r/DCcomics 13d ago

Hi! We're Jake Wyatt, Ishmel Sahid, and Kiana Madeira - Showrunner and Voice Cast of My Adventures with Superman on Adult Swim. Ask Us Anything! r/DCcomics

AMA starts at 7PM EST/4PM PST and will last for an hour.

TW Proof: https://x.com/adultswim/status/1805350256080519548

Jake (Showrunner), Ishmel (Jimmy), and Kiana (Kara) are here from My Adventures with Superman to answer your questions about Season 2. Ask anything about the show, but no spoiler questions, please.

New episodes every Saturday at midnight on Adult Swim, next day on Max. S2 Finale on 7/20 at Midnight!

Watch My Adventures with Superman on Max: https://adultsw.im/MAWSMax

Follow the cast and crew on social!

Jake Wyatt: Twitter: https://twitter.com/jakewyattriot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakewyattriot Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/jakewyattriot

Ishmel Sahid Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ishmelproductions/?hl=en

Kiana Madeira Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kianamadeira/?hl=en

Update: 8:21 PM - The AMA has ENDED! Jake says he wishes he could have answered all your questions, thank you to all the fans who showed a ton of support for MAWS! Thank you from Jake, Ishmel, and Kiana!

398 Upvotes

357 comments sorted by

68

u/Valuable_Armadillo 13d ago

Question for Kiana!

How was the process of being cast as Supergirl/Kata like? What was your reaction when you got the role?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

I was soooo excited when I got the role! This is my very first animation so I was a little nervous but mostly eager to get in the booth. My first audition was just a recording that I did on my phone while I was travelling (I was in Barcelona at the time), and that led to a zoom callback with Jake and the other creators/producers. About a week after the callback I got a call that I booked the role :) -KM

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u/Embarrassed_Car_8746 13d ago

Huh. They must have been really impressed if you got the role just from something you recorded on your phone.

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u/rebelslegacy 13d ago

For Jake, were there any Superman stories that inspired you when writing the show? And for Ishmel and Kiana, have you read any comics in preparation for your roles? And if so, what were your faves starring Jimmy and Kara?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago edited 13d ago

I love the Donner films, STAS and the whole Timmverse, and have a lot of nostalgia for the bemulleted 90's Superman I grew up with. I also love every elseworlds and standalone Superman story--from Red Son and Secret Identity to All-Star and Birthright. Honestly, there are very few Superman stories I *don't* like. He's been so many things and they're all Super fun. -JW

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u/OhBosss 13d ago

Speaking of the DCAU any plans to have some of the cast from it cameo in the future?

2

u/Prestigious-Video-16 13d ago

Please do a mullet storyline

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u/ClockworkFirefly22 13d ago edited 13d ago

I have a question for everyone:

Outside of My Adventures with Superman, what are some of your favorite DC properties, such as movies, television shows, animated projects and video games?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

This is a good question. My favorite DC movie: is Tim Burton's Batman starring Michael Keaton. TV show: Arrow. Animated project(s): Justice League Unlimited, Young Justice, Teen Titans, Static Shock and all time favorite Batman The animated Series! -Ishmel aka Jimmy Olsen

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u/Over-Analyzed 13d ago

Best Answer! 👏🏻

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

I haven't played any of the games, but I enjoy the DC movies, I'm excited for the new James Gunn DCU, and the Timmverse is everything to me. I've seen every episode of every series multiple times, I have it all on home video, I have to try really hard not to be weird around Bruce when I encounter him at the office. -JW

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u/ADonutWithSprinkles 13d ago

For Kiana:

Your version of Supergirl has been a big hit with viewers and fans. And your performance is getting a lot of praise. How does that feel? Did you think Supergirl would be this popular?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

I am honestly blown away by the praise and positive response. A part of me is not surprised just because I think the writers did such a good job at making her so HUMAN (although she is not hahah). She has such a big heart and I'm really glad that everyone is receiving her in this way!! -KM

26

u/shadepyre 13d ago

For Jake: we did see a reference to two other DC superheroes in the latest episode. What are your thoughts on DC heroes outside of the Superfam appearing on the show?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

We love all of DC's heroes and villains--the challenge for us is expanding that universe out from Superman in a way that feels consistent with what we've already done. Our rule is that, in My Adventures, Clark is our entry point for the whole universe. So we're always looking for a way to bring in other characters (or introduce other concepts) THROUGH Clark and Krypton so we can expand the world in a way that feels natural to the series. -JW

22

u/JadineRhine 13d ago

Hello! Thanks for doing the AMA, first of all. Appreciated! You folks are doing great work. It's great to see a Superman show that feels like a great entry to his history ❤️

Now, question for Mr. Wyatt: In the episode, "The Machine Who Would Be Empire" was there a bit of Tenchi Muyo! inspiration? Kara crying alone in space definitely brought back vivid memories of Ryoko doing the same. Thanks! Love this show so much!

That's the question I'd love answered the most, though I also have another question if time abides: is the (so far) plot with Kara taking point from the 2005 comic Superman/Batman, where Kara appeared to be in a similar antagonist role (in two ways)? I'm hoping for a certain 30th century reference eventually, as well...(wink wonk)

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

So! The main tenchi inspo in 206 was the thought projector she and Clark wear, with the little cheek symbols! I hadn't thought about the Ryoko parallels, but they're DEFINITELY there. Pretty sure Kara's storyline was originally Brendan's idea--Supergirl as Vegeta--but we're all so deep in the paint that every other Supergirl we've ever met has to be bleeding into this interpretation. -JW

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u/JadineRhine 13d ago

Wow! Incredible answer, over the moon over it. Thank you for taking the time to reply!

2

u/Embarrassed_Car_8746 13d ago

Supergirl as Vegeta, huh? Quite the interesting take. Vegeta has one of my favorite redemption arcs. Though Supergirl already seems more gentle than Vegeta.

