Finally! I'm looking forward to this DVD set!!! It's not on the level of the Fleischer Superman cartoons, but it's a great more contemporary addition with Wonder Woman and Lex Luthor included. Superman comic book writer Marv Wolfman co-created it and wrote it and was head story editor of the show. Bruce Timm admited he didn't know what to do with Superman and thinks Superman is dull and had him get taken down with one punch. Bruce Timm on Superman: “Y'know, I think that even the Fleischers recognized way back when that Superman was just an intrinsically dull character. I knew immediately what to do with Batman, whereas with Superman I wasn’t quite sure what to do with him. I don’t think he’s as interesting a character on the face of him. With Batman, you look at him and you get it. Superman's just not as intrinsically [as] cool as Batman. We fell into a rut of Superman getting knocked down and then not getting back up. The trap we fell into on Justice League was, again, we have seven of these guys and whatever villains they go up against have to be big, powerful villains. So we used the easy trick of saying, ‘Okay: the villain walks into the scene and takes Superman down with one punch.’"
http://jl.toonzone.net/superman/superman.htm
Instead of that nonsense Marv Wolfman actually understood Superman's appeal, he knew what to do with Superman and knows that Superman isn't an intrinsically dull character and Superman's cool in his own way. "I suggested the title The Adventures of Superman, based on the original live-action show I had watched as a kid," Wolfman revealed. "That show was the reason I got into comics in the first place. I also suggested using the opening from the TV show (and radio show): 'Look! Up in the sky!' etc... but set to the John Williams Superman movie score. The best of all possible worlds."
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/VoicesFromKrypton/news/?a=8934 With Wolfman in charge, the cartoon series reflected the comic books closely with the corrupt billionaire Luthor, etc. while also influenced by the 1940's Fleischer cartoons style and the 1950's Adventures of Superman "Truth, Justice and the American Way", etc. intro, Perry White's gruffness saying "Great Ceasar's Ghost", Jimmy Olsen with the bowtie, etc. The idea for the
Superman Family Album segments that chronicles Clark Kent on Smallville without ever being Superboy was from CBS children's department head Judy Price and is a precursor to the Smallville TV series. It's refreshing to see Superman and Wonder Woman animated in their own style of their comics rather than Bruce Timm's Batman: The Animated Series styled knockoffs Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League, etc. The Chester Gould Dick Tracy style look fits Batman since that's how Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson, Dick Sprang, etc. illustrated Batman. What fits Batman doesn't fit Superman and Wonder Woman. They are different styled characters. Joe Shuster illustrated Superman in a Alex Raymond Flash Gordon, Jungle Jim style. Harry G. Peter illustrated Wonder Woman in a Dick Calkins Wilma Deering from Buck Rogers style. Superman comics artist Gil Kane did the designs to the Ruby-Spears Superman and it's also genuinely based on John Byrne's Superman comics.
I love Lois' reaction when Superman leaves her for Wonder Woman.
It's great to see him smiling and upbeat. Superman is about inspiring hope, optimism. Being a positive role model. Uplifting moments, not angst.
