by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor
Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s the latest DC Universe Movie: Superman: Man of Tomorrow. This new animated adventure is now available to own on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital on Demand. When a young Clark Kent is forced to face an unstoppable threat, will he rise to the occasion and become the hero that the world needs?
It is a new day for the DC Universe. Clark Kent has recently arrived in Metropolis and is attempting to break into the world of journalism. Thanks to an internship at the Daily Planet, Clark hopes to start his career and explore the big city life away from Smallville. While it isn’t the hard-hitting reporter lifestyle that he hoped for, everyone has to start somewhere (even if it is being relegated to “Coffee Boy”). While attending a LexCorp press conference, Grad Student Lois Lane manages to expose a potentially hazardous space shuttle launch by Lex Luthor. The launch unfortunately doesn’t go according to plan. and a mysterious flying man intervenes, managing to save the day. Things get even more challenging when an alien bounty hunter named Lobo arrives on Earth, searching for the last Kryptonian. His actions will eventually lead to Clark learning more about his past, finding new friends, and taking on a challenge that he never thought possible.
Following the events of Justice League Dark: Apokalips War, the animated DC Universe has been given a reset. Superman: Man of Tomorrow is the first installment in the new animated world, and if the new animation style is any indication, we are off to a fantastic new start. All of the character designs are fresh, clean, and crisp with slightly darker lines. If anything, it reminds me a bit of the linework in FX’s Archer. This new look keeps things interesting, and I hope that the creative team continues with this as the newly established plan for this corner of the DC Universe.
A new DC Universe also means that it is time for a new voice-cast! The cast features Darren Criss (Glee) as Superman/Clark Kent, Zachary Quinto (Star Trek, Heroes) as Lex Luthor, Alexandra Daddario (San Andreas) as Lois Lane, Brett Dalton (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as Parasite/Rudy Jones, Ryan Hurst (The Walking Dead) as Lobo, Ike Amadi (Mass Effect 3) as Martian Manhunter, Neil Flynn (Scrubs) as Jonathan Kent, Bellamy Young (Scandal) as Martha Kent, Cristina Milizia (DC Super Hero Girls) as Maya, Petey & Kaylie, Eugene Byrd (Bones) as Ron Troupe, April Stewart (South Park) as Mrs. Ross, and Piotr Michael (The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle) as Perry White. Criss and Quinto absolutely impressed me as Clark/Lex. The duo played off each other quite well, making all of their interactions feel organic. Quinto playing a villain isn’t a stretch thanks to his time on Heroes, but his delivery of Lex’s inflections were on point. Dalton’s performance as Rudy Jones as another element that surprised me, as playing Jones in his human form required a softer tone than we had seen in his live-action roles. Lastly, the overall standout for me was Neil Flynn as Pa Kent. Out of all of the new casting choices, I think Flynn’s delivery of Pa Kent’s reassuring tone was one of the best components.
Special Features
- Lobo – Natural Force of Chaos
- Martian Manhunter – Lost and Found
- A Sneak Peek at the next DC Universe Movie
- From the DC Comics Vault: 2 Bonus Cartoons
- Digital Download via Movies Anywhere
Overall
As a whole, I thought that Superman: Man of Tomorrow was a fun new animated adventure featuring the Man of Steel. The animation style was a big highlight for this particular release, and the voice cast was solid in their first ensemble performance. Superman: Man of Tomorrow provides a solid introduction to the world of Superman, and opens up the door for future exploration of the DC Universe.
Rating: [4/5]
ComicsOnline gives Superman: Man of Tomorrow 4 out of 5 Kryptonians.