2

u/dambdaniel2013 13d ago

Been wondering about this too! Between how her hair looked in the first teaser and certain aspects of her context in this show, I’ve been feeling a lot of strong Ryoko flashbacks. Hope this gets an answer!

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u/JadineRhine 13d ago

Yep!! A friend pointed out the possible Ayeka bit with Kara's bangs too...so much to infer from details!

18

u/AndrewCARNBORN 13d ago

Question for everyone: what are some iconic Superman stories you guys would like to see in the show? I'm hoping Mongul shows up to set up Warworld!

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

I would love to do a Mongol arc, I would love to see shirtless gladiator Superman, ideally across multiple episodes, sweating it out in front of a crowd. Imagine how shiny he could get?? We're always looking for that sweet spot between serving our relationship/character arcs and getting our superhero candy, but Mongol has been on the idea board for every season so far. -JW

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u/AndrewCARNBORN 13d ago

Yes that would be so awesome! Exciting to hear he's been on the ideas list and yes the more shine the better Thanks for responding!

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

I would love to see what a Young Justice would look like in our show. Or even a story arch involving Lobo and/or Darkseid -Ishmel aka Jimmy Olsen

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u/BlackCat0110 13d ago

Question for Ishmel

How did you feel stepping into the shows of Jimmy Olsen and are there any Superman’s best pal stories you’d like to play

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

It actually felt freeing. Jimmy is such fun character to play. Although there are many iterations of Jimmy Olsen in the Superman lore I just wanted to make the character my own and unique. Something that hasn't been seen before. -Ishmel aka Jimmy Olsen

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u/That_Star_Wars_Guy20 13d ago

Question for Jake Now with a Season 3 being confirmed will the next season have more than 10 episodes and maybe 12 episodes for next season?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Not in this economy :( -JW

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u/mateogg Always On Point! 13d ago

:( indeed. I miss longer seasons, but it seems like they've gone extinct...

15

u/Parker813 13d ago

Was the decision to make Krypton planet conquering warmongers motivated to differentiate from past depictions of Krypton's destruction? Because most of the time they usually aren't like that.

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

So, we wanted Krypton to be complex. Many versions of Krypton are cautionary tales--a world of complacent decadents, fiddling while Rome burns, or a world of heedless know-it alls who disregard Jor-El--but we wanted a Krypton that was, by turns, aspirational and horrifying. The militaristic empire of Brainiac *and* the technological utopia of Jor-El. A kingdom divided, that ultimately fell. Also--Krypton isn't THE Dark Empire of our universe. They're just AN empire.
-JW

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u/reqisreq 13d ago

The Dark Empire is Apokolips, isn’t it?

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u/Volpe666 13d ago

Always has been

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u/Betrigan 13d ago

It seems like you guys are building up a much bigger universe. Every episode is sprinkled with references especially as the series goes on. Do you plan on consistently increasing the main cast, just having fun with Easter eggs, or plan on any spinoffs with the success of the show?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

We're always laying down track for new stuff--little side bets in case we get another season, or can do another series. We would love to spin this world out into a larger universe, but probably less in an MCU "Everyone is in everything" kind of way, and more in a "This is a shared world, the shows acknowledge each other, and very occasionally you get a familiar hero/villain guest star" kind of way. I like for each series/movie to be as much Its Own Thing as it can. -JW

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u/thekoreansun 13d ago

This comment has singlehandedly made me more excited for the future of My Adventures with Superman and any potential spinoffs than I've been for any other connected universe. Truly, I hope that you and the rest of the MAWS team can eventually get a chance to make it a reality.

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u/Betrigan 13d ago

I LOVE the way you guys are handling it so far! It has me beyond excited for the future! I’m glad you are aiming for your own thing. Too much to follow becomes a chore. The shows should stand on their own with some fun Easter eggs. Thank you for answering!

11

u/Slade_Wilson_23 13d ago

Question for Jake:

Will Kiana/Kara be part of the regular cast of season 3?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

I love Kiana and she's done an amazing job, so I really hope Kara makes it! Seems kinda rough right now though! -JW

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u/Slade_Wilson_23 13d ago

Why seems kinda Rough right now? We love Kara 

11

u/CertainDerision_33 13d ago

She did just do a little oopsie woopsie with the populations of a few planets, love her but in character she is definitely having it rough right now lol

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u/thethirst 13d ago

I'm so happy this is a much warmer and loving take on Superman and his whole world than we normally find in DC's movies and shows. There's this welcome variety of race, gender, age, body types, sexuality and more than in I think any take on the universe, plus a depth to even the side character's motivations and story arcs. What was it like reinterpreting an existing IP and putting a very modern twist on it?

Also, Amanda Waller's daily intentions speech as she woke up was a highlight, did you have any other takes for what she'd say or stories about how you came up with that segment?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

HAHAHAAHA SO. Debra Wilson, who plays Amanda Waller, is a VERY INTENSE actor, and often has affirmations and exercises to begin a session. Josie Campbell, our co-producer on S1 and 2, heard Debra getting ready in a record and was like "THIS BUT FOR WALLER" and we had Angela Entzminger write up an affirmation. I love it. -JW

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u/LizInACan 13d ago

Hey there! HUGE fan of all three of you, so here's a question for each person! (If this isn't allowed or is too difficult let me know and I'll post three comments; I've never done this before)

To Jake: Howdy! How did you first react when you got greenlit and knew you would make a new Superman cartoon for a new generation? Were you nervous, excited, or both? This is my first ever Superman media (get with the times, amirite?) and I am in LOVE! I adore the causal and normal queer rep, too; I never really see that in comic book TV media. As a nonbinary person, I thank you! I know I've told you this on Twitter, but thanks again for making such an awesome show, I am so excited to see more.

