Probably the biggest question many comic book fans want to know about
Justice League Action is whether it's 100% slapstick aimed at young kids (à la
Teen Titans GO!), or if there's a Pixar-esque approach to the story where adults can find something to enjoy and connect with as they watch with their kids (or by themselves, this is a judge free zone)? The show is a fresh mix of both approaches and the result is a kid's program that's tonally reminiscent of
Batman: The Brave and the Bold. However, where that show was a simplified, episodic baddie-of-the-week/team-up adventure series,
Justice League Action appears to be laying groundwork for a season-long storyline that should please old school Bruce Timm fans.
Yet, what may throw some fans off are the revamped characterizations for some of the most prominent DC heroes. Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter and even Superman are depicted very differently from previous animated renditions. The only character you'll find familiar is Batman (which should surprise no one) - the performance by Conroy could easily be applied to an episode of
Justice League Unlimited or
Batman: TAS. But having a fresh take on these characters leads to greater storytelling potential and resolution as you won't be able to accurately predict plot outcomes based on a pre-existing familiarity with the characters. The downfall is that if this is your first introduction to these characters, you'll be surprised at how differently their depicted in the comics and other animated shows and films.
To be blunt, the art style will definitely take a while to get acclimated with. Instead of the crisp, bold lines of the Bruce Timm style, we have softer and a thinner lineweight , where shading is almost nonexistent and a greater emphasis is placed on color schemes. It's not "wrong" or "bad", just different in the same way that the cgi animation in
Green Lantern: TAS was a departure from the norm. Once that show found its footing and dived into its storyline, suddenly all those initial complaints about how the show looked quickly vanished.
Justice League Action has nonstop action, a plethora of heroes on call and a great voice cast that brings much needed entertainment value to a desolate Saturday Morning cartoon slate. While traditionalists may find the reconstructed mannerisms for some of the characters offputting, there's just enough familiarity present that allows the show to function as a worthwhile introduction of younger audiences.
To check out the first clip, CLICK HERE.
Justice League Action premieres on Friday, December 16 before airing in its regularly scheduled timeslot on Saturday mornings at 7:30 AM, beginning on Christmas Eve.