In the second part of “Apart of Me”, Buffy is forced to consider the life that could have been and gets a cool new robot arm. Check out our review of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 9 #9.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 9 #9
Written by Andrew Chambliss, Scott Allie
Art by Cliff Richards

What would life have been like for Buffy Summers if she wasn’t the chosen one? If she hadn’t spent her high school and college years patrolling graveyards and dusting vampires, what kind of career path would she have chosen? Would she have hobbies, friends, a good job, a serious relationship?

There’s no doubt that Buffy’s had these thoughts before, but in the second part of the story arc “Apart of Me”, she finds herself confronting them when she comes face-to-face with the life that she could have had–if she was normal. Because she’s a robot, and real Buffy has been hidden away in some kind of alternate life that Andrew created, with no memory of who she really is.

With every pained look, we can see how hard it is for Buffy to see the “Buffy dream house” that was made to protect Buffy–the real Buffy–by hiding her in a normal person’s life. Completely unremarkable. Ordinary to a boring degree. To most, nothing special. To Buffy, more reminders of the life she’ll never have.

Things are unnecessarily complicated for her, all the time. Like in this issue, where she’s still a robot. Yes, she’s got Buffy’s mind and memories and Slaying skills, but she’s still a robot, and one who’s missing an arm for the first part of the issue. And to make matters worse, the real Buffy is now missing, kidnapped by a rogue Slayer with a big ego and a thirst for vengeance.

Meanwhile, Xander and Dawn–yay, more Scoobies!–are helping Detective Dowling deal with the loss of his partner, who is now a zompire (Season 9‘s special blend of vampires and zombies). Downling is reluctant to slay her, as anyone would be, which leads to a touching moment in which Xander remembers slaying his best friend Jesse in the pilot of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television show. (And just as a side note, it always bothered me that they never mentioned him again, so it’s good to know that Xander hasn’t forgotten.) While I don’t want this comic series to spend its time dragging up the past, moments like that reassure me that these are still the same characters I have loved since middle school, and they haven’t forgotten where they came from. The tension between Xander and Dawn is still palpable, and I hope the next issue digs deeper into their relationship, which appears to be falling apart.

Even without a lot of action to move the plot forward, issue #9 still packs an emotional punch. With this story arc wrapping up next month, I can’t wait to find out what direction Season 9 will take our Scoobies next. As the season approaches its halfway point over the next few months, I have to assume we’re going to start seeing a lot more action, but smaller character moments like the ones in this issue are great, too. I do hope Buffy gets out of the robot and back to normal soon, though… well, as normal as life can ever be for Buffy Summers.

Since the release of 2008′s Iron Man, fans have been eagerly anticipating the release of Marvel’s The Avengers. With subsequent releases The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger, Marvel slowly laid the foundation for the ultimate team-up movie. There was a chance The Avengers could have been a crowded, jumbled mess. Fortunately, under the deft hand of Joss Whedon, and with the impeccable skills of the cast, the film doesn’t come anywhere close to collapsing under the weight of lofty expectations. The Avengers is the film fans have been waiting for, and even better, it’s probably the best comic book superhero movie ever made.

Read on for our completely 100% spoiler-free review.

The Avengers
Directed by Joss Whedon
Written by Joss Whedon, Zak Penn

For four years, Marvel has been building to this moment. The biggest characters (not under the control of another studio) teamed for one gigantic all-star extravaganza. Little nods and hints and post-credit sequences tied the universe together, but no amount of teasing could have saved The Avengers if the movie proved too big for its own britches. Comic book films with large casts haven’t had great critical success in the past (to be fair, the Schumaker Batman films and Fox’s Fantastic Four flicks did make loads of money), and even with fan-favorite writer/director Joss Whedon at the helm, there was a cloud of doubt surrounding The Avengers. Would every character get enough screen time? Was Loki a strong enough villain? Would other cast members be able to hold their own against Robert Downey, Jr? Would “normal” heroes like Hawkeye and Black Widow work in a world with a Hulk? The Avengers answers all criticisms, and does so resoundingly. Mere minutes into the film, any preconceived notions you had will be washed away with a sense of awe.