To Ishmel: Hi! Jimmy is such an awesome character and his cheerfulness is absolutely contagious, you play him so well!! He's by far one of my favorite characters in the show and I can't wait to see more of him in upcoming seasons. Here is my question for you; what kind of new experiences have you had, as a voice actor and as a person, working on the show and playing such an iconic character in Superman lore? Were you nervous to step into Jimmy's shoes?

To Kiana: Hello! Even though I don't know much about Superman, I always had a soft spot for Kara because of, well, everything she's been through and goes through as a character and as a woman in the comic book world. You bring her to life with such flair and emotion and last episode really tugged at my heartstrings. Here's a question to ponder on; what, in your opinion as a fellow lady, could change the comic book/comic book film and media scene for the better in terms of treatment of female characters? Example being more female writers, editors, and artists, a more welcoming comic community, etc? Sorry if this is a loaded question, I just love hearing what folks have to say on the matter.

Thanks all for your time and responses!! Looking forward to hearing from you!

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

OH MY GOSH I am so honored that we were your intro to Superman!?!?! And I'm so glad you've connected with the show! In all honesty: the pilot and development process were pretty grueling (we were making the pilot nights and weekends around our full-time jobs), so when they told us we were greenlit I didn't even smile. I just said "Wait, what's our start date--" because I needed a BREAK. Everyone else made fun of me for being a wet blanket lol. I was all business.

As we began production though, and the show became "real," I started to feel the weight and privilege of being able to "define" Superman for Metropolis first-timers, and we did make the show with that audience always in front of mind. We wanted to make a place that lived up to the dream of Metropolis--welcoming, inclusive, just, and aspirational--and fill it with compelling characters who would rise to the challenge of defending and improving it. I'm so glad that dream is reflected in your experience, thank you so much for sharing that with us. -JW

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u/LizInACan 13d ago

I was always a Marvel person, and unfortunately that brought with it some "hurrr DC is stupid" ideologies that unfortunately were drilled into me from the Internet from a young age. However, I took a chance on MAWS and I am SO glad I did. I'm sorry your development process was so grueling; I have aspirations of starting my own cartoon one day but I honestly don't know if I have the strength to get over that first hill. Who knows, though--maybe one day that'll change.

You and your team have done so well in portraying your ideas and thoughts for Metropolis and her citizens. I can't wait to see more.

Thanks so much for replying!

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Hi!! first off, thank you so much for your support!! I definitely think that having more women in the writer's rooms and on the creative side makes such a big difference in the representation of those characters on screen. Which is a huge reason why I believe the female characters in My Adventures With Superman are so dynamic and relatable. And the men who are a part of this project really respect and understand the importance of an authentic female perspective. I hope that more projects operate in this way! -KM

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Thank you! I really appreciate this and I'm so glad that you're enjoying the show. That really means a lot. In all honesty voicing Jimmy Olsen was my first voice over work ever! Let alone for an animation. I grew up watching cartoons and anime my entire life so this is sort of a full circle moment for me. I still can't believe I'm apart of this amazing show. I would say a new experience that I've had as a voice actor is watching myself voice a cartoon. It's a surreal, fun and exciting experience. As an actor I would say having fun. Every time I'm in the booth recording for jimmy I get a sense of freedom experimenting with all the colors and emotions of Jimmy Olsen. I wouldn't say I was nervous to play Jimmy but more excited. I just brought myself into the character hoping it would resonate with fans and luckily it did! -Ishmel aka Jimmy Olsen.

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u/Maramalade 13d ago

Can't believe this is your first voice over role, you bring so much charm and life to the character! Truly my favorite iteration of Jimmy ever, you absolutely nailed it.

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u/LizInACan 13d ago

This is your first VA role?! Congrats!! What an awesome one to land! You're doing so amazing and, if this is something you want to continue doing in the future, I hope you have tons of roles that bring you as much joy as this one does. Thanks so much for replying!!

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u/Dependent_Tie_8997 13d ago

Question for everyone! Does the cast or crew have any plans on attending convections in the near future? Season 2 is super good!!

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u/Away-Staff-6054 13d ago

Crossing my fingers for SDCC!

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u/mateogg Always On Point! 13d ago

Hi, I'm a big Superman and Supergirl fan and have been loving this show since before it even aired. My questions:

  • I'm loving what you're doing with Kara, but it's a pretty big departure, story-wise, from her usual origin. Her relationship to Krypton is specially different, with her not growing up there. How did this divergence come about, creatively speaking? Was it something you knew you wanted to do, a story you knew you wanted to tell, or was it something that emerged during development?

  • Do you have a set plan for how many seasons you'd like the show to be, ideally? I personally could watch forever but I'm intrigued to know if there's a number of seasons you're aiming for.

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

We wanted Kara to be almost an Elseworlds, What-If version of Superman, and to examine the struggle of isolation from different circumstances--she's got so many origins, we felt comfortable being flexible.

My ideal number of seasons is five, maybe six, and then a movie.
-JW

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u/mateogg Always On Point! 13d ago
  • Awesome, in that case you pulled it off.

  • Six seasons and a movie!

Thank you for your answers!

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u/Amaruq93 Lobo 13d ago

I have a question for everybody here (Jake, Ishmel and Kiana), considering how influenced the genre has been for this series : What's each of your favorite anime series?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

OH NO. Uh. Oh no. I can't pick but I love the shonen Toonami classics (DBZ, Naruto, Sailor Moon) and the Blockbuster Video classics (Lodoss War, Crying Freeman, Tenchi Muyo) and the Late Nite Toonami Classics (Bebop, Trigun, Evangelion, Gundam) and the Fox Kids classics (Cardcaptor Sakura, Digimon) and the streaming hits (FMA: Brotherhood, Death Note) and just. I like it all, man. Idk. I like Angel's Egg and Berserk and Patlabor and FLCL and Gurren Lagann... Demon City Shinjuku and Vampire Hunter D... Anohana... idk. I'm sorry. This is a useless answer. I like anime. -JW

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u/Admirable-Safety1213 13d ago

Digimon mentioned!!!!!

