The Golden Age of DC Comics has held a peculiar fascination to comics fans, even almost ninety years later, and Warner Bros’ latest animated treat dips into that world, with Barry Allen’s Flash, early in his career, acting as our guide
It’s the early-1940s and the US has yet to enter the Second World War, but FDR is convinced by his advisors to put together the Justice Society of America – featuring Hourman, Black Canary, the original Flash, and Hawkman, led by Wonder Woman – to take the fight to the Nazis. In the modern-day, The Flash gets caught up in a fight between Superman and Brainiac which sees him flung back in time, where he encounters the JSA in occupied France – can he make it home?
DC’s animated features are as consistently good as their live-action movies are underwhelming, and the animation and voice-acting (by a less-than-stellar but incredibly capable cast) are the usual high-standard, with a slight tinge of Darwyn Cooke in the art style, while the story, by Meghan Fitzmartin and Jeremy Adams, explores themes of sacrifice and legacy.
The Blu-ray comes with a slew of extras, not least of which is another entry in the DC Showcase series, this time featuring Jack Kirby’s Kamandi, the Last Boy on Earth, alongside a documentary featurette, previews of upcoming DC Animated attractions, and a pair of classic Justice League cartoons featuring the JSA.
The stakes are raised suitably by the third act and if DC’s live-action outings had this level of story and characterisation, they’d be spoken of in much kinder terms. Justice Society: World War II is another solid instalment in the DC Animated Universe, especially for Golden Age fans, and it comes with a guarantee as redeemable as a War Bond.
Release Date: May 11th
