Didn't like Suicide Squad? Try Assault on Arkham (2014), a DC animated movie about a previous suicide squad.

This suicide squad is created to break into Arkham and steal the Riddler's cane, because there's a thumb drive hidden in it that has proof of Amanda Waller's previous shenanigans. (At least, that's the reason she gives the group.)

In this universe she's done it before and will do it again, even though Batman himself forbids her to. Her response (to the goddamn Batman) is "What are you going to do about it?" She's not an antihero in this; she's closer to a villain herself. At the beginning she explains that any one of the team that crosses her will have their heads exploded with an implant in their necks. One of them decides to test her by walking out. Yup, their head explodes. And it's not the first character she executes or tries to.

For people complaining about Deadshot in Suicide Squad (2016), you should know that he's portrayed the same way in this. His character is first shown trying to escape prison while literally holding a picture of his daughter. It's not the only appearance of the daughter photo either. So this was not a contrivance of the movie or of Will Smith, unless they were contriving it before 2014. He's very much the protagonist of Assault on Arkham.

I laughed out loud at least three times while watching this. There are just some really funny moments. Harley's great as usual. They do stumble across the Joker in Arkham even though they're trying to avoid him, and the situation predictably goes off the rails. Every member of the group is well done and clearly defined. Killer Frost and King Shark have a subplot that I really enjoyed.

It's just very tightly and well done-- the writing, the pacing, the voice work, everything. I don't watch many DC animated movies so I was really surprised at its quality, although that's apparently their MO, so I shouldn't be. I'm going to seek out some more of their animated movies after this.

So if the live action version has got you down, I highly recommend this.

Submitted August 04, 2016 at 06:04AM by startingover- http://ift.tt/2avEliF