Superman (TV series)
Superman | |
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Genre | |
Based on | |
Written by | |
Directed by |
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Voices of | |
Narrated by | Superman March" (composed by John Williams) |
Composer | Ron Jones |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 13 (26 segments) |
Production | |
Executive producers | |
Producer | Larry Huber |
Running time | 22 minutes (2 11-minute segments) |
Production companies | |
Original release | |
Network | CBS[1] |
Release | September 17 December 10, 1988 | –
Superman is a 1988 American animated Saturday morning
Format
The series was the second animated Superman television series (after the Filmation-produced The New Adventures of Superman). While its characterization was in keeping with previous licensed incarnations of Superman characters (e.g. Superman had powers from infancy, Superman had an indestructible cape, and Lex Luthor referred to himself as a "criminal scientist") the series was notable for introducing Marv Wolfman's conception of Lex Luthor into animation. In the first episode, Luthor was portrayed as a billionaire possessing a ring fashioned with a kryptonite stone, which he used to keep Superman from apprehending him. Wolfman blended characteristics of his recent comic-book revamp of Luthor with Gene Hackman's portrayal of the character in live-action films.[4]
Other characters included Cybron (a time traveling conqueror composed of energy) and an appearance by Wonder Woman, in her first non-print appearance since the final season of Super Friends. The Prankster (comics), General Zod and Shadow Thief also makes appearances.
Classic characters included
Superman/Clark Kent was voiced by
The "Superman Family Album"
The final four minutes of each Superman episode were devoted to a brief snapshot from the "Superman Family Album". In addition to "super-baby" misadventures in the early episodes, the segments featured rites of passage such as Clark Kent's first day at school, an overnight scouting campout, getting a driver's license, his first date, graduation from high school, and ultimately his premiere as Superman.[6] The initial idea for the segments was proposed by Judy Price, then head of the CBS Kids division.[4]
Cast
- Beau Weaver – Kal-El / Clark Kent / Superman
- Ursa (in "The Hunter"), Faora(in "The Hunter")
- Michael Bell – Lex Luthor, Patron (in "Superman and Wonder Woman vs. the Sorceress of Time")
- Tress MacNeille – Martha Kent
- Alan Oppenheimer – Jonathan Kent
- Stanley Ralph Ross – Perry White, Starrok
- Clark Kent
- Mark Taylor – Jimmy Olsen
- Bill Woodson – Opening Narration
Additional voices
- Jack Angel – General Hawkins (in "Cybron Strikes")
- René Auberjonois – General Zod (in "The Hunter")
- Brandon Bluhm – Scout Kid (in "Overnight with the Scouts")
- Don Bovinglough – Coach (in "To Play or Not to Play")
- P.L. Brown – (in "Night of the Living Shadows")
- William Callaway – Defendroids (in "Destroy the Defendroids"), (in "The Last Time I Saw Earth")
- Joey Camen – Short Henchman (in "Triple-Play")
- Darleen Carr –
- Pat Carroll – Queen Hippolyta(in "Superman and Wonder Woman vs. the Sorceress of Time")
- Nancy Cartwright – Melissa (in "At the Babysitter's")
- Cathy Cavadini – Barbara (in "Bonechill"), Co-Ed (in "The Driver's License"), Maria (in "The Driver's License")
- Townsend Coleman – Teenage Clark Kent, Ted Kline
- Cyclops(in "Superman and Wonder Woman vs. the Sorceress of Time")
- Danny Cooksey – George (in "The First Day of School")
- Peter Cullen – The Hunter (in "The Hunter")
- Keene Curtis – Bonechill/Chilton Bone (in "Bonechill")
- Gabriel Damon – (in "Superman and Wonder Woman vs. the Sorceress of Time"), Jessik (in "The Last Time I Saw Earth")
- Victor DiMattia (in "The First Day At School" and "Overnight with the Scouts")
- Shawn Donahue –
- Jeff Doucette – Sideshow Barker (in "The Circus")
- Jeannie Elias – Mrs. Murphy (in "The Supermarket")
- Ron Feinberg – (in "Night of the Living Shadows", "The Last Time I Saw Earth")
- Ben Ryan Ganger – Scout Kid (in "Overnight with the Scouts")
- Linda Gary – (in "Graduation")
- Liz Georges – Teenage Lana Lang
- Ellen Gerstell – Madame Nikua (in "By the Skin of the Dragon's Teeth")
- Ed Gilbert – Shuttle Captain (in ""The Last Time I Saw Earth")
- Dan Gilvezan – Dr. Morpheus (in "The Beast Beneath These Streets")
- Barry Gordon – (in "The Driver's License")
- Patrick Gorman – Ship Computer (in "Fugitive from Space")
- Edan Gross – Scout Kid (in "Overnight with the Scouts")
- Kenneth Hartman –
- Darryl Hickman – (in "The Last Time I Saw Earth")
- Jerry Houser – (in "To Play or Not to Play")
- Dennis Howard – (in "Wildsharkk")
- Erv Immerman – (in "Night of the Living Shadows")
- Danny Mann – (in "Bonechill")
- Kellie Martin – Young Lana Lang (in "The Birthday Party")
- Ron Masak – (in "Wildsharkk")
- Mary McDonald-Lewis – Wonder Woman (in "Superman and Wonder Woman vs. the Sorceress of Time")
- Cindy McGee – (in "Graduation")
- Howard Morris – Prankster / Oswald Loomis (in "Triple-Play")
- Ron Palillo – (in "Night of the Living Shadows")
- Diane Pershing – Anne White (in "Wildsharkk")
- Pat Pinney – Scout Leader (in "Overnight with the Scouts")
- Henry Polic II – Captain Wildsharkk (in "Wildsharkk")
- Hal Rayle – (in "The Big Scoop", "The Last Time I Saw Earth")
- Kathy Ritter – (in "Bonechill")
- Jennifer Roach –
- Stu Rosen – Catcher Henchman (in "Triple-Play")
