My Adventures with Superman Season 3 Episode 2 Recap: Did Lex Luthor Make Superman Irrelevant?

Episode 2 of Season 3 of My Adventures With Superman is all about how Kara is finding her identity on Earth. It is an important episode, specifically because it finally introduces us to one of the most important characters this season, Jessica Cruz, voiced by Moana alum Auliʻi Cravalho. Cruz is set to headline her own show with My Adventures with Green Lantern. In focus, this episode is on three villains. One is the Whip, the other is Toyman, and the third is Captain Hank Henshaw.

The season promised a loose adaptation of The Reign of Supermen storyline, and it seems to be putting all the pieces in place at breakneck speed. Last episode introduced audiences to B-1Z, which was this universe’s version of Bizarro. This episode introduces Hank Henshaw, referred to by his real name from the get-go, as a version of Cyborg Superman. What this asks is one question: Is Clark going to be outshone by this new Superman? The answer is simply: not likely.

Supergirl Is Still Having Troubles Adjusting To Earth’s Customs

Kara Zor-El has taken up the mantle of Supergirl on Earth, despite wanting a completely different name for herself. She also feels that she and Jimmy can be a couple now. However, misguided by a lack of understanding of Earth customs and Jimmy’s own insecurities, Kara, during a live interview, invites the men from the crowd to present their suits for her. There is also the fact that while Superman was supposed to be with her to deal with the interview with Cat Grant, he had to go to fight the Whip.

The Whip addressed an interesting point: where do all these supervillains end up getting kryptonite from? Not all of them are on his payroll, and not all of them work for Lex Luthor. Turns out, when there were robots with kryptonite trying to hurt Superman, all the shards that fell on the streets were scooped up, and likely sold in the black market.

As all this is unfolding, the Super-convention, where Kara was being interviewed, was actually infiltrated by a classic Superman villain, and returning antagonist from Season 2, Toyman/Winslow Schott. The Mobile Suit part of the episode title was an homage to the classic mecha anime, Mobile Suit Gundam, which clearly inspired the mech suit that Toyman used in combat.

Captain Hank Is Shaping Up To Be A Great Villain in My Adventures With Superman

However, despite Toyman being in the title, most of his story felt like a B-plot, something for Lois to do while Superman, Supergirl, and Jimmy dealt with their respective issues. There is a bait and switch storyline where Lois suspects him of impropriety, while he pretends to be a normal toy maker, having learnt from his mistakes. Sam Lane’s past Superman-hating crusade had indirectly enabled Toyman to cause harm to both Lois and Clark. However, when the Toyman does get to shine, he is immediately put in the backseat in his own episode, with the introduction of the new and improved Captain Henshaw. Sponsored by Lex Luthor, Henshaw gets a marketing-ready introduction from Lex to the attendees of Super-con, and comes complete with an L on his chest.

So far, the character has been introduced as a ‘homegrown’ Superman, with Lex clearly poking at the status that Superman and Supergirl has as aliens, especially backed by the alien invasion in the previous season. This invasion also caused Hank his injuries, which tilts the public narrative in favor of Henshaw, and by extension, of Lex. Further, having poached Slade Wilson from Amanda Waller, it would not be surprising to see Lex have plans for his prized assassin, either.

With the introduction of Hank Henshaw and the very brief touch this episode that audiences had with B-1Z, the ranks of the Supermen in the story seem to be buffing up. Kon-El is already confirmed for this season, voiced by Darren Criss, and his arrival is expected to significantly shake up the show’s dynamic. Kon-El and the reintroduction of Steel would round out the cast necessary to play out Reign of the Supermen. The presence of Kara in the story also opens up interesting character interactions in the storyline as well.

Do you think Hank Henshaw will turn on Luthor in the show? Let us know in the comments!

My Adventures with Superman Season 3 airs Saturdays on Adult Swim’s Toonami block at midnight, streaming the next day on HBO Max.