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DC’s live-action library is a mixed bag, and their Extended Universe is without a Batman and Superman. Not exactly characters they can omit, as a sitcom would write out a cast member after a highly publicized gaffe or scrap with the law. We have The Flash, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and potentially a Wonder Woman threequel coming up, but the DCEU is very much in question despite the reasonably packed slate. Despite some high-profile cameos, it looks like the Justice League band is all but broken up. But DC-related media isn’t all in disarray.
DC animated movies have been the saving grace beyond the comics. From early super duo Kevin Conroy and Tim Daly fare to The Dark Knight Returns up through the recent Justice League run ending with Apokolips War, DC’s direct-to-streaming/DVD catalog almost makes up for the shortcomings of their live-action counterparts. They’re not slowing down with the releases in this phase known as the “Tomorrowverse.” There’s a full schedule of new animated DC movies set to stream soon. Here’s a guide to animated adventures coming to your flat screen in 2022 and 2023.
Batman: The Doom that Came to Gotham
Based on a three-part miniseries from DC Comics published in 2000, The Doom That Came to Gotham touches on gothic and Lovecraftian horror themes. It is an entry in the excellent DC Elseworlds label that sees characters set in alternate timelines and realities. Elseworlds brought us classics such as Batman: Gotham by Gaslight, Superman: Red Son, and Batman/Marvel crossovers team-ups with Daredevil and Spider-Man.
This particular title revolves around a Batman prowling the streets of 1928 Gotham pitted against a mystical and supernatural enemy, as well as some staple villains. Also appearing in the book are Two-Face, Mr. Freeze, Ra’s al Ghul, and Green Arrow. DC offers a daunting description of the comic:
“… A terrible thing from beyond space and time has awakened. The Lurker on the Threshold has called its faithful servants-immortal sorcerers, reptile men, beings of eldritch cold and fungal horror-to feed our world into its gaping maw. If the Batman hopes to end the horror, how terrible must Bruce Wayne become?”
So we’re basically getting a Batman horror film. Sign us up! The details of the film have yet to be released, but the setting and themes are perfect for a dark and brooding animated Batman story. The film is set to release in 2023.
Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons
Batman has run through more Robins than most people have cars. The latest mainstream Boy Wonder is Bruce Wayne’s son, Damian Wayne, a League of Assassins trained hothead with whom Batman constantly clashes. We’ve seen a lot of Damian thanks to the excellent voice acting of Stuart Allan in the Jason O’Mara era Batman animated films. Damian is set to return to the screen, voiced by Jack Griffo alongside Jonathan Kent (Jack Dylan Glazer), the son of Superman in Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons.
This story doesn’t appear to pull from any comic in particular, though there are bound to be similarities to the interminable number of Batman/Superman team-up comics. DC describes the film with the following:
“Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons begins as 11-year-old Jonathan Kent discovers he has superpowers, thrusting the half-Kryptonian into the complicated world of Super Heroes and Super-Villains – who are now under attack by a malevolent alien force known as Starro!…”
Batman and Superman, per the description, will be mostly sidelined for the movie, with Robin and Jonathan stepping up in their absence. We last saw Starro in The Suicide Squad dropping offspring to collectively control Corto Maltese. With these alien face-huggers taking down Superman AND Batman, expect the kids to have a pretty outsized task on their hands in this animated feature.
Filling out the cast are Troy Baker as Batman, Travis Willingham as Superman, and Darin De Paul as Starro. Also slated to appear are Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and more. The film is directed by Matt Peters from a screenplay by Sam Register and Jeremy Adams. Battle of the Super Sons is set to release on October 18, 2022.
The Legion of Super-Heroes
Running from 2006-2008 over a two-season span, The Legion of Superheroes animated series revolves around a group of teenage heroes sent back in time from the 31st century. The series was well-received despite its short run, so DC has dusted off the concept for an as-yet unaired HBO Max series and now a new animated feature, The Legion of Super-Heroes.
Little is known about the film as of right now. We know that it will be released in 2023 among the flood of DC Animated features, according to Warner Bros.’ Gary Miereanu at San Diego Comic-Con. From the logo featured at SDCC, the series will likely center on Superman as the graphic features the character’s signature “S” emblem.
Justice League: Warworld
The Justice League animated run that started with The Flashpoint Paradox and ended with the aforementioned Apokolips War will be followed by a new incarnation of the vaunted team. The new League will take on their first mutual enemy in Justice League: Warworld, which will be released in 2023. The main players have already been introduced in animated solo outings from Batman on through Martian Manhunter.
The only hint we have for a potential story is the comic namesake. Warworld was a title that saw the Justice League clash with big bad Mogul over his takeover of a massive satellite called Warworld. This craft was fitted with enough weaponry to get on the League’s radar, prompting the showdown between the two factions. Will the feature base its script on this story? There isn’t much info out there on this Tomorrowverse entry aside from its 2023 release, so check back with us for more as it comes in.
RWBY/Justice League
DC is no stranger to creative team-ups and crossovers. They’ve paired up with Marvel, Dark Horse, and others to bring us everything from Marvel Vs. DC to Batman Vs. Predator 1-3. Batman even took on the Xenomorphs in Batman Vs. Alien. Not to mention the time The Dark Knight caved in Judge Dredd’s face on the page.
In the spirit of colliding universes, we’re set to get an RWBY/Justice League animated film. The young huntress trainees of RWBY have already met up with the League in comic form, and now the alliance will be brought to streaming in 2023. RWBY’s hit web series will lend its talents to the film, with director Kerry Shawcross heading up the writing team, along with Eddy Rivas, Miles Luna, and Kiersi Burkhart.
These movies are hopefully just the beginning of the next phase of DC animated features. This format has fared well for the publisher and Warner Bros., as well as the fans.
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