To any comic book reader, The Avengers‘ plot will seem fairly paint-by-numbers. The individual heroes will meet, fight, discover they share a common goal, and become buddies just in time to take down the big bad they’ve been after all along. The movie doesn’t deviate from the typical team-up formula, but that’s not a bad thing. There are a lot of people out there who haven’t seen this cliche brought to life ad nauseum over the years on the printed page. What’s more, Joss Whedon and Zak Penn bring enough nuance to the story that even though you might know all the beats, you’ll still be thrilled to see them fall into place. The insane amount of action is complimented perfectly by smaller character moments, and Whedon and Penn show a lot of skill in balancing all the various elements at play at any given moment.

It should come as no surprise to longtime fans of Joss Whedon that he’s more than capable of juggling a large cast of varied characters. That skill set is on display throughout The Avengers, as not only does every character get his or her due, but the characters are also arguably more fleshed out here than they have been in their own individual movies. In having to create a film that both ties the past half-decade of blockbusters together, while also making the movie completely accessible to people who’ve yet to see a single Marvel adaptation, Whedon is able to cut right to the essence of the characters. The dynamic between Tony Stark and Steve Rogers is brought to life brilliantly, and it’s refreshing to see Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow treated as more than window dressing.

A superhero movie wouldn’t be much good without an appropriately menacing villain, and Tom Hiddleston’s Loki (who stole all thunder from Hemsworth in Thor) is outstanding in his role here. Sure he’s got an army on his side to help fight the physical battle, but Loki’s strength lies in his cunning and ability to instill doubt, panic, and fear in our unnerved protagonists. Hiddleston has really stepped into the shoes of the iconic Asgardian, and brings him to life in such a way that you really do hate Loki, but you also kind of like him. There’s a reason why Downey and Hiddleston share so much screen time, and that’s because these two are acting on a completely different level than anyone else in the movie. That’s not to diminish the efforts of actors like Mark Ruffalo (who plays Bruce Banner just as good if not better than the revered Ed Norton) or Chris Hemsworth (whose Thor actually has some depth this time around), but nothing comes close to the give and take chemistry Stark and Loki share on screen.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a comic book movie without loads and loads of action, and The Avengers is filled to the brim with white-knuckle sequences. Once the movie reaches its climax, there’s no taking the foot off the throttle. Whedon crafts the big moments with ever-increasing intensity, and once the big battle starts, it’s tough to remember to breathe. The scale and scope is so massive it can be tough to keep up with everything that’s happening on screen at once. Several times throughout the film, Whedon makes use of faked long-takes, which even with computer-aided assistance make for some really remarkable sequences. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Whedon script without some bouts of humor sprinkled in, and the auteur’s trademark sensibilities break up the action very nicely.

There’s almost nothing The Avengers does wrong. It’s a truly wonderful action movie with great characters, imposing villains, and a strong script. No comic movie released to date is as complete a package as The Avengers. This is a film that will have you laughing, clapping, smiling, and on the edge of your seat for the entire duration. The wait has been worth it, and the work of Marvel’s film production studios to build to such a tremendous crescendo has paid off in spades. The only disappointing aspect is that we’ll now have to wait another four or five years for the next adventure.

One final note, we saw the film in 3D. Despite the conversion happening in post-production, The Avengers actually has some really great 3D. The sense of depth is the best we’ve seen in a post-converted film so far; however, some of the action is a little too fast-paced for the 3D at times.

100/100 – Amazing.

The Avengers is rated PG-13, and arrives in US theaters Friday, May 4 in regular, 3D and IMAX 3D screenings.

