Superman: Man of Tomorrow (2020)

 

Comic books are constantly rebooting themselves. This makes sense, especially for franchises that have been going strong for years and years on end. I mean: where are you going to get new and exciting storylines? In the animated department, this also regularly happens, as it did (sort of) with this installment of DC's animated universe. But is it any good?

'Superman: Man of Tomorrow' takes place in a Metropolis that both seems very contemporary (smartphones and the like), yet also feels a bit too clean and utopian. Maybe it is somewhere in the future, but then it is a future not too far removed from our world. Clark Kent is a young intern at the Daily Planet, which is still a 'normal' newspaper, bizarrely enough. He hasn't shown the world his Superman-persona yet, instead relying on more regular disguises like a cap and sunglasses to occasionally do some good.

Things change when an alien bounty hunter named Lobo visits Earth and gets into a fight with Clark, as Lobo is chasing down the last Kryptonian. But Clark gets some unexpected help from Martian Manhunter and now suddenly the world knows without a shred of doubt that aliens exist. Lobo uses something akin to a biogrenade which envelops a janitor and gives rise to a creature that feeds on energy and absorbs everty kind of energy upon touching. This also works with Clark, who now becomes weaker. 

Clark has no choice but to turn to Lex Luthor for help, but are Lex's motivations pure?

Heck no. It's Lex Luthor. Come on people.

This is a bit of a weird animated feature. The presentation is nice, with a lot of that stylized drawing that at times closely resembles the artstyle of the earliest cartoons, something that DC has kept close for all these years. It is also vibrant in colours, yet something feels a bit off. It's a little too sterile, a little too squeaky clean at times, and this gives the film a disjointed feel. 

But maybe the worst offence is that they throw so much at the viewer. Clark deciding whether or not to 'come out' as it where, Lobo, Martian Manhunter... It's a lot of characters that don't get explained well and it all feels rather rushed. Doubly so considering the status of characters like Lobo. It just feels... well... off. Also: the villain is more of an afterthought, which is a shame, as they could have done more with Parasite. 

Oh, and there is quite a lot of swearing and blood and gore. So maybe don't show it to the little ones? This is 'adult' stuff. (a little sarcasm, sorry)

'Superman: Man of Tomorrow' wants to do too much and as a result achieves far too little. It is sometimes tough to follow, has way too many characters and a story that doesn't really go anywhere. Also: not really a fan of Clark as an 18-year-old intern. It feels weird. But that might just be me.