WARNING: This article includes spoilers for Episode 3 of My Adventures With Superman. Unlike most superhero movies, including The Avengers, DC's new show My Adventures With Superman pays attention to a crucial detail. Prior to Superman making a return to the big screen in a movie reboot, he is now starring in his very own animated series. This marks the first solo Superman series since 1996's Superman: The Animated Series and presents a young Clark Kent at the start of his superhero journey. While the focus is on Clark Kent's life at the Daily Planet, My Adventures With Superman initially delivers a highly action-packed storyline. In fact, Superman caused significant destruction during his first major battle.
Thus far, My Adventures With Superman has chosen to steer clear of the well-known Superman villains like Lex Luthor or General Zod. Instead, the show delves into the exploration of other adversaries from Superman's extensive rogues' gallery, including Livewire and Silver Banshee. Livewire became the initial supervillain to cross paths with Superman in this universe, resulting in a tumultuous battle that resulted in substantial collateral damage. However, Superman managed the situation with greater control compared to the Avengers' handling of the Battle of New York.
Superman Just Avoided The MCU's Avengers Mistake
In the season 1 finale of My Adventures With Superman, episode 2, Superman engages in a fierce battle against Livewire. Although Clark emerges victorious and assists in capturing Livewire, the extent of collateral damage caused raises doubts about the overall worth of the encounter. However, before leaving the scene, Superman utilizes his remarkable speed to clean up and reconstruct everything he had unintentionally destroyed. The sight of a superhero actively participating in the restoration of a city after a significant conflict is a rarity in comic book adaptations. Unlike movies such as The Avengers, where the heroes prioritize saving the city over rebuilding it, Superman's actions stand out. A notable example is the Battle of New York depicted in the MCU's Avengers film.
The Avengers' confrontation with Loki and the Chitauri army, famously known as the Battle of New York, resulted in a staggering $160 billion worth of destruction. Throughout the climactic battle, it appeared that the Avengers were relatively unconcerned with the collateral damage caused. Whether it was Iron Man humorously soaring through buildings or the Hulk demolishing anything in his path, the 2012 film The Avengers brought forth a comic book-style clash, showcasing both its positive and negative aspects. From an in-universe perspective, the consequences of the Battle of New York's collateral damage were substantial, specifically leading to the implementation of the Superhero Registration Act.
Why Superman Cleaning Up Metropolis Is So Important
The Battle of New York in The Avengers is not the sole illustration of a comic book movie battle where the heroes exhibited a lack of concern for collateral damage. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) itself offers numerous other instances of this phenomena, such as the Battle of Sokovia in Avengers: Age of Ultron or the Lagos mission in Captain America: Civil War. Almost every superhero film contains multiple action sequences culminating in extensive destruction. This holds true for Superman as well, who is widely regarded as one of the most powerful comic book characters in both the DC and Marvel universes. A notable example is Man of Steel, which faced criticism due to the collateral damage caused by Superman.
The approach to addressing violence and destruction in a comic book adaptation depends on its tone. For instance, The Avengers aimed to capture the essence of a superhero comic, setting it apart from films like X-Men or Batman Begins. Consequently, the destruction caused by the Avengers served as a spectacular display of the astonishing abilities possessed by characters such as Thor and Hulk. In contrast, the devastation in Man of Steel emphasized the inexperience of Clark Kent and the potential danger Superman posed to humanity if he were to become an adversary. However, the inclusion of the collateral damage within the battle, as portrayed in My Adventures With Superman, adds a captivating layer of complexity.
Acknowledging and taking responsibility for the destruction he caused, Clark adds depth to the story in My Adventures With Superman. Even though it was a brief moment of Superman cleaning up in episode 2, it sets the tone for Clark Kent's character. It also raises the stakes for when Superman lets loose and disregards collateral damage, as shown by the mention of Darkseid in episode 3 with the Intergang. In the DC Animated Universe, Superman has been known to cause significant destruction when battling the New Gods.
Unlike in comics, where it's assumed that superheroes help rebuild cities destroyed in fights, these moments are rarely depicted on comic book pages or in movies like The Avengers. With Amanda Waller's appearance in My Adventures With Superman, it is likely that Clark will soon have to confront those who fear or seek to control Superman.
New episodes of My Adventures With Superman releases Thursdays on Adult Swim and Fridays on Max.
