#my adventures with superman meta

[the-velvet-worm]

obsessed with the fact that lois's "bad" qualities are what saved clark

like one of her biggest insecurities is being perceived as stubborn and annoying, we've been there, done that, but because clark loves those things about her, and sees her as passionate and driven rather than stubborn and annoying, she was able to use that to her advantage to defy brainiac and get through to clark.

I just love that so much bc so rarely are female characters allowed to be flawed in the ways lois is. we've seen it since the first episode, and in many other iterations of the character. literally our first impressions of lois in this series were her tricking jimmy and clark into chasing the story she wanted to write, and stealing a key card from a prison warden to break into a locked door. she's insane, she will do anything to reach her goals, she'll jump off the roof of the daily planet to prove that clark is superman, and the thing is CLARK IS SO CRAZY ABOUT THAT. he's basically indestructible, insanely fast and strong, and YET she is the bravest person he knows and he ADMIRES that so much about her. superman is a hero but lois lane is SUPERMAN'S hero.

there's just something so wonderful about seeing two young, insecure people looking at each other and saying, "not only do I accept you the way you are, I LOVE everything about you, even the things you don't love about yourself. I love that you're different, I love that you don't follow rules, I love that you stand up for what's right, because that's what makes you who you are and I wouldn't want you do be any other way."

[starlight-bread-blog]

As someone who isn't all that familiar with Superman and had no opinion on him whatsoever, watching My Adventures With Superman was so interesting. Because, dear Superman fans, you were right. If this is Superman, damn. We stan.

[nicholasmoorethetwittermigrant]

Something I really appreciate about My Adventures With Superman is that I think it’s the best approach I’ve seen in a recent adaptation regarding Clark’s nature as a journalist.

Not only is the job afforded more plot utility in an adaptation where Clark doesn’t have all his powers cracked yet (so he can’t just hear/see everything to the point of literal omniscience), but it’s also a really smart choice to have reporting be something that Clark wants to do independent from any Superman-related stuff.

Clark never planned on becoming a superhero, but he did plan on being a reporter because journalism is a field that interests him. That immediately humanizes him and gives the viewer an emotional stake in the Daily Planet as a setting and aspect of Clark’s life that we should care about. It also immediately gives he and Lois as massive thing in common that their chemistry can then build out from naturally.

A lot of recent Superman adaptations seem to not know what to do with the Planet besides just having Clark BE there as a matter of obligation to source material, but this show has a clear, pointed purpose that lets it be the base for the whole series, and it’s a boon for Clark’s character across the board.

[artbyblastweave]

Was thinking recently that MAWS commits admirably to actually putting Lois and Jimmy on equal footing with the guy who has actual superpowers; they're equal participants in the adventures rather than supporting cast members who flit in and out depending on the episode, as they were in Superman: the Animated Series. The flip side of that dynamic is that this is a setting that doesn't really have superheroes besides Superman himself, even if it's poised to eventually, so there isn't really a concrete in-universe category of "superhero" for Lois and Jimmy to fall outside of- to an in-universe observer who has to account for all the variables, Lois and Jimmy would amount to basically the same type of thing as Clark. In the process of juicing up the supporting cast to the extent that they can keep pace with the hero as equal contributors, you sort of shed light on the fact that there's always been a pretty thin line and somewhat arbitrary line within the logic of these universes between "Badass normal who puts on a costume" and "badass unpowered cast member who doesn't adopt a explicit costumed identity." And that line dissolves faster than the wicked witch at a water park if a superhero starts taking characters in the latter category along on every single adventure.

[someoneoffthestreet]

if I may, about Lois Lane in MAWS:

the trouble with a fanbase that has faced extreme misogyny directed at a specific female character is that it becomes difficult to discuss that character's actual mistakes in any meaningful form. like I get it: it's frustrating when you love a character and there's this whole subset of fandom or internet at large just waiting to tear them apart for even breathing wrong, I really do get it! but what happens when this character, who has been wrongfully subjected to criticism before, actually messes up?

my feelings on where Clark and Lois are as a couple at the start of s2 is that effectively the honeymoon period of their relationship is over, and the hard work has to begin. Clark has been making (tentative) steps to make this happen, but Lois has been allowing the relationship to coast, trusting that everything between them is fine and will stay fine for the foreseeable future. she's been caught up in a lot of stuff: her new dream job, the prospect of moving out of Metropolis, the tricky situation with her dad. with all of this, it feels (at least at this point in time) that she's effectively started taking Clark and his presence in her life for granted. maybe she feels everything else in her life is too complicated and she doesn't want to complicate her romantic life further. maybe it hasn't even occurred to her that Clark currently needs more support than she is actually giving. hopefully future episodes will shed further light on that.

