Movie Review: Inside Out 2

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.

For many years, I always like to watching Pixar films from childhood to grown adult, they’ve given us some of the most fascinating to a best movies out there for its imaginative ideas and their challenging aspects since they first opened 1986 after they used to be Lucasfilms’ Graphic Group, but long story from its origin. However, as time went on today, Pixar is no longer the same as where they used to, due to the effect from the pandemic in 2020, with the combination of delays or migrating to Disney+ and box-office bombs, Pixar started to losing millions of dollars and laying off their employees that, as im writing this, they’re now more than twelve hundred employees, which it grew to concerning me if Pixar is about to losing their theatrical movies to forcing to putting them into Disney+, while also stop making shorts on streaming platforms, so it seemed that they’re going to try again to giving us yet another sequel, but a sequel of one of my favorite movie back in 2015.

“Inside Out 2” is a 2024 Pixar’s coming-of-age animated film that was written/directed by Kelsey Mann, produced by Mark Nielsen, and co-written by Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein.

After the release of the first Inside Out that it was both well-received and made a lot of money at the box-office, many people believe that with the success, this maybe worth to have a sequel (aside non-canon sequel from a toy-to-life game Disney Infinity), this got the intention announcement for Pete Doctor that, at Academy Awards ceremony in 2016, he unveiled that yes, they’ll make a sequel out of Inside Out, however, after John Lasseter’s self-desctruction from his misconduct, it seems that Pete Doctor, aside of credited as the executive producer, won’t coming back as both writer and director, due currently working as a Chief Creative Officer at Pixar (the last time he ever wrote and direct was Soul, maybe il review that in my future review), meaning he’s gotta pass his sequel project to Kelsey Mann as a co-writer and directorial debut (Fun Fact, before work on Pixar, he used to work on Cartoon Network with great shows, including his creation as a director, Megas XLR). Aside of long working for new story, as well as planning to creating new emotions (which probably made Joy getting overwhelmed), as I said before, I was concerned for Pixar’s fate from their losing money and employees, which I considered it as a possibly redemption, since I love Inside Out last decade ago, if this one is a success, then Pixar will continue making theatrical animated movies, if not, then Pixar is forced to migrating their movies in Disney+, lets cross our fingers for their redemption.

So, with all that said, will Joy and her pals gotta cooperate with new emotions for Riley’s new age, or having new emotions will be too much to baring in her mind?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

Since this is the new age for Riley, you think the story will producing something new stuff and new challenges? Well, it has, but maybe if it needs to add a bit new for some.

Taking place two years after recovering a brief depression from run away to staying with Riley’s parents in San Francisco, Riley (now grew to 13 year old, the beginning of teenage era) is ready to heading on high school for building up her hockey career and hanging out with her best buds Grace and Bree, thanks to the help with the control of emotions with our old friends Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust. Not only them, but they also have an upgrade of Riley’s mind call “Sense of Self”, which us the memory core for Riley’s important personality. However, despite Riley is picked up to the hockey camp for qualifying her performance to the team’s school, our emotional fellas are receiving a red alert for being a teen… PUBERTY…! Not only they got themselves an upgrade on their headquarter from the mind workers, but they also gotta meet a new emotions, Anxiety, Envy, Ennui and Embarrassment. While they seems to be welcoming, but its gonna be a struggling start not just the OG emotions and new ones get along, but Joy needs to protecting her important “Good Person” in Sense of Self, but Anxiety, despite being a fan of Joy, she wants to be a new in control to pushing Joy away for both winning a hockey qualifying and getting a new friend since her two friends are about to moving away that could straining them away like ghosting. This resulting while Joy trying to protecting Riley’s control with Sense of Self, Anxiety dumps Joy, her original emotions and sense of Good Person out of headquarter for her full control with new ones, which that’ll causing a negative effect on Riley’s new sense of personality, its up to Joy and her main emotions to not only retrieving the main Sense of Self in order to get back without causing Riley losing herself.

I find the story of this movie is good, even if its kinda done before with the aforementioned similar to both the first Inside Out and Turning Red, since this about the journey to retrieving one piece to get back to the headquarter and the beginning of Teenage life with Puberty to introducing new emotions that could be a struggling challenge of changing. Its an easy noticeable parts when I watched it, BUT, even though the movie copied from the previous Pixar movies, but the execution is actually nice for the message, its mainly how not to pushing away a gentle boss like Joy away, if you’re taking your fandom too much to ruining who Riley is, otherwise, without the direction order to protecting Riley, that could cause a HUGE RISK of mental breakdown from panic attack. That’s an important lesson how not to treating your role model too much that otherwise, you could ended up becoming took-over control freak like Anxiety, which it will concerning both Joy with OG emotions and Riley’s friends to losing her self conscious for who Riley is. In other words, the movie’s execution has a nice message for how not to double crossing the original emotions by throwing out with replacement, cause otherwise, that will make a negative result before it becomes a big disaster, its always gotta learn before trying to taking over, even for growing teenage to have promising to difficulty path, let along being a hardcore fan that could lead you into a control freak, you gotta be humble and respect when you’re new. If there’s an issue about this movie is there’s a subplot when despite Grace and Bree about to moving away into a different high school after the camp, Riley meets a new and much professional one name Val Ortiz, while its somewhat nice to having new friend and probably hurting her previous friends for ghosting, which is one of the aspect when the new emotions brought in, but while I understood about this, but this new human friend is kinda pointless from the main plot. As for the humor of this movie, well, its actually quite enjoyably funny with a chuckle for either the gimmick of the characters or maybe even the delivery from the writing or voice acting.

