A little over 25 years after the series began, Superman: The Complete Animated Series is available today on remastered Blu-ray and Digital. The six-disc set contains all 54 episodes of the series as well as hours of extras. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has provided KryptonSite with a copy for review, so let’s get into it, shall we?

For starters… a confession. As big of a Superman fan I have been over the years, and Batman: The Animated Series is one of my favorite adaptations of DC media, I haven’t seen a lot of Superman: The Animated Series. It came at a time when I had a very busy schedule, but also, I was still at the height of my obsession with Lois & Clark, and so I’ll just use the excuse “Teri Hatcher on the brain.” I knew that they did some very cool things on the show, introducing certain characters to animation for the first time…. I just hadn’t seen it. So, it’s a lot of fun to see these episodes with mostly fresh eyes.

The extra features on this set help “sell” the show and illustrate the talents and passion behind this project. This is best shown in the all-new featurette “Superman: Timeless Icon” featuring interviews with many of the creative folks behind the show. I found it interesting that they took time to find the right angle, especially in light of the fact that Batman was such a success, so all eyes were on them for a success. From the episodes I’ve watched since receiving this set I can agree that that “angle” is largely found. One great aspect of it all is the incorporation of several characters and concepts from Jack Kirby’s “Fourth World” lore…. even Dan Turpin is drawn to look like “King” Kirby himself.

Tim Daly and Dana Delany are perfect for their voice roles, and to be honest, I would have loved to have seen the two of them play these roles in live action. (Where were they in Crisis on Infinite Earths?) I love that, like with Batman, the core elements of many characters are on display. Perry is gruff. Jimmy is dorky. Lex is calculating. Lois is the best reporter at the Planet. Those two are scratching the surface — some very huge award-winning celebrities lent voices to the show, which also introduced some new characters to the mix.

As I mentioned before, there are a lot of extras. Multiple featurettes. Audio commentaries. There’s plenty for a Superman fan to love and take in. And as a bonus… this is a great “gateway drug” for someone younger who might not have caught the Superman bug yet. I’m going to include the press release list of extras below.

The picture quality is fantastic; as mentioned, these episodes are recently remastered. If I had any criticism at all, it would be the box art. I loved the logo used for the Superman animated show – it was a variation on the traditional look but with a new and fun angle – and to use a simple font does not have the same effect.

So is it worth getting? Yes. Sure, you can watch remastered episodes on HBO Max, but you would not get all of these extras. You can order a copy from Amazon.com here and support KryptonSite; the list of extras can be found below.

Superman: Timeless Icon (New Featurette) – An all-new bonus feature, produced specifically for the remastered Blu-ray release of Superman: The Animated Series, reveals the complicated journey of the show and those who created the new mythology for The Man of Steel, as told by producers Bruce Timm and Paul Dini, director Dan Riba, writer Bob Goodman, casting/dialogue director Andrea Romano, and Tim Daly & Clancy Brown, the heralded voices of Superman and Lex Luthor, respectively.

A Little Piece of Trivia (Featurette) – So you think you know your Superman trivia? Wait until you hear about the series’ connection to Telly Savalas! A brain teaser to entertain every Superman: The Animated Series fan!

Superman: Learning to Fly (Featurette) – Get into the minds of the creative team behind Superman: The Animated Series as they detail the birth of this animated version of Superman and his incredible worlds. Featured speakers include producers Paul Dini, Bruce Timm and Alan Burnett, art director/producer Glen Murakami and directors Dan Riba and James Tucker.

Building the Mythology: Superman’s Supporting Cast (Featurette) – The characters around Superman get the spotlight in this in-depth look at everyone from Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen and Perry White to Maggie Sawyer, Lana Lang, and Ma & Pa Kent. Producers Paul Dini, Bruce Timm and Alan Burnett, art director/producer Glen Murakami and directors Dan Riba and James Tucker give viewers the inside scoop.

Menaces of Metropolis: Behind the Villains of Superman (Featurette) – Your hero is only as good as the villains around him, and Superman: The Animated Series has a rogues’ gallery of top-grade baddies, including traditional opponents Lex Luthor, Brainiac, Bizarro, Metallo, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Toyman and Parasite, as well as new villains created for the series – like Live Wire and Luminus. Producers Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett and Paul Dini, directors James Tucker and Dan Riba and casting/dialogue director Andrea Romano give us a tour of the villains.

