by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor
When a time-traveling team of villains heads back to present day Earth, they will be in for a surprise, because the Justice League is here to save the day! Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman take the lead once again for a new animated adventure set in the DC Animated Universe continuity (created by Executive Producer Bruce Timm), and this time they have brought along a few new friends to help fight evil. Jessica Cruz (the latest Green Lantern of Sector 2814), Miss Martian, and Mr. Terrific step up to answer the call for help. Though the future has provided a new threat, it has also provided a new hero in the form of the mysterious Star Boy. Who are the Fatal Five and can they be stopped? Find out in Justice League vs. the Fatal Five, now available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and for Digital Download.
After witnessing the untimely death of some of her closest friends, Jessica Cruz has been plagued with post traumatic stress disorder and extreme anxiety. Attempting to find a balance and transition back to a “normal” life becomes even more of a challenge, as the Green Lantern Corps has determined that she is the best candidate to channel willpower to protect the universe. With some encouragement from her fellow Justice Leaguers, Jessica joins in on a mission and ends up personally invested in the well being of Thomas Kallor, a.k.a. Star Boy. Can our heroes overcome their own challenges and stop The Fatal Five before they alter the course of history forever?
Fans of Justice League Unlimited, Batman: The Animated Series, and Superman: The Animated Series will be very pleased with this latest story, as classic “Bruce Timm” animation style and characters are front and center. Director Sam Liu (Batman: Gotham by Gaslight) instilled a larger scale with the action and execution of a far-reaching story and helped to balance the classic Justice League characters with a great arc for the newbies. The Dynamic Partners masterfully crafted the musical score for this project, using flourishes from the previous animated adventures in a strategic and
practical manner.
Justice League vs. the Fatal Five features the return of Kevin Conroy (Batman), George Newbern (Superman), and Susan Eisenberg (Wonder Woman), who all reprised their roles from Justice League Unlimited. Having this trio back together felt like a homecoming of sorts, and it truly was amazing to see more adventures set in this particular animated universe. Kevin Michael Richardson (Green Lantern: The Animated Series) is no stranger to the DC Universe, and for this adventure he took on the mantle of Mr. Terrific in addition to reprising his role as Kilowog. Daniela Bobadilla (The Middle) voices Miss Martian, taking a different approach to the character from the version that we have previously seen on Young Justice. This version of the character worked well with the DCAU, and her interactions with Batman added and interesting dynamic. Diane Guerrero (Orange is the New Black) takes the spotlight as Jessica Cruz/Green Lantern, and along with Elyes Gabel (Scorpion) as Star Boy, brought the realism and emotional resonance needed to create the desired story beats.
While clash between the Legion of Superheroes and the Fatal Five is entertaining, the real meat of the story comes from the handling of mental health. Jessica Cruz and Thomas Kallor each struggle to handle mental illnesses in different ways, but the creative team skillfully handled the representation of these challenges in animation. Jessica was gifted with the Power Ring because she has the ability to overcome fear, and her struggles instill hope in Thomas. Thomas repeats throughout the film that he’s a superhero, often to reassure himself. Eventually he receives a moment to shine that perfectly encapsulates this internal conflict.
Special Features
Battling the Invisible Menace (Featurette)– This featurette will explore the nuanced hero as many characters must deal with the everyday feelings of anxiety, depression, and other incapacitating emotions that we all must battle and overcome.
Justice League vs. Fatal Five: Unity of Hero (Featurette) – A look at how the pantheon of DC heroes has never been more diverse and inclusive, as writers and artists break boundaries and smash stereotypes.
Audio Commentary – Bruce Timm, Sam Liu, Jim Krieg and Eric Carrasco share their thoughts and insights on Justice League vs. The Fatal Five.
A Sneak Peek at the next DC Universe Movie, Batman: Hush – An advance look at the next animated film in the popular DC Universe Movies collection.
Sneak Peek Revisited: A Preview of Justice League Dark – John Constantine leads a group of misfit characters that use magic to vanquish their opponents. This is the dark version of The Justice League taking on the malevolent forces that go beyond our plane of existence.
Sneak Peek Revisited: A Preview of Justice League vs. Teen Titans – A glimpse into the characters known as the Teen Titans.
From the DC Vault: Justice League Unlimited, “Far From Home”
From the DC Vault: Legion of Superheroes, “Man of Tomorrow”
Overall
Justice League vs. the Fatal Five was a fun addition to the DC Animated Universe canon, and hopefully we will get to see further cinematic adventures in the near future. If you want to see more of this particular Justice League lineup, please make sure you encourage people to purchase the film. As the Warner Home Video team has shared
in the past, sales help to push for future opportunities.
ComicsOnline gives Justice League vs. the Fatal Five 4 out of 5 emerald lights.
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