While it maybe unoriginal that it felt like they borrowed their own movies, but at least they have a nice execution about the message, the jokes or even some new plot about the rollercoaster ride for how to controlling a teenager’s mind.

The Animation

The movie’s budget costs $200M, the presentation of the movie is… Looks much like before, but with some updates.

For started the background design in Riley’s mind is pretty much an update since we saw the ending of the first movie, with wider control that our main emotions can make a mixed emotional memories, which is nice to see the update where we left off. While the core memories are also been update to stick together, sure outside of headquarter, we do get to see more like bellow the headquarter, there’s whenever Joy or Anxiety places in the river of Sense of Self, it creates a string to creating the core of sense. While the rest outside is the same with imaginary land though sadly less focus compare to the previous Inside Out and the vault scene is only shown once. Meanwhile the real world background are surprisingly pretty good with a high and bright quality.

As for the quality, like I said, the quality in real world looks pretty good for improvement, while the mind world is pretty much the same, but with, again, new location, but it does add new colors based on introduction of emotions. Though I can see the body textures of emotions are surprisingly look nice.

As for the animation and the design, again, they remains the same as we all know with the main emotions, minus Riley due to her aging as a teenager, the mind workers are the same like walking gummy candies. As for the new emotion designs, I find them look fascinating to make something new, more colorful and even stylish like something straight out of 90’s cartoons in form of CG, not bad for what they’re going for. Speaking of style, im very surprise that they went to do a new quality animation from Bloofy and Pouchy appearing in 2D animation to looking like something straight out of Nick Jr. cartoons and Lance Slashblade appearing in Playstation 1 graphic looking like Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy 7. Nice touch for going into different style references. And for animation, its standard from normal moves almost like real humans or even going in fast pace cartoony style for some, of course there’s some action scenes from playing hockey or mind world’s obstacles are pretty cool too.

While the presentation remains the same from before, but it does have an improvement from the quality, some update designs, some new ones and even a fun references.

The Characters

While some characters remains the same, but some do have an update from the change and new ones. However, while some have a welcome return, but some have an unfortunate change.

Lets start off to reuniting our old friend Joy (reprised by Amy Poehler), she’s the main happy-go-lucky emotion for taking good care at Riley to remaining positive. In this movie, while she likes to keeping the Sense of Self safe, but this already made her overwhelmed once after Puberty Alert kicked in with updates and even new emotions, especially with the latter when she first meets Anxiety. But once she’s out of headquarter again, she’s unfortunately going on a journey with Anger, Disgust and Fear (minus Sadness, which its brief, but we’ll get there later), this leading her to be perfectly clear for the journey to overwhelming when being called “Delusional”, it made her snapped, Clark Griswold Style. Despite of struggle of obstacles, at least she’s still a fun character with the welcome return of Poehler.

Next up is Sadness (reprised by Phyllis Smith), she’s a gloomy and somewhat friendly to our emotions, especially with Joy since the first one, but still in blue. Even though she’s unfortunately didn’t get a chance to going to the journey to helping Joy, but more like going back to the headquarter in secret to find the way to get back in control, despite it could be uneasy to get through. Despite being in blue mood, she does has some moment of chuckle, and Smith, like Amy, did a fun work for her return.

After that, we have Anger (reprised by Lewis Black), a red raging fella that he can be burst of fire for being a ticking time bomb. In this movie, its quite nice to see him being Joy’s sidekick while they’re outside of headquarter, probably taking over Sadness after the previous film. Though he may have to giving a plot development for something isn’t going on their way or even his humor, and like two previous characters, Lewis did a fun work of his role too.

And lastly and I saved for the last two, as both Disgust and Fear (now voiced by Liza Lapira and Tony Hale), these guys are remained the same, ranging from Disgust being pretty and look at something to be… Well, disgust, while Fear is just a scaredy cat with some okay humor. While il give them a pass, but one draw back that I have is that their voices are mixed to me, mainly due to the replacement if they’re either doing fine, but some didn’t catch on compare to either Mindy Kaling and Bill Hader. While Liza did fine as Disgust, maybe nicely fit in, but Tony Hale’s fear, im rather iffy, while he did a fun work, but its just that he just didn’t have a humorous delivery as Tony did. As far as im concerned what I found out, the reason why Kaling and Hader won’t reprising their roles, is all because of money dispute for the offer of $100K, which is about 2% of Joy’s salary, that’s a “yikes” when this movie have a big budget, but not able to give them a second for unfairly cheap offer compare to Poehler…

As for the new emotions? Well, they’re surprisingly good that I can say.