Another story arc begins in the eighth issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 9. Check out our review of part one of “Apart (of Me)”. Season 9 spoilers ahead!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 9 #8
Writer: Andrew Chambliss
Penciller: Cliff Richards
Inker: Andy Owens
Colorist: Michelle Madsen
Cover Artist: Georges Jeanty

Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I was… confused. I wasn’t crazy about the way the last issue ended, for a couple of reasons: it seemed like a cop-out to the unintended pregnancy storyline, and it kind of came out of nowhere. Now that the issue has been out for a few weeks, I can safely discuss the fact that Buffy is, apparently, a robot. And therefore not pregnant. Also, missing an arm. Yeah, issue #7 was a bit befuddling.

The mystery of robot Buffy is cleared up pretty quickly in this issue, though that by no means solves the problem. I’m glad that the story has once again taken a turn for the interesting by veering through totally unexpected territory, despite my complaints in my last review. Fan favorite Andrew makes a return in this issue, which shouldn’t be much of a surprise–where there are Buffybots, there’s Andrew.

I’m glad Season 9‘s plot is back on track, but I’m a little unsatisfied by the elimination of the pregnancy storyline. Sure, I’ve never seen another storyline get rid of an unexpected pregnancy with a surprise robot, but it’s not that much better than the old “has a miscarriage right before the abortion” or “pregnancy test turned out to be wrong” trope (indeed, the pregnancy test was wrong, though I suppose that was a programming error, not a biological indicator).

I’m also missing the rest of the Scooby gang, though we do get a quick look at Dawn and Xander in this issue. Something has been brewing with those lovebirds for several issues; though it’s presented subtly, there’s some tension in that relationship, and I have a feeling it’s going to explode at some point. Dawn’s more independent now than ever before, but she’s gone from being Buffy’s kid sister to Xander’s college-aged girlfriend. Maybe if she spent some time on her own it would really allow the character to grow.

Penciller Cliff Richards does a great job of conveying a lot of emotion without the need for many words in this issue, which is a sign of a great partnership with writer Andrew Chambliss. However, we’re once again left with a cliffhanger at the end of this issue. I understand the need to leave readers wanting more (and I always do!), but I’d like see the resolution of one or two of these open threads.

In just a few weeks Buffy’s focus has gone from getting an abortion to not being a robot, which I guess isn’t even that unusual in the life of a Slayer. I know she’s the star of the show, but I hope we get more time with what’s left of the gang next month.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 9 #8 will be in comic shops on Wednesday, April 11.

Buffy’s serious troubles take an odd turn in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 9 #7. Read on for a review of the second part of “On Your Own”.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season Nine #7
Written by: Andrew Chambliss
Penciller: Georges Jeanty
Inker: Karl Story
Colorist: Michelle Madsen
Cover Artist: Phil Noto

In the second part of the story arc “On Your Own”… wait, what?

Let’s start at the beginning. At the end of the last issue of Buffy Season 9, Buffy had decided–after weighing her options heavily–to have an abortion. Even with her support network of close friends, she wasn’t ready to become the second mommy Slayer, and she turned to Spike for help.

In this issue, Buffy’s roommates, who have recently discovered that she’s a Slayer, vote not to kick her out of the apartment. They like having her around, and feel safe having a Slayer nearby in troubled zompire-filled times. However, it’s too late, as Buffy has flown the coop and is moving into Spike’s giant bug-filled spaceship.

Didn’t I say something about BtVS returning to normalcy in season nine? Perhaps I spoke too soon.

This issue is very weird and, ultimately, a little disappointing. When reading it, I had a lot of trouble figuring out Buffy’s motivation for moving in with Spike. Yes, he’s already an insider to her world of stakes and blood, but he’s also clearly still devoted to her, and it seems uncharacteristically cruel to lead him on.

Other than Spike, the Scoobies are mysteriously absent in this issue. There’s a B-story with the San Francisco police trying to fight zompires on their own, and both storylines converge during a climactic fight at a nest.  The ending isn’t so much a cliffhanger as a “what the hell just happened?” I had to read it twice because I thought I had missed something, but no, I’m still not sure what’s going on.

