Consume All Media! Superman: "Eleventh Hour"

Joe Heath is a big fan of comic books and watching things in order. So they made this spreadsheet containing every serial, short, film, television episode, commercial, motion comic, and web series based on a comic book. Now they're watching them all. Previously, Joe watched a fake Superman and a proto-Jimmy Olsen. This time, Joe watches propaganda.

Superman: "Eleventh Hour" - 7:59 (Available on YouTube.)

Film Info

Release date: November 20th, 1942

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Written by Bill Turner & Carl Meyer

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

Produced by Sam Buchwald

Directed by Dan Gordon

Writer Highlights

Bill Turner

Other comic book media credits: Writing previous Superman animated short The Arctic Giant (1942), The Bulleteers (1942), Volcano (1942), & Japoteurs (1942)

Carl Meyer (1894-1972)

Other comic book media credits: Writing previous Superman animated shorts The Bulleteers (1942), The Magnetic Telescope (1942), Volcano (1942), Japoteurs (1942) & further Superman animated short Secret Agent (1943)

Producer Highlights

Sam Buchwald (Unknown-1951)

Other comic book media credits: Previous animated Superman short Japoteurs (1942) & Showdown (1942) & further animated Superman shorts Destruction, Inc. (1942), The Mummy Strikes (1943), Jungle Drums (1943), The Underground World (1943), & Secret Agent (1943)

Director Highlights

Dan Gordon (1902-1970)

Other comic book media credits: Writing the previous Superman animated shorts The Magnetic Telescope (1942) & Terror on the Midway (1942) as well as directing Jungle Drums (1943)

While Lois and Clark are prisoners of war in Japan, Superman proceeds to annihilate the Japanese military, presumably killing many in the process.

It’s hard to tell how many, because we mostly just see a lot of tanks and boats blow up, but I assume it beats Spy Smasher’s previous record.

Lois gets kidnapped and the Japanese put up warnings everywhere telling Superman to stop or they’ll execute her. He either doesn’t see them or doesn’t care and destroys another ship, getting caught in his own debris.

After freeing himself, he finally pays heed to the notice and saves Lois from a firing range.

On a boat back home, Lois tells reporters her story and says that Clark is still in Japan, but that Superman is going to keep an eye on him.

Then Superman destroys more stuff.

Should you watch it, though? This is the cartoon with the most blatant propaganda so far. It is slightly interesting that this starts with him already being Superman and part of the way through, he changes into Clark. But mostly it’s just Superman killing a bunch of Japanese people. Skip it.

Tune in next time for another Superman cartoon: "Destruction, Inc." (Available on YouTube.)

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

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