First is Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke), a new, a fan of Joy and anxious emotion for being a newcomer for controlling Riley, as I said before, while the movie may gives a thought provoking about how we growing up with new era and bad news with puberty, Anxiety takes a full control that rather than cooperating with Joy, she ends up going step further to becoming a control freak on Riley’s mind, losing Riley’s sense for who she is since couple years ago. That’s one thing that we may have risk to get used to it, its having Anxiety that we ended losing ourselves because of that, even for autistic person like me, that could be a challenge for communication that, again, if its too much, Anxiety hits you hard before we wanna clearing both our names and minds, which is something how Anxiety does in a movie that affected Riley’s mentally that to making her look good, but losing herself if the confident is just too much that she’s not that good. I think its no secret that she’s almost like a main villain who’s like a fan of our main hero to trying to be the new boss to pushing Joy away to make Riley loses herself, which I think did pretty good how, much like in a movie, we’re struggling who we are from Anxiety when we’re growing up. You know when people are always like “Life imitates art”, but sometimes with this movie with Anxiety introduced, its the equivalent of “Art imitates life”. But of course, Hawke did a great job for portraying a stressful and energetic emotional performance.

Next, there’s Envy (voiced by Ayo Edebiri), a small envious emotion that while she looks cute, but could be mixed when ever she see something, kinda like disgust, but opposite. Even though she’s more of a second-in-command with Anxiety, though not as harmful than Anxiety does, but at least Ayo did both fun and cute performance.

Then there’s Ennui (voiced by Adèle Exarchopoulos), a gothic-like moody bored emotion with her French accent, not because of Adele herself, but with the name Ennui. Even though she’s not much to do for just a humor in her moody and boredom gimmick, il give her a pass, even if she may look like a Gen Z due to holding her phone to controlling the mind like Bluetooth, but to be fair, at least she’s not as obnoxious then Gen Z, and il give a credit for Adele’s performance for both fun and promising voice, even if she’s French with her successful French movies.

And there’s Embarrassment (voiced by Paul Walter Hauser), who despite he looks like a gentle giant, but more of embarrassing feeling for Riley’s control, which he’s more like a mix between Fear and Sadness and that’s it, I understand for that, but again, maybe they could give him a new character development, im just saying. But il give a credit for Hauser did a nice work for being embarrassing fella.

As for the rest in this movie, they’re there for either a plot or some humors, either them or necessary. There’s Riley Anderson (now voiced by Kensington Tallman after replacing Kaitlyn Dias) who’s the main girl (now as teenager with the age of 13) who’s controlled by our emotions that she’s either wanna be relevant to be happy or losing herself for all about being good as hockey in anxiety problem, her Anderson parents (reprised by both Diane Lane and Kyle MacLachlan) who are the parents that they showing up for supporting their daughter for her successful dream for her graduation in hockey, Valentina “Val” Ortiz (voiced by Lilimar) who’s a tough and popular hockey player that Riley caught attention to her, Bree and Grace (voiced by Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green and Grace Lu) who are Riley’s old friends that they’re unfortunately being ghosted from either Riley’s changing friendship to their moving to new school, Coach Roberts (voiced by Yvette Nicole Brown) is a hockey coach and the head of hockey camp for teaching students for building up their hockey career seriously, Bloofy and Pouchy (voiced by Ron Funches and James Austin Johnson) are a 2D cartoon and his trusty living pouch who are Riley’s childhood favorite character in education show, Lance Slashblade (voiced by Yong Yea) is Cloud look-a-like when Riley had a childhood crush on him while playing video game, and Nostalgia (voiced by June Squibb) is an elder emotion who likes to sharing the past, despite she only shown up in a brief appearance (Aw man, I wanna see her more…!).

While some characters are either remain the same or voice changed for wrong reason, but at least the characters are nice to be back, along with the new ones are also good, along with voice acting are pretty good and fun to listen.

And now for my Final Opinion of this film.

Overall, Inside Out 2 is easily not only a welcome return of our favorite emotions, but its also, probably, Pixar’s great film in this year.

Sure, the movie has problems like recycling the same plot as the first one with a different execution what’s all about, it has a pretty nice message how the movie imitates our past lives, the animation is still looking good, even if it looks the same, but still looking good, the characters are nice to be back and giving us new, the voice acting are fun, and the humors are enjoyable.

Sure, while I love the first one, this second one is fun too, despite the problems im pointing at, which, even if I like it too, but I considered it as not as perfect as the first one. Don’t get me wrong, they’re both great, even if they have difference how they turned out for the execution. Even with the flaws, but I like this movie along with the first one nearly 10 years ago. Again, not a perfect sequel, but its still good. This is no stranger to be a must-watch film if you love Inside Out. But even if you haven’t seen the first one, maybe you can enjoy it as well. I’d say give your friends and family together to watch this movie and im sure you’ll enjoy it.

While the first Inside Out that one a Perfect 10, as for this sequel, im probably gonna give this one a 9/10, along earning Trophy of Success. Its definitely Pixar’s comeback, and im writing this, this movie has a best opening weekend at their box-office, meaning Pixar will stay relevant to make another movies on a big screen.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.

Show Review: My Adventures with Superman S1 Part 2

NOTICE: This review is posted during the premier of the second of My Adventures of Superman. Even though this review have nothing to do with second season before il watching it either on TV, streaming or digitally. Thanks. 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to Show Review.

