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My Adventures With Superman (HBO Max Series)

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GamerSlyRatchet Since: Jan, 2011 Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
#3051: Jul 8th 2024 at 12:23:14 AM

I guess they pick and choose who gets to look "faithful". Though I'm unimpressed with Atomic Skull as a Task Force X goon, while at least Bloodsport gets to be a rival to Deathstroke and TFX as a whole. Even though we know he'll lose that battle.

Edited by GamerSlyRatchet on Jul 8th 2024 at 2:23:37 PM

Latest blog update (November 5th, 2022).
slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#3052: Jul 8th 2024 at 12:49:13 AM

This is where the minor villains fumble on. Skull has a cool look but he doesn't appear enough to be a notable threat or personality, and even in the episode he first appears in he only shows up in the latter half where his fight with Superman only lasted 30 seconds. Bloodsport looks to be a main antagonist for the comic so he's going to get a lot more characterization and menace than Skull or Damage which he's already doing by knocking Slade on his ass, taking control of Amazo, and arresting Clark for treason.

Its a shame cause Skull's existence bares some questions. He is unlike any other villain seen in the show, not a tech based villain being clearly enhanced like Livewire but to such a degree that he no longer looks human. Even Damage's grotesque super-form is clearly the result of cybernetics, but what the Hell happened to Skull?

Its like skipping the origin story/scene of creation for the villain's introductory episode and just plopping them right into the story with no explanation for their existence.

Edited by slimcoder on Jul 8th 2024 at 12:50:06 PM

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
Theokal3 Since: Jan, 2012
#3053: Jul 8th 2024 at 3:45:53 AM

Actually that makes me wanna ask: does Atomic Skull have any interesting personality or backstory in the comic? Because every single adaptation of him I saw to date, be it the DCEU, this show or Superman vs the Elite, treated him just as either a random background goon or a Generic Doomsday Villain. Is there anything actually interesting to him in the comic?

alekos23 Since: Mar, 2013
#3054: Jul 8th 2024 at 4:14:32 AM

I liked him being just a silly sounding dude in DCAU. tongue

HeyMikey Since: Jul, 2015
#3055: Jul 8th 2024 at 6:17:39 AM

With only two episodes left, will be interesting how they finish all this up. Based on what we have left Lois will free Clark from the Black Mercy, Brainiac will be defeated, and Kara officially becomes Supergirl.

For next week's episode, interesting that the episode title seemed to change from what we initially thought from Superman! to Pierce the Heavens, Superman!, an obvious homage to Gurren Lagann. This could be foreshadowing, but like Olson's Eleven, it could just be a reference and nothing else. But there was a part in Gurren Lagann where Simon is stuck in an alternate mindscape, where in that world Simon and Kamina were jewel thieves, but Simon escaped when he realized the world he was trapped in was wrong, both by how Kamina acted and the wrongful purpose of his drill.

I can see them taking this in multiple directions. Lois could show him that the Krypton Clark is trapped in is wrong in some manner, probably something like that Krypton is dead and the real world still exists. It may be painful, with all his troubles and insecurities, but it's a world where he can exist and make a difference, unlike the dream he currently is in, where he's nothing more than a puppet. I could also see it as him realizing that Earth is what made him who he is, not Krypton. And Earth is in danger, so he must cast off this illusion to save what he cares for most. I'm also curious how they will characterize Clark in the Black Mercy. Usually for these alternate reality stories, there are two main ways to portray the character, that they are the polar opposite of what they were, to show how a different living warped them from who they should be, or they are essentially the same, that no matter where they're from, their innate sense of being shines through.

