The villain known as Black Adam has returned, and he has struck a crippling blow to The Wizard Shazam at the Rock of Eternity. The Justice League has answered the call for assistance, and a team comprised of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Shazam!, Plastic Man, Booster Gold, Swamp Thing, Martian Manhunter, Constantine, and Green Arrow must work together to stop an array of demons before they can destroy the Earth! Yes, it’s true. All of these DC Comics heroes are featured in the 40 minute story. While the pilot is quite extended, it is important to note that future episodes will have an 11 minute approximate run time. The episodes will cut back on the traditional introductions and build up, and will instead focus on thrills and humor.

 

If you were a fan of Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League Unlimited, or Teen Titans, this series definitely has something for you. The premiere features an incredible voice cast, which includes Kevin Conroy (Batman), Diedrich Bader (Booster Gold), Sean Astin (Billy Batson/Shazam!), Gary Cole (Black Adam), Chris Diamantopoulos (Green Arrow), Mark Hamill (Swamp Thing), Crispin Freeman (Martian Manhunter), Jason J. Lewis (Superman), Rachel Kimsey (Wonder Woman), Damien O’Hare (Constantine), Khary Payton (Cyborg, BOOYAH!), Carl Reiner (The Wizard Shazam), and Dana Synder (Plastic Man). 

 

 

In terms of animation, the style is a mixture of Bruce Timm’s DCAU designs, with a bit of The Batman thrown in. While some of the designs were fresh and interesting, a few felt incomplete. I was not a fan of the Superman design (his face felt more cartoony compared to the other characters), but I really enjoyed the wide-eyed approach to J’onn J’onzz, and the battle-hardened Wonder Woman. 

 

 

Justice League Action definitely lives up to its name and is truly action-packed. The series walks a fine line between catering to a younger demographic, and also manages to provide subtle references for older viewers (Hall of Justice!). The series might be geared more for a younger audience (with a shorter attention span), but fans of the previous DC Animated adventures will find comfort with the crazy team-ups and returning voice actors. 

 

Make sure you check out our exclusive Justice League Action interviews with Kevin Conroy (Batman) and Diedrich Bader  (Booster Gold) below:

 Here is a clip from the series premiere:

 

ComicsOnline gives Justice League Action – “Shazam Slam” (SERIES PREMIERE) – 4 out of 5 adventures in the DC Universe. 

 

 

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