As I was reading one of this week's new DC comics I came across an ad for the animated Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 3 ("The Conclusion to the Epic Trilogy"). "Part 3"? I didn't know there were parts ane and two! Just as well... now I don't have to wait to see the whole thing. Tonight we watched part one on Max (formerly "HBO Max"). The animated version is wholly original. Part one is a time travel story, the first half of which deals with the origin of the JLA, Amazo and the Crime Syndicate of Earth 3. When it gets to the "Crisis" part, that too is wholly original. The cast is more racially diverse than the comics upon which it is based, and it achieves this end in an organic way without hitting the viewer over the head with its diversity. The only "casting" choice I might question is Vixen rather than Wonder Woman as a founding member of the JLA, but it helps to remember that this version is its own thing, like Strange New Worlds in comparison to the original Star Trek; check your preconceived notions at the door. Tracy points out that at no time, despite the inclusion of many, many, many heroes and heroines, at no time does the Black Canary appear, not even in a background shot (and she was looking!). Recommended to anyone who enjoys DC annimation projects.
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They killed off the Crime Syndicate in 1985 for being "too confusing" yet they can't let them go!
We watched part two last night. Part three doesn't drop until Wednesday, so I guess we'll have a little wait between parts after all. We'll probably wait until the weekend to watch it. I'm really very impressed by the story. The "secret identities" of Harbinger and Pariah come as a surprise. Still no Black Canary, though.
Tried to watch part three tonight but, unlike the others which were available to rent, the conclusion is only available to "buy" (online) for 20 bucks.
I like it, but not that much.
If/when you resubscribe to MAX, they have parts 1 and 2 available now. Presumably part 3 will be soon. Also, on MAX I watched season one of Bob Hearts Abishola and am continuing to watch the rest of it.
I watched part three tonight. (Thanks to Richard Willis for reminding me.) After four months, I could have used a recap/refresher, but I followed it okay; this is not my first rodeo. It reminds me in some ways of when Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead was adapted to the small screen. Both adaptations followed the same basic beats as the respective originals, but they changed things up enough so that even someone familiar with the comics would be surprised by the TV version. Plus, with Crisis on Infinite Earths, there is nearly 40 years of additional material to draw on and incorporate.