Also, some speculation based on meta-information and past leaks, there are two characters that have yet to show up and were supposed to have some impact, based on given a voice or expansive information. That being Lana Lang and Lara Lor-Van. Lara will definitely play a part next week, but from what we've gleaned from earlier information, she is meant to be someone to torture Clark. That either means she will be the primary driver of Brainiac's will to mold Clark into the ideal Kryptonian, or she will be the one Clark will be most emotionally impacted by having to leave. Perhaps because Clark knows Jor-el, has no major emotional connection to Zor-el, and Kara currently exists, he can safely disentangle from them easily, but Lara being his mother and him not having any strong memories to link back to, may be what makes moving on from the illusion most emotionally difficult. Lana Lang also has a voice, so where she pops up is also in the air. She can either be in next week's episode, a sort of statement that this is where Clark truly came from, as the rural farm boy in Kansas and act as one of the anchors that draws Clark back to the real world, or she can appear in the finale, as a sort of cameo and maybe link to season 3, in a "Hey Clark, it's your old best friend Lana, come to visit" sort of deal. Also all the sites I've visited make reference to Kara's civilian name will be Kara Kent. Assuming this is accurate, that means they're dropping the Danvers from this iteration of Supergirl, and she's going to be keeping her Kryptonian name when she settles in, instead of going for an adopted civilian like Linda Lee. Probably makes everything smoother that way, not having to have another family they have to characterize, and Kara probably has more emotional attachment to Kara, that she wouldn't care to create a pseudonym for her Earth presenting appearances, unlike Clark who had the name since infancy, and Kal-el is an identity that was forced on him by ghosts of the past.

Edited by HeyMikey on Jul 8th 2024 at 6:41:33 AM

slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#3056: Jul 8th 2024 at 7:03:59 AM

[up][up][up] Bio for the modern Skull.

Joseph Martin was an ordinary college student until he was caught in the blast radius of an alien "gene-bomb" that awakened his latent metagene, granting him super-strength and the ability to fire energy blasts, but also causing brain damage, turning his body's soft tissues invisible, and wreathing him head in green flame. Due to his brain injury, Martin believed he was the old 12-episode movie hero "the Atomic Skull" and that Superman was his archenemy, "Doctor Electron".

Essentially he's a delusional guy who thinks he's in a movie. He thinks he's the hero and Superman is his ev archnemesis.

Of course this one of those flip flop character deals. Martin has been cured but he's reduced to a generic badguy who does bad stuff so it goes back and forth on it I think. Doesn't help Skull is one of those characters with sporadic appearances.

I do hear one time Martin became a cop/security officer playing off his delusions but I don't know much about that story.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
Theokal3 Since: Jan, 2012
#3057: Jul 8th 2024 at 8:05:15 AM

I liked him being just a silly sounding dude in DCAU.

And that's fine^^ But I'm still curious on what his deal is in the comic, because until now all I know is that he got a cool enough design.

[up]... Okay yeah i see why they usually just use him as a goon. This backstory isn't bad, but it's nothing to crime home about.

Edited by Theokal3 on Jul 8th 2024 at 8:05:34 AM

miraculous Goku Black (Apprentice)
Goku Black
#3058: Jul 8th 2024 at 8:31:55 AM

Student Joseph Martin was at S.T.A.R. Labs for a routine check-up when it was struck by an intense blast of energy from the Dominators' gene-bomb that gave him superhuman strength and caused his flesh to become invisible. Later attacked by some thugs, the resulting brain damage caused insanity, and he took on the guise of "the Atomic Skull" who was a hero from an old movie serial that he loved. He also emitted dangerous amounts of radiation, later gaining the ability to project it as energy blasts. He has plagued Superman, whom he believed to be the serial's villain Doctor Electron (particularly when Superman had currently acquired electricity-based powers), and Lois Lane, whom he saw as the Skull's love interest, Zelda Wentworth.[6]

He was later given enhanced powers by the demon Neron in exchange for his soul.[7] Cured of his delusions, he at first intended to follow the character's example for real as a superhero, but has since appeared as a more conventional supervillain.

Edit : [nja]

[up][up]Didnt they do away with and now he's just evil.

Edited by miraculous on Jul 8th 2024 at 8:32:58 AM

"That's right mortal. By channeling my divine rage into power, I have forged a new instrument in which to destroy you."
Sunchet Since: Oct, 2010
#3059: Jul 8th 2024 at 10:28:10 AM

Oh, no wonder Brainiac sounds so good, I just realized he's the same guy who voiced Alpha from the Ben Ten/Gen Rex crossover. Ironically, it's almost the same character only he went from "you're so disappointing, father" to "you're so disappointing, daughter".

slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#3060: Jul 8th 2024 at 10:59:54 AM

[up][up][up] It is at least a simple enough motivation to work with, wanting power and to be the guy. Even the cartoon has a little bit of it with Skull's comment about finally having power that can allow him to challenge Superman.