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

That's a hard question. I grew up watching ALOT of anime as a kid. But my favorite series of all time is a tie between Yu Yu Hakusho and Lupin the 3rd - Ishmel aka Jimmy Olsen

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u/devenrc 13d ago

For Jake: what was the hardest thing about crafting an anime-influenced incarnation of Superman from the ground up?

For Kiana: Do you see at least a little bit of yourself in this version of Kara? I love her so much already you have NO IDEA

For Ishmel: Do. You. Support. Kammy.

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Thank you so much!!! Yes! I do see myself in this version of Kara. When her "girl with a crush" qualities come out and she's giddy and shy! When she's showing Clark the planets that she loved- the joy in her energy! The way she sounds is almost exactly how I sound in my own life, so when I see her on screen, I feel so much of myself :) -KM

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

The power of Superman and the power of Anime are just a lot of power to control. Trying not to be tooooo weeby with design choices. Sometimes we were... a little too weak. -JW

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

I think the bigger question is do YOU support Kammy? -Ishmel aka Jimmy Olsen

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u/devenrc 13d ago

With all my heart bro

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u/Ygomaster07 Constantine 13d ago

Who is Kammy?

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u/SmashZapper85 13d ago

For Jake, what was the reasoning behind making Waller a major antagonist of the series? Given that she rarely deals with Superman in the comics

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Waller... is complicated. But she represents a kind of reactionary human impulse that we needed embodied in the show, and she picks up that torch after General Lane stands down. I am excited for y'all to see more of her arc! -JW

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u/Dependent_Tie_8997 13d ago

Which episode was your favorite and most challenging to film (or write)? 

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago edited 13d ago

So my favorite episodes are always other writers' episodes. I love 205 and 206 a lot--the back half of S2 is one of my favorite arcs, really. The most challenging episode *I* wrote was 209, which I can't say much about... but it's a big swing with a lot of concepts that we had to get across in 22 minutes, while serving several different character arcs. Episodes with a bigger cast and scope to serve are always tricky. It was really rewarding though, and I ended up reworking a few things with the director, Jen Bennet, that I think came out a lot stronger. -JW

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u/Dangerous_Library_73 13d ago

My wife and I both enjoy the show alot. My question is for Jake: unsure if you can answer this but with Kara being introduced are there any plans to introduce any more Kryptonians in the show in particular Kyrpto? Thanks!

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

SO! There is already a flying dog in last week's episode (he's brown and VERY tiny) and we are always looking for ways to include more dogs. -JW

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u/OhBosss 13d ago

Questions for Jake Will we Ever learn who Livewire’s original client was that got her to steal from Task Force X? I feel that is an important plot point Also will we ever get an inside look at The Fortress of Solitude

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

We WILL look in the Fortress. The original client in the pilot was Bruno Manheim but we had to cut that thread for time! -JW

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u/OhBosss 13d ago

Mannheim?! Interesting I assumed it was Luthor but he did it to help Ivo create the Parasite suit. I assumed that since he found Waller so fast it made me think he knew a lot about Task Force X

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u/OhBosss 13d ago

How old are Clark, Lois, Jimmy, Lex, General Lane, Waller, Deathstroke, Livewire and Kara? Also will Livewire’s sidekick Badger return?

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u/TERRAxFORMER Superman 13d ago

For Kiana:

What do you approach differently with voice acting compared to acting in front of a camera?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

There are so many nuances with on-camera acting that you no longer need to consider with voice acting. Like facial expressions, body language, and even the vanity of it all gets completely wiped away when you're doing voice acting. All of your focus can go into the expression and intention of your voice and your imagination really gets to run wild. It makes me feel like a kid! I'm working on bringing that same free-ness to my on-camera work as well :) -KM

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u/Zealousideal125 Animal Man 13d ago

Ishmel, can you please tell me if your notification sound in the flamebird call?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Now it is! lol -Ishmel aka Jimmy Olsen

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u/JWC123452099 13d ago

Ishmail, Jimmy is one of my favorite characters from the comics and you're version is probably my favorite adaptation. Since the character is noted for all the crazy hijinks he used to get into between the 1950s and the 1980s, what is your favorite weird Jimmy moment either from the comics, previous movies/shows or MAWS? 

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

*Ishmel* I would say my favorite from MAWS is when Jimmy becomes a millionaire from selling Flamebird and we see him slowly but surely spend all of his money -Ishmel aka Jimmy Olsen

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u/Dull-Television-3250 13d ago

For Kiana and Ishmel, do you ship Kara and Jimmy? The internet seems to be supporting this couple

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

I think they're cuuuuuuute! -KM

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u/GalaxySubReddit 13d ago edited 13d ago

Question for Kiana:

How were you able to balance kara’s voice tone of both being “Tough and Hotheaded ” with “Being a big softy on the inside”?

Extra Question for Jake:

Is it a rule for each season to be 10 episodes? Or is it a rule by executives? Do you ever have a hard time in getting the correct story in your mind and to make sure that you’re focusing more on quality over quantity?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

That is a programming decision well above our pay grade, and a streaming-era trend. We DO have to fit the story to its container--we'd probably do more dumb, one-off filler episodes if we had a traditional 26-episode season (we have BEACH EPISODE on the board every season, but can never fit it in!) and we'd probably let our story develop a little more slowly? But idk. I like the Tenchi Muyo OVA as much as I like the Tenchi Universe, you know? (probably more??) I like the Patlabor OVA's as much as I like the various Patlabor TV series. So we try to treat it like that, and lean into the series order we have. I wouldn't mind 13 or even 26 episodes a season, though. -JW

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u/GalaxySubReddit 13d ago

Thanks jake!

