Review: Justice League: Doom

When it comes to the DC Universe Animated Original Movies, it’s hard to know what to expect.  Ranging from amazing (Wonder Woman) to horrendous (Superman: Doomsday), the ongoing series of direct-to-video movies tends to be hit-or-miss.  Thankfully, Justice League: Doom, the 13^th and most recent film in the series, ranks near the top.

Loosely based on the comic JLA: Tower of Babel, written by Mark Waid and originally published in JLA #43-46 in 2000, the members of the Justice League find themselves at the mercy of some of their most formidable foes.  Having stolen Batman’s secret files pertaining to the heroes’ weaknesses, the new Legion of Doom, led by Vandal Savage, systematically incapacitates the Justice League, leaving the world undefended.  It’s not exactly a new story, having also been adapted in Justice, the 12-issue series from 2005 – 2007 by Jim Kruger and Alex Ross, but Justice League: Doom manages to tell it well, exposing the physical and metal vulnerabilities of these larger-than-life superheroes.   Heavy on the action, but not skimping on drama, the film keeps your attention and even has a few good moments that will make the fans cheer.  However, like past films Justice League: The New Frontier and Superman: Doomsday, JL:D feels rushed as a result of compressing a multi-issue story into an under-90-minute movie.  Much of the Tower of Babel story is left out, most notably the communications breakdown that occurs throughout the entire planet. The story is stripped down to its barest elements.

JL:D also falls victim to the all-powerful force of marketing, taking plenty of creative liberties in order to tie the film into the current state of the DCU.  Gone are Aquaman and Plastic Man, who appeared in the original Tower of Babel comic, only to be replaced by Cyborg in order to reflect his Justice League membership in the New 52.  Kyle Rayner and Wally West are also absent, replaced by their Silver Age predecessors, Hal Jordan and Barry Allen, both of whom have been resurrected since 2000, and are extremely prevalent in ongoing DC storylines.  Bane appears as well, joining up with the Legion of Doom.  I’m sure his starring role in The Dark Knight Rises prompted his inclusion.  The replacement that makes the least sense is that of Vandal Savage in the place of Ra’s al Ghul.  It’s essentially an exchange of one immortal for another.

The biggest treat, however, to come out of JL:D is the cast.  Voice director Andrea Romano opened up her little black book and brought back almost every major player in the DC animated universe from the last 20 years.  Leading the cast are, of course, the only men who should ever be allowed to voice the World’s Finest, Kevin Conroy and Tim Daly as Batman and Superman, respectively.  Joining them are Justice League alumni Susan Eisenberg (Wonder Woman), Carl Lumbly (J’onn J’onnz), Michael Rosenbaum (The Flash), Phil Morris (Vandal Savage), and Olivia D’Abo (Star Sapphire).  Rounding out the core of the League is none other than Nathan Fillion, reprising his (rightful) role as Hal Jordan from Green Lantern: Emerald Knights.  Even David Kaufman, the voice of Jimmy Olsen from Superman: The Animated Series makes an appearance.  Having heard many of these voices coming out of these characters for so long, it’s hard to imagine an animated Justice League without them.

It has its shortcomings, but Justice League: Doom is a great deal of fun for both fans and casual viewers alike.  Spectacular action coupled with great character moments make it one of the better installments in the DC animated movie series.  Directed by Lauren Montgomery (Wonder Woman, Green Lantern: First Flight) and written by Dwayne McDuffie (All-Star Superman, Justice League), Justice League: Doom arrives on DVD and Blu-ray on February 28^th.

Justice League: Doom is dedicated to writer Dwayne McDuffie, who died in February 2011.

NYCC 2011: DC All Access Panel - Green Lantern

New York Comic Con 2011 saw the return of the talented minds behind DC's multiple Green Lantern comic book series.  At the DC All Access - Green Lantern panel, GL editor Brian Cunningham, Geoff Johns (writer, Green Lantern), Peter Tomasi (writer, Green Lantern Corps), and Tony Bedard (writer, Green Lantern: New Guardians) sat down to give the fans some insight into what can be expected from the three titles in the near and distant future.

