Marvel may dominate in the live-action superhero stakes, but DC continues to wipe the floor with them in the world of animation.
The latest animated feature from DC, Justice League - The Flashpoint Paradox (based on the universe-changing Flashpoint series which launched the whole New 52 comic book schtick) is quite possibly my favourite superhero cartoon to date.
After The Flash (voiced by Justin Chambers) and the Justice League thwart an attack in Central City by Professor Zoom (C. Thomas Howell) and The Rogues, Flash wakes up the next morning in a world he doesn't recognise.
Not only does he not have his speed powers but his murdered mother alive, but Superman's rocket crashed into Metropolis not Smallville, Bruce Wayne was killed in Crime Alley not his parents and the planet is on the brink of Armageddon as a globe-spanning war between the forces of Aquaman's Atlantis and Wonder Woman's Themyscira reaches boiling point.
Determined to find out what's going on, get his powers back and get back the world he knows, Barry Allen heads to derelict Wayne Manor and finds Bruce Wayne's father, Thomas (Kevin McKidd) is the Batman of this dark world.
Together, they set about finding out what has caused this alternate reality and trying to figure out how to put things right.
Although not overly graphic, The Flashpoint Paradox is a very brutal story with a lot of unpleasant death and carnage (although a fair amount happens off camera, there's no sidestepping, say, the murder of the Shazam kids) so be warned if you are thinking of letting children watch this.
For my money, you can't really go wrong with superheroes, time travel and alternate dimensions, but The Flashpoint Paradox doesn't rest on its laurels there - the story is packed with clever details and Easter Eggs for comic fans, as well as standing on its own as a brilliant science-fiction story.
The story is also a magnificent showcase for the powers of The Flash (and his counterpart, Professor Zoom) with the climactic fight between Flash and Zoom in the demolished city being one I'd love to see recreated in a live-action movie.
I'm already looking forward to next year's Justice League - War, even though it has an entirely new voice cast, which is a bit of a shame, as I hope DC will be able to keep up this level of animated superheroic excellence.
Great review!
ReplyDeleteThis and The Dark Knight Returns are my favourite DC superhero cartoons. It might be because it is so brutal that I like it.
Thank you. I possess both parts of The Dark Knight Returns, but for some reason have never gotten around to watching the second half. Must correct that oversight.
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