DVD Review: The New Adventures of Superman
Reviewed by Craig Byrne
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On Tuesday, June 25, Warner Home Video will be releasing the very first volume of the 1966 New Adventures of Superman animated series onto DVD. Though some of these episodes were released onto video in the past, this is the first time that so many episodes had been put out. Also due out on June 25 was The New Adventures of Batman, created in the late 1970's and featuring the voices of Adam West and Burt Ward, but sadly that one was not available for review.

Here's the review:

Packaging: This is the first thing I notice, so this is the first thing I'll write about. Unfortunately, like the Justice League Unlimited and Batman Beyond volumes released a few months ago, the packaging on this is so thin you can hardly read the spine. This helps with shelf space, but it probably won't help when you're trying to find it on your DVD tower. I understand the need for things to get smaller and smaller, but the "unreadable spine" thing isn't much fun. On the bright side, though, it makes the very well designed cover art look like a comic book, especially considering they're around the same thickness. The two individual discs have very nice artwork on them from the series. (Though check out that big collar on Lex - and it's not even the 70's yet!)

Content/Bonuses: This DVD features 36 episodes of the 1966 Filmation New Adventures of Superman series. Maybe because I grew up watching Superfriends or the 1990's Superman animated series I expected something more, but despite some very good voiceover work (including Bud Collyer, the man who made Superman famous on radio), the cartoon seems very... generic. The animation is passable, but nothing in the episodes I have seen makes me go "wow this is amazing!" Add that to some characters and villains created specifically for the cartoon, and some variations that make no sense (like a non-costumed Parasite), and it's average at best. Maybe if I grew up watching these and had a nostalgic feeling I'd like this even more.

One great thing about this series is it is the first major production of the Lou Scheimer/Norm Prescott studio. Children of the 80's like myself know that studio best for their Filmation work on He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, among other shows. It's kind of a "cheap" style but it's charming all the same. For Scheimer, The New Adventures of Superman was the beginning of an empire.

One thing I also have to know upon reading this - was the show's narrator Jackson Beck the same man who announced many toy commercials of the 80's, particularly those for G.I. Joe? The voice sounded SO familiar. And I'll be darned if Perry White doesn't sound like Ted Baxter.

Episodes in this series do include some Superman favorites. Brainiac (treated more like a computer than he had been in the comics)... Lex Luthor... Parasite... Mxyzptlk... the gang's all there.

In addition to 36 episodes of the animated series, there is a special preview of the upcoming Superman/Doomsday direct to DVD feature. Though Brainiac Attacks was disappointing, I really think Doomsday has the potential to be amazing. I can't wait to see it. And it's got James Marsters (Smallville's Brainiac) as Lex Luthor - how cool is that? There is also a featurette "Superman in '66" which takes a look at where the character was that year in pop culture and the comics. Folks like Mark Waid and Mark Hamill are interviewed in this feature.

Also disappointing? Apparently the first "season" of New Adventures also included some Superboy short cartoons. Probably because of the legal actions between Jerry Siegel's greedy estate and DC Comics/Warner Bros., these episodes are absent. I still think this is ridiculous. I doubt someone could go creating a Spider-Boy with a young Peter Parker and a costume identical to Spider-Man's, and claim legal right to it, but whatever. Very lame. Superboy was apparently an important part of this series, and should have been represented.

For those of you curious about which episodes were on the set, here's a list:

Episodes:
1. The Force Phantom
2. Mermen Of Emor
3. The Prehistoric Pterodactyls
4. Merlin's Magic Marbles
5. The Threat of the Thrutans
6. The Wicked Warlock
7. The Chimp Who Made It Big
8. The Deadly Icebergs
9. Robot of Riga
10. The Invisible Raiders
11. Neolithic Nightmare
12. The Return of Brainiac
13. The Magnetic Monster
14. The Toys of Doom
15. The Iron Eater
16. The Ape Army of the Amazon
17. The Fire Phantom
18. The Deadly Dish
19. Insect Raiders
20. Return of Warlock
21. The Abominable Ice-Man
22. The Men from A.P.E.
23. The Tree Man of Arbora
24. The Image Maker
25. Superman's Double Trouble
26. The Deadly Super-Doll
27. Lava Men
28. Luthor Strikes Again
29. Mission to Planet Peril
30. The Pernicious Parasite
31. The Two Faces of Superman
32. The Imp-Practical Joker
33. Superman Meets Brainiac
34. Seeds of Disaster
35. The Malevolent Mummy
36. The Bird-Men From Lost Valley

There were two other "seasons" following this one. Whether they will be released as sets of The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure or The Batman Superman Hour remains to be seen.

Final verdict: Great for nostalgic fans or Superman enthusiasts, though for someone younger, I'd recommend the more recent Superman animated series or Justice League Unlimited. Some love went into the making of this set, but leaving out Superboy was, as I said, very lame. I'm still happy that shows like this are being preserved for the generations. I'd actually love to see more of the 1960's Filmation stuff... but most of all, I'd like to see more Superfriends or the short-lived 1988 Superman animated show. Bring them on! As for this set, it gets a 2.5 out of 5. I think I like my Supes more modern.

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Read some of our other DVD reviews! The Adventures of Superman: Season 2 The Adventures of Superman: Seasons 3 & 4 The Dukes of Hazzard: Season 1 The Dukes of Hazzard: Season 2 Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law: Volume 1 Space Ghost: Coast To Coast: Volume 3 Smallville: Season 1 Smallville: Season 2 Smallville: Season 3Smallville: Season 4 Smallville: Season 5

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