Warner Bros.

To counter the direst threat, you need the greatest team…

Crisis on Infinite Earths is close to celebrating its 40th anniversary in its original comic book form, and this new animated version is by no means the first time that the series has come to the screen – the Arrowverse version a few years back built off the same audience knowledge of the characters (including some fun cameos – Burt Ward and Tom Welling notably).

DC and Warners aren’t stinting on this adaptation: rather than try to compress the whole thing into one two-hour movie, this is going to appear in three parts across 2024, allowing a potential running time heading for five hours. It’s part of their own continuity as established in recent times (both visually and vocally), and doesn’t waste time introducing the characters as if to a new audience.

There’s a strong voice cast – from Darren Criss and Stana Katic as Superman and Wonder Woman to Jensen Ackles and Zachary Quinto as the Batman and Lex Luthor – with plenty of recognisable cameos, all put to the service of an enjoyable plot, which might take a little bit more time to get going than you might expect, but which throws everything in.

Verdict: A good start to the adaptation. 8/10

Paul Simpson