Moderator and SVP Sales Bob Wayne, Editor Brian Cunningham, Geoff Johns (writer, Green Lantern), Peter Tomasi (writer, Green Lantern Corps), and Tony Bedard (writer, Green Lantern: New Guardians)

Kicking off the discussion with Green Lantern proper, Geoff Johns delved into the relationship between Hal Jordan and Sinestro.  With Sinstro reinstated as a Lantern and Hal drummed out for having too much Willpower, all is not well in the world of the Green Lanterns. Hal wants his ring back and Sinestro wants to get rid of the ring. Now that they are in opposite positions, the pair will be addressing the personal issues that have caused so much tension between them in the past.  Johns also teased that the Justice League will attempt to intervene by approaching the Guardians directly.  Not wanting to give too much away, Johns switched gears and focused on the upcoming Green Lantern Animated Series, due to launch on November 11th on Cartoon Network.  He stated that the first arc will deal with Hal and the Corps encountering the Red Lanterns for the first time.  A tie-in comic is also in the works, which will continue and expand on the show's stories.  Once the individual storylines have been established, the comic will then provide more connectivity to the series.

Preview page from the upcoming Green Lantern Animated Series tie-in comic

Moving the discussion over to Green Lantern Corps, writer Peter Tomasi came out and talked about what to expect from his book.  According to Tomasi, the New 52 relaunch has not affected his storytelling.  "We haven't torn everything down from previous stories," he stated.  "We just want to make everything accessible to new and old readers alike."  He also made quick mention of a looming threat to the Corps, The Keepers.  These mysterious new bad guys are the ones who possessed the power batteries before the Guardians took them away.  Needless to say, The Keepers aren't pleased.

Tony Bedard, writer of Green Lantern: New Guardians came out next to talk about the newest addition to the GL publication family.  At the forefront of GL:NG is Kyle Rayner, the youngest of Earth's GL's, who, according to the New 52, has only been a Lantern for two years.  Bedard went on to say that, "Kyle may not ever be as strong as Hal, but he's capable of doing things across the entire spectrum that others just couldn't."  An exciting prospect to say the least.  Again, not wanting to give too much away, Bedard mentioned that the mystery of why all those rings are choosing Kyle at the same time will be unfolding throughout the first year of GL:NG's run.  He also revealed that fan-favorite Larfleeze, the Orange Lantern, will return in issue #4 of the book.  Geoff Johns added that we will finally hear the Orange Lantern oath.  Tony Bedard closed with the statement that he is not concerned with giving origin stories to the characters, but instead is focusing on developing the characters themselves.

Preview page from Green Lantern: New Guardians, featuring Sinestro Corps bruiser, Arkillo

Speaking on the subject of Red Lanterns, editor Brian Cunningham revealed that the first stories in that book will take Atrocitus across the universe, discovering there are a multitude of situations that demand his attention.  Tony Bedard added that this will be something new for Atrocitus, since all he wanted in the previous story arc was to kill the rogue Guardian, Krona.  Denied that opportunity, Atrocitus is looking for "an eye for an eye and then some."  

During the Q&A portion of the panel, Geoff Johns shared his thoughts on the director's cut of the Green Lantern movie.  In addition to a multitude of interviews with the creative team from the comics, the new cut features additional scenes that, according to Johns, "added more heart to Hal's story."

To close out the panel, Geoff Johns dropped a huge bomb on the crowd, asking them to keep it secret, at least for the next 15 minutes.  As he prepped to head over to the Robot Chicken panel, he revealed that he was working with RC creators Seth Green and Matt Senreich on a DC Comics special, similar to RC's successful Star Wars specials.  Look for it in 2012!

With the future of Green Lantern in capable hands, I'm looking forward to the upcoming stories, on both the page and screen!

Review: Green Lantern - New Guardians #1

The final week of #1s from the New 52 has arrived, and with it, a new title from the ever-expanding Green Lantern line.  Green Lantern: New Guardians #1 further explores the multiple corps, but how bright is the future of this new tale?