[toomanyf4ndoms7]

This is a good Kara.

Like, I don't do long essays but I love how it starts by endearing her to the audience and mentioning a strict father.

And then at the end where she goes off on Clark it's like "oh shit." And for a minute you're conflicted because "Wait, so was it an act?"

Then she has that scene with the civilians, so you know it wasn't an act at the start, so this wasn't a ruse, so you're in a curious position where you still want to see her and Clark obviously, be okay.

And you see the eyes dull after the "Will you comply?" line so that intrigues you. It intrigued me, at least.

I didn't go into this show blind, but watching it? I wish I did.

In summary: Get her away from Primus. Introduce her to Ma and Pa Kent.

[sir-phineas-lost]

This is a small complaint compared to some other things I have with MAwS, but I really don't like the fact that Kryptionians having powers is just the default for them and not the result of hyper-thriving in Earth-like environments. There is something about the fact that Clark gets his powers from the world that saved his life and the way he in turn chooses to use them for the world that I find very appealing about his character.

Combined with the change of making Krypton into a conquering empire and having that legacy be what Clark is introduced to it feels like they are turning Krypton into a copy of Viltrum. And that only worked as well as it did because it was already a deconstruction of Krypton by way of Vegeta.

[memento-mori-twilight]

New Name/Lore Drops for MAWS S2E6

Ooh, boy was this episode a lot, but let's first start with:

Kandor

One of the famous last remaining cities of Krypton still intact (and I guess, now one of the last remaining warships of MAWS Krypton), both famously held in the possession of Brainiac.

Speaking of which:

Brainiac

Another famously villainous thorn in Superman's side

We've heard his name before now but this is our first real good look at him, and it looks like MAWS is going with the Robot Origin of him instead of the Green Skinned Alien Bastard version, similar to how Superman: the Animated Series did.

Famous for "taking what is his" except "no" for an answer.

Speaking of Brainiac, they called him by another name here as well:

Primus

Also the name of the leader of the Omega Men and ruler of the planet

Eurphorix (that also got namedropped as an invaded planet)

H'lven

Also namedropped as an invaded planet, is a planet of anthropomorphic squirrel people

Two of which have been a part of the

Green Lanterns

An intergalactic police force whose symbol and ring we saw Clark facing up against, known for being able to make powerful constructs from their sheer willpower alone

And last but not least:

Thanagar

Home of the mighty Thanagarian warriors of which famous superheroes and Justice League members, Hawkman (Carter Hall/Kotar Hal) and Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders/Shayera Hol) are a part of. Famous for their wings and their mighty mastery of Nth Metal, of which they make their weapons

I think that might be all of them for this episode, hopefully I didn't miss any.

See you next week!

[rubywolf0201]

Hating on them is an instant red flag for me because there is never any good criticism that comes out of them.

[kayrma]

ok on vicki vale: i don't think that her character was "assassinated" at all. remember – she's from gotham, and if this is superman year 1, it's roughly batman year 2 when he's still tackling mob crime BUT gotham is haunted and creepy and definitely wouldn't trust aliens or superpowers in any shape or form. so it checks out that ms. eic of the gotham gazette is anti-superman outside of being a ruthless reporter aiming for an angle that garners the most reactions

[dio-icarticaae]

MAWS S2E3 Thoughts!

So I pretty much spent the entire episode yelling about John Henry Irons appearing and getting a whole episode focused on his origins. Love that this is the first other superhero they're introducing, and he's absolutely coming back. If he doesn't I will start biting.

First off, poor Clark and Jimmy, having to live with General Lane at the moment. Of course he's a horrible roommate. Clark does look very cute though when looking through the window. Lois is definitely going to have to apologize for volunteering Clark and Jimmy for this. I'm curious as to when this conversation is going to take place.

Jimmy getting a taste of what being Perry while he and Clark and Lois were interns is hilarious.

FLIP IS NATASHA IRONS?!?!?!?!?!

Again I really love John Henry in this episode. The hero worship Clark has for him! His dedication to doing good! The hammer!! I do hope we get an armor redesign.

Also. Slight conspiracy theory here, but. They're setting up for some kind of Reign of the Supermen-esque event, right???? John Henry Irons. an astronaut named Hank - Hank Henshaw? Establishing and emphasizing Clark's version of TTK. The fact that Task Force X has some of Clark's blood. Krypton is established as being a military power - who's a better example of that in canon than the Eradicator? Kon-el has to make an appearance, right? Right?!? They're going to bring Superboy in, right?!?!

