"Superman/Batman: Apocalypse," released this week, is the ninth straight-to-video DC Comics animated movie since the series started in 2008, and one of four this year. Comic-book fans should be cheered by the movies' fidelity to the source material, but animation fans might want Warner Bros. to slow down and craft them better.
"Apocalypse" adapts six issues of "Superman/Batman" from 2004, a story written by Jeph Loeb and drawn by Michael Turner that introduced the current version of Supergirl. And, as noted, the comic book moves almost entirely intact to the screen. Not only is every beat of Loeb's story lifted, but the animators even attempt to mimic Turner's art style on Supergirl, giving her the artist's signature long waist and big eyes.
As stories go, it is an action-packed character-palooza. Not only do we get the introduction of the Maid of Steel, but we get classic friction between Superman and Batman over the girl's trustworthiness, a star turn by Wonder Woman (whose Amazons train the young Kryptonian), Big Barda of the New Gods and even an obscure heroine named Harbinger whose back story is so difficult to explain that the movie doesn't bother to try. Barda appears because the evil New Gods do; Granny Goodness kidnaps Supergirl so Darkseid can corrupt her, leading to an all-out brawl between the good guys and the "gods" of Apokolips -- not only Darkseid, but also Steppenwolf, the Furies (Gilotina, Lashina, Mad Harriet and Stompa) and Parademons o'plenty.
To tell you the truth, though, there was so much heat vision, Omega beams, fistfights, explosions and macho posturing that it got repetitive and boring after a while. That wasn't helped by the mediocre animation, which didn't rise to the level of a "Justice League Unlimited" episode.
Still, there's a lot to like about a cartoon in perpetual, breathless forward motion, especially for kids. And it's not nearly as dark -- and therefore is more kid-friendly -- than the previous outing, "Batman: Under the Red Hood." Plus, the voice casting was giddy fun: Tim Daly reprising the Man of Steel, Kevin Conroy doing his growly Bat-bit, Summer Glau ("The Sarah Connor Chronicles") as Supergirl and the wonderful Ed Asner bending gender as the incredibly evil Granny Goodness.
The single-disc edition of "Superman/Batman: Apocalypse" is only $20, but you don't get the bonus short feature. "Green Arrow," which will be included in the "DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection" later this year, is available on the two-disc DVD ($29) and two-disc Blu-ray ($30).
