Happy 2016, but don't forget! The World will end on Valentine's!

ANI-MOVIES, *Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League

Done as a sequal to the Lego Batman: Be-Leagured, this short movie/TV special is the first Justice League title in the DC Comics animated Lego line. This time around, it's more like a setup to a Batman V. Superman parody with the Dark Knight continuously being suspicious of Supes, plus Guy Gardner has for some reason replaced Hal Jordon as the League's resident Green Lantern.

Superman convinces is backwards clone Bizarro to leave Earth and stay on a cube-shaped planet they call Bizarro World. However, Bizarro returns later on to get Lex Luthor's duplicator ray gun to make Bizarro copies of some of the other Leaguers, including fan-favorite Batzarro. The Justice League follows their clones to Bizarro World where the find out that Darkseid is harnessing the strange rocks there that negate superpowers of non-Bizarros. So, the JLA teams up with the BLA(or whatever they're called)to stop Darkseid.

This special was essentially an extended version of an old Superfriends episode, but makes for a vehicle for the DC toy line from Lego. Its pretty good for catching on TV, but might only be worth getting for hardcore fans of Lego, or something safe from DC Comics for parents to show their kids.

MISC. MANGA, *Cutie Honey '90

Done as a sequal to the original Cutie Honey manga from the 70s of which all the other Cutey Honey titles are based off of, Cutie Honey '90 was the English translated version of the Go Nagai series which so far has been the only one from that franchise to be released in America. Ironcat released this as two 6-volume comic book mini-series, but there were some difficulties with getting into any collected trade paperback, so all we have to go by now are the 12 issues.

Set in the early 90s, the criminal organization Panther Claw resurfaces headed by its commander, Sister Jill. Jill starts using her monstrous DNA to mutate unsuspecting girls into evil abominations, including one starring as Kekko Kamen(another of Go Nagai's titles). To battle this, police detective Todoroki is assigned help from the current head of the influential Hamayi Group, run by none other than Cutie Honey, who as an android hasn't aged at all in the last few decades. She uses her transforming powers and cybernetic strength to help Todoroki with his investigation. This eventually leads to a showdown with Sister Jill and her Panther Claw god in another dimension to determine the fate of the world.

The manga series holds out considering its over two decades old now. It helps if you've at least read the original 70s manga too, although at least a refresher from one of the other Cutey Honey anime or live-action productions, most of which have been released in English(except for the awesome Re: Cutie Honey OVA!). If you happen to find a bundle of these in a comic lot somewhere, be sure to give it a peak!

How The Force Awakens SHOULD have started...

MISC. MANGA, *Airship Enterprise

Originally printed partially in the pages of Steampunk Tales, but in black and white. This 4-issue mini-series expands on the story, and in color.

Basically a steampunk version of Star Trek, an airship manned by diverse females and other aliens receive a distress call. Upon investigating, Capt. Janus Tibbs and her crew are met with hostile resistance from sky pirates who wish to exploit a rare creature.

Airship Enterprise makes for an enticing tale for Trekkies and other sci-fi geeks.

ANI-MOVIES, *Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League-Attack Of The Legion of Doom

This made-for-video movie was intended to be a follow-up to the Justice League Vs. Bizarro League animated movie, but a prelude to the Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham video game. It is a little unique as at is a full-length production as opposed to be the length of a TV special or standard OVA.

The Justice League elects Batman as the temporary leader of the League(similar to the Justice Society having a rotating chairperson), and for some reason Hal Jordan is back as Green Lantern instead of Guy Gardner. After Trickster manages to hit Metropolis with a huge stink bomb, the League get some new duds since their old one stank. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor, Sinestro, and Black Manta decide to put together their own anti-Justice League group of villains called the Legion of Doom, although Luthor is secretly working with Darkseid to take over the planet. They hold Legion auditions, but knock out most of Batman's enemies since they get shown enough in the Lego games, plus Deathstroke is passed since he makes everyone else look like losers. Along with a few other baddies like Capt. Cold, Grodd, and Cheetah, the full Legion raids Area 52(the one after Area 51)for a Martian being kept there, and convince the Martian Manhunter that they're the good guys. They use MM's mental powers to make it look like the League wrecked a power plant, and get exiled from Earth. Cyborg however stays behind and deduces that they were all duped by Martian Manhunter, and convinces him to take over Sinestro's mind to bring the League back. The Legion meanwhile have launched their headquarters into attacking Metropolis, but Cyborg reveals that the Hall of Justice is also a flying fortress(because you really want your local superhero team to have a mobile sky building that shoots missiles!), and defeat the Legion by clearing their names. Darkseid then refuses to bust Luthor out of jail, and realizes he has to team up with Brainiac to get the job done.

Attack Of The Legion Of Doom made for a fair outing in the "Legoverse" established in the Lego Batman video games. The most impressive part in it is the recurring voice cast. Mark Hamill replays both Joker and Trickster as well as Sinestro, Troy Baker switches roles as Joker for Batman, John DiMaggio who also played Joker once is Lex Luthor, and former Joker from The Batman: Kevin Michael Richardson replays Black Manta plus Grodd and Captain Cold. It's enjoyable at least for fans of the old Super Friends show, and makes a good watch for kids.

That's not frosting!!!