Search - Superman - The Animated Series, Volume Three (DC Comics Classic Collection) on DVD

Come the Apokolips

Simon | Brampton, ON | 03/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the last volume of Superman: The Animated Series, and includes the last 18 episodes of the show's 54-episode run. It's scheduled to release alongside a slew of Superman-related shows and movie tie-ins, including Justice League season 2 and a new direct-to-video movie featuring Brainiac. This is also the set fans have been waiting for.

Roughly speaking, volume 3 can be divided into thirds. The first third of the set are your typical self-contained Superman stories. We get the introduction of Maxima the warrior queen and Volcana (Peri Gilpin of Frasier). Toyman, Mxy, Bizzaro, and Jax-Ur and Mala return. There is an odd episode involving an alien menace in Smallville, and a dud spotlighting Jimmy Olsen.

The next third are team-up episodes. Superman meets Aquaman and Green Lantern (the Kyle Rayner version) for the first time, and teams up with Batman again to fight Ra's Al Ghul. The Legion of Superheroes help young Clark Kent fight Brainiac in Smallville, and Robin also helps Superman masquarade as Batman when Bruce Wayne goes missing. These are all fun adventures. They predate the Justice League series, and its fun to see the DC animated universe slowly expand into what we know today.

It's the final third of this volume though, that will get fans pumped. These form the Darkseid saga, and are three two-part episodes. Besides the formal introduction of Supergirl, these episodes contain some of the most dramatic and shocking moments in the 10 years+ of shows that Timm and co. have created. This is Superman's darkest hour, and the series finale "Legacy" ended things on a very bittersweet note, the effects of which carried over strongly into JLU. Powerful stuff.

Like I said, there's so much Superman-related stuff coming out June 20th to tie into the movie. You'll probably have to make choices about what to buy and what to pass over. Don't let STAS: Volume 3 be passed over."

Superman: The Animated Series - Volume Three!

Servo | Atlanta, GA USA | 05/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Celebrate the Man of Tomorrow's triumphant return today with Superman: The Animated Series - Volume Three! Introducing guest-star superheroes Supergirl, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Orion and the New Gods, Legionnaires Cosmic Boy, Chameleon Boy and Saturn Girl (plus new characters Maxima and Volcana), this 2-disc set contains the 3rd (and final) wave of 18 episodes from the show's 54-episode series run.

From the far reaches of Apokolips comes the ultimate threat to planet Earth as mankind faces its most powerful enemy, the evil lord Darkseid. Darkseid's obsession for humiliating Superman and dominating the Earth feature prominently in the three excellent multi-part arcs "Little Girl Lost" (Supergirl debut), "Apokolips...Now!", and "Legacy." Also paying tribute to legendary comics writer/artist Jack Kirby and his Fourth World is the underrated Jimmy Olsen episode "Superman's Pal" (a homage to the "Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen" comic which Kirby used to introduce the Fourth World concept and characters) featuring the debut of the special ultrasonic frequency Superman signal watch.

The Toyman returns with an "Obsession" for a barbie-perfect supermodel (a storyline which later concludes in the Static Shock season three episode "Toys in the Hood"), while evil Kryptonians Jax-Ur (voice of Ron Perlman) and Mala (voice of Sarah Douglas, "Ursa" from Superman II!) return with "Absolute Power." Mr. Mxyzptlk is the "Little Big Head" pulling Bizarro's super-strings in a revenge plot against the Man of Steel. The episodes "Unity" (featuring a Superman/Supergirl teamup) and "New Kids in Town" (featuring three members of the Legion of Superheroes) are fine tales that would translate well as special episodes of WB's Smallville, just as "A Fish Story" (introducing Aquaman) was tweaked for the Smallville "Aqua" episode. Superman takes a walk on the dark side (under Robin's tutelage) when he masquerades as Batman in "Knight Time," while villain Ra's Al Ghul takes on both heroes in "The Demon Reborn."

As always the voice casting is nothing short of brilliant. Steve Sandor, who was the voice of hero Dark Wolf in the cult feature "Fire and Ice" supplies vocals for Orion in "Apokolips...Now!" Former TV heartthrobs Chad Lowe (Life Goes On), Jason Priestley (Bevery Hills, 90210) and Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina, The Teenage Witch) voice Legionnaires Cosmic Boy, Chameleon Boy and Saturn Girl respectively; Sharon Lawrence (NYPD Blue) channels her Gwen Davenport character from NBC's short-lived sitcom "Fired Up" for Maxima in "Warrior Queen"; Peri Gilpin (Frasier) lends her smoky vocals to Volcana in "Where There's Smoke"; "In Brightest Day" (introducing Green Lantern Kyle Rayner) features the voice of Ted Levine (The Silence of the Lambs) as the most menacing version of Sinestro to date; and Miguel Ferrer (Robocop) voices both ends of the spectrum as hero Aquaman in "A Fish Story" and villain De'Cine in "Warrior Queen".

