Consume All Media! Superman: "Volcano"
- Joseph Heath
- Jun 24
- 2 min read
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 they're watching them all. Previously, Joe watched Superman deal with an earthquake. This time, Joe watches Superman deal with a volcano.
Superman: "Volcano" - 7:55 (Available on YouTube.)
Film Info
Release date: July 10th, 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 Max Fleischer
Directed by Dave Fleischer
Writer Highlights
Other comic book media credits: Writing previous Superman animated short The Arctic Giant (1942), The Bulleteers (1942) & further Superman animated shorts Japoteurs (1942) & Eleventh Hour (1942)
Carl Meyer (1894-1972)
Other comic book media credits: Writing previous Superman animated shorts The Bulleteers (1942), The Magnetic Telescope (1942) & further Superman animated shorts 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), The Magnetic Telescope (1942), Electric Earthquake (1942) & further Superman animated short Terror on the Midway (1942)
Director Highlights
Dave Fleischer (1894-1979)
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), The Magnetic Telescope (1942), Electric Earthquake (1942) & further Superman animated short Terror on the Midway (1942)
The opening credit sequence usually lists Superman’s abilities as “Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!” This cartoon keeps the first two, but changes the last one to “Able to soar higher than any plane!”
That seems like an upgrade from leaping tall buildings.
Lois and Clark go to cover a story about a volcano that’s about to erupt. Lois steals Clark’s press pass, so she alone can get the scoop.
The volcano erupts and Superman has to protect the city at the base of the volcano from a whole lotta lava.
Meanwhile, Lois does a highwire act trying to get down the volcano.
Superman saves Lois and redirects the lava into the ocean.
Lois gets the scoop and Clark finds his press pass hanging out of her purse. He finds this amusing instead of incredibly unprofessional.
Should you watch it, though? This is a lot of fun and it’s a nice change of pace to see Superman saving people from a natural disaster instead of something caused by a guy in a lab coat. Also, Lois is kind of the worst and I love it?
Tune in next time for another Superman cartoon: "Terror on the Midway" (Available on YouTube.)
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