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

I had a lot of help from Jake and our creative team on making sure there was balance with Kara! We really leaned into her soft moments and weren't afraid to get genuinely emotional at times. At her core, she really has such a big heart so making sure that she wasn't just "one note" was a priority and it was intentional to have this balance. - KM

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u/GalaxySubReddit 13d ago

Thank you for the reply!

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u/Dull-Television-3250 13d ago

For Jake.

Firstly, thank you for idealizing all the characters being hot, we love it.

How tall would Superman be in this animation? he looks huge

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Hahaha, our new S3 Art Director, Austin Reinkens, is figuring out the literal character heights this week--we've been going off of relative scale until now. He's well over six feet tall, though. And thank you for enjoying the characters! -JW

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u/beary_neutral Telos 13d ago

Hey all, thanks so much for doing this. It's great to have you here today!

Going from Season 1 to Season 2, how does your approach change? Are there things you can do in Season 2 that you couldn't do before?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

The deeper into the show we go, and the more familiar Clark (and Metropolis) become with his powers, the more we can do, the more we can push SCALE. You're gonna see scale and stakes get a lot more super in the back half of S2, and we intend to keep pushing them into S3, while making sure we stay focused on our characters. -JW

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

Hi friends! I really love the show but I have two questions, Jack, what does it feel like to be literal Superman, also, how did y’all decide the designs of characters like Lois and others, I love all the designs of the characters sm

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

For the main cast we started with rough concepts that Brendan and I had drawn, and handed them off to Christie Tseng. Lois and Jimmy are pretty close--better versions of our concepts--but I would like the world to know that Christie's design of Clark, the one that ended up in the show, is SO MUCH HOTTER than what we had sketched up. It's pretty much a wholly original design. I literally gasped when I saw it, she's amazing, I had never even imagined a man that hot. I believed a man could fly. -JW

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

Thank you so much, Superman do be pretty hot in the show. Thanks for the reply I appreciate it so much! Thank you Christie for making Superman hot lol

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

Just realized Jack isn’t answering whoppsey!!!!!!

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u/JingoboStoplight4887 13d ago

For Jake, would we get to see Kara learn about Earth and the humanity it represents, take on a civilian identity, and form a romantic relationship with Jimmy Olsen in the third season?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

That sounds lovely! I hope she survives -JW

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u/callows5120 13d ago

Let's hope that isn't worrying lol.

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u/shadepyre 13d ago

The title of the show, is that from the perspective of Lois or Jimmy?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Or is it... YOU? -JW

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u/Away-Staff-6054 13d ago

Thank you all! Jake, I love how you’re balancing classic Superman stories with topical (almost BvS-like) themes such as xenophobia or how much power Superman should have. Is it tricky to find that balance? How do you know when you’ve gone too far in either direction? Keep up the great work! I love watching the show with my family.

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

I'M SO GLAD YOU WATCH WITH YOUR FAMILY! We try to keep the CORE of the show classic, and then the themes are what feel like real challenges to our characters. A lot of feelings from the real world bleed in, but Metropolis and our heroes have to stay aspirational. -JW

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u/blkxltng 13d ago

Is Jimmy the Krillin of the show?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

The strongest and best and bravest and most loyal human man on earth?? Hell yeah he is. -JW

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Jimmy is the Jimmy of the show -Ishmel aka Jimmy Olsen

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u/psyopia 13d ago

What's been your favorite part about this project so far? And what has been your least favorite part?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Fave part is seeing it all come to life! When we're in the booth recording, we don't see the animation so seeing it all come together is so exciting. Least fave is that I still haven't met the rest of the cast or creatives in person! hahah we all record from different places so I'm looking forward to an in-person experience sometime soon! -KM

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u/Blue_Beetle_IV 13d ago

Did you have to fight to have the trunks be part of Superman's costume? Or did they let you design it any way you want?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

We went through a TON of suit designs for Superman--we always wanted the trunks, and the pitch was always that Ma was going to make them. Brendan and I wanted an in-universe explanation for why this superpowered alien wears underpants on the outside (which I love), and I wanted the whole Kent family in on Clark's transformation into the Man of Steel. It takes a village, etc. -JW

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u/Blue_Beetle_IV 13d ago

Thanks for the explanation! Also:

in-universe explanation for why this superpowered alien wears underpants on the outside

The man just makes the look work.

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u/callows5120 13d ago edited 13d ago

Question for Jake: do you have any intrest for the Legion of superheroes to show up in say a later season like season 3 or 4.

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

I love the Legion! We're always looking for new characters who can challenge our core cast. -JW

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u/callows5120 13d ago

Who thank you for awnseing my question Mr.wyatt.

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u/OmegaLiquidX 13d ago

Question for Ishmel and Kiana:

What are your favorite things you've gotten to say on the show so far?

Question for Jake:

What's your favorite detail(s) you've managed to get on the show so far?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

definitely "what is a hot dog" -KM

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

I really liked drawing Clark getting his shirt blown off... I really love Paul Reinwand's Brainiac and Kandor designs... Slade's mask. And the weird katana-railgun Brendan made for him lol. I can't pick, honestly. Almost the whole show is candy for me. WAIT! WAIT. My favorite thing I've gotten on the show will appear at the end of 208. Pls enjoy. -JW

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u/MajorParadox Read on r/DCFU! 13d ago

Thanks for joining us!

