The Bulleteers

Right at the very beginning we see a bullet-shaped aircraft smash right through the Police Headquarters, demolishing it. The evil masked men on it demand all the money from the town hall or they'll attack. The mayor refuses to pay and the police brace themselves for an all out attack. It begins and they're no match. Good thing Superman is around. And Lois Lane is held captive (again).

It's sort of amusing to see Lois always being captured and tied up in these cartoons. Still, this is quick, tight, full of action and has the incredible animation that we expect. Fun with incredible sound effects (in the restored DVD version).

A mad scientist has developed a bullet car. It can crash into buildings and the robbers steering it, plan to get inside the treasury and steal from the safe.

The scientists wants to extort money from Metropolis or else.

When the mayhem from the bullet car stops the presses at the Daily Planet. Superman leaps into action.

This one is a bit slow to get going. Superman struggles with the bullet shaped car which can also fly like a rocket.

As per usual Lois Lane shows her ability move at the speed of light and where did she find that wench from.

This is quite fun. Three more mad scientists (why are they mad; perhaps they are just talented with a different agenda) create a threat. They are extortionists and have developed a car/rocket, shaped like a bullet. They threaten Metropolis, and when the Mayor refuses to give in, they start by destroying city hall. This device is really quite the destructive machine. They want the city to turn over its treasury or they will continue to reek havoc on the fair city. Fortunately, Superman is around. Of course, Lois Lane again paints herself into a deadly corner and need to be rescued. Some have criticized her for her inherent stupidity. Of course, it is part of the formula. She is an overzealous reporter, a contrast to Clark, and sometimes Superman needs a little push because we know he likes her. Solid episode.

In the Fleischer Brothers Superman cartoons, Lois Lane is unusually stupid. Even compared to the 1950s Lois from TV, this one seems bent on getting herself killed. And, like in almost all the cartoons, she is saved and doesn't learn a darn thing!

The cartoon begins with a weird bullet-like car/airplane destroying things and then the leader of some weird criminal gang announcing to Metropolis that they must pay him or he'll destroy the town (you'd THINK he'd pick on some town OTHER than the one in which Superman lives!!). Soon, the Bulleteers appear and begin unleashing terror. Not surprisingly, Superman comes to the rescue AND Lois gets herself nearly killed in the process.

Like the other Superman cartoons of the era, this one is beautifully animated but the story is very, very simple. One reviewers loved how the action never let up--I just thought it lacked depth. Mildly interesting.

The 1942 animated short "Superman" story titled "The Bulleteers" from writers Bill Turner and Carl Meyer wasn't really the most interesting of storylines in these 1940s short stories. Sure, it was watchable and enjoyable enough, given the fact that it is a "Superman" story, but in comparison to most of the other stores in the series, then it was fairly bland.

The animation style and art style is the same in "The Bulleteers" as in the other animated short stories, for better or worse. I do like the style, because there is a classic sense to it, a sense of familiarity and agelessness actually.

And with the voices of Bud Collyer and Joan Alexander, whom have been lending their voices to these episodes throughout the 1940s, definitely does something for the overall presentation.

If you enjoy Superman comics or cartoons, then I will say that "The Bulleteers" should be worth checking out, though it is not the best of stories.

My rating of "The Bulleteers" from directors Dave Fleischer and Orestes Calpini lands on a five out of ten stars.