I can see that they're doing something here, and I'm excited to find out what!!

[bobauthorman]

Baby-Man

With the new Superman cartoon My Adventures With Superman coming on, I thought we should talk about Superman’s origins. His original origins. As in, Golden Age of Comics Original origins.

In that original continuity, the Kents, bless their hearts, decided the best place a baby found in the wreckage of a crashed spaceship was the local orphanage asylum.

Of course, in this undeveloped canon, Kyrptonian super-strength was the result of Krypton being a planet with higher gravity than Earth, which meant even a tiny baby was capable of tossing around furniture!

Naturally, Ma and Pa, being the sweeties they are, return shortly later to take the little bundle of home. You can imagine how happy the head attendant was to let that happen!

My point is, do you think, maybe, that orphanage ever made a connection between that powerful baby and the living legend Superman? That years, decades later, those who worked at that place saw the Big Blue Boy Scout and thought, “It’s him!”?

[starlight-bread-blog]

The scary part is that they do. I saw a tweet that blew up bashing Lois and someone in the replies brought it up. The op's defense was... "it was handled better there". It's an okay defense except it was handled perfectly? They show you her pov all throughout, explain her trauma, make Clark a little in the wrong too, make it in line with her established character traits, all in 4 episodes. I genuinely don't know what's not well handled here.

I would like to thank the mass bullshit meltdown on Twitter over Lois Lane throwing herself off a roof top, I'd never get into the show without ya'll<3

[nicholasmoorethetwittermigrant]

I love the way that Zero Day handles Clark’s super-hearing.

In part one it feels like a burden, something that keeps Clark stressed and stretched too thin, but in part two it’s what gives him a window into how needed and appreciated his help is by those around him.

It helps him see outside himself as his self-doubt threatens to overpower his heroic instinct, and it’s an indicator that Superman has a place in Metropolis; a calling that doesn’t ask him to “be normal” or hide a part of himself. Just like Parasite being surprisingly positioned as Clark’s thematic nemesis, the superhearing is quietly positioned by the show as his most important power.

[artbyblastweave]

I do think that Lex Luthor as depicted in My Adventures With Superman has more or less completely validated my longstanding take that the Jesse Eisenburg spin on Lex in Batman Vs Superman was at least gesturing at an interesting take on the character.

[someoneoffthestreet]

here's a theory that's been cooking in my brain:

I think Clark is right that he's been "weaponized" somehow, but is completely wrong about the reasons, and I think the show tells us this in the very first minutes of the show. there are loads of examples (other people even picked up on this weeks ago) but they're ultimately redundant for this post because it all comes back to Clark, the kite, and the car.

the show opens with Clark trying to get his kite from a tree. it sets us up for his powers to kick in while trying to jump up and grab it, but it's a fake out, with him jumping no higher than he did before. it's only when the distracted mother hits the pothole and Clark tries to save her from hitting another tree that his powers kick in: not for himself, but for the sake of someone else. this proves to be the case for nearly all of his other powers as well.

as of the end of season 1, we're still not sure about what happened with Krypton, down to if it actually blew up like it usually does or not. but there's strong evidence that it had something to do with Brainiac and (possibly) Zod. whatever happened, Krypton was beyond saving, so Jor-El and Lara sent Clark away to save his life. but I'm thinking that that's not all Jor-El did.

I'm thinking Jor-El knew, at least in some capacity, what the yellow sun would do to Clark, so he added some "safety features", so to speak. something that would prohibit Clark's powers from manifesting until they were absolutely needed, which would help keep Clark hidden for as long as possible, and hopefully prevent him from possibly abusing his abilities for himself. I think there were a lot of variables in Jor-El's planning and he obviously couldn't account for everything, but in a perfect timeline Clark could've interacted with and learned from the holo-Jor-el alongside manifesting his powers. a reactor pointed out that Jor-El seemed to learn English the more he interacted with Clark, but Clark was afraid of him and avoided him for most of his life, meaning the language barrier was never overcome. (so Jor-El was either exceedingly lucky that Clark was discovered by the Kents and raised by good people who instilled Clark with his values and morals, OR he even scouted them out and purposefully sent Clark to them- but that one feels like more of a stretch.)

all of this to say, I think Jor-El knew that there was a good chance Brainiac and "Zod" would survive the coming calamity, and that once they had recovered, the universe would need a protector. somebody strong enough to counter Kryptonian weaponry and soldiers. I think Clark is a weapon- but is less of a sword, and more of a shield.