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I really enjoyed the series and will definitely be buying it...
The Ruby-Spears animation studio was founded by two former Hanna-Barbera story editors and produced animates shows such as Plastic Man, Mr. T, Thundarr the Barbarian, and Mega Man. The Superman series was produced to coincide with Superman’s 50th anniversary in 1988 and ran for 13 episodes Saturday mornings on CBS. Each ½ hour show consisted of two episodes: a main Superman feature and a shorter “Superman Family Album” which told tales of Superman’s early life in Smallville from his adoption by the Kents to his move to Metropolis as a young man.
The animation by the studio was vastly superior to earlier Superman cartoons produced by Hanna-Barbera and Filmation. There were greater effects, more detailed backgrounds and movements, and the animation was much more fluid. As one would expect, Superman’s main nemesis comes in the form of Lex Luthor. This version of Luthor is largely inspired by Gene Hackman’s portrayal in the 1980s films with a Luthor who is sly and likes to deliver wisecracks. He’s accompanied by blonde bimbo girlfriend Jessica Morganberry, herself based on Miss Tessmacher from the films.
Most of the adventures are rather mundane with Superman facing a variety of monsters and alien threats with little source material from the comic books used. There is mention of S.T.A.R. Labs and a few other comic references, but it is slight. This is somewhat surprising as longtime comic book writer Marv Wolfman serves as Story Editor and writes a few of the episodes himself. Legendary comic artist Gil Kane was the series’ Production Designer
In “The Hunter” General Zod, Ursa, and Faora release a chemical monster from the Phantom Zone and send it forth to destroy Superman. Wolfman does write one of the series best episodes “Superman and Wonder Woman Vs. The Sorceress of Time”. Here Wonder Woman comes to Metropolis to seek Superman’s help to capture an evil sorceress who has escaped her magical Amazonian prison. The late comic book writer Steve Gerber also pens an episode titled “The Last Time I Saw Earth”.
Cover art for Ruby Spears SUPERMAN DVD
The biggest negative to the series is the atrocious voice-acting. It may have been 1988, but the actors delivered their lines is overly dramatic 1960s/1970s cornball style. You have to keep from laughing many times at the melodramatic intonations of the actors. Beau Weaver is especially bad as Superman with a voice that is too high-pitched to take seriously.
The short-lived series had solid animation and some well-written episodes but not enough to make this a must-have. Strictly for die-hard Superman fans.
“Corporation of the Corrupt: The Rise of Lexcorp” This featurette is actually quite good. It includes various comic personalities along with several professors discussing the rise of corporate America and how this played out in Superman comics with the growth of Lexcorp. Very well-done featurette.
I did not see this until 1989 and it was om ABC not CBS. Did CBS unload it? It was September 1989 and I know it was ABC.
Wasn't Darkseid in this as well? I cannot be certain but I thought Darkseid was in an episode when Superman went to Apokalips. I may be wrong but I know it was on a ABC sffilliate in lowly Tulsa, OKlahoma.
Sonyman: Ruby Spears' Superman did air on CBS. Darkseid was the main villain on ABC'S Super Friends:The Legendary Super Power Show (1984-85 )which was a tie-in to the Kenner Super Powers action figure toy line.
I knew about Super Powers already, I have the comics from that series. But Superman was on ABC affilliate channel 8 in Tulsa, OK in 1989. Trust me on this one. That backwards town had alot of Oral Roberts related crap on the CBS station back in the 80's. I do not doubt CBS had it in the majority of the country but it was ABC in fall of 1989. They may have pulled it due to lower viewership.
I caught the 2nd 1/2 of one episode of this series on CBS back in '88-89. I had no idea the series even existed & stumbled across it by accident. I remember the animation being well-above Super Friends fare, more on par (or superior?) to Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends & The Incredible Hulk (that ran after it) on NBC. The apparent quality of the show made me surprised that it had slipped under my radar & I'm adding it to my Blockbuster queue right now. :D
Spider-man and his Amazing Friends and the Incredible Hulk were on in the late 70s early 80s. The Ruby Spears Superman wasn't on til much later, mid too late 80s. I'll be looking for it, anyone know when the release date of it on dvd is? Might make a great stocking stuffer for my son during Christmas time.
Totally missed this animated series, I might have to pick it up and check it out. It would be nice if someone could the character of Superman right, similar to the way he was done in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies.