REVIEW: ‘My Adventures With Superman’ Season 3 Is Pitch Perfect

Developed by Jake Wyatt and produced by Warner Bros. Animation, with animation by Studio Mir, My Adventures with Superman Season 3 is an absolute blast. One of the most intoxicating parts of the series since its premiere has been its ability to marry the energy of old school DC animation with modern storytelling (so much positive masculinity), all while bringing a much-needed reminder to the Superman canon: this is a character who is good and uses his all-mighty powers to save kittens out of trees.

Season 3 doubles down on this blend of styles and eras with bursts of energy and some of the best voice acting performances today. It is, without doubt, the best season of the series to date. Following the events of the first two seasons, as Superman faced threats to the world and his spirit, it was tough to imagine how the series would push the hero next. My Adventures with Superman Season 3 does away with a villain-of-the-week format and instead layers the antagonists, leaving Superman under attack on all sides.

The series understands that, for all of his power, it’s the cracks in the armor, be it in how he needs to hold back or, in this version of the character, how he is still figuring the whole thing out, that is the most interesting. 

My Adventures with Superman Season 3 shakes up the foundation. 

Because Clark (Jack Quaid) in this world is sweet and wholesome. The character design continues to emphasize this, so that whenever he’s beaten down, it gives a sad puppy effect. Granted, he’s feeling pretty good, all things considered, at the start of My Adventures for Superman Season 3. Having grappled with the truth of his origins and becoming more comfortable in his role as Superman, he, by all accounts, is ready to settle down. A little too eager, even, as he begins thinking about a future with Lois (Alice Lee) that goes far beyond what she’s ready to talk about. He is reluctant to change the comfort they have. 

So while he’s thinking of farmhouses outside of Metropolis, Lois is still fully immersed in her role as the Daily Planet’s star reporter. She’s at peak scrappiness in My Adventures for Superman Season 3, and it makes her disheveled moments from either Clark’s future dreams or the reality of sharing an apartment with Kara Zor El (Kiana Madeira) even more entertaining. She’s living her dream, though, or at least, so she thinks, with her loved ones and career hitting a real stride. 

Jimmy (Ishmel Sahid) is also finding new waves of success, even if he has yet to fully commit to a relationship with Kara. It’s a frustrating bit of plotting that would, in any other series, prove to be a way to fill time or drum up drama where drama is unnecessary. But the series at least mines the poor communication for humor, as Kara tries to date all of Metropolis while Jimmy stews in his own miscalculations.

From dating and potential destruction to the arrival of Superboy, Season 3 introduces new hurdles.

The two are adorable, though, and the writing injects them with striking personalities as always, from their not-couples but couples costume as what is, essentially, Mulder and Scully, to the way Madeira simply says the name “Jimmy” (granted, Madeira’s pronunciation of every name is superb.) 

When all is said and done, My Adventures with Superman Season 3 makes the case that, for the most part, our core four characters are happy and living the version of life they’ve wanted. But as the season progresses, and new characters such as Superboy (Darren Criss) arrive and, with him, new threats that draw on the characters’ most innermost insecurities, the more we realize that Clark, Lois, and Jimmy have more to work on than they let on. 

My Adventures With Superman has continually done strong work to emphasize Clark’s alien nature without succumbing to tactics that force darkness on him. And following an era in which Superman, in media, was portrayed more as a god willing to help mere mortals than as an alien viewed as an outsider desperate for humanity’s warmth, it remains one of the most refreshing elements of the series.

Animation remains a vital medium for superhero adaptations. 

In Season 3, we watch as he once again must contend with what it means to have his powers, even with Kara around to make him feel less isolated. And, more than anything, what those powers mean and how they play a part in his identity. This is especially true with the arrival of characters like Superboy, who continues to push on the breadth of the world and the power of those with powers. 

Without spoiling the specifics, the way that the story grows from the premiere, from humble, personal tension to larger, world-threatening stakes that threaten both all of humanity and the personal safety of our main characters, is superb. It’s what makes these stories worthwhile.

Because, for all that the MCU has lost the plot when it comes to what made their stories interesting (you know, the characters), it doesn’t mean that stories about superheroes aren’t worth investing in. It’s just that it’s better to invest time in other mediums.

From Dragon Ball Z to the Death of Superman, the influences are clear. 

The animation platform continues to deliver strong stories because they’re not trying to appeal to the universal fan while making films that are accessible to the point of stripping them of character or color and understand how to inject spectacle and heroics with necessary character growth over a longer period of time. When you look at something like My Adventures with Superman, Harley Quinn, or X-Men ’97, what allows them to soar (beyond strong and creative writing talent) is the time the shows afford them.

My Adventures with Superman Season 3 builds to such a fortifying crescendo because it builds on what we know of these characters and how we’ve watched them develop and grow over time. Lex Luthor (Max Mittelman) is a greater threat now due to his bitterness and his grasp for power. And it makes the fact that he’s running the anti-Superman coalition increasingly terrifying, especially once he transforms Hank Henshaw (Mittelman) into Cyborg Superman.

All of which plays into a major influence on the season: the Death of Superman story from the early ’90s. Granted, with the expected sunny disposition of the series. It’s hardly a direct adaptation, but, as with most of the show, it’s a way to blend classic stories of the Man of Steel with clear anime inspirations, such as Dragon Ball Z.

The stakes have never been higher for Clark and co. 

The effect is charming before the story blazes into more action-packed set pieces that deliver high-stakes, fluid animation. Episode 5, in particular, is a real jaw-dropper, as multiple characters and forces come together for a major fight, the choreography and direction dazzling as it launches into the air while staying grounded. 

Another continued highlight in My Adventures with Superman Season 3 is the performances across the board, most notably from our main voice-acting crew: Quaid, Lee, Sahid, and Madeira. Quaid and Lee get some of the more emotional moments, and the former truly delivers an all-star Clark Kent performance, his aw-shucks nature working in great contrast with his force of will.

Sahid is so good that one wishes major (Western) movie studios were still actively employing trained voice actors for animated films, rather than sourcing other celebrity talent. Their distinctive performances flesh out the characters and heighten the zany, high-energy atmosphere of the story. 

My Adventures with Superman Season 3 is a killer display of artistic excellence. 

The character details also help strengthen the world. It’s the little things that give weight to the friendships and romances. From Jimmy saying “I love you” to Clark in a sweet gesture of their easy friendship, to a lovely moment where Lois protects Clark’s head from falling debris despite his strength, or the general camaraderie they share, the relationships in the series are earned. We buy them. We believe that they’d all want to hang out together, even as the world shifts and new characters arrive to shake up the dynamic. 

It’s all just so much fun. And clearly, there’s a shift in the right direction as far as Superman goes, as James Gunn’s 2026 Superman also sought to remember the character’s kindness. But My Adventures With Superman is even better. But as a longtime fan of DC animation, it’s just such a thrill to see a show that understands the core magnetism of a character like Superman without defaulting to lazy writing or grittiness for the sake of it. The show understands that these characters aren’t just interesting because of what they can do but because of what they can’t and how they overcome it, all while being a beacon of generosity and compassion. 

My Adventures for Superman Season 3 is a formidable display of artistry and strong, incentivized writing that both levels the playing field while building on all that the show has assembled thus far. Aided by an infectious spirit, sparkling animation that blends retro stylings with futuristic designs, and superb, rich performances, the series has never felt bigger and accomplishes as much without sacrificing the personal dynamics. What an absolute delight. 

My Adventures with Superman Season 3 premieres June 13 on Adult Swim, the next day on HBO Max. 

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