Hal Jordan now shares the spotlight with Sinestro in Green Lantern.  Guy Gardner and John Stewart can be seen in Green Lantern Corps.  So, naturally, Kyle Rayner gets to be the focal point of GL: New Guardians.  The issue opens with a brief retelling of Kyle’s origin, being sought out by Ganthet to be the “Last of the Green Lanterns” following the destruction of the Corps.  Originally seen in the New Dawn arc in 1994, we can assume that this momentous event now takes place within the last 3-5 years, the time span into which the history of the DCnU has been compressed.  After being reminded of the humble beginnings of the artist-turned-space cop, we jump to present day to check in on members of the other six Lantern Corps.  In a series of vibrant pages from artists Tyler Kirkham, Batt, and Nei Ruffino, we see seemingly random members of the Red Lanterns, Sinestro Corps, and Star Sapphires spontaneously lose their rings, leaving them vulnerable at key moments.

On Earth, we reconnect with Kyle as he flies around, doing the superhero thing.  Writer Tony Bedard takes a few humorous jabs at Kyle, having a kid ask him a bunch of snide questions about why he isn’t “the Green Lantern from Coast City” and why his uniform is different.  Immediately following the encounter with the obnoxious youngster, Kyle is recruited by the three rings we saw desert their owners earlier, as well as rings from the remaining corps.  The rings are followed by representatives from most of the Corps, including Arkillo (Sinestro Corps), Bleez (Red Lanterns), Munk (Indigo Tribe), and Fatality (Star Sapphires), all of whom accuse him of stealing the rings.  At this point, Kyle Rayner and the reader are in the same position – neither has any idea what is going on.

It seems like not a lot happens in this issue.  It’s pretty flat.  Rings abandon their owners and flock to Kyle, making him the target of every corps.  It’s over before you realize it.  The mystery and unanswered questions will obviously capture the attention and curiosity of fans, but there is no guarantee that a new reader will be prepped to dive into the pre-established world of the emotional spectrum and the fanatics that inhabit it.

Review: Green Lantern #1

The Green Light of Willpower continues to shine in the galaxy.

To counter the lukewarm debut of Red Lanterns, Green Lantern #1 hit shelves this week, launching the latest chapter in the history of the intergalactic police force.  Like a handful of other DCnU #1s, GL#1 picks up exactly where the final issue of the previous volume left off.  In the wake of War of the Green Lanterns, Hal Jordan has been stripped of his ring, Sinestro is reinstated as Lantern of Sector 1417, and Ganthet is still telling the Guardians where they can shove it. 

Hal is back on Earth, unsuccessfully readjusting to life as a normal human.  However, the hero in him refuses to go quietly, and after some failed heroics, he ends up in jail…again.  He then looks to Carol Ferris for help, but even after the passionate moments they shared in the recent past, Hal manages to screw things up with her...again.  Meanwhile, Sinestro, like the rest of the Corps, is pretty miffed that he once again has a green ring on his finger, and, for some reason, he can't get it off.  To make matters worse, he learns that his own band of miscreants, the Sinestro Corps, has defied his orders to protect his home planet of Korugar in his absence.  Instead, they are enslaving the population.  In a stunning display of pissed off brutality, Sinestro kills one of his own Corpsmen and promptly destroys the fleeing ring.  Back on Oa, Ganthet, the only Guardian with a pair, bitches out the other Smurfs for allowing Sinestro to keep his newly acquired ring.  They, in turn, make a vague statement about how they must all be "united in opinion and thought" for their "new mission."  These three unfolding storylines have already captured my attention (as Geoff Johns tends to do), and have me excited to see where it all goes.  The last page alone has me chomping at the bit for #2.

Geoff Johns continues his successful run as writer for Green Lantern, once again pairing with artist Doug Mahnke, who joined the GL creative team during Blackest Night.  Johns can do no wrong in my opinion.  That’s all I can really say about that.  Mahnke, who I only saw as “Ivan Reis’s replacement” for a while, has definitely grown on me since Blackest Night.  He has perfected the upward angle perspective shot, showcasing a pissed off Sinestro. 

