BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS Part One/Part Two

Senior Batman vs eternally young Superman

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS Part One/Part Two (/Video/2012 - 2013). Director: Jay Oliva.

Based on Frank Miller's graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns, this two-part animated feature looks at the dark side and older years of Batman/Bruce Wayne. Batman has not appeared in Gotham city for a decade, but the threat of a homicidal gang that calls itself the Mutants, and whose activities are becoming more and more violent, bring him out of retirement. Eventually this brings him into conflict with the Gotham police department, which gets a new female commissioner in part two, and then with Superman in the final sequences. Taking care of the Mutants with blunt brutality, something the police were not able to do, makes the now-senior Batman a hero in the eyes of some Gothamites, and a fascist in others, such as the Joker's nutty psychiatrist, who thinks Batman is the real sociopath and is responsible for villains like the Joker. This is all played out before a backdrop of social and political commentary. A new, very young female Robin named Carrie at first seems like a frivolous character, as she comes out of nowhere and seems to have had absolutely no training, but she grows on you after awhile. There's more than one suggestion that the Joker in this might be gay -- his final confrontation with Batman is in a Tunnel of Love! -- as well as other sexually ambiguous characters, but whether this is to give them added color or is mere LGBT exploitation is debatable. [One villainess has a butch haircut and swastikas painted on her naked, substantial breasts!] Peter Weller makes a fine Batman, with David Selby also notable as Commissioner Gordon, and other voice roles are well cast.The animation is fluid and Oliva's direction is fast-paced and cinematic. This is not your father's Batman.

Verdict: Sometimes thought-provoking, sometimes childish, but it holds the attention. ***.

JUSTICE LEAGUE VS GODZILLA VS KONG

JUSTICE LEAGUE VS GODZILLA VS KONG. Written by Brian Buccellato. Art by Christian Duce and Tom Derenik. DC Comics/Legendary Comics. 2024. Originally published over seven issues. 

In a story that is apparently outside of normal DCU continuity, Superman is planning to propose to Lois Lane when trouble erupts in the shape of old foe and King Kong variation Titano. But that's only the beginning. Lex Luthor and his Injustice Society manage to invade Superman's Fortress of Solitude, and somehow wind up bringing Godzilla and other monstrosities -- a gargantuan spider, a winged Bat-creature, a mammoth-type beast with enormous tusks -- into the DCU via a "Dreamstone" manipulated by Toyman. Superman has little problem with Titano, but Godzilla is another matter, and a blast of his nuclear breath puts Superman in a kind of coma where his fellow Leaguers aren't even certain if he's still alive. Green Arrow winds up on Skull Island where he not only encounters King Kong (much, much larger than in the original movie) but the League of Assassins, who are up to no good. Under the seas another huge creature -- and Godzilla -- threatens Atlantis, so Aquaman unleases a many-tentacled Kraken to beat them off. Gorilla Grodd uses his mind-control powers to turn both Kong and Supergirl against our heroes temporarily, and also snuffs Green Lantern Guy Gardner. Luthor puts his mind inside a gigantic robot, MechaGodzilla, while Batman counters with his own gargantuan Bat-robot! Superman eventually recovers and joins the fray, he and his colleagues taking after monsters, Luthor, and assorted super-villains alike. 

Now if this isn't the ultimate fan boy's collection -- not only super-heroes but giant monsters, plus Lex Luthor and his huge collection of super-villains -- I don't know what is. The story is well-told, juggling all of these different characters and pop culture references together in swift and exciting fashion, while the art is at least serviceable and often quite striking. There was a sequel which will soon be out in a hardcover collection as well.  

Verdict: The ultimate pop culture experience. ***1/2. 

 

SUPERMAN (2025)

Superman (David Corenswet) goes into action

SUPERMAN (2025). Director: James Gunn.

David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman and Nicholas Hoult (of The Menu) as Lex Luthor give fine performances in this new Superman movie that trades on some nostalgic references while trying to stay somewhat contemporary in its approach. Kyrpto, the super-dog, more an artifact of silver age comics, shows up, and we've got Steve Lombard and Cat Grant -- both of whom work for the Daily Planet -- from the seventies. Superman's robots occupy the Fortress of Solitude. Instead of a phantom zone there is a prison that exists in a pocket universe and in which Superman is temporarily imprisoned. 

Hoult as Lex Luthor

In addition to bad guy Luthor, there is a clone called Ultra-Man, and a mammoth, if silly-looking monster that attacks Metropolis. As well there are appearances from members of the "Justice Gang," including Metamorpho, Green Lantern/Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Mr. Terrific, and Hawkgirl. Oddly, Ma and Pa Kent are pretty much portrayed as hillbillies! Superman is entertaining enough, Conrenswet makes a swell, good-looking Man of Steel, but while this by no means a bad movie, it's still lacking something. 

Verdict: Okay only. **3/4. 

SUPER-ACTION: THE COPPER AGE OF DC COMICS

SUPER-ACTION: THE COPPER AGE OF DC COMICS. William Schoell. BearManor Media; 2024. 

