Justice League

Justice League vs. Teen Titans

  • Title: Justice League vs. Teen Titans
  • IMDb: link

Justice League vs. Teen TitansThe latest home video release further exploring the characters and world introduced in Son of Batman sends the uncompromising Damian Wayne (Stuart Allan) to the Teen Titans in hopes that Robin may be able to learn teamwork and trust. Borrowing a little from Damien’s time with the Teen Titans prior to the New 52 reboot, writers Bryan Q. Miller and Alan Burnett choose to give their spin on a more classic Trigon (Jon Bernthal) story. As with the previous movies, the story lacks the Robin/Red Robin rivalry from the comics, but certainly entertains.

With both heroes and villains being possessed by a demon threatening to break into their world, Raven (Taissa Farmiga) reveals the truth about herself and her father to her teammates Beast Boy (Brandon Soo Hoo), Blue Beetle (Jake T. Austin), and Starfire (Kari Wahlgren). When Raven is captured and multiple members of the Justice League are possessed by Trigon it falls on Robin and the Teen Titans to save the day.

Justice League vs. Teen Titans Read More »

Batman v Superman: Trainwreck of Justice

  • Title: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
  • IMDb: link

Batman v Superman: Dawn of JusticeWhat did I just watch? Returning to the scene of the crime while building on the shaky foundation of 2013’s Man of Steel, a film which turned DC Comic’s moral center into a cold-blooded killer, director Zack Snyder and writer David S. Goyer expand DC’s bleak, joyless universe with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Shot in Snyder’s “cinematic” style of making every shot look like a music video, the incoherent plot makes poor use of its stars who attempt in vain to keep this Titanic from heading straight towards the iceberg at full speed. Cobbled together from a number of sources, most notably Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns and The Death of Superman, DC’s attempt to jump-start a Justice League franchise is an uneven mess of goo thrown against a wall in the vain hope that something might stick.

What’s surprising, given my dislike for Man of Steel, is the fact that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice isn’t an awful movie – just an incompetent one. While it’s certainly not good, the movie introduces several interesting ideas (even if it doesn’t quite know what to do with any of them).

Batman v Superman: Trainwreck of Justice Read More »

Justice League United #14

Justice League United #14Let me start by saying I have absolutely no idea what is happening in Justice League United #14. The second issue of an arc (yeah, okay I’ll admit I didn’t read the last issue, but seriously WTF is going on?) involving members of the team being trapped in a WWII battlefront along with a Who’s Who of lesser known DC characters including Sgt. Rock, Vandal Savage, Robotman, the Creature Commandos, Enemy Ace, the Unknown Soldier, and Batgirl is as bizarre as it sounds. Hell, even O.M.A.C. shows up before all is said and done. And it’s also kinda fun.

I haven’t picked up an issue of Justice League United over the last six months finding the title’s opening arc only so-so. The cover of Justice League United #14, featuring Stargirl and Batgirl, however grabbed my attention as did the odd collection of characters within. With the series facing cancellation before the end of the year it’s obvious that writer Jeff Lemire and artist Paul Pelletier have been left to their own devices to construct an unusual tale that while baffling still makes me want to stick around to see how things turn out. Congrats DC you’ve finally sold me on the title.

Justice League United #14 Read More »

Justice League: Attack of the Legion of Doom!

  • Title: LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Attack of the Legion of Doom!
  • wiki: link

Justice League: Attack of the Legion of Doom!Despite unfortunately trapping our heroes in their less colorful and far blander New 52 costumes, the follow-up to LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League proves to be even more entertaining than the original. In Super-Friends style, LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Attack of the Legion of Doom! gives us an entire legion of villains teaming together to take down the Justice League.

Bringing back the core group from the first movie, with the exception of replacing Guy Gardner with Hal Jordan (Josh Keaton) (whose rivalry with the Flash, thankfully still in his classic costume, proves to be a fun running gag), the sequel also gives us a cameo by the Trickster (Mark Hamill), whose minifig is included with both the DVD and Blu-ray releases, and makes Batman (Troy Baker) the head of the Justice League as the heroes fight off the new super-villain team and the insecure Cyborg (Khary Payton) learns to grow into his role as a true hero.

Justice League: Attack of the Legion of Doom! Read More »

Justice League: Gods and Monsters

  • Title: Justice League: Gods and Monsters
  • IMDb: link

Justice League: Gods and MonstersI was ecstatic when I heard Bruce Timm was returning to DC for a new animated feature. One of the creators behind Batman: The Animated Series and Justice League Unlimited, the animated DCU just hasn’t been the same since his departure. When I heard the premise of the movie, however, I was more skeptical. It turns out I need not have feared that Bruce Timm might be corrupted by the grit of the New 52 that’s turned so much of DC’s comic and video output to shit. Timm certainly delivers a darker and more adult story than expected but it’s still grounded in a profound understanding and love for these characters that is far too often lacking in much of DC’s current output.

Although the word Elseworlds doesn’t appear in its title that’s exactly what Justice League: Gods and Monsters is: a story set in an alternate version of the DCU vastly different from the any we know. The result is as unexpected as it is enjoyable. It may not be classic Timm, but the man certainly hasn’t lost his knack for characters, design, or storytelling.

Justice League: Gods and Monsters Read More »