Superman (TV series) facts for kids

For the 1990s series, see Superman: The Animated Series.

Quick facts for kids Superman
The logo for Superman.
Genre	Action Adventure Superhero
Written by	Cherie Wilkerson Marv Wolfman Michael Reaves Larry DiTillio Buzz Dixon Martin Pasko
Directed by	Cosmo Anzilotti Bill Hutten Tony Love Charles A. Nichols (supervising)
Voices of	Beau Weaver Ginny McSwain Mark L. Taylor Stanley Ralph Ross Michael Bell Lynne Marie Stewart Alan Oppenheimer Tress MacNeille
Narrated by	William Woodson (opening narration)
Opening theme	"Superman March" (composed by John Williams)
Composer(s)	Ron Jones
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	13
Production
Executive producer(s)	Joe Ruby Ken Spears
Producer(s)	Larry Huber
Running time	30 minutes
Production company(s)	Ruby-Spears Enterprises DC Comics Toei Animation Daiwon Animation
Distributor	Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Release
Original network	CBS
Audio format	Stereo
Original release	September 17 (1988-09-17) – December 10, 1988 (1988-12-10)

The Superman animated series from 1988 was a popular Saturday morning cartoon. It was made by Ruby-Spears Enterprises for Warner Bros. Television. The show aired on CBS and featured the famous DC Comics superhero, Superman. This series came out during Superman's 50th anniversary. A live-action TV show called Superboy also came out that year. Marv Wolfman, a well-known comic book writer, was the main story editor. Comic book artist Gil Kane helped design the characters.

About the Show's Style
- Other Characters You'll See
- The "Superman Family Album"
Main Voice Cast
Show Production
Connections to Other Superman Stories
Episode Guide
See also

About the Show's Style

This 1988 series was the third animated show about Superman. The second one was The New Adventures of Superman by Filmation. This series was also special because it was the first time Superman's world was shown after John Byrne's big relaunch of the character in the comics.

The show tried to match the new comic book stories. For example, Superman's main enemy, Lex Luthor, was shown as a rich, bad businessman. This was just like in the comics. Luthor also knew that the ring he wore had a piece of kryptonite in it. He used it to keep Superman from catching him. But it only worked if Superman was very close.

Other Characters You'll See

The show featured some interesting characters. One was Cybron, who was a lot like Brainiac. At the time, Brainiac's story was still being decided in the comics. Wonder Woman also appeared in the show. This was her first time in a cartoon since George Pérez updated her character for the comics.

Classic characters like Jimmy Olsen and Perry White were also in the show. Jimmy always wore a bow-tie. Perry White often said his famous line, "Great Caesar's Ghost!" Lois Lane was shown as a strong and smart woman. She was always ready to take action. Her clothes and hair looked like the style from the 1980s. A new character named Jessica Morganberry was added to the series. She was inspired by Miss Tessmacher from the 1978 Superman movie. Jessica was Lex Luthor's girlfriend and he told her all his evil plans.

Beau Weaver was the voice of Superman and Clark Kent. He later voiced Mister Fantastic in the 1994 Fantastic Four cartoon.

The "Superman Family Album"

Each episode of Superman ended with a short segment called the "Superman Family Album." These parts showed moments from Clark Kent's childhood. In these stories, Clark had his powers from when he was a baby. This was different from the comics, where his powers grew as he got older.

In earlier episodes, young Clark used his powers whenever he wanted. But as he got older, he learned to use his mind to solve problems first. These stories showed his adventures in Smallville. They showed him dealing with normal kid problems, like his first day at school or going grocery shopping. Other stories included a scouting campout, getting his driver's license, his first date, and graduating from high school. The last segment showed him becoming Superman for the first time.

Main Voice Cast

Superman Ruby-Spears DVD cover

Beau Weaver – Superman/Kal-El/Clark Kent
Ginny McSwain – Lois Lane, Jenet Klyburn, Ursa, Faora
Michael Bell – Lex Luthor
Tress MacNeille – Martha Kent
Alan Oppenheimer – Jonathan Kent
Stanley Ralph Ross – Perry White, Starrok
Lynne Marie Stewart – Jessica Morganberry, Young Clark Kent
Mark Taylor – Jimmy Olsen
Bill Woodson – Opening Narration

Show Production

Ginny McSwain – Voice Director
Lynne Batchelor – Talent Coordinator

Connections to Other Superman Stories

This series is also special because it used music from the 1978 Superman: The Movie. These were new versions of John Williams' famous themes. The show's opening also used the same narration as the 1950s Adventures of Superman TV series. But it was narrated by the voice actor from Super Friends.

