History MythologyGag / SupermanTheAnimatedSeries

* The Mxyzptlk comic strip in [[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E8Mxyzpixilated "Mxyzpixilated"]] (See FreezeFrameBonus above) is written by Siegel and Shuster, the original creators of Superman. Both the episode and the comic feature Mxy looking for "[=McGurk=]," a hulking strongman/{{Expy}} for Rodin's ''"Thinker,"'' that Mxy searched for in his very first comic book appearance.

There are numerous [[MythologyGag references]] throughout ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' to past incarnations of the Superman mythos, including the comics themselves and other media adaptations:

There are numerous [[MythologyGag references]] throughout the series to past incarnations of the Superman mythos, including the comics themselves and other media adaptations:

There are numerous references throughout the series to past incarnations of the Superman mythos, including the comics themselves and other media adaptations:

* "Mxyzpixilated" is extra-extraordinarily meta: Mr. Mxyzptlk is introduced wandering into traffic looking for a man named [=McGurk=], as he was in his first appearance. Superman mispronounces Mr. Mxyzptlk's name exactly the way that the ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends'' production team decided to pronounce it. Mr. Mxyzptlk himself all but crosses the FourthWall, turning Lois [[https://comicvine.gamespot.com/supermans-girl-friend-lois-lane-92-the-unbreakable/4000-122251/ into a horse]] and Jimmy [[https://comicvine.gamespot.com/supermans-pal-jimmy-olsen-53-the-giant-turtle-man/4000-125074/ a turtle,]] making [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streaky_the_Supercat the Kents' cat flight-capable,]] and starring in his own private newspaper comic strip by "Siegel and Shuster," the creators of Superman.

* The comet that Darkseid will use to destroy the Earth in "[[SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E27E28LittleGirlLost Little Girl Lost]]" is [[Creator/FleischerStudios Fleischer's Comet]].

* "The Last Son of Krypton": When Martha Kent finds the infant Superman, she considers the names Christopher and Kirk, in reference to Creator/ChristopherReeve and Creator/KirkAlyn, who also played Superman, before deciding on Clark.

* In "Stolen Memories", Superman overcomes a laser fired by ComicBook/{{Brainiac}} by punching at it, which is the same as how he overcame a laser in the first [[WesternAnimation/SupermanTheatricalCartoons Fleischer Superman Cartoon]].

* In "Last Son of Krypton, Part 1", one of the guards says "Great Rao!", which Superman often says in the Silver Age comics.

* In "New Kids in Town", Brainiac has one to ''[[Film/{{Superman}} Superman II]]''

* In "Target," when Lois Lane is trapped in the [[DeathTrap elevator]] Superman rescues her and says that "I believe this is your floor," the same line he spoke to Lois when rescuing her from an elevator in ''Film/SupermanII''.
* The comet that Darkseid will use to destroy the Earth in "Little Girl Lost" is [[Creator/FleischerStudios Fleischer's Comet]].
* The Mxyzptlk comic strip in "Mxyzpixilated" (See FreezeFrameBonus above) is written by Siegel and Shuster, the original creators of Superman. Both the episode and the comic feature Mxy looking for "[=McGurk=]," a hulking strongman/{{Expy}} for Rodin's ''"Thinker,"'' that Mxy searched for in his very first comic book appearance.

* The episode "Monkey Fun" was apparently a remake/homage to a similar episode of the 60s Superman cartoon.

* In "In Brightest Day," the Air Force jet that Sinestro slams Kyle Rayner into belongs to "Col. Hal Jordan."
* In "Tools of the Trade", Superman catches a car falling off the cliff. His pose as he holds it is very similar to the cover of ''Action Comics 1'', Superman's first appearance.

* "Little Big Head Man" shows Bizarro's created a model of a square planet, namely [[SdrawkcabName Htrae]], Bizarro Earth from UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks. Then Mr. Mxyzptlk's girlfriend Ms. Gsptlsnz summons up a real-life ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' issue advertising Mr. Mxyzptlk on the cover.

* "My Girl": Superman uses his cape to shield himself and Lana against molten lead, evoking the WesternAnimation/{{Superman Theatrical Cartoon|s}} ''The Mechanical Monsters''.
* At one point in "Apokalips... Now!", Superman can be seen fighting Parademons in front of a building that resembles the [[WesternAnimation/SuperFriends Hall of Justice]], likely a subtle reference to Darkseid and his forces making their first animated appearance in the final two seasons of ''Super Friends''.

