It seems as though the number of "origin stories" in the comic book world vastly exceeds the number of superheroes. It feels as though every few years the origins of our favorite heroes and groups are reexamined, rethought, and retold. Taking these comic book legends and putting them on film (either animated or live action) allows for yet another telling of these ever-popular tales.
Releasing direct-to-DVD this week is a new look at the founding of Justice League (a group of the most popular DC comic heroes). Based on Darwyn Cooke's graphic novel, Justice League - The New Frontier provides origin stories for several superheroes as well as the founding of the League.
The animated feature boasts an impressive voice cast including David Boreanaz (Angel), Brooke Shields (Lipstick Jungle), Miguel Ferrer (Bionic Woman), Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), Kyle MacLachlan (Desperate Housewives), and Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess). However, with the incredible plethora of characters present in the feature, none of the actors truly get the chance to shine.
The story follows the founding of the Justice League and takes place from the mid-1950s through the early 1960s. At the outset there is a great amount of distrust due to Cold War paranoia surrounding the superheroes including the most famous, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman. In turn, the heroes grow to distrust the government and people that they have fought to protect for so many years. At the same time an evil entity known as "The Centre" has begun to affect the minds of susceptible individuals around the world. The Centre's goals appear to be nothing more or less than wiping humanity from the face of the earth, and no matter how much the superheroes may dislike the governments of the world, this is something they cannot allow.
Much of the runtime of the film is spent on the backstory of Hal Jordan, who becomes the Greeen Lantern, and a Martian named J'onn J'onzz, who eventually takes the superhero title Martian Manhunter. The film also delves a little into the crises of faith being had by Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and The Flash.
Article comments
1 - Chris Beaumont
I am looking forward to this. Oh, and David Boreanaz would probably like a mention of his current series, Bones. :)
2 - angela
Lucy Lawless was beyond perfect casting. How they'd get her to do it? She was very against the idea of playing Wonder Woman in an live action movie in the early 90s, after all.