Product Details

• Producers: Joe Ruby, Ken Spears
• Format: Animated, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 1.0)
• Subtitles: English, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: November 3, 2009
• Run Time: 309 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002K0WBDM
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,766 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

One of the lesser-known chapters in the Superman story, this 1988 one-season wonder was produced to coincide with the Man of Steel's 50th anniversary. Set to a reorchestrated version of John Williams's Superman theme from the 1978 feature film, the show's rousing opening packs a potent retro charge, with narration courtesy of the vintage George Reeves TV series ("More powerful than a locomotive…"). Superman fans who prefer superhero action to romance will take heart when within two minutes of the first episode, Superman and Lois Lane's idyllic nighttime flight over Metropolis is interrupted by a Lex Luthor-devised tank attack. In addition to Luthor, this series offered other memorable villains, including Cybron, a cyborg from the future; Morpheus, a deranged doctor who strips Superman of his powers; and the Hunter, a cunning and adaptable beast created by General Zod to exterminate Superman. Perhaps the highlight of the series is the episode in which Superman teams up with Wonder Woman to recapture an escaped evil sorceress. Some bona fide super talent guided the series, including Marv Wolfman, who, with John Byrne, cowrote the 1986 comic book reboot of the franchise, which, among other changes, transformed Luthor from mad scientist to corrupt industrialist (with a kryptonite ring and an impertinent habit of calling Superman "Supes"). Legendary DC artist Gil Kane did the character design. The animation is a marked improvement over previous Superman animated series. The voice acting is less inspired, but there is a cheesy charm to dialogue such as, "I've got to stop this comet before it hits Earth." A highlight of each episode is a "Superman Family Album" segment that traces Superman's rambunctious (and not a little bratty) adolescence in Smallville. A bonus feature, "Corporation of the Corrupt: The Rise of Lexcorp," is geared toward older viewers as it places the evolution of Lex's character in historical context, from the fear-of-science '40s and '50s to the "greed is good" '80s. Beyond its obvious nostalgic appeal for those who fondly (or dimly) remember this short-lived series, this two-disc set comprising all 13 episodes fills a gap in the Superman universe. --Donald Liebenson

Product Description

SUPERMAN (RUBY-SPEARS) - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

76 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Short-Lived Effort Soars Onto DVD!, August 4, 2009

By 

S. R. (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ruby-Spears Superman (DVD)

Premiering on CBS in 1988 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Superman, this Joseph Ruby and Kenneth Spears (Ruby-Spears) produced cartoon series marked the first time that elements of the Christopher Reeve Superman movies and the post-Crisis Superman were combined onscreen. Veteran comic book writer Marv Wolfman acted as the lead story editor for the series and helped transform Lex Luthor from the mad scientist featured in the Superfriends cartoons to the billionaire industrialist found in the 1986 John Byrne penned Man of Steel revamp. Each episode consisted of a lead 18-minute Superman story, followed by a 4-minute flashback story that was part of the 'Superman's Family Album' segment, which chronicled Superman's life from his adoption by the Kents to his first appearance in costume. With character designs by the legendary artist Gil Kane, this series featured some of the finest animation that Superman had seen in decades, despite having lasted for only one season. The tone of the stories were also slightly more mature than what had been previously seen of Superman on the Saturday morning landscape, save for the underrated Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians cartoon series. The title sequence for each episode started off with the music cue from the John Williams Superman theme and quickly transitioned into the series' original theme music by Ron Jones, accompanied by the familiar "faster than a speeding bullet" narration made famous by the Fleischer Superman cartoons and the George Reeves Adventures of Superman TV series. Here are the episodes on this set;

