Supergirls go wild in 'Superman/Batman: Apocalypse'
Super-powered sisters are doin' for themselves in DC Comics' latest direct-to-DVD animated film.
- APOCALYPSE (ON-SALE) NOW
- Courtesy of Warner Bros.
With Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, DC Comics/Warner Brothers' straight-to-DVD animated feature takes a baby step backwards after a pair of splendid films, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths and Batman: Under the Red Hood. The new entry in the energetic series, which went on sale this week, pits the Man of Steel (Tim Daly) and the Caped Crusader (definitive Batman voice Kevin Conroy) against Darkseid, possibly the biggest of the DC Universe's big bads. If you only know the heroes from DC's live-action movies and shows, you've probably never heard of Darkseid, but he's an iconic warmongering demigod, created by Jack Kirby, who rules a hellish planet called Apokolips and bears a particularly nasty grudge against Superman. (My Running Dialogue co-host Matt Goldberg wonders why "Apokolips" can't be sunny place with grass and bunnies, and just a terrible name.) Rumor has it that a live-action version of Darkseid will invade the 10th and final season of "Smallville" this year.
The surprising thing about the film is that, apart from Supes, Bats and Darkseid (Andre Braugher), virtually all of the characters are female. Based on the comic book storyline "Superman/Batman: The Supergirl From Krypton," the plot concerns the earthly arrival of Superman's cousin Kara (eventually to be known as Supergirl and voiced by Summer Glau). Like Darryl Hannah in Splash, she first appears in Gotham City nude (but strategically concealed), but quickly learns English and control of her superpowers. Superman immediately trusts her as his only living relative, while Batman mistrusts her. As Kara attempts to find herself, the film includes a cliched shopping montage, training battles on Themyscira (aka the island of the Amazons) and an exploration of her more aggressive impulses when Darkseid attempts to brainwash Kara to be his champion.