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My Adventures With Superman (HBO Max Series)

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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.
#3076: Jul 9th 2024 at 3:55:08 AM

Do you think Brainiac could take over Lois’ body while she’s in the black mercy?

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
HeyMikey Since: Jul, 2015
#3077: Jul 9th 2024 at 6:45:30 AM

Could? Definitely. Will? Probably not. At this point, I don't think Brainiac is like an infection hive mind. He doesn't seem to have the possibility to control multiple hosts at once, as he wasn't doing it with his drones, nor did he try to take on multiple Kryptonian minds, instead just focusing on Clark. Taking over Lois seems beneath him, to take over this frail Earthling when even a broken Kryptonian drone would be more dignified.

And was Lane a general during Zero Day? He seemed like a grunt like all the other soldiers, he didn't seem to have any of the markings of rank that would make him stand out. It's been 20 years, him starting as one of the few survivors that would be able to act as the expert on alien fighting strategy and technological capability as one of the only people to have first hand experience with it, then clawing himself up the ranks with Waller behind fueled only by his obsession would seem in character.

But right now the closest to the bottom in terms of villains would be Intergang. They were two bit thieves when this all started. Their leader got caught when they were robbing a convenience store, because one of them forgot to destroy the cameras. Only reason they got as dangerous as they were was because another better criminal decided as a gambit to gain leverage to spread dangerous weapons over the city. Had they not had that, their leader would probably still be in jail, and her two cohorts would be banging their heads against the wall trying to figure out what to do.

Edited by HeyMikey on Jul 9th 2024 at 6:54:38 AM

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.
#3078: Jul 9th 2024 at 9:49:25 AM

New clip from next week’s episode:

    Spoilers 

Okay so simulation parents are sapient and Clark is an adult. Interesting. Also, ominous.

Edited by BigBadShadow25 on Jul 9th 2024 at 12:51:01 PM

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#3079: Jul 9th 2024 at 10:11:31 AM

Huh wow AI Lara has finally come in.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
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.
#3080: Jul 9th 2024 at 10:12:04 AM

Anyone recognize her actress?

Edited by BigBadShadow25 on Jul 9th 2024 at 1:12:27 PM

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
Luisdalas Since: Sep, 2023
#3081: Jul 9th 2024 at 12:44:40 PM

This series did what I thought was impossible.

Have two straight couples in 2020's, and have them be popular within the fandom.

In other series, which try, the popular ship would be a slash ship with the best friend or the enemy.

Blueace Surrounded by weirdoes from The End Of the World Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Surrounded by weirdoes
#3082: Jul 9th 2024 at 1:13:07 PM

Lois and Clark have a lot of pull, at least. Be glad that Bruce won't appear or else he is likely to take a lot of eyes.

Wake me up at your own risk.
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
#3083: Jul 9th 2024 at 2:20:39 PM

Apparently Jake Wyatt is interested in having Mongul turn up at some point. I'm all for that, because Mongul is already anime villain material. He's probably the most theatrical alien Superman villain, a bloodthirsty showman who wants the universe to fight, kill and die for his entertainment I think they should have fun with Mongul being a giant ham who loves making an entrance. He's a reprehensible piece of shit, but the guy can POSE.

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mongul_1.jpg https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mongul_2.jpg https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mongul_3.jpg

All witches, all skeletons, all jack O Lanterns, gather round your TV set, put on your masks, and watch...watch the magic pumpkin, Watch...
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.
#3084: Jul 9th 2024 at 2:22:43 PM

OH… YES! I HOPE HE’S THE BIG VILLAIN FOR SEASON 3. THIS JOAQUIN PHOENIX AS COMMODUS LEVEL BLOODTHIRSTY TYRANT WHO STANDS FOR EVERYTHING CLARK OPPOSES. GIMME.

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
miraculous Goku Black (Apprentice)
Goku Black
#3085: Jul 9th 2024 at 2:28:09 PM

Oh hell yeah. A man who has everything adaptation would be lit.

"That's right mortal. By channeling my divine rage into power, I have forged a new instrument in which to destroy you."
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.
#3086: Jul 9th 2024 at 2:29:58 PM

But that’s already what we’re getting in the show right now.

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
EmperorGeode from A Galaxy far, far away Since: Oct, 2022 Relationship Status: On the prowl
#3087: Jul 9th 2024 at 2:39:53 PM

[up] That’s what I said.

Would love to see Mongul however. It would be cool if they pull Bait-and-Switch and have him be one who destroyed Krypton.

Theokal3 Since: Jan, 2012
#3088: Jul 9th 2024 at 2:40:37 PM

This series did what I thought was impossible. Have two straight couples in 2020's, and have them be popular within the fandom. In other series, which try, the popular ship would be a slash ship with the best friend or the enemy.

Snort now that you mention it, yeah.

