Or Sinestro Corps War, Adapt That One Too

As someone who loves both comic books and movies, the combination of the two is something I always look forward to (unless it involves the Punisher, in which case, it's like taking ice cream and spitting on it repeatedly. Unless it's being handled by Marvel Studios itself, which, as of typing, they actually do have the rights back and are attempting a new film. In that case, I remain cautious but I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt for the time being).

Over the past few years, DC and Marvel have been releasing straight to DVD films and I very eagerly await every one (well, the DC ones mostly, in part due to Marvel ceasing production of any such DVD's and because the DC ones have always been of higher quality), regardless of whether or not I know the characters or the story. Even if I'm in the dark on the story being adapted (case in point, the upcoming Superman Vs. The Elite, an adaptation of the story in Action Comics #775 “What's So Funny About Truth, Justice And The American Way?”), the productions always manage to score some top talent, create uniquely animated and amazing worlds and often, cast members from the brilliant Justice League/Justice League Unlimited series will “reprise” their roles (I use quotation marks because while they are voicing characters they've had previous experience with, it's not set in the same universe. Comic book movies are weird).

With the exception of the DC Shorts Showcase, which has not seen release down here (at least not that I'm aware of), I own each movie from the DC Universe Animated Original line and not a single one has been short of great. I'll go into detail about the others down the line, with Justice League: Doom getting a post sometime in the next week or two since it was released this year, but I wanted to talk about the revelation of an upcoming project.

After The Dark Knight Returns is released towards the end of the year (split into two films, if Wikipedia's information is correct. Word has not been confirmed whether or not they'll both be released in a pack, on the same day or months apart) it has been said by Kevin Conroy (one of the best known Batman voices ever, if not the definitive voice actor for Batman) that one of the upcoming films is the universe altering story Flashpoint aka “the story that began the DC reboot”.

I haven't read the story, so I can't go into a deep analysis of it, but I can give you this brief overview of the miniseries: the timeline in the main DC universe has been altered, with Barry Allen (the Flash) being one of the few who remembers what it used to be like. He attempts to restore things the way they were and (spoiler alert!) causes a merging of the separate imprints of DC to come together and form one universe, in which there are several changes but is supposedly the same universe we've been reading for years.

I will say this for the record: Kevin could just be throwing us off the scent with what the next project really is, and in that case, I'm getting perplexed for nothing. And I will also say that despite my feelings about the reboot (to be somewhat covered in a future blog), I will still watch the Flashpoint film if it comes to pass and I will try and enjoy it for what it is. But three things bug me about this particular choice:

• Flashpoint is too recent a story to be adapted so soon. I have to figure that the DC higher-ups wanted to push this reboot angle as far as they could take it but seeing as how none of the previous films are connected to each other (with the possible exception of the Superman/Batman team up films, though I'm not 100% sure due to the different animation styles for each film), it's not like Flashpoint has anything to shake up. Granted, Batman: Under The Red Hood isn't exactly something from long ago nor is it the first story I would think of when choosing a classic Batman story, but at least it has been around for a few years, long enough for the effects in the comics to be felt and dealt with. We still don't know what the ramifications of the reboot are. I mean, it hasn't even been a year yet has it?
• The story's not exactly a fan favourite. Because it's the catalyst for the reboot, it's not exactly going to be a crowd pleaser. And I'm guessing most of the fanbase for these films are those who have more than casual knowledge of the DC universe. And if DC lost anyone with the announcement of the reboot, they stand to lose more if Flashpoint leads to more of the newer stories being the basis for the new films (though I wouldn't object if they chose to adapt The Court Of Owls storyline, mostly because despite the reboot's widespread effect, Batman's history has remained relatively retcon-free so any stories for him now are business as usual).
  Besides, if they wanted a big storyline that was recent but better received, two words: Blackest Night. Though I've been clamouring for that one for sometime, even though I haven't read the story yet. At least that one's slightly older than Flashpoint and again, we know what came out of it and where DC was heading.
• The biggest reason, and I'm sure I'm not alone when I say this, is that with every film announced that isn't The Killing Joke, we lose yet another chance for Mark Hamill's legendary Joker voice to be heard. As much as I love his role as Luke Skywalker, the Joker will always be the greatest role of Mark's, in my very humble opinion. Even with Heath Ledger's juggernaut of a performance in The Dark Knight, Mark has never lost his position as the King Of The Clown Prince Of Crime actors. And with Mark reprising his role for the insanely awesome Arkham video games, that just made great games even more desirable. But there's always talk that he's retiring from the role, or about to retire, and it reminds us that he won't be the Ace Of Knaves forever. One day, he will hang up his seltzer bottle for good. And as much as he needs to be thanked for his loyal “tears of service” (to comic fans, you're welcome), it would be remiss if we didn't get him back one more time for what is considered the ultimate Joker story.
  If you're just getting into comics, The Killing Joke is an excellent pick as one of the first you should read. You need no prior knowledge of the characters, it's a character study with brilliant musings on the human condition, the art is gorgeous and adds new dimensions to the Joker and it even makes the Harlequin Of Hate a little sympathetic! Yes, you read that right!
  I will do a proper review for the story one day but suffice it to say, it is not only one of the best Batman comics, it's one of the best comics, period. Which is exactly why it needs to be adapted.
  So, I'm hoping that one day, it will be adapted. If Mark really is going to stop voicing the Joker, or if he has declared that he has, we need this one last shot. Let him go out with a bang. And while this may seem... tactless, for lack of a better word, if a successor has not been chosen for future work involving the Joker, my vote goes to John DiMaggio, after the magnificent job he did for Batman: Under The Red Hood. If John does The Killing Joke, I'm not going to be too upset. He's a damn good Joker, not quite at the level of Mark, but Mark's been doing it for so long now that he's nearly made the character his own. Both men are outstanding at getting to the root of the character. But DC/Warner/whoever picks these things, please, consider making The Killing Joke one of the next DVD's, and let Mark deliver one last showstopper.

I do reiterate that I am not slamming a release of Flashpoint on DVD, just that I am confused to why this story was selected amongst many others. Stories like Knightfall, Salvation Run, The Judas Contract, even Identity Crisis could just have easily been picked, much like The Killing Joke could have been. But there hasn't been a crap DC Universe Animated Original yet, so I have faith that whatever they make will be a great film.