Review: "Justice League Dark" Surprises

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 8 (of 2018) by Leroy Douresseaux

Justice League Dark (2017)
Running time:  75 minutes (1 hour, 15 minutes)
MPAA – R for some disturbing violence
DIRECTOR:  Jay Oliva
WRITERS:  Ernie Altbacker; from a story by Ernie Altbacker and J.M. DeMatteis
EDITOR:  Christopher D. Lozinsk
COMPOSER:  Robert J. Kral
ANIMATION STUDIO:  DR Movie

ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/ACTION/FANTASY

Starring:  (voices) Matt Ryan, Jason O'Mara, Camilla Luddington, Nicholas Turturro, Ray Chase, Roger Cross,  Alfred Molina, Enrico Colantoni, Jeremy Davies, Rosario Dawson, Jerry O'Connell, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, and Fred Tatasciore

Justice League Dark is a 2017 straight-to-video animated superhero film from Warner Bros. Animation.  It is the 27th film in Warner's line of “DC Universe Animated Original Movies.”  This film features a supernatural-leaning version of DC Comics' Justice League.  Called “Justice League Dark,” this team was introduced in the 2011 comic book created by writer Peter Milligan and artist Mikel Janin.  Justice League Dark the film focuses on a group of beings with supernatural powers that join together to fight against supernatural villains.

Justice League Dark opens with a series of violent murders in the cities of Metropolis, Gotham, and Washington, D.C.  These murders are committed by people who believe that they are being attacked by demonic creatures, or so they say after being stopped by members of the Justice League.  The truth is that they are hallucinating, and these hallucinations cause them to see the people around them, including their family and friends, as demonic creatures.

The Justice League, which includes such as heroes as Superman (Jerry O'Connell), Wonder Woman (Rosario Dawson), and Green Lantern (Roger Cross), conclude that magic is behind these visions of demonic creatures, but Batman (Jason O'Mara) is skeptical.  However, an encounter with Deadman/Boston Brand at Wayne Manor, convinces Batman to join Deadman and Zatanna (Camilla Luddington), the powerful magician, to find Zatanna's ex-boyfriend, John Constantine (Matt Ryan).

A con man, Constantine is a powerful exorcist and magic user and is also the custodian of the “House of Mystery.”  Constantine may be the key to finding the source behind the demonic visions.  Joined by Jason Blood (Ray Chase) and Etrigan the Demon (Ray Chase), this odd group forms a dark version of the Justice League in order to battle a centuries-old sorcery named Destiny (Alfred Molina).

In Justice League Dark, several characters fling explosive magical energy blasts about.  There are several battles that look like mini versions of the epic battle between Albus Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort in the film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007).  My experience with such DC Comics characters as Constantine and Zatanna is different from what this film offers, which is that they are not wielders of combat magic, but maybe they have on occasions that I missed.

Still, this is an entertaining movie.  Although I found myself wanting to dislike it, it is strangely entertaining, surprising me that I enjoyed it a lot.  Perhaps, Justice League Dark is capable of casting a spell.  It is weird and has an eclectic cast and some nice plot twists.  There is no need to say any more.  Fans of the DC Animated Movie Universe will want to see this.

7 of 10
B+

Thursday, October 18, 2018


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Image Comics Announces the Return of Brubaker & Phillips' "Criminal"

POWERHOUSE CREATORS ED BRUBAKER AND SEAN PHILLIPS RETURN TO MULTIPLE EISNER AWARD-WINNING SERIES CRIMINAL WITH NEW MONTHLY ISSUES

PORTLAND, OR — Hot off the critically acclaimed, bestselling series Kill or Be Killed and breakout hit original graphic novel My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies, crime comic masters Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips return to their beloved, iconic CRIMINAL series. The multiple Eisner award-winning CRIMINAL will return as an all-new monthly from Image Comics in January 2019.

"CRIMINAL was where Sean and I really established our brand as a team, and while writing MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN JUNKIES (which takes place in the CRIMINAL world), it just suddenly felt like the perfect time to bring it back to the monthly comic shelves. But this time I wanted it to be different—not just serialized graphic novels, but also single-issue stories and even the odd two-issue story sometimes," said Brubaker. "I love the elasticity that CRIMINAL allows me—because this world we've created gives me a place to tell any kind of crime story and to focus on different characters, both old and new—and I want to really embrace the monthly comics format, and try to create a series where readers will never know what's coming next from issue to issue."

CRIMINAL #1 will debut as a double-sized issue, featuring the return of Teeg Lawless, whose teenage son is causing him trouble that he may not be able to fight his way out of, for the first time in his violence-fueled life.

Phillips added: "It's a pleasure to return to the world of CRIMINAL with new stories of familiar characters and new characters too. I'm back to drawing on paper after a few years drawing THE FADE OUT and KILL OR BE KILLED digitally, so it's also a welcome return to inky fingers and white-out."

A perfect introduction for readers to the dark and exciting world of CRIMINAL, this new series will also include back-page articles and illustrations to bring readers more fully into the noir experience.