Green Lantern #2 cannot come fast enough.  Will our favorite Guardian be forced to undergo some Oan reeducation?  How will Sinestro deal with his insubordinate Corps?  Where are the other Green Lanterns of Sector 1417?  And most important of all, what does the future hold for Hal Jordan?  With Green Lantern Corps #1 and Green Lantern: New Guardians #1 due in the next two weeks, we will certainly be getting more from the emerald space cops, but they will be hard-pressed to match the quality of Green Lantern #1.

Endings & Beginnings: Flashpoint #5 & Justice League #1

The hammer has fallen.  Wait… wrong universe.

On Wednesday, August 31^st, 2011, the DC Universe ended and the DC Universe began anew.

Flashpoint #5, the culminating issue of this summer’s widespread comic event, hit shelves and revealed the nature of DC’s alternate timeline.  Barry Allen, aka The Flash, learns that his efforts to prevent The Reverse Flash’s plan to change history has, in fact, destroyed history as we know it.  He must now correct his own mistake, no matter the cost.

While Barry Allen finally received the attention he has deserved since his triumphant return to the DCU in 2008, Flashpoint, as an event, failed to become the all-encompassing success it could have been.  Let’s face it, Blackest Night was a hard act to follow.  Flashpoint had some phenomenal character moments in its 5-issue run (Barry’s painful struggle to regain his speed), and some stand-out stories among the 3-part tie-ins (Thomas Wayne as Batman.  Enough said), but in the grand scheme of things, Flashpoint never really gets up to speed.  The 5-issue limit might have been a factor, since most series that attempt this scope usually run for 7 or longer.  Sadly, instead of a resounding sonic boom or a blinding light, the DCU as we know it goes out with a dull thump and a flicker.

But hope is not lost.  As The Flash makes a final effort to restore the timeline, he hears the voice of a mysterious, hooded woman, who has been appearing sporadically throughout the DCU in its final months.  While her main message heralds a “third timeline”, to which Barry is about to give birth, her words also hint at a possible reset button that might be the backdoor DC’s braintrust has left open for themselves in case the New 52 relaunch is not the success they hope for.

The Mysterious Woman witnesses the creation of the New 52 in Flashpoint #5

With the timeline (somewhat) restored, we begin a new era of DC Comics, an era where Superman doesn’t have red shorts, Sinestro is a member of the Green Lantern Corps, Barbara Gordon is out of the wheelchair, and Resurrection Man has his own book.  DC begins this era with Justice League #1.

Brought to the page by DC’s golden boys, writer Geoff Johns and artist Jim Lee, Justice League attempts to ease you into this new continuity by telling the story of the formation of the world’s premiere super-team.  However, you’re not exactly eased in.  More like thrown.  The world’s “super-heroes” are feared by the public and not yet seen as champions and protectors.  Batman is seen as as much of a threat as the criminals he pursues, Green Lantern is cocky to the point of annoying (even for Hal), Cyborg is still 100% human, and Superman is simply “the alien” flying around Metropolis.  We have a long way to go.

On a personal note, Jim Lee portraying Batman being chased by the police, and later, having a tense exchange with Green Lantern, immediately evoked memories of the disaster that was All-Star Batman & Robin.  I had to remind myself that Geoff Johns was writing this book, not Frank Miller.  I’m curious if those similarities will enter the minds of other readers and what effect it will have on their interpretations.

Justice League is not exactly the momentous #1 that comic fans are probably expecting, but it’s definitely the first chapter in what I hope will be a broad, engaging story.  I will definitely stay with it to see how it all plays out. 

With 13 new #1s hitting shelves this week, we will be watching closely to see how the first few weeks of the relaunch play out.  Keep checking back for more on the New 52!

Wizard World Philadelphia: Green Lantern Panel Recap

This past weekend, hoards of comic book fans descended upon the city of Philadelphia for the Wizard World Comic Convention, and Open the Fridge was right in the middle of it!

Thor dove headlong into the artist alley, sketchbook in hand, Lightstar1013 rubbed elbows with actor Adam Baldwin (Firefly), 3eeve chatted with artist Shane Davis (“Superman: Earth One”), KTDE shared a few words with actresses Alaina Huffman and Julia Benson (Stargate: Universe), and yours truly heard the latest on the DCU from some of its top talent.

