Justice League (The Snyder Cut) First Impressions by Chris M.

Superman. Batman. Wonder Woman. The trinity of DC’s Finest Heroes who would unite the League in their fight for Earth against the malevolent Darkseid and his Apokaliptian forces! But enough about Truth & Justice! This is about filmmaker Zack Snyder’s vision for our favorite superhero team-up, a tonally different picture from 2017’s Justice League movie.

Written by Oscar-nominated Chris Terrio, who also co-wrote J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars Episode 9 from 2019, Mr. Snyder’s version of the JL is ironically the polar opposite of the League we remember from our childhood. No wonder it’s been rated R (yes it’s true) for bloody violence and harsh profanity. One question remains in our minds: is this film supposed to be for us as DC fans or for the filmmakers’ divisive enjoyment?

Well… Okay, Zack Snyder’s Justice League takes place after Superman’s “death” at the end of “Batman VS. Superman Dawn of Justice”. In the aftermath of this tragic event, Batman, or jokingly “Batfleck”, (Ben Affleck) is touched by his former enemy’s sacrifice, even though he was terrible to him beforehand. Unfortunately, Superman’s fall only triggers good news for a greater threat located in the cosmos. Yes, I’m talking about DARKSEID (Ray Porter)!

Apokalips’ sole ruler heard the “bells” of Superman’s death and sends his axe-wielding general and uncle Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds) to go find the three Mother Boxes, a trio of dangerous artifacts that can help their possessors travel across the universe through Boom Tubes and can even locate an even more powerful item that Darkseid has longed to possess… The Anti-Life Equation!

Whoever possesses this force-like power can erase free-will from across the galaxy! Sounds terrifying, right? Now in order to stop Darkseid and Steppenwolf’s invasion, Batman and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) are forced to bring together three other superheroes into their alliance and help protect Earth: The Flash (Ezra Miller), Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and depressed former football player-turned robot man, Cyborg (Ray Fisher) who is said to be the heart of the League’s story.

But should the entire alliance fail to save the world, it would become a dreaded “Knightmare” version of itself, ruled by Darkseid’s regime faction and his army of Parademons, who, in this film, are created from mortal beings unfortunate enough to stand in his way. Yeah, it’s scary to think that. The only odd thing I’d find in the “Knightmare” world would be that Batman and his allies must rely on unexpected allies…

Yes, even the Joker (Jared Leto) himself sides with Bats to rise against the Apokalipians in this alternate future.

(Sighs), such liberties you guys take for this.

Honestly, I’m worried over what Zack did to our childhood memories. The original JL was fun, but kind of odd, so I guess this cut will paint a clearer picture than the former, so brace yourselves when it debuts on HBO Max set for March 18th.

Running time? About 240 mins. Wait, what? THAT long?! Oh well. I’ve warned you.

Verdict: 1.9 out of 5

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Justice League VS Teen Titans (Review)

Hello, my name is Charles and I’m here to review the animated movie Justice League VS Teen Titans. This is the 6th DC Animated Movie Universe “DCAMU” film to be released in 2016.

The Justice League members in this movie are Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash and Cyborg.

The Teen Titan members in this movie are Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy, Blue Beetle and Raven.

The antagonists in this movie are Ra’s Al Ghul, Lex Luthor, Toyman, Weather Wizard, Solomon Grundy, Atomic Skull and Trigon the Terrible (Conqueror of a Thousand Worlds/Devourer of a Million Souls).

In this movie, the Teen Titans must save the Earth from the demon Trigon while fighting the Justice League “minus Batman and Cyborg” who have been possessed by Trigon.

In conclusion, I found this crossover to be one of DC Comics greatest achievements in the entertainment industry.

 

Israeli Spotlight: Gal Gadot

 

By

Jake M.

Gal Gadot is an Israeli actress, model, and veteran of the Israel Defense Force (IDF). She won the Miss Israel in 2004 at the age of 18. After winning the pageant she served two years in the IDF as a combat instructor at the age of 20. She is known for her roles in the Fast and Furious Films, Keeping Up With The Joneses, and Wonder Woman. In 2018, Gadot was listed in Time Magazine’s annual list of the Top 100 Most Influential People In The World.