Last time, I made the first part of “My Adventures with Superman”, which I mentioned that we’re off to a good start. But if you guys missed it, here’s the link and il be waiting: Click here

You’re done? Okay, now we’re in Part 2 of the first season of MAWS, so lets finish this season, shall we?

But as always, considered my review a SPOILER WARNING.

My Adventures with Mad Science: After Jimmy was kidnapped, Lois is originally going on her own, but Clark shows up, despite his identity was already caught by her, to joining in to the campsite after they both unable to call Jimmy, even if its gonna be an uneasy start based on the aforementioned identity crisis, since Lois is going to finding Jimmy for him and him only than Clark (Wow there, don’t get too personal on Clark, since he’s meant to protecting his identity to saving people’s lives). While in their brief conversation to searching Jimmy in the woods, they ended up crawling through the fence, not before when going further, Clark is caught by an energy shield upon entering, which revealing to be a secret base, far away from Metropolis that’s called “Area 52”, (Huh, too bad no one doing a Naruto running towards Area 52 since the questionable event at Area 51, but I digress), based on discovering Jimmy’s phone from his recording video on livestream if there’s aliens or Sasquatch, even though Lois wonders at Clark if Jimmy knows he’s Superman, but Clark, again, chooses to keep in secret that Lois is pretty much tired of his “Double Standards”, despite Clark is meant to covering his identity between normal man and a hero…! But only they got startled by the robots. Meanwhile, we see Jimmy is strapped into torture by Monsieur Mallah (voiced by André Sogliuzzo), a French intelligent gorilla and a German robot name “Brain” (voiced by Jesse Inocalla), at first, Jimmy accept his fate that without his friends respond, he’s rather die from two unique fellas, but Mallah, being a good heart talking gorilla, decides to break him free and shares the secret origin behind Area 52, it explained that 22 years ago, the Area 52 is created by the US Government top-secret agency for working on a unique science experiment in their “Project Cadmus), while working with Task Force X for weaponry too. However, once they were discovered, Task Force X are turning against them, not only raided, but also causing the secret base in danger with by blasting at their black hole experiment, Brain (who used to be a human) lost his entire body that left nothing but a brain, and created a robot after him, (Talk about an experiment gone wrong for working the most notorious military base like Task Force X) while also sharing their black hole experiment that if its stabilized, it’ll creating a wormhole to a different dimension. Back to our main heroes, Clark and Lois are trying to get away from the robots after they got started, Clark tries his powers to fight back, but no avail from the shield’s effect to weakening his powers. Once they reached to the base, Clark rips the door open, not before he gets confronted by both Mallah and Brain, thankfully Jimmy interferes the fight that both Clark and Lois are not looking for trouble, despite they’re making trouble for not responding him, along with, somehow, acknowledges Clark is Superman all along (I get his accidental from his strength, but how does Jimmy knows behind Clark?? But, its just beyond us…). Not before they’re about to get raided by the robots, at first, we thought they’re from Area 52, but in reality, they’re from Task Force X as “OMACs”, thankfully, Mallah and Brain (along with their experimental monsters) come to help our heroes to defend the base against those OMACs. However, they’re probably outnumbered from OMACs as they’re full back, much of getting closer to the black hole room, Mallah suggest Clark to use the code to activate the backup system. However, while defending the black hole room, Jimmy and Lois are questioning at Clark for their friendship fallout cause they wanting him to coming out who he is, Clark responds that he doesn’t want to revealing himself as a humanoid alien when he’s nervous of his exposure, all he wants is living as a normal human being and wanting to be friends while keeping himself in secret without causing his friendship to breakdown (Yeah, I know how you feel when it comes for being a person being isolated in a closet), though Jimmy said it doesn’t matter what he is, they’re friends for who he is, while Lois said its okay if he’s ready to be opened (despite Clark tried to coming out in previous episodes, even though Lois already knew about Clark’s behind his glasses). But speaking of “being opened”, Mallah hears it as a Plan B by opening a black hole in mass critical for stabilizing, basically means he took a risky sacrifice in front of our heroes and his robot partner. In the end, despite their risk, the black hole ended up bursting into portal, finally saving themselves from Task Force X’s OMACs. Before saying goodbye, Jimmy is making an interview with Mallah and Brain, Lois suggest to share a fascinating secret to Daily Planet, while Clark got a discussion from Brain, Brain tells him to revealing that Task Force X are out to get both them and him (as Superman), since, as I said, they’ve been involved with work with them 22 years ago, though he suggested to come together, but Clark, while understood that, but he chooses to stay in Metropolis, not just being a hero, but also reconciling his best buds. As they left, both Brain and Mallah are preparing themselves to going into a portal of different dimension. But alas, at the final moment, The General arrives in now abandoned Area 52 with recruiting Dr. Ivo for his deal to the returning Parasite to take down Superman. Though I find it rather nice for the progress story and character development, but taking place in Area 52 is… Kinda out of place in this episode in my opinion, so, il give it a pass.

Kiss Kiss Fall in Portal: After showing his capsule ship to revealing himself as a humanoid alien (aka Kryptonian) to impressing at Lois and Jimmy, Clark proceeds to pop the question to going on a date with Lois, which she happily accepts. By next day, Jimmy notices both Clark and Lois (separately) are setting up their schedule for their date, whereas Clark is putting… Rather a but too much pressure for his schedule plan, while Lois is having a mix of dating and investigation that she wants further detail about Clark’s past (even though this must be a hint for next episodes, more on that later). Clark has finished his dating plan to hopefully the date is gonna be smooth, there’s a knock knock at the door, its none other than Superman’s annoying little pest named “Mister Mxyzptlk” (voiced by David Errigo Jr.), interrupting him for a new mission, he demands Clark to suit up that Lois will potentially hold in hostage, aside of briefly talking about the multiple of alternative Superman in different universes (Yup, we have another Multiverse Cliché. Ah, Multiverse Cliché, never change…). Meanhile, Lois and Jimmy are going out to waiting for Clark, but at the same time, they’re caught by the group of inter-dimensional peacekeeping force with four AU version of Lois Lanes (first created by what appears to be Classic Lois Lane as “Lois Prime”, even if she doesn’t looks like she in Prime Earth), saying that our main Superman is in danger to be involve with Mxy. While Jimmy likes to sharing his Flamebird with AU version of Jimmy name Jalana (voiced by Kimberly Brooks, aka Jasper from Steven Universe), as well as other Loises, the main Lois Lane secretly checking the other document about more other universe versions of her, until she sees “File X” that its forbidden, unless there’s a secret key, more on that later. Back to Superman and Mxy, they reached to Earth-1’s museum that the chaotic god is looking for (aside of fascinating Easter Eggs like the helmet of Doctor Fate, a “Flight Ring” that appears to be orange, which im guessing its a ring of Orange Lantern), which happens to be an audio recorder that he break and stealing it, but Superman (probably goes Indiana Jones style) to demanding him to put that back cause “That belongs in a Museum!” and of course, he wants to get back home for dating plan, but as far as we’re concerned, it was all setup by Mxy that not only he lied to Clark, but also using him get into trouble. And trouble indeed, after arriving on Earth-14, Superman and “Mxy-what-his-name” are caught by the ship of Lois Lanes, Superman tries to capture Mxy to punishing, the Multiverses Lanes shoots Superman down, in an unexpected moment that the green gun blast weakens him (Again, more on that later to the end), which it makes a terrible mistake that Mxy captures their ship to fly away to Earth Prime thanks a secret key in the audio recorder to Prime Headquarter (despite he forgot to realizing our main Lois Lane is in a ship after getting punished by Leader Lois (voiced by Lauren Tom).). Upon entering headquarter (along with seeing multiple versions of Lois Lane, another nice Easter Eggs), Lois found a secret File X that he wants to know, right before she’s ambushed by Mxy once he found his hat to going FULL POWER! Thankfully the other Loises, Jimmy and Superman arrive to dealing with the mess from our annoying little pest, but the chaotic god goes to tricking them in his cloning ability to cause a struggle finding the real Mxy. But before that Superman found our main Lois Lane to confessing together that their dating plan gone badly due to their multiverse journey, whereas Clark is completely struggling for being forced to be into Superman that he wants to be in a normal date, while Lois blaming herself for stealing File X that he’ll never know, despite of which side, they eventually understood and of course, giving themselves a first kiss. But after their first kiss, they gotta stop Mxy’s Beast Mode, first Superman chases at Mxy, even if he tried, but thankfully, he made a tricky backup with main Lois uses one of multi-portals to snatching his hat and Jimmy retrains Mxy from another portal, beating him in, in another over-used cliché, “The Power of Love and Friendship!”. While Mxy is eventually arrested, Jalana secretly letting Superman, main Lois and Jimmy going back where they belong, finally going back to their normal life in peace, even if its too late to finishing their date. However, the episode ends where Lois checking File X, upon looking at it, it showcases that… We see many different versions of Superman are a threat against humanity, which is something Mxy briefly shows up for one more warning, once he left, the file opens to revealing a glowing green crystal, a thing that hurts Superman will never know, it is called “Kryptonite”…!

Zero Day Part 1: We started out in prison room at Task Force X where two members of Intergang (Rough House and Silver Banshee), Livewire and Heat Wave are brought out of cell, only to get electrocuted by The General with his partners, Amanda Waller and Dr. Ivo, scolding them for stealing TFX’s weaponry for criminal activities, but he’s going to setting up the plan for Ivo for “Moving Day” (As always, more on that later). Meanwhile, in the middle of the night, Clark got himself unusual moment that he got himself into, he has “Super-Hearing”. This new power got himself waking up early in the night, coming down to helping innocent people in Metropolis, only he has a breath hearing from the voice of The General. By next mourning, Jimmy comes back (after hanging out with his parents) not only he sees he received a new numbers of Flamebird account, but also seen Clark is… Probably going too much pressure from his Super-Hearing with taking too much coffee (Jeez Clark, I get you have Super-Hearing, but not like for going Java-Nutty for clean up the mess). But it wasn’t just an emergency or uncontrollable hearing, but also heard about The General for Task Force X’s setup for destruction (and probably trying to taking down Superman), again… Too much pressure for his new power…! Meanwhile, Lois Lane is going back to her business (aside of receiving gifts from Clark as Superman), but what she’s surprised to hearing, is when Perry White brought special guest editor into Daily Planet, its none other than Vicki Vale (voiced by Andromeda Dunker) from Gotham Gazette, even though there’s a rumor that based on her award winnings at GG, she’ll possibly leaving there to joining Daily Planet for more award winning, but for DP. So Vicki teaming up with Lois and Jimmy for new report by… Asking if Superman is posing a threat (Oh god… Here we go…). Speaking of Superman, he’s going in the air for using his Super-Hearing to finding out about The General, but overusing Super-Hearing means that could cause a pain in the head if its too much, until after saving one girl to her mother, he heard the report about the return of last remaining member of Intergang is “Mist”. While Vicki, Lois and Jimmy are both going out to ask anybody for what do people think about Superman, despite Vick has a doubt about him, Superman swoops at Lois and Jimmy in secret to telling them that he’s been looking for Mist for the connection with The General, while Lois and Jimmy trying to telling him to calm down in control, but Superman chooses to flying away to finding him, much for being overwhelmed in his mind. However, after asking anyone on the public, Vicki proceeds to asking one more person in question, its none other than Alex (You know, the same guy who works with Dr. Ivo before). When asked, Alex believes that Superman is the threat of the world, blaming him for ruining AmazoTech to putting bankruptcy and laying off the employees, and also saying he uses his powers for violating the law for putting people lives at risk, but Lois tries to doubling down that Superman isn’t a threat as she thinks, but her concern is overwhelming that, unfortunately, Vicki is on Alex’s side for his truth (Jesus, I think Alex might be Lex Luthor…), Lois and Jimmy trying to tell the way Alex said is a complete bias, but its too little too late for Vicki’s supporting on him. Speaking of overwhelming, Superman tries to reaching after Mist, but protection and Super-Hearing is too much, not only dropping himself, but crashed from a truck, causing the people in Metropolis starting to losing their support of our hero, but after hearing the call of Lois and Jimmy discussing that he’s in deep trouble from what happened, this makes more concern to his friends that not only he’s going to losing himself, but also showing his heroic act is going down from public’s reaction, Jimmy feels Clark is burning out, while Lois wants him to going back to be normal, but alas, Superman refuses that he has an unfinished business to going after The General at Task Force X, but before that, he eventually found Mist to question of his invisible running, once Mist eventually answered he’s looking for the remaining members of Intergang after they were taken away from Task Force X before they’re going into Moving Day. As he arrive to catch the jet for their moving, he was ambushed by two Intergang members, Livewire, Heat Wave Dr. Ivo’s Parasite and Slade Wilson, despite his best to fight them (along with potentially going into BEAST MODE, but he’s outnumbered to fighting against and ultimately being defeated by Ivo’s power of Ego, before gets electrocuted by The General’s partner Amanda that its enough to punishing Superman. And in the end, Superman is defeated and being taken into Task Force X...

