Superman fans are discovering 'forgotten' TV adaptation that 'gets overlooked'

Comic book enthusiasts are only now discovering a largely forgotten Superman adaptation that aired for a mere 13 episodes. Whilst James Gunn's take on the legendary superhero might have dominated the box office, numerous other interpretations of The Last Son of Krypton have existed over the years.

Devotees of the comic book legend might recall Smallville, the enduring television series about Superman, or the timeless Richard Donner adaptation featuring Gene Hackman and Christopher Reeve. However, not everyone appeared to know about the brief but brilliant Superman animated series that aired for a short period during the late 1980s.

Enthusiasts of the cartoon who viewed it during its original broadcast have indicated it was a fantastic programme that merited far more than its 13-episode run.

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One individual who had fond memories of the animation visited the r/TodayILearned Reddit forum and verified the existence of this overlooked adaptation.

They posted: "A Superman animated series was created in 1988 by Ruby-Spears Enterprises, airing on CBS and lasting only 13 episodes."

It represented the second animated Superman programme, following The New Adventures of Superman as the first.

One audience member of the series commented: "I watched it when I was a kid and it was fun. Had Michael Bell as a Lex Luthor who owned a business but still taught more of a pre-crisis Superman.

"Plus a guest spot by Wonder Woman voiced by BJ Ward. It was a lot of fun and had scripts written by Marv Wolfman."

Another added that a seemingly disinterested CBS had little confidence in the programme's potential success.

One fan remembered: "It doesn't seem like CBS had high hopes for the show. They positioned it in the early 7:30 AM time slot and between Raggedy Ann and Muppet Babies, two shows that would have been more for pre-school/little kids audience."

Another revealed: "I watched and liked it. It was this and the Fleischer shorts that introduced me to Superman." There's certainly no lack of Superman adaptations, but it seems the brief animated series has remained dear to fans' hearts.

Some believe it rivals other adaptations that came before and after the programme.

One person revealed: "I think about this series every time all the live-action and animated Superman series get mentioned and it inevitably gets left out. I watched it freshman year of college and loved it."

The programme also resonated with fans for its use of John Williams' Superman themes.

A re-orchestrated version was employed by the animated show, essentially a remix of the work composer Williams had created for the Donner adaptation in 1978.

Story editor and writer Wolfman would subsequently argue it was CBS' fault the programme failed to succeed, as it was scheduled in an early morning slot sandwiched between inappropriate shows. Exorbitant licensing fees for the Superman brand led to the abrupt termination of one of the superhero's most cherished, yet lesser-known, adaptations.