I saw the Supermen Reign...

In the thrilling, animated sequel to DC/WB's "The Death of Superman" (see Aug '18 post), a pressing question rises: Who of the new Kal-Els is good and/or bad? In other words, is the second coming of Superman to our benefit, or will his "cloned" manifestations wreck havoc?

The true-blue (and red and yellow) bottom line: We wouldn't want any such entity--let alone several--to rub against the grain of our alien, all-American icon, would we? Wasn't Doomsday's cataclysmic presence a stupendous enough strike against us, not to mention all the other demonic bruisers that have come and gone through the years? And yet, here we go again, though surely for the melodramatic better. 

Director Sam Liu does a trusty job as only he can, enforcing the rippling tensions which were introduced via print a couple decades back. The film incarnation, "Reign of the Supermen" (named after Jerry Siegel's Man of Steel, short-story catalyst), captures all the marvelous mystery that made this much publicized DC period one of its most discussed, ruminated and praised. 

Of the Supermen who surface after Kal-El's burial, there's the zealous, visor-clad "Eradicator" (Charles Halford, but maybe Jerry O'Connell's vocals aren't so far behind--hint, hint); a LexCorp-jacketed youth, aka Superboy (Cameron "Gotham" Monaghan--how's that for a joking twist?); the enigmatic Cyborg/Terminator Superman (Patrick "Better Call Saul" Fabian); and one of the best and most underused Superman "offspring", hammer-wielding Steel/John Henry Irons (Cress "Black Lightning" Williams).

They're never completely on the same side as power-hungry Darkseid (Tony "Candyman" Todd) plans an invasion with the enlistment of zombiefied super-citizens. However, that big-time villain is but a big-time ruse in light of the identity and loyalty issues that intersect Apokolips' advent. But have no fear, for good has no choice but to burst from the fiery collisions. As Superman fans ought to know, this particular, multi-character, mythological mix only further illuminates the character's sacred legacy. 

Still, despite the story's founding gleam, I must reveal that when these particular Men of Steel appeared in '92, it was hard for me to trust them: John Henry excluded, but Steel has always followed his own, noble track. It was the implied, Ubermensch thing that struck me as a wee too, well, Nazi-ish. Still, I so wanted one of these up-from-the-ashes incarnations to be the real, revived deal. Because of this, the melodrama compelled me to see the saga through. 

Thanks to screenwriters James Krieg and Tom Sheridan, the animated adaptation reflects its comic-book roots, dispatching doubt and hope, which once more makes the elongated, resurrection unlike any Superman tale that's come before or since. Also, this animated edition isn't afraid to reinvent a few interludes, keeping the now familiar formula nice and fresh. 

Though the story is terrific, the varied ensemble (no matter how big or small the role) plays a big part in why this epic moves so well. Just take a gander at the returning, co-starring roster: Lois Lane (Rebecca "X-Men" Romijn); Batman (Jason "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." O'Mara); Lex Luthor (Rainn "Super" Wilson); Cyborg (Shemar "Criminal Minds" Moore); Wonder Women (Rosario "Daredevil" Dawson); Martian Manhunter (Nyambi "Blindspotting" Nyambi); Green Lantern (Nathan "Firefly" Fillion); and the Flash (Christopher "Covert Affairs" Gorham), to name but a significant few. Cream of the crop all the way--and more than enough to stretch this chapter's sprawling scope a zillionfold.

Beyond question, "Reign..." presents full-fledged classic material, or at least material destined for such coveted distinction, particularly if/when teamed with the emotional Part I. To boot, it's on as high a level as any live-action counterpart, maybe more so, re-imagining "Highlander'"s "...there can only be one" and once the dust clears, inspiring viewers to jump up and cheer "Up, up and away!!!" (Awright, at the AMC theater I attended, it was more a case of energetic applause, but no less a show of indisputable respect for a job well done.)

Give "Reign..." a righteous spin or better yet, procure a disc or digital copy for those inevitable, return yearnings. Why not sit the whole family down to absorb both chapters? It's not often that folks get the chance to experience a combo this aesthetically profound. 

I saw the Death of Superman...

In the early '90s, DC's death of Superman sent a pop-cultural shock across the world, as did the Man of Steel's inevitable resurrection, but not before a mysterious "Reign of the Supermen" performed as its frenetic set-up. (If the truth be known, Superman died and rose before this particular death and resurrection, but those prior events weren't staged with such bravado.) 

Directed by Jake Castorena, DC/WB veteran Sam Liu, and adapted by Peter J. Tomasi, "The Death of Superman" is a landmark endeavor, even though "Superman: Doomsday", "Batman v Superman" and "Justice League" more than tested the concept's waters. In truth, this new, animated film should have received a major, theatrical release, if only due to the story's legendary status, but instead joins us via convenient home viewing. 

Most know the tale's dynamics, so there's no point in rehashing the finer details of Superman and Doomsday's fight to the death or Lois Lane and the JL's lament in the tearful aftermath.

The big question is, does the film meet expectations? The answer is yes, but nothing this important, this epic and mythic, is bound to delight all fans on all levels. This is also just the first part of the documented saga, but for the sake of what's offered, the tale's core is enclosed, bolstered by a few intense Lex Luthor/Wonder Woman embellishments and a funny JL interlude (at somber Batman's expense): a little of this and that to warm viewers up for the famous, big brawl.

Jerry O'Connell once again voices Superman/Clark Kent/Kal-El, his familiar tone bestowing warmth to the proceedings, even if the artistic design doesn't reflect the '90s source.   

Doomsday take a while to enter, but never once wavers from being the all-out, merciless brute we've come to know. He's one of the reasons the comic-book adventure worked so well and pushes this animated counterpart along in the most snarling, over-the-top way. 

This fierce flamboyance ensures the story's success and legacy. Whether in print or film, "Death of Superman" can't help but be an emotional, roller coaster ride. Even within a mere 80-min format, it manages to deliver the necessary brick-breaking punch, with its gentle post-fight sequence coming all the sooner to lift one's spirits ever higher. 

In its own interpretive right, the film's contrasting portions help the movie become a tight, light and dark package, recalling the rises and falls of Judea-Christian lore, while its back-from-the-dead insinuation touches such similarly themed science-fiction films as "Day the Earth Stood Still" and "E.T., the Extra-terrestrial". 

Indeed, I truly do like the movie, even if the absence of a faithful, live-action version yet stands as a long-made promise never kept. All the same, I'll take what I can get and grant this one a permanent slot in my DC movie collection. Now, bring on that sequel...