My new Superdrive will not work on my new IMac M1. It is pluged into a brand new ANKER adapter, which powers everything else I have plugged into it. The message I get is that I have to connect it to a USB port on this MAC, because it needs power.

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities.

You need to connect SuperDrive with an official Apple adapter: USB-C to USB Adapter - Apple.

Cheers,

Jack

All you need is a simple pass through adapter. tbirdvet's suggestion works just fine for both me and my wife on various iMacs and MacBooks. Plug it directly into the Mac.

A good adapter should work and you do not need to use an Apple adapter but it needs to be connected directly to your Mac. Mine works fine. here is an example:

https://www.amazon.com/Syntech-Adapter-Thunderbolt-Compatible-MacBook/dp/B07CVX3516/ref=sr_1_1?crid=13TWWYFUG1MEJ&keywords=usb-c+to+usb-a+adapter&qid=1636331217&qsid=130-6284053-5040463&sprefix=usb-c+to+usb-a+adapter%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1&sres=B07CVX3516%2CB079LYHNSR%2CB085VT1VJT%2CB00VU2OID2%2CB07LF72431%2CB08HZ6PS61%2CB07DLB2XYF%2CB01GGKYYT0%2CB07XYTHCXV%2CB07BS8SRWH%2CB08NVM8158%2CB07JW7GT7H%2CB087R1GZ1Q%2CB01COOQIKU%2CB07KR45LJW%2CB07L749R9R&srpt=ELECTRONIC_ADAPTER