BREAKING MOVIE/TV NEWS

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Animated Features For "JLA", "Superman" and "Batman"

Warner Home Video reports that its next round of 'DC Universe' animated movies for 2012 will include "Justice League: Doom", adapting DC Comics' "Tower of Babel", "Superman vs. the Elite", adapting the DC Comics' story and "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns", a two-part feature, based on the DC Comics' stories written by Frank Miller.

"Tower of Babel", a "Justice League" story arc written by Mark Waid, deals with Batman's perceived betrayal to the superhuman community by keeping records concerning the strengths and weaknesses of his allies in the 'JLA', including plans to eliminate his allies in a fight.

But his files are stolen by 'Ra's al Ghul', who uses them to defeat the Justice League through a coordinated attack.

'Batman' is the only League member not attacked, as 'Martian Manhunter' bursts into flame upon exposure to air, 'Aquaman' is rendered hydrophobic by an altered form of the 'fear' toxin used by 'Scarecrow' and 'Plastic Man' is frozen solid, then shattered by a hammer by one of Ra's al Ghul's henchmen.

'Green Lantern' is rendered blind by his own power ring from a post-hypnotic suggestion introduced while he was asleep, 'Wonder Woman' is trapped in a virtual reality battle against an opponent who is her equal, a specially designed 'vibra-bullet' strikes 'Flash' in the back of the neck, causing him to experience seizures at light speed, and the skin of 'Superman' becomes transparent after exposure to' red kryptonite'.

"Superman vs. the Elite", written by Joe Kelly featured 'The Elite' super-powered anti-heroes.

They appeared in a number of stories as antagonists, before some of them merged with members of the Justice League, to form 'Justice League Elite'.

Elite team members include 'Manchester Black', the team's late first leader, 'Vera Black', his sister and the second leader, 'Coldcast', capable of manipulating electromagnetism, 'Menagerie I', who was lobotomized and placed in a coma and 'Menagerie II', currently in a 'metahuman' prison facility for the insane.

"Batman: The Dark Knight Returns", the four-issue comic book limited series written and illustrated by Frank Miller (Sin City") , was originally published by DC Comics under the title "Batman: The Dark Knight" in 1986.

Set in a dystopian near-future version of 'Gotham City', "The Dark Knight Returns" follows a 55-year old 'Batman' who comes out of retirement to fight crime, only to face opposition from the Gotham City police force and the US government.

Virtually all superheroes, with the exception of Superman, have been forced into retirement or otherwise driven away by a distrusting populace.

'Bruce Wayne' (Batman) has voluntarily retired from crime fighting following the death of 'Jason Todd' (the second 'Robin'). In the absence of superheroes, criminals run amok, and a gang called the 'Mutants' terrorize the city.

Click the images to enlarge...