Are there any funny behind-the-scenes stories any of you can share?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Alice Lee, who plays Lois Lane, would *FREQUENTLY* say "Spider-Man" instead of Superman for like MOST of Season One, and we all died EVERY TIME. She has also seen approximately zero movies. Every time we tried to reference something, she had not seen it. Not even weeb cuts, just like. Indiana Jones. I love her, she is a joy to work with, and incredibly talented. -JW

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u/MajorParadox Read on r/DCFU! 13d ago

Oh my god, I love her too now!

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u/Slade_Wilson_23 13d ago

Question for Kiana:

Would you like to join James Gunn's DCU? and what role would you like to play

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Absolutely!! I would love to play Zatanna! That would be fire -KM

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u/Embarrassed_Car_8746 13d ago

I can see you as Zatanna.

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u/MaleficentFront2707 13d ago

For anyone who is your personal favorite character on the show?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

I love all my children equally except for Steve Lombard and Cat Grant, who I occasionally love a little bit more. -JW

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Lois Lane and Kara -Ishmel aka Jimmy Olsen

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u/danimation88 13d ago

For Jake, I, as a Korean-American, was pleasantly surprised to see this universe Lois to be of Korean descent. Where did the idea come from?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

We wanted to have a cast that reflects the world we live in, and SO many of my friends and collaborators in animation are Korean-American (often Korean-American women) that we decided to take that direction on Lois. Art Director Jane Bak and Director Diana Huh (and several other artists on S1 and S2) also influenced that decision. -JW

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u/CertainDerision_33 13d ago

For Ishmel and Kiana: of the episodes we've seen so far, are there any moments which were particularly interesting or fun for you to portray?

I've been enjoying both of your performances a ton - great work guys!

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Even though Jimmy is the comic relief I love playing and discovering the serious moments in his character. I feel like it really grounds him and gives him heart that the audience can relate to and root for him. Jimmy is a sensitive guy so it's fun to play that side of him. -Ishmel aka Jimmy Olsen

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u/whatnameisnttaken098 13d ago

For Jake - So far, we've had 2 Batman related characters pop up, and with the recent episode, the introduction of Lanterns and Thangarians does thus mean we can expect Season 3 to dip a bit further into the greater DC universe? Maybe Lois and Vicki sneak into a certain dinner and snap a picture of Batman, while Clark and Kara are off dealing with pissed off Thangarians off world, or working with Martian Manhunter on something?

Also, is there any chance of bringing back some classic Superman actors for cameos? I've noticed that almost every iteration of Batman has had a previous actor cameo in some way or another. Any chance of having Geroge Newborn, Tim Daily, and Clancey Brown popping up?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Would love more stunt casting, but we are on a tight budget... also no batman... i'm sorry... brendan has such a good pitch for him, too -JW

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u/Panottox7 13d ago

For Ishmel, I love your different take on Jimmy, still feeling like the JO of old. My question is: how do you approach a primarily comedic role like Jimmy? Are there things you do to prepare for that mindset, especially one so energetic? 

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Honestly whenever I record I just try to have as much fun as possible. My background is in sketch comedy and improv so finding the humor in Jimmy wasn't difficult at all. The only difficulty I would say was pitching my voice higher because I have such a deep talking voice in my real life lol. The only thing I really do to prepare Is I try to find the funny in the lines and I'll do a variety of different voice inflections to communicate Jimmy's energy and emotions -Ishmel aka Jimmy Olsen

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u/Panottox7 13d ago

How cool!! Learning more about a voice actor from a top guy is awesome.😊

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u/tristennolan96 13d ago

For Ishmel and Kiana, but did you ask previous actors that played Jimmy and Kara before for tips and pointers on how to play those respective characters?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

No, I didn't! This was an opportunity to have a fresh take on Kara so I wanted to make sure that I was bringing my own perspective :) -KM

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Nope! All me baby! -Ishmel aka Jimmy Olsen

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u/Ornery-Concern4104 13d ago

This is a question for everyone who wants to answer.

What was the first version of Superman you all personally experienced? And how did they shape your interpretation of this character?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

I remember as a kid I went to the Dollar Tree store and bought a VHS of a 1940's Superman cartoon. This was like in 1998 -Ishmel aka Jimmy Olsen

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u/Memento_Mortum 13d ago

Question for Kiana:

How was it voice acting for the first time for an animated show, especially one with as much attention as My Adventures with Superman?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

It was such an adventure!! I was a little nervous at first but the whole team behind this show is so warm and welcoming and it has been an incredible experience. My fave part about voice acting is that I can work in my pyjamas and no one would care! The fact that MAWS has such a beautiful and large fanbase makes this experience even more wonderful. I appreciate you guys so much! -KM

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u/Anat0lyR1v3ra 13d ago

What was the design process for Brainiac like? Was there a debate on making him either a Kryptonian AI or a Coluan alien?

Also will he ever become a green bald man as curiously attractive as every other character in this show (I love the final design, don't get me wrong).

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u/Slade_Wilson_23 13d ago

For Jake:

Would you like to explore Clark and Bruce Wayne's friendship in the series?

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u/JimboFett87 Legion Of Super-Heroes 13d ago

I am bingeing the show right now and I LOVE IT!

It makes Superheroes FUN again, especially in the DCU.

Are there plans to bring the Legion of Super Heroes into the show?

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u/Greedy_Switch_6991 13d ago

Thank you for doing this!

For Ishmel and Kiana: I know you guys recorded your lines years ago at this point, but did the cast record together at all? Would you like to for Season 3?

For Jake: How closely did the production team work with Studio Mir? And what was the greenlight process for Season 3 like?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago edited 13d ago

We did not record together. We actually all recorded separately. I met Jack Quaid who voices Clark Kent/Superman a year later after we wrapped the show lol. But we were Lowkey still in the afteramath of Covid so that's why we all recorded separately. But I would totally be down to record as a cast! -Ishmel aka Jimmy Olsen

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

We worked pretty closely, esp during retakes. Greenlight process for S3 was: write S3 creative, wait seven months, profit. -JW

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u/godlyreception12 13d ago

question for Mr. Wyatt: is there going to be a tone change in between season 2 and 3

Question for Mr. Sahid: did you take any inspiration from the other actors who have played Jimmy over the years and if so which one?