Justice League VS The Fatal Five (Preview)

Hello, my name is Charles and I’m here to preview the upcoming movie Justice League VS The Fatal Five.

 

In this movie, the Justice League & the Legion of Superheroes team up in order to save the Earth from the Legion of Superheroes’ deadliest enemies, The Fatal Five.

 

The protagonists in this movie are Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Miss Martian, Mr. Terrific, Saturn Girl, Brainiac 5, Thomas Kallor aka Star Boy and Jessica Cruz aka Green Lantern.

 

The antagonists in this movie are Validus, Mano, Tharok, Emerald Empress and The Persuader.

 

In conclusion, this movie is scheduled to be digitally released on March 30, 2019 as well as released via DVD and Blu-ray on April 16, 2019.

 

LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham(Review)

Hello, my name is Charles and I’m here to review LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham for the Playstation 4. This is the third LEGO Batman videogame which also in turn celebrates the Batman franchises 75th anniversary.

 

The protagonists in this game are Batman (Suits:  Standard/Sensor/Power/Sonar/Space/Arctic/Electricity/Scuba), Robin (Suits: Hazard/Techno/Illumination/Diver/Helmet/Magnet/Sphere), Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Cyborg (Forms: Demolition/Sonar/Space/Stealth/Magnet/Giant/Electricity), the Flash, Superman, Wonder Woman, Plastic Man, Ace the BatHound, Aquaman, the Atom, Batgirl, Black Canary, Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, Dr. Fate, Etrigan, Green Arrow, Hawkgirl, Hawkman, Krypto the SuperDog, Nightwing, Orion, the Question, Red Tornado, Shazam, Stargirl, Supergirl, Zatanna, the Huntress and Vixen.

 

The antagonists in this game are Killer Croc, the Joker (Outfits: Decoy/Demolition/Electricity/Flower/Illumination/Magnet/Sphere), Lex Luthor (Suits: Giant/Hazard/Decoy/Shield/Space/Stealth/techno), Cheetah, Firefly, Solomon Grundy, Bane, Black Adam, Black Manta, Brainiac, Captain Cold, Catwoman, DeadShot, DeathStroke, DoomsDay, Giganta, Harley Quinn, Kalibak, Killer Moth, Lobo, the Mad Hatter, ManBat, Metallo, Mr. Freeze, Parasite, the Penguin, Poison Ivy, Red Hood, the Riddler, Sinestro, ToyMan, Ultra-Humanite, Darkseid, General Zod and Killer Frost.

 

In conclusion, I found that this game shows Batman at his most finest moments in history. Thus I say “Hail to the Dark Knight/Caped Crusader forevermore”.

 

Justice League: HEROES(Review)

Hello, my name is Charles and I’m here to review the PlayStation 2 game Justice League: HEROES.

 

The locations in this game consist of Metropolis, STAR Labs, Russia (Communications Relay and Missile Silos), Mars, Gorilla City, the WatchTower (Justice League Headquarters), Brainiac’s Lair and New Apokolips.

 

The protagonists in this game consist of Batman (the Dark Knight Detective), Superman (the Man of Steel), Martian Manhunter (Martian ShapeShifter), Zatanna (Mistress of Magic), Wonder Woman (Amazon Princess), Flash (the Fastest Man Alive) Green Lanterns (Galactic Law-Enforcement Officers)(John Stewart, Kyle Rayner and Hal Jordan), Supergirl (the Girl of Steel), the Huntress (Vigilante Archer), Hawkgirl (Thanagarian Warrior), Green Arrow(the Emerald Archer), Aquaman (King of Atlantis) and Black Canary(Siren of Justice).

 

The antagonists in this game consist of Queen Bee, the KEY, Killer Frost, the White Martians, Gorilla Grodd, Doomsday (Kryptonian Monster), Brainiac, Darkseid (Apokoliptian Dictator).

 

In conclusion, I found this game to be an utmost celebration of DC Comics greatest heroes and villains.

