Kite Man: Hell Yeah! is an American adult animated black comedy superhero television series based on the DC Comics character Kite Man created by Bill Finger and Dick Sprang. The series stars Matt Oberg, Stephanie Hsu and James Adomian, and follows the adventures of Kite Man and his current girlfriend Golden Glider who have supported the purchase of a local bar named Noonan's.
The series serves as a spin-off of Harley Quinn, where Kite Man was featured as a supporting character and ex-fiancé to Poison Ivy. The first season consists of ten episodes, with Matt Oberg returning to voice Kite Man. Much of the voice cast were revealed in September 2023.
Kite Man: Hell Yeah! premiered on July 18, 2024.
Contents
Premise
The series follows the saucy adventures of Kite Man and his girlfriend Golden Glider who live together in Noonan's, Gotham City's seediest dive bar. They take their relationship to the next level by opening a bar in the shadow of Lex Luthor's Legion of Doom.
Voice cast
Main
Matt Oberg as Charles "Chuck" Brown / Kite Man / Beast Mode, Fake Calendar Man
Stephanie Hsu as Lisa Snart / Golden Glider, Stephanie Brown / Spoiler
James Adomian as Bane, Fake Riddler, Lawrence Snart, Young Penguin, Etrigan the Demon, Man-Bat
Jonathan Banks as Sean Noonan
Natasia Demetriou as Malice Vundabar
Michael Imperioli as Joe / Moe Dubelz
Janelle James as Queen of Fables
Supporting
Dee Bradley Baker as Chessure
Maria Bamford as Baby-Doll
Tisha Campbell as Tawny Young
Vic Chao as Leonard Snart / Captain Cold
Margaret Cho as Rebecca Chen
Lance Reddick as Lex Luthor (episodes 1–8)
Andy Daly as Darryl Brown, Sinestro, Toyman
Keith David as Darkseid
Carla Delaney as Goldilocks
Phil LaMarr as Detective Chimp, DeSaad, Black Manta, Martian Manhunter
Judith Light as Helen Villigan
Eddie Pepitone as Sixpack
Amuche Chukudebelu as Lex Luthor (episodes 9–10)
Rory Scovel as Gus the Goon
Rhea Seehorn as Insect Queen
Guest
Ben Aldridge as Jeremy Karne
Lake Bell as Poison Ivy, Barbara Ann Minerva / Cheetah
Lacey Chabert as Kenneth's Mother
Kaley Cuoco as Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn
Brycen Hall as Young Captain Cold
Richard Kind as Health Inspector
Araceli Prasarttongosoth as Young Golden Glider
Cristina Pucelli as Kenneth
Jim Rash as Riddler
Katie Rich as Stacy
J. B. Smoove as Frank the Plant
Alan Tudyk as Clayface, Ocean Master
Casey Wilson as Betty
Production
Development
Harley Quinn showrunner Patrick Schumacker revealed at South by Southwest in March 2022, during the "Not Kidding Around: Warner Bros. Animation and the Reimagining of Iconic Characters for an Adult Audience" panel that development was underway for a spin-off featuring the character of Kite Man in the lead role.
In April 2022, HBO Max announced that it had given a series order, which would be titled Noonan's. That July, it was reported that Harley Quinn co-developer Dean Lorey and Katie Rich would serve as showrunners.
In June 2023, at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, it was announced that the series would be re-titled as Kite Man: Hell Yeah!.
Casting
After the show was announced with a series order, Matt Oberg was announced to be reprising the role of Kite Man. In September 2023, alongside the release of the teaser trailer, James Adomian and Rory Scovel were confirmed to reprise their roles as Bane and Gus the Goon, alongside Stephanie Hsu, Jonathan Banks, Lance Reddick, Michael Imperioli, Natasia Demetriou, Judith Light, Janelle James, and Keith David joining the series, as well with Kaley Cuoco and Lake Bell guest starring as Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy.
Marketing
The official teaser for the series was released on September 14, 2023, the same day as the release of the season 4 finale of Harley Quinn. The teaser shows scenes of Kite Man saying the words, the Queen of Fables, all the Legion of Doom characters during the quote "Take to Wing it", and finally a few clips of the first episode that was seen that ends with the title card saying the show's title. A full-length trailer was released on July 1, 2024. Kite Man: Hell Yeah! premiered on Max on July 18, 2024.
Critical reception
Kite Man: Hell Yeah! received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its humor and lighthearted tone. IndieWire described the show as an "outstanding new sitcom" that works as both a comedy and a superhero spinoff, while Decider recommended the series, calling it a "goofy-bloody" addition to the DC universe with a focus on lesser-known villains. Screen Rant highlighted the humor in the show's setting, managing a bar, and noted it stands out among DC's animated offerings for its comedic approach. In terms of character performances, IGN Movies and Paste specifically commend Bane, noting that he steals the show with his engaging presence. This sentiment is echoed by AV Club, which awarded the series a B+ and described it as a "delightful treat" for fans. Meanwhile, New York Times emphasizes the series' fun and irreverent tone, aligning it with the offbeat energy of the Harley Quinn series.
However, Collider offered a more critical view, acknowledging Kite Man: Hell Yeah! as a "worthy spin-off" but pointing out some flaws that may hinder its overall effectiveness. Despite these criticisms, the show remains largely celebrated for its irreverent tone and comedic charm.