It's Movie Time!
Today's movie post is about an animated film that was released in 2008 based on the acclaimed graphic novel by writer/artist Darwyn Cooke, DC: The New Frontier.
Based on that book, Justice League: The New Frontier chronicles the gathering of various super heroes and adventurers in 1959 to combat a global supernatural threat. I had an opportunity to watch this movie a few months ago.
An unknown entity, named "The Centre," is born from the Earth itself and witnesses the evolution and extinction of the dinosaurs, and the rise of humanity.
The Centre does not particularly care for that last bit and decides that humans need to be destroyed.
We meet our various protaganists who will over time come to stand against the Centre's machinations.
United States Air Force pilot Hal Jordan has some serious PTSD from his time in the Korean War. He will go on to become Green Lantern.
Kyle "Ace" Morgan, Hal's wingman from Korea, will become one of the Challengers of the Unknown.
J'onn J'onzz, the erstwhile Martian Manhunter, is stranded on Earth from a science experiment gone wrong and lives among humans as Gotham City Police Detective John Jones.
Slam Bradley is an ace detective and Jones' partner on the Gotham City police force, unaware of his partner's alien origins.
One person who has deduced Jones' true nature is Gotham City's masked vigilante, Batman.
Police scientist Barry Allen employs his super speed as The Flash to fight crime and help people. And avoid the sinisters machinations of a paranoid U.S. government that doesn't trust this new masked super hero running around.
Rick Flag is a dedicated soldier and loyal American heading up a secret mission to travel to Mars.
King Farrady is an American spy serving a secret and maybe sinister agenda.
Wonder Woman is on Paradise Island, ostracized from the outside world she refuses to capitulate to with man's rigid ideas about law and justice.
Superman is still around and doing his thing because he is prepared to suck up to the U.S. government.
All these characters and more intersect with the Centre's growing manipulation of minds, creating doomsday cults and influencing people in positions of authority.
The Centre physically manifests itself as a flying, living island protected by mutant dinosaurs, attacking Paradise Island where a mortally wounded Wonder Woman barely escapes in her invisible jet to warn the human race.
Then the Centre turns it's deadly attention to attacking Cape Canaveral.
The Flash, Green Arrow, Adam Strange, the Challengers of the Unknown, and the Blackhawks join forces to defend the Cape after Superman is apparently killed by the monster.
Hal Jordan (Green Lantern), Martian Manhunter and King Faraday arrive to join the fray as a complex plan is formed to defeat the Centre. It will involve the require the powers and skills as well as cooperation of everyone.
It is an epic battle fraught with risks and dangers but (HUZZAH! and, uh, SPOILERS!) our accumulated good guys save the day.
And then after all the work is done, Aquaman shows up. Really, dude? Where were you when shit was going down? Oh, but he has brought Superman back so, never mind, good going Ocean Man!
In the aftermath of the Centre's defeat, The Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Superman and Batman decide to form the Justice League.
And we get a flash forward to the coming new age of heroes with an inspiring speech from John F. Kennedy.
The "It's That Person Who Was In That Thing" Department
This movie has quite an impressive voice cast
Batman was Jeremy Sisto from Law & Order & FBI.
Green Lantern was David Boreanaz from Bones.
As the Flash, we get THE Neil Patrick Harris
Wonder Woman was Lucy Lawless from Xena Warror Princess and My Life Is Murder.
Superman was voiced by Kyle MacLachlan from Twin Peaks and Fallout.
Kyra Sedgwick was Lois Lane and Brooke Shields was Carol Ferris.
And playing himself, John F. Kennedy (via an archival recording.)
Justice League: The New Frontier is based on one of my all time favorite comics, DC: The New Frontier written and drawn by Darwyn Cooke and published by DC Comics in 2004.
The book was a financial and a critical success, winning a bunch of industry awards.
Sadly, Darwyn Cooke passed away in 2016 but DC: The New Frontier stands as testament to his talent and creativity as well as the lasting impact of his legacy.
And Justice League: The New Frontier is a strong reflection of Cooke's masterwork. The animation evokes Cooke's art style and retains the power of his story. DC animation pros writer Stan Berkowitz and producer Bruce Timm have a steady grasp on bringing Cooke's work to life on screen.
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