Episode Guide

*Superman* episodes
Nº	Title	Written by:	Original air date
1	"Destroy the Defendroids / The Adoption"	Marv Wolfman	September 17, 1988 (1988-09-17)
Destroy the Defendroids: Lex Luthor creates robots called Defendroids. They are so good at stopping bad guys that Superman leaves Metropolis. With Superman gone, Luthor uses the Defendroids to steal gold from a train. The Adoption: Jonathan and Martha Kent find baby Kal-El's spaceship. They take him to an orphanage. The baby uses his powers in funny ways, which scares off other families. The Kents then adopt him.
2	"Fugitive from Space / The Supermarket"	Martin Pasko Cherie Wilkerson	September 24, 1988 (1988-09-24)
Fugitive from Space: A spaceship crashes, and Lois Lane, Clark Kent, and Jimmy Olsen find two aliens inside. Jimmy accidentally wakes them up. Superman must figure out which alien is a criminal before they cause trouble on Earth. The Supermarket: Martha Kent takes Clark shopping for the first time. She tries to make sure Clark doesn't use his powers by accident.
3	"By the Skin of the Dragon's Teeth / At the Babysitter's"	Karen Willson & Chris Weber Cherie Wilkerson	October 1, 1988 (1988-10-01)
By the Skin of the Dragon's Teeth: Lex Luthor buys the Great Wall of China. He accidentally brings a dragon statue to life. He and Superman must work together to stop it. At the Babysitter's: Jonathan and Martha Kent leave Clark with a babysitter. Clark thinks he can use his powers to avoid bedtime. But he learns even Kryptonians get tired.
4	"Cybron Strikes / The First Day of School"	Buzz Dixon Cherie Wilkerson	October 8, 1988 (1988-10-08)
Cybron Strikes: Superman and Lois Lane meet Cybron, a robot from the future. Cybron turns Lois, Jimmy, and other people into robots. Superman must stop him. The First Day of School: Clark Kent goes to school for the first time. He meets Lana Lang. He gets blamed for letting the class guinea pig out of its cage.
5	"The Big Scoop / Overnight with the Scouts"	Michael Reaves Cherie Wilkerson	October 15, 1988 (1988-10-15)
The Big Scoop: Lex Luthor steals a machine that shows the future. He sees Clark Kent is Superman. Luthor tries to make Clark reveal his secret on TV. Overnight with the Scouts: Clark Kent camps in the woods with his boy scout troop. They tell scary ghost stories around the campfire.
6	"Triple Play / The Circus"	Larry DiTillio Meg McLaughlin	October 22, 1988 (1988-10-22)
Triple Play: The Prankster kidnaps baseball teams, a judge, Lois Lane, and Jimmy Olsen. He forces Superman to play baseball against robots to save his friends. The Circus: Clark Kent accidentally becomes part of a circus act.
7	"The Hunter / Little Runaway"	Karen Willson & Chris Weber Cherie Wilkerson	October 29, 1988 (1988-10-29)
The Hunter: General Zod and his friends Ursa and Faora create a creature called The Hunter. It can change into any material. The Hunter gets Lex Luthor's kryptonite, making it hard for Superman. Little Runaway: Clark is upset with his adoptive parents and decides to run away. After some problems, he realizes home is better and returns.
8	"Superman and Wonder Woman vs. The Sorceress of Time / The Birthday Party"	Cherie Wilkerson & Marv Wolfman Cherie Wilkerson	November 5, 1988 (1988-11-05)
Superman and Wonder Woman vs. The Sorceress of Time: A meteor frees the sorceress Syrene. She turns the Amazons into small creatures. Superman and Wonder Woman must stop her from getting ultimate power. The Birthday Party: Clark Kent's birthday party gets a big surprise.
9	"Bonechill / The Driver's License"	Larry DiTillio Cherie Wilkerson	November 12, 1988 (1988-11-12)
Bonechill: A bookstore owner named Chilton Bone uses a magic medallion. He becomes Bonechill, who can bring mummies and other monsters to life. The Driver's License: Clark Kent takes his driving test.
10	"The Beast Beneath These Streets / First Date"	Michael Reaves Cherie Wilkerson	November 19, 1988 (1988-11-19)
The Beast Beneath These Streets: Dr. Morpheus, who looks like a man-bat, kidnaps Lois Lane. He tries to steal Superman's powers. Superman must get his powers back and stop him. First Date: Clark Kent takes Lana Lang on a date to a concert.
11	"Wildsharkk / To Play or Not to Play"	Marv Wolfman & Cherie Wilkerson Cherie Wilkerson	November 26, 1988 (1988-11-26)
Wildsharkk: In the Bermuda Triangle, Superman fights a villain named Captain Wildsharkk. He is hijacking ships. To Play or Not to Play: Clark Kent finds out he cannot play football. His powers give him an unfair advantage.
12	"Night of the Living Shadows / Graduation"	Buzz Dixon Cherie Wilkerson	December 3, 1988 (1988-12-03)
Night of the Living Shadows: Lex Luthor creates a suit that turns a person into a living shadow. He uses it and gives it to others to rob banks and a jewelry store. Superman and Inspector Henderson try to stop them. Graduation: Clark Kent has a problem with his graduation robe on Graduation Day. He needs to solve it.
13	"The Last Time I Saw Earth / It's Superman"	Steve Gerber Cherie Wilkerson	December 10, 1988 (1988-12-10)
The Last Time I Saw Earth: An alien bounty hunter named Starrok kidnaps Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen. He takes them to his planet to use them for immortality. It's Superman: Clark Kent moves to Metropolis and gets a job at the Daily Planet. He then becomes Superman for the first time by saving Lois Lane during a bank robbery.