After the success of 2025’s Superman, Man of Tomorrow will be an especially big release for the DCU, which continues to divide fans. So far, reviews for these projects have been mostly positive, and with Clayface‘s ending setting up an exciting future for the DCU, Man of Tomorrow should hopefully capitalize on this momentum, despite having some doubters.
However, other than last year’s Superman film and Lanterns, there isn’t too much preparation to do before Man of Tomorrow, so it’s a good idea to look elsewhere ahead of the 2027 release. Fortunately, Superman: The Animated Series has plenty of great stories featuring the Man of Steel, making it the perfect warm-up.
The DC show is better than most movies and still feels like the ultimate version of Superman three decades later. Not only does it perfectly capture the honesty and selflessness of this iconic hero, but it also contains plenty of unforgettable episodes that feature characters and storylines many expect to be involved in Man of Tomorrow.
When the movie actually arrives, it may even be the case that some aspects were directly inspired by Superman: The Animated Series. Considering the superhero show was a pioneer that created characters like Livewire and Mercy Graves, it certainly doesn’t feel unreasonable that it could influence Man of Tomorrow, making these episodes worth checking out before next summer.
7
Warrior Queen
Season 2, Episode 24
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Although there have been heavy rumors about Adria Ajorna playing Wonder Woman in Man of Tomorrow, other reports point towards her taking on a more morally complex role as the alien queen Maxima. Historically, Maxima is obsessed with Superman, sometimes being portrayed as a complicated hero, and other times coming across as a straight-up villain.
Seeing as she is a more obscure character who casual fans may not be familiar with, “Warrior Queen” is the perfect episode to check out if you want to learn more about her. It offers a fun yet informative insight into some of the aspects that drive this character, while also explaining the type of dynamic she typically has with Superman.
Kidnapping the hero and attempting to force him into a marriage shows Maxima’s evil side. However, Superman is able to show her the error of her ways without redeeming her entirely, making “Warrior Queen” a great way to get to know this underrated character a little better.
If Ajorna is indeed playing Maxima, this is an outing you won’t want to miss, and even if she’s not, it’s still an enjoyable adventure worth seeing regardless.
6
A Little Piece Of Home
Season 1, Episode 5
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One of Superman: The Animated Series‘ earliest episodes told the classic Superman vs Lex Luthor tale, which will remain relevant in Man of Tomorrow. Based on the small amount of information we have on the film, we know the two will be involved once again and seem destined to make an unlikely alliance to take on Brainiac.
Their history and rivalry are what make this prospect so compelling, as 2025’s Superman showed just how much Lex hates Clark in the DCU. “A Little Piece of Home” further demonstrates this and highlights how Lois Lane fits into this feud. Since she will almost certainly be a key part of Man of Tomorrow, this episode is an amazing prelude.
It is a reminder of how tough it will be for Lex to put his hatred aside, as his antics throughout the episode illustrate how far he’s willing to go to make Superman’s life hell, just like in the blockbuster from last year. Therefore, getting a refresher on this history is practically essential heading into their reluctant team-up in 2027.
5
In Brightest Day…
Season 3, Episode 7
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Not only will Man of Tomorrow be the biggest DCU movie yet due to it being a Superman sequel, but it will also feature some other big characters. The return of the Justice Gang, the debut of Brainiac, and Adria Ajorna’s mystery character are all reasons to be excited, but we will also see Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart involved.
HBO’s Lanterns acted as a soft setup for Man of Tomorrow, but while the prospect of John Stewart and Guy Gardner teaming with Superman sounds tantalizing, another Green Lantern fought alongside Clark during Superman: The Animated Series. “In Brightest Day…” featured Kyle Rayner battling Sinestro, with Superman also playing a significant role.
It was a clever way to give us some slight Justice League crossover years before the animated show premiered, and it also offers us a taster of what this team-up could look like in Man of Tomorrow. Having two Green Lanterns rather than one makes the movie all the more appetizing, but this one-off adventure is certainly a nice preview beforehand.
4
Little Girl Lost
Season 2, Episodes 27 & 28
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Having already mentioned some of the most exciting additions to Man of Tomorrow‘s cast, there is one that trumps them all, Supergirl. Although Supergirl bombed at the box office, the character still has a potentially huge future in the DCU, and her relationship with Clark has already had some loose exploration in the two films she’s been part of.