- Neil Ross – S.T.A.R. Labs Security Guard (in "Fugitive from Space")
- Will Ryan – Conroy (in "The Adoption")
- Susan Silo – Jenet Klyburn (in "Fugitive from Space"), Xelandra (in "Fugitive from Space")
- John Stephenson – Driving Instructor (in "The Driver's License")
- Carl Steven –
- Lynne Marie Stewart – (in "The Big Scoop", "Graduation")
- Andre Stojka – Professor Gerber (in "Bonechill"), Bowling Alley Manager (in "Bonechill")
- Cree Summer – Barbara (in "Bonechill"), Astronaut (in "The Last Time I Saw Earth")
- Eric Suter – (in "Bonechill")
- Russi Taylor – Young Lana Lang (in "The First Day of School")
- B.J. Ward – Syrene (in "Superman and Wonder Woman vs. the Sorceress of Time")
- Frank Welker – Cybron (in "Cybron Strikes")
- Tom Williams – Judge Cook (in "Triple-Play")
- Stan Wojno – Fat Henchman (in "Triple-Play")
- Patric Zimmerman – (in "Bonechill")
Crew
- Ginny McSwain – Voice Director
- Lynne Batchelor – Talent Coordinator
Production
During the approach of Superman's 50th anniversary, CBS teamed with Ruby-Spears hoping to tap into the zeitgeist.[7] Marv Wolfman was hired as story editor for the series as CBS had responded favorably to a Superman parody he'd written for the Garbage Pail Kids animated series and were unaware that Wolfman had written for the actual Superman comics.[7] Wolfman had no problem adhering to the expectations of DC Comics and Warner Bros. due to his experience writing the character, but would often receive notes from CBS executives that proved challenging to work with.[7] Superman struggled in the ratings as, according to Wolfman, the person in charge of CBS' children's programming had a thinly veiled distaste for Superhero shows and put the show early in the morning where it struggled to meet its targeted demographic of 9-13 year olds, coupled with the high licensing fees the series was canceled by CBS after one season.[7] The series featured the final work of Jack Kirby during his time at Ruby-Spears as he would lose his position in the company following the end of the series.[8]
Ties to other Superman adaptations
The series is also of note due to its use of re-orchestrated versions of John Williams' classic themes[9][10][11][12] from 1978's Superman: The Movie, as well as an opening sequence that delivered the same narration as the 1950s Adventures of Superman television series (but by the narrator from Super Friends).
Home media
Episodes
Nº | Title | Written by: | Original air date | |
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1 | "Destroy the Defendroids / The Adoption" | Marv Wolfman | September 17, 1988 | |
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2 | "Fugitive from Space / The Supermarket" | Martin Pasko Cherie Wilkerson | September 24, 1988 | |
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3 | "By the Skin of the Dragon's Teeth / At the Babysitter's" | Karen Willson & Chris Weber Cherie Wilkerson | October 1, 1988 | |
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4 | "Cybron Strikes / The First Day of School" | Buzz Dixon Cherie Wilkerson | October 8, 1988 | |
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5 | "The Big Scoop / Overnight with the Scouts" | Michael Reaves Cherie Wilkerson | October 15, 1988 | |
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6 | "Triple Play / The Circus" | Larry DiTillio Meg McLaughlin | October 22, 1988 | |
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7 | "The Hunter / Little Runaway" | Karen Willson & Chris Weber Cherie Wilkerson | October 29, 1988 | |
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8 | "Superman and Wonder Woman vs. The Sorceress of Time / The Birthday Party" | Cherie Wilkerson & Marv Wolfman Cherie Wilkerson | November 5, 1988 | |
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9 | "Bonechill / The Driver's License" | Larry DiTillio Cherie Wilkerson | November 12, 1988 | |
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10 | "The Beast Beneath These Streets / First Date" | Michael Reaves Cherie Wilkerson | November 19, 1988 | |
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11 | "Wildsharkk / To Play or Not to Play" | Marv Wolfman & Cherie Wilkerson Cherie Wilkerson | November 26, 1988 | |
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12 | "Night of the Living Shadows / Graduation" | Buzz Dixon Cherie Wilkerson | December 3, 1988 | |
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13 | "The Last Time I Saw Earth / It's Superman" | Steve Gerber Cherie Wilkerson | December 10, 1988 | |
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References
- ^ TV SERIES CREDITS
- ISBN 978-1476665993.
- ^ "Ruby-Spears Superman DVD Review". IGN. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
- ^ a b Gross, Ed (2009-10-25). "Exclusive Interview: Marv Wolfman On the Ruby-Spears Superman Series". ComicBookMovie.com.
- ^ "Super '70s and '80s: "Superman" (1988 Ruby-Spears cartoon)—Beau Weaver (Superman), part 1 of 2". Noblemania. October 2, 2011.
- ^ "Ruby-Spears Superman". DVD Talk. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
- ^ ISBN 9781569765012.
- ISBN 978-1582345666.
- ^ 1988 Animated Theme – RM
- ^ 1988 Animated Theme – MP3
- ^ 1988 Animated Theme: Version 2 – RM
- ^ 1988 Animated Theme: Version 2 – MP3
- ^ "Superman – Package Art Swoops In for 13 Heroic Ruby-Spears Episodes". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
External links
- Superman at IMDb
.
- Superman Homepage – episode guide and screenshots