Contains spoilers forMy Adventures With Supermanseason 2!
Summary
My Adventures With Supermanjoins three other television series that have adapted one ofDC’sbest Superman stories. Developed by Jake Wyatt, the latest Superman adaptation is an anime-inspired animated series that features a fresh take on the character’s mythos while remaining true to his ideals. The second season will end on June 08, 2025, withMy Adventures With Supermanseason 3 already confirmedto be on the way.
My Adventures With Supermanhas continuously used its anime inspiration to find exciting new ways to set itself apart as one of thebest animated Superman showsout there. The final story arc of its second season has found similar success, adapting one of Superman’s greatest stories while still remaining true to the tone and aesthetic it has created, with this iteration effectively showing why this story has been a staple of the Superman mythos since its inception, and why it will no doubt appear again in futureupcoming DC releases.
My Adventures With Superman Is The Fourth Adaptation Of For The Man Who Has Everything
In 1985, writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons published “For the Man Who Has Everything” inSuperman Annual #11.The story revolves around Black Mercy, a parasitic plant, attaching itself to Superman, allowing him to dream about his greatest desires, including a normal life on Krypton - although the dream becomes increasingly disturbing until Superman wakes up from it. Since its release, four adaptations of the iconic story have been made, with the latest beingMy Adventures With Superman.
Justice League Unlimitedwas the first series to adapt the story with an episode in season 2 of the same name. It wasn’t until 2016 that it was adapted again, this time inSupergirl’s"For the Girl Who Has Everything," having Kara Zor-El in Superman’s role in the story.Krypton’sepisode “Mercy” would then also go on to use the comic for inspiration.My Adventures With Supermanseason 2, episode 9, “Pierce the Heavens, Superman!” is the most recent adaptation, featuring some interesting changes to the source material.
According toJustice League Unlimitedcreator, Bruce Timm, Alan Moore was pleased with the show’s adaptation and allowed his name to be credited in it, becoming one of two adaptations of Moore’s work that the author has approved of.
How My Adventures With Superman Changes For The Man Who Has Everything
Lois Lane uses another Black Mercy headpiece to enter Clark’s mind and help release him from Braniac’s influence, another massive change to the source material, but one that shows the strength of Clark and Lois' relationship.
My Adventures With Supermanlikes to draw from a variety of Superman mythos while forging its own identity out of it. The show’s take on “For the Man Who Has Everything” is no different, changing a number of things to better fit the story being told. The biggest change is which villain is featured.Mongul is the main villain in the original story, but inMy Adventures With Superman, Braniac takes his place, using the Black Mercy to help bend Clark to his will.
Another interesting change is the Black Mercy itself. Typically seen as a parasitic plant in the original story, as well as the other adaptations, inMy Adventures With SupermanBlack Mercy is a piece of technology that Braniac places onto Superman’s forehead. This allows him to enter Clark’s mind and rummage through his memories, distorting them in the process. Lois Lane uses another Black Mercy headpiece to enter Clark’s mind and help release him from Braniac’s influence - another massive change to the source material, but one that shows the strength of Clark and Lois' relationship.
Why The Superman Story Has Been Adapted So Many Times
By allowing Superman to live out his greatest desires before twisting it into something more sinister, it means digging deeper into the hopes and ideals of Clark Kent while showing what could have been if Krypton had never been destroyed.
“For the Man Who Has Everything” is considered one of the best Superman stories of all time, and is only one issue in length. This makes it a great story to adapt to television, especially animation, as the shorter run time fits a single issue story perfectly. It truly captures what makes Superman such an enduring figure, taking him to a darker place than usual that contrasts with and thus highlights his kindness and compassion. InMy Adventures With Superman, the story also shows why Clark being Superman is so important and further progresses Lois and Clark’s relationship.
Allowing Superman to live out his greatest desires before twisting it into something more sinister means digging deeper into the hopes and ideals of Clark Kent while showing what could have been if Krypton had never been destroyed. Despite having what he wanted, it wasn’t ever meant to be, and it would never fully be what he hoped it would have been. This complex but emotive concept shows the inherent strength of Clark Kent’s character beyond what he can do physically, which is something the best Superman stories try to do.
Even thoughMy Adventures With Supermanis the latest show to adapt “For the Man Who Has Everything,” it most likely won’t be the last. The narrative and its impact is too iconic to ignore, and serves as the perfect story to highlight Superman’s character strengths. Like the other adaptations of the story, though,My Adventures With Supermanuses “For the Man Who Has Everything” as a way to show who Clark is and not what he could have been, while also changing the source material to fit within the story the creators are wanting to tell.
My Adventures With Superman
Cast
My Adventures with Superman is an animated action-adventure superhero series that follows the Man of Steel in an all-new origin story. Focusing on the light-hearted side of DC’s hero, the series follows Clark Kent’s journey of self-discovery of what it means to be a hero while trying to blend in with society. With his best friend and his crush, Lois Lane, the trio will strike out to cover the most significant stories - all while trying to keep the city of Metropolis safe from giant robots and super-powered villains.
