NYCC: Justice League War Panel

Hey Otakus and Geeks fans, New York Comic Con 2013 had some great panels this year, so we started our day two coverage with the DC Panel. DC unveiled a first look for its upcoming animated featured Justice League War. The panel included producer James Tucker, director Jay Oliva, legendary dialogue director Andrea Romano and Batman voice actor Jason O'Mara.

The DC animated universe is headed into The New 52 territory with ‘Justice League: War’ which adapts the opening storyline from the current ‘Justice League’ comic book series, which gathered the world’s greatest heroes to oppose the ultimate evil, Darkseid. Superman will be voiced by (Firefly) Alan Tudyk.  He will be joined by Jason O’Mara as Batman, Michelle Monaghan as Wonder Woman, Christopher Gorham as The Flash, Justin Kirk as Green Lantern, Shemar Moore as Cyborg, Sean Astin as Shazam, and Steve Blum as Darkseid. Here are some images released by DC for the upcoming animated feature.

Batman, Superman, Green Lantern

Shazam

Green Lantern

Darkseid

Some of you may be asking why the new movie isn't featuring some of the iconic voices that we have come to love like, Tim daly (Superman TAS, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse) Kevin Conroy (Batman TAS, The Iconic Voice we love). The panel informed us that they are going in the same direction of the New 52, which means new voices and stories that follow the comics.

The panel was asked to summarize Justice League War, Tucker said the feature was “everything you ever wanted” in a Justice League movie. Oliva called it a “loose adaptation” of the Geoff Johns “Justice League: Origin” storyline and will feature the origin of Cyborg. Romano said the character of Cyborg goes through plenty of distress but comes out “shining.

Oliva confirmed that footage from the forthcoming Batman: Assault on Arkham animated movie, based in the “Arkham” videogame universe, is coming back from overseas animation studios and it looks “badass.” Miereanu noted O’Mara is excited for fans to see Batman: Assault on Arkham.


Fan Q&A

Some fans asked why Shazam was added to the story and Aquaman was taken out? "That was a suggestion made by Geoff Johns, actually," Tucker said. "He brings a lot of lightness to the proceedings - it's a very dark, intense story. It was also revealed that Aquaman would be getting his own animated movie.

Another question was bought up by Green Lantern fans, one I have long wanted to ask and has been asked at the last two DC panels....... When are they going to do a Blackest Night animated feature. This is one of the greatest stories in DC history and should be made into a movie. Tucker admitted a possible Green Lantern: Blackest Night animated feature was “discussed,” as was Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War.

One fan asked if they would ever consider doing an animated movie on curse of the Robins, a movie that would follow all of the Robins and explore how partnering with Batman ruined their lives, which got a loud applause from the fans at the panel. The panelists seemed intrigued by the idea and appeared to consider it.

There were also questions if DC was considering bringing back Teen Titan and Young Justice. This was something I myself hoped would spark interest. Fans of Young Justice hoped there is something being planned because the show was left on a cliff hanger.  Tucker said that while he did not work on either, he is very interested in Teen Titans. "So… maybe."


They closed the panel with a final clip, featuring Green Lantern, Batman and Superman fighting off a horde of Parademons. Justice League: War doesn’t currently have a release date, but it is expected to premiere in early 2014.  




By Sean Tucker