CRIMINAL #1 (Diamond Code NOV180021) will be available on Wednesday, January 9th, 2019. The final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, December 10th, 2018.

CRIMINAL #1 will also be available for purchase across many digital platforms, including the official Image Comics iOS app, Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play.

MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN JUNKIES hardcover (ISBN: 978-1534308466, Diamond Code: JUL180133) is available now and can be found at a local comic shop, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, IndieBound, and Indigo.


About Ed Brubaker:
Ed Brubaker is one of the most acclaimed writers in comics, winning five best writer Eisner and Harvey Awards in the last 10 years. His bestselling work with Sean Phillips on CRIMINAL, INCOGNITO, FATALE, and THE FADE OUT has been translated around the world to great acclaim, and Marvel's movies featuring his co-creation, The Winter Soldier, have all been international blockbusters. He works in comics, film, and television, most recently as a writer on HBO's hit series Westworld, co-creator of Too Old to Die Young with Nicolas Winding Refn for Amazon Studios, and co-creator with Sean Phillips on MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN JUNKIES. Brubaker will reteam with Sean Phillips and return to the multiple Eisner Award-winning series, CRIMINAL with all new monthly issues from Image Comics in January 2019.

About Sean Phillips:
Drawing comics professionally since the age of 15, Eisner Award-winning Sean Phillips has worked for all the major comics publishers. Since drawing Sleeper, Hellblazer, Batman, X-Men, Marvel Zombies, and Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, Sean has concentrated on creator-owned books including CRIMINAL, INCOGNITO, Seven Psychopaths, FATALE, THE FADE OUT, and most recently co-created with Ed Brubaker: MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN JUNKIES. Phillips will reteam with Ed Brubaker and return to the multiple Eisner Award-winning series, CRIMINAL with all-new monthly issues from Image Comics in January 2019.

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of bestselling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has six individuals on the Board of Directors: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, Jim Valentino, and Eric Stephenson. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

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VIZ Media Drops "Frankenstein: Junji Ito Story Collection"

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF FRANKENSTEIN: JUNJI ITO STORY COLLECTION

Beautiful Hardcover Edition Reimagines Mary Shelley’s Classic Monster Story And Includes Six Short Stories And More From Junji Ito

San Francisco, CA — VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, proudly announces the release of FRANKENSTEIN: JUNJI ITO STORY COLLECTION on October 16th, 2018.

The latest release from the famed horror manga creator will receive a hardcover print release under the VIZ Signature imprint and will carry an MSRP of $22.99 U.S. / $32.00 CAN. Digital editions of FRANKENSTEIN will also be available for $15.99 via viz.com and the VIZ Manga App, as well as from the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and Google Play stores.

Junji Ito meets Mary Shelley! The master of horror manga bends all his skill into bringing the anguished and solitary monster—and the fouler beast who created him—to life with the brilliantly detailed chiaroscuro he is known for. Also included are six tales of Oshikiri—a high school student who lives in a decaying mansion connected to a haunted parallel world. Uncanny doppelgangers, unfortunately murdered friends, and a whole lot more are in store for him. Bonus: The Ito family dog! Thrill to the adventures of Non-non Ito, an adorable Maltese!

“Junji Ito’s bold graphics blend with prose from Shelley’s original novel to present the Frankenstein story in a way that has never been done before,” says Masumi Washington, Sr. Director, Publishing Production. “Junji Ito also displays his humorous and whimsical side with the inclusion of a variety of bonus stories. We look forward to fans discovering the latest from the master of horror, just in time for the 200th anniversary of the publication of Frankenstein!”

Manga creator Junji Ito made his professional manga debut in 1987 and has since gone on to be recognized as one of the greatest contemporary artists working in the horror genre. His titles include Tomie and Uzumaki, which have been adapted into live-action films; GYO, which was adapted into an animated film; and his short story collections Fragments of Horror and Shiver, all of which are available from VIZ Media. Ito’s influences include classic horror manga artists Kazuo Umezu and Hideshi Hino, as well as authors Yasutaka Tsutsui and H.P. Lovecraft.

For additional information on FRANKENSTEIN: JUNJI ITO STORY COLLECTION and other anime and manga titles distributed and published by VIZ Media, please visit viz.com.


About VIZ Media, LLC
Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan's largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shogakukan Inc., Shueisha Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.

Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at viz.com.

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BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for October 17, 2018

BOOM! STUDIOS

AUG188348    BLACK BADGE #3 FOC HAIRSINE INCV    $3.99
AUG181375    BLACK BADGE #3 MAIN & MIX    $3.99
AUG181408    GARFIELD TV OR NOT TV #1    $7.99
AUG181374    LOW ROAD WEST #2 (OF 5)    $3.99
AUG181394    LUMBERJANES #55    $3.99
AUG181395    LUMBERJANES #55 SUBSCRIPTION LAIHO VAR    $3.99
JUN181213    LUMBERJANES ORIGINAL GN VOL 01 INFERNAL COMPASS    $14.99
JUN181249    MECH CADET YU TP VOL 02    $14.99
AUG181405    STEVEN UNIVERSE ONGOING #21    $3.99
AUG181406    STEVEN UNIVERSE ONGOING #21 SUB MAYNARD VAR    $3.99
AUG181400    WELCOME TO WANDERLAND #2 (OF 4)    $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 17, 2018

