1940s, and the thematic wallop of Sequential giant
Jack Kirby, the animated SUPERMAN is a stirring narrative
of awe-inspiring delight. This collection is but the first
of three projected packages, taking the storyline from wit
and peril to pathos and the ability to prevail, from the
deadly whimsy of The Toyman to the mainipulative menace
of Darkseid.
Here is a SUPERMAN to eagerly watch, gain ethical wisdom
from, and heartily enjoy. If, like this reviewer, you've
been waiting almost 10 years for Warner Home Video to get
on the case, the wait is finally over.
If you never saw this series, and your only image of
SUPERMAN is cheesy corn more fitting for UNDERDOG, then
consider yourselves encouraged to begin your re-evaluation
of a major fictional icon here.
Heed the lightning. Catch the wonder.
Rating:  -
I was pleased with the content of this DVD. I think the Superman: TAS, like Batman before it, was a good modern superhero cartoon. I think it has something to offer Superman fans of all ages. The stories and characters are simple enough for kids to enjoy as well as rich enough for adults.
What disappoints me is the presentation. Primarily the DVD navigation. One chapter is one episode, this doesn't allow one to skip over the opening sequence for episodes. As episodes are less than a half hour, this makes for a lot of opening sequences in a short period of time. Furthermore, I am pleased that WB has a play all feature (not all TV episodes offer even that), but I am severely disappointed that when playing all you are forced to sit through not only both opening and closing credits on multi-part episodes, but also the "Last time on ..." sequence as well. I think whoever put this together must not have been thinking. I OBVIOUSLY know what happened last time because the episode just ended.
If WB would take multi-part episodes and make them run through with no interruption for credits and no "Last time..." sequence, I think I would have easily been able to give this review 5 out of 5. I just hope WB addressed this problem when they release Justice League, because EVERY episode is a multi-part episode.
Rating: -
I bought the DVD today only to see that they took the cheap way out. There are two discs in the set but only one of them has a picture on it. The other one is blank and playable on both sides. Why didn't they just make it three discs, each with a picture on them? Both Batman volumes have pictures on each disc, so why now the cheap way out? I wouldn't have minded paying a couple of dollars more for a nicer presentation of discs. Either way, the series is great and that's what really matters. Do us a favor and do the job right for the future sets.
Rating:  -
The legendary Man of Steel continues to protect Metropolis from injustice in "Superman: TAS - Volume One". Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! You know the rest. From the pages of DC Comics, the lone survivor from the doomed planet Krypton travels to Earth and becomes the world's strongest superhero. In his quest for truth and justice, Superman will face such powerful enemies as scheming nemesis Lex Luther, the menacing supercomputer Brainiac, high-voltage villainess Livewire and the ruthless bounty hunter Lobo. From the creators of the award-winning "Batman: TAS", this enjoyable animated series is the most faithful adaptation of the popular comic book character in recent decades. All episodes contain entertaining storylines, refreshing characters and rousing action. The animation is brighter and more colorful than the unique gothic style in "Batman: TAS". The series features the fine voice talents of Tim Daly (Wings), Dana Delany (Tombstone) and Clancy Brown (Carnivale), and guest voice stars like Malcolm McDowell, Brad Garrett, Michael York, Lori Petty, Ron Perlman, Joely Fisher, Miguel Ferrer and more.
No comic book DVD collection is complete without "Superman: TAS - Volume One". All 18 episodes are presented in their original full screen format. The 2-Disc set contains a respectably detailed video transfer with some bits of dust, and a clear 2.0 Dolby Digital sound. Its supplemental material includes audio commentaries by series creators on four episodes (The Last Son of Krypton Pt.1, Stolen Memories, The Main Man Pt.2 & Tools of the Trade), an interactive trivia option and the short "Learning to Fly" and "Building the Mythology" featurettes. If you haven't bought the single disc editions then "Superman: TAS" is a highly recommended DVD and receives a worthy "B+".
|
