Gen¹³ (1998)

Gen¹³ (1998)

Dir. Kevin Altieri

An animated movie based on the WildStorm superhero comic of the same name. Originally published in partnership with Image Comics, it didn't become a DC Comics imprint until 1999. That's enough of a connection to warrant a post, but I won't give it the DC label. [1]

Although ultimately a team set-up, the movie's main character is red-haired Caitlin Fairchild (Alicia Witt), who at the story's beginning is a college student with no super powers. She's recruited by a military organisation with a vested interest in activating the latent abilities in what it calls SPBs (Super Powered Beings).

The situation had the basic foundations for a superhero-themed coming of age drama, but it pushes frenetic action scenes and one-note villainy to the fore instead. The end result is an odd mix of teen cartoon clichés and immature adult happenings, with various profanities and at least one purposefully pronounced reference to characters having sex, which is probably what earned it its 15 rating.