I know what you’re probably thinking: “Oh great, another Superman show. Haven’t we seen this all before?” The answer is no, no you haven’t. My Adventures with Superman offers a unique take on the Man of Steel with a lighthearted anime-style series that focuses on the fledgling hero’s younger days and his burgeoning friendships with Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen. Now don’t go thinking this is like Smallville: The Animated Series; you’ll find no teen angst, or scenes of Pa Kent melodramatically providing fatherly advice here. Here Clark Kent (voiced by Jack Quaid) is in his twenties and about to embark on his first day of internship at The Daily Planet, along with pal Jimmy Olsen (Ishmel Sahid). The would-be reporter and amateur photographer are immediately persuaded by fellow intern Lois (Alice Lee) to join in her unsanctioned investigation into the theft of military equipment. Their meddling soon leads to the discovery a small army of violent robots, putting their new jobs, not to mention their lives, on the line.

While this is still an origin story of sorts (Superman doesn’t even debut until Episode 2), the series wisely bypasses the destruction of Krypton and Clark’s teen years to introduce a young man that is still learning how to use his abilities, like casually rescuing a lost cat while finding joy and wonder in the simple act of flying. Jimmy, meanwhile, shares Clark’s ambitious attitude but keeps his nerd-dial at 11, spouting off ridiculous conspiracy theories, nearly as often as breathing. As senior intern at The Daily Planet, Lois has the experience and talent to make her the team’s self-assured alpha, as is often the case in other media, but that’s not to say she’s infallible. This Lois is full of pep, ambition, and not-completely-earned confidence, but is willing, albeit begrudgingly, to admit her mistakes and even learn from them. This trio of awesome nerds truly make up the heart of show, creating a dynamic that stands apart from other series, animated and otherwise, while still being respectful to the source material.

From the very first episode, it’s clear the cast and crew have poured a tremendous amount of love into this. The anime-inspired character designs are unique and, frankly, adorable. The western influence can be found throughout, from the sleek, neo-futuristic look of Metropolis to the robotic antagonists that look like Evangelion’s smaller, less colorful cousins. The writing is fast-paced and full of fun throwaway lines, all delivered perfectly by an incredible cast led by Jack Quaid (Star Trek: Lower Decks) and Alice Lee (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist). Quaid’s wonderful performance helps provide Clark the perfect amount of awkward charm and unrelenting heroism. Lee plays Lois with the attitude you’d expect but with a nerdy excitement that makes her all the more endearing. Jimmy doesn’t get as much to do as the former characters but Ishmel Sahid puts his all into the role and absolutely owns it.

The first two episodes of My Adventures with Superman are now available to stream on Max. Future installments will premier on Adult Swim before they’ll be available on streaming the following day. Despite its initial airing on Adult Swim, don’t expect to see Perry White dropping F-bombs or Superman snapping necks. My Adventures with Superman is perfectly suitable for audiences of nearly all ages, though there are scenes of violence and mild peril, but nothing one wouldn’t expect to find in a Superman cartoon.