Consume All Media! Superman: "The Mechanical Monsters"

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 the first ever comic book animated short. This time, they watch the second and wrap up 1941.

Superman: “The Mechanical Monsters” - 10:13 (Available on YouTube.)

Film Info

Release date: November 28th, 1941

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

The Mechanical Monsters is already mixing things up in the opening narration.

NEW SUPERPOWER UNLOCKED!

Clark gets X-ray vision, though this is the only cartoon in which he uses it.

Lois and Clark are covering a jewel exhibit when a flying mechanical monster shows up and begins stealing the jewelry. While Clark is distracted calling this into The Daily Planet, Lois climbs inside of the machine along with the jewels.

Clark can’t find Lois and ducks back inside the phone booth to change into Superman.

Superman changing in a phone booth has become an iconic Superman scene and originated right here in this cartoon. Between this and Perry White appearing in the radio series first, we’re already seeing how adaptations can affect the source material.

Another example of this is another one of Superman’s powers: flight. In the comics, Superman could jump over buildings, but he couldn’t fly. The animators of the cartoons felt it looked awkward and asked permission to have Superman fly instead. They gave the okay and now you’ll believe that a man can fly.

Speaking of, Superman takes flight and, using his newfound X-ray vision, sees that Lois is inside the metal monster. Attempting to rescue her, all of the jewels (and almost Lois) fall out of the robot. The robot knocks Superman into some power lines and proceeds to his master’s lair.

The monster’s inventor (Bud Collyer) asks Lois where the jewels are and she won’t tell. So he threatens her with some molten lead.

Actor Highlights

Bud Collyer (1908-1969)

Other comic book media credits: In addition to voicing Superman in all of the animated shorts, he voiced multiple other characters throughout. He reprised the role of Superman in The New Adventures of Superman (1966), Aquaman (1967), The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure (1967), & The Batman/Superman Hour (1968).

After detangling himself, Superman finally arrives, fights a bunch of the robots, saves Lois, and throws the inventor in jail.

Lois gets the scoop. Clark chuckles at the camera.

Should you watch it, though?: While not much new is going on, the animation is still beautiful and it’s incredibly fun to watch. The mechanical monster fight is especially delightful and went on to inspire a similar scene in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.

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And that’s it for 1941! A very strong start, indeed. Will the quality hold up in the years to come? Will Captain Marvel/Shazam still be as murderous in his future incarnations? What does the future hold in store for the Man of Steel? When will we see our first gorilla? Stick around and find out!

Tune in next time for another animated adventure with Superman: "Billion Dollar Limited" (Available on YouTube.)

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

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