Year in Review: 2012′s Comic Book Movies

Written by Dedpool January 3, 2013 Posted In » Batman: The Dark Knight Returns - Part 1 (2012) Movie, Comic Book Movie News, Dredd (2012) Movie, Featured Movie Articles, Justice League: Doom (2012) Movie, Superman vs. The Elite (2012) Movie, The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) Movie, The Avengers (2012) Movie, The Dark is Rising (2008) Movie

Animated

Justice League: Doom (2012) Movie Image

Justice League Doom
The animated film market for 2012 belonged to DC and Warner Bros. Marvel pulled out of the fight this year and left DC solo to release some of their best DC Universe Animated Movies yet. The first of which was the late, great Dwayne McDuffie’s last script, “Justice League: Doom.” Doom was an adaptation of the comic arc “Tower of Babel” with some character and story changes. The voice cast was like a reunion of the “Justice League” animated series cast with some much loved additions in the form of Nathan Fillion voicing Green Lantern Hal Jordan, and Phil Morris returning as Vandal Savage. This film was action packed, and a pseudo-sequel to “Crisis on Two Earths”, another great JL animated film. Getting to see the JL go up against some of their greatest rivals was a great treat and McDuffie’s swan song was a hell of a way to go out.

Superman vs The Elite (2012) Movie Image

Superman Vs The Elite
Not to be outdone by their first release of the year, “Superman Vs The Elite” is the kind of Superman story I love, the kind that pushes the boundaries of the character and what he stands for. Superman is always seen as the big blue boyscout. And that isn’t always a bad thing, but the world is edgy and that should come into conflict with the character, and that’s what this story is all about. George Newburn returns to voice the character from “Justice League/JL: Unlimited” with Pauley Perrette (“NCIS”) voicing Lois Lane. The standout character is Manchester Black, leader of The Elite, a new group of heroes that are showing an affinity for violence that the public is just eating up. Anytime Superman gets to let loose is always a good time and I was not disappointed and nor will you be.

Batman in Batman - The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 (2012) Movie Image

The Dark Knight Returns Pt. 1
The story that put the dark back in Dark Knight, Frank Miller’s epic story of an aged Bruce Wayne coming out of retirement to take on the darkness that has all but swallowed Gotham has been on many comic fans wish list to see brought to life. And brought to life it is in some very stunning animation, that loses the voiceover but adds some visual flair to the static but always cinematic panels of the comic. The film even got me to like the Carrie Kelly/Robin character that I really couldn’t get behind in the comic. Broken up into 2 parts to give us a fuller film, this adaptation is pretty much spot on. The voice acting is amazing for this film, with Peter Weller (“Robocop”) voicing Bruce Wayne/Batman, and giving the character a deeper voice that evokes that image it intends, an old soldier going back to war. I personally can’t wait for Part 2 in February as we’ll get the Joker, Green Arrow and Superman in that installment. If you haven’t read the book, go find it and read it, and then go watch this, it’s fantastic.

So that’s it for CBMs from 2012. Light on the volume, but the quality more than made up for it. What are some of your favorite CBMs of 2012?

Pages: 1 2

About the Author:
Movies, Comics, Anime and toons. I'm all about it. Love to read and write too.

  • Aegon the Conqueror

    Now this is the type of article I love to read!
    Agreed with you on almost everything, with the exception of Peter Weller. He was an awful Batman imo and his voice had me grating my teeth throughout the entire film.

    • http://www.beyondhollywood.com/ Dedpool

      To each their own. I guess I just got used to it. I really wished they had gotten Michael ironside back, but Weller worked for me. But thanks for the kind words sir!!

      • Juggernaut

        Ironside was a good choice for the older Bruce/ Batman. Has Powers Boothe ever done any cartoon voice work? He’d be a good choice too.

        • http://www.beyondhollywood.com/ Dedpool

          Yeah he was Grodd in Justice League. He’d have been a perfect choice.

  • Juggernaut

    I really want to see Dredd. I share your sentiments exactly on the other three live action films listed. I finally got to watch Justice league: Doom and Batman Under The Red Hood this past weekend. both were really well done. Have Superman Vs. The Elite on my Netflix que. Hopefully they’ll release Batman: The Dark Knight Returns pt 1 and pt 2 together so I can pick them up.

    • http://www.beyondhollywood.com/ Dedpool

      Under The Red Hood is a favorite of mine. Love DiMaggio’s Joker in that. Just sadistic and great. “Hard to make with the yuks when your worm food, hmmm?” Love that and the scene at the end with him in “coming out of the closet.” Doom was definitely good. Superman Vs Elite also a good time, though some didn’t like the animation, it really worked for me and the story. Had it looked like say “Superman/Shazam” the violence would be too real for some. Definitely catch TDKR when you can.

      • Juggernaut

        I added Superman/Shazam to my que also. It looks like it is a more anime style, which I’m not a huge fan of, but I’ll still check it out to see if I like it or not. Batman:UTRH was awesome. That story line is one of my all time favorites. I loved the art and use of charatcters. The voice work was great too. Hopefully Dc keeps crankin’ em’ out!

      • Aegon the Conqueror

        Dredd for some or other reason never released in South Africa. I still want to see it really badly. The trailers looked awesome and I’m a Karl Urban fan since Two Towers.

  • Debo4735

    I liked the story of Superman vs The Elite, but the animation quality was HORRIBLE!!! It totally killed the movie for me.

    • http://www.beyondhollywood.com/ Dedpool

      See above. lol

  • krypton_prime

    The Dark Knight Returns and Under The Red Hood : ultra EPIC. JL Doom was great, of course anything with Superman is perfect. Had to agree Superman vs Elite animation was not very good but I guess it suits the purpose. Hopefully DC/Warner releases more animated movies but didn’t Warner close that division?
    Live action movies: everything as expected. Avengers was perfect although I preferred the look of Hulk from the Incredible Hulk movie. Didn’t like this look too much. Dark Knight Rises was awesome but they should have retained the original Bane look. The Amazing Spiderman was quite enjoyable. Andrew Garfield was almost perfect in the role but then again anything is better than Tobey Maguire. Still to see Dredd.

    • http://www.beyondhollywood.com/ Dedpool

      No Warner didn’t close that division, just renamed it pretty much. Was DC/Warner Premier but now DC Animated Universe Movies. They have the next year all lined up. TDKR part 2 January, Superman Unbound mid year and then Justice League Flashpoint, the story that rebooted the DCU to the New52 in the comics.

    • http://www.beyondhollywood.com/ Dedpool

      Also Bane’s original Luchador inspired look would’ve probably come off as campy. I really liked what they did with the character in Rises. And Rufalo Hulk was badass! Not as lean and mean as Incredible version, but it looked more like Rufalo which meant it looked more like Banner.

      • krypton_prime

        Yeah I noticed that they make the Hulks look more like the actor playing Banner which would make sense. Plus I really didn’t like that there wasn’t a good explanation of how Bane was so strong…

        • http://www.beyondhollywood.com/ Dedpool

          Most likely just physical training, and when mask was busted adrenaline from the pain.

      • Juggernaut

        I really think that Nolan’s Bane was partially inspired by The Mutant Leader from The Dark Knight Returns. Which, in my opinion was genius. As for The Hulk, I was completely in awe of the leaps and bounds in the effects to make this latest incarnation so realistic and natural. I was skeptical about Ruffalo replacing Ed Norton at first but all of my doubts were irradicated as soon a s I saw Ruffalo’s performance.

        • http://www.beyondhollywood.com/ Dedpool

          Agreed on both counts. There was a definite influence from TDKR in Rises. And I absolutely loved Ruffalo as Banner, and his Hulk was great in my eyes. Don’t get me wrong, I like Incredible a lot, but he seemed weaker there, and the fact that Banner wasn’t all “woe is me, I want to be rid of the Hulk” definitely helped.

          • Juggernaut

            Having Banner come to terms with and ultimately having control of his oft times destructive alter ego was such a great choice for the movie. It really made the character work in a way that would have been hard to wrangle otherwise. I am of the opinion that almost every choice made in that movie was terrific. Even Hawkeye’s use was okay in my opinion. Sure, he was under utilized, but him being a pawn in Loki’s plan lent to the plot and was akin to his early villainous comic roots. Can’t wait for the sequel.