Superman: Doomsday
DC Universe Animated Original Movie
Starring (voices): Adam Baldwin, Anne Heche, James Marsters
Warner Home Video
Release date: Sept. 18, 2007

The Death of Superman is still, to this day, one of the most memorable moments in comic book history. The event not only sent shockwaves through the entire DC Universe, but attracted even casual fans to begin purchasing comics in huge numbers.

Rumors persisted for years that the story would be made into a film, but never came to fruition. After the release of Superman Returns, it seemed the story would remain in print only. That, however, turned out to be untrue when the story was adapted to an animated feature, Superman: Doomsday. The film is a bit disappointing, taking huge leaps from the original story, but does have some entertainment value.

While digging beneath the Earth’s surface on secret project, LexCorp unearths an alien chamber that houses a nearly unstoppable killing machine, which is not named, but fans will recognize as Doomsday. I say nearly because Superman does succeed in stopping it, at the price of his own life.

In the wake of his death, crime skyrockets, when suddenly a caped-hero emerges to save the day, but not all is well in Metropolis.

Adapting such a story may be better suited for animation than live action, but even so, this cartoon earns its PG-13 rating. It’s good to see a non-anime animated feature that doesn’t shy away from violence or sex (only implied between Lois and Superman), especially given the plot. But it’s the plot deviations from the world-famous comics that make this movie suffer. Doomsday, instead of a constantly evolving genetic wonder seems to be just a super-tough android with Predator vision. In the comics, we saw how powerful it was as other superheros joined in the fight and were easily thrown aside. Not this time, as barely anyone seems to even notice the city-destroying battle besides Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen until the very end.

After the battle is over (only 25 mins into the film) the main villain ends up being Lex Luthor and his Superman clone. The multiple-impostor storyline would have been too complicated to make into such a short film (77 mins), but replacing them all with a single, misguided and overzealous Superman doesn’t quite work either. And the cartoon version of Lex is humorously overdone, seemingly more like Dr. Evil than the scheming genius from the comics. The film shows Luthor as having the cures for cancer and multiple sclerosis but keeping them from the public until he can find ways to make even more money off of them.

There is, however, a very humorous moment where Luthor tries to lure the Superman clone into a room with red solar lights and kryptonite gauntlets by taunting him, only to have “Superman” stare at him blankly from the doorway before shutting the door without saying a word. All of Luthor’s plans seem more hokey than brilliant, more comical than conniving.

Superman: Doomsday has its entertaining moments, mostly in the battle sequences where the silly plot can be temporarily ignored, but overall this animated feature is a disappointment.

DVD Bonus Features

– Audio Commentary
– Challenges: Superman’s Last Stand
– Requiem and Rebirth: Superman Lives! Featurette
– Interviews: Behind the Voice
– Justice League: New Frontier Teaser Reel