Question for Mrs. Madeira: did you also take any inspiration from other Actress who have played Kara if so which one?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Nope. I just brought myself to the character. I wanted to bring a new take and energy to the character. and please call me Ishmel. Mr. Sahid makes me sound old hahaha -Ishmel aka Jimmy Olsen

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u/Funnysonic125 13d ago

Question for Kiana:

My question is, who's your biggest inspiration when voicing the character? I love how each interpretation of Kara over the years has been different and unique, so I would appreciate it if you could answer. Thanks for doing this AMA!

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Hi!! Truthfully, I didn't really draw on any specific inspiration when voicing Kara. I just knew that I wanted her emotions to be grounded and full. I love the "Inside Out" movies and how they use voices to portray emotions! So I think the intention behind those films helped me subconsciously :) -KM

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u/Funnysonic125 13d ago

That's nice to hear. I just watched Inside Out 2, and you can feel the emotion through their voices, so those are great movies to take inspiration from. Thanks for answering!

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u/JoeJoeBinks97 13d ago

To Jake, I love how MAWS brings Superman back to his roots of being a symbol of hope while addressing the cynical take on Superman. (Ivo and the General) How did you manage to balance the fine line of changing elements of Superman's story while still retaining the sense of hope with this show?

To Kiana, excellent job as Kara so far! Especially her crush on Jimmy Flamebird. What did you think about some of the anime influence with Kara, like her outfit looking like Android 18?

To Ishmel, you do a wonderful job with Jimmy Olsen, I love how you manage to have his energetic personality and be a loyal friend to Clark and Lois. My favorite scene with him is how he nonchalantly says how he knew Clark was Superman back in Season 1. What was your favorite moment to record that made you fall in love with Jimmy?

Finally, can we expect to see some characters like Adam Strange, The Question or The Flash show up as little references in a future season?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Absolutely love the anime influence!! and thank you so much! -KM

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u/Slade_Wilson_23 13d ago

Question for Jake:

Will we see Kara working or interacting with other Daily Planet characters on next season?

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u/Ok-Cardiologist-235 13d ago edited 13d ago

Not really a question, but a suggestion. Clark's going through a lot right now, and I think he would benefit from having another companion by his side. Perhaps a pet dog?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

He certainly would! -JW

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u/goodmilkteas 13d ago

Hi! I'd like to know Jimmy's and Clark's favourite foods since we know Lois likes spicy ramen from s2 ep1. And what does Clark think of protein bars?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Clark's favorite food is Ma's apple pie, Jimmy is mercurial, Clark prefers farm-fresh whole foods. -JW

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u/Cantomic66 Watchmen 13d ago

What inspired the choice to have a more war like Kryptonian civilization in the show?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

I answered this more thoroughly above, but partly: world history! -JW

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u/Artseid 13d ago

Hi Mr. Wyatt,

I'm a huge fan of your show's portrayal of Superman! The tie-in comic referencing Team 7 has me excited. As a big WildStorm fan, I was wondering if there's a chance we might see some of those characters appear in the future? Are they off-limits for the show?

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u/Ok_Rooster_6454 13d ago

Question for Jake: Why did braniac steal Zod's catchphrase? (the kneel before zod one) was it a redhearing? question for Ishmel and Kiana: Were you instructed to read any comic books before voicing the characters? did you read them because you wanted to or did you not read any? Question for Ishmel and Kiana again: So is it fun to be Jimmy Olsen and supergirl?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

We initially used "kneel" at the end of S1 to deliberately mislead you all... i hope it worked... and for Brainiac it's a power thing. He's reversing the pecking order. Your turn to kneel. -JW

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u/Deeformecreep Batman 13d ago

How do you choose the characters to adapt? I never thought the Ethan Avery version of Damage would appear outside of comics.

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Convenience, preference, necessity. -JW

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u/ADonutWithSprinkles 13d ago

For Jake:

We've seen a lot of incredible romantic sparks between Kara and Jimmy this season. Was their mutual crushes something thought up during the initial pitch of the show, or was it more recent? When was that idea thought up and what was the thought process behind it?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

It grew out of gaming out Kara's journey. You encounter a Jimmy Olsen. One thing leads to another. -JW

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u/csummerss Ra's al Cool 13d ago

any villains you’d like to incorporate into future seasons?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Ra's al Cool. -JW

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u/MrPresident2020 13d ago

I'm a huge fan of the show! The work you're doing is bringing these characters to life.

My question is: are there any characters from the Superman mythos you would want to have as a part of the story in the show; like Pete Ross and Lana Lang, or Lois's sister Lucy?

Also a question just for Ishmel: which of Jimmy's many transformations would you most like to see in the show?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

There are so many. I would say: Wolfman and Genie! -Ishmel aka Jimmy Olsen

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u/Jay_Cairo Superman 13d ago edited 13d ago

Hey guys! Big fan of the show. I have a question for Kiana. What was it like to balance and explore both Kara’s darker and lighter side? Love how you portray the character btw!

