Superman: The Fleischer Cartoons

1941
3.9
10 reviews
Eligible
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Season 1 episodes (17)

1 Superman (a.k.a The Mad Scientist)
10/26/41
Season-only
When the Daily Planet receives a letter from a mad scientist who threatens to turn his ray gun on Metropolis at midnight, Lois flies a plane to the scientist's mountain-top lair to get the scoop--but is taken hostage. Superman must save the Daily Planet from collapsing after the building is targeted by the ray, but he proves that not even this city-destroying ray is a match for the Man of Steel as he nabs the scientist and rescues Lois.
2 The Mechanical Monsters
11/28/41
Season-only
A band of giant flying robots has been robbing buildings in Metropolis, Lois and Clark guess the next heist will be from a jewelry exhibit. At the exhibit, when one of the robots steals the jewels, Lois climbs into a cavity with the stolen gems inside the robot, which flies away with her inside. Using his X-ray vision to locate Lois, Superman wrestles with the robot in mid-air, but the robot escapes. Now, will Superman reach the robot master's lair before Lois is lowered into a vat of molten metal?
3 Billion Dollar Limited
12/9/41
Season-only
When Lois is trapped aboard an out-of-control train loaded with gold intended for the national mint during a daring robbery attempt, Superman must wrestle the hurtling train to a halt before it collides with explosives on the tracks.
4 The Arctic Giant
2/26/42
Season-only
When a frozen dinosaur brought from Siberia to Metropolis thaws -- and awakens -- Superman must repair the massive destruction the prehistoric beast wreaks in time to pry Lois from between the jaws of the beast. But Superman corrals the beast and saves the city, while Lois files a first-hand, front-page story!
5 The Bulleteers
3/26/42
Season-only
Superman has his hands full saving both Metropolis and Lois when the city refuses a ransom demand by a gang that call themselves "The Bulleteers", and they use their high tech rocket to attack the city as Lois tries to cover the story up close.
6 The Magnetic Telescope
4/24/42
Season-only
The superhuman efforts of both Superman and Lois are required when a mad scientist loses control of a comet he has pulled toward earth to study. Now, as the comet accelerates in its relentless trajectory toward earth--and the destruction of the planet--Superman must use his own body to channel enough electricity into the scientist's dynamo to create the magnetic force to repel the comet.
7 Electric Earthquake
5/15/42
Season-only
From his secret, undersea laboratory, a mad scientist threatens to generate a massive earthquake that will destroy Metropolis unless all the citizens abandon the city and return the land to the descendents of the original Native American inhabitants. But the quake draws Superman to the underwater lair, where he nabs the scientist and rescues Lois in time for her to make the Daily Planet's deadline.
8 Volcano
6/10/42
Season-only
When Clark and Lois travel to an island to cover a volcanic eruption on Mount Monokoa, Superman must rescue a city from the eruption and save Lois from flowing lava. But Lois still manages to get her story in.
9 Terror on the Midway
8/23/42
Season-only
Just as Lois is complaining that her current assignment to cover the circus is boring, a circus monkey accidentally releases a giant gorilla that proceeds to run amok, panic spectators, frighten the elephants, which then trample several cages releasing wild lions and panthers. Now, with a full-fledged stampede, Superman must corral the animals in time to rescue Lois from the high wire before either the gorilla or a fire raging inside the tent kill her.
10 Japoteurs
9/18/42
Season-only
When saboteurs attack the first working prototype of the United States' new bomber, Superman must defeat the attackers, save the plane and rescue Lois.
11 Showdown
10/16/42
Season-only
A small-time thief dons a Superman costume to commit robberies and convinces Metropolis that the Man of Steel has gone rogue. Only when the police see Superman rescue the imposter from falling to his death, do the authorities realize there are two. Now, Superman must apprehend the thief's boss, which gives Lois a great story for the Daily Planet!
12 Eleventh Hour
11/20/42
Season-only
When Lois and Clark are held prisoner in Japan, Superman sneaks out every night to help fight the Japanese from behind enemy lines. When the Japanese realize that the Man of Steel is behind the attacks, they threaten to kill Lois unless he stops. Superman discovers the threat just in time to rush between Lois and the bullets from a firing squad -- then take her out of Japan. Clark (and Superman), stays behind to help the Allies' war effort.
13 Destruction, Inc.
12/15/42
Season-only
When Lois goes undercover to investigate a murder at a local munitions plant, she is caught and sealed inside a torpedo filled with explosives that is aimed at a barge. Onlookers watch what they believe to be a harmless weapons test but only Superman can save her from imminent death!
14 The Mummy Strikes
1/19/43
Season-only
When Clark gets a lead on the murder of an Egyptologist, Lois tries to get the scoop before him, but only succeeds in putting herself in danger as the two reporters face the reanimated mummies guarding an ancient pharaoh's sarcophagus.
15 Jungle Drums
3/18/43
Season-only
When Lois' plane is shot down over Africa, Lois and Superman battle Nazis at a secret base in a desperate attempt to prevent German submarines from attacking an unsuspecting American fleet.
16 The Underground World
5/18/43
Season-only
Lois turns in a true story too strange to print when she and Clark are taken prisoner by a race of half-human, half-bird people who inhabit a massive complex of unexplored, underground caverns. Lois' doom seems certain until she is rescued by Superman.
17 Secret Agent
7/30/43
Season-only
While in a drugstore, Clark Kent finds himself in the middle of a high-speed chase and running gun battle by Axis saboteurs trying the capture a female American espionage agent. Now, only the Man of Steel can get the spy to Washington to deliver her vital information.

About this show

Cartoon impresario Max Fleischer was the among the first to bring the printed Superman comics to a wide audience in these fanciful 1940s shorts featuring the Man of Steel saving his true love, Lois Lane, battling mad scientists and overthrowing Nazis. Many of the slogans and attributes we ascribe to Superman today originated in this series, including the famous "Faster Than A Speeding Bullet" introduction. Bud Collyer performs the voice of Clark Kent/Superman, with Joan Alexander as Lois Lane.

Ratings and reviews

3.9
10 reviews
Cederic Lourenço
December 23, 2021
Classic, enough said!
Zaera Gill
May 1, 2016
CaRtOoNz