However, “Little Girl Lost” plays into the earlier aspects of their dynamic which the DCU skipped over. The two-part episode tells the usual origin story of Kara coming to Earth with Clark trying to help her integrate. Here though, they aren’t cousins, and Kara is particularly eager to fight crime alongside Superman, despite his apprehensions.
Getting to see Kara become Supergirl and showcase her strength even as a novice hero was a nice break from Superman always being the focal point, yet he didn’t take a backseat either. In Part 2, he was still key to beating some of his greatest foes, but it wouldn’t have been possible without Kara alongside him.
With the two yet to properly team up in the DCU, “Little Girl Lost” is a great opportunity to see the pair fighting side-by-side, which will almost certainly look different to a potential team-up in Man of Tomorrow, since James Gunn’s version of Supergirl is much more independent.
3
Stolen Memories
Season 1, Episode 8
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All signs point towards Brainiac being Man of Tomorrow‘s main villain, making “Stolen Memories” a no-brainer to watch in preparation for next summer. It is the first episode of Superman: The Animated Series where Brainiac appears, and he is presented as a manipulative and unassuming threat, just as he’ll likely be in the DCU.
Someone with such a high intellect and cunning plans is always going to be engaging to watch, and it’s no different in Superman: The Animated Series, since he tries to maintain peace with the hero even after his robots attack. Lex Luthor is also deceived by the otherworldly being, putting all three in the limelight.
The season 1 episode features the trio at odds and confirms that despite Lex being a menacing foe, Superman has even bigger concerns to deal with. As a result, there are very few Superman stories more fitting to digest now that we know a modern adaptation of this feud is inbound, and its 8.2 IMDb rating suggests you won’t be disappointed.
2
Brave New Metropolis
Season 2, Episode 12
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The evil Superman trope may have been done to death by now, but back in the 90s, it still felt fresh, and “Brave New Metropolis” not only featured this, but also an alliance between Clark and Lex. In an alternate timeline, Superman failed to save Lois, making him believe his approach to crime was too lenient, creating a police state that harshly punished all criminals.
Partnering with Lex Luthor, the two turned Metropolis into an authoritarian regime filled with curfews, turning this bright and vibrant city into something dark and depressing. It’s only when Lois Lane from the main continuity appears that he finally sees the error of his ways, but by then, Lex has already betrayed him.
This fascinating episode allowed Superman: The Animated Series to branch out and get a little bolder than usual, while showing what a more hostile Superman and Lex Luthor alliance could look like. Man of Tomorrow may be the opposite, seeing Lex fight for the greater good due to the threat Brainiac poses, but that only makes “Brave New Metropolis” more interesting.
It is a complete contrast to what we might see and confirms how terrifying Superman can become without Lois, especially while being influenced by Lex, highlighting the importance of Clark not getting too close to his temporary ally in this upcoming release.
1
Ghost In The Machine
Season 2, Episode 14
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When looking to get into the mood for Man of Tomorrow, there is simply no better episode of Superman: The Animated Series to watch than “Ghost in the Machine.” The story focuses on Brainiac sabotaging Luthor’s newest tech unveiling before blackmailing the CEO into rebuilding his body following its destruction in his last encounter with Superman.
Luthor is genuinely reluctant at first, only complying when there is no other choice. Suspicious of his uncharacteristic silence, Superman investigates what is going on with Luthor, eventually learning he has gone missing. With the help of Mercy, Clark manages to track him down and discovers that Luthor gave Mercy a job when she was homeless to seemingly provide her with a better life.
However, despite risking her life for him, Mercy is left behind by Lex when he has a chance to save her while Superman is busy fighting Brainiac. It’s a great insight into these three key characters, as it shows Superman’s defiant heroism, Lex’s selfish manipulation, and Brainiac’s destructive capabilities all at once.
While we don’t know exactly what the trio’s dynamic will be like in James Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow, “Ghost in the Machine” offers an idea of what this upcoming conflict could look like, and this Superman: The Animated Series outing brings out the best in all three, which is why those interested in the 2027 film should certainly give it a watch.
Superman: The Animated Series
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