--> '''Clark:''' "I can barely say [his name] forward." / "I can't even say your name forward, how am I supposed to say it backward!"

* In "Last Son of Krypton, Part 3", Lois tells Bibbo to have Clark call "Commissioner Henderson" if she is not heard from soon. Inspector William Henderson was a character originally introduced in [[Radio/TheAdventuresOfSuperman the 1940's radio series]] as [[TheCommissionerGordon Superman's contact on the police force]]; he was later adapted into the television series and, eventually, the comics. His role was eventually supplanted by Daniel Turpin and Maggie Sawyer, two characters who would become important recurring characters within this series, and he is currently Metropolis's Police Commissioner. He is given a small role in ''Feeding Time'' and appears in the background in ''Apokolips... Now!''

* "The Last Son of Krypton": When Martha Kent finds the infant Superman, she considers the names Christopher and Kirk, in reference to Creator/ChristopherReeve and Kirk Alyn, who also played Superman, before deciding on Clark.

* In "Last Son of Krypton, Part 3" Lois tells Bibbo to have Clark call "Commissioner Henderson" if she is not heard from soon. Inspector William Henderson was a character originally introduced in [[Radio/TheAdventuresOfSuperman the 1940's radio series]] as [[TheCommissionerGordon Superman's contact on the police force]]; he was later adapted into the television series and, eventually, the comics. His role was eventually supplanted by Daniel Turpin and Maggie Sawyer, two characters who would become important recurring characters within this series, and he is currently Metropolis's Police Commissioner. He is given a small role in ''Feeding Time'' and appears in the background in ''Apokolips... Now!''

* The Mxyzptlk comic strip in "Mxyzptlkated" (See FreezeFrameBonus above) is written by Siegel and Shuster, the original creators of Superman. Both the episode and the comic feature Mxy looking for "[=McGurk=]," a hulking strongman/{{Expy}} for Rodin's ''"Thinker,"'' that Mxy searched for in his very first comic book appearance.

* Superman at first mispronounces the name Mxyzptlk as "Mix-ill-plick"... exactly the way it was pronounced on ''{{WesternAnimation/Superfriends}}''.
* The show refers to Mxyzptlk as the source of legends about genies, imps and leprechauns, just like ''Series/LoisAndClark''. It also shares the same dialogue about his weakness, though a different character responds here:

* Bizarro gets a hideous alien "dog" which he calls "Krypto."

* "Mxyzpixilated" is extra-extraordinarily meta: Mr. Mxyzptlk is introduced wandering into traffic looking for a man named [=McGurk=], as he was in his first appearance. Superman mispronounces Mr. Mxyzptlk's name exactly the way that the ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends'' production team decided to pronounce it. Mr. Mxyzptlk himself all but crosses the FourthWall, turning Lois [[https://comicvine.gamespot.com/supermans-girl-friend-lois-lane-92-the-unbreakable/4000-122251/ into a horse]] and Jimmy [[https://comicvine.gamespot.com/supermans-pal-jimmy-olsen-53-the-giant-turtle-man/4000-125074/into a turtle,]] making [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streaky_the_Supercat the Kents' cat flight-capable,]] and starring in his own private newspaper comic strip by "Siegel and Shuster," the creators of Superman.

* "Mxyzpixilated" is extra-extraordinarily meta: Mr. Mxyzptlk is introduced wandering into traffic looking for a man named [=McGurk=], as he was in his first appearance. Superman mispronounces Mr. Mxyzptlk's name exactly the way that the ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends'' production team decided to pronounce it. Mr. Mxyzptlk himself all but crosses the FourthWall, turning Jimmy [[http://superdickery.com/index.php?view=article&catid=29%3Aconfounding-comic-covers-index&id=1029%3Athe-giant-turtle-man&option=com_content&Itemid=24#content into a turtle,]] making [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streaky_the_Supercat the Kents' cat flight-capable,]] and starring in his own private newspaper comic strip by "Siegel and Shuster," the creators of Superman.

* In "Stolen Memories", Superman overcomes a laser fired by ComicBook/{{Brainiac}} by punching at it, same as how he overcame a laser in the first [[WesternAnimation/SupermanTheatricalCartoons Fleischer Superman Cartoon]].

* The show refers to Mxyzptlk as the source of legends about genies, imps and leprechauns, just like LoisAndClark. It also shares the same dialogue about his weakness, though a different character responds here:

There are numerous references throughout the series to past incarnations of the Superman mythos, including the comics themselves and other media adaptations: