Enter Manchester Black and the Elites. A ragtag group of superheroes who believe they are the answer to what the people want. Naturally, their arrival in the superhero scene makes Superman suspicious, and he teams up with Black in order to learn more about him and his team. Of course, things aren’t as simple as they seem and the Elite’s penchant for violence worries Superman.
For an animated film, it handles the themes of ethics and what it means to be a super powered being very well. It’s an interesting quandary, but obviously there’s only one answer the animated movie could show. In the end, the truth is that Superman doesn’t need to kill in order to save people and have the trust of the people. In fact, by the end of the movie, even the people no longer want violence to be the answer.
The art of the movie is different than you’re expected DC animated movie, but it’s striking in its own way. The Elite are all very unique looking and have something of a punk style when compared to the well put together and simplistic fashion of Superman. There’s a neat contrast between the two that goes deeper than the obvious aspect of violence. These superheroes are new, and so their outfits and personas reflect that.
The action of the movie is pretty good too. There are several set pieces throughout but the final battle between Superman and the Elite is the crown jewel. It gives you just a little peak at what the world might look like if Superman decided he didn’t want to hold back anymore. It’s scary, which it should be. If nothing else this fight gives us a look at just how powerful Superman really is. When it comes down to it, the Elite didn’t stand a chance. It was a four on one battle and Superman handled them with ease.
While the running time is short and everything seems to happen very quickly, Superman vs The Elite has one to thing to say and it spends its time well saying that: Superman doesn’t need to kill. In the end, it’s his ability to show mercy and control that win the hearts of the people. It’s a stark contrast to the age of DC heroes we’re in now. Overall though, SUPERMAN VS. THE ELITE is definitely a must watch, even if it’s just for the fun set pieces.
Written by Peter Freeman, TV & Animation Writer -- Click here to read Peter's posts
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