Adapting the very long series from the 90s that was the “Death of Superman/Funeral for a Friend/Reign of Superman” arc is a vast challenge. While Bruce Timm gives it his best shot, his changes to the story will cause a ruckus amongst the story’s fans. To his credit it is just too long of a story for an 88 minute cartoon, perhaps a two-parter would been a better idea. I think there would have been more of an emotional payoff to his death if handled as the film’s main premise. But by adding his resurrection, it limits the impact that was his apparent death.

I was an avid follower of the comic arc. I remember when it first hit the media attention was deafening. Although perhaps hokey now in hindsight, I enjoyed the chance of seeing comic book’s most invincible hero, die. What I actually liked more than his battle with Doomsday was how DC’s heroes and villains reacted to the news in the “Funeral for a Friend” arc. I thought this was rich enough for a more thorough examination, but Timm leaves this section brief. It’s a shame, because this is where you can ride the audiences emotions for all they’re worth. Like I said, it’s now Timm’s best script but a decent attempt.

The added violence does create a more ruthless world in which Superman protects, especially a more sinister Lex Luther, perfectly voiced by James Marsters (Spike from “Buffy”). This Luthor is devious with grim consequences. I enjoyed this mean-spiritedness, but I think some children maybe be frightened. Alec Baldwin does a decent job a voicing Superman but casting Anne Heche is an odd one. Her voice seems too hoarse for Lois’s good girl charm.

The animation looks on par with the TV show but there’s a few differences like Lex are noticeably slimmer and Supes is oddly sporting some heavy cheek bones. The added maturity is a welcome attempt in a Supes ‘toon, but it’s nothing kids should avoid (but cover there eyes when Lex gets dirty towards his secretary). I always found Superman’s world to be quite cheeky, like they all lived in a hyperbole of the 1950s, so if anything about Timm’s script that reaches towards some of his best work, it’s the film’s overall tone.

It might not be the definitive animated film, DC/Timm-verse has done (I still think their “Mask of the Phantasm” is the best) but it’s a new direction that I’ll be happily partaking in.