Here is my latest installment in the history of super-hero comic books, this one focusing on DC Comics in the 80's and 90's, the so-called "copper" age. You can read about the rise of the maxi-series, such as Crisis on Infinite Earths, in which DC streamlined its universe and eliminated all of its parallel worlds (for a time at least). Then there's writer-artist John Byrne's big reboot of Superman (which did not last as long as intended, at least not with Byrne at the helm). George Perez' new take on Wonder Woman, in which the lady was turned from a joke into the star of a must-read series. In other developments Batman's partner Dick Grayson grew up, changed his name to Nightwing, and became leader of The New Teen Titans, a series so popular it rivaled Marvel's X-Men for a time. Batman got two new boy partners, Jason Todd and Tim Drake, one of whom is murdered by the Joker in the excellent (if wildly-contrived) "A Death in the Family." Flash. Green Lantern. Suicide Squad. Power of the Atom. More maxi-series than you can shake a stick at: Cosmic Odyssey, Legends, Armageddon 2001, Millennium. Read how DC Comics faced the challenge of Marvel and held its own!

Available on Amazon!

OTTO BINDER: THE LIFE AND WORK OF A COMIC BOOK AND SCIENCE FICTION VISIONARY

 

OTTO BINDER: THE LIFE AND WORK OF A COMIC BOOK AND SCIENCE FICTION VISIONARY. Bill Schelly. North Atlantic Books; 2016. 

Otto Binder was a science fact, science fiction, and comic book writer -- one of the most prolific in the business -- who began by writing for the pulp magazines and then turned to comics when they paid more money. He wrote more stories about Captain Marvel and his friends and enemies than anyone else, and at DC Comics was instrumental in adding characters and interesting developments to the Superman mythos. Later on he wrote science articles, as well as books on investigations into UFOs. Binder's personal life was often beset with both financial and private problems, and he suffered one terrible family tragedy that nearly derailed him. This is a respectful, absorbing, well-written and researched biography that gives Binder his due while also giving an honest assessment of his work, both good and bad. This is far more than a "fan-boy's" tribute, but a fully-realized biographical and career study of an important figure in both science fiction and comic book circles. 

Verdict: Excellent Binder biography. ***1/2. 

COMIC BOOK ANIMATED MOVIES

Green Arrow, Bats, Nightwing, Flash, Red Robin

JLA ADVENTURES: TRAPPED IN TIME (2014). Director: Giancarlo Volpe. During a battle between the Justice League and his Legion of Doom, Lex Luthor is frozen in ice and doesn't thaw out for hundreds of years. Karate Kid, who wants to join the futuristic Legion of Super-Heroes along with fellow applicant Dawnstar, accidentally frees Luthor from the ice. Using the Time Trapper for his own ends, Luthor goes back in time and conspires to make certain the Justice League won't exist (although taking Superman out of the equation wouldn't necessarily accomplish that). Now that the JLA is no more, Karate Kid and Dawnstar work to set things right. Solomon Grundy, Bizarro, and especially Toyman are ridiculous characters in this. Still, the movie is colorful and entertaining, and the JLA's battle with the Time Trapper is exciting enough. **3/4.

BATMAN UNLIMITED: ANIMAL INSTINCTS (2015), Director: Butch Lukic. Batman and his allies Nighwing, Red Robin, Flash and Green Arrow go up against an "animalitia" that is run by the Penguin, employs deadly animal androids, and has such members as Cheetah, Killer Croc, Man-Bat, and the ape, Silverback. Penguin's ultimate plan is to draw an asteroid to Gotham, where the citizenry that mocked him will be killed, and he can get at the gold inside the asteroid's core. In this full-length animated feature's strange continuity, the Penguin seems not to have operated before and Bruce Wayne has never met Kirk Langstrom (Man-Bat). The animation is generally fluid, and there are some fine voice characterizations, especially by Laura Bailey as Cheetah, and Dana Snyder as the Penguin. Nightwing's initially obnoxious attitude towards Flash is never explained. The movie has exciting moments, but never quite becomes a contender. One ridiculous sequence has Flash, who has apparently not been in action all that long, taking forever to get himself out of a rope trap -- not very likely. **1/2. 

SUPERMAN: BRAINIAC ATTACKS (2006). Director: Curt Geda. In a full-length spin-off from the Superman cartoon show, the Man of Steel (Tim Daly) wants to tell Lois Lane (Dana Delaney) his big secret but also has to contend with two major villains. After Superman seemingly defeats the techno-biological creature Brainiac (Lance Henriksen), Lex Luthor (Powers Boothe) finds an important piece of him and rebuilds him under his control -- or so he thinks. Now Brainiac is more dangerous than ever. Meanwhile Jimmy Olsen has his hands full with Luthor's curvaceous and dangerous assistant, Mercy. Fluid animation and good direction makes this a good bet for younger viewers. Basically well-done if minor-league. **3/4. 

BATMAN: THE DOOM THAT CAME TO GOTHAM (2023). Directors: Christopher Berkeley; Sam Liu. 