While the artwork in this issue was solid, there wasn’t a lot of variety in the environments or characters. No page or panel stood out as being exceptional, though the characters, as always, looked consistent, and really embodied their television counterparts. Georges Jeanty has done a great job of bringing these characters to life throughout the comic series, and he continues to do so here.

Clearly, this wasn’t my favorite issue of Buffy, but I’m optimistic that #7 is just a small misstep in what has been an otherwise fantastic season. I’d love to know where this story is going after the unexpected twist at the end of this issue, and I’ll eagerly await the next issue of Season 9. Hopefully by the end of S9 #8 I’ll have a better idea of what this twist ending actually meant.

My game of comic book catch-up continues this week with Batman Beyond, a continuation of one of my favorite animated TV shows that takes a look at the Dark Knight of the future.

You know how, when you’re a kid, the greatest thing about Saturday morning is the cartoons? Well, that tradition continued for me well into high school. I was a huge cartoon fan growing up, and one of my favorites was the superb Batman: The Animated Series. One day, a new Batman showed up in my Saturday morning line-up–Terry McGinnis, Batman of the future. The show was Batman Beyond, and I eagerly tuned in every Saturday to view it along with my weekly doses of The New Adventures of Batman/Superman and Pokemon. A few years ago, I bought the series on DVD and was very impressed with how well it held up. Naturally, when I heard Batman Beyond would finally be making the jump to comics, I was ecstatic.

I highly enjoyed the 2010 comic miniseries, and bought all eight issues of the 2011 series, but somehow, the books didn’t get read… until last week, when I finally started reading. And once I started, I couldn’t stop.

The first three issues of Batman Beyond have Terry trying to balance work and his normal teenage life… again. His ever-patient girlfriend, Dana, is certainly appreciative, but not so much when he jets off in the middle of a date (again). This time, the threat is a new Matter Master, and when the Justice League flies into town to help Batman take care of it, Terry–and Bruce Wayne–are none too pleased. But since Terry’s mom and brother are among Matter Master’s hostages, he has no choice but to work with them.

What’s interesting about this story arc, entitled “Heart of the Matter,” is how Terry ultimately disregards Bruce’s instructions about how to deal with the Justice League, and follows his instincts. This isn’t the first time Terry has run into the Justice League of the future, and those episodes of Batman Beyond and Justice League Unlimited were some of my favorites.

The fourth issue is a one-shot in which we get a closer look at Terry’s friend Max, a computer genius who knows his secret identity and often helps him out. To be honest, I’ve never given Max much thought before this issue; sometimes she’s annoying, sometimes funny, but it never occurred to me that she might actually have a life outside of being Batman’s BFF. With skills as elite as hers, someone else was bound to take notice eventually–and now it might be Max who’s leading a double life.

Then comes another three-issue arc, “Industrial Revolution”, which I didn’t like as much as the first four issues, but it still had some great moments and the return of a classic Batman Beyond villain. The power struggles and riots at Wayne-Powers were less interesting to me than finally getting to see what Dana’s life is like outside of being Terry’s girlfriend. As a character, she’s often one-dimensional–getting mad at Terry for being absent, forgiving him, then getting angry all over again–and, like with the Max issue, it’s nice to see that she has other concerns. In this case, it’s an older brother who was just released from prison, and apparently, Dana still doesn’t entirely trust him.

Finally, the eighth issue is another character-specific one-shot that details the origins of Inque. This is a real treat for fans of the TV show, since Inque is one of the most memorable Batman Beyond villains, and I was surprised by the dark past that led to her current state.

The writers and artists on this book have completely captured the tone and aesthetic of the television show and put it on the page, which I love. It’s a little darker, but not being a Saturday morning cartoon anymore, Batman Beyond can get away with that, and I like it. For so many years after the cartoon ended, I talked about how great the show was, and I often felt that I was the only one who cared. I’m glad enough people thought that Terry McGinnis was a character worthy of a continuing story, and I’ll keep on reading with Batman Beyond Unlimited #1, which is next on my pile.

UPDATED WITH RESPONSE FROM NECA.