Shame Skull and Damage are very flat characters. There's some interesting parts in them being the first characters in the show to presumably willingly enhance themselves to superhuman status without it being an accident like Livewire and Parasite.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
Cortez from Parts Unknown (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#3061: Jul 8th 2024 at 4:17:40 PM

[up]×3

He reformed in the Superwoman book.

EmperorGeode from A Galaxy far, far away Since: Oct, 2022 Relationship Status: On the prowl
#3062: Jul 8th 2024 at 4:37:43 PM

Honestly Atomic Skull’s original comic stick could have worked in show, since Task Force X is all about seeing Superman as a villain no matter how much evidence to contrary they are presented with. It would have worked as substitute for his “im TV superhero and Superman is my arch nemesis” delusion.

BigBadShadow25 With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg. from Basement at the Alamo (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: Desperate
With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg.
#3063: Jul 8th 2024 at 4:46:15 PM

The show is currently #3 on Max, ahead of Smiling Friends!

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
Snailfish Silver Shamrock's Halloween three from Santa Mira, California Since: Oct, 2013 Relationship Status: Love is for the living, Sal
Silver Shamrock's Halloween three
#3064: Jul 8th 2024 at 4:51:34 PM

Well, now that Brainiac is a "Cyborg Superman" of sorts, ol Hank feels even more redundant. Does lend weight to him becoming a Metallo though.

Henshaw in this show is like Boscha from Owl House to me: a one-note asshole who I keep waiting for them to do something interesting with. Granted we do get some for Boscha eventually but Hank as he is feels pointless.

Like he's given no legit reason for hating Superman other than Lex going "See? Superman bad!" You'd think he'd be working with Task Force X but the most he does is yell at Superman on a talk show. And now that we have an Evil Superman figure in Brainiac, it seems unlikely they'd have more villains of that type.

Edited by Snailfish on Jul 8th 2024 at 4:53:44 AM

All witches, all skeletons, all jack O Lanterns, gather round your TV set, put on your masks, and watch...watch the magic pumpkin, Watch...
KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#3065: Jul 8th 2024 at 5:05:34 PM

Comics Atomic Skull is one of those "technically both a villain and a victim" characters most heroes have one or two of, where they're a threat the hero has to fight, but also technically a regular person suffering something the hero must to talk them out of/save them from.

Like the original concept for Star Sapphire, the original Cheetah, The Lizard, Two-Face (occasionally), etc.

Superman has a lot of those, probably because empathizing with basically everyone is kind of his thing and (similar to Spider-Man) how he relates to the people of Metropolis is a big part of his setting. Crimson Banshee is like that (at least in the modern day), the comics rewrote Livewire to be like that when they immigrated her into the comics, etc.

But since this show isn't really interested in the whole "even regular people can become villains" thing, that mostly gets drained out of the characters it adapts.

Edited by KnownUnknown on Jul 8th 2024 at 5:07:30 AM

HeyMikey Since: Jul, 2015
#3066: Jul 8th 2024 at 5:14:45 PM

[up][up] You could make the argument that it's more closely resembles the Eradicator than Cyborg Superman. Ancient Kryptonian weapon, merged with a humanoid body, acting to replace Superman as the Last Son of Krypton? That has all the Eradicator parallels.

Theokal3 Since: Jan, 2012
#3067: Jul 8th 2024 at 5:19:36 PM

Henshaw in this show is like Boscha from Owl House to me: a one-note asshole who I keep waiting for them to do something interesting with. Granted we do get some for Boscha eventually but Hank as he is feels pointless.

I mean, Boscha did nothing for 3 whole seasons. Henkshaw has just now shown up and only had two appearances so far. Give them time. Plus I'd argue he's less of a one-note asshole than Boscha, because they did humanize him a bit by giving him a friendship with Lois.

But since this show isn't really interested in the whole "even regular people can become villains" thing, that mostly gets drained out of the characters it adapts.

