Kite Man: Hell Yeah! is a spin-off of the adult animated series Harley Quinn, the last remaining vestige of the former DC Universe streaming service. Although one might wonder if we really need a series with a D-rate supervillain without any powers as its protagonist, this show answers with a resounding yes.
If you were to describe Kite Man: Hell Yeah! in a high-concept sense, it’s basically adult animated Cheers with supervillains. It’s a cute little concept that will satiate avid comic book fans and more casual viewers alike. It’s a good rotating balance of obscure characters and massive players in the DC canon, allowing the show to feel like it has stakes and relevance without feeling like one has to have seen and read every piece of DC media to understand what’s going on.
Kite Man: Hell Yeah! is a funny, charming, and emotional spin-off
It does take around half of the season before the show’s main, overarching plot begins to kick into high gear, but it’s some of the self-contained adventures in the earlier episodes that are the most fun. When the show embraces its nature as a sitcom-esque comedy, it’s light and buoyant. However, a few really ambitious swings and clever running gags will keep viewers consistently invested week after week.
Although Matt Oberg’s performance as Kite Man was pretty funny in Harley Quinn, it’s a very particular type of humor, and the character was primarily used as the butt of a joke. Thankfully, as the lead of the spin-off, Oberg greatly diversifies his performance. The character’s always been likable, but Oberg shows us a side of Kite Man we hadn’t seen before.
Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once) replaces Cathy Ang from the Harley Quinn series as Golden Glider, giving what might be one of the most emotional voice performances between the two series. Although the show might be named after Kite Man, Golden Glider is its true heart. She has a much more interesting, emotionally enriching arc, and Hsu’s personality perfectly suits the character.
Other replacements from the show’s predecessor include the late Lance Reddick (John Wick) subbing in for Giancarlo Esposito as Lex Luthor, Keith David (Hazbin Hotel) playing Darkseid instead of Michael Ironside, and Janelle James (Abbott Elementary) replacing Wanda Sykes as Queen of Fables. Both are lateral moves — it certainly doesn’t feel like a step down in quality, even if they aren’t necessarily improvements.
Kite Man: Hell Yeah! also introduces some new cast members who add a lot of energy to the show. Natasia Demetriou is as hilarious as ever in her supporting role. Although she plays a very similar schtick to the other characters she has played in the past, she does it so well that it’s easy to forgive. Michael Imperioli is also great as a mobster, giving him one of the best running gags in the show.
It’s evident that Kite Man: Hell Yeah!, as a spin-off, doesn’t quite have the same budget or spectacle as the flagship series. The action sequences are more restrained, based on situational humor rather than scale and spectacle. However, it’s almost fitting considering the non-powered nature of the Kite Man character, and the door is open for things to get bigger if the response is enthusiastic.
Is Kite Man: Hell Yeah! worth watching?
Kite Man: Hell Yeah! is truly the best-case scenario for a spin-off. It creates its own identity while still capturing the charm of the flagship series, justifying its existence through and through. Although it may not be quite as good as the later seasons of Harley Quinn, it’s a lot more fun — and emotionally engaging — than it has any right to be.
Kite Man: Hell Yeah! streams on Max beginning July 18 with two episodes, with new episodes streaming on subsequent Thursdays. All ten episodes reviewed.
9/10
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