Today, Joystiq reported on the presumed cancellation of NECA’s upcoming Portal gun replica. Fortunately, it appears all hope is not lost, as NECA recently gave a reason for the gun disappearing from retail sites as a pre-order item.

ASHPD is coming for May/June as planned & will be offered soon in an organized & fair manner so all have a fair chance at this great item.”

Joystiq’s story pointed to an customer inquiry to Entertainment Earth. In their response, Entertainment Earth stated “as of last Friday [NECA] has withdrawn the item” and NECA would “no longer planning on making it for the foreseeable future.” However, according to NECA’s Twitter account, run by Director of Product Development Randy Falk, NECA is still planning on making and selling the Portal gun later this year.

A fan asked Randy why the item had disappeared from the company’s own site, to which he responded: “it’s still coming! Too many sites were taking pre-orders too soon. We need to allot and offer fairly so all have a chance.” It would appear that there were just too many pre-orders being taken for this highly coveted item. So many in fact that NECA had to pull the item to rethink the production numbers of the item.

Until NECA offers a more official statement on the matter, we’re still going to assume the gun is coming, just at a later date then originally planned. We’ve reached out to NECA for a response, and will update you all as soon as we hear back.

We’ve finally gotten to catch up with our favorite teen heroes in the latest volume of Young Justice: Season One. These four latest adventures put the junior Justice League in some precarious situations, but it’s nothing Robin, Artemis, Superboy, and the gang can’t handle.

Young Justice: Season One, Vol. 3
Directed by Michael Chang and Jay Oliva
Written by various

This DVD consists of four episodes: “Bereft,” “Targets,” “Terrors,” and “Homefront.” Picking up not too long after the conclusion of the Volume 2, this volume sees our favorite teen heroes conquering their insecurities almost as much as they’re toppling bad guys. From the relationship between Miss Martian and Superboy growing from crush to a full-blown, secret romance, to Artemis overcoming her fear of being inadequate both as a daughter and a hero, this installment is full of wonderful character moments. There’s plenty of action in there too, but the writers of each of these episodes really spent time getting to the core of the emotional experience these young adults were going through, and it makes you really care about what’s happening to these individuals outside of the costume.

Some of my favorite moments from this particular collection come from the first and final episodes on the disc. “Bereft” finds the team separated, and without a clue why they’re in a foreign country. Slowly, the memories return, but the action is on point, and the camaraderie between the kids is showcased perfectly. Even though none of the members really remember who the other are, they still find a way to work together to save one another. “Homefront” is a bit different, but is action-packed nonetheless. The team comes under attack at their base, and it’s up to Robin and Artemis to save all the powered members from the mysterious threat. I have to commend the way the episode was written, as Artemis is really given a chance to shine, and the way her character is handled is a true testament to the character (even if she is a bit different than the comic book version).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWHB0rG-OQ4

Again, the voice acting and animation are continually superb. This volume gives each of the characters a bit more time to really shine, and all of the voice actors involved do a fantastic job no matter what the scene calls for. The animators really do a nice job of capturing emotion, and they seem to have just as easy a time keeping the action fast-paced. The series really starts firing on all cylinders in this collection, and when great characterization is met with solid acting and animating, you’ve got an incredible viewing experience on your hands. If I had to come up with one gripe, it’s that there are only four episodes on this disc (like the previous volumes), and I just want to keep watching more. Hopefully Warner Home Video is working on a complete box set for release at some point.

Truthfully though, it’s tough to complain about such a well-put together series. Young Justice is clearly ready to make its mark as one of the premiere DCU animated properties. I’m eager to see how the rest of this season plays out, and whether or not Young Justice can keep up being so consistently strong. I’ve got faith in this show to do so. I just hope I’m right.

90/100 – Great.

Check out what Phil Morris, Andrea Romano, and Kevin Conroy had to say about working on Justice League: Doom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkWQ_wVLJLk

Justice League: Doom premiered earlier this month at the Paley Center in NYC, and we hit the red carpet to talk with some of the cast and crew. See what Kevin Conroy, Phil Morris, and Andrea Romano have to say about working on the latest DCU animated feature, and get a few brief glimpses at the film in motion.

