"Justice League vs the Fatal Five" is DC/WB's newest animated feature: a time-traveling, titanic clash between good and bad, delivered by a tested trio: producer Bruce Timm, director Sam Liu and scriptwriter Alan Burnett.
The premise: Five, super-terrorists from the future drop back in time to snuff out our present-day superheroes and terminate the human race. The vanguard consists of Emerald Empress, Tharok, Mano, the Persuader and Validus. (The beguiled Bloodsport guest stars in the mayhem's early phase, but doesn't link to the invaders. Various Arkham personas also cameo.)
Fresh faces figure into the conflict: Miss Martian, Saturn Girl, Mister Terrific and Jessica Cruz, Limelight of the Green Lantern Corp. Star Boy, aka Tom Kallon also occupies the action in an absorbing but complicated way. These fine folks assist the JL in the struggle, led by (no surprise) Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. (In the process, Batman takes a fatherly shining to Miss Martian, making them this chapter's official, dynamic duo.)
Focus ultimately falls on Star Boy, who proves himself a power-pulsing, black-suited enigma, but is cool enough when in the JL's grasp, despite his erratic outbursts.
In the process, Star Boy comes to terms with his origin. Though the staging is "12 Monkeys" anguish-wracked, it's more convincing and satisfying than any self-discovery found in Marvel's "Captain Marvel". (With the latter, we're talkin' a longer, no-excuse-to-cut-corners, theatrical feature, too.)
The drawback? "JL vs Fatal Five'"s framework feels a lot like "JL vs Teen Titans" and "JL Dark", to name but two. If DC's filmmakers want to lengthen and strengthen their acclaimed, animation track record, they might consider rewiring the favorite formula.
Now, don't misunderstand: The DC mythology (the moral heart of it) shouldn't be tampered with or disrespected: The damn wheel needn't be reinvented here. It's also evident that not every animated film will reach the melodramatic heights of "Death of Superman" or "Killing Joke". Still, the cozy practice of sameness will dull even the best franchise, and no Best Buy, comes-with-action-figure gift set is gonna change that.
With that said, "JL vs Fatal Five'"s results should serve their purpose, but let's hope that the ensuing DC/WB animated adventures take things to the next level.
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