Superman: Escape from Krypton Review

We're here at Six Flags Magic Mountain. For today's ride, we'll be traveling back in time to review Superman: Escape from Krypton. This ride was originally known as Superman the Escape and was one of the first coasters to go 100 miles per hour and reach 415 ft tall. But then for 2011, they decided to give Superman a makeover and turned it into Superman: Escape from Krypton. This DEFINATELY was an improvement. You went in and took your seat. Now a little warning. If you didn't sit in the back row, I would've avoided the edge seats due to the arm guards that they havd. Now they havd them there for saftey reasons so dumbasses couldn't go and hit the sides (Trust me. There are A LOT of dumbasses wh would've tried to do that. Especially here in Los Angeles). So don't go saying "Remove those things!!!" Because while they were uncomfortable and did pin your arm in, they were needed. After you're all settled in, the train launched. Now I'll admit, I wasn't a fan of the launch when it was running forewords. But backwards, this launch KICKED ASS!! Even though you knew it, you didn't really expect it and were flung into the OTSRs, but not so hard that it hurt. So yeah!The launch kicked ass now! Now while launching, you got a good view of a Superman S and a blue station. They had to make it look pretty now that riders were actually looking there. Another thing I noticed is that Superman was going a lot faster than normal. Well, it was not only running full speed during the Technical Rehersal and Media Day, but the open cars and backwards motion really do increase the sensation of speed. This was noticed at the end of its life when they started running it forewards again, but with the new lighter cars. Still an improvement from its original self. So that was a tremdous help. You then rose straight up into the sky backwards! Another big improvement in the new Superman Experience. Looking down. The height Superman reached meant A LOT more now that you can actually see how high you were. And the fall back down was just as awesome! You really got a freefall sensation and felt all the wind in your face. And it kicked ass! You then raced back to the station, and couldn't help but cheer. By both official standards and Incrediblecoasters Standards, Superman's Makeover was a HUGE success and tremendously helped the ride. Unfortunately, the ride is now gone. It initially closed in September 2024 for standard maintenence. Unfortunately, they announced spontaneously in March 2025 that it would never open again and that they suddenly decided to just close it forever, instead of spending the money needed to properly invest in the ride. The tower itself would stay because its still being used for Lex Luthor, and Six Flags Magic Mountain didn't want to also kill their drop tower because of this, unlike another certain Six Flags park *cough* Six Flags Great Adventure *cough*. Yeah. I'm still frustrated that they closed the ride spontaneously and never gave the ride a proper send off. Especially since Superman was a really rare and unique ride. It initially had a clone, Tower of Terror. But that closed in 2019, leaving Superman as the only one of its kind. And....yeah. Now the Reverse Freefall is officially dead. Which is a real shame. =( Yeah. I understand the logic, but....I'm still bitter that they did this at a time when Cedar Flags did a huge coaster genocide and closed TONS of coasters, making me FAR LESS sympathetic and understanding.

8/10

Location: Six Flags Magic Mountain

Superman the Escape opened in 1997

Superman reopened as Superman: Escape from Krypton in 2011

Died: September 2024

Built by: Intamin

Last Ridden: August 8, 2022

Superman: Escape from Krypton Photos