The Despot Darkseid: A Villain Worthy of Superman (Featurette) – Darkseid takes center stage in this examination of one of The Man of Steel’s most vicious adversaries, plus other Fourth World characters that appear in Superman: The Animated Series. The featurette includes producers Paul Dini, Bruce Timm and Alan Burnett, art director/producer Glen Murakami, writers Rich Fogel and Stan Berkowitz, director James Tucker and Charles Hatfield (Department of English, Cal State Northridge).

Audio Commentaries
Stolen Memories – producers Bruce Timm, Paul Dini and Alan Burnett, director Curt Geda and art director/producer Glen Murakami.
The Last Son of Krypton – Part 1 – producers Bruce Timm, Paul Dini and Alan Burnett, director Dan Riba and art director/producer Glen Murakami.
The Main Man – Part 2 – producers Bruce Timm and Paul Dini, director Dan Riba and art director/producer Glen Murakami.

Video Commentary
Mxyzpixilated – producer Bruce Timm, producer/writer Paul Dini, director Dan Riba and moderator Jason Hillhouse.

The Complete First Season of Superman & Lois is available on Blu-ray today, and thanks to Warner Home Video, we were able to get a hold of a copy of the set to review! How is this set, and is it worth buying if you can watch the episodes on HBO Max? The short answers: It’s absolutely worth buying, even with that fact. Why? Read KryptonSite’s Craig Byrne’s review of the set below…

The Episodes: “Superman and Lois Lane as parents… how is that going to work out?” one might wonder. While Superman stories of the past may have focused on his origins, and one particular show focused on the time before he became Superman, this series is the first to really show Superman and Lois Lane as parents of two teenagers. Genetically, will the kid be more like Superman or like Lois? How does it work when the world’s greatest superhero and the world’s greatest reporter are so busy, and dealing with super family problems on top of it? That’s the core element of this show — the family — and the rest goes from there.

Excellent writing and direction with a unique score set the mood for the series give the show and its “return to Smallville” vibe a definitive feel. I was impressed watching these episodes on The CW but I’m even more impressed watching this show on TV. I feel like I’m watching a movie a lot of the time, especially in the higher definition that Blu-ray offers.

Another great thing about this 15-episode first season is that it’s like a roller coaster, with certain milestone points to throw things into new directions. This is best represented by two of my favorite episodes in the first season – Episode 7 “Man of Steel” where we learn more about who “The Stranger” might be, and Episode 11 “A Brief Reminiscence In-Between Cataclysmic Events” which will leave longtime Superman fans with a permanent smile as we see the history of Lois and Clark through this show’s lens. The puzzle pieces move around in satisfying ways.

Credit should also be given to this show’s excellent cast, especially the four actors who make up the Kent family. Perhaps it is because this show was filmed in COVID times and they were forced to spend time with each other regardless, but these four act like a natural family on screen. There is so much visible admiration in the performances between Tyler Hoechlin’s Clark and Elizabeth Tulloch’s Lois, and Jordan Elsass and Alex Garfin perform a brotherly bond that you know that even when the characters disagree, there’s a level of care that only siblings could have. The rest of the cast get their own moments to shine in these first 15 episodes, and they all deserve to be lauded for a job well done. You’ll see what I mean when you watch it.

Yes, there are the expected superhero battles you’d expect from a show that features Superman. But, there are also family stories, showing how ordinary people would deal with extraordinary situations, as well as how extraordinary people deal with the ordinary ones. It’s a mix, and so far, it seems to be a good one.

The Extras: This set features extended versions of many episodes as they were on The CW’s website after airing. These are usually a few extra moments in every episode, but almost all of these scenes that were “cut” add to the tapestry of the show. Honestly, I wish that The CW could just cut out a few in-house promos when they air the show just to have these scenes incorporated every week, but I guess that’s not how broadcast TV works.

Unfortunately, that means there are no extra “Deleted Scenes” as they are all just incorporated back in. It also might have been interesting and fun to have a blooper reel and/or some commentaries, but that doesn’t mean this set is without extras.

What might be the best original extra feature is called “Superman: Alien Spirit” because it seems to include some interviews I haven’t seen before, with the actors as well as some of the talented producers and writers that we haven’t really seen doing press, like Kristi Korzec and Katie Aldrin. The “Superman & Lois: Legacy of Hope” special that originally aired on The CW is included on this set, as is the original DC FanDome panel for the show. “Never Alone: Heroes and Allies” covers the Arrowverse — I mean, CW-verse in general and focuses on the support teams the different heroes have.

The Packaging: I like the cover art, so no complaints here!

Is It Worth It? YES. 100% yes. The show was already quite enjoyable, but seeing the visuals better than we’ve ever seen them before — or at least, better than I’ve ever seen it before — it’s like wow. And if you haven’t seen the show or want to recommend it for someone new, it would make a great gift.

