Superman Doomsday

Posted by Kevin Carr (kevin@filmschoolrejects.com) on October 1, 2007

I was in college when they killed Superman. Of course, I knew this was nothing new. DC Comics had killed the Man of Steel dozens of times over the year. However, in the early 1990s, they really tried to make it an event. And they did, although our favorite Kryptonian was soon back in the comics a couple weeks later. Still, there were lines around the block to buy the book that contained his death (and I still have the coveted unopened copy in my collection).

Almost fifteen years later, Warner Bros. has brought that saga to the animated screen. However, instead of just showing us a 90-minute slugfest with the ultra-powerful Doomsday, the new animated film “Superman: Doomsday” also gives us the story of what happens after Superman dies.

If you haven’t read the series of comics this film is based on, you won’t be lost. In fact, this is an excellent summation of the saga, and in the condensed format, it’s quite compelling.

This is the first animated Superman feature to carry a PG-13 rating, and it is deserved. While the violence is a bit much for a younger audience, this is great for the adult fans, those like me who have grown up with the comics. It’s also a nice throw-back to a time when comics weren’t necessarily just for kids.

I really enjoyed this latest animated feature from the DC universe. It holds up well against the Marvel features we’ve seem come out lately. The hope is that further features (including the upcoming “Justice League: The New Frontier”) will be equally as satisfying.

The DVD comes with more than an hour of bonus features, including a comprehensive documentary about the inspiration and making of the film, commentary by the filmmakers, a behind-the-scenes featurette and a look at the new Justice League film. There’s also a set-top game that allows you to direct Superman in his battle with Doomsday.

Read more articles by Kevin Carr