Interviews by Luke Brown
Shot and Edited by Nick Murphy

For years, people had been talking about how phenomenal Valve’s Half-Life 2 was. I just didn’t understand the appeal of yet another first-person shooter where you fought off an alien invasion. It didn’t help that I didn’t have a PC of my own, and that until the release of The Orange Box, the Half-Life experience was extremely limited on consoles. Fortunately, a few years ago I received The Orange Box, which contained the whole Half-Life 2 story to this point, for Christmas. Then I finally played it the other day. Now I completely get it.

Though Half-Life 2 may not appear to be much more than your standard “man saves world from alien invasion” shooter, Valve includes so much personality and life into the characters it becomes hard not to feel like a part of that world. You play as Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physicist who finds himself on the frontlines of a revolution both by choice and by chance. Getting into the shoes of a slightly-smarter-than-the-average man instead of a running, gunning musclehead is a nice change of pace. That said, as Gordon, you’ll do more than your fair share of running and gunning. For a seemingly feeble scientist, this everyman has got some action hero chops. Gordon is the sci-fi equivalent of Indiana Jones. Both are highly respected professionals in their field, but both also have an innate ability to handle whatever life throws at them. Including aliens.

Primarily, you’ll be fighting alone, but there will be more than a few occasions when you’ll have a partner or two fighting by your side. Unlike most contemporary shooters, these partners actually come in handy, and are very useful in a fight. Everyone you meet is cool, but Alyx Vance is the greatest person alive. Seriously. Unlike most love interests, Alyx is completely fleshed out. She’s got her own agenda, ideas, and abilities. She doesn’t just cater to Gordon’s whims, and is far from a damsel in distress. Not only is she smart, attractive, and completely devoted to the revolution, but she can also hold her own in a gunfight. It’s easy to see why so many fans are eagerly anticipating Half-Life 2: Episode 3. She’s important not just to Gordon, but to the people who’ve spent hours playing the game, hoping to be reunited with the girl of Gordon’s dreams for what seems like forever.

The real selling point of this game though is how emotionally invested you become in it. I play dozens of games every year. There are very few in my lifetime that I can say have resonated with me emotionally on some level. Half-Life 2 definitely makes that list, and it’s because of the game’s incredibly strong characterizations and impactful human moments. Unlike Homefront, which is another video game about a dystopian future where you aid a resistance against an invasion, the downtrodden people of City 17 aren’t just there for shock value. You get a real sense of just how defeated the general population is, and when you finally meet up with some of the members of the resistance, even they’re not 100% sure they’ll be able to pull it off. Neither are you. That’s what makes completing the adventure so great. Even as you’re taking down some of the more advanced enemies towards the end of the game, you’re not really sure if it will be enough to help the human cause. There’s always a bigger threat looming, and with the cliffhanger that Episode 2 ends on, I have a feeling things are only going to get worse for Gordon.

It’s not easy for me to become so enthralled with a game, but Half-Life 2 certainly lived up to the hype of everyone who ever talked to me about the game. There’s just such a quality to every component of the game. Valve can certainly add me to the long list of people awaiting the next installment. I could definitely see myself playing this game again just to be reunited with some of the characters (read: Alyx), but for now I’m content to just reflect upon my time in City 17, and wonder what could possibly happen next.

Justice League: Doom is the latest animated adaptation from Warner Home Video. Not only does it highlight the strengths of the original comic story it was based on, but it also continues to raise the bar ever higher for DC Comics animated features.

