A few days ago Jenny and I watched the latest DC Comics direct-to-DVD animated movie, Justice League: The New Froniter. Based on the Darwyn Cooke mini series, DC: The New Frontier (2003-2004), the movie...set in the late 1950's...showcases a world where the only costumed heroes to survive the post-war period are Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. When a new threat emerges, a new breed of super hero rises to meet the challenge.
The movie concentrates on the Justice League aspect of the mini-series...so in that regard the movie is quite faithful to the source material. Even better the animation and tone is reminiscent of Cooke's art and writing. The movie is rated PG-13 and I wouldn't recommend it for younger kids. The movie is definitely more violent than other animated DC Comics's cartoons.
All in all I really liked this movie (which probably isn't much of a surprise). The movie (and comic) is Cooke's love letter to the Silver Age of comics. In reality Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman were the only costumed heroes to have their comic books survive the '50's. It was brilliant how Cooke looks to explain that--in terms of comic book continuity--why that was the case but more importantly how the Silver Age happened. If you are a fan of the Green Lantern, The Flash or Martian Manhunter than you should really watch (or read the comic) the movie. It's really cool how the story works in the new heroes with the Big Three--hence the origin of the Justice League of America.
Hey...even Jenny liked the movie...although she didn't think it was quite as good as the Justice League cartoons. But I think it's definitely on par with the best of those cartoons.
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