Artists Ethan Van Sciver, Shane Davis, Prentiss Rollins, and writer Todd Klein sat down with fans to answers questions on anything and everything DC, and didn’t hesitate to crack a few jokes along the way.  Read on for some highlights from the panel.

When asked about the upcoming Red Lantern title, due this fall, Shane Davis discussed the genesis of the napalm-vomiting rageaholics and also amused the crowd with the true origin of Dex-Starr, the feline Red Lantern of Sector 2814.  “Dex-starr is my cat, Dexter.  He started out as a practical joke, hand on bible.  [Geoff] Johns said to keep him in.”

Working off Davis’s anecdote, Ethan Van Sciver added that he “like[s] to create new characters rather than rely on the ones that already exist.”  He backed up this statement by agreeing with a fan’s suggestion of an ongoing series about the different members of the multi-colored Lantern Corps that have been established in the last two years. 

Prentiss Rollins, Ethan Van Sciver, Todd Klein, and Shane Davis

The discussion then quickly devolved into a hilarious exchange of stories about what these artists manage to hide in their art.  Ethan Van Sciver made the ridiculous claim that “The Atom is in every picture I’ve ever drawn.  He’s just way behind people.”  Shane Davis followed up by sharing that he included the abbreviation, LOL on the tip of an RPG that was fired by Jason Todd, aka The Red Hood, and that no one ever saw it.  Van Sciver and Prentiss Rollins fired back with the tale of how Van Sciver included the word “sex” once on every page when the pair worked on "New X-Men" for Marvel.

The panel then returned to more serious topics as the quartet took questions about how to bring in new readers.  Refusing to let the discussion get too serious, Van Sciver quickly answered, “Bear traps.”  Joking aside, all four men agreed that the upcoming DCU reboot is a great opportunity for new readers to jump onboard and start following any character’s story, literally, from #1.  This led to questions about the comic book market.  Van Sciver passionately went on about how readers, new and old, have access to the art and stories of the comic book industry, not only through single issues and bound collections, but also through digital downloads, a feature that offers incredible convenience.  If you are a new reader looking to jump onboard, Wednesday, August 31st is the day to do it.  

Many thanks to Prentiss Rollins, Ethan Van Sciver, Todd Klein, and Shane Davis for an entertaining and informative panel.  Keep checking www.wizardworld.com for future events!

Movie Review: 'Green Lantern'

Green Lantern lights up the screen, but will it shine at the box office?

Warner Brothers and DC Comics will enter unfamiliar territory this week.  A major DC superhero that isn’t Batman or Superman will finally make it to movie screens.  But will audiences embrace the emerald glow, or will it blind them? 

Green Lantern is a spectacular science fiction adventure, featuring stunning effects, a talented ensemble of actors, and action that leaps straight off the comic book pages.  At the forefront of the adventure is Hal Jordan, the cocky test pilot who is faithfully brought to life by actor Ryan Reynolds.  As a staunch member of the group that was initially unsure about the casting of Reynolds, I can honestly say now that he totally sold me.  From Hal’s dry wit to his hidden vulnerability, Reynolds does a great justice to the character.   

Other actors who deserve praise include Peter Sarsgaard, who exudes the disturbing creepiness of Hector Hammond, and Blake Lively, who finds the balance between no-nonsense businesswoman and lifetime friend to Hal Jordan in the character of Carol Ferris.   However, the true gem among the cast is Mark Strong as hardened Green Lantern Corps veteran, Sinestro.  While all of his time onscreen is brilliant, his shining moment involves a very well-delivered speech in the middle of a sparring session with Hal.   

But no movie is without its faults.  Actor Tim Robbins just seems to be happy to be in a movie and gives a fairly lackluster performance as Senator Hammond, and composer James Newton Howard, most likely under pressure from Warner Brothers to capitalize on the success of Iron Man, mixes his orchestrations with some excessive rock.   Also, other members of the Green Lantern Corps, especially drill instructor Kilowog and master of exposition, Tomar-Re, voiced by Michael Clarke Duncan and Jeffrey Rush respectively, almost seem like an afterthought and deserve far more screen time than they were allotted.   