Part 2: After arriving too late to finding Clark (as Superman) Lois and Jimmy are in panic to figuring out what to do, unless they got themselves a Plan B from Flip Johnson’s NewsKid Legion, doubtful at first, but they agree for not just finding out about Superman, but also their plan to spread the words that Superman will always be our hero. Speaking of the latter, Superman is taken to the torture prison room, The General interrogates at him for being the menace of the world, as well as sharing his traumatic past that changed him what he called “Zero Day”, where 22 years ago, The General used soldier at the military base in front of the UFO (with probably a familiar symbol what I noticed), despite The General used to be a happy fella with Amanda when they were young adult, they used the UFO blast its energy to open up a portal to releasing an alien ships with army coming down for invasion with a main alien in his armor called “Nemesis Omega” that… On second thought, this must be the invasion of Kryptonians in their plan of conquering Earth, based on, again, a very familiar symbol shape. Right before the invasion was abruptly stopped by, lets just say, Red Earth of destruction to not only shutting down the portal, and the robot army, but also dropping down this UFO. It left The General a personal scar in his memory that not only he formed Task Force X, but also with Superman caught, he’s going to using him as their weapon for their will, but Superman, was distraught for what he saw about Then General’s past, despite he had nothing to do with, which… it leaves Superman felt into sadness for what he’s treated from Task Force X, unless if he’s not from The General’s body language after the interrogation, but Amanda Waller refuses his doubt that she’s still believing Superman is “Pure Evil”. But after she turns off her security camera, it made Livewire her opportunity to break free, not just herself, but also Intergang, Heat Wave and Dr. Ivo, the latter of which made himself an opportunity to have a rematch against the depressed Superman for not only trying to killing him off, but also getting even more power hungry by absorbing energies like electricity, this cause a Full Alert to Task Force X to stop the prisoners, but to no avail including Livewire took a harsh electric contact on Slade’s right eye, leaving him half blind (Well, so much for his health recovery…), this makes Superman after getting smashed off the walls by Parasite, he managed to escape free and eventually found by Flip Johnson to bringing him into Newskid Clubhouse, this gives Lois and Jimmy coming to see him again for what’s happening. But Clark (as Superman) shares his distraught feeling for what he saw about Zero Day, saying he’s not like the people on Earth, thinking himself as a destructive alien invader against Earth as a weapon, but as we all know, he had nothing to do with with invasion nor even working with Nemesis Omega, since he’s made to be a hero, but also as a respectful person behind his alien kind (Yeah, its pretty emotional and probably nicely written how not even Superman is all perfect, but rather putting himself at risk or even having a devastation feeling for what he didn’t know, its easy to feel the pain and feel sorry for Superman how he’s been treated what he haven’t heard for how he was born from, he deserves better not just being a hero for people’s lives, but also wanting to be normal in peace…). However, despite of sympathy to Clark in his struggle of his heart for who he is, Dr. Ivo’s Parasite goes into full on Kaiju mode for absorbing more energy for not only looking for hunting Superman again for his ego, but also wanting to be bigger for more powers (he’s clearly needs some help…!), despite Superman’s effort to facing against Parasite, but it wasn’t good enough for Ivo’s more power. With no other option, Jimmy decides to to make his Flamebird streaming video for recording live, not only quickly done his face reveal, but also sharing his and Lois words, explaining that even though Superman isn’t the same as Earthlings, he’s here, because he uses his powers for protecting people for goods and peace, but Superman isn’t the only one, even humans can use their own (though with super powers, weapons, gadgets nor not) to saving lives without a threat or even hurting anyone. (I will say, its a pretty nice monologue to share Superman deserves better and humans deserves better to be together rather than judging him as a threat against the society). And surprisingly the spread the words helped out well to helping Superman that people in Metropolis are shutting down their electricity in order to stop Parasite’s hungry power to leaving him vulnerable, Superman is able to punishing him, thanks to having a new power called “X-Ray Vision”, he breaks through Parasite’s monstrous body to pulling Dr. Ivo out, leaving Parasite turns into statue in the middle of Metropolis (Huh, a reference of Shin-Godzilla). In the end, Superman is eventually recovered from emotional pain that he’s thankful for Lois’s spreading the words for their potential loving relationship, while Jimmy is setting the stuff to moving on, but what Jimmy doesn’t know is when bringing Lois’s bag, it has File X about other versions of Superman (again, our main Superman are not like the others…!), but in Task Force X, The General is kicked out by Amanda Waller for his failure not only Superman broke free, but also responsible of Dr. Ivo’s threat (Sounds like we might have a potential bag guy turns good, but not yet…), despite being no longer the head of TFX, The General has one last straw from Amanda to giving him a new gun called “Omega Cannon”, an advanced pistol that could kill somebody in one shot… (Oh and as for the remaining prisoners, they were never at the near end of the season, unless they’ll come back in the next season.)

