Justice Society: World War II

We all remember our readings of DC Comics that totally held our attention and immersed us in a universe that we appreciate as much by the quality of its drawings as its captivating scenarios and allowing us to find superheroes that we appreciate like Superman, Batman, Flash, Wonder Woman and many others. It is easy to understand since Richard Donner's masterful blockbuster Superman (1979) which was going to set a new standard for the adaptations to come that the DC universe was favourable to numerous adaptations with a certain potential, but we have to admit that films like Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016) or Justice League (2017) have really put a strain on this much loved universe and despite very successful films like Wonder Woman (2017) (we'll forget about the disappointing second one), Aquaman (2018), Joker (2019) or even Shazam! (2019).

However, the DC universe, as badly treated as it is on the big screen, continues to hold our attention especially through successful live-action series (Supergirl, The Flash...) or adaptations in the form of animated features released directly on video. The latter never cease to amaze us and to appear as an excellent vector to give life to the comics so much appreciated and that have marked our memories.

Justice Society: World War II directed by Jeff Wamester on a script by Meghan Fitzmartin and Jeremy Adams is certainly an excellent vintage as it succeeds in mixing the war movie and the superhero movie. In this new animated adventure Barry Allen discovers that he can run even faster than he imagined, and this discovery leads to his first encounter with the Speed Force and sees him in the middle of World War II. Finding himself in the middle of a raging battle, primarily between Nazis and a team of superheroes from DC's golden age known as the Justice Society of America. Led by Wonder Woman, the group includes Hourman, Black Canary, Hawkman, Steve Trevor and the Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick. Flash quickly volunteers to help his fellow heroes tip the balance of the war in their favor, while the team tries to find a way to send him home. Justice Society of America will not only find Aquaman manipulated against his will, but also Superman in his first appearance.

If this animated film works so well it's because it knows how to find all the quintessence of DC comics, that is to say an intriguing plot and drawings perfectly in phase with the story. In this case we find with pleasure the link between Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor who keeps asking her to marry him. Each of the main characters is not only well treated but above all finds his place in a fight that promises to be Homeric. We find here the breath of the great adventure films but also an omnipresent humor that comes to counterbalance the hostile and rather violent climate of this animated film clearly intended for a young adult audience. Far from being an animated film or series for all audiences, Justice Society: World War II is violent and does not seem at any time to want to diminish its graphic impact. While Justice League Dark: Apokolips War allowed the DC Animated Universe to be totally relaunched, this animated film appears to be the will to build a new universe on solid foundations.

This animated film also benefits from a careful vocal casting in which we find Stana Katic (Wonder Woman), Matt Bomer (Flash / Barry Allen), Omid Abtahi (Hawkman), Geoffrey Arend (Advisor), Darren Criss (Superman / Clark Kent), Darin De Paul (Brainiac / Franklin D. Roosevelt), Chris Diamantopoulos (Steve Trevor), Keith Ferguson (Dr. Fate), Matthew Mercer (Hourman), Liam McIntyre (Aquaman), Elysia Rotaru (Black Canary) and Armen Taylor (Jay Garrick). This luxurious cast easily reinforces our immersion in one of the best animated films from Warner Bros. Animation's best animated films. We hope that the next animated films will continue with the same excellent level of quality that makes us recommend you to discover this film which will be released on video (DVd, blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD) on May 11th in the United States and on May 26th in France.

Justice Society: World War II
Directed by Jeff Wamester
Produced by Jim Krieg, Kimberly S. Moreau
Written by Meghan Fitzmartin, Jeremy Adams
Based on Justice Society of America by Gardner Fox, Everett E. Hibbard, Sheldon Mayer
Starring Stana Katic, Matt Bomer, Elysia Rotaru, Chris Diamantopoulos, Omid Abtahi, Matthew Mercer, Armen Taylor, Liam McIntyre
Music by Kevin Riepl
Production companies: Warner Bros. Animation, DC Entertainment
Distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Release date : April 27, 2021 (USA) (Digital), May 11, 2021 (USA) (Video), May 26, 2021 (France)
Running time : 84 minutes

Seen on April 27, 2021

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