Justice League: The New Frontier (2008)

Justice League: The New Frontier (2008)

Dir. Dave Bullock

A voiceover in the deep tones of Keith David is a good way to open any animation, but coming as it does before a title sequence that captures the aesthetic of the Atomic era as it might be seen through the expert eyes of Saul Bass is a hell of a good start! And yes, I feel that exclamation mark is fully warranted.

It then establishes the mindset of a few of the heroes by having them placed in various parts of the world during times of great social and/or political upheaval. For fighter pilot Hal Jordan (David Boreanaz) that translates to his having to make some very difficult decisions whilst in a life or death situation.

For Superman (Kyle MacLachlan) and Wonder Woman (Lucy Lawless) the level of mortal danger is significantly less, given their near-invincibility, but thematically their challenges are also demanding.

The political overtones continue when events move to Metropolis, where the "boogey men" of McCarthyism roam, but before that we meet a lost soul in Gotham, a stranger in a strange land with no one to turn to in his ultimate hour of need.

For J'onn J'onzz (Miguel Ferrer), the last surviving member of an alien race, avoiding personal relationships and hiding his true identity is the best course of action because when a controlling portion of society's collective consciousness holds the opinion that newcomers are something to be feared — a feeling born from paranoia and government talk of keeping 'Commies' from US borders — the negative connotations of being 'different' can lead to unprovoked aggression.

It's within that boiling pot that a doomsday cult emerges, hoping to bring about the arrival of a force that threatens all of Earth's population. To prevent it happening, the people with power will need to work together, form an alliance, regardless of personal beliefs or ideologies.

It's essentially a Justice League origin story with a lengthy build-up, but things connect eventually in a way that feels satisfyingly constructed. The retro-styling of the art serves to keep the era and its defining cultural climate in the viewer's mind, but it won't be to everyone's liking.

The backstories of the individual members is interesting, but what I love most is the characterisation of J'onn J'onzz, watching television in a small apartment, isolated and alone, as images of a life he can't have flash across the screen. It's simple but extremely powerful.