Edited by Theokal3 on Jul 9th 2024 at 2:50:56 AM

HeyMikey Since: Jul, 2015
#3089: Jul 9th 2024 at 4:31:06 PM

They could do a War World story with Mongul. I think they said they wanted to do a War World plot, and Clark in gladiator gear would be an interesting fashion choice for him.

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.
#3090: Jul 9th 2024 at 4:33:08 PM

I loved Justice League: Warworld and it’s gonna be interesting how this show would tackle the concept.

I think it would tie in nicely to the show’s themes if the War World was powered by the fear and hate of the inhabitants like in that movie. Luthor and Waller by themselves could power it for centuries!

Edited by BigBadShadow25 on Jul 9th 2024 at 7:40:02 AM

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#3091: Jul 9th 2024 at 6:37:02 PM

The Warworld Saga by Phillip Kennedy Johnson is one of the strongest and well received Superman stories in recent years.

Lot of great worldbuilding about Mongul and his planet's history, a great alien Roman aesthetic, cool concept in his Unmade soldiers revenant zombie gladiators empowered by magic, and the general badassery of Superman fighting as a gladiator even without his powers. Lotta great stuff to use there.

Edited by slimcoder on Jul 9th 2024 at 10:41:29 AM

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
HeyMikey Since: Jul, 2015
#3092: Jul 9th 2024 at 8:37:59 PM

Reddit Thread for MAWS has more preview images of the next episode

First one is ambiguous. Bunch of three eyed visors and one of the figures is holding a large green glow, might be implying Kryptonite. Can't tell if it's supposed to be Brainiac drones or Task Force X. Second one is another picture of AI Jor-el and Lara looking menacing. Nothing too much to be gathered from there. Third image is most likely the triumphant end, where Lois and Clark break free of the mental prison and take on their usual outfits with a kiss. So they're back together. Not particularly informative or spoilerific, but was neat looking.

Edited by HeyMikey on Jul 9th 2024 at 8:39:06 AM

KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#3093: Jul 9th 2024 at 8:48:52 PM

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?

To be precise, you're asking if there exist shows that were capable of writing individual tragic villains while also maintaining an overarching arc over the course of a single season?

I mean, yeah. Most arc based series have at least a couple. Especially superhero ones since that's a stable concept of a superhero series.

The most obvious example is this very show, which was able to dedicate an entire episode to exploring Parasite, his motivations, his development from an asshole to a megalomaniac, etc.

But if you're looking for another series that was pretty famously able to do that, Spectacular Spider-Man is a good example, well known for having very well written and conceived villains, even though the entire show was pretty consistently structured into 3-4 episode mini-arcs.

Also Gargoyles, Young Justice, basically anything made by Greg Weisman really, Tangled the Series, I just got done watching Ranking of Kings which has a phenomenally well conceived set of villains and heroes despite having a very rigid and focused story, etc. Delicious In Dungeon's first season just got done, and that show had a very good sense of dedicating most of its episodes' runtime to explaining and exploring the ins and out of the specific thing the characters bumped into that episode, while also maintaining a strong seasonal arc. Etc.

I keep finding episodes to add. I tried to focus on shows that were more on the arc side of things, but even so it wasn't hard to find examples.

Edited by KnownUnknown on Jul 9th 2024 at 8:59:38 AM

HeyMikey Since: Jul, 2015
#3094: Jul 9th 2024 at 10:00:50 PM

No, I'm asking if there exists an example of a cartoon that follows similar plot beat structure of MAWS, both in terms of plot progression and character interaction in a similar amount of time, while also able to add all the items people regularly critique MAWS is lacking for (usually more colorful and varied villains is the most common criticism).

MAWS chose its priorities, based on whatever limitations that were imposed on them. As such, what they choose to focus on will be different than what other shows do. To say that other show did this thing, why can't Superman also? Well Superman didn't choose to do that thing because what they chose to focus on was different, thus elevating certain parts at the cost of others. And if you say other shows are able to do it, after receiving that counter-argument, that is an implication that these other shows were able to do what MAWS did, while still giving the item you believe MAWS is fumbling on. So thus the needs for examples as points of comparison. But looking at the other shows, none of them equaled all of MAWS' major strengths (in terms of creative development), on top of being better on the parts we're criticizing MAWS for, within the same time frame (all shows you referenced had longer seasons than MAWS). They set their own priorities, worked within their set limitations, and executed, to good results, but again, I wouldn't say they were equal to what MAWS chose to prioritize in.

