We have now reached our final five…
5. Justice League: Flashpoint Paradox (2013)
Sometimes a person can have a change of heart. When I originally saw Flashpoint, I wasn’t it. In fact at the time, I gave it a 2.5 out of 4. That was then, this is now. I re-watched all 25 films and I’ll admit, I was wrong big time. Justice League: Flashpoint Paradox was excellent and as you’ll see, the second best Justice League film to date. When The Flash causes a temporal rip in time, he creates a new reality. A reality where Superman doesn’t exists and war rages on between Wonder Woman and Aquaman. The Flash teams up with Batman and Cyborg to restore the time line and bring the Justice League back together.
Voice actors: Justin Chambers as The Flash, Michael B. Jordan as Cyborg, Kevin McKidd as Thomas Wayne, C. Thomas Howell as Zoom, Dana Delany as Lois Lane and Kevin Conroy as Batman
4. Batman: Year One (2011)
Based on the very popular four-issue story arc written by Frank Miller in 1987, Year One tells the origins story of how a young Bruce Wayne became the Dark Knight and a young Lieutenant from Chicago named Jim Gordon becomes Gotham’s future Commissioner. In a lot of ways Director Christopher Nolan used many of the elements of Year One for Batman Begins. Not only does this film sport a solid cast, it is one of the most faithful adaptations of all the animated films that has been done. Highly recommended.
Voice actors: Bryan Cranston as Jim Gordon, Ben McKenzie as Bruce Wayne, and Eliza Dushku as Selina Kyle
3. Justice League: Doom (2012)
The best of the Justice League films in my opinion. Batman has a file, a “what happens if” type of file should any member of the Justice League turn bad. In this file it shows their individual weaknesses and how to defeat them. The problem is that Vandal Savage has his hands on it. Leave it Batman to gather such information. I love this storyline and all the complex questions and moral dilemmas that come to the surface. What does it mean to be part of a team and how far will ones trusts go before breaking? This was a winning story on every level.
Voice actors: Kevin Conroy as Batman, Tim Daly as Superman, Susan Eisenberg as Wonder Woman, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, Carl Lumbly as Martian Manhunter and Michael Rosenbaum as The Flash
2. Batman: Under the Hood (2010)
Based on the popular story arc by writer Judd Winick, Under the Hood tells the story of a new vigilante in Gotham who calls himself the Red Hood. He moves and acts like Batman. But he teeters between the thin line of justice and brutality. Now, throw in the Joker and Batman’s hands are completely full. As the story unfolds, it will become a very personal for the Red Hood and Batman. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better Batman story from DC Animation. It is extremely well written and well executed by director Brandon Vietti.
Voice actors: Bruce Greenwood as Batman, Jensen Ackles as JasonTodd, John DiMaggio as Joker, Neil Patrick Harris as Nightwing and Jason Issacs as Ra’s al Ghul
And now for the Number 1 film, I bring you…
1. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (2015)
This animated feature is based on the Frank Miller classic that is most responsible for the modern day standard of who and what Batman is. In many ways, Miller brings him back to creator Bob Kane’s original vision. It was also very instrumental in both Tim Burton’s film version and what Zack Snyder has done with Ben Affleck in Batman v Superman. In TDKR, following the death of Jason Todd as Robin, the streets of Gotham has gone nearly 10 years without The Batman patrolling her. Now a gang calling themselves the Mutants runs Gotham, as has forced Bruce Wayne to don the cape and cowl once again as Batman. Batman’s reappearance has caused a divided stir not only in his city but has also caught the attention from the President himself. The President orders Superman who is now reduced to a Government agent, to stop Batman once and for all. Oh and did I mention the Joker makes an appearance? The Dark Knight Returns is not only a first-rate graphic novel but this faithful adaptation is one of DC’s best-animated features to date.
Voice actors: Peter Weller as Batman, Ariel Winter as Carrie Kelly/Robin, David Selby as Gordon, Paget Brewster as Lana Lang and Michael Emerson as Joker
There you have it folks my rankings of the 25 Animated Features from DC Comics. Here’s hoping the next 25 are as go as the first and it will all start this Summer with the highly anticipated R-Rated Batman: The Killing Joke with the return of Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill as The Joker.
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
