Superman Cartoons of Max and Dave Fleischer/B,B

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Nostalgia plays a key element in the pleasure yielded from this collection of 17 Superman cartoons. Produced in the early forties, there is a quaintness about the animation style and storytelling as well. Each episode introduces Superman with the traditional "able to leap tall buildings," and then goes on to present another physical challenge for Superman to solve. Usually, someone is trying to destroy or blackmail Metropolis and naturally Lois Lane gets in the act, trying to scoop Superman's alter-ego reporter Clark Kent.

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Superman takes off. ©Image

Ranging eight to ten minutes each. The standard introduction including screen credits for each episode lasts close to one and a half minutes and if you watch the cartoons straight through you'll wish they had added chapter stops at the end of each introduction. Villains range from the very mute Bulleteers in their phallic vehicles of destruction to mad scientists. The wartime cartoons make sure to take a pot shot or two at the Japanese and the Nazis. No one ever accused Superman of being less than an all American hero except for maybe Lex Luther. Probably the best way to watch these enjoyable cartoons is one or two at a time before the main attraction at the home theater.

The source material for these vintage cartoons is in pretty decent shape. The colors have a special feeling to them, not faded, yet with a flinty quality. I rather enjoyed the visual aspect. The sound is often a bit scratchy, but the element dirt and damage is acceptable. Animation fans will enjoy the quaint element that defines the characters and their movement. Comic book fans have got to love an animated Superman to call their very own. In addition to the 17 Superman episodes, there's one cartoon entitled Snafuerman, a parody from Warner Brothers.

 

  


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