Review of “Kite Man: Hell Yeah”: A Solid (If Flimsy) Adaptation of “Harley Quinn”

Kite Man: Hell Yeah’s racy humour is eerily similar to that of Harley Quinn, the main series.

Particularly noteworthy are the characterizations of Bane, Golden Glider, and Kite Man.
While the plot may have stumbled a bit, Kite Man: Hell Yeah is still a worthy addition to the franchise thanks to the memorable cameos and characters that connect it to the original.

For a long time, two of the most dominant media conglomerates, DC and Marvel, have been at war over superhero content, with each side eventually emerging on top. For instance, since the launch of their cinematic universe around 2008, Marvel has enjoyed the upper hand in live-action. Since both behemoths recruit A-listers from their respective fields, the quality of the comics has been all over the map, with readers having the final say.

But DC wins hands down when it comes to its superb animation, as shown in hits like Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, and yes, even The LEGO Batman Movie.

In 2019, DC boldly released Harley Quinn, a more mature, raucous, and humorous take on the character. Harley Quinn (Kaley Cuoco) breaks free of her destructive relationship with the Joker, becomes a single villain, and then finally embraces her love with Poison Ivy (Lake Bell) in the animated series.

The surprising deconstruction of such well-known characters—executed to perfection—was what ultimately led to the series’ (almost) five seasons, but the raunchiness and unique tone were its early selling points. The new spin-off, Kite Man: Hell Yeah, stars Stephanie Hsu as Golden Glider and Matt Oberg as Poison Ivy’s ex-boyfriend Kite Man, who is trying to manage a supervillain bar similar to Cheers.

Cast

Amy Poehler, Kaley Cuoco, and Cathy Ang
Main Category Comics Episode Count 1
“Kite Man: Hell Yeah” Is Just Like “Harley Quinn” in Every Way
Supervillains like Lex Luthor (Giancarlo Esposito in Harley Quinn, Lance Reddick in Kite Man) seek out villains like Ivy, who Kite Man has always found to be an amusing foil. For the time being, though, his endearing sense of humour and Golden Retriever charisma were sufficient to dispel any doubts. Kite Man’s ability to entertain the audience, whether through his sharp wit or his remarkable knack at falling flat, was the deciding factor.

The comedic merit of Kite Man: Hell Yeah is sufficient to grant entry to the celebration. Just because Kite Man features Harley Quinn characters doesn’t mean it will be the same quality as the original. Fans of DC’s Harley Quinn will be pleased to know that the new spin-off maintains the same comedic and provocative tone.

Does that mean it lives up to the quality of the first in the series? Even at this early point in the series’ run, I wouldn’t risk going that far. In terms of fine-tuning, it isn’t even close to Harley Quinn’s debut season. However, it’s an admirable effort to get into the brand, and you should definitely give it a go. Using well-known faces and ideas from the DC Universe, the premiere episode sets the tone for the rest of the series.

Kite Man: Hell Yeah falls short in that it drags a little in the middle because it takes a little too long to introduce and develop its primary characters. It explains itself for a long time by bringing up stakes that are almost too high for the show.

The series introduces Judith Light’s Helen Villigan as a new enemy who can and does mislead Luthor multiple times. Given that the first series focused heavily on members defecting to the Legion of Doom, this makes one wonder what she has been up to during the course of Harley Quinn’s four seasons.

Darkseid, the villain from DC Comics, played by Keith David, is one of many notable characters in the series trailer for Kite Man: Hell Yeah. Darkseid makes a brief appearance in both Harley Quinn films, although he is oddly utilised more in the spin-off, but not significantly more. The inconsistent stakes among DC animated brands are reminiscent of other lately cross-over programmes that failed to succeed, such as Gen V and The Boys.

This gave the idea that Gen V’s first season was set up to further the plot of The Boys’ most recent season. With the latest news about Harley Quinn’s fifth season, it’s hard not to draw parallels and reach the same conclusion, but ultimately, only time will tell. The tale parts may be a little jumbled at the moment, but the humour is constant and the unique characters are great. Although we are comparing and referencing it to other franchises, we should warn you that Kite Man: Hell Yeah follows the lead of Invincible in terms of graphic cartoon violence and blood.

The Importance of Certain Actors in “Kite Man: Hell Yeah”

All throughout, the voice acting in Kite Man: Hell Yeah is top-notch. It would be remiss not to gush over Matt Oberg’s perfect casting as Kite Man right away. To a pristine degree, he personifies Kite Man’s endearingly naive spirit. By the same token, Stephanie Hsu gives it her all as Golden Glider, a character who is so unbelievably badass that it makes you question how Kite Man manages to date women who obviously have it better than him. The chemistry between Oberg and Hsu is the catalyst for the wonderful connection between the two.

James Adomian’s Bane, a regular on Harley Quinn, is another outstanding actor. Like in the original, Bane plays a significant role; he links the Legion of Doom to Kite Man and Glider’s bar, Noonan’s, and is perhaps the most important character in the story.

Even though they’re awful, Noonan’s characters are likeable. Some of the performances stand out (Michael Imperioli plays Moe and Joe Dublez exceptionally well), while other actors’ voices are more difficult to distinguish, which, in some people’s opinions, slightly detracts from the immersion.

I feel bad if I don’t mention how good Lance Reddick is. Reddick, in what is likely his last film role, works in perfect harmony with Giancarlo Esposito’s Luthor from Harley Quinn.

Although the spin-off follows a slightly different path for the character than the original, Reddick’s commanding presence is sorely missed; it’s getting harder to distinguish between the two portrayals.

‘Kite Man: Hell Yeah’ Consolidates All Elements into an Enjoyable Premiere
Kite Man: Hell Yeah has a few hiccups along the way, but they’re easy to forget when you’re laughing so hard. The story ends on a poignant note, and the characters go on meaningful journeys of growth. The story is funny enough to earn its spot in the franchise. While it’s disheartening that Kite Man’s trip is the weakest of the main characters, it also shows that even a simple story, which has been told many times, can be effective when told well.

A spin-off series based on Harley Quinn can work if it has heart and humour. Not only did Harley Quinn turn over nearly a century’s worth of established DC characters, but it also played into pop culture moments perfectly related to its subject matter, thanks to its balls-to-the-wall, risk-it-all comedy. Kite Man: Hell Yeah thankfully has sufficient amounts of these elements to justify its continuation inside the same universe.

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Kite Man: Well, of course!
Even though it fumbles a little, Kite Man: Hell Yeah is funny enough to get into the Harley Quinn series.

There is some racy humour that is reminiscent of the main series.
The characters of Bane, Golden Glider, and Kite Man are quite remarkable.
Comical character appearances and cameos connect the show to Harley Quinn.
Downsides (
The tale falls flat because of how high the stakes are, leaving you to wonder how much of it is a setup for Season 5 of Harley Quinn.
Some voice performances are so powerful that they bring out the worst in others.
In the United States, viewers may watch Kite Man: Hell Yeah’s first two episodes on Max beginning July 18.

See it on Max
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