Superman: Electric Earthquake

I have to say that so far, as part of sitting through watching the old 1940 "Superman" short animated features, then "Electric Earthquake" was sort of bland and mediocre.

The storyline in "Electric Earthquake", as written by Seymour Kneitel and Izzy Sparber, was a rather mundane foray into the otherwise thrilling and action-packed universe of "Superman". Sure, it felt and looked like something that belonged in the "Superman" animated franchise, but I just didn't find the narrative here particularly entertaining or thrilling.

The art and animation was good, just as in the many other short animated "Superman" features from the 1940s.

Watchable for what it was, director Dave Fleischer and Steve Muffati's 1942 "Electric Earthquake" felt a bit forced and bland.

My rating of "Electric Earthquake" lands on a five out of ten stars.

I have seen most of the Superman cartoons made by the Fleischer Brothers for Paramount during the 1940s. Unfortanately, I have never particularly enjoyed them...that is up until now. "Electric Earthquake" brings the cartoon series an interesting villain--one you have a hard time completely hating.

The film begins with a Native American genius planting some sort of electrodes emanating from his underwater lair to Manhattan island. Then, he comes to the surface and announces that the government MUST give the island back to the natives or else! Well, they don't listen and soon he unleashes a wave of electric terror--causing the island to explode bit by bit. Not at all surprisingly, Lois gets caught up in all this and is taken prisoner. And, predictably, Superman comes to the rescue.

As I mentioned above, I liked this one because the story was strong--something not true for most of the other stories in the series. It was very interesting and kept my interest throughout--though I think it's the only time home for Superman was New York and not Metropolis!

For me, Electric Earthquake is one of the best shorts in the series. While the action could have been more memorable and the runtime longer, the overall plot and setting are handled perfectly. The short's strength, in my opinion, comes mostly from its amazing villain.

For the first time in a 1940s film, the villain, a Native American, is shown without stereotypes. He's calm, smart, and has clear reasons for what he does. His ability to actually start his plan makes him an extremely capable enemy and gives the film a noticeably darker feel than the others in the series. It's a different approach for a superhero story that, surprisingly, works.

Besides its flawless animation, Electric Earthquake stands out for its well-written script and an absolutely fantastic villain.

This Superman cartoon, the seventh by Max and Dave Fleischer, has the politically-incorrect story of an American Indian (or Native American) claiming to speak for his people when he tells Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and Perry White to give Manhatten back to his people and those three refusing (what can they do anyway, they're only reporters!). So he threatens them though Perry doesn't believe him so Lois sneaks away to where this man has his hideout while Clark changes into Superman...Plenty of exciting animated scenes of the title disaster not to mention Supes doing what he does to save the day though it's now par for the course that Lois will be in yet another compromising position with the Man of Steel rescuing her. And really, that villain is willing to destroy his land if his demands aren't met? Talk about inconsistent characterization! Still, Electric Earthquake is worth a look for those exciting scenes of destruction as implied by the title.

A Native American Scientist demands the return of Manhattan (Metropolis) to his people. Rebuffed, he unleashes an ELECTRIC EARTHQUAKE to destroy the city. With intrepid reporter Lois Lane his prisoner, and destruction mounting, it sure looks like a job for Superman.

This was another in the series of excellent cartoons Max Fleischer produced for Paramount Studio. They feature great animation and taut, fast-moving plots. Meant to be shown in movie theaters, they are miles ahead of their Saturday Morning counterparts. Bud Collyer is the voice of Superman; Joan Alexander does the honors for Lois Lane.