If we go back to Spectacular Spider-man, it does deliver on more vibrant colorful minor villains. He also made Spider-man an absolute blast as a hero, the mask he puts on allows to act as his true self and made it fun. Spider-man is the type of hero I'd see teenagers wanting to be, because he makes superheroing look so cool. But that's because that was what Greg Weisman chose as part of his priority with the show. And we can see a lot of other items SS did were not so great in comparison to MAWS, my biggest example would be Peter's love life. The show spent 26 episodes for two seasons, and ended with Peter not even getting to the starting block of his end game relationship, while Clark actually got to the dating part midway through Season 1. Really, the only relationship that actually got off the ground was Flash Thompson and Sha Shan Nguyen, which still was cute. I'd also include what were supposed to be Peter's closest non-familial relations in the mix. Harry Osborn was supposed to be Peter's best friend since early childhood, and Eddie Brock was supposed to be the closest thing to a brother, when Eddie and Peter's parents died early, but I would argue that I felt Jimmy being Superman's pal even though they've only known each other since college than either Eddie or Harry as Peter's close personal friends. I didn't really feel Eddie's supposed growing disappointment in what was supposed to be his younger brother surrogate that lead to his Face–Heel Turn and more like he was always a major asshole, and using Peter and Spiderman as a scapegoat.

The thing with criticism, is that it's also a major art on its own. Offering proper critique has a method all its own. For most of us, the type of criticism we offer is fairly superficial, we're stating what we possibly would like that might make the piece have a greater emotional impact on us, usually in disregard to the priorities and limitations of the creatives and that works fine in casual conversation. Again, all the other shows had something they brought to the table as excellent pieces of media in their own right, but artistic choices still come with costs, so certain things are prioritized over others, for better or worse. The way MAWS is setup, I'm here to enjoy the parts they did put a lot of effort into, even if at the cost of their third rate villains, because this is the best Clark I've seen in ages and one of the few pieces that gives a lot of attention to the man part of Superman.

Edited by HeyMikey on Jul 9th 2024 at 10:42:49 AM

slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#3095: Jul 9th 2024 at 10:05:12 PM

PKJ's run is probably our best Mongul yet. I love the increased sense of granduer he added by emphasizing the Mongul name is an inherited title that goes back thousands of generations.

The current Mongul is Mongul MDCCXCII which translates to 1792 and he is refered to as Mongul-Who-Is while his father the past dead Mongul's are Mongul-Who-Was. With him commanding a whole slave culture revolving around chains and endless battle with him propped at the top.

He's never been more menacing, he's a thrilling villain as the ultimate conqueror especially with the slick new redesign he's gotten.

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1000014054.jpg

Edited by slimcoder on Jul 9th 2024 at 10:06:44 AM

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#3096: Jul 10th 2024 at 1:31:48 AM

Offering proper critique has a method all its own. For most of us, the type of criticism we offer is fairly superficial, we're stating what we possibly would like that might make the piece have a greater emotional impact on us, usually in disregard to the priorities and limitations of the creatives and that works fine in casual conversation.

That sounds an awful lot like you're trying to dismiss everyone who has a criticism of the show, by reducing anything they're saying as them just being them upset that things are different than the way they wanted. I've noticed you've been doing this a lot on this thread: instead of allowing or at least even genuinely responding to people's criticisms, you've been repeatedly trying to find ways to claim that other people's disagreements with you don't count. First it was "what you want is completely impossible for a writer to ever do," and now it's this apparently.

But, given that that's a complete 180 from the comment comment you actually asked me to respond to (which was "it's completely impossible for a writer to ever do this"), I'll to reaffirm the response I was actually making, which is that stuff like this -

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.

Is pretty off base, as several people have explained to you at this point. It's why I gave all those examples.

Edited by KnownUnknown on Jul 10th 2024 at 1:53:43 AM

miraculous Goku Black (Apprentice)
Goku Black
#3097: Jul 10th 2024 at 4:06:25 AM

Honestly Mongul makes sense. They could be setting up the coast city tragedy. That was caused by cyborg superman (who Henshaw seems to be turning into) and Mongul

"That's right mortal. By channeling my divine rage into power, I have forged a new instrument in which to destroy you."
slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#3098: Jul 10th 2024 at 4:10:11 AM

It would be cool to bring in another kind of alien style after a lot of Kryptonians stuff.

Assuming they use something similar to the whole space Roman gladiator aesthetic of the Warzoons. Would make for a striking contrast to the hi-tech but sterile utilitarian aesthetic of the Kryptonian empire.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
Theokal3 Since: Jan, 2012
#3099: Jul 10th 2024 at 6:11:31 AM

I didn't really feel Eddie's supposed growing disappointment in what was supposed to be his younger brother surrogate that lead to his Face–Heel Turn and more like he was always a major asshole, and using Peter and Spiderman as a scapegoat.

Speak for yourself. Personally the descent into villainy from Eddie was one of my favourite parts in that show.

But back on MAWS.

Personally I really feel it wouldn't have harmed to give the show a few more episodes so they could introduce a few extra villains that would have more individual stories.

KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#3100: Jul 10th 2024 at 7:44:32 AM

@More aliens:

I always through it was weird that, for all that he’s a major enemy of the Justice League and had all these phenomenal, exciting powers, Despero has so rarely gotten play.

Despero would fits this show’s “animeesque unstoppable space combatant/warlord” schtick pretty well, too.


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