I mean, they did humanize Livewire eventually, but... yeah, now that you mention it, all their villains so far have been people who already were criminals before getting their powers/tech, Task Force X agents, or in the case of Brainiac alien monsters from day 1. We didn't really have any traditional supervillain origin of a random person being turned bad guy by a freak accident or bad circumstance.

HeyMikey Since: Jul, 2015
#3068: Jul 8th 2024 at 6:23:51 PM

[up] Depends how you mean "regular" people and "villains". If you mean, non-criminals or morally compromised, you could say that describes Sam Lane and Lex Luthor. Sam was just a soldier (though taking on a Top Secret position), until Zero Day changed everything, followed by his wife's slow deterioration due to cancer. Lex wasn't a criminal, though he was a jerk, until he made the leap and officially joined Task Force X.

Though that kind of nobody to nightmare story telling would only really work here for one episode wonders or the season arc big bad. 10 episodes in a serial storyline, doesn't leave much room for them to be given the spotlight multiple times, they would either blow their load and disappear from the storyline until maybe next season if they're lucky, or it would serve to act as the foundation to build them up to the climax, or they just become another transferable mook, completely removed from what made them memorable in their first episode.

KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#3069: Jul 8th 2024 at 7:23:29 PM

10 episodes in a serial storyline, doesn't leave much room for them to be given the spotlight multiple times

Why not? The show has no problem giving similar spotlights to other villains. Loads of shows dedicate similar timeframes to those kinds of stories. It's not that hard, if you think the problem is difficulty of writing.

It's not the serial context that causes the show to eschew that kind of story, it's the fact that the show isn't interested in telling that kind of story at all.

Edited by KnownUnknown on Jul 8th 2024 at 7:23:43 AM

slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#3070: Jul 8th 2024 at 7:51:57 PM

Now that I think about it, we haven't really had a classic tragic villain yet.

Figures like Metallo/Henshaw who are in deep pain over their monstrous superhuman state and are lashing out or being manipulated into doing evil over their loss. With the hero compelled to help and even seek to cure them like Living Laser in Iron Man Armored Adventures or Electro and Molten Man in Spectacular Spider-Man.

Considering the greator emphasis on how kind and empathetic this show's Superman you'd think we get a character like that, but pretty much all the villains in this show are unrepentant d-bags. The closest is probably Mist but we haven't followed up on that expression of regret for helping Superman get captured.

Edited by slimcoder on Jul 8th 2024 at 8:09:16 AM

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
HandsomeRob Leader of the Holey Brotherhood from The land of broken records Since: Jan, 2015
Leader of the Holey Brotherhood
#3071: Jul 8th 2024 at 8:07:14 PM

[up]To be fair, Henshaw ain't transformed yet.

It's possible he could become that even with his grudge against aliens. Or we might see that kind of villain later on.

Right now, the closest thing we have is Kara, who's esssentially been raised to be a weapon.

One Strip! One Strip!
HeyMikey Since: Jul, 2015
#3072: Jul 8th 2024 at 8:29:16 PM

[up][up][up] Could you could provide an example of a show that does the same amount of what MAWS does but does more of what you're stating in a similar time frame?

When I say MAWS can't do it, I mean they can't do it and still maintain their focus on what they have now at the pace they're going, based on how packed the episodes are, how fast the plot moves, and how few filler/breather episodes they have. To say otherwise, is to say the current show has a lot of empty, dead, or inefficiently used space it's not utilizing properly, so it can fill the gaps with all the stuff you're requesting, or that you don't care for some of the priorities they are making and wish they would change it to something else. The first would need to be qualified, the second is just wishing it was a different show.

Usually my main comparison to MAWS is it's main predecessor in S:TAS or one of the better Marvel cartoons like Spectacular Spider-man or X-Men:TAS, but they don't do the same things that MAWS does.

S:TAS is episodic in nature, and his personal relationships are very superficial, but they do have a lot of solid singular villain episodes. Lois and especially Jimmy in their relations with Clark is a lot less developed though.

Spectacular Spider-man is also a lot less serial than MAWS and the plot a lot less tightly knit in comparison and what are supposed to be Peter's closest interactions (Harry, Gwen, Eddie) are a lot less developed than Clark's closest relations.