Justice League: Doom
Written by Dwayne McDuffie
Directed by Lauren Montgomery

As Justice League stories go, “Tower of Babel” is one of the most memorable of the past decade. Pitting the Justice League against the greatest foe they never knew they had, the story focuses in on just how well-prepared Batman is for all possible outcomes. Unfortunately for the Justice League in this story, the contingencies Batman is prepared for are the members of the League going rogue. It’s an incredible story that really tests the limits of morality and consequence, and Mark Waid handles it with a deft hand. Thankfully, the extremely talented Dwayne McDuffie was tasked with adapting “Tower of Babel” into a feature, and the result is a slightly tweaked story that’s stronger for all the right reasons.

In the original comic, Batman’s plans are stolen by Ra’s Al Ghul, who then turns these fail-safes against the JLA. Here, Vandal Savage is the mastermind behind the attacks, though McDuffie has him recruit his own Legion of Doom to assist in the removal of the Justice League members. While the core of the film’s dramatic problem comes from Batman inadvertently causing everyone in the League all this trouble, having each of the members pitted against one of their biggest rogues adds a bit of depth to the story that was otherwise missing from the original tale. Ultimately Ra’s and Vandal are after the same thing (complete world domination), but in Justice League: Doom, the inclusion of characters like Bane, Mirror Master, and Star Sapphire gives each of the heroes something more to do than be angry at Batman. Additionally, the slightly tweaked methods of eliminating the Justice League are a bit more interesting in the film then they are in the comic. It’s a testament to McDuffie’s strengths as a writer that he’s able to tweak such an already strong narrative and make it more interesting.

Like any of the DC animated features to bring back a majority of the cast from the Justice League animated series, Justice League: Doom is one of the best acted films in the DC animated library. There isn’t much left to say about Kevin Conroy’s Batman or Tim Daly’s Superman, other than having these two actors reprise the roles once again only proves how definitive their takes on these characters are. Michael Rosenbaum, Susan Eisenberg, and Carl Lumbly also bring their respective characters to life in ways that only they can. While Nathan Fillion’s tenure as Green Lantern has been short, Justice League: Doom gives the character some surprising emotional moments that really resonate thanks to his performance. Bumper Robinson gets a go as the new recruit Cyborg (in an effort to make this JL cast as close as possible to that of the one starring in current comics), however his screen time is limited, and he acts as more of a plot device than anything in this film.

As for the villains, Phil Morris has played Vandal Savage before, but never with such bravado and calculatedness. He’s truly a villain that could go toe-to-toe with the League at any time, and it’s great to see him bring life to this character that is otherwise left to the wayside in favor of the Lex Luthors and Jokers of the world. Paul Blackthorne (Metallo), Olivia D’Abo (Star Sapphire), and Alex Denisoff (Mirror Master) do some solid work, but Claudia Black (Cheetah) and Carlos Alazraqui (Bane) leave more lasting impressions. As with any ensemble, it’s tough to really stand out when sharing so much of your screentime with the much more memorable and iconic heroes. That said, every single one of the actors holds their own against the longtime actors behind the League. Movies like this really showcase just how important Andrea Romano’s skills as a voice director really are for the DC and WB properties.

What really stuck out to me watching this film was how much more of an anime influence there was in the art direction. Even though the animated features have each had drastically different styles, none of them have been quite so Eastern in their style. It’s not a bad thing at all. The new style brings a kinetic energy and a looseness to the film that would otherwise have been missing were the art style more along the lines of what many have dubbed “Bruce Timm style.” The action sequences have more explosiveness in them, and the characters have a new life to them thanks to the heavy anime influence. Some people will undoubtedly be turned off by the new look, but honestly, Justice League: Doom looks great in motion.

I probably sound like an old record constantly talking about how each of the DC animated movies is better than the last, but that’s truly been the case. Justice League: Doom is no exception to that rule, and once again raises the standards of what we should expect from strong superhero features. It’s a great story. It’s got the best cast of all the films to date. There’s really no way this film can’t be the best one that Warner Home Video has produced to this point. I didn’t think any of the films would supplant Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, but they did it. I just hope whatever film is next can live up to this impossibly high new standard.

Justice League: Doom will be available on DVD and Blu Ray combo pack February 28, wherever videos are sold.

95/100 – Great.