Superman: Destrucción

This was yet another in the Fleischer/Famous Studios series of Superman cartoons. In the one, a guard from the Metropolis Munitions Works factory is found dead in a swamp so Lois Lane goes to work there to uncover a plan to blow it up. Somehow, Superman also seems to be there...Pretty atmospheric outing for the series as we see how things are being kept from happening due to the actions of the Man of Steel. As usual, Ms. Lane ends up being the damsel in distress who would have ended up dead were it not for Clark Kent always being nearby. For an 8 minute short, it's pretty entertaining enough but really, these are starting to become really repetitious concerning plots on these superhero cartoons. Still, if you're a Superman completist, Destruction Inc. is at least worth a look.

Destruction, Inc. (1942)

** (out of 4)

Set during WW2, this Superman short finds out hero trying to battle some saboteurs who plan on doing destruction at the Metropolis Munitions Works factory. This is one of the weakest shorts I've seen in the series and that's saying quite a bit since there have been several that I was disappointed in. The biggest problem here, as in previous shorts, is the story is just downright bad. It's made even worse here because of how the Superman side of things is handled and all of these leads up to some weak villains and a pretty bland and boring ending. The animation is once again the main reason for watching it because the colors are outstanding so at least you have something to look at.

When a guard from the Metropolis Munitions Works factory is found dead.

Lois Lane goes to investigate and is soon discovered by the saboteurs.

Luckily Clark Kent has also gone in to investigate in disguise.

Superman needs to catch the bad guys and save Lois Lane.

Apart from Clark Kent mistaking a man as Lois. This is repetitive stuff from previous cartoons.

It lacks care and attention. Also it lacks a lot of Superman.

During WWII people at the Metropolis Munitions Works keep getting killed. Lois Lane, sensing a story, becomes a worker at the plant. She (quite conveniently) overhears a plot from saboteurs to blow up the plant. They discover her listening, kidnap her and put her in a torpedo that's going to be used to blow up a ship (!!!). Will Superman find out what's going on and save the day?

So-so entry. The plot is more than a little silly and the introduction of Superman into the story is handled VERY badly. Also watch Lois' skirt change from blue to green in a few shots! Still it is colorful and full of action...the plot just needed work. I give it a 7.

There is sabotage going on at a munitions factory and Clark and Lois are sent to investigate. Lois spies on some suspicious characters and gets herself caught (again). She does put up a good fight, but finds herself put inside a torpedo (an odd place for her). These crooks go to such lengths to find ways to kill people when there are a lot of old fashioned ones. Anyway, we are at war and Superman must fight these guys. One thing pointed out be a previous reviewer is that Superman's strength seems to change from one episode to another. One time he is utterly unstoppable; the next it takes him time to recoup his strength. The way these bad guys act doesn't help their credibility, but for decades, crooks have been portrayed as idiots, especially the petty ones.