Review: Superman Doomsday

This seems to be my weekend for watching comic-based movies, but there are worse ways to spend Thanksgiving!

This animated feature is the first in a highly-anticipated series of direct-to-DVD films from Warner Brothers, capitalizing on some of DC Comics' most popular storylines from the past several decades. It's the sort of idea that, when you hear it for the first time, you wonder why the Hell it had never happened before. After all, with a direct-to-DVD rather than theatrical approach, you don't need to make tens or hundreds of millions of dollars to turn a profit. Add in the fact that DC has a built-in audience across several generations who'd be interested in seeing some of the classic stories brought to their TV screens, and it has the feel of a no-brainer.

So how was the first offering, Superman Doomsday? Surprisingly effective! The story is one of the most-read comic tales ever, because of the media hype that developed around it. For those who don't know: Doomsday was the Hulk-like monster who forged a path of destruction across the countryside on his way to Metropolis, essentially wiping out anything that got in his way. Several Justice League members tried to stop him but were nearly killed in the attempt, and then it was up to the Man of Steel to save the day. The two juggernauts fought, with both of them dying in the end as a result of the incredible blows each had landed on the other during the fight. That final confrontation occurred in Superman (Vol 2) # 75, a story that sold literally millions of copies, by the time all of the subsequent printings and collections had been grabbed up. Following that came the Funeral For A Friend arc, and then The Reign of the Supermen (as several new characters attempted to fill the void left by the Last Son of Krypton's death) before the inevitable Return of Superman. In this DVD, all of that is compressed into a 75-minute version.

I give the script writers a lot of credit for their choices in terms of what to keep from the original material, and what to lose. As hard as it is for me to admit, much of the comic story was horribly convoluted to anyone not intimately familiar with the character at the time (as I was), and so all of that is gone: no other superheroes are shown here, and very few of the supporting cast made the cut. For the most part, it's Superman, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Lex Luthor and Doomsday, with Daily Planet editor Perry White having a few key scenes. Even Clark Kent is barely shown, although his final appearance is truly memorable (and appreciated, by this fan).

Importantly, though, the DVD has a PG-13 rating, largely because of the amount of violence, and specifically death, that was not discarded. I shudder to think of what a Doomsday story would've felt like if everyone he encountered miraculously survived, as has always been the rule for the TV animated series (Adventures of Batman, Superman Adventures, Justice League Unlimited, etc.) Here, though, many deaths are shown, far beyond simply the expected demise of the title characters. That aspect of the story made it quite scary, in a way that cartoon features involving superheroes normally aren't.

There are also plenty of surprises for fans of the original Death of Superman comic event. One significant aspect of the story was completely new, although I suppose, in a way, it was a subtle little nod toward the aforementioned Reign of the Supermen period. As well, the decision was made to have Martha Kent as the only surviving parent, which is different than the comic book mythology at the time (and currently), but strangely in line with both the original Superman movies with Christopher Reeve and the most recent events on TV's Smallville. It worked well here, although one key scene involving Martha and Lois in Smallville was abbreviated to the point of losing an opportunity for true poignancy, in my opinion.

And speaking of Ms Lane, she's well-written here (for a change) and given a very adult role to play (also for a change). I loved her character in this feature, and the only negative reaction I had was in hearing Anne Heche's voice coming out of her mouth! Heche's squeaky, crackling tones were completely ill-suited for Lois, and could only have been worsened if they'd chosen Fran Drescher in her place! I was so bothered by this casting choice that it probably, in the end, cost the movie a 1/2 star off its rating in my estimation!

Pretty much everything else worked for me, aside for minor quibbles like how quickly Metropolis seemed to get rebuilt after each disaster struck it (and one scene involving a building collapsing was eerily similar to the events of Sept 11th and thus perhaps not appropriate here). There's also the moment where Superman used a mirror and his X-Ray vision to see beneath the skin of his own face. Did the writers really not understand that a reflecting surface can only show whatever's visible? Using an X-Ray on a mirror, I can't help but believe, would simply result in your seeing whatever's behind it! Unless, of course, we're to believe that Superman can somehow cause his super-vision to bounce off surfaces...

Overall, Superman Doomsday is a frightening, suspenseful and ultimately satisfying story that should be understandable by all (though not suitable for small children), enjoyable for most, and a true treat for the comic fan. And if you like seeing superpowered creatures beating the crap out of each other while knocking down buildings and generally totalling the joint, you're going to be beside yourself while watching this animated feature!

Oh, and the Special Features on the DVD provide an excellent recap of all that happened during the media event surrounding Superman's death! Even I learned a thing or two from watching it! If you happen to see it, and find yourself wondering why, of the four Reign of the Supermen characters, Superboy isn't actually shown (just mentioned), it's all because of this.

Rating: ***