1. DESTROY THE DEFENDROIDS- Superman must stop Lex Luthor's super-police force, the Defendroids.
THE ADOPTION- Baby Kal-El causes trouble at the adoption agency until the Kents finally decide to adopt him.
2. FUGITIVE FROM SPACE- An alien cop is hunting an escaped fugitive and Superman is caught in the middle.
THE SUPERMARKET- Little Clark makes a trip to the supermarket into an adventure for Ma Kent.
3. BY THE SKIN OF THE DRAGON'S TEETH- Superman unwittingly aids Luthor find a treasure in China.
AT THE BABYSITTER'S- The babysitter has her hands full with young Clark's super powered mischievous behavior.
4. CYBRON STRIKES- Superman does battle with a seemingly unstoppable cyborg from the future.
THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL- Clark tries to fit in at school while keeping his powers a secret.
5. THE BIG SCOOP- Lex Luthor learns that Clark is really Superman via a futuristic machine.
OVERNIGHT WITH THE SCOUTS- Clark's camping trip turns into a search for a legendary monster.
6. TRIPLE PLAY- The Prankster forces Superman to play in a rigged game of baseball for the lives of his friends.
THE CIRCUS- Clark no longer feels like an outsider when he accidentally joins a traveling circus.
7. THE HUNTER- Superman battles Phantom Zone villains including Zod and a shapeshifter called the Hunter.
LITTLE RUNAWAY- Clark runs away from home only to realize things were not that bad at home.
8. SUPERMAN & WONDER WOMAN VS. THE SORCERESS OF TIME- Our heroes must stop a threat to Paradise Island.
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY- Young Clark's birthday party is filled with surprises for Ma and Pa Kent.
9. BONECHILL- Superman battles a sorcerer with a magic talisman that can create monsters.
THE DRIVER'S LICENSE- Clark is nervous about passing his driving test with an instructor.
10. THE BEAST BENEATH THESE STREETS- Lois is kidnapped by a scientist turned monster.
FIRST DATE- Teenage Clark's first date with Lana Lang leads to several unforeseen problems.
11. WILDSHARK- Superman confronts an overzealous villain deep in the Bermuda Triangle.
TO PLAY OR NOT TO PLAY- Clark discovers that he cannot use his powers to play football.
12. NIGHT OF THE LIVING SHADOWS- Luthor develops a suit that can turn the wearer into a shadow.
GRADUATION- A series of catastrophes threatens to keep Clark from going to his highschool graduation.
13. THE LAST TIME I SAW EARTH- An alien seizes a space shuttle with Lois and Jimmy onboard.
IT'S SUPERMAN- Clark arrives in Metropolis and makes his first appearance as Superman.

The sole bonus feature for this set is the 'Corruption of the Corrupt: The Rise of Lexcorp' featurette, which examines Luthor's transition into the head of a greedy, corporate conglomerate. While the inclusion of series-specific extras would have been a welcome addition, most fans are probably just grateful to finally have this long overlooked series on DVD. With many of Superman's screen adaptations now available to own commercially, one can only hope that it is simply a matter of time before WB revisits the remaining Superboy seasons, as well. As for the exceptionally well-crafted Ruby-Spears series, it served as the perfect bridge between the kid-friendly cartoons of the 80s and the animated series phenomena of the 90s. Now, over two decades later, fans can once again enjoy these lesser-seen adventures in Superman's never ending battle!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars classic animation at its best, November 4, 2009

By 

Kenny Richardson (Clarkton Missouri, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ruby-Spears Superman (DVD)

Ruby-Spears Superman series finally gets the DVD treatment that is deserves. This show for a superman fan such as myself was classic animation at its best. Superman is an american icon and this short lived series was a great tribute to The Man of Steel. This series along with both of the Super Powers series will remain classics forever. This would make for a perfect christmas gift for any superman fan that you may have in your family. Ruby-Spears Superman series is fun for the whole family.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BUY IT!!, December 8, 2009

By 

Claremont (California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ruby-Spears Superman (DVD)

I have been waiting a long time for this set. So when it came out, I purchased multiple copies. Superman has never been drawn as well as this series. Like many cartoons from the 80's (ie. Pryde of the X-men, Inhumanoids, JEM, Visionaries, Super Powers: Galactic Guardians etc.), the character designs were very well done and this series was no acception. Superman has a hyper real, larger than life, comic book look, that most, if not all contemporary Super-Hero shows lack today.

Ruby-Spears did an incredible job on this series. Although the full series aired only once on network television in 1988, to celebrate Superman's 50th Anniversay, it left a lasting impression on many who were lucky enough to see it. I highly recommend this DVD set to any fan!!