Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)

Dirs. Matt Peters + Christina Sotta

Apokolips War marks the end of the DC movie continuity that began with The Flashpoint Paradox (2013). I didn't like the New 52 very much, so have no problems if its influence on the animated universe comes to an end - if indeed that's what actually happens. At time of writing, it remains to be seen if that's the case.

The story begins with a quote written large onscreen, a slight paraphrasing of a famous prayer that was penned by the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. While initially untitled, in modern times it's become known as the Serenity Prayer. If you're not familiar with the title, it's the verse that encourages one to accept the things that they cannot change; have the courage to change the things that they can; and the wisdom to know the difference.

Wonder Woman: Bloodlines (2019)

Wonder Woman: Bloodlines (2019)

Dirs. Sam Liu / Justin Copeland

Wonder Woman's second solo animated movie is nothing like her first one. In short, the first one was good, but the second one is downright awful.

It begins with Captain Steve Trevor (Jeffrey Donovan) in a jet plane somewhere over the Mediterranean. An unforeseen event causes him to crash into the sea, plunging him also in the world of Diana (Rosario Dawson), Princess of Themyscira, on a secret island that's been sealed away from the rest of the world. Steve's presence is disruptive, most of all to Diana, who quickly decides that everything she's ever known and loved is of lesser value than helping a man that she's just met return home to help his people.

So far, so rushed, but that part of the story is well-known to Wo Wo fans, as is her subsequent travels to the outside world. What follows after is new.

Batman: Hush (2019)

Batman: Hush (2019)

Dir. Justin Copeland

I'm surely not the only person who wishes that WB and DC would stop doing direct adaptations of existing comic book story arcs and instead focus on creating more original animations. There's plenty of writers who'd be willing to submit something unique.

I read Hush years ago in its first TPB format. Jim Lee's artwork was excellent, but I've had no desire to experience the story again, such was my feelings for it. The animation didn't reverse that decision.

The premise is that an unknown antagonist, the titular Hush, whose face is bandaged to conceal his identity, hopes to destroy Batman from afar by targeting people close to him and by manipulating the other supervillains to work strategically against him.