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUL180478    BEDTIME GAMES #4 (OF 4)    $3.99
AUG180332    BLACK HAMMER AGE OF DOOM #6 CVR A TOMMASO    $3.99
AUG180333    BLACK HAMMER AGE OF DOOM #6 CVR B DALRYMPLE    $3.99
AUG180361    CALL OF DUTY ZOMBIES 2 #2    $3.99
JUN180362    COLOSSAL CONAN THE CIMMERIAN HC    $99.99
AUG180343    DISNEY FROZEN BREAKING BOUNDARIES #3 CVR A    $3.99
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AUG180359    DRAGON AGE DECEPTION #1    $3.99
MAR180066    EMPOWERED & SISTAH SPOOKYS HIGH SCHOOL HELL #6 (OF 6)    $3.99
AUG180328    NEIL GAIMAN AMERICAN GODS MY AINSEL #7 CVR A (MR)    $3.99
AUG180329    NEIL GAIMAN AMERICAN GODS MY AINSEL #7 CVR B MACK (MR)    $3.99

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 17, 2018

DC COMICS

AUG180475    AQUAMAN #41 (DROWNED EARTH)    $3.99
AUG180476    AQUAMAN #41 VAR ED (DROWNED EARTH)    $3.99
AUG180503    BATMAN #57    $3.99
AUG180504    BATMAN #57 VAR ED    $3.99
JUN180436    BATMAN & THE JUSTICE LEAGUE MANGA TP VOL 01    $12.99
JUL180734    BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT DETECTIVE TP VOL 02    $29.99
JUL180736    BLACK LIGHTNING COLD DEAD HANDS TP    $16.99
JUL180740    BOMBSHELLS UNITED TP VOL 02 WAR BONDS    $16.99
AUG180511    COVER #2 (OF 6) (MR)    $3.99
AUG180512    COVER #2 (OF 6) VAR ED (MR)    $3.99
AUG180514    DAMAGE #10 FOIL    $2.99
APR180299    DC DESIGNER SER SUPERGIRL BY MICHAEL TURNER STATUE    $150.00
JUL180743    DEATHSTROKE TP VOL 05 THE FALL OF SLADE REBIRTH    $16.99
APR180302    DOOMSDAY CLOCK RORSCHACH MIME AF 2 PACK    $50.00
JUL180749    FLASH BY MARK WAID TP BOOK 05    $34.99
JUL180756    GREEN ARROW REBIRTH DLX COLL HC VOL 01    $34.99
AUG180530    GREEN LANTERNS #57    $3.99
AUG180531    GREEN LANTERNS #57 VAR ED    $3.99
AUG180534    HARLEY QUINN #52 FOIL    $3.99
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AUG180540    INJUSTICE 2 #36    $2.99
AUG180480    JUSTICE LEAGUE #10 FOIL (DROWNED EARTH)    $3.99
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AUG180459    LUCIFER #1 (MR)    $3.99
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AUG180545    NEW CHALLENGERS #6 (OF 6)    $2.99
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AUG180550    PEARL #3 (OF 6) (MR)    $3.99
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AUG180559    SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #95    $2.99
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AUG180569    TEEN TITANS #23 FOIL    $3.99
AUG180570    TEEN TITANS #23 VAR ED    $3.99

Dynamite Entertainment from Diamond Distributors for October 17, 2018

D. E.

JUN181039    BOYS TP VOL 11 OVER THE HILL SGN ED (MR)    $19.99
AUG181212    DEJAH THORIS #9 CVR A GALINDO    $3.99
AUG181213    DEJAH THORIS #9 CVR B MCKONE    $3.99
AUG181214    DEJAH THORIS #9 CVR C QUALANO SUB VAR    $3.99
JUL181335    REANIMATOR GAME DUAL EXPANSION PACK    $29.99
AUG181260    RED SONJA #22 CVR A BULLOCK    $3.99
AUG181261    RED SONJA #22 CVR B GRUMMET    $3.99
AUG181262    RED SONJA #22 CVR C MANDRAKE    $3.99
AUG181263    RED SONJA #22 CVR D BROWN    $3.99
AUG181264    RED SONJA #22 CVR E COSPLAY SUB VAR    $3.99
APR181051    RED SONJA ENAMEL PIN    $9.99
MAY181170    RED SONJA ICON ENAMEL PIN    $9.99
MAY181169    RED SONJA SIMONSON PIN    $9.99
JUN181148    VAMPIRELLA BAT ENAMEL PIN    $9.99
APR181052    VAMPIRELLA ENAMEL PIN    $9.99
JUN181149    VAMPIRELLA JOSE GONZALEZ ENAMEL PIN    $9.99
AUG181278    XENA #9 CVR A CIFUENTES    $3.99
AUG181279    XENA #9 CVR B CIFUENTES    $3.99
JUL181322    XENA PENANCE TP    $19.99