Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Panther

Dir: Will Meugniot, Steven E. Gordon, Dick Sebast, Curt Geda

2006

**

The initial Ultimate Avengers animated movie, released just a few month before its sequel, was a pleasant adventure film that offered something for existing fans and to those who were new to the Marvel characters. Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Panther however, adds very little to franchise and is somewhat tiresome in comparison. The introduction of original Avengers member Black Panther is the one of the films only highlights, the other being the inclusion of Aliens disguised as Nazis, as seen briefly in the previous film. The standard of animation seems to have dropped somewhat since the last film, leading me to suspect that it was probably rushed, at least that's what it looks like. Mark Hamill was added to the voice cast in a minor role to entice more viewers but he is ultimately wasted on a rather pointless character. I'm sure that the first animated film was an influence on the live action films and I hope that its sequel is a reminder to Marvel of how not to make a movie.

Ultimate Avengers

Dir: Steven E. Gordon, Curt Geda, Bob Richardson

2006

***

Just before the Avengers film franchise really took off, Marvel made a couple of animated films based on the superheroes comic adventures. 2006's Ultimate Avengers isn't quite the same as the live action films would turn out but I can't help but think this influenced them and its DNA is in the blueprints of phase one of the Marvel cinematic universe. In Ultimate Avengers we see the team come together for the first time and take on invading Aliens who were in fact responsible for the Nazis. The team, led by Captain America under the watchful eye of Nick Fury (no pun intended, honestly) includes Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, The Wasp and Ant Man - who in this instant has somehow reversed the powers of his suit to become Gi-ant man. They are assisted by S.H.E.I.L.D. doctor Bruce Banner who eventually helps them as his alter-ego, The Incredible Hulk. The animation has its high points and its low points but is generally of a high quality. The good guys beat the bad guys towards the end of the film as you'd expect but the real treat here is watching Hulk turn on his comrades. Avengers vs Hulk make this the surprisingly exciting watch that it is, especially when you realise it was made years before the live action films. Marvel animations are generally on par with DC's, they're nowhere near as good as the films or the comics but they are fun all the same.

Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman
Dir: Curt Geda
2003
***
Batman seems to have more threads then...someone with a lot of clothes. In Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman, (No, not Batgirl) Batman is Batman again (as most people know him, not a future representation and still Bruce Wayne when not in costume). It's a solid story with some great characters, it's good to see Bane making an appearance and it's good to see The Penguin back again also. The animation is okay, not as good as the other DC animations and it doesn't live up to the early animated series of the early 90's but that said, as long as it's Kevin Conroy doing the voice of Batman, I'm generally happy.

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
Dir: Curt Geda
2000
***
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker is, fairly obviously, quite confusing if you're not familiar with this thread of the Batman legacy (Batman Beyond, a futuristic version of the Caped Crusader) but it's fairly easy to pick up what's going on and who is who. The best thing is obviously the return of Mark Hamill as the voice of Joker, although you wouldn't know it was him unless you were a big fan of the original (and can read credits obviously). It's a great story and only highlights the tragic way the 90's films went. DC animations are hit and miss, this is one of the hits.

Batman Beyond: The Movie
Dir: Curt Geda, Butch Lukic, Dan Riba, Yukio Suzuki
1999
***
Batman Beyond is a little confusing to an old-school Bat-fan like myself but I do find all the different story strains fascinating. It's not really for me, I don't like the idea or style of animation but I admit this is an amicable way of passing on the torch, Kevin Conroy as the original voice still very much present and us original fans are grateful for that. I think without him I would be less interested.