Time to wing it!
Two years after it was announced, Kite Man: Hell Yeah! is finally here. The ten-episode spin-off series comes from Harley Quinn creators Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker (Abbott Elementary), and Dean Lorey (Creature Commandos), who set out to make Cheers with villains.” Lorey told SFX magazine, “That was the concept because it was something a little different from Harley while still being in the same universe.”
Since being introduced in season one of Harley Quinn, Kite Man (Matt Oberg) has had quite the journey. He started out as a perverted himbo and a complete simp for Poison Ivy (Lake Bell), who firmly believed having a kite was a superpower. And like Bane (James Adomian), Kite Man was never treated with respect and was always made to be idiotic.
However, he got more interesting and likable the more we saw of him. He may be a villain but he’s also a good-hearted, well-meaning person. Now, after being strung along, cheated on, and forced to cancel his wedding to Ivy because she didn’t actually love him, Kite Man finally gets to be genuinely happy.
The last time we saw him was in Season 3 when he was seated at the same table with Ivy and her true love Harley Quinn (Kaley Cuoco) at the Villy Awards. We also briefly met his new supervillainous girlfriend Golden Glider (Cathy Ang), who right away seemed like a much better match. In Kite Man: Hell Yeah!, we really get to see the underappreciated villain take center stage alongside the love of his life.
As seen in the trailer, Golden Glider/Lisa Snart (Stephanie Hsu, taking over for Ang) is a deadly figure-skating rogue with an upbeat personality, a wicked sense of humor, and an enthusiasm for criminal activities. In other words, she’s perfect for Kite Man. Plus, they both love doing random Borat impressions. The two have a similar dynamic as Harley and Ivy — madly in love, super supportive, matching each other’s dorkiness. They constantly call each other “babe,” which admittedly gets tedious but no doubt adorable.
Kite Man and Golden Glider’s relationship is put to the test when they somewhat irresponsibly purchase Noonan’s, a seedy Gotham City dive bar frequented by hitmen, henches, goons, and the occasional top-tier villain. Their current regulars include Queen of Fables’ decapitated head (Janelle James stepping in for Wanda Sykes), Gus the Goon (Rory Scovel), and new characters, Joe and Moe Dubelz (Michael Imperioli). The previous owner, Sean Noonan (Jonathan Banks), also hangs around.
Then, of course, there’s Bane. The lovable, fan-favorite character gets a lot more to do in this show, especially compared to the last couple of seasons of Harley Quinn. No more pasta-related side quests, though he still has his own misadventures that involve unrequited love, fashion, and babysitting. The show may be called Kite Man, but Bane is a major player.
Noonan’s is located near the Legion of Doom headquarters, where Lex Luthor (Lance Reddick, instead of Giancarlo Esposito) and the other more popular villains gather to discuss their various crimes. Even in a show centered on villains, Lex is still the main big bad. However, new character, Helen Villigan (Judith Light), becomes an evil rival.
We get brief appearances by Harley herself (Kaley Cuoco, also an executive producer on Kite Man), Ivy, and Frank the Plant (JB Smoove), along with other Harley Quinn characters including a surprise cameo or two from A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special.
Darkseid (Keith David, previously Michael Ironside) appears throughout the season doing what he does best — declaring war. His main connection to Noonan’s is through Malice (Natasia Demetriou) and her demonic cat, Chessure. DC Comics fans will recognize Malice Vundabar as a young member of the Female Furies, though her character in the show is different.
It takes an episode or two to get used to the new voice cast who took over for established characters. Wanda Sykes’ Queen of Fables portrayal was very distinct, as was Giancarlo Esposito’s Lex Luthor. However, Janelle James and the late Lance Reddick (in one of his final acting roles) make the respective characters their own. The noticeable casting changes are likely due to scheduling. Similarly, Keith David gives Darkseid a different, more comedic vibe than Michael Ironside’s iconic performance. Both are fantastic.
Unsurprisingly, the show delivers Harley Quinn-level blood-splattering violence. Golden Glider performs triple axels while slitting throats with her skates and in the first episode, we learn she has another power she can’t fully control, resulting in even accidental casualties.
Bane and Kite Man team up more than once to cause some trouble. The series composer Michael Gatt’s (Batman: The Long Halloween, DC Super Hero Girls) hard rock tunes are the essence of Kite Man and his catchphrase, making action-packed scenes incredibly fun.
Kite Man: Hell Yeah! is a Cheers-inspired workplace comedy that is just as wildly fun, ultraviolent, and hilarious as its predecessor. It’s different enough to feel fresh and surprising while maintaining the tone and humor of Harley Quinn. I was immediately invested in Kite Man and Golden Glider’s relationship, as well as the lives of Noonan’s patrons, made up of our favorite rogues along with a growing roster of even more obscure DC characters.
Kite Man: Hell Yeah! debuts with two episodes on July 18, followed by one new episode weekly through September 12 on Max.
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