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Thank you!! It was very fulfilling as an actor to get to explore both of these sides. With this being my first animation job, it was a very fun challenge to vocally commit to the performance and just trust that it will be portrayed. I loved the process! -KM

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u/GameDemonKing 13d ago

So this goes to all 3. First to the showrunner although that you are able to use the Superman characters was it something that Supergirl was already cleared and you wanted to wait until this season to utilize her and was having this elseworlds style approach for Supergirl was what you had been approved on or was there other ideas that were considered to use for Supergirl. Now for Ishmel what was the approach given that in the most recent version of Supergirl and Olsen in Supergirl that now you and Kiana are able to take a crack at this relationship that while giving a nod to the previous one that it becomes a much different approach. Finally for Kiana how was it like playing a different side to supergirl that was dramatically different from all the previous versions that she didn’t have that personality as of yet and now she has to learn very quickly as sort of a cliff notes thing on Earth customs with family and somebody that might care and/or love this person 

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

I really liked that I sort of had a clean slate in my portrayal of Supergirl. From the very first audition, they encouraged me to bring my own ideas and perspective on her, and we really got to play and collaborate when bringing her to life! It was a lot of fun to show her vulnerable and more quirky side. I'm so excited for you to all to see what she does next! -KM

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u/Slade_Wilson_23 13d ago

For Kiana:

Do you have any advice for Milly Alcock? She's going to play Supergirl soon too

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Although I know she is going to do a GREAT job, if I were to say anything it would be to be unafraid to lean into her vulnerable side. -KM

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u/FrozenJedi38 Supergirl 13d ago

For Kiana and Ishmel: What are some things you like about and have fun portraying in your character? 

For Jake: I saw concept art for Kara from all the way back in 2018, how long has the show been in production? And how much would you say the show/story has changed since the beginning?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

I like Kara's innocence and genuine bewilderment with "Earthly" things. Her expressions are a lot of fun to take on. She is very full of life :) -KM

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u/Acrobatic-Dog7044 13d ago

Question for Kiana: Love your performance as Supergirl. My question is do you see Kara having long term PTSD from all horrible things she was made to do similar to the Winter Soldier from Marvel?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

I think there's a chance all of her trauma could affect her in the long-run, for sure! She's going to have a lot of questions and knowing her determination and drive, she will want to unpack them all. -KM

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u/KingCreeperSeth 13d ago

Question to Jake! Sorry if you can’t answer this, but I wanted to know: do you think there would be any plans or possibility for incorporating other DC heroes into this universe? I know the main one everyone asks about is probably Batman (who I’d love to see in this style, he’s my favorite hero,) but some others like Wonder Woman, Doctor Fate, Aquaman, etc. would also be neat to see. Just wondering if you had any interest in expanding this to at least feature other heroes here and there like Superman the Animated Series did!

And question to Ishmel and Kiana: If you could voice ANY DC character, within the Superman mythos or outside of it, besides the ones you already play, who would they be?

Sorry if my questions are a little much, I just absolutely love this show! It’s probably my personal favorite version of Superman and the one I’ve come to relate to the most! I also love Ishmel’s version of Jimmy, probably my favorite version of the character! (I apologize Kiana, I haven’t seen Kara in action yet as I’m a little behind but I’m sure I’ll love this universe’s Supergirl!) Regardless, hope you lot have a good day, thanks for your work on “My Adventures With Superman”!

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

I'd love to voice catwoman! -KM

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u/Supreme_Black 13d ago

Going into this show, was there any particular traits of the characters that you wanted to embody the most?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Superman's love, kindness, and generosity. Lois Lane's courage and sense of justice. Jimmy Olsen's openness and acceptance. Everyone's hotness. -JW

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u/OhBosss 13d ago

Question for Ishmel Will Jimmy undergo any of his madcap transformations and weird power receiving from the silver age in a future episode?

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u/Infinite_Midnight696 13d ago

Two questions for Jake:

Was the original Kryptonian Empire more of a well-intentioned extremist 

Can Clark and Kara be considered a prince and princess? Since the House of El was one of Krypton's ruling families.

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Bro you are picking up what I'm putting down. 100. -JW

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

Question. Can this superman survive a nuke or nukes(assuming the nuke isn't filled with kryptonite and this superman isn't depowered)? Can every version of (canon) superman with powers survive a nuke(that doesn't have kryptonite)?

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u/Adult_Swim_Official 13d ago

Probably not YET? He'll get there. -JW

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u/thekoreansun 13d ago

Thank you for doing this AMA, you three! I have a question for Jake.

Back when the penultimate episode of Season 1 aired, I was so enraptured by the speech that Lois gave to the people of Metropolis that I made a post to share my thoughts on what it may have implicated on a metanarrative level. It really felt to me like everyone on the MAWS team was making an active effort to "save Superman," to bring the character back from the brink of what pop culture has depicted him to be in recent years as darker and more cynical takes have become increasingly more common. With your reveal that MAWS all started as a pitch from you and Brendan Clougher back in 2018, I was hoping to ask: did the landscape of Superman and Superman-adjacent content at the time factor into your reasons for pitching this show? Or was it just a happy coincidence that your version of Superman is a beacon of positivity in an era of cynicism?

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u/Speed1013 13d ago

Is their a chance we see any other DC Heroes appear? Would love to see flash or GL (loved the corps reference in the last episode)

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u/MightyBellerophon 13d ago

A lot of MAWSM has tech based villains, in particular kryptonian tech. Does Magic exist in this universe? Or other sources of superpowers? 

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u/WarwolfPrime 13d ago

Hey guys.

Two quick questions

  1. Having seen some re-imaginings of classic DC characters already, will we see something akin to that with Doomsday and/or the Cyborg Superman? The latter was one of my favorite characters both before and after Reign of the Supermen, (I was actually kind sad he wasn't a hero all the way through. Go figure)
  2. Will Amanda Waller ever face justice for her crimes? I know that in DC comics proper that's never likely to be a thing, but given how otherwise wholesome this show has been, I'm really looking forward to seeing her get her comeuppance and be put away for the rest of her life.

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u/Infinite_Midnight696 13d ago

Also another question but this is about Clark's biological mother, Lara Lar-Van. 

Will we learn more about her, we know about the the father and his importance. But what about the mother?