 

History of the Justice League

 

I have been a big DC Comics fan since I was young, from the Batman and Superman movies, to the DC animated TV universe to the comics. But there is one superhero team that made me a lifelong DC comics fan and that team is the Justice League. The Justice League first came into fruition during the late 1950s when Julius Schwartz asked Gardner Fox to reintroduce the Justice Society of America. Schwartz, who was influenced by Major League Baseball, decided to change the name of the team from Justice Society to Justice League. The Justice League made their debut in Brave and the Bold #28 in March of 1960. After two more appearances in that title, the Justice League were given their own title. Justice League quickly became one of the top selling comics for DC comics.  Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky were the creative team during the team’s first 8 issues.  The original JLA lineup included Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter.

Over the years the lineup would include new members like Green Arrow, The Atom, and Hawkman. The team would operate out of a cave in the small town of Happy Harbor, Rhode Island. The JLA over the years would cross over with the JSA and they would do battle with the Crime Syndicate of America. For those who don’t know the Crime Syndicate of America are like the JLA but evil. In 1968 Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky left the series and Danny O’Neil and Dick Dillian became the new creative team. In JLA #78 the JLA would move to a new headquarters, they would move into an orbiting satellite in space. The team would also introduce new members to the team like The Elongated man, Red Tornado, Hawkwoman, Zatanna, and Firestorm.  Two years later Wonder Woman would rejoin the team. In 1986 a new Justice League team was formed titled Justice League International. This title had less of an American focus and featured members such as Batman, Black Canary, Blue Beetle, Captain Marvel, Doctor Light, Doctor Fate, Martian Manhunter, Mister Miracle, and Guy Gardner. Sadly though sales were low for this series, along with Justice Europe, Extreme Justice, and Justice League Task force. So DC decided to put all the team under one roof and all the different branches of the JLA were disbanded. They were revamped as JLA under writer Grant Morrison this run on the book would become my favorite iteration of the team. One of the stories that made me a fan of this team was a Midsummer’s Nightmare which reunited the original 7 Justice League members. Grant Morrison introduced the idea of the JLA as a pantheon of gods, with their different powers and personalities. Morrison departed the series after issue 41 writers Mark Waid and Joe Kelley would take over the series. The series would end during the event Infinite Crisis in which Green Arrow struggles to keep the team afloat. A year after the events of Infinite Crisis a new Justice League team was formed

Starting with issue #0. The new team included members such as Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Black Canary, Red Arrow, Red Tornado, Vixen, Black Lightning, and Hawkgirl. This series was helmed by writer helmed by writer Brad Meltzer and artist Ed Benes. The first story arc focused on Red Tornado and it pitted the Justice League a new intelligent version of Solomon Grundy and the rebuilt android Amazo. In 2011 following the conclusion of the miniseries Flashpoint, all DC comics titles were cancelled and were relaunched as The New 52. The JLA in this continuity were called The Justice League. This Justice League team was written by Geoff Johns and drawn by Jim Lee, the team consisted of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman,  Aquaman, The Flash, Green Lantern, and Cyborg.

In addition to a new Justice League book two more Justice League books were formed they were a new Justice League International and Justice League Dark. Following the events of the mini series Forever Evil two new members joined the Justice League Lex Luthor and Captain Cold. Another thing that came out of the mini series Forever evil was a new Justice League series titled Justice League United. This Justice League series was located in Canada and consisted of  Animal Man, Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, Hawkman, Stargirl, Supergirl, Adam Strange and his wife Alanna, and a new superhero named Equinox. In 2015 another Justice league book launched called JLA and consisted of the same members from Justice League.

In 2016 DC announced a new event titled Rebirth this event was similar to the New 52. Following that announcement DC announced several new titles including a new Justice League book. This series was written by Bryan Hitch and drawn by Tony Daniel and Fernando Passarin. This Justice League team consisted of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman, Cyborg, and two new Green Lanterns Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz. The Justice League have also appeared outside the comics as well. They have had appeared in video games. They have also appeared several times on tv, the first being Superman/Aquaman hour of adventure. They appeared in the loosely adapted SuperFriends cartoon. They also appeared in an episode of Batman Beyond. In 2001 they were given their own series on Cartoon Network which lasted 5 seasons. The JLA also appeared on the tv series Smallville. In 2016 they will be yet again be getting their own Series on Cartoon Network titled Justice League Action. In 2017 they will be making their big screen debut which I am excited for. In the end JLA have made me a bonafide DC comics fan and I hope to those reading this will pick up a Justice League comic and enjoy them like I do.

Nathan  B