Order your copy of Superman & Lois: The Complete First Season on Blu-ray from Amazon.com and support KryptonSite (we get a commission)!

The complete first season of Krypton has been released to Blu-ray and DVD as of last week — you can order your copy here — and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has provided KryptonSite with a free copy of the Blu-ray set to review in this post.

The Season 1 Blu-ray set contains all 10 episodes from Season 1 as well as extras including two featurettes, the 2017 Comic-Con panel, a gag reel, and deleted scenes. How’s the set? Read on with this review!

The Episodes: I thought most episodes of Krypton looked and sounded really good on Syfy, but I will say that the Blu-ray upgrade for the series makes it look even better. When the series makes use of colors and imagery — especially in places like Val-El’s Fortress of Solitude, when we see things like Superman’s cape — that is when it looks its best. The upgraded picture alone makes it worth it, and Pinar Toprak’s score is top-notch, especially when bits of the John Williams Superman theme creep in. (Toprak was also the composer of the recent #1 movie Captain Marvel. Perhaps you’ve heard of it.)

For those who aren’t familiar with what Krypton was or is, here’s the short version: Seg-El (Cameron Cuffe) is the grandfather of Superman. His family or “house” – the House of El – has been shunned and made classless as part of the Rankless, the lower class on the planet Krypton. Honestly, when the concept of the series first came up I was very skeptical, but a lot of the elements of the show, including some elements from present day, really made Krypton a series worth watching. While some episodes do admittedly get a little claustrophobic, there are some twists and turns that happen in the short season that leave the viewer hungry for more. The show is also helped by elements like the best live-action interpretation of Brainiac to date, as played by Blake Ritson, the sly Nyssa (Wallis Day), and a character played by Colin Salmon who comes in around Episode 5 who turns the show on its ear.

I will say, though, that the timing of this Blu-ray release is a bit odd, and this is coming from someone who loved Krypton. It has been something like 9 months since we last saw the series. As far as I know, Syfy has not aired repeats, and the show won’t land on DC Universe for a while yet. So, sadly, even my own excitement for the show had died down. Thankfully, the set re-energized me a bit, getting me ready for Season 2’s premiere whenever it comes, but it’s been so long that I think a lot of audience may have forgotten what the series even was. If they don’t remember, will they buy a Blu-ray or DVD set?

The Extras: Before I get into the extras I should probably talk about the great extra that is not on the set. In Summer 2017, about nine months before Krypton premiered, a trailer for the series leaked — and the footage was vastly different. Some of the elements made it all the way through — note that the first episode as aired had two credited directors — but there were other things that were much different. Val-El apparently survived to present day, Jayna-Zod was named Alura-Zod, and a few other things including something as simple as Lyta’s hair were extremely different. I’ve always wanted to see this “earlier draft” of the Krypton pilot…

…but of course, it’s not on the Blu-ray/DVD sets.

In an age where a lot of people don’t buy physical media and wait for these things to just drop on Netflix or something, exclusive content is a premium, and seeing the first draft of Krypton on this set would have been amazing. Even to include that original trailer — which leaned more toward the Zack Snyder films — would have been a treat. Sadly, it is not a thing that happened.

We do get a glimpse of some other “almost-sortas” in one of the two documentary featurettes, as David S. Goyer gives a tour of the set, and points out things like Adam Strange’s comics-inspired gear, the carcass of Doomsday, and even Blue Beetle’s scarab. I don’t know if this was shot during the first draft, or what, but especially for fans of the show, the featurettes are definitely worth watching. They are also fascinating in seeing how much of what we see in the show came from and was inspired by the comics… and Cameron Cuffe’s enthusiasm for all things Superman is infectious to see.

The set also includes the 2017 Comic-Con panel for Krypton, where among other things they talk about how Hawkwoman is coming on to the show. Oops. Still cool to see the producers and Cuffe talking at a time when not much was known about the series yet.

There are some deleted scenes, but it’d been so long since I’d seen the series I lost the context for a lot of them. There are also bloopers.

Packaging and Design: I loved the key art for Krypton so of course I’m happy to see it on this set.

Is It Worth It? Ten episodes will come and go quickly here, but they sure will look and sound beautiful on Blu-ray. And as I said, there are some episodes that get a little slow but the better episodes make the set worth it. Krypton is a much better show than it ever had any right to be, and credit should be given to the talented creators and actors who put it together. It’s obviously highly recommended to get this set before we see Season 2, obviously.

Order your copy from Amazon.com and support KryptonSite!