Consume All Media! Superman: "The Magnetic Telescope"

Joseph Heath
Jun 17
2 min read

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 smashed some spies. This time, they return to the animated Superman shorts.

Superman: "The Magnetic Telescope" - 7:38 (Available on YouTube.)

Film Info

Release date: April 4th, 1942

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Written by Dan Gordon & Carl Meyer

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

Produced by Max Fleischer

Directed by Dave Fleischer

Writer Highlights

Dan Gordon (1902-1970)

Other comic book media credits: Writing the further Superman animated short Terror on the Midway (1942) as well as directing Eleventh Hour (1942) & Jungle Drums (1943)

Carl Meyer (1894-1972)

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

Producer Highlights

Max Fleischer (1883-1972)

Other comic book media credits: Previous Superman animated shorts Superman (1941), The Mechanical Monsters (1941), Billion Dollar Limited (1942), The Arctic Giant (1942), The Bulleteers (1942) & further Superman animated shorts Electric Earthquake (1942), Volcano (1942), & Terror on the Midway (1942)

Director Highlights

Dave Fleischer (1894-1979)

Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and Perry White enjoy an evening of watching a large magnet pull down a comet.

It crashes into the earth, causing loads of damage before melting in the river.

Later, at a press conference, the scientist responsible says he’s gonna do it again and doesn’t care if people die. He locks everyone out and turns it on again.

The police break the machinery and the scientist is all “You idiots! Now I have no way to stop this comet from crashing into the earth!”

Everyone runs out as bits of comet pummel into the observatory, destroying everything. However, Lois takes a minute to call Perry. She gets trapped in the rubble.

Clark takes a car to the observatory, but the car is hit by comet debris. So he changes into Superman (but doesn’t say his catchphrase) and flies there instead.

Superman rescues Lois, then headbutts the comet, which knocks him to the ground. He tries another headbutt, but still no luck. So he fixes the machinery instead.