The Bulleteers

I love the Fleischer Superman cartoons. The animation is smooth and fluid with vivid colors. The distinct art-deco style, vintage science fiction imagery, and use of noirish shadows gave them a look unlike any other cartoons. The music and voice work is superb. They're fun, accessible, enduring animation classics.

The fifth in the series is about a group of costumed criminals known as the Bulleteers. They have a bullet-shaped rocket car and are terrorizing the city, destroying buildings and thumbing their noses at the law. They also have the coolest secret lair on top of a mountain outside of town. The mayor tries to organize the police to stop them but it's no use! As the Bulleteers' rampage continues, Superman shows up. But, as he fails to stop them, we have to ask: are the Bulleteers too much for the Man of Steel?

Another great Fleischer Superman cartoon, although a step below the previous entries in the series. The Bulleteers' rocket car and awesome mountaintop hideout are cool visuals like you expect from this series. I also loved the scenes of the police scrambling to fortify and fight back against the seemingly indestructible rocket car. Those little touches are prime examples of the beauty of the Fleischer cartoons. There's so much going on that's just fun and exciting to watch.

In THE BULLETEERS, a gang of nefarious criminals flies through Metropolis crashing through buildings at will. They're soaring around in a ballistic juggernaut, and they're attempting to extort money from the entire city.

These guys even give Superman some trouble!

Then, Lois is captured by them, and our hero takes things up a notch. An epic battle unfolds.

This fifth instalment in the Fleischer bros. Series is definitely exciting! The titular gang and their vehicle are an innovative addition.

Recommended for all fans of Superman, as well as meticulously-rendered animation...

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.

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).

In The Bulleteers, Superman takes on a gang armed with bullet-shaped rocket cars. Once again, the animation steals the show: the vehicle designs are superb, and the film is visually stunning and well-polished. The ending is satisfying, though I missed the usual comedic touch. Superman does his job well, but it's interesting to see the citizens try to fight off the machines before the hero steps in, which is a nice change of pace.

However, the story itself is the weakest part of this short. The plot is shallow and lacks any real sense of a grand spectacle. I feel like these films would be so much better with more fantastic elements. The Bulleteers has a very standard plot, but it's saved by the solid action and, of course, the incredibly polished and noteworthy animation.