Consume All Media! Superman: "Billion Dollar Limited"

Joe Heath is a big fan of comic books and watching things in order. So he made this spreadsheet containing every serial, short, film, television episode, commercial, motion comic, and web series based on a comic book. Now he’s watching them all. Previously, Joe wrapped up 1941. This time, he jumps into 1942 with another Superman animated short.

Superman: “Billion Dollar Limited” - 8:34 (Available on YouTube.)

Film Info

Release date: January 9th, 1942

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Written by Seymour Kneitel & Isadore Sparber

Based on the National/DC Comics character Superman created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster

Produced by Max Fleischer

Directed by Dave Fleischer

Writer Highlights

Producer Highlights

Director Highlights

Billion Dollar Limited starts off 1942 like a runaway train. Which is exactly what this cartoon is about.

Lois Lane is assigned to write a story for the Daily Planet about a train that’s delivering a billion dollars worth of gold to the US Mint. On the way, a handful of criminals attempt to hijack the train and manage to take out the driver. However the criminals are knocked off of the train in the process.

Now, Lois Lane is in the cabin of a runaway train.

But she does manage to get a tommy gun to fend off any approaching criminals.

Get ‘em, Lois.

Word gets out about the runaway train and Superman flies to the rescue.

The criminals attempt to divert the train into some explosives, but Superman picks up the entire railroad track and redirects it back.

The criminals then try blowing up a bridge. The train plummets towards the ground, but Superman catches it and... puts it back? On the track? Instead of just… stopping the runaway train? That… that wasn’t an option for some reason?

The criminals then chuck a bomb into the engine. Superman flies Lois off of the train before the bomb explodes. The explosion takes out the first two cars and the rest of the train begins to roll backwards. Superman grabs the train and begins to move it forward himself.

The criminals throw tear gas at Superman which seems to have a negative effect on him.

This version of Superman is way less invulnerable than later incarnations. In fact, the most popular of Superman’s weaknesses, Kryptonite, wasn’t introduced until 1943, a year after this cartoon. And even then, it was introduced in the radio show and not the comics. It was created as a way to give Superman’s voice actor, Bud Collyer, some time off.

But for now, tear gas is somewhat effective. However, Superman rallies and carries the train the rest of the way to the mint.

Lois gets the scoop. Clark smiles at the camera.

Should you watch it, though? It’s not bringing anything new to the table, but just like its predecessors, it’s entertaining, beautifully animated, and fun to watch. Also, did I mention that Lois uses a tommy gun?

Tune in next time for another animated adventure with Superman: "The Arctic Giant" (Available on YouTube.)

A version of this article was previously published on The Dipp.

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