"Justice League: Gods and Monsters" review

WITHOUT revealing any spoilers, "Justice League: Gods and Monsters" is a very entertaining DC animated video, where there's no way anyone is going to predict the outcome to the story.

Yes, it was well worth the $17.99 I paid for the DVD, with shipping to my home.

This is an alternate universe tale, unique in its unorthodox characters. There were at least three pivotal moments in the 76-minute storyline, where I was totally surprised by the outcome.

Thus, this movie is more about "what if" and "Wow, I didn't expect that" rather than all about its action scenes.

I'm still mystified why DC can produce such great animated movies, well ahead of Marvel, and yet fall short on the big screen of live action movies.

While I'm still waiting for DC to do a "Secret Identity" animated movie, I'm not disappointed by their Superman projects otherwise.

-Regarding the related "Justice League: Gods and Monsters" limited comic book series, I thought that it was ever better than the animated movie. It is surely one of DC's best comics series of 2015.

DC's "Convergence" is a real treat

DC Comics has a landmark two-month new series running, "Convergence," during April and May of 2015.
This series brings together all past "imaginary" stories, alternate universes and many "Elseworld" tales, as if they are all REAL.
From "Kingdom Come" and its Superman to many pre "52" universe stories, this is worth a look.
Some stories move slow, but it is a kick to see so many alternate characters abandoned, or only briefly used, returning.
The only other downside is that there isn't space to truly develop and explore these alternate characters and worlds.

Justice League 3000 finally takes off ...

PATIENCE sometimes does pay off in comic books.
So, I keep buying DC Comics' "Justice League 3000" (now "3001") for over a year, wondering why I do it when the storyline is so limited, lame and unimaginative.
I'm talking 13 issues for $2.99, or more than $39 wasted?
However, in February, issue No. 13 comes along and wow, the comic finally hits its stride.
Spoilers ahead!!!!!
From Sinestro to Lois Lane to Darkseid, the story finally shows some excitement.
(The story previous added the original Blue Beetle, Booster Gold and Ice to the story with little thrill.)
I still might give away issues 1-12, but this is great news!!!!
Also, I'm still not fond that the Superman here can't fly and seems to be pretty powerless, hardly deserving the Superman title, but at least the story is worth a read now ...............
UDPATE: Now "Supergirl" has shown up in Justice League 3001, so its twists continue.

The best Lois Lane actor?

I grew up with the 1950s "Adventures of Superman" George Reeves TV show.
Recently re-watching all of them again for the umpteenth time still yielded some new revelations.
The BEST Lois Lane for me is none other than  Phyllis Coates, who only starred in the first season of the series.

She was the most pretty and talented. No one, believe me, no one, could scream like her and she was impulsive and spirited.
Too bad, she had already made a commitment for another show, before the second season of Superman came along. (In addition, too bad she's only in ":black and white" in these early shows.)

-Also in one of those early 1952 episodes, it was the "Monkey Mystery" or the "Broken Statues," that is the only one where you see a Daily Planet Newsroom. 
Otherwise, it was always as if Perry, Lois, Jimmy and Clark were about the only employees in that large Daily Planet building/operation.

-In addition, I noticed so clearly a "Stunt double" for George Reeves in the "Mind Machine" episode that it was unbelievable. So, you've got to not look too close -- especially on those early episodes. At least they had great background music.

DC Comics/Warners Brothers: Fire All Your Movie Advisors and Start over!!

I watched "Captain America The Winter Soldier" movie. Yes, it is a 4-star production and was even better than "The Avengers," because it kept me guessing. 
I am probably an oddity, because I recall throwing around my mother's cast iron garbage can lid back in the mid-1960s, imitating Captain America. Few knew who Cap was back then.

-However, I still can't understand why DC Comics/Warner Brothers won't wise up and create their own master movie plans, like Marvel.
DC's live action movies seem to be on a "plan as we go" scenario.

"Man of Steel," though better than "Superman Returns," could have been much better -- if DC paid more attention to detail, like Marvel does. 
"Superman" had little awe factor in "Man of Steel" and having so many other Kryptonians around on Earth in his reboot debut was a very poor plot choice.
(I could have written a much better movie plot ...)

The last two Batman movies were just too dark.

I'd like to be hopeful for the 2016 "Batman-Superman" movie, but given DC's track record at the theater, they'd have to fire all their past advisors and start over.

DC/Warner Brothers needs one special panel or board to plan and oversee all their movie projects.

How DC can do so well on animated movies and so poorly on live action movies is also a paradox they need to examine.

New '52' falls short

It has now been about two years since DC Comics unveiled its "New 52" line.
It was a complete re-start for the company's comics.
After these two years I've noticed that the comics I found the most compelling, the most action-packed and most imaginative, were NOT part of the main '52' line.
It has been a consistent for me, that the best stories -- especially for Superman comics -- are coming from outside the standard "DC Universe."
From "Adventures of Superman" to "Batman Beyond Universe," that's where the premier stories have been.
The "Superman," "Action," and teamup comics with Superman and Wonder Woman or Batman are not measuring up.
The new villains they have are lame, the stories lack majesty or even a spark of hope.
"Forever Evil" is too lengthy and too focus-less.

-Hopefully the return of Doomsday will spark some new excitement in the DC Universe.

'Adventures' No. 8: Best Superman Comic in years

The "Adventures of Superman" comic, No. 8 (January 2014), is simply the best Superman comic book in years.
Ironically not a part of the DC's vaunted "52 universe," this story shows great imagination, action, art work and is a comic any Man of Steel fan will want to read over and over again.
I never saw the ending coming and it was never boring.
Well worth the $3.99 price.
Compliments to Marc Guggenheim, Joe Bennett and Belardino Brabo -- keep it up!!