Summary
DCappears to have finally done right by an underrated hero inMy Adventures With Supermanafter some underwhelming appearances in live-action. There are a huge number of DC heroes who have enjoyed various depictions over the years, with some more successful than others, but viewers who tuned intoMy Adventures With Supermanseason 2, episode 3were treated to an iteration of one hero that helped balance out his complicated adaptation history.
The episode, entitled “Fullmetal Scientist”,sees Superman introduced to John Irons, a familiar face to comic readers as Steel. AfterMy Adventures With Supermanseason 1’s powerful ending, the show offered more opportunities for the series’ creative team to provide new variations on established depictions of the DC ensemble, and this Steel is no different. One of the most exciting revelations is that this iteration of the character comes with his very own mech suit, which packs a suitable punch.
My Adventures With Superman Cast On DC Crossovers & Their Live-Action Hopes
EXCLUSIVE: My Adventures with Superman cast members share their dream DC crossovers and personal hopes to jump into DC live-action in the future.
My Adventures With Superman’s Steel Makes Up For The DC Hero’s Underwhelming Live-Action Appearances
Disappointing Previous Depictions Are Eased By Great Character Design And Its Use In Storytelling
In the past, live-action depictions weren’t kind to John Irons. In 1997’sSteel,the character retained his comic book appearance, but it seemed clunky and unintentionally comedic. Shaquille O’Neal played the title role and, with an 8% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film wasn’t regarded fondly. Steel got an update in the Arrowverse showSuperman and Loiswherehe was played by Wolé Parks, this time with new armor. However, his character was initially antagonistic, which didn’t do justice to his origins, and the suit lacked some of the gravitas of its comic counterpart.
The character comes across as venerable and powerful, not to mention awesome to look at, so much so that even Superman seems excited to meet him and treats him as an equal.
Generally, Steel either felt mishandled or not given the right space to shine as a character in adaptations, leaving an underwhelming impression. ButSteel’s anime-inspired look and feel inMy Adventures With Supermanseemed wholly appropriate to the hero’s comic origins, while fitting in perfectly with the tone of the show’s story. The character comes across as venerable and powerful - so much so that even Superman is excited to meet him and treats him as an equal - while also showing off a truly epic looking suit that is far more exciting than the prior versions of the costume.
In The Right Hands, He Is Poised To Do Great Things
Steel represents a great opportunity for DC to get more mileage from a lesser-known character by leveling them up. Viewers saw inJustice Leaguehow theSnyderverse’s redesigned Aquamancould be brought more up-to-date in a way that made him an equal to the people he fought alongside, countering the perception of the hero as lesser in some regards.It’s very easy to picture Steel’s new mech suit in a live-action setting, and the excitement that would generate for an audience, whether he’s part of a team or in his own solo movie.
There’s a precedent in superhero films likeGuardians Of The Galaxyfor lesser-known heroes to become pop culture icons if they are brought to life in a way that resonates with audiences. Steel has a stable platform inMy Adventures With Supermanfrom which he can go onto even bigger things. If DC gives the character the right push, he could get his own TV series or anime, perhaps in a similar form to 2018’sBatman Ninja. The fresh look of John Henry’s suit also lends itself to numerous upgrades across television and film.
Steel’s appearance inMy Adventures With Supermanrepresents a fresh take on a character who has been around for decades. In one fell swoop, it redeems two disappointing appearances by the character where he was either underused or came across as the lesser entity when compared with an A-lister like Superman. The hero’s latest depiction gives him genuine gravitas and generates a world of possibilities for more depictions across film and television. Steel could well turn out to be one of DC’s not-so-secret weapons, and a capable ally who Superman can depend on.
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.
