Consume All Media! Superman: "The Underground World"

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 Superman fight Nazis. This time, Joe watches Superman go underground.

Superman: "The Underground World" - 8:16 (Available on YouTube.)

Film Info

Release date: June 18th, 1943

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Written by Jay Morton

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

Produced by Sam Buchwald

Directed by Seymour Kneitel

Writer Highlights

Jay Morton (1911-2003)

Other comic book media credits: Writing the previous Superman animated shorts Terror on the Midway (1942), Showdown (1942), Destruction, Inc. (1942), The Mummy Strikes (1943), & Jungle Drums (1943)

Producer Highlights

Sam Buchwald (Unknown-1951)

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

Director Highlights

Seymour Kneitel (1908-1964)

Other comic book media credits: Writing previous Superman animated shorts Superman (1941), The Mechanical Monsters (1941), & Billion Dollar Limited (1942), & Electric Earthquake (1942), as well as directing Japoteurs (1942) & the later Superman animated short Secret Agent (1943)

Dr. Henderson wants to explore the caverns his father disappeared in. He heads to the Daily Planet and asks Perry White to fund his expedition and Lois and Clark to document it. All agree.

Lois and Henderson get into a boat and head into the caverns ahead of Clark. Deep inside, they dock and begin to unload cargo and explosives. The boat accidentally slips away from them and explodes. Clark hears this and quickly follows into the cave on his own boat.

In an incredibly abrupt cut, Lois and Henderson are now the prisoners of underground Hawkmen.

Presumably there’s no relation to DC Comic’s Hawkman, but anything is possible.

Lois and Henderson notice a statue above the Hawkman leader that looks a lot like Henderson’s father. They soon discover why when they get strapped to a pedestal and slowly lowered towards a boiling, bubbling gold liquid as the Hawkmen dance around them in a legitimately frightening sequence.

Clark finally shows up, changes into Superman, fights a few birds, and rescues them. He chucks an explosive at a cave opening and seals the Hawkmen inside.

Lois gets the scoop, but Perry White dramatically burns her entire article because no one would believe it.

Giant robots, dinosaurs, and a flying all-powerful superhero? Sure. But underground hawk people? I don’t think so.

Should you watch it, though? Completely different from the other cartoons and a lot of fun! The Hawkmen are both weird and terrifying. And it’s nice seeing Lois and Clark working together instead of against each other for once.

Tune in next time for the other DC Comics heavy hitter in Batman!

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

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