Hearts of the Fathers (The last one of Season 1): Okay, looks like we’re reaching at the last leg, my friends, here we go…! It begins where we see Clark Kent arrives in the field, and witnessed an evil Kryptonian “Nemesis Omega” who not only opens the portal for alien invasion, but also killing his best friends, only to find out it was all of nightmare for what he sees, so Clark is concerned for another invasion by arriving at his home (mainly flying into his grown capsule) to argue at his AI father Jor-El, Superman believes his father is responsible for both invading and takeover his home Earth, despite Jor-El tries to denying this, but Superman refuses to know that he’s going to be much more protective on Earth. Yeah… Bad calls what you think, Kal-El… As we reach to November, they’re planning for celebrating Thanksgiving (After all, in USA, November is always a celebration of Thanksgiving, while in my homeland Canada, we celebrating it in the second week’s Monday at October. The more you know.), however, despite the statue Parasite is still in a city (You better clean up the mess at 2nd season, Superman), Jimmy is concerned for what he saw about File X that he needs to coming to expose the secret (Yeah, better not expose the darker truth in front of Clark)… Before they’re going on a celebration of Thanksgiving, they’re going back to Daily Planet, but they got themselves an announcement from Perry White, at first they may sounds like they made a bad intern, but it ended up a success to promoting both Clark, Lois and Jimmy as a new reporters, giving them their desks for their new duty. Despite suggesting to stay at work, but Perry decides to be optional to letting them celebrating Thanksgiving, until he has a secret discussion at Jimmy, more on that later. And so, Clark, Lois and Jimmy are going to celebrating Thanksgiving at Kent’s family house for their preparation, whereas Martha is both welcoming and thankfully to Lois for how Clark became a hero, despite she shares how Clark felt like he’s treated like an afterthought (despite we see one picture from the right that, im pretty sure the little girl must be Lana Lang, you know, Clark Kent’s childhood friend before he moved on to Metropolis?) before having friends like Lois and Jimmy, while Jonathan is busy watching over the precious turkey in his “Turkey Zone”. But one thing Lois is concerned is about her father, despite Clark is promised to finding The General, but after knock knock at the door, it happens to be none other… Than The General, who happens to be Lois Lane’s father (apply name “Sam Lane”) all along…! As they sit together in a living room, Sam Lane is questioning at Clark if he looks way too familiar, while Clark tries to act like nothing happened, which Clark tries to get a private discussion about what happened at Lanes, even if Kent family didn’t buy for their preparation feast, while Sam calmly doesn’t take so kind at Lois when seen the article about Superman, but when Clark briefly comes back to the living room for struggling to hiding himself from Sam Lane’s doubtful question, Jimmy has eventually arriving for celebration (even if he arrives late for preparation) ranging from Clark and Martha are in alert from Sam’s unwelcoming arrive for hanging for, so Jimmy had heard enough that he needs to talk at both Clark and Lois for what the heck just happened. But not before when File X is dropped from Lois’s bag, Clark sees it in his curiosity, but without warning, the file opens to exposing Kryptonite in front of Clark, completely collapsing himself on the ground one of the most painful weakness we’ve ever see. But Clark isn’t the only in danger, down bellow, Jor-El hears the Kryptonite is here, this causes the ship comes out from the ground and setting up for second attempt of invasion after 22 years, while Sam Lane is trying to call the emergency for bringing military (Yeah, it will be too late for emergency…), only to get caught by Lois Lane from hearing this, she’s losing her respect at her father for his kept-secret for being involved with Task Force X and the aforementioned 22 years about of “Zero Day”. But when a bigger Kryptonian robot trying to kill the Lanes family, Clark quickly changes into Superman to stop the machine, along with Jimmy exposes Kryptonite at human sized robots in accident, the ship blasts its energy to open the portal once again, but with one ship is about to coming out. With no other option, Superman is going to make one the most life risking way to prevent the ship from the portal, by taking the File X’s sphere with Kryptonite in it to pushing his then capsule all the way up above the clouds then gets in there, the downside is he’s gotta dealing with hostile robots, which again, he’s outnumbered nor strong enough, but thankfully, Papa Jor-El (in AI Hologram) comes to helping our hero shutting down those hostile robots. After breaking through the obstacles, Superman is willing to sacrifice to opens his sphere to exposing Kryptonite, not only he’s on a verge of putting his life on the line of one of his weakness, but also using it to breaking it at his then capsule’s generator (I believe) to not only destroying it, but also shutting the portal down to once again, interrupting the invasion with the invading ship cut off in one piece. Thankfully, Jor-El, despite telling his son that he should’ve been warned about Kryptonite, he eventually let him live into another capsule to sending him back to Earth, as if he’s understandable how Superman is, again, born to be a hero of Earth. Upon land back to Earth, Sam Lane is about to kill our hero for one last straw as he expected, but Lois blocks him that he doesn’t deserve to die like this, saying that he risked his life to save everyone, despite of Sam’s dismay for also being protective towards her, she demands him to let Superman go if he trusts him, and he eventually accepts and walk away. In the end, Clark (still wearing Superman) is eventually recovered to have a feast with Kent family, Lois and Jimmy, the latter of which to revealing his private discussion that he sold his Flamebird to Daily Planet, making Jimmy a millionaire, making an impressive reward for our heroes and live happily ever ever.

OR, so what we think…! It gave us a cliffhanging ending that after the portal is closed, we see a new robotic villain (aka Brainiac) that after the ship is destroyed from portal’s abruptly shutdown, he goes to after Kryptonian Warrior, telling him to go after Earth, this make Kryptonian Warrior seeing an opportunity that shall be kneel. (Does that mean… We have have ZOD?!)

And that’s the end of the first season of “My Adventures with Superman”. Quite of fun ride to start the season of this show, eh?

Conclusion

Overall, this is pretty good show and a pretty good start of the show, as I said in my mini review, I enjoyed the show for its nice revision writing, a heartfelt message how Superman isn’t as perfect what we’ve seen, it has some good funny moments, the animation is pretty good from Studio Mir, some characters are good and of course, the voice acting are so good that they’re having fun.

Sure, the show has some problems like some characters are under-developed or even appeared one episodes, its kinda fast pace, and focused a bit too much on action. And yes, I’ve already heard about its controversial decision that it was originally going to be aired on Cartoon Network, but decided to airing it on Adult Swim, despite it doesn’t look so mature oriented that its more like gearing towards teens, kinda like Smallville. But as far as im concerned, it won’t be the only time, I noticed some future shows that its gonna have a similar treat as Superman, but its a long story.Even though its not as perfect, but I still enjoy this show, especially that its nice to bring Superman back to a lighter tone after how they brought the Man of Steel into a dark zone (No offense, Henry Cavill…), its just what Supes needs. Whereas Batman is perfectly fitting for dark tone, while Superman fits in lighter tone, its DC’s coin side in a nutshell.

As always, this is definitely a Must Watch animated show for both DC fans and superhero fans, especially that I enjoy watching this show over and over again, this is like if you mixing Richard Donner’s Superman and Superman: TAS into what we have here. If you’re a fan of Man of Steel like me? This one is for you either you watch it on Youtube (though you gotta buy it digitally) or on MAX (But only in US, at least I can watch MAWS on Amazon Prime Video, but also subscribing Teletoon+, but again, different story).

If I wanna make my rating, im having a debate in my mind for either 8.5 or 9.5, which again, even though it has problems, but I enjoyed the show. But Im certainly giving this one a Trophy of Success. And yes, im looking forward to see the second season.

So this ends of my two parts Show Review, so what do you guys think of my brand new review? But of course, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.