Superman - The Animated Series, Volume Three is a 2-disc collection that features Full-Frame video, English Dolby Surround Stereo 2.0 audio, English, French, Spanish subtitles. The contents of this 3rd (and final) super-set are as follows:

Disc 1:
Warrior Queen
Apokolips...Now! Part 1
Apokolips...Now! Part 2
Little Girl Lost Part 1
Little Girl Lost Part 2
Where There's Smoke

Disc 2, Side A:
Knight Time
New Kids in Town
Obsession
Little Big Head
Absolute Power
In Brightest Day

Disc 2, Side B:
Superman's Pal
A Fish Story
Unity
The Demon Reborn
Legacy Part 1
Legacy Part 2


Special Features:
Commentary: On "Apokolips...Now! Part 2", "New Kids In Town," and "Legacy Part 2" by the series creators and directors

Featurette: "Superman: Behind The Cape": David Kaufman (voice of Jimmy Olsen) takes you behind-the-scenes on how a show comes together

Easter Egg: Bonus Commentary


Highly Recommended!"

A rarity in a season: it's nearly perfect

Cloud | Canada | 06/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With the upcoming release of Superman Returns, we of course are being treated to a wealth of Superman related DVD's such as the Justice League sets, the old George Reeves set, Dean Cain, a documentary, even Krypto the Wonder Dog is purchasable. Well with it comes a great addition: the third and last volume in the Superman Animated Series set which features some great episodes including some teamups and an all-and-out brawl with Apokolips and Darkseid.

Disc I:
Warrior Queen: It's decent. A stuck-up ruler gets turned on by Superman and wants him for a husband, only his refusal doesn't exactly make her nice. 7.5/10
Apokolips...Now!: Darkseid is planning to assault Earth and a new addition decides to help Superman. 9/10
Apokolips...Now! Part II: It's war as Earth/Superman and Apokolips' warriors go head to head which results in a shocking end to a character. 9.5/10
Little Girl Lost: Exploring Krypton's ruins, Superman comes across a survivor on a nearby planet, who's a bit too eager to be a hero on Earth. 8/10
Little Girl Lost Part II: Superman is taken to Apokolips and Supergirl has to save him, as well as save the Earth on a global scale. 8/10
Where There's Smoke: Another decent episode as Volcana, a hot(literally) vixen causes some trouble. 7.5/10

Disc II Side A:
Knight Time: Batman's missing? And what's Superman doing impersonating him and helping Robin? Fun episode. 9/10
New Kids in Town: Brainiac wants to destroy Superman so he decides to time travel to when Superman was actually just an underdeveloped Clark Kent. 9/10
Obsession: I never liked Toyman as a villain and he's got a stalkerish obsession with a model. Bah. 6/10
Little Big Head Man: Mr. Mxypzptlk is back and he needs help taking down Superman so he recruits...Bizarro? 8.5/10
Absolute Power: Mala and Jax-Ur are back only they're in charge of a planet. 8/10
In Brightest Day: A great episode as a new Green Lantern is featured, unfortunately also being hunted. 9/10

Disc II Side B
Superman's Pal: Thanks to the press, Jimmy is "Superman's friend" which warrants uninvited attention. 8/10
A Fish Story: Aquaman makes an appearance and he's not to happy with Luthor. 8.5/10
Unity: Another decent episode as Supergirl and Superman have to stop a cult who worships a huge...thing. 7.5/10
The Demon Reborn: Superman has to reteam with Batman again when Ra's Al Ghul and Talia come back and they're after Superman. 8/10
Legacy: Darkseid has a new partner in crime...Superman, and he's taking the fight to Earth. 9/10
Legacy Part II: Untrusted by Earth, Superman decides to take the fight to Darkseid and end it...permanently. 9.5/10

Aside from those "decent" episodes, this is a great set. One complaint about the Superman TAS as opposed to Batman's is that the latter as more human drama in it, it's more compelling while Superman's more fun. It's true but still when Superman takes on Brainiac and Metallo and deflects comets, who cares right? I guess one complaint I can say about this season is that there's too many teamups, either it's with Supergirl, Green Lantern, Aquaman..., even Jimmy gets to be a sidekick. But still it's an almost flawless season. One tiny nitpick: the Superman/Darkseid fight? Toooo short."

