Here comes a shocker for those of you in the know about Superman incarcerations – I don’t think Tim Daly did as great a job with Superman as Kevin Conroy did with Batman in the contrasting animated series.
While the shows had the same producers and writers behind them the casts were completely different. The writing was just as strong, but I’m afraid this Superman is once again a step back. Daly doesn’t offer up much difference between Superman and Clark Kent. In fact, they’re pretty much only defined as different by their wardrobe. Both Superman and Clark are smart asses in this series. Offering up quips to either Lois or Lex Luthor.
When I say “quips”, I don’t mean he’s making Spider-man type one liners, but he does have much more of a loose mouth in this series. The problems come partially from the writing. No, I’m not being hypocritical – the previous nod to the writing was more of a plot based intention, where as here I’m referring to dialogue.
The only plot hole I’ve found from this series is noted in an episode where Batman and Bruce Wayne go missing and Superman dresses as Bats so no one will notice. The problem here happens when they have Conroy continue to voice Superman as Batman – citing that he sounds the same because of focused pitch control on his vocal chords.
Which, I kind of like that idea in the sense that Superman is that powerful and focused that he can control something like that. But, they shoot themselves in the foot for the whole series by doing that – prompting the question – why doesn’t Clark Kent have a completely different voice from Clark?
It was bad enough that Clark and Superman had the same monotone voice, moralistic presence and snippy remarks – but now you’re just writing yourself into a corner. I understand that it was intentionally made different from the bumbling Clark Kent of Reeves fame, but at least try to add something different and new to the mythology instead of just standing there diddling with your thumbs.
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TIM DALY SUPERMAN
