Here at Moonbase Alpha, we’re huge fans of the animated DC output, and so we’re a tad giddy to hear of some newly-announced upcoming DC animated movies.

From Comic-Con, it’s been confirmed that Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment are currently working on three (kind of four) movies for 2018.

First up will be Batman: Gotham by Gaslight, an adaptation of the popular 1989 comic book tale that sees a Victorian-set Caped Crusader tracking down Jack the Ripper. What’s most notable about the source material here is that it’s often referred to as the very first “Elseworlds” story. Given that the original tale only clocks in at 48 pages, chances are that this animated feature may look to expand on certain elements in order to fill out its runtime.

Following Gotham by Gaslight, spring of 2018 will see Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay released. That will be a completely original story and marks the first time that the villainous Task Force X team will be appearing in the current animated DC Universe realm – with 2014’s Assault on Arkham feature having instead been set in the same continuity of the Arkham video game series.

Finally, 2018 will be rounded out by the release of Death of Superman. Yes, as in an animated adaptation of the famed 1993 comic book arc of the same; an arc often cited as being the moment where death in comic books became redundant and nothing more than a plot point. And, of course, this won’t be the first time that the Death of Superman story has been adapted as an animated picture, for 2007 saw Superman: Doomsday released. That particular movie did differ a tad from the source material at times, and that’s where this new Death of Superman project will differ. Remaining more faithful to the source material, Death of Superman will actually be a two-movie story, which should allow for the story to play out in a less condensed fashion. The first of those films will be released at the end of 2018, with the second part to follow in early 2019. In terms of titles, the first movie will be simply Death of Superman, while the follow-up will be called Reign of the Supermen and will focus on the arrival of several alternative Supermen who turn up to take the place of the Man of Steel following his supposed demise.

As ever, expect more on all of these animated efforts as we get it.