Superman Doomsday: Special Edition DVD: Review By CBF

In 1992, DC Comics launched The Death of Superman, a three-arc maxi-series which famously marked the death, funeral, and cloned replacement of The Man of Steel. In a time when comic books were still abundantly read by children and adults alike, this story captivated the entire world, and quickly became the best-selling graphic novel of all time. When DC made the deal with Warner Bros. Animation/Warner Premiere to create PG-13 animated films that were close adaptations of their graphic novels, they handpicked Bruce Timm for his revolutionary work in animation from crafting the DC Animated Universe (Batman, Superman, Justice League, etc.). And after DC amassed a great team to work with Timm in designing these Direct-to-DVD features, their discussions only concluded that the best place to start would be the biggest hero and the biggest graphic novel of all time.

While we don't exactly get every last detail, Superman | Doomsday was the closest comic book adaptation up to that point. It still remains the most successful in sales of all the DC Universe Animated Original Movies and replay value is fairly high. The feature definitely has its own spin, and tweaks just a few elements to make it work as an "original movie," but it works incredibly well for the running time and makes for a less-bogged-down plot. The main attraction to this movie is the story of Doomsday, an intergalactic atrocity who slaughters everything in sight, arriving on Earth and threatening Metropolis, to the point that Superman must defend the city and soon realizes that this is the greatest foe he's ever faced. Doomsday didn't arrive on Earth by choice and the monster lacks rationale. It can go toe-to-toe with the Kryptonian and both hero and villain take a brutal beating. Meanwhile the city watches on as the greatest battle ever witnessed unfolds right before their eyes. At the climax of the battle there is much emotion, and we feel the pain of both Lois Lane and Martha Kent. However on the other side of that coin, there is an unemotional Lex Luthor, the LexCorp CEO, deviously lost in his own thoughts.

The story goes on to tell the remaining two arcs from the graphic novel, and while I missed the "Reign of the Supermen" plot from the comic, I was surprised to see what they added in its place: they combined the "clones" into one and tied it into Luthor's evil machinations, which was a nice replacement, because that original arc would have made the movie feel bogged down with too many elements. The long hair and black Kryptonian solar costume was done justice, and while I don't remember Superman ever having a robot at the Fortress of Solitude (from what I remember it was a dog named Krypto), that was a nice addition as well. Comic aficionados should keep their eyes open during the scenes in the Fortress for certain homages. Another great detail to the plot was the Superman/Lois relationship, which was done with a more adult take on the characters.

:: - Disc One: Movie Plus - ::

Commentary by Director Bruce Timm, Writer Duane Capizzi, Voice Casting Director Andrea Romano, and Executive Producer Gregory Noveck

Requiem and Rebirth: Superman Lives!

A comprehensive drama about how the DC Comics Team decided Superman's fate.

Behind the Voice Featurette

An interesting look at the voice cast from the movie and Voice Casting Director Andrea Romano discussing how they were to work with, and what makes their presence so special while portraying these characters.

Justice League: The New Frontier Sneak Peek

A peek of the next release in the series.

Superman's Last Stand Challenge: An Interactive DVD Game

:: - Disc Two: More Special Features - ::

When Heroes Die: The Making of Superman | Doomsday

The culmination of the three directors, Bruce Timm, Lauren Montgomery, and Brandon Vietti all discussing their parts in making the film as well as the rest of the crew involved. This special feature also delves heavily on the source material and the origins of the DCU Animated Original Movies project from DC and Warner Premiere.

The Clash of the Juggernauts

A definitive retrospective on Superman and Doomsday, two of the biggest heavyweights from the DC Universe.

Wonder Woman Sneak Peek

At the time this Special Edition was re-issued, DC and Warner Premiere were already working on the fourth movie. Here is the Sneak Peek.

Bruce Timm's Top Picks: 4 Bonus Cartoons

Four episodes from "Superman: The Animated Series" make the top of Bruce Timm's list: "Mxyzpixilated," "Brave New Metropolis," and "Apokolips...Now" Parts 1 and 2.

Presented in a Dual-Layer Widescreen Format. Enhanced for Widescreen TVs. They could have added what the actual aspect ratio is on the back cover, though.

English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Subtitles: English.

The packaging takes a much different approach to the design than the 2007 single-disc edition. More on par with the slipsleeve packages of DCU Animated Original Movies that followed, the case to Superman | Doomsday (Two-Disc Special Edition) features a sleeker-looking, shiny slipsleeve with the embossed "Death of Superman" logo dead-center. The sleeve is a new brown shade, with the Metropolis skyline etched in just underneath the forefront logo, giving it a nicer touch than the 2007 version's all-black lenticular sleeve.

The Superman | Doomsday (Two-Disc Special Edition) is ultimately the best release of the first feature in the DCU Animated Original Movies series. Even though it came a little late instead of being released at the same time as the single disc, it has since become the standard to have both versions released together for each movie that has came after, and most likely will continue to be that way for future entries. The slipsleeve-clad Special Editions make for a nice section on your DVD shelf, and provide you with the most supplemental content into making these great releases. There's a reason this first DVD sold better than the others, and kick-started the series, and re-watching the film it is still nothing short of amazing on how they reinvented this classic story. It still stands as a definitive highlight and one of the best in the line.