The Best Of The Series

Ervin Griffin | Bluefield, WV | 07/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In this volume, it features the four eppys that made me a Superman: TAS fan for life! I'll point them out later! Right now, let's get to the volume:

Disc 1

Warrior Queen - A spoiled but skilled fighter from another world comes to Earth to challenge Superman and make him her husband! Ending is rather comical!

Apokolips...Now!, Pt. 1 - Darkseid makes his first push towards domination of Earth and its up to Superman, Orion and policeman Dan Turpin to stop him!

BIG NOTE HERE! THERE IS HIDDEN ALTERNATE COMMENTARY ON THIS EPISODE! HARD TO FIND BUT WORTH THE LISTEN!

Apokolips...Now!, Pt. 2 - A war rages in the streets of Metropolis! Superman and his side triumphs but pays a big price as one of his closest allies dies! Very shocking for a Saturday morning show!

Little Girl Lost, Pt. 1 & 2 - In this two parter, we are re-introduced to Kara, better known as Supergirl! As she goes through the growing pains of adjusting to Earth, Granny (one of Darkseid's flunkies) makes a bid to take down the Man Of Steel but doesn't count on Superman's pesky cousin to get involved!

Where There's Smoke - Volcana, a telekenetic with the power to manipulate fire, wants revenge on the government agents that imprisoned her!

Bonus Features:

Commentary on Apokolips...Now!, Pt. 2 by Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, glen Murakami, Dan Riba and James Tucker.

Superman: Behind The Cape - David Kaufman (the voice of Jimmy Olsen) takes you behind the scenes with the show's creative team.

Disc 2/Side A

Knight Time - When Batman goes missing, Superman shows up in Gotham City to team with Robin (Tim Drake).........as BATMAN! Rather comical but slightly scary episode!

New Kids In Town - The Legion Of Super Heroes, a group from the future, goes back in time to stop Braniac from murdering a young Clark Kent!

Obsession - Toyman returns and stalks a famous model but all isn't what it seems as the model is one of his creations!

PERSONAL NOTE: My knock here is that I wished WB would've put the Static Shock episode where Superman shows up because its actually a follow up to this particular episode! Would've made a good bonus feature but I digress!

Little Big Head - Myzlyklik returns and riles up Bizzaro into a rampage on Metropolis.

Absolute Power - While studying a black hole, Superman discovers a new Krypton that is ruled by the two criminals that he imprisioned into the Phantom Zone in "Blast From The Past."

In Brightest Day - Kyle Rayner, an artist, is given the legendary power of The Green Lantern with Senestro hot on his heels!

Disc 2/Side B

Superman's Pal - Jimmy Olsen experiences new celebrity as a friend of Superman's! This ends up working against him as Metallo returns to use him in a new plot against The Man Of Steel.

Fish Story - Aquaman makes his first appearance in his more classic outfit as he takes on Lex Luthor with aid from Superman and Lois Lane!

Unity - Superman teams with Supergirl when an alien takes over Smallville and mentally warps them including Johnathan and Martha Kent!

The Demon Reborn - Batman returns to Metropolis to find Ras Al Gul and discovers a plot involving Superman! We also see a tense moment between Bats and Lois Lane, keeping with the continum from "World's Finest."

Legacy, Pt. 1 & 2 - Superman goes on a rampage as Lex Luthor manipulates a rather paranoid general to kill him. However, there is more to this than meets the eye and when all is said and done, Superman will regain his goodness but will nearly lose it all in his showdown with Darkseid.

Bonus Features:

Commentary on New Kids In Town by Bruce Timm, Glen Murakami, Dan Riba, Butch Lukic and James Tucker.

Look, Up In The Sky! The Amazing Story Of Superman - Excerpts from the new documentary. Produced by Bryan Singer & Kevin Burns. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY THE WAY BY THIS REVIEWER!

Commentary on Legacy, Pt. 2 by Bruce Timm, Glen Murakami, Dan Riba, Paul Dini and James Tucker!

Excellent end to the Superman series! The episodes that turned me to this show was Apokolips...Now! and Legacy! Very excellent story telling!

As I said earlier, I would've liked to have seen the Static Shock eppy where Superman appears and helps him fight Toyman and the rogue female robot from "Obsession" as a bonus feature but other than that, great buy!

"