X-Men:TAS is an ensemble piece, most of which took ages to give proper spotlight to some of its characters, because it's an ensemble piece. Probably got through more plot than MAWS, but a lot of the X-men still were under-developed for a fairly long time, mostly being their personality and powers. Rogue for instance didn't get a plot hook that she was Mystique's adopted daughter until episode 12, and that didn't get its payoff until episode 22, "A Rogue's Tale".

And all of these cartoons have 13 episode seasons at the minimum. This version of Superman is missing a quarter of the run time compared to some of their peers and most didn't have a serial structure. And none of which I would say is doing what MAWS is doing and more. Doing something different yes, but they don't either the same level of plot progression, close character introspection, or breakneck pace of this Superman series.

Sunchet Since: Oct, 2010
#3073: Jul 9th 2024 at 12:28:30 AM

When do you think Kara will realize that Jimmy is not the leader of the planet? I expect the last scene of the season although part of me wants to have a one silly scene with Brainiac where he's all like "Kara, my child, what on Krypton are you talking about?"

Theokal3 Since: Jan, 2012
#3074: Jul 9th 2024 at 3:09:53 AM

Depends how you mean "regular" people and "villains". If you mean, non-criminals or morally compromised, you could say that describes Sam Lane and Lex Luthor. Sam was just a soldier (though taking on a Top Secret position), until Zero Day changed everything, followed by his wife's slow deterioration due to cancer. Lex wasn't a criminal, though he was a jerk, until he made the leap and officially joined Task Force X.

Lane's status as a "villain" is debatable and he's associated with Task Force X. And Luthor might not have been a criminal, but he was working for a corrupt billionaire and already messing with alien tech. Neither honestly qualifies.

Considering the greator emphasis on how kind and empathetic this show's Superman you'd think we get a character like that, but pretty much all the villains in this show are unrepentant d-bags. The closest is probably Mist but we haven't followed up on that expression of regret for helping Superman get captured.

I wouldn't go that far. Intergang, and later Livewire and Heatwave in season 2, were both given some redeeming qualities if just because they care about one another. General Lane was an Anti-Villain during his run as the Big Bad. Only real bastards so far are Task Force X, Luthor and Ivo, I would say.

[up][up]I blame that less on the limited number of episode and more on the fact that shows nowadays tend to be much more overly serialized with more episodic format being look down upon as "fillers". Which... admittedly, yeah, filler episodes that bring nothing do exist, but sometimes doing episodes ou outside intrigues or random stuff help flesh out the setting and side characters. Nowadays doing stuff more episodic results in the story rushing to the main plot, making the universe feel smaller as a result.

Edited by Theokal3 on Jul 9th 2024 at 3:13:05 AM

slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#3075: Jul 9th 2024 at 3:21:33 AM

I would not count Lane as a "regular person". He's a military general and the original mastermind of Task Force X before Waller took over.

He's too high up on the chain. A regular person is more yout everyday schlub who more accidentally gets into the life.

At the moment only Lex arguablh and Intergang really fit into this archetype as most of the antagonists are career criminals, military officials, aliens, a former ceo, and a chaos gremlin. And even Lex's genius and general sociopathy sands off feelings of him being an average schlub plus as mentioned he was working directly under Ivo which indicates a high position on the totem pole.

Leaving Intergang fitting the best as blue collar crooks, struggling criminals who want to make it big but can't manage that big score and are stuck on the bottom end. Contrasting them is Livewire who is clearly a veteran crook and makes enough from crime to be able to afford a lavish apartment and employees at least in the first episode before they got caught.

[up] Now that I think about it, I think the issue with how the story is written here is that there are 2 different main antagonists vying for screentime. For most of season 1 Lane looks to be the big bad, until Waller took over and she's the main threat since and for the first half of season 2.

Brainiac meanwhile only finally enters the main plot in the second half of season 2. Despite season 1 ending on his introduction we still have to deal with more Task Force X stuff until Kara appears in episode 5. Meaning Brainiac is left with only 4 episodes to finally enact on his machinations that the show has been building up since the start.

Edited by slimcoder on Jul 9th 2024 at 3:29:40 AM

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."

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