In this animated movie based on an "Elseworlds" (stories told out of DC Universe continuity) graphic novel, Batman and concepts created by H. P. Lovecraft prove not to be a good fit, as logical Batman has never worked that well with the supernatural. The story, which has Bruce Wayne/Batman returning to Gotham after twenty years, begins in an Antarctic cavern and employs such characters as demonologist Jason Blood, Oliver Queen, Ra's Al Ghul and his daughter Talia (of the "Cult of Ghul"), Harvey Dent, Dick Grayson and the Penguin, among others, The only voice actor whose name I recognized was Jeffrey Combs as Kirk Langstrom, who in other stories is better-known as Man-Bat. The actors do a good job with the various characters, but ultimately this is not one of the more memorable DC animated movies. **. 

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES (2023). Director: Jeff Wamester. Superman's older cousin Kara/Supergirl (Meg Donnelly) is also a survivor of Krypton but she arrives on earth years after Superman (Darren Criss) does and now appears younger. Not adjusting to life on 21st century Earth very well, Superman takes her to the 30th century, where she applies to the academy of the mostly teenage Legion of Super-Heroes. Things get off to a bad start when she mistakes Brainaic-5 (Harry Shum, Jr.), a descendant of the original Brainiac, for the real deal and attacks him, but it isn't too long before the couple are billing and cooing. Meanwhile most of the other Legion members are missing in action, and an ancient and sinister group called the Dark Circle is behind this -- and one of Superman's arch foes is behind them. Kara's colleagues in the academy include Triplicate Girl, Bouncing Boy, Mon-El, and the weird Arms-Fall-Off Boy, one of whom turns out to be a traitor. An interesting aspect has the original Brainiac showing up with the bodies of his other descendants grossly incorporated into his own physical structure. Legion of Super-Heroes is a fun and exciting animated movie. Flash Batman, and Solomon Grundy have cameos. ***. 

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK: APOKOLIPS WAR

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK: APOKOLIPS WAR (2020). Directors: Matt Peters; Christina Sotta.

In this animated feature Superman decides that instead of waiting for major villain, Darkseid, ruler of Apokolips, to attack, the Justice League should take the battle to him. Unfortunately, Darkseid is prepared, and two years later we see the results: a decimated Earth where a handful of heroes and others are all that stand between Darkseid and his ultimate conquest. The main character in this movie seems to be second banana John Constantine, who has mystical powers and has been drinking heavily since he ran off and left Zatanna to die (although his alleged act of cowardice is later explained). Batman has become one of Darkseid's acolytes, but his son Damian Wayne (Stuart Allan) fights the good fight, along with the Demon, Lois Lane, Lex Luther, Harley Quinn (why must this awful character appear in so many comics and movies?), Swamp Thing, the Titans and the Suicide Squad. (In a ridiculous moment it is revealed that bisexual Constantine is the ex not of Harley, as some suspected, but King Shark, which would sort of make Constantine a bestialist!)

Damian Wayne and resistance members

Raven of the Titans, turned into a teenager in this film so that she can bond with Damian Wayne, has been suppressing the essence of her evil father, Trigon, but he escapes to take over the body of Superman, leading into a battle between Trigon and Darkseid, which is perhaps not as exciting as expected. There are evil versions of other heroes, manipulated by Darkseid, and Apokolips War emerges as a kind of sequel to Flashpoint. The whole thing is fairly colorful but these things tend to work better on the comic page. Fun for devotees, however.

Verdict: Fairly exciting super-hero animated feature. **3/4. 

INJUSTICE

Superman kills the Joker

INJUSTICE (2021). Director: Matt Peters.

Superman (Justin Hartley) discovers that his wife Lois (Laura Bailey) is pregnant on the same day that she -- along with Jimmy Olsen and millions of others in Metropolis -- is murdered by the Joker. Understandably furious at the Joker, to put it mildly, as well as angry that Batman has never arrived at a final solution for the Joker, Superman punches his fist through the villain's chest and ends his menace forever. This completely understandable act of revenge -- or justice -- on the part of Superman, while perhaps out of character, leads into a conflict between him and other members of the Justice League.

The Man of Steel on the offensive

Superman decides that the super-heroes of the world should use their abilities to shut down oppressive governments and terrorists without mercy. Wonder Woman agrees with him, as does 13-year-old Damian Wayne (Zach Callison), Batman's edgy son. But even Wonder Woman is appalled when the Man of Steel literally murders some teenage geeks who think the Joker is "cool." Batman, Green Arrow, and other heroes then stand against Superman and the battle is on. 

Wonder Woman and the Justice League

Injustice is based on a DC graphic novel but many of its ideas are taken from the excellent Marvel Comics mini-series Squadron Supreme (whose characters were actually variations of the DC heroes), which dealt with similar issues of responsibility and the corruption of power. Other characters in the movie include Dick Grayson (who is killed and becomes "Deadwing)," Cyborg, Green Lantern, Flash, and the villains Ra's Al Ghul, Mirror Master, Amazo, and Harley Quinn, an idiotic character who nearly ruins the movie. The Atom and Green Arrow are also killed. While there are some exciting sequences in the movie, you might get the feeling that you've seen it all before, although much of it is fun.

Verdict: A lack of originality doesn't help but it's great to see the Joker finally get his! **3/4.