The Superman v Doomsday movie we’ve been waiting for

Hello readers! I’m back! Yes, I’ve been gone from the site for three long months, but I have still been working on things for The Newplex to help bring you some tasty nutritional content (see our amazing line of podcasts, edited by yours truly).

For my return to the written form I’m presenting you a review of the DCAU’s latest film – The Death of Superman. Right off the top, I think this film is pretty good. It includes enough Easter Eggs and small character details to get all the fans excited and most of all it gives us our perfect Superman – the guy that just wants to save everyone. Be warned, I haven’t read the graphic novel of this story, so I will be reviewing it purely as a film part of the DCAU and not how well it sticks to the original material.

*Spoilers ahead*

The story is about the death of Superman – of course – but it also gives us the day in the life of Clark Kent and some of the struggles Kal-El faces trying to keep up the Clark persona in front of his girlfriend Lois Lane (these scenes are a bit hit and miss, but hey it’s a film about Superman). In the background of all this we see the rise of Doomsday on Earth, how Doomsday comes to the Metropolis area seeking his strongest opponent while witnessing the gory destruction he leaves in his wake.

One negative to throw off quickly is the way Lex Luthor (voiced by Rainn Wilson, amazing casting btw) was used in this movie. Lex essentially gets his own story arc which crops up periodically throughout the film, which would be fine, but it’s made out to be just as important as the main story lines and it just sort of confuses the whole thing. For all the time spent on it, all we find out was that he hired a bunch of scientists to create a monster that could kill Superman.

Still, the good completely outweighs the bad. This film is exactly what fans were promised in BvS: Dawn of Justice where all we got was a lacklustre fight between the aforementioned and a not so impactful death of Superman. In this animated film we saw a city-shattering fight between two powerhouses that resulted in Superman’s death that we actually felt as DC fans. Indeed even I caught ‘the feels’ when Superman’s biggest fan, who only has a couple scenes throughout the film, delivers a heartfelt prayer in memory of Superman.

And that dark tone caps off an already brutal and gory film.

From the start, when Doomsday crash lands near Atlantis, we see him lurking in the shadows before he rips apart Atlantean soldiers in front of horrified Lexcorp scientists, leaving only dismembered limbs and clouds of red. Saturday morning cartoons this is not. As the researchers try to run away following what they’ve just witnessed, they too meet a gruesome end.

I don’t want to spoil anymore of what Doomsday has to offer in this film, but my second favourite fight scene goes to Wonder Woman vs Doomsday (first place goes to the final fight). Wonder Woman brings out her inner goddess warrior as she goes toe to toe with Doomsday, leaving him merely pissed off and herself just as broken as her mighty God Killer sword. Speaking on Wonder Woman, Rosario Dawson is perfect casting – maybe even my favourite casting in the whole DCAU…

Aside from all the spectacle, I really enjoyed the little things in this movie. First up is the cameo from Super Boy. By the black lycra, glowing red piping, and stolen black leather jacket, it looks like we’re getting a mix of New Earth and New 52 Super Boy. Nothing other than speculation can be said on his debut, but I’d wager that he’ll be in the next Superman or Teen Titans animated film. Either way, I’m excited!

Not an Easter Egg as such but we do get the introduction of Martian Manhunter and Hawkman not only into the DCAU but the Justice League too. We only saw the new members in a short battle but the small glimpse we got I really enjoyed.

Quick nit-pick, the last few minutes of the film and an end credit scene is dedicated to the revival of Superman. We don’t see how Superman is resurrected but either way I don’t think it should be in this film. Like I said up top, the scene where Supes’ no.1 fan is mourning over the great loss should be the ending to the film. It was an incredibly sad moment that actually had a great deal of weight. But instead we get Superman breaking out of his coffin/memorial and flying off. The moment was ruined. We had our cake and we were forced to eat it (unfortunately?) however we did get the birth of the Fortress of Solitude which will play a big part in Superman’s big reveal/rebirth.

Let’s not forget the final battle that created a riff in the DCAU going forward. After Doomsday had toyed with the other Justice League members, he was more than ready and perfectly well-equipped to fight Superman. Doomsday was constantly getting more vicious and growing larger external armour/weaponry with every blow. Superman was giving it his all whilst saving civilians stuck in cars and children looking for lost hand-held gaming devices. But in the end, after Superman was beaten to a pulp and Doomsday looking like he had just warmed up, it was the motivation to save Lois from being impaled that saved the day. I was more than satisfied with this fight when it came to the neck-breaking conclusion that it did, I just wonder if the writers for the DCAU can ever make a more epic battle. The Justice League vs Darksied was spectacular but this battle was better!

Overall this film gives us DC fans more reason to look forward to the animated releases over live action ones. Not only has this film done a better job than its live action counterparts but it can be argued that it’s doing a better job than the MCU at world-building and delivering the kind comic book content we crave for.

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