It’s very difficult to guarantee that this movie will be a summer blockbuster.  The target audience of comic book fans is fairly specific, and those unfamiliar with the characters or the stories will more than likely be a little weirded out by the sci-fi trappings.  Iron Man’s lovable a-hole, Tony Stark appealed to audiences, so hopefully the cocky Hal Jordan will do the same and get people talking positively.  With any luck, the film will do well enough at the box office to not only establish Green Lantern as a bankable franchise, but also to allow for the production of future films featuring DC’s pantheon of heroes.  While all of these outcomes will be determined in the coming weeks, one thing is certain right now: this happy Green Lantern fan is proud to be a Corps member.

Directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale), Green Lantern opens nationwide on Friday.

New Green Lantern Trailer Online!

Due to appear on screens before Thor on Friday, the new Green Lantern trailer has hit the web. Check it out below!

The trailer shows much of what was already seen in the now legendary WonderCon footage, but there are plenty of new sights and sounds to further excite moviegoers.  We get a good look at the Guardians, Sinestro gives Hal an appropriately hard time, and the resounding bass of Michael Clarke Duncan emanates from Kilowog. And.....Oh right! Tim Robbins is in this movie!

Green Lantern will shine brightly in theaters on June 17th!

Michael Clarke Duncan to Voice Kilowog!

Light 'em up, Poozers!

In a stunning display of typecasting, Michael Clarke Duncan (The Green Mile) has been tapped to lend his voice to Kilowog, the alien drill sergeant with a heart of gold, in Green Lantern.  He joins Geoffrey Rush in what is sure to be a growing list of actors who will speak for the Green Lantern Corps.

On a personal note, this is a casting cop out.  Just because the character is almost 8 feet tall and burly, it does not necessitate the resounding bass of Mr. Duncan's voice.  I think back to Daredevil and imagine those casting meetings...  "Hmmmm, we need someone HUGE to play The Kingpin..."

Kilowog was previously voiced by Dennis Haysbert in a handful of episodes of Justice League and later by Michael Madsen in the direct-to-DVD feature, Green Lantern: First Flight.  Haysbert provided a voice that focused more on the softer side of Kilowog's character, and Madsen nailed the gruff attitude of the GLC's drill instructor.  Henry Rollins will add his name to the list for Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, another direct-to-DVD release, scheduled to hit shelves on June 7th.  I foresee his interpretation being similar to Madsen's.

Since the announcement about Geoffrey Rush being cast as Tomar-Re was immediately followed by fans getting to hear him in the WonderCon footage, perhaps we will hear the voice of Kilowog in the new trailer, which is due to debut in front of Thor on May 6th.

Green Lantern's light grows brighter as its June 17th release date gets closer.

'Green Lantern' WonderCon Footage!

UPDATED (4/3/2011): Embedded the new Green Lantern footage, and changed the panel videos after the jump with higher quality audio.

At San Francisco's currently-ongoing WonderCon, fans gathered in droves yesterday to catch a glimpse of June's upcoming release of Green Lantern.

Moderated by the legendary Geoff Johns (writer of Blackest Night, Flash: Rebirth, and soon, Aquaman), the panel (featuring stars Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively) fielded questions from the crowd and treated the fans to a 9-minute taste of Hal Jordan's creation story.  Thankfully, the WB saw fit to release part of that footage (an abridged part, unfortunately, but a part, nonetheless) to the masses who were unable to attend WonderCon this weekend.

[If this YouTube upload vanishes from the interwebs, you can watch the footage at iTunes here.]

The response to the footage has been overwhelmingly positive -- going so far as to completely change the minds of those who have claimed to have been skeptical of the movie from the beginning.

I. cannot. wait.

Green Lantern is slated for release on June 17, 2011.

The good people at Screen Team Media recorded the entirety of the panel for the YouTube masses to enjoy. Hit the jump for the videos!

Click to read more ...