Kite Man: Hell Yeah!: He’s A Real Criminal

Kite Man: Hell Yeah takes place in the same universe as DC’s Harley Quinn TV show, with the two also sharing voice casts, animation styles, and humor. Needless to say, if you are not a fan of Harley Quinn, this may not be the show for you. That being said, there is no requirement to catch up on Harley Quinn before jumping into this new series, with the focus on the titular character and his girlfriend, Golden Glider creating a story separate from the events of Harley Quinn. There is, however, a need for at least some prior knowledge of the DC universe, as many of the jokes, references, and events are very tied into DC continuity, and knowing about the universe prior is practically required for enjoyment.

While the humor in Kite Man: Hell Yeah is consistent with Harley Quinn, it definitely is not for everyone. Characters really play into their tropes a little too much, making it hard to find a moment to sympathize and truly care about the events that are going on. As mentioned before, there are a lot of references and jokes that pertain specifically to DC continuity, making this show very hard to penetrate for new audiences. Some of the jokes just don’t land or are too drawn out. A prime example is Bane, whose voice is meant to mimic and make fun of the Tom Hardy voice in The Dark Knight Rises. This is funny at first but then it becomes quite annoying as he continues to talk in the exaggerated manner throughout the show. This may be the type of humor that works for some, but it is definitely for a niche audience.

When it comes to the characters, it is hard to find someone to root for. Even Kite Man himself comes across as completely unlikable and annoying. If you look back into the origin story that Tom King developed during his DC Rebirth run on Batman, there are just way too many differences between the show and the source material. It is almost as if the show wanted to use the ridiculous concept of a man who calls himself Kite Man without actually using the established character. So while the show is aimed at DC fans, it also may alienate them.

To give credit where it is due, Kite Man: Hell Yeah did something every comic book adaptation should do: A real comic artist (Mitch Gerards) drew the promotional poster. Too often are the artists, colorists, and writers relegated to brief credits or at most a blink and you’ll miss it cameo. Here, Gerards gets to actually be part of the creation of the show in some capacity, showing a possible future of synergy between the comic, film, and TV mediums.