BlackGeekdom Science-Fiction from a Different Perspective

All-Star Superman is the 10th movie in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line. It’s based on a 12-issue series of the same name written by comic book fanboy favorite Grant Morrison. The previous movies include, Superman: Doomsday, Batman: Gotham Knight, Green Lantern: First Flight, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, and Batman: Under the Red Hood.  Basically, the story is about Superman’s impending death due to some maneuvering by Lex Luthor and how Superman/Clark Kent is dealing with it.  Sounds like that could be a potentially great story.

Let me start by saying that of the previous 9 releases, I liked each and every one of them. They were all animated well and the voice acting was great. For some reason, this movie was a miss for me. It might be that I don’t like the story, because I didn’t like the series it was based on. However, I think it’s more than that. The animation was fine, but I’ve seen better. The voice acting was okay, but it could have been better. Edward Asner as Perry White and Anthony LaPaglia as Lex Luthor were great, but it seems as if everyone else was either phoning it in or half-asleep. Maybe there wasn’t as much enthusiasm from the production team for this movie as it has been for the previous ones. It seems that this might be a theme of DC Comics. Start great with something and once fans get interested and excited about it, don’t work as hard on it anymore because fanboys will still buy it. I’m not saying it’s bad, it’s just not as good as the other movies have been.

DC has been getting a lot of props for these animated movies. They do them so much better than Marvel, but this movie shows there might be a few kinks in DC’s armor. If you’re a die hard DC fan or Superman fan, you’ll probably love this movie. Most people should just skip it.

Posted under Animation, Comics, Movies, Reviews

According to Rich Johnston at bleedingcool.com  this could be the new Aqualad from a rumored “Young Justice”  animated feature from the folks at DC.

Posted under Animation

Source:  Marvel.com

There are some places you just don’t mess with. Wakanda is one of them. And this Saturday at 8:15 PM on ABC3 Australia, “The Black Panther Animated Series” will show you why!

Deep in the heart of Africa lies Wakanda, an advanced and unconquerable civilization. A family of warrior-kings possessing superior speed, strength and agility has governed this mysterious nation as long as time itself. The latest in this famed line is young King T’Challa, the great hero known worldwide as the Black Panther.

Here’s a preview of Episodes 1 and 2 from The Black Panther Animated Series:

Episode 1: Jan 16 at 8.15pm on ABC3 in Australia

In a top-secret Washington meeting, Intelligence Agent Everett Ross briefs the government on the history of the Black Panther, the warrior king of the African nation of Wakanda. Meanwhile on the other side of the world, the Black Panther must compete to defend his throne in hand-to-hand combat. Featuring the voices of Djimon Hounsou, Kerry Washington, Alfre Woodard and Jill Scott.

Episode 2: Jan 16 at 8.42pm on ABC3 in Australia
Having been crowned the new Black Panther, T’Challa must contend with jealousy in the royal court while searching for the man who murdered his father. Unbeknownst to him, a deadly assassin named Klaw is assembling a team of super-villains to attack Wakanda.

Marvel Animation and BET Networks team up to create this epic animated mini-series featuring classic Marvel characters like Captain America
and the Juggernaut in a taut politically charged thriller. For over four decades, fans have eagerly awaited a series adaptation of the first black super hero!

Posted under Animation

The first episode of Batman: The Brave & The Bold at 8PM (EST) on Cartoon Network.   I’ll give you a review next week.   Comicbookresources has a great article about the show.  click the image for the article.

Posted under Animation

Source: THR.com

Marvel Animation is developing and self-producing a 26 half-hour episode series based on its long-running comic book, with the series targeted to launch in fall 2010, following Marvel’s live-action feature “Thor,” which bows in 2010.

The animated series will follow Thor, the Norse god of thunder, as he defends his mythical home of Asgard against fantastical villains, fiendish hordes, winged creatures and angry giants. The show will take place in various worlds — from mountainous landscapes to places of icy mists and fiery voids — and will include many of the comic’s supporting cast, including Balder the Brave, the Warriors Three and Thor’s evil adopted brother, Loki.

Marvel president of animation Eric Rollman said the series is part of the company’s plan to follow each live-action movie with an animated series and “offer a continued awareness in the marketplace.” It already is in production on cartoon series “The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes,” which will be available for broadcast in 2011, in time for Marvel Studios’ releases of the live-action “The First Avenger: Captain America” and “The Avengers.”

Posted under Animation

It looks good and I will probably get it, but I am concerned about the price. How much do you charge for a 45 minute DVD?

Posted under Animation

Its about time I saw the early attempt at an Avengers cartoon in the 90′s and it was lack luster.   The problem was it was missing the core of the team like Thor, Captain America and Iron Man.   That’s like Thanksgiving with no Turkey.   Hopefully this will be Marvels answer to the Justice League cartoon.   The DC Animated Universe is the gold standard in animated superheros, starting with Batman: TAS to Justice League Unlimited.   Before anybody emails  me,  I loved the the animated X-men series at the time, but I always felt like it was good, but it could have been so much better.   Hopefully this Avengers cartoon will raise the bar on Marvel animation.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Marvel Animation, the cartoon division of Marvel Entertainment, is beginning production on “The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes,” the company’s latest animated series.

Film Roman, the company behind “The Simpsons” and “King of the Hill,” has been tapped to produce the 26-episode series, which will be available for broadcast in 2011, in time for Marvel Studios’ releases of the tentpole live-action movies “The First Avenger: Captain America” and “The Avengers.”

“Avengers,” based on the long-running comic, features some of the company’s most popular characters, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Giant Man, and the comely Wasp, who fight forces of evil that no single hero stands a chance against.

Posted under Animation

Wonder Woman DVD Trailer – Amazon princess Diana rescues Steve Trevor, an Air Force pilot who crashes on her island. Intrigued by her first exposure to the outside world, she leaves the island and becomes the superhero known as Wonder Woman.

Release Date: February 2009 (DVD release)

Posted under Animation

Trailer for Hulk vs Thor / Hulk vs Wolverine animated DVD trailer. Available Jan 2009

Posted under Animation

It’s been a while since we’ve done a DVD recommendation.  But yesterday, I watched Batman: Gotham Knight.  This is a compliation of six anime-style movie shorts that bridge the gap between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.   I was really impressed with the animation style of the 6 different vignettes and the stories.  I also liked how the writers were able to have the stories all relate to eachother in some way, quite unlike the Animatrix where each story was independant.   If you are a Batman